MASSACHUSETTS
STATE COLLEGE

GOODELL
LIBRARY

Per

V53-

No. 1, Vol. LII.J JANUARY, 1878. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

BtUitatto

TO THE

FARMERS OK THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICK TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZBLL, WATSON, & VINBY.] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND.

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ESTABLISHED IN 1836, AND INCORPORATED IN 1874 UNDER " THE COMPANIES ACT, 1862."

SUBSCRIBED CAPITAL... £3,750,000, in 75,000 SHARES of £50 EACH.

PAID-UP CAPITAL £1,499,970 0

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DIRECTORS.
SIR THOMAS TYRINGHAM BER- f FREDERICK FRANCIS, Esq.

NARD, Bart. FREDERICK HARRISON, Esq.

ROBT. ALEX. BROOKS, Esq. ( EDWARD HARBORD LUSHING

JOHN JAMES CATER, Esq. I TON, Esq.

THOMAS STOCK COWTE, Esq. | JAMES MORLEY, Esq.

General Manager.— WILLTAM McKEWAN, Esq.

CHIEF INSPECTOR. CHIEF AC OUNTANT. SECRETARY.

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WILLIAM HFARY STONE, Esq.
JAMES D. THOMSON, Esq.

HEAD OFFICE, 21, LOMBARD STREET.

Head Office Managers.— WILLIAM HOWARD Esq.; JOSEPH ALFRED SMITH, Esq.

THE LONDON AND COUNTY BANK opens—

DRAWING ACCOUNTS with Commercial Houses and Private Individuals, upon the plan usually adopted by other
Bankers.

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. — Deposit Receipts are issued for sums or Money placed upon these Accounts, and Interest ie
aHowcd for such peri >ds and at such rates m mav be agreed noon, referenje being had to the state of the Money Market.

CIRCULAR NOTES AND LETTERS OF ORRDIT are issued, payable in the principal Cities and Towns of the Con-
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The Agency of Foreign and Country Banks is undertaken.

The Purchase and Salb of Government and other Stocks, of English or Foreign Shares effected, and Dividbwds,
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Great facilities are also afforded to the Customers of the Bank for the receipt of Money from the Towns where the Cow •
pany has Branches.

The Officers of the Bank are bound not to disclose the transactions of any of its Customers.

By Order of the Directors, WM. MoKEWAN, General Manager.

|p

T

STERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & 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
LIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for ellectually
destroying tbc 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 tollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required : —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

81b. 40 „ „ , 0 4 0

101b. 60 „ „ 0 6 0

201b. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. ISO „ „ included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 „ „ „ 10 0

601b. 250 „ ., , 13 6

601b. 300 „ „ „ 17 6

80 1b. 400 ,. „ ,, 1 17 6

1001b. 600 ,, „ 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hebepath, 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 will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

(fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerou
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
William Hbbapath, Sen., F.C.S., &c, &c.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry,

'-eicester House, Great Lover-street Borouyh London.

He would also especially call attention to bis SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart boi ties,
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855.

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours oi the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had 1 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 reoom-
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. Beiug 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 Februai y during the dressing,
your gpscmc proved itself an invaluable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite curei I ; and I am happy to
6ay 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. ' " It. RENNEY.

(v>* Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as "Non-poisonous Compositions:" it is only
necessary to appeal to their gooii common sense and judg-
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no " Non-poisonoup "
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacious
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly uspless
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS 4T4. £5, £i, & £$,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

JANUARY, 1878.

PLATE.

ROYAL LIVERPOOL.

A Leicester Shearling Ram, the property of T. II. Hutchinson, Esq., Manor House

Oatterick.

Royal Liverpool wa9 bred by Mr. Hutchinson,
and got by Iris first Royal Taunton Shearling, and in
the veins of his darn flows the blood of Prince
Charlie, Oxford, Blair Athol, etc., all first prize
sheep at the Royal and Great Yorkshire Shows'
meetings, which sheep breeders look upon as their
Derby and Leger.

Royal Liverpool has never been beaten, and is
considered by all judges of Leicester sheep as one
of the most perfect specimens ever exhibited, He
was shown at the following meetings where he
took the first prizes — Doncaster, The Royal at

Liverpool, Driffield, The Great Yorkshire a
York, Northallerton, and Durham County, where
he was also awarded the cup for the best sheep in
the yard .

Mr. Hutchinson, with an eye to his own ewes
and the future, has refused many liberal offers for
his sire, which is still at the Manor House Farm,
where he has worked wonderfully well, and wil
no doubt with many more prize-winners add
to the already great renown of the Catterick
flock.

CENTRAL FARMERS' CLUB.

THE MOST PROFITABLE SYSTEM OF FEEDING CATTLE.

At the concluding meeting of the Farmers' Club for
the year 1877, held on Monday, Dec. 10 at the Cale-
donian Hotel, Adelphi, and numerously atteuded, Mr.
J. J. Mechi, the Chairman, iutroduced the subject fixed
for consideration, viz., " The Most Profitable System of
Feeding Cattle."

The Chairman said : Gentlemen, you may be some-
what surprised to find that I am to read you the paper
this evening. In fact, it was intended that this evening's
paper should be written by Mr. M'Adam, of Hightrees,
near Marlborough, in Wiltshire, but that geutleman wrote
to me to say that he was so unwell that he was unable to
write the paper allotted to him, and that he hoped I
would do it for him. I was very much embarrassed by
the request, and, however willing to oblige, I said, " No,
I cannot undertake that ; you should at once consult the
Committee. "Write to the Secretary aud Committee to
know whether they will exempt you from producing the
paper, and if agreeable to them I shall try and write a
substitute." I subsequently received a note from the
Secretary saying I should write the paper; and therefore
I thrust myself upon you somewhat out of place. (No, no.)
Old Series. B

Well, having received this note, I set to work. I had only
a few days to prepare and throw my notes upon paper. I
therefore come forward with fear and trembling in this
assembly of gentlemen so highly experienced in this
matter, and I must say I hope you will forgive me if I
make a few mistakes. (Applause.) He then proceeded
to read as follows :

The Most Profitable Method of Feeding Stock.
— I should not have presumed to read to you a paper on this
subject had I not some experience. My sales of fat meat
wool, aud poultry for the last ten years amount to £9,977 17s
lid. (about the average of the last 60 years), so that, after
deducting £3,019 for lean stock purchased, the actual amount
made on the farm was £6,958 19s. lid., equal to M per acre
per annum over the whole farm of 170 acres, although one
half of it 18 cropped with wheat and barley. It is therefore
quite clear that our home production of meat might be much
more than doubled, for out of our farmed acres (iy.OOO.OOO)
less than 7,500,000 grow wheat, barley, and potatoes. I
have only six acres of permanent pasture on my larm. I have
been fortunate in the health of my stock for 33 years, my
losses having been very trifling during that long period— no
rinderpest, and very little of any other disease. The question
Vol. LXXXIV.— No 1.

of making fat beef iu England profitably is one of immense
significance at the present time, and under the threatening
aspect of American competition, it is a matter affecting
landowners quite as much as tenants, for non-success with the
atter means (as at present, alter three adverse seasons) a diffi-
culty in letting lands and in selling them ; for, as an eminent
valuer wrote to me to-day, would-be purchasers see no security
for a certain return of interest in the shape of fixed or im.
proving rents, but rather the other way ; and, no doubt, land
just now is at a discount. If experienced and suc-
cessful cattle feeders, who are amply provided by good land-
lords with all the necessary appliances and conveniences, see
danger, what must be the condition and feelings of those un-
fortunates who are struggling with adverse conditions and un-
improved farias, in addition to bad seasons and fierce foreign
competition ? Surely the time is at hand when landowners
will see that it is^to their interest to encourage and attract
tenant capital by the utmost freedom of action, security for
tenants' investment, and proper facilities for carrying on their
business in the most advantageous manner. The American
Land Surveys have considerably exceeded the estimate which
I made some years ago, that the United States had
1.500,000,000 of acres to dispose of, virgiu and uncropped
and unoccupied soil, whose fee simple est would probably
not exceed a year's rent and tithes paid by British tenants^
I have had very extensive communication personally and by
letter with American agriculturists, and have also many
volumes, sent to me year by year, of the " Transactions " of
the New York State Agricultural Society, and the impression
on my mind is that there is a great amount of intelligence
enterprise, and progress in American agriculture. As the
farmers nearly all occupy their own land, their mental energy
and financial means are quite unshackled and free to enlarge
and improve. The mere knowledge that their improvements
are their own property, and will be inherited by their widows
or children, acts as an extraordinary stimulus to their exertion
and progress. The mere fact that no gamekeeper or stranger
dare put a foot on their land, and that the game are their
own, adds heavily in the scale of advantageous considerations
and independent feelings. Under such circumstances, can
we wonder at their rapid increase in national capital and
general welfare. Imagine the feelings of a man who can
say, at any day or hour, " I will sell my farm and buy another,
or add to my farm, or do in any other way, just what I like
with ray own," and compare them with those of a British
farmer who, like that model of a good farmer, the late Mr-
Hope, of Fenton Barns, was ousted from the beloved place of
his birth and inheritance by a mere after-dinner speech, ex
pressing political opinions opposed to those of his landlord
These are some of the many causes which alarm capital anc
forbid its entrance into British agricultural improvement.
Long as this preamble is, it has much to do, directly and in
di ectly, with the fat meat competition question. It looks as
if, for the future, Mr. John Bull must change his name to
John Mutton, for the latter always is Is. a stone of 81b.
dearer than beef; and we know that, while our American
cousins " lick " us in cattle at the rate of three for one, and
in pigs at six for one, thev have only about 25 per cent, more
sheep than we have. So strong was the impression of mutton
before beef in the mind of an old friend of mine, a very first
class and money-making farmer of 1,500 acres, that he never
had a bullock, but no end of sheep and pigs; and he used to
say that a farmer who kept many bullocks need never make

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

a will, for he would have nothing to leave. My friend die'
worth ,£100,000, but I was not in his will. I have seen the
straw 6ft. deep under his sheep in open yards with sheds.
The American farmers are finding out that eight tons of
maize (40qrs.), whose freights, &c, to England would amount
to probably £35, would, when converted into a ton of pork
or bacon, only cost £5 or less, for we may reasonably calcu-
late that 81b. of maize would make lib. of pork or beef.
They also thus retain all the valuable manure 'resnlting from
so vast a consumption of corn. So we need not wonder at the
vast and rapid increase of foreign salted meat. The same
remark applies in degree to cheese, butter, and fresh meat.

Advice to Young Farmers. — A young farmer, desirous
of storing his mind with the best methods of cattle-feeding,
should refer to the numerous and valuable contributions in the
Royal Agricultural Society's Journal on this subject, by men
dependable and well-known for their agricultural wisdom and
truthfulness ; and no doubt an abundance of such useful and
needful information could also be obtained from the Journals
of the Highland Society, the Bath and West of England
Society, and the Royal Irish Agricultural Society. A glance
at their indices would at once give an idea of the magnitude of
the subject. I know of no information more valuable and
clear in this matter and on dairy management than those two
papers by the late Mr. Horsfall, in vols. 17 and 18 of the
Royal Agricultural Society's Journal (first series). A study
of them has put money in my pocket, so I can safely recom-
mend them. Read also Dobito, vol. 6 ; Keary, vol. 9 ; Kar-
keck, L-iwes, Simouds, and many others, especially vol. 15,
488, C. Lawrence.

Mode of Feeding. — This is most important, because it
should be regulated by the age and previous condition of the
animal. Half-starved store stock require very moderate and
not rich feeding, for all their vessels have been adapted to
poor, thin circulating juices, and they are consequently of
small capacity, unsuited for rich thick blood- Norfolk far-
mers, who go iu for lots of cake and corn, will not wait for
lean animals, but buy them well-fleshed and in good condition,
so that good feeding is no novelty to them. A friend of mine
— the " mutton farmer," to whom I before alluded — always
bought iu the autumn high-priced lambs, almost or quite fit
for the butcher, and then he could at once feed them on the
best of food, and thus fatten his laud and his growing animals
at one and the same time. Lean stock make starved and lean
crops. The condition of animal voidances is a pretty certain
evidence of the results that are being produced. Turnips are
either food or physic, according to the quantity eaten. Exces-
sive purgation is inconsistent with fat production. Instead of
the usual 3 bushels, from 30 to 501b. is all I allow, in addition
to other aad drier food. Succulent turnips alone cause im-
mense losses in our breeding flocks. An admixture of cut hay,
cut straw, pulped roots, bean or oatmeal, cake, malt culms
and bran, with a little crushed linseed or linseed soup, is a good
mixture. I generally add some condimental food which con-
tains fenugreek. Hay of fine quality is in itself condimental
owing to some of its fine grasses. My cattle have alway
access to water and rock salt in lumps in their manger ; rocjj
salt is also in our horse mangers. In covered and enclosed
yards there are no draughts. Nothing will give cattle pleuro
sooner than a draught of cold air in a warm place. The tem-
perature should be as uniform as possible.

Why are Ladies' Lap-dogs almost always Fat? — Be-
cause they are well-fed and kindly treated, warm and comfort-

C*225 4> ' V"< S3

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

0)

able, and not unfrequently washed and combed. I know that
where cows are groomed daily they thrive. We all know that
if they can get access to a haulm wall, or a clipped wheat
stack, they will groom themselves most heartily and vigorously.
I once clipped some cattle on boards and then brushed them,
and they fattened quickly. We are too sparing of a little
expense in these matters. Many of those grand specimens of
obesity at onr great cattle shows are washed and groomed, and
carefully and delicately fed. In fact we see their attendants
thus feeding them at the show. An ill-tempered brutal stock-
man should have immediate notice to quit. A bullock's
tongue is a sort of brush or currycomb, which it frequently
uses, but down the back and other parts he cannot reach, and
therefore feels truly grateful for a brush or scratch on these
parts. Sometimes they oblige each other in this matter.

Bedding. — This question now becomes, owing to the valua
of straw, an important one. I hope that the covered and enclosed
yard question is now an admitted economical and profitable
fact, both as regards landowner aud tenant, for it will undoubt-
edly enable the latter the better to pay his rent. In order to econo-
mise both straw and labour I have /or thirty years used sparred
floors, both for cattle, pigs, and sheep, very successfully. In
the case of cattle the spars should be 3 inches thick and 3
inches wide, and rather less than 1^ inch between each spar,
strongly attached to, and supported underneath by rafters. For
pigs aud sheep the openings must be smaller, say one-half to
three-quarters of an inch between the spars, which are of yel-
low deal. In the case of bullocks they keep clean without any
attention to the floors, and of course without straw. I once
had 12 white cattle on these spars lor eighteen months, and
they were clean, although not any cleaning had been done to
the spars. The opening or bricked tank under the floor should
be from 2 to 3 feet deep. Full details of the boarded floors
will be found in vols. 1, 2, and 3 of my book, " How to Farm
profitably," published cheaply by Messrs. Routledge and Sons,
Broadway, Ludgate Hill. It is surprising how quickly sheep
will fatten on these sparred floors, under cover, but with
ample openings in the roof. The pit under them should be at
least 2 to 3 feet deep. They do uot keep themselves quite
so clean as cattle, but pigs do so because they generally dung
in one corner, and the urine (which constitutes by far the
largest portion of the voidances) passes at once through the
openings.

Physic. — A pound of Glauber or Epsom salts is often a
very profitable investment. On any symptoms of " non.
feeding" or disquietude, a "good clear out" often sets
matters right. A stout brother angler was struck suddenly
with paralysis while unhooking a fish by my side (most painful
to one's feeling) ; but when we got him to bed, and the doctor
came, I asked the latter confidentially what was the first thing
to be done in such cases, he replied, " Oh ! a good clear out."
I was once foolish enough to buy of a neighbour a few starve-
ling juveniles, and found they would not progress, even with
the most csreful feeding, and they looked ill ; so I killed one,
and could find no internal disease, and then tried " Epsoras,"
and a great change quickly took place, for they progressed
favourably — we must not forget the farmers' friends, Day,
Son, and Hewitt, for their good deeds.

Choice of Animals. — Here again we may compare the
human being with the animal. Fat, fair, and forty is a com-
mon saying. A well-formed and well-developed frame, at the
proper age, is sure to get well covered if the temper is right
and the countenance agreeable ; but a long, gaunt frame, and

an uncomfortable and irritable countenance, do not give
promise of early obesity. A kindly look and contented dispo-
sition indicate farm profits. Young animals, like young boys,
are difficult to fatten ; but I manage it pretty well by limiting
their opportunity for juvenile activity and by very good
feeding, so that at 18 months to 2 years there is some fat
tender beef that wants less hanging than the full-flavoured
4-year.olds. Our mutton generally departs fat at 12 to 15
months old. Farm animals, like human beiugs, should be
well fed from their birth, and continuously so, uutil finally
developed. Some farmers need not go to Mr. Banting about
their stock, for they know how to take the fat off, or not put
it on, judging from the living skeletons which we much too
olten see in our farms and markets under the title of " store
stock."

Why Cattle are less Profitable than Sheep. — This
is easily explained. On 50 acres of my land, which I am able
to sheepfold, I never cart a load of manure ; so that there is
no straw littering, no carting and dungheap, and turning
and again carting and spreading, as there must be with cattle
in the open farmyard. Well, then, again there is no waste
of manure with sheep, for it all goes on to and into the land,
and no part of it is washed out of tha farmyard and down the
bt-ook when rains fall. But by covered and enclosed yards
with paved floors cattle can be inexpensively managed, and
without the least waste of manure and with a minimum of
labour, for no dungheap is required, the manure goes at once
to the land fit for spreadiug, and no portion of it is wasted
for the solid and liquid voidances get mixed up into a hodge-
podge with the straw by the treading of the cattle. There is
no smell or heating until the manure is removed, and the air
gets to it. The quantity of straw required is much less than
with the open farmyard, and 10 loads of shed manure are
usual in productive power to 15 of the open yard turned-over
dungheap. But all this is amply proved and fully deah with
in my books. But remember to use straw very sparingly ,so that
the mass is always wet and solid— no heating — animals always
in good health- They certainly progress much more rapidly,
both in growth and fattening, than in open yards. Hairy
animals require more warmth and shelter than woolly ones'
and should, therefore, not be exposed in the cold months
Mine do well under cover all the year round. Sheep, under
cover, do not get foot-rot as they sometimes do in open yards.
Urine prevents that. They require much more air than cattle,
or they would be too warm.

Young or Old Cattle. — I make most profit from young
things carried on gradually to maturity. Under cover, winter
and summer, I have often sold them fat at three times their
cost in 12 months, or less. They progress under cover much
faster thauin the fields.

Neglect of Ventilation ia a common and unprofitable
error. I so often see even new ranges of buildings without
openings in the roofs that I call it monetary suicide. I said
openings, for one opening will not answer, unless it be
divided down the centre so as to make a double tube in
which case the ontward and denser atmosphere forces the war-
mer aud lighter internal air through the second opening, so
there is thus a continual gradual circulation. I attribute the
sanitary condition of my covered yards and general good
health of the cattle to this arrangement of ventilation. It
is especially and equally necessary in horse stables. These
matters greatly affect farm profits. My losses by stock dur-
ing 34 years have bees comparatively insignificant.
B 2

4 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Changes of Food are dangerous if too hastily made. In
spring succulent and watery tares and grasses are mixed with

dry hay or straw chaff, for we bring these home and pass
them through the chaffcutter. An acre of well- podded green
beans, passed through the chaffcutter, is good and acceptable
food for any kind of stock. Dry bean straw when passed
through the chaffcutter and moistened by hot water is better
for cattle than any other straw. Science explains to us its
nutritious qualities. It should never be wasted under foot.

Warm Food for Cattle.— Thirty years of experience in
this matter has convinced one and all on my farm of its ad-
vantage. We usually had 40, and often many more head of
cattle, young and old. A closed tank of water was heated
by the waste steam, and as the lad or feeder mixed the cut
chaff, bran, malt culms, or cake, in the iron tubs sunk level
with the floor, an occasional pail of this hot water was thrown
on the mass layer by layer until it was piled high above the
rim. The waste steam passing around these iron tubs kept
their contents hot. After a few hours the reeking mess was
carried to, and spread over, and mixed witli the pulped roots,
and then placed in the bullock mangers. We could never fat
animals so quickly as by these means. It is a decidedly pay-
ing operation. Physically there is little difference between
human beings and animals. Warmth, shelter, food of the
right kind, and water, administered with regularity, are essen-
tials; and when in confiued places ventilation. We human
beings look for our meals at regular periods, aud if we do not
get them disturbance by ilatulence and other internal derange-
ments are the consequence of this irregularity So it is with
animals. The next important point is the proportion and
qualities of food, and its state of preparation. We can readily
see why linseed cake is so generally approved of as food. It
combines the nutritious and mucilaginous with the oleagi-
nous in proper proportions. Bean and pea meal alone are
often destructive or injurious. They require a little oiling.
A land valuer told me that he saw a plain farmer feeding his
splendidly fat cattle in a miserable old shed, and found he was
giving them small balls of bean meal mixed into a paste with
linseed oil. Here was " practice with science." I invariably
mix crushed and boiled linseed as soup with the chaff and
other ingredients and the pulped roots, and so we need no
choke ropes, and have no deaths from " blewing " among our
cattle. We never give our cattle more than from 30 to 50
lb. of pulped reds daily, mixed with their other food. That
venerable agriculturist, Mr. Lawrence, justly says the safest
course is to mix crushed linseed with pea or bean meal, and he
very properly protests against giving to bullocks 150 or 160
b.of roots daily, or, in other words, 16 gallons of water
with 1| gallon of dry food. He found 50 lb. of turnips a
sufficient supply (see Royal Agricultural Society's Journal,
First Series, Vol. 15, p. 488). I find that a bushel of pulped
roofs (mangel especially) are excellent food for horses, in ad-
dition to their dry food.

The Profit of Cattle Feeding must always be indirect.
no man, unless he is a farmer, can make a profit by feeding
cattle, if he has to pay market price for the food which they
consume. Even with pigs, which make the best return, I have
seen scores of balance-sheets, or correct accounts of cost and
sale, there has generally been a loss, which can only be com-
pensated for by the value of the manure. But for all that, the
feeding of live stock on a farm is the best basis of success, aud
the more that stock i» fed with food which was not produced

n our farms the greater and more profitable will be the crops

we grow. The misfortune of British agriculture is the small
quantity of meat (and consequently of manure) made per acre.
Owing to losses not conected with agriculture, I had to
reduce my number of slock, and I at once felt their loss by
diminished crops and profits. But, if our profits on stock feeding
depend on the manure produced, how very important it mus*
be that such manure should not be wasted, but all be applied to
the land. This is not, and cannot be done with uncovered
farmyards and exposed dungheaps ; but it can be, and is done,
by covered and enclosed yards with paved floors — from whence
the manure is conveyed direct to the land, with all its valuable
elements un wasted. Thirty years of my experience has prove
this to be correct, and the great crops which I have grown
give evidence of the soundness of my practice. I once asked a
Norfolk farmer how he charged his cake, which he used to the
extent of £1,000 per aunum, he replied, " I charge half to the
animals and half to the manure." My cattle on sparred floors
used to give me a quick return ; for the manure made one week
was washed into the growing crops the next, and in about six
weeks I had a grand second or third cut of Italian rye-grass.
The same remark applied in a degree to my root crops and
cabbage. I am a believer in eondimental food and linseed
soup as assistants to early ripeness. In former times I used to
wean and rear 30 Shorthorns annually, getting them from the
milk districts of Bucks, &c, but the cattle plague (which I
fortunately escaped) made me change my practice. How
easily the people of this country might be fed with home-
grown produce by a much larger investment of capital in meat-
making !

amount of fat meat, wool, and poultry sold at

tiptree hall.

18«7 £94-5 10 7

1868 1341 1 8

1869 1,083 6

1870 814 6

1871 1,106 8

1872
1873
1874

1875
1876

929 10
929 19
875 17
1,018 6
936 11

Deduct for lean stock purchased

£9,977 17 11
3,019 0 0

Meat actually made on the farm £6,958 17 11

I hope you wiil excuse all imperfections, as I had only a few
days to prepare this paper. I will only add ray advice to
young farmers to consult the chemist as to the value and qua-
lity of both cakes and artificial manures. For every shilling
so expended they may save or gain five.

Mr. Coleman said he had listened with much pleasure
to the eminently practical paper of Mr. Mechi. With
a great part of it he thought they would agree; and
indeed, the facts he had told them were well known to
most practical farmers (Hear, hear). There was one point
in the paper to which attention could not be too strongly
directed — one which his own experience confirmed, and to
which at the present time great importance was attached,
namely, the question of covered yards. That point would,
absorb the main part of the attention demanded by the paper.
There were many aspects in which it commended itself t0
their notice, and he desired to put it before them so as to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

show that the tenant could afford to pay a handsome interest
to his landlord for the erection of yards with covered sheds
(Hear, hear). From his own experience he found the tenant
could afford to pay such a sum as the landlord could afford to
borrow, repayable in a given time. The profit even on straw
alone would be so considerable as to enable the tenant to pay
7 per cent, on the outlay, and at a less rate the landlord could
uot borrow to repay in a given time. As to the qnestion of
straw, they were told by a good authority that a full-grown
beast in the ordinary yards would require 2011)9. a day of
litter to be kept as clean as it ought to be kept, and he
doubted very much whether that quantity would keep it clean,
whereas the quantity of litter required under cover was just
half the amount. If they took six months in the year as the
period when the yard was occupied, and estimated the straw
at £2 per ton — and in many cases it would be worth double
the amount — the saving on straw would be 32s. upon every
beast, supposing each beast to tccupy an area of 150 square
feet, and his own experience was that 150 square feet was an
excessive area for a beist, and that it did not require more
than 130 square feet. That was another feature of the
covered yard. A larger number of stock could be kept in a
given area when covered than in an open yard, where the
area for lying down was limited by the extent of the shed. In
a covered yard the beasts could lie down anywhere. That, in
connection with the fact that with s^raw at £2 per ton, a
saving of 32s. per head for the six mouths could be realised,
was very important.

The Chairman : You would often have to take the straw
at £i.

Mr. Coleman only estimated it at £2, as it was not every
man who could make £i out of it. Taking the cost of
covering a yard at 10s. per yard — and that was an excess
upon the average cost of covering yards, because where walls
already existed, as they did in most instances, he was right
in saying that 7s. 6d. would lie an extreme price for the
construction — the interest of the money would be only 12s.
per beast.

The Chairman : That is about the figure.

Mr. Coleman, upon this calculation, estimated that upon
straw alone the farmer would gain £1 per head upon every
beast. With respect to the value of the manure, he thought
there could be no question. His only doubt was whether the
paper estimated the difference sufficiently high. There it was
stated that ten yards of covered yard equalled fifteen of open.
He should go higher. With half the straw the manure was
doubled. Then there was the question of the progress of the
animal itself. He had no experience sufficiently accurate to
give an opinion as to what was the gain on that head, but it
had been estimated by those who had given attention to the
subjest that upon the feeding of animals one shilling each
per week was saved, Taking these poiuts altogether, he
thought the subject of covered yards one which strongly re-
commended itself to the attention of farmers. At present by
this means farmers could save ten, fifteen, and even twenty
tons of straw per annum, and he hoped that landlords and
agents would be intelligent and liberal enough to enable
farmers generally to make the best market they could (Hear
hear).

Mr. Taxlant (Easebourne Priory, Midhurst), asked wha*
about the grazing part of the question ? His experience was
that the most preferable method was to graze an animal to the
best advantage. He wag not one who was able to occupy land

which would fatten bullocks without assistance, but he occu-
pied land thrt would fatten bullocks with assistance given to it.
He!could say that if they could buy linseed cake at £12 per
ton, or cotton cake not exceeding £7 per ton, and give it oq
second-rate pasture they would find it not only of great
advantage to the animal but to the pasture itself. (Hear,
hear.) He had tested this on light land, and it was now able
to carry double the animals it could five years ago. The best
thing for a farmer to do in the matter of fattening animals was
to raise his own. Tying np cattle and feeding in stalls was a
very expensive process. (Hear, hear.) He was now selling
animals at £30 and £35 a piece which had been tied up only
five weeks. If farmers would pay a little more attention to
the nature of their pasture, giving to it bonedust, lime, and
other matters applicable to it, they would find it materially to
their advantage, and more profitable than erecting expensive
buildings and adopting some of the expensive processes of
which they had heard.

The Chairman j What about winter months?

Mr. Tallant admitted there were times when animals
must be stalled. He was a Lincolnshire man, and he could
assure them that there were farmers there who would not
"ave their horses housed in the winter, and that one gentleman
insisted that he should not have enclosed stables which his
landlord proposed erecting. If they did not accustom their
cattle to be closely confined they would not feel the effects of
bad weather. The best preventive against them was to feed
the stomach well ; lining the inside well would keep beasts
pretty free from disease. Their excellent Chairman had
alluded to farmers requiring a great amount of protection from
their landlords. He was not sure whether the Chairman had
read the paper on prize farms in Lancashire, which had ap-
peared in the last Jloyal Society's Journal, in which a gentleman
who was a judge of good authority said that he was surprised
to find that all those gentlemen, and a lady in particular, who
had won prizes in Lancashire had been sittiug on yearly
tenancies. (Hear, hear.) The best thing for a farmer to do
before taking a farm was to ascertain the character and reputa-
tion of the landlord. His experience was that no lease could
be drawn which could not be set aside from one cause or
another, and that a lease, sooner or later, tended to a vast
amount of confusion. The important matter was the reputa-
tion of the landlord. (Hear, hear.)

The Chairman: How about the landlord dyiug?

Mr. Keele (Ealing) was surprised to hear the idea expressed
in the piper that pleuro-pneuraonia was the result of draughty
sheds and of bad treatment, his experience, gathered in various
parts of the world where the disease was rife, and in others
where it was never known, being that it was not engendered
by bad treatment, but was the result of actual contact. (Hear,
herr.) That, he thought, was an accepted theory, and he was
surprised to hear the Chairman's view.

Mr. J, Walker (Stocksfield-on-Tyne) thought that
manure made npou the plan laid down in the paper would be
a very dear bargain indeed. He was an advocate for keeping
animals warm. He did not agree with all that Mr. Mechi
said as to making manure. He kept manure in an open yard,
and he found that rain falling upon it when not in excess did
it good, the rain apparently having within itself some fertilising
power. Of course he did not mean t o recommend an un-
spouted yard, and he took care to have a good large tank into
which were put seeds which might do harm, and which received
liquids, fitting thera to become useful instead of hurtful. He

6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

could tell them lie, was not a proud man of his vocation this
year, for he happened to have got his wheat spoiled with the
rain, and as there were some sprouts among it and some people
looked upon a few sprouts with a tenfold magnifying glass, he
was obliged to sell it at 48s. As to the kind of stock a farmer
should purchase and the manner in which he should feed them,
so much depended upon the nature and condition of his farm,
that it was difficult to lay down precise rules. This was clear,
however, that if anything was to be made of cattle they must be
well fed.

Mr. C. Fox (Woodlands, West Hootley, East Grinstead),
having been absent for two years from the Farmers' Club
meetings, attended that evening to hear the best mode of feed-
ing cattle so as to make a profit upon them. Up to that
moment he had not heard anything very definite upon the
subject. (Hear, hear.) He had fed cattle over and over
again, and he had never been able to do so in such a way as to
secure a profit.

The Chairman : You cannot farm profitably unless you do
that.

Professor Wrightson (The College, Cirencester) thought
the questiou put by the gentleman who had just sat down
scarce r, because it would depend largely upon the way

in which cattle were bought and sold whether a profit was
realised or not. It appeared to him that all that could be
expected from the debate upon this question would be simply
that there should be a comparison of experiences, not so
much as to the pounds, shillings, and pence realised in the
form of profit, as to the rate of feeding and the increase of
beef under certain conditions, whether in covered or in open
yards, the question of profit to be left to the individual ability
of each farmer. He was quite convinced that if a gentleman
who succeeded in making a bullock pay — and he knew men
who succeeded in doing so — related his experience to the
gentleman who had just sat down, and told him every detail,
it would not follow, if all those details were absolutely carried
out, that the gentleman adopting them would make his
bullocks pay. Therefore he should say that the question
before them was more with reference to the best possible
method which practice and science together could recommend ;
that was all that could be done in the discussion. As to the
management of cattle, their selection, the choice of men to
attend to them and seeing that they did their duty,
and many other points upon which the question
of profit must depend, they must be left to the individual
farmer. They could not throw the want of pecuniary success
upon a system because in some instances that system might
be followed with better success, and in certain instances some
details might be better attended to. The gentleman who
opened the discussion remarked that the paper did not offer
them anything very new. He was unfortunate in coming
into the room a little late, but in what be heard of the
paper, and in the discussion that followed, there was nothing
very fresh. But he did not see that they had an itching ear>
and required always to hear something new — like the
Athenians, who spent their time in going about hearing some
new thing — what was wanted was a greater appreciation of
the worx which had already been done. There was a want of
appreciation throughout the country of the value of the
researches upon this subject. They did not read enough ;
they did not sufficiently know what had been done and ascer-
tained. In saying that he wished to add a qualification. A
Farmers' Club such as that had heard so many times these
truths that they could not fail to know them. But they were

not known throughout the country, and they were not known
Lo the ordinary farmers of 100 and 200 acres. It had, therefore*
occurred to him that a project might be devised wherehy their
knowledge might be disseminated. Farmers of the class to
which he alluded did not read the Journal and did not read
the agricultural papers. Mr. Mechi's paper would not be
read by a tenth part of the farmers of the country. They
therefore ought to adopt a rather different mode of action*
He did not say they should di sturb the system of the Farmer's
Clnb. But they wanted another kind of association — some-
thing like the British Association. Now if they had an
agricultural conference — ( Cries of " Question.") If he was
wandering from the question he begged pardon, but he
thought his remarks bore direc tly upon the question. (No,
no.) What he desired to urge was that the knowledge which
was given to that room-full of members should be dissemi-
nated and he thought they ought to organise some means of
disseminating it. If they selected certain centres for con-
ference the farmers of the districts could attend. Would not
the farmers of a particular district drive into some selected
centre to hear what was to be said upon topics of so much
importance to them ? (No, no.) Then if that were so he
was sorry for them. It would be a pity if they would not do
so. He found that in other profe ssions it was the case that
nicii -il attend such gatherings. All of them there knew
these questions, had read upon them, and had dfscussed them,
but what they ought to do was to disseminate this knowledge.

Mr. C. A. Caidecott (Holbrook Grange, Rugby), advised
farmers never to allow their newly purchased stock to come
into contact with old stock for at least fourteen days after the
purchase. He was rather struck with the lecturer's remark
as to rent and tithe ocsasioning disturbance in the farmer's
calculation. There could not be much uncertainty as to the
tithe, which was taken at ten per cent, before the commutation,
in consequence of the high price of oats and barley. If the
Chairman had said rates instead, he could have understood
him, lor rates were increasing at such a rate that they far
outran the farmer's estimate when he took the land. As to a
matter of fact, he wished to make a remark. Mr. Coleman spoke
of straw at £2 per ton. Fifteen years ago, he (Mr. Calde-
cott) let a farm on a fourteen year's lease, with the condition
that he should have a supply of straw for home consumption
at £2. Some time after the tenant said that was not enough
and his agent suggested that the price should be 50s., which
he paid. At the present time he was paying to one of his
own tenants £5 a ton for some straw with which to thatch
some buildings.

Mr. T. Owen (Clapton, Hungerford), as a cattle feeder in
a small way, said he always found that the great object in the
first instance was to select animals that would fatten quickest,
and then to consider how the animals should be treated.
It was, above all things, most necessary to have a good
herdsman to look after them, and there should be regularity in
everything concerning them. The sooner a bullock lay down
when his belly was filled the better, and he never saw a
bullock doing well unless he lay down to rest speedily after
being fed ; rest had as much to do with his condition as feeding.
The food ought to be regulated in such a way that it could te
improved a little every day, or at any rate, every week-
The maxim in feeding ought to be to increase the quality o f
food and fatten the beast as soon as possible. It was
the same with sheep. He had seen sheep nibbling all day
and never lying down, and they never came to much. If a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

sheep when it filled its belly lay down, it would be sure to
make meat. He could only say upon one point which had
been discussed, that he found that animals must be lodged
very well. He quite agreed that they should be kept as
near as possible in the same atmosphere, and also very clean-
There could be no question of the great advantage of fattening
under cover, but at the same time many of them were
obliged to put up with what they had. He considered that nothing
was better for feeding than roots and oilcake, but he had also
found that the beasts could do as well on swedes or mangel,
but he never fouud it profitable to give straw to fatten bullocks.
They could not keep bullocks too well. He had bought
bullocks which paid him £1 a week iu some years, aud as
for others they would not pay 5s. a week. The selection was
everything.

Mr. Finlay Dun said, having had some experience, picked
up in various parts of the country, and having also had con-
siderable opportunities of conversing with breeders and feeders
both in England and in Scotland, he had come some years
ago to the conclusion that the greatest amount of profit was
to be got out of cattle by adopting something like the same
system in the feeding of them as was generally followed out in
the management of sheep — to keep the young animals thriv-
ing very rapidly from the very earliest calfdora, and to carry
them on quickly, so that they might not remain too long either
on pastures or in stalls, but be relegated to the shambles before
they were much more than two years of age. He believed tha^
where that was done, with tolerably careful management, £1
a month might be very readily obtained as the result of
feeding young beasts. Following out this system of beginning
early, and going steadily on, he had Irequently realised a gross
return of -o-t. per month for beasts sold for under
two years old. In some parts of the north of Eagland
some friends of his purchased their own calves, so that they
had always an opportunity of selecting the very best
beasts. They kept them on milk until they were from three to
four months old ; they supplemented the milk as soon as pos-
sible with a considerable quantity of linseed ; they taught them
to eat either hay, grass, or roots ; they gave them cake,
beginning with small quantities of ^lb. a day, gradually iu.
creased in amount, supplemented with mixed meals, and this
concentrated fare continued right on throughout the
whole period of their existence ; and the most successful
of these gentlemen managed to get rid of their beasts when
they were something like eighteen or twenty months old at
.£20 to £27 per head. In various parts of Scotland, there was,
as most of those present must be aware, only a very limited
area of grass land ; and among his Scotch friends this system
of feeding was successfully carried out, through keeping the
animals, in accordance with the recommendation of the Chair-
man, continuously under cover. (Hear, hear.) All of them knew
very well as practical farmers, graziers, and managers of
stock, that it did not do to keep young stock, when they were
afterwards to be turned out to grass, in covered yards, or too
warm. They knew that such animals stood still, even in mode-
rately warm weather, when they were turned out towards May
Day. It was, kowever, very different when the animal was
kept steadily growing and feeding right on from the
earliest period till it was twenty or twenty-four months old,
and then got rid of it. In that way they were compelled to
bring to the animals their roots, hay, or straw, and to use a
large quantity of artificial food ; but they were enabled by rapid
growth, by avoiding a check, by lessening the amount of disease,

and by turning their capital more rapidly, to secure a better
and a much more certain profit than otherwise could be obtained.
They were enabled to cover the expense of bringing the food
to the yards and of getting out of the manure, which obtained
under such management, was of greatly iucreased value.
Under this high-pressure system of feeding, of course, a larger
amount of capital was required ; but there could be no doubt
that by managing in that way they were enabled profitably to
turn over the capital more rapidly than with the ordinary sys-
tem, under which an animal went on first gaining flesh and
then losing it, being kept on grass land in summer, and in
winter turned into a cold uncomfortable yard, often losing
time and condition, and wasting valuable straw, The system of
first piling on and then pnlling off flesh could not be a profit-
able one either for the feeders of cattle or for the nation, and
he hoped it would be superseded by the system to which lie had
imperfectly alluded.

Mr. Clement Cadle (Gloucester) said he did not at all
concur in the complaint made by Mr. Fox as to the manner
in which the subject was dealt with in the paper ; but he hoped
the Chairman would explain what he meant when he said that
their American friends had found out how to make out of
eight pounds of maize one pound of meat. If that were the
case, and the meat could be sold at 8d. per lb., leaving a profi
of 25 per cent., the wonder was that the Americans sent any
maize here at all, that they did not send the maize already
made into beef. There was another point which was worthy
of notice, and that was that the putting on of fat was nature's
provision for a rainy day. Animals stored up fat against a
time when they might want it, and every time an animal got a
chill, or took cold, as a matter of course, it lost so much fat.
Therefore, looking at the matter in that light, there was one
of the strongest arguments in favour of keeping an animal
warm while they were feeding it. Warmth was, in fact, almost
everything up to a certain point. So far as his experience had
gone, as a matter of theory, that was worthy of notice, and
he was pleased to hear Mr. Coleman bring it forward, because
he thought discussion was wanted. Practically, men
generally were, he knew, against Mr. Coleman ou that point ;
but as a matter of theory, what he advocated ought to be the
best thing, for the simple reason that under it animals werel
kept warm.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said he had listened with a great dea
of pleasure to that discussion ; and if they had not heard much
that was new, they had heard a good deal that was useful
If they had only heard what his friend Mr. Coleman said
about the advantages of covered yards, that evening would
not have been entirely wasted. He so entirely endorsed what
that gentleman said on that subject that he was glad that he
had put his views before them in such a practical and plain
manner. He believed that the waste of manure and of feeding
material which occurred ia conseque. ce of animals getting
wet and cold was much greater than almost anyone knew or
MQld eas.ly conceive. Take, for instance, the county of Nor-
folk. During the last three wet winters the loss of manure
alone was incalculable. Mr. Coleman said very truly that a
landlord could borrow money and pay it back at the rate of
7 per cent, to provide covered yards. That sounded
a good deal, but he quite agreed with Mr. Coleman that a far-
mer could afford, even in these hard times, to pay his land-
ord 7 per cent, for the outlay on that improvement. He was
more fortunate than such a person would be; he had a
liberal landlady, and on hi, asking her to build a covered

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

yard and offering to p\y five per cent., she complied at once
iuiiI he assured them that the yard had proved a great comfort
and saving in various ways. It was not a costly affair, the
estimate being only £100 for the roof.
The Chairman asked what was the extent.
Mr. Read said the yard was 60 feet square, in addition to
which there was an old shed of 20 feet, so that altogether there
was 60 feet by 80. He had boxed a portion of it off, and he was
very well satisfied indeed with the result.

The Chairman inquired how the yard came to be so
cheap.

Mr. Read replied that the roof was in one span, covered
with dry pantiles, and that no walls had to be made,
there being walls already for the roof to rest upon.
He had said that he had listened to the discussion
with pleasure. He had also listened to it with a
certain amount of pain, because almost everything seemed to
tell against the Norfolk graziers. His friend, Mr. Tallant,
was, no doubt, right in saying that it wis advantageous to give
cattle cake upon grass lands ; but in Norfolk they had little
grass land, and therefore they could not reap the advantage
mentioned. Another gentleman said they should breed their
animals, rear them, and then fatten them. That could not be
done in Norfolk ; they had not got the calves to begin with,
and they were obliged to get their store stock from breeders
who would let them have them from a distance. One gentle-
man had asked whether stall-feeding ever paid. It seldom
paid, he admitted, but there were seasons when even that
branch of husbaudry was remunerative, and lie might add that,
if it had not been for the very fair grazing year last winter,
the farmers of Norfolk would have been much worse off even
than they were. They bought their stock reasonably, they had
a good root crop of excellent quality, and they so'd their beef
at remunerative prices. As regarded cake, he believed that as
a rule 1 cwt. of cake would, in addition to other food,
produce a stone of beef, and considering its high
manurial value, if applied judiciously, it would answer
remarkably well. (A. Voice : " What is the price ? ") He
could buy good linseed cake at 10 gs. a ton. A gentleman
said it cost £12, but he had not heard of that price within the
last eighteen months. There was something very curious
about the fashion in which the cattle were fed with
roots. He was old enough to remember the time when
their grandfathers fed cattle on whole turnips. Then
there was introduced the sheer ; after that came the
cutter, and turnips were shredded ; and after that came pulp
ing. Now they had gone back to Gardner's turnip cutter;
some persons had gone back to the slicer; and Mr. Robert Leeds,
before he retired from farming, actually gave turnips whole as
they were given 100 years ago. He believed that Mr.
M'Combie also fed cattle with turnips whole. Of course in
that case the cattle must be old and well matured. If they
were to feed young cattle in that way probably they would
soon give it np. (A. Voice : " It would choke them.") He
quite agreed with the gentleman who said, in opposition to the
supposed view of the Chairman, that pleuro-pneumonia was
not caused by a draught in a warm shed. He thought the
Chairman hardly meant that it was ; what he meant, probably
was that a draught rendered animals more liable to take pleuro-
pneumonia than they otherwise would be. They would not
ctually take it, however, except by contagion. The Chairman
was eloquent about the advantages possessed by American
farmers. No doubt they had great advantages and so e

drawbacks, and were likely to be formidable competitors with
them in the sale of the produce of their farms. But the
farmers of this country were not likely ever to be owners of
large quantities of land ; it would not answer their purpose as
farmers to own land, it was too much of a luxury, and they
must be content to be occupiers. He could wish that all
occupied under as good and liberal an owner as he did, his
liberty as regarded tillage being quite as great as it could
be if the land was his own. Their excellent Chairman told
them that the salvation of the country depended on their keep-
ing more stock and then he told them that to keep stock did not
pay. They must look, he said, at the indirect profits. What
were the indirect profits? He meant growing corn. That did
not pay, and he must, therefore, ask him to explain — and he
had an explanation for everything — how he could reconcile the
suggested prosperity of agriculture in connection with the
development of stock-feeding, which did not pay, in order to
grow more corn, which everybody admitted was a losing game.
The Chairman's remark about the litter in relation to covered
yards was quite true. His friend on his left (Mr. Walker)
said he thought a certain amount of water in manure would
do no harm. Unfortunately they could not control the amount
of water which went into an open yard, and in the last three
yenr« hP na^ never seen any yard which was not too wet.
Their yards in Norfolk had been perfect Sloughs of Despond
the cattle were np to their bellies in slush, and therefore he
was quite sure that the provision of boxes, stalls, or of covered
yards was the only way in which stall feeding could be made
to pay. They had not heard very much as to the mode of
feeding cattle. It was well remarked by Mr. Owen that cattle
should, if possble have a progressive diet — that is a diet which
advanced in quality from week to week, especially in the case
of young stock. But unless care were taken to avoid exces
there would be waste. He did not hel'eve the stomach of an
ox would assimilate more then 7 or 8 lb. of cake, and when he
heard lately of its being given to the extent of 10 lb , 12 lb.,
13 lb., and even 14 lb., he felt sure that that was a most
wasteful way of manufacturing manure. It was very importan
that the cake used should be pure, clear, and sound. There
was an enormous mass of rubbish which was sold under the
name of cotton cake. If any one would take a wine glass and
put in it a nobble of common cotton cake he would find not
more than 50 per cent, soluble in water, and a large proportion
of it consisted of husk and woolly fibre which was not worth
fid. a ton. If they used artificial food they should
take care that it was of the right kind, and they should be
especially careful to purchase the best linseed decorticated cake
they could obtain.

Dr. Voelcker (Salisbury-square) said Mr. Read had un-
derstated the amount of husk in cotton-cake. The percentage
of husk in cottonseed he found amounted on an average to
40 per cent. Although the husk of cottonseed had no feeding
value, it was not altogether a worthless material for it con-
tained an astringent principle in virtue of which undecorticated
cotton-cake was very useful for stock out on rough pasture, or
fed upon succulent food which has a tenden cy to scour
animals. Undecorticated cotton-cake counteracted this ten-
dency, and was a very useful food under such circumstances-
(A voice " What about young calves ?") Undecorticated cotton-
cake should not be given to calves, and decorticated cotton-
cake required to be given to animals judiciously. He had
had brought under his notice more than 100 cases in which
cotton-cake was alleged to have poisoned sheep aad cattle. He

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

found, however, that the alleged injury was due to the in.
Judicious way in which cotton-cake was given to stock. A
ood so rich in albuminons compound as decorticated cotton-
cike required to be broken up very fine, or better still, to be
ground into meal, which should be mixed with twice its weight
of Indian com, rice-meal, or other meals, comparatively
peaking poor in nitrogenous or albuminous compounds, and
rich in non-nitrogenous or starchy constituents.

Mr. Walter iv:shed to know whether any gentleman had
ever tried the value of wheat-meal as compared with cotton
cake, as he had.

Mr. Read said that two years ago he tried it. He con-
sumed 200 quarters of wheat, and more worthless stuff as
manure lie had never found.

Mr. Walter said bis experience was totally different, :ind
be bid derived great advantage from the use of wheat-meal
in feeding pigs.

Mr. Bell (Secretary of the Farmers' Club, Newcastle-on-
Tyne) said he fed a few cattle himself, and, if he did not think
jt paid to do so, either directly or indirectly, he would cer-
tainly not do so. The question of paying, however, depended,
as had been remarked that evening, very much upon buying
and selling. He had had some cattle which had paid him Is.
a week and others which had paid him 25s. Perhaps the
cattle which paid him Is. a week were fed the best, but he
could not continue feeding them for a long time. He con-
curred in the opinion that the main secret of feeding cattle was
to feed them from the day when you get them. Iu the case of
cattle that had been calved on his own farm, the mother and
the calf grazed together during the summer ; he gave them
artificial food and some hay in the winter, and sold them in
the spring, getting from £20 to £25 for calves twelve months
old. (A. Vjice : " How long were they milked ?") Up to
the time when they were sold. He happened to have had
some experience with regard to covered yard Part of his
own cattle were fed in a box, and he could only say that he
wished all farmers had covered yards. It would be much
better both for the beast and for the manure, which was in-
finitely superior when kept under cover to what it was when
exposed. In Durham the Earl of Durham had covered the
whole of the yards on his estate, and the experience of his
tenants was such that they would be sorry to be without
them. As regarded the question of feeding stnffs, wliich was
brought belore the Newcastle Club on Saturday, he would ob
serve that in an able article in the Journal of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society Dr.Voelcker estimated the value of the residue
decorticated cotton-cake at £6 10s. per ton, and that of undecor-
ticated at £4 18s. 6d. per ton. Referring to what had just been
said on that subject, namely, that 40 per cent, of ordinary
cotton-cake consisted of husks, he must say he could hardly
reconcile that with the estimated value of what had passed
through the animals.

Mr. H. Neild (The Grange, Worsley, Manchester) said
that in travelling along the railway that day he was struck
with the necessity for covered yards, which would well repay
agriculturists for the money expended upon them. With
respect to calves, he would remark that in his opinion their
food should be given to them in a mucilaginous state. The
same principles as had been adopted in reference to the
human body were applicable to animals ; and the other day
his herdsman remarked that he wished to study the feeding of
the animals under him as he would prepare his own dinner.
It would be impossible to give a categorical answer to such

a question as that of Mr. Fox-»-what kind of feeding would
pay best ? — a< that must depend on a variety of details which
dovetailed into each other. Their Chairman bad made mis-
takes, but, unlike many others, he had had the courage to
confess his mistakes, and he believed the whole of the farming
community felt iidebted to him for what he hud done for
agriculture (cheers). The allusion just made to the. Journal
of the Royal Agricultural Society reminded him of the good
done by the competition for prizes at the Liverpool Show,
and the results showed what might be done with freedom in
farming.

Mr. T. Horley (Leamington) remarked that the great
difficulty in the path of cattle feeders was the suffering to
which to which they had been subjected from foreign diseases.
They did not know what they really could not do if they had
a few years free from disease. The fact was, however, that
breeders were frightened to death. A great number of small
farmers had given np breeding. Before fair data could be
ascertained in relation to feeding ihey would require to have
a continuance, for a reasonable period, of health in their
herds. There was hardly a man in the room who bad a large
herd who, like himself, had not suffered enormous losses. So
many circumstances modified the question of feeding — the
nature of the soil, the quantity of roots allowable, and other
kindred matters — that it would be impossible to lay down any
definite rule as to the best plan of feeding. Roots were never
so nutritious as when the animals gnawed them themselves.
Pulping never would have been introduced except for the
shortness in the supply of roots and in order to economise
them. Gnawing the roots led to the secretion of saliva
which was most useful to the animal. The value of the
manure must be taken into account in estimating the profit
derived from an animal, though he thought £15 a ton was
more than it was worth, and he believed substitutes could be
purchased at a cheaper rate. He hoped the discussion would
not be barren.

The Chairman, replying to the remarks which had been
made upon his paper, acknowledged the attention which it
had received, and then went on to point out that the question of
profit and loss upon his farm was governed by the quantity of
fat stock he had, and it appeared to him that that was a
settlement of the question so far. If he kept twenty bullocks
instead of forty he missed them almost immediately. There
was not the requisite quantity of manure, and the manure
followed in an exact ratio the quantity of meat he made. As
to plenro-pnenmonia, he found that animals exposed to
draughts took it, and those not so exposed escaped it. Like
other diseases it arose from improper conditions. He was
glad that the value of covered yards was so generally ac-
knowledged, though it was no new thing to him, for he
adopted the plan thirty years ago, and had been constantly
talking about it : so that now he might at last congratulate
himself and the country that an impression had been made in
the right direction. The authorities on the question would
at once disclose the calculation showing that 8 lb. of maize
made 1 lb. of meat.

Mr. Brown. Chairman-elect for the ensuing year, moved a
vote of thanks to the Chairman for his able paper.

Mr. Phipps, M.P., seconded the motion, remarking upon
the great and self-sacrificing energy in which the Chairman had
devoted to the interests of the farming class.

The motion was cordially carried, and, having been acknow-
ledged by Mr. Mechi, the meeting separated.

10

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE FARMER'S CLUB DINNER.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Annual Dinner of the Farmer's
Club took place at the Criterion, the chair being filled by Mr.
Mechi, and the company numbering about 100, including
Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., Mr. Phipps, M.P., Mr. Pell, M P., the
Rev. E. Smythies, Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. J. Thompson,
Mr. Maslen, Mr. Major Lucas, Mr. Brown (Chairman-elect for
1878), Mr. Horley, Mr. Weston Tuxford, Mr. Owen Walli8,
Mr. Jenkins, Mr. T. Scott, Mr. E. Little, Mr. H. Little, Mr
R. Dring, Mr. J. Druce, Mr. S. B. L. Druce, Mr. Allender,
Mr. Treactwell, Mr. C. M. Caldecott, Mr. H. Overman, Mr.
Walter Farthing, &c. &c. The dinner was of the very best
description.

After the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman gave " The
Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces,'' Captain George W-
Carter, R.N., responding for the Navy, and Mr. Matthews
of Wolverhampton, for the Volunteers.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen
I rise with a deep sense of responsibility to propose the nex£
toast. I have had entrusted to me a two-fold toast, namely )
" Success to the Farmers' Club — thanks to the members who
have read papers during the past year " ; and last, but cer-
tainly not kast, the health of our Chairman (cheers).
We have to thank the gentlemen who have ^during the year
read a series of most excellent papers. The first one was
read, I believe, by our young and able Secretary, Mr. Druce,
on the Agricultural Holdings Act. Sometimes, when a man
makes a speech down in the country, a little bit of it gets
into the L mdon papers, and it not unfrequently happens that
what he says is imperfectly reported. On a recent occasion I
said that I " highly approved of the Agricultural Holdings
Act," but the London papers did not add my postscript, which
was, " with the exception of the permissive clause " : and that,
I consider, makes all the difference. (Hear, hear.) I was
very much astouished when the returns prepared by Mr.
Druce wer laid before the C ub to find tliat the landlords of
England, " with one consent, began to make excuse," and to
contract themselves out of what I believe ought to be an uni-
versal law (cheers). I do not care how compensation is
iven to the tenant so long as it is secured to him, either by
law, by custom, or by agreement ; but I am positive of this —
that until tenants have an absolute and inalienable right to
their improvements the farming of England cannot flourish
(cheers). The Act went a great way towards making that
right permanent. It was all that the Parliament of England
could do at the time, and it was really something for Parlia-
ment to say that it was necessary to pass an Act to secure
their rights to tenants. It may be asked what sort of an
Act they should have passed. If there was to be permissive
legislation I would have had a very short Act indeed, simply
giving the tenant a legal right to his improvements, and
leaving him to make what bargain he pleased. But Parlia-
ment willed to pass the existing Act, as if it thought that after
having tried to have it worked permissively it might in a
short time make it compulsory. Well, then, we had papers on
" Pauperism and Providence," " Sheep Breeding and Manage-
ment," "American Farming and American Agricultural Maclii.
nery," " The Products of the Dairy," and last, and certainly not
least,a mostexcellent paper was read last night by our Chairman,
on "The Most Profitable System of Feeding Cattle." Not only
did the Chairman read to us a very good paper, but he did it
with hardly a moment's notice. A gentleman whose name
had been placed on the card was unable to introduce that sub-

ject in consequence of illness, and with scarcely any prepara-
tion Mr. Mechi, out of his own fertile brain, gave us a most
interesting paper on that very important topic (cheers.)
The discussion turned very much upon covered yards. Mr.
Mechi told ua that he advocated the use of such yards thirty
years ago. Well, there is nothing new under the sun, and
the stalled ox of which we read in the Proverbs of Solomon
was probably fattened under cover — (laughter) — and although,
as we all know, our Chairman has been a great pioneer in
agriculture, yet some of the theories and some of the practice
which he has endeavoured to instil into us are not altogether
new. Our excellent friend in the chair is, I may remark, a
thorough evergreen ; he is a man who was born three-quarters
of a century ago, and I hope that if any of us should live
as long as he has done we may be as good men as he is
(cheers.) He has been the best-abused man connected with
the agricultural interest, and there, can be no doubt that he
has turned away a great deal of wrath by the soft and amiable
answers he has always been ready to give to opponents,
(cheers). He has always been most amiable and convivial;
amid the most trying provocations he has always been the
most courteous of men ; and he was at last honoured — for I
do think it was an honour to him — by being asked to become
the Chairman of this Club. If he has had a fault it has been
a very pleasing one — it is that owing to his genial and bright
temper he has hardly ever been able to look on the dark side
of the picture. The man who is a great pioneer should no1
only mark the channels through which men may sail, but
should also depict the shoals and quicksands in which smaller
men may founder. (Hear, hear.) I believe our excellent
Chairman has recently written a book, but I have not yet
had the pleasure of readiug it. In my early life I was a great
admirer of Mr. Mechi, aud one of his most ardent disciples.
When I first began farming I went on thin-soring barley
and the result was that within two years I lost about £500,
Very soon after I followed the advice of our excellent Chair-
man, doubling the amount of the seed, and the result was
satisfactory. He has recently told us that he has found that
the turning up of a very indifferent subsoil by deep steam
ploughing is not altogether profitable to the farmer. Gen-
tlemen, whatever we may say about our worthy President,
we cannot say too much in his praise as an advauced agri-
culturist. And there is one thing that he has done which will
live much longer than all his theories and all his fallacies —
and that is that he is one of the chief founders, if not the real
louuder, of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution —
(loud cheers) — and when his loug and useful and active life
has ended — may that day be far distant — I am quite
sure that generations of ruined farmers — for there will be
ruined farmers in succeeding generations as well as in this
one — many heart-broken widows, and many desolate orphans
will bless the name of Mechi (great cheering).

The Chairman, in responding, said no man could know so
well as he did his weaknesses and failings, and hence he could
the more fully appreciate the kindness evinced towards him.
It was now more than thirty years since he first began farm-
ing. At that time he observed, while going about shooting,
that one field produced abundauce of corn and auother very
little — that one field was very wet and another very dry — and
the conclusion at which he arrived was that there was great
need for improvement. He believed agriculture could never
be developed as it ought to be while farmers were subject to
so much restraint, and had uot proper security, any more than

tradesmen in a town could expend capital successfully without
leases. Agriculture was now fettered and shackled, and what
farmers required, and landowners should be willing to concede,
was freedom of action. He concluded by giving "The Royal
Agricultural Benevolent Institution."

Mr. J. K. Fowler, in responding, claimed for that Institu-
tion extended support from the farming community.

Mr. Pell, M.P., proposed "The Royal Agricultural Society
of England, the Highland Society, and the Royal Agricultural
S jciety of Ireland." He said he felt very much indebted to
t he first of th'se Societies for the instruction which it afforded
him in his early days. He was an old member of that Society,
having joined it in 1841, about the time wlieu the Chairman
began issuing his interesting pamphlets, he himself following
Mr. Parkes's views in preference to those of the Chairman
with regard to the position of draius (Hear, hear). He had
to couple with the toast the name of Howard — a name borne
by two illustrious brothers, one of whom was distinguished for
his mechanical — not to say his parliamentary — ability, and the
other in the not less useful field of agriculture. He coupled
the toast with the name of Mr. Cha rles Howard (cheers). As
regarded the Agricultural Holdings Act, he felt thanktul for
the concession which had been made by the Legislature.
Four years ago it would have been impossible to give tenants
security for their improvements in the only way in which it
was worth accepting, namely, by a charge on the laDd in the
absence of custom. He admitted that it was unpleasant for
farmers to demand an agreement for compensation before
entering upon an occupation — that it might cause them to be
viewed with suspicion instead of favour ; but all such feelings
would, he hoped, soon pass away, and if anything could make
them pass away and render the principle of compensation
acceptable to landlords, surely it was the present condition of
agriculture. Let them go where they would, they would find
that, except on the very best grass lands, farmers were indis-
posed to undertake cultivation, especially on heavy lands of a
soapy nature and imperfectly drained, unless the owner would
concede that freedom and security which recent legislation was
designed to give them. As regarded leases, the objection to
hem was that there was nearly always an increase of rent on
heir expiration .

Mr. Charles Howard said he felt it a great honour to be
asked to respond for such a toast. There was, he believed, a
bright future before the Royal Agricultural Society of Eng-
land. Its Journal, as now conducted, offered most pleasant
reading to tenant-farmers ; its Sh«ws were such that the only
complaint made about them was that nobody could see all ;
and it had played a most useful part in connection with the
recent outbreak of cattle plague and the importation of live
stock. He believed it was mainly owing to the Council of
that Society that the House of Commons appointed a Select
Committee to investigate the last-mentioned subject; and
perhaps the Government would not at all dislike having some
pressure upon it, in order that there might be no delay in
legislating. The fact that millions had been sacrificed among
the flocks and herds of this kingdom through the importation
of foreign live stock rendered it indeed necessary that there
should be immediate legislation, not only in the interest of the
farmers, but also in that of the consumers (cheers). Ireland
was a great nursery for breeding stock, and he hoped the
Government would do something to ensure its stock being
imported in future in a more healthy condition than it had
been hitherto. He felt exceedingly obliged to the Chairman
for the kind manner in which he had associated his own nam

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. U

witta that toast, but he could not help regretting that that
genleman was an apologist for a measure relating to the
capital of tenant's which had justly not found favour among
farmers as a body (cheers).

Mr. I'uiips, M.P., said he had to propose the coming star,
" The Chairman Elect," Mr. Brown. The actual Chairman,
while he had received as much praise as any man could
desire, had also been rated to a certain extent with regard to
theories which he had advocated with regard to agriculture.
The Chairmau Elect was, he believed, perfectly sale on that
point (laughter). If any complaint had to be made in refer-
ence to that geutleman, it was that he was not theoretical
enough, but rather too practical; but all who, like himself,
were engaged in agriculture must know very well that an
ounce ot practice was worth a pound of theory. On the. other
hand, he was sure all present would admit that the great im-
provements in modern agriculture were mainly due to those
who might be called gentlemen of theory ; and it was for
them to examine the theories which were presented to their
notice, and see whether they were in accordance with practice,
and cast them aside if they were not (Hear, hear). It was a
great horour for any man to be the President of that Club ;
but he was quite sure the Committee had made a good selec-
t ion, and that that time next year he would be as deservedly
well received as even Mr. Mechi had been that evening.

Mr. Brown having briefly returned thanks proposed " The
Smithfield Club."
Mr. J. Drtjce responded.

Mr. H. Little proposed " The Committee of Manage,
ment."

Mr. Horley, in responding, said he was proud to belong
to the Committee, because he believed that few institutions in
this country had done more good than the Farmers' Club.
He regretted that the list of members was, comparatively
speaking, so small, and he hoped that every member would
try to increase its uselulntss by increasing its members. He
hoped they would not relax their efforts in relation to the
prevention of cattle disease, whether collectively or individu-
ally. They had got a moderately favourable Report, secured
by great cost and labour on the part of a few individuals
scattered throughout England, and he hoped they would all
exert themselves now in order that that Report might have a
useful practical issue (cheers) . As regarded the Agricultural
Holdings Act, it had been his contention from boyhood that
the land of England would never be properly cultivated until
tenant-farmers had a better chance of obtaining compensation
for unexhausted improvements, and he trusted that that object
would soon be realised.

Mr. T. Scott followed with some remarks in which he
warmly expressed his sense of the necessity of better legisla-
tion in relation to the capital of tenant-farmers.

The Chairman sajd he had now to propose a toast which
he was sure they would all receive most cordially, " The
Secretary" (cheers). The name of Druce was associated with
the production of a new breed of sheep called "the Oxford
Downs," and the Club had now a young Oxford Down for its
Secretary (laughter). That gentleman had great legal
knowledge, and it was evinced in the masterly manner in
which he introduced last year the subject of the working of
the Agricultural Holdings Act. He had now to propose Mr.
Druce's health, and he hoped he would long live to display his
nergies and his administrative powers for the benefit and
advancement of that Club (cheers).

12

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. S. B. L. DRUCEsaid he thanked thein most sincerely for
the kind and cordial manner in which they had received the
toast. In responding to the same toast last year he came
amongst them as a new man, and the gentleman who proposed
it very appositely compared him to a bailiff entering on a new
farm (laughter). During his first year of office he received
the greatest possible assistance from the chairman of that year,
Mr. Horley, who carefully instructed him in his duties, and it
would be ungrateful in him not to make that acknowledgment.
It would not only be his duty but a very gieat pleasure to
try and increase the number of members, and to enlarge the
amount of good which the Club did throughout the length and
breadth of England by disseminating more widely the reports
of the discussions which took place at their meetings —
discussions which he believed conduced very greatly to the
benefit of the farming interest throughout the whole country
(cheers). As regarded his paper on the Agricultural Holdings
Act, to which such complimentary allusion had been made
he might observe that the returns given th^re were so
extensive that there was not a single county in England
which was not included. That Act was, he knew, not viewed
altogether favourably by the members of the Farmers' Club ;
but it could not be denied that it recognised a great principle
(cheers) — the principle that the tenant ought not to lose
capital which he expended in the improvement of the farm. He
was far from saying that the Act was all that tenant-
farmers could desire, but it certainly recognised an
important principle. As the new bailiff of the Club
he had expressed his gratitude to the Chairman last year.
But there was another gentleman to whom, as the Secretary
of that Club, he owed a deep debt of gratitude, and that was
his predecessor in office (loud cheers). His predecessor had
advantages that he had not ; he was more of a farmer than
he (Mr. Druce) was ; for although, as their Chairman had
intimated, he was bred as an Oxford D iwu, yet, to his shame and
deep regret He it s^id, he was not hi mself a breeder of those
Downs (laughter). When he entered upon his new duties he
found that one who succeeded to an office which had been well
filled had, comparatively speaking, an easy position. He
was not a private friend of his predecessor, having known

hiin only iu his official position, and therefore in what he,
was about to say, he could not be actuated by any motives
of friendship or intimacy with Mr. Corbet. In his re-
searches as Secretary into the memoranda details ana
past accounts of the Club, he had found that all were
well and ably kept and attended to during no less
a period than thirty years (cheers). The accounts
were all ship-shape ; everything was clear and straightfor-
ward ; there was not a sixpence or a penny wrong ; there wai
not a single memorandum that was not as it ought to be ;
there was not one atom or particle of leeway to be made up,
and all he had to do was to take up and carry on the good
work which, unfortunately, through ill-health, his predecessor
was compelled to abandon. He regretted to have to state
that Mr. Corbet was not only in ill-health but also in an
embarrassed pecuniary position — (Hear, hear) — and it ha
been suggested by Mr. Charles Howard that the members o^
that Club should do, not collectively, but individually, what
they could to assist him in his present unfortunate state. He
(Mr. Druce) was only too happy to render any assist-
ance in his power in furtherance of that object, and he had
accordingly promised to take charge of any subscriptions
which might be paid towards the fund which was
being raised on Mr. Corbet's behalf. He was hapoy to
say that the appeal which had been made had, so far, been well
responded to ; he had received more than £200, and he could
s'ate, on good authority, that a Society whose name he was not
at liberty to mention, because it was a rule of that Society
that what it did of that kind should not be published — a
Society connected with the public Press, to which , as he
supposed most of those present were aware, Mr. Corbet was for
many years connec'ed — had made a donation of £100 (cheers).
He trusted that the hearts of all would he open to that appeal,
and that amid the good cheer which distinguished the festive
season of Christmas the members of the Club would not
forget their former Secretary in the calamity which had be-
fallen him (cheers).

The Chairman afterwards proposed "The Ladies," and the
company then separated.

SEWAGE, SEWERAGE, AND TOWN REFUSE.

By Liet.-Col Jones, V.C., Assoc. Inst. C.E.*

There are probably persons here who know as much or
more than myself on this subject, and others to whom it is
altogether a new one ; but I would ask the former to bear
with me while I go over old ground, in order to make my
meaning clear to those who have hitherto regarded the waste
products of civilised life as of little or no account for good or
evil. Sewage consists of urine, fcecal matter, soapsuds, slop
water, dish washings, and a variety of foul liquids from various
trades, all mingled and broken up by a more or less length-
ened passage through a system of sewers, and the compound
emerges at the outfall usually iu a thick, dark-coloured
stream, holding a good dell of suspended matter, which will
soon subside if allowed a sufficient area of tank accommoda-
tion to tranquilise the stream. Milk of lime and other re-
agents are often used to augment the precipitate, with a view
to clarification ; but when the effluent from properly c in-

* Read at the Leamington Sanitary Congress.

structed tanks can be applied to land irrigation simple subsi
dence is sufficient for all practical purposes, and even that is
unnecessary when the sewage is to be applied only to mangels,
vegetables, or fallo v land. It should be borne in mind that
no practical chemical treatment in tanks can ever effect th
purification of sewage as land and plant life effect it, and that
nearly all the organic matter which was in solution in the
sewage will pass away with the effluent after auy such treat-
ment, while the bulk of the sediment will be augmented by
any precipitating agent employed. This sediment is called
sewage sludge, and has been found to be a veritable nuisance
which no one concerned would desire to obtain in greater
quantity than absolutely necessary. In fact, the arrangement
of a few bodies to stop floating bodies, and perhaps a loose
sceen or two, with a perfectly level weir, over which only a
thin film of water can flow out of the tank (provided the
latter be long enough for the volume of sewage), will ensure

TJtLJfi FAKMEK'8 MAUINJUAZ

13

nearly as clear an effluent as can be produced by any known
process of chemical precipitation. Sewerage is the term applied
to the system of sewers receiving the sewage, and conveying
it to the outfall, and all the ashes, cinders, solid organic and
inorganic matter, collected with street sweepings, &c, in
scavengers' carts, may be called town refuse as a wide term
to embrace everything which is not conveyed by sewers or
known as pail stuff, and which for sanitary reasons must be
removed from populous places by the local authority. Before
the introduction of water-closets all foccal matter and urine
which did not percolate the soil was stored up with ashes,
&c, in middens or more horrible underground cesspools, which
were cleaned out at irregular intervals of a year or two, and
their contents spread by farmers upon their fields near the
town. But ere they could be thus removed putrefaction set
in, and rendered the removal a work of some danger and con-
siderable nuisance, as many of us can testify who remember
the odour of a night cart aud the discolouration of paint ou
the privy seat due to the sulphuretted hydrogeu evolved from
the cesspool below. With the water closet came a generally
increased water suppl/, aud sanitariaus at once began to agi-
tate for a system of sewerage to remove the water after it had
been fouled by use. The first Public Health Act added a
stimulus in the same direction, and farmers began to find it
more profitable to buy guano, introduced about the same time,
of such strength that three or four cwts. would go farther as
a mauuie than many tons of nightsoil, without requiring the
labour of spreading and afterwards picking off stones, pots,
pans, &c. from the land : so that nightsoil became a drug in
the market. All these causes contributed to a hasty adoption
of systems of sewerage before engineers had sufficient data
regarding the movement of sewage through a smooth pipe or
brick sewer. The nearest natural watercourse was selected
for an outfall ; aud partly because it was thought that the
ordinary course of sewage would not be sufficiently liquid to
keep the sewers open, aud partly because it appeared econo-
mical and desirable to incorporate the whole or portions of
old drains (provided for surface and subsoil water), with the
new system, it was generally most unfortunately determined
to remove not only sewage, but all the surface, aud some of
the subsoil, water through the new underground channel.
The first of these errors has now to be corrected by tne expe-
dient of pumping sewage which might in many cases have been
retained at a level sufficiently elevated to command land for
ts purification, and the second has probably contri-
buted more than anything else to the difficulty of
jealing with the output of the sewers, because no far-
mer can reasonably be expected to receive an unlimited
quantity of diluted sewage ; and consequently Local Boards
who had thus depreciated their manure were reduced to the
necessity of attempting to become sewage farmers, and their
failure in that line has been universal and conspicuous.
Whereas if sewers of smaller section had been laid down little
or no flushing would have been required ; because the average
water supply of a town, nearly all of which must pass away
by the sewers, would amply suffice to keep up a regular flow,
removing continuously all foul matter from the town, and there
would be a definite and known quantity of sewage to dispose
of instead of a valuable flow of sewage and water, only known
to be the greatest and most diluted in those seasons when land
is likely to suffer from excessive watering from the clouds-
So much for the economical evils of a hastily-devised system
of combined drainage aud sewerage ; but its sanitary results

are still more objectionable, for it is evident that there mu8i<
be limits to the amount of foul liguid wrhich can be deal'
with by any system of purification, or even clarification
and that any excess above the limit of the means for those end8
must have a free outlet by which it can escape into the nearest
watercourse ; and such outlets, or storm-water overflows, as
they are called, are always provided against the occurrence of
rain in districts sewered in this faulty manner. It was doubt"
less supposed that when these storm-water overflows take
effect there would be a large body of flood water in the brook
or river, which would conceal and wash away the foul matter
thus poured into it ; but it was forgotten that local falls of
rain often occur which may set the overflows running with
some of the foulest sewage and water, while the brook level
is but little affected by the rain, and the result of these local
storms, often occurring in the hottest weather, is to deposit
foul sewage sludge along the bed and banks of the stream for
miles along its course below the point at which the overflow
occurs. It is to be hoped that the recent Act for Prevention
of Pollution of Rivers will be a bar to the future construction
of stoim-water overflows; but it does not provide lor the
closing of existing ones. Nor are overflows the only insanitary
results of the attempt to combine sewerage and drainage in the
same system ; because the large sewers necessitated by the re-
quirements of rainfall have generally a wide invert upon
which the dry weather flow of sewerage is reduced to a mere
shallow film of liquid hardly able to float the lightest solid
matter, much less the heavier, which thus tends to form
shoals, aud stagnate uutil putrelaction evolves those dangerous
sewer gases which it is so difficult to keep out of our dwel-
lings. Hot, dry weather is, of course, the season in which
sewer gas is most rapidly developed, and days or weeks may
then elapse before rain comes to wash out any deposit from
these large sewers, whereas, if any flushing of the smaller
sewers constructed for sewage alone be ever required, it can
be administered therein with a very small expenditure of
water from the mains, which would be utterly inadequate to
the work of flushing the large rain water sewers. All our
foremost engineers are now adopting the separate system, and
sending the rainwater and subsoil draiuage by direct culverts
to the nearest water-course, but towns already sewered on the
old system shrink from a radical change. It is to be hoped
however, that even these will at least do something to divert
as much as possible of the rainfall from their sewers and
hus reduce the frequency and volume of discharges from
ttheir stormwater overflow. The purification ol liquid sewage
■n irrigation has been, I think, sufficiently acknowledged as a
8uccess both sanitarily and economically when carried out by
farmers, although the repeated failure of Town Councils and
Local Boards at one time threw some doubt upon the subject.
At any rate you have the opportunity of judging for yourselves
upon this question by visiting Heathcote Farm, where the
sewage of this town is successfully dealt with on the land of
the Earl of Warwick ; so 1 shall pass on to lay before you the
results of the latest experiments which have been made in the
treatment, — 1st, of that foul slimy matter called sewage
sludge which is generally extracted in greater or less proportion
before the liquid sewage is applied to the land ; 2nd, of the
fcecal matter collected in many of our large towns by the pail
system ; and 3rdly, of what I have above defined as town re-
fuse. I have for many years used sewage sludge in its wet
8tate, carting it on to the land after it had lain on banks of
the tanks to drain for a fortnight, or so, when it still retained

14

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

from 70 to 80 per cent, of moisture, and in that state I have
found its effect upon crops about equal to that of an equal
bulk of farm-yard manure; and I have used a great deal on
fallow-land in winter and on cabbages and mangels during
growth in summer, by passing the whole sewage direct to the
land without straining in the tanks, so that the charge of cart-
age and spreading was thus avoided, inasmuch as the sludge
was deposited in the furrows of the land instead of in the
tanks. But it does not do to irrigate a crop of Italian rye-
grass with such thick sewage, as it would leave ugly smears
of sludge and kill the grass in those spots on which it lodged.
Many of my neighbours have bought the wet sludge at a low
price, but they always found some difficulty in carting it along
highroads, unless they left it until by exposure to the air it
had dried and lost much of its value as a manure. Thus even
a sewage farmer may find himself embarrassed with sludge,
particularly in a wet season, when it has little chance of dry-
ing before rain comes to make it as wet as ever ; and in the
case of larger towns than mine, when the sludge may
amount to as much as 300 or more tons a-day, the proper
disposal of such a mass of sloppy filth becomes a very seriou8
consideration. With these views my fellow-townsman, Mr.
John Howard Kidd, began some three years ago to apply his
experience in peat drying to this somewhat similar but less
tractable material. He has invented and patented a Sludge
Drying Machine, of which a model is exhibited at this meeting .
and in January last I undertook the management of a
Company formed for the purpose of giving a complete trial
to Mr. Kidd's system, which also embraces the dessication of
pail contents and the systematic disposal of town refuse, all
included in his latest patent, dated January, 1876. I will
first describe the actual results of our Wrexham experiments,
and then briefly allude to that part of Mr. Kidd's patent which
relates to town refuse, which I have seen carried out elsewhere .
We set up the trial machine (somewhat smaller than those
Mr. Kidd is now offering for sale) in a brickwork setting
with two small furnaces whose flues conduct the heated gases
over, into, and around a series of four iron semi-cylinders, one
above the other, through which the sludge is gradually drawn
along by a worm or screw kept revolving slowly in each
cylinder, and the sludge on arriving at the end of each trough
or cylinder falls vertically into the under one, until, having
passed a distance of thirty-two feet through the hot chamber,
it falls out at the bottom in a finished state as a dry powder,
which is not too hot to be handled, and which (lying together
in a heap) dries still more until it has not more than 15 to 17
per cent, of moisture, although it entered the machine with
from GO to 70 per cent, of moisture. When I add that the
chimney of our works standing directly above the machine
does not exceed twenty-five feet in height, and that no per-
ceptible nuisance has arisen either in the wooden shed which
covers the machine or outside where not only sewer sludge but
actual focal matter is passing through the process which
renders it perfectly harmless like the sample in this bottle. I
think that Mr. Kidd must be credited with great boldness of
conception, for no one who has attempted to dry sludge or
.imilar matter on a hot plate, or to burn in a fire, would like to
repeat such an experiment, and I know that the Rochdale
people, who have a wide experience in such matters were
simply horrified at Mr. Kidd's proposal to subject fcecal
matter to such a trial without first adding sulphuric acid to
fix the ammonia. But the fact is, that owing to the sludge or
fcecal matter being put into the machine in a moist state, and
being constantly triturated and turned over by the blades of

the screws as it passes through the hot chamber, no part of it
ever burnt, and the sulphurous acid gases arising from com-
bustion of the fuel in the furnaces appears to be quite sufficient
to fix any small quantity of ammonia which may be evolved
in the process. To understand this matter more fully it must
be remembered that there is but little actual ammonia present
in the substances treated, although there is a large proportion
of organic matter containing nitrogen, which may sooner or
later become ammonia in the stage of putrefaction, a stage
which is totally arrested by the dessication, and which does
not supervene until the dry powder comes iu contact with
moisture which should not be the case until it has been
applied to the soil as a manure, within reach of the plant life
which is destined to feed thereou. I can adduce the testimony
of many medical and chemical gentleman of high position who
have examined the machine in full work with the object of
detecting any possible nuisance, and who are unanimous in
denying the existence of anything of the kind; and I would
ask those who may be inclined to imagine that some part of
(he ammonia and other valuable manurial constituents may be
consumed in the process, to consider the following average
analysis of the dried sludge powder, which they will find to be
of higher value than any of those obtained by Dr. Voelcker in
preparing his Report for the Local Government Board, whence
it appears evident that, instead of losing strength in the
drying process, we have, as it were, gained it relatively, i.e.'
the samples dried elsewhere without the aid of Kidd's machine
have lost what we have preserved, owing, doubtless, to the
fumes of sulphurous acid gas permeating the hot moist sludge
in its passage through the machine.

Analyais of Wrexham Sludge Powder.

Moisture 4-19

♦Organic Matter 46-26

Oxide of Iron and Alumine 7'03

fphosphoric Acid 1*05

Carbonate of Lime 9*45

Magnesia and Alkaline Salts... 2'62

Insoluble Siliceous Matter 29-40

100.00
* Containing Nitrogen, 1-81 ; equal to ammonia 2T9.
f Equal to Phosphate of Lime, 2.29.
This analysis (if a value of only 15s. per unit for phosphate of
lime) would give a value for the simple dried sludge of 37s. 5d.
exclusive of the value of alkaline salts ; but in round numbers,
to be within the mark. I do not think we shall be far wrong in
estimating at about 30s. per ton the average analytical value
of the dried powder produced by Kidd's machine from sewage
sludge. A farmer, however, knows that he must cart and
spread four or five tons of this manure of this value per acre*
in order to give an effectual dressing to his land, and that a
manure merchant in the nearest town can supply a compound
at £8. or £9 per ton, of which five or six cwt, will suffice to
manure an acre of ground ; and he is consequently not
disposed to neglect the cartage and spreading difficulty which
increases with every mile of distance which separates his farm
from the sewage works at which he should obtain the 30s.
manure for 10s. per ton, on the theory adopted by Dr.
Voelcker's Report, which reduces the market price to one.
third of the analytical value, on the principle that farm-yard
manure seldom fetches more than os. per ton although its
analytical value exceeds 15s. per ton. In order to make this
cartage and spreading difficulty more evident, let us take the
following examples :—

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

15

First — 1(,or manuring one acre, within one mile of

the sewage works and town.
To 4 Tons of Dried Sludge, at 10s. per ton 2 0 0

„ Carting 4 tons, at 9d. per mile 0 3 0

„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 3 0

2 6 0

OR,

To 6 cwt. Compound Manure, at £8 per ton 2 8 0
„ Carting 6 cwt. do., at 9d. per mile ... 0 0 3
,, Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 0 3

2 8 6

Difference in favour of Sludge 0 2 6

Second. — For manuring one acre at five miles

distance.
To 4 tons Dried Sludge, at 10s. per ton ... 2 0 0
„ Carting 4 tons 5 miles, at 9d. per ton

per mile 0 15 0

„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 3 0

2 18 0

To 6 cwt. Compound Manure, at £8 per ton 2 8 0
„ Carting 6 cwt. 5 miles, at 9d. per ton 0 1 1£
„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 9 0 3

2 9 4^

Difference in favour of Compound 0 8 7$

Third. — For manuring one acre ten miles from

sewage works.
To 4 tons Dried Sludge, at 10s. per ton ... 2 0 0
„ Carting 4 tons 10 miles, at 9d. per ton

per mile 1 10 0

„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 3 0

3 13 3

„ 6 cwt. Compound Manure, at £8 per ton 2 8 0
„ Carting 6 cwt. 10 miles at 9d. per ton

per mile 0 2 3

„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 0 3

2 10 6

Difference in favour of Compound 1 2 6

Fourth. — For manuring one acre twenty miles

from sewage works.
To 4 tons Dried Sludge, at 10s. per ton ... 2 0 0
„ Carting 4 tons 20 miles, at 9d. per ton

per mile 3 0 0

„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 3 0

5 3 0

To 6 cwt. Compound Manure, at £8 per ton 2 8 0
„ Carting 6 cwt. 20 miles, at 9d. per ton

per mile 0 4 6

„ Spreading do., at 9d. per ton 0 0 3

2 12 9

Difference in favour of Compound 2 10 3

If a farmer desired to carry the principle of saving on the
jtera of cartage to its extreme limit, he would only purchase
sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, guano, and phosphate,
and mix them on his farm with fine ashes, burnt clay, or some
other diluent, if he had the means of doing so ; but in
practice he prefers, as a rule, to buy a compound which he
can cart direct from his nearest railway station to the field
in which it is to be spread ; and this consideration has led me
to imagine that I can compound a manure which will exactly
meet the demand of the farmer, at a lower price than he has
usually paid, while at the same time its general adoption would
relieve towns from a great proportion of their sewage difficulty.
In thus announcing my ultimate end and object, I desire to

guard against any disposition to fall into the error of supposing
that I have solved the great problem, and that towns have
nothing to do but to set np a few shdge drying machines and
at once embark on a profitable venture. It would be strange
indeed if, with all the tailures of sewage enthusiasts before me
I could follow them in preaching any such delusion ; and, on
the contrary, I prefer plodding on in a quiet sort of way with
my new light, as I have done in sewage farming, with the
liquid part of the difficulty, for the last six years. In this
view I am supported by many of my neighbours at
Wrexham, who have either joined me in a little partner-
soip called the Wrexham Manure Company, or
promised to assist me with trial orders for the compound
which has been selected, after many experiments and consul-
tations with the most eminent authorities among the makers
analysts, and consumers of manure in the country. This com-
pound, which has besn styled " The Farmers' Friend," is com
posed as follows : viz.

1 cwt. Sulphate of Ammonia-
7 ,, Fine Bone Meal.
11 „ Dried Sludge.

1 Ton.
In the present state of affiairs one cannot treat the
Sewage Question exhaustively without alluding to what is
called the pail system, which has been introduced in many of
the manufacturing towns of Yorkshire and Lancashire,
etc., with the object of relieving the sewers of a portion of
the urine and (cecal matter which finds its way to them
elsewhere, and of establishing a palliative of the old
middens and cesspools. When the pails and house refuse
can be collected separately on a systematic plan, whereby
the house-to- house collection is regularly pursued, each
pail being removed weekly, a great improvement i8
effected, and the process patented by Mr. Kidd will provide
for the proper disposal of all the foul matter. His system
places the house refuse at once upon riddles, which separate
the fine ash , and at the same time all metallic matters are
picked out for separate sale. The cinders and vegetable refuse
then go to a constantly burning furna ce, whence the productg
of their combustion can keep the drying mac hines at work
with little or no cost for fuel, while the ashes and slag from
this furnace can be ground up with lime te make excellent
mortar. The pail contents are strained, and by evaporation
deprived of a portion of their water, and their thicker portion
thus obtained is mixed up with dried sludge powder or equivs.
lent dry material, to be pasaed through the drying machines,
which reduce the compound to a dry powder, which can again
be used as a absorbent for a fresh lot of pail con tents, to pass
again through the dryiug machine ; and where it is an object to
reduce the bulk of manure to be ultimately disposed of, this
process of concentration by successive steps can be repeated
ad infinitum. The result of my experiments with this simple
kind of drying machine leads irresistibly to the conclusion tlw.
this successive drying and mixing is the most satisfactory mode
of concentration yet discovered, and one which is very prefer-
able to the process of regular distillation, which I have seen
pursued on a limited scale at Oldham, and to Mr. Fryer's
" Concretor," of which we have lately heard so much from
Manchester. I have visi ted the Manchester Town Yard in
Water-street on two occasi ons, in order to investigate the sys-
tem there is course of exper iment ; and let me first state ths.
I regard Mr. Fryer's " Destr uctor" as an improvement onth
ommon furnace em ployed for a like purpose at Rochdale. If,

16

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

moreover, it is an object to obtain a cheap kind of charcoal
the Carbonizer in the same yard may also prove a useful,
machine ; but I feel sure that Mr. Fryer will shortly abandon
his " Concretor" as too expensive and delicate a machine to
be applied to anything like sewage or pail contents. On my,
first visit the output was but little thicker than the thin urine
&c, passing in at the other end of that machine, and I saw
the treacle-like produce only in glass bottles ; while on my
second visit the "Concretor" waa stauding idle, being dis-
mounted for some of those repairs which from its complicated
structure must be frequently required. To sum up the con-
clusions which may, I think, be deduced from the above con-
sideration of Sewage, Sewerage, and Towns' Refuse :— 1st.
The sewers should be adapted solely to their one purpose of
bringing sewage impure and simple to open-air tanks in which
a certain amount of sludge can collect by deposition, before
the liquid portion of the sewage flows on to the land iutehded
for its purification. 2nd. The sludge thus deposited should bt
dessicated as rapidly as possible. 3rd. Pail contents, when
recourse is had to such an unpleasant adjunct to the sewerage
of a town, should be strained through a layer of dry powder,
so that the thin liquid may at one enter the sewers leading to
depositing tanks, and thence to laud, while the thicker par
together with the filtering material which has arrested it,
should be passed through the drying machine. This filtering
and absorption by dry powder to be repeated again and again
with fresh puil content", in preference to attempting evapora"
tion directly from the liquid by still or " Concretor," which
must be too expensive a process for employment on a large
scale.

The work of the institute, newly laid before the public as it
is, has received the flattering compliment of imitation in
France, and the French "sanitarians" submitted the draught
of their constitution to the Euglish association, which has
thus already made its influence and example the basis of new
work in the same direction across the Channel. Already the
Institute has established relations with the Fisheries Preserva-
tion Association, the Association for Preserving the Rivers
and Lochs of Scotland from Pollution, and the Conservancy
Boards.

SILENCE. — The recognition of silence as a virtue by wise
men in their respective generations leads us to conclude that
it is worthy not only of observance but of cultivation. We
must, of course, distinguish between that silence which is a
habit acquired in Society, as being respectful to the tastes and
feelings of others and that which is the accompaniment of a
stolid indifference, or which is sometimes a national or
psychological peculiarity. According to Solomon, " Life and
death aie in the power of the tongue ;" and Euripides de-
clares that " Every unbridled tongue shall in the end find itsel'
unfortunate." Not iess significant are the proverbs of different
nations. The Italian says, " He who speaks sows ; he who
keeps silence reaps." The Spanish, " The evil which issues
from thy mouth falls into thy tosom." The Persian, " Of
thine unspoken word thou art master ; thy spoken word is
master of thee." Our own : " A quiet tongue shows a wise
head ;" " Confine your tongue, le<tt it confine you." Cole-
ridge tells of a man whom he met at a dinner party, whose
respectful attention to, and silent acquiescence in, all that wa>
said impressed him favourably, till the appearance of a dish
of apple-dumplings elicited a remark which broke the charm,
and he thereupon concluded that " Silence does not always

mark wisdom," a sentiment from which we dissent; because
>t was by his silence that the man displayed his wisdom, nor
did he exhibit any lack of sense till he opened his mouth.
Perhaps, however, the admiration of silence was characteristic
in one who loved to engross all the talk to himself. Not the
east compliment paid to Von Moltke, who is a very taciturn
man, and at the same a great linguist, is that he knows how
to hold his tongue in eight languages. The fair sex has
ever been proverbial for loquacity. A facetious lawyer seemed
to be inspired by the knowledge of this fact when, in writing
a deed commencing with the old formula, " Know all men by
these presents," he substituted " Know one woman," &c. ;
«' beciuse," said he, " if one woman knows it, all men soon
will." Illustrations of this " touch of nature" abound from
Plutarch downwards. Let it suffice that we recall the story
of the young man elected into one of the national councils of
lancient Greece, whose transactions were kept secret, and at no
'iine profaned by the unhallowed presence of the now ubiquit-
ous newspaper reporter. His wife pressed him to tell her
something of their proceedings by argument, persuasion, and
entreaty, without effect. Wearied at length by her impor-
tunity, he consented, at the same time warning her of the
consequences should the matter be divulged. He then in-
formed her that the council was discussing the question
whether it would be better that one man should have two wives,
or that one woman should have two husbands. Next day,
while the wise men were in consultation, a deputation of
females was announced, who desired to lay a petition before
the senate; and on being admitted, the spokeswoman pro-
ceeded to say how important it was that their views should be
known on a question so momentous as that under considera-
tion, and urged that it was highly desirable that a woman
should have two husbands. The senators were not less
amused than amazed, and looked to one another for an ex-
planation,' whereupon the recently admitted member accounted
for the singular requisition by explaining the stratagem to
which he had resorted for the sake of peace, at the same time
proving to the assembly his fitness to take part in its de-
liberations. Whether other tales to the same effect are reliable
is of little moment. Their purport and spirit show the
general estimate of silence. — Tinsley's Magazine.

METROPOLITAN PAUPERISM.— The following is a re
turn of the number of paupers (exclusive of lunatics in asylums
and vagrants) on the last day of the second week of December
1877 :— In-door, adults and children, 39,978; out-door
adults, 26,239 ; children, 16,333— making the total of both in-
door and out-door paupers, 82,298 ; in 1875, 87,744 ; and in
1874, 95,879. The total number of vagrants relieved in the
metropolis on the last day of the second week of December was
764, of whom 544 were men, 177 women, and 43 children
under 16.

Zadkiel is melancholy in view of the New Year. It
appears already settled that, thanks to the malign influence
of Mars and Saturn, " martial ideas will predominate, and
warlike preparations will ring through this island, as well as
the Continent." By the Ides of March, however, Sir
Stafford Northcote's bit of blue sky is to be visible ; but
the diplomatists are warned not to meet in conference
whilst the moon is in conjunction with Mars, as they did
in 1876, or farewell to hopes of a happy settlement. —
Mavfair.

CHESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— At the las
meetiBgof the Society it was decided to hold the next Show
at Knutsford, on Friday and Saturday, August 23rd and 24th.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE AGRICULTURE OF SPAIN.

The information respecting the agriculture of
Spain is very limited, and wo aro indebted to Mr.
Mark, the British Vice-Consul at Malaga, who is
himself a practical agriculturist, for as full a
description as can probably be given of the farm-
ing operations in the Southern part of that country.
It is a land endowed by nature with a most pro-
lific soil, assisted by the linest climate in Europe,
embracing all the advantages of both the temperate
and torrid zones. In it are produced all the cereals
which supply the necessaries of life, whilst, at the
same time, aro grown the sugar-cane, the banana,
guava, &c, with almost the luxuriance of the
West Indies.

The cultivated soil is naturally rich, as generally
it is selected in spots which are the results of the
accumulation of the alluvium washed down from
the mountains and heights above. These have, of
course, been the deposits of ages, and thus large
masses of decayed organic matter are interlaid
with other strata of the land, imparting to the soil
conditions of fertility which otherwise might be
sought in vain. The farmers, although living at
the gate of civilisation and in close intercourse
with countries where cultivation is carried on
a! most to perfection, have been extremely slow in
adopting the numerous fertilisers which have been
discovered and manufactured with the object of
restoring vitality to exhausted soils. This is all
the more serious mistake because the Spaniard is
extremely avid of screwing out of the land as
much as it can possibly yield, and this without
even the ordinary means of rest in fallowing.
Crops upon crops are gathered in, even before they
are thoroughly ready, simply with the object of
sowing others without a moment's loss. The only
m inures used are the ordinary stable sweepings
and town scavengings, save where a few cargoes
of Peruvian guano are imported for the sugar-
cane and rice plantations. Spain has one or two
rich phosphate deposits, which, if spiritedly turned
to account, might do wonders.

All the farming implements are poor and un-
couth, and are mostly such as were used by farmers
in the remote patriachal times — weak, wretched
ploughs, which will not do much more than scratch
the surface : thrashing is done by means of cattle on
thrashing-floors ; and other operations are carried out
in a like primitive manner. The writer states that
he once introduced the most approved English
ploughs, reaping machines, steam-thrashing ma-

chines, and other implements, but he onlysuccooded
in getting them used as long as he superintended
them, and insisted upon it. Now, simply the
memory of them exists, although, at the time, all
lookers-on admired and approved of them,

Sugar-cane cultivation has extended itself
considerably along the Southern and Eastern
coast of Spain ; but this cannot be looked upon as
a lasting industry, for it merely pays because the
legislature has endowed it witli such protection as
to render it almost a kind of monopoly, and to
enable it to flourish in direct detriment to the
public good. Rotation of ciops is little studied,
as, excluding the vine and woodlands, little besides
seed crops aro planted. It is not the custom to
sow root crops on a large scale, although they
might be extremely useful for the feeding and
fattening of cattle for the meat markets. Soma
fine flax and hemp are grown. The latter, which
is produced at Granada and in the province of
Murcia, far exceeds in length of fibre and strength
that of Russia and the Northern countries.

Very large tracts are dedicated to the cultivation
of the olive tree. Its produce is a source of
material wealth to Spain, and constitutes one of
her principal exports. This item alone, however,
serves to demonstrate the degree of indifference
and shortsightedness of the Spanish cultivator.
Whilst the oil which his trees yield, when properly
treated, bears advantageous comparison with the
best Lucca or Florence oils, he is contented to
see it quoted in foreign markets at the bottom of
the list, and at the lowest rates, condemned and
sneered at as green and rank ; whilst a little energy
aided by the fine machinery used in other
countries, might raise its character and price to
its proper position, to say nothing of its improve-
ment for home consumption, which is so large —
although, perhaps, such improvement would not
suit the taste of the Spaniards, who, as a rule,
might deem it tame and insipid were it deprived
of the sting and smack which so invariably
accompany it. The olives are gathered carelessly.
They are beaten off the trees whilst yet green
and heaped up in yards, where they are allowed to
heat and ferment for months, so that when they
are ground and pressed they more resemble masses
of manure than auy other substance. Then the
application of scalding water to the paste whilst
pressing assists in the extracting of all the foul
and putrid essences. ' The best and most careful
cultivation carried on in the South of Spain is. per-

C

18

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

haps, that of tlio grape, in the first place for wine
and next for raisins. The Jerez or sherry wine, so
well known, the Malaga and Montilla dry cherries,
and sundry sweet wines are all grown in the South
of Spain. The far-famed Malaga raisins are the
result of careful and expensive cultivation, as most
of tho lands dedicated to it are of hinds which
require a deal of breaking in, and which would
be inappropriate to the growth of cereals or root
crops.

It appears that agriculture, owing to personal
insecurity and the consequent withdrawal from
its pursuit of all large proprietors and capitalists,
has reached a very low ebb in the Malaga district,
and is consequently carried on by peasants,
whose poverty and thrif tlessness render them unfit
to extend or improve it. The heavy taxation by
both Government and the municipalities leaves but
a small margin of profit to the cultivator ; hence

the large emigration of the labouring classes to
seek for existence in foreign lands, a fact which
has lately so much occupied both the public
attention and that of the Government itself. It
is indeed a sad thing that a country naturally
endowed with such rich soil and so benign a
climate should, in the matter of agriculture, be so
far behind its neighbours who do not enjoy those
benefits to such an extent, boons which a senti-
mental French writer briefly sums up when he
says that, " We have the palm without the desert,
and the sugar-cane without the slave." Since the
suppression of the Oarlist insurrection and the
establishment of a settled Government, brigandage
has almost disappeared from the province ; but
the unfortunate habit which Spaniards have of
using the knife on the slightest provocation is as
prevalent as ever.

BRITISH AND AMERICAN METEOROLOGY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Last March I called your attention to the above
subject, in connection with the verification of certain
warnings of storms coming to us from across the Atlantic, and
also in connection with a Blue Book containing the report
of evidence before a Treasury Committee respecting tbe
" Conditions and Mode of Administration of the Annual
Grant in Aid of Meteorological Observations." Ths
affairs of our Meteorological Committee received such a
thorough overhauling before that Committee, and its atten-
tion was then so forcibly called to the importance of
doing something of present practical public value for the
£10,000 it annually receives from the State, that it was
natural to expect improvement in the direction men-
tioned. I am sorry to say that this hope has not been
realised. This is, perhaps, most apparent in the neglect
of the Committee to obtain such information as has been
sent us gratuitously by a New York paper. Prom the
evidence of several of the witnesses before the Treasury
Committee it appears very certain " that the changes of
weather move from west to east," a fact acknowledged by
even Mr. Scott himself in his evidence. That gentleman^
however, strongly inclines to the belief that having the
ocean to the westward of our island is " unfavourable to
a complete system of weather telegraphy, and that
although information is received by post from Newfound-
land, such information as requires the use of tbe telegraph
is not considered worth the cost of employing the Atlantic
-Cables to obtain." I referred to this view Gf Mr. Scott
in my letter to you in March last, but mention it again
here in order to show its incorrectness, because of the
following facts : — First, we have had storm warnings from
across the Atlantic which have been uuly verified ; with-
out such warnings regularly received, forecasts of

weather for this country will not be so fully reliable as
with them. This is the case in the instance mentioned
in my letter in your last Monday's issue. Secondly, having
such a perfect system of practical weather observation,
west of us, as that which exists in America, extending as it
does from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from the Gulf
of Mexico to Canada, our system may be rendered more
complete by establishing a regular telegraphic connection
with it. The Washington Weather Signal Office, by its
observations, traces the progress of storms over a large
area of country, in one direction about 3,500 miles, and
in another about 2,500 miles. It is thus in a position to
acquire and communicate valuable information as to their
origin and movements over a large area from west to east.
As already saiJ, many of the witnesses before the
Treasury Committee admitted that our storms came from
the west. Many of them, it is true, scarcely touch the
American coast, as in the case of the August and Sep-
tember hurricanes of 1818, in which the writer was
caught in the latter month 180 miles east of Cape Sable.
Maury's chart of its course shows that it originated, as
many of our western storms do, in the West Indies, and
only touched the American coast from Cape Florida to
Cape Charles ; thence following the course of the Gulf
Stream it swept south-east of the Great Bank, and over our
islands. Other marked American storms never leave
that Continent at all, as was the case of that which did
so much damage recently in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,
and Labrador, and which passed out of sight off New-
foundland. But there are other storms which, originate
in the west or north-west of the American Continent,
and in some instances west of the Rocky Mountains,
which have been traced across the Atlantic to our shorts.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

19

While, therefore, as Mr. Seolt says, in a tone of apparent
triumph in his last Report, that during the month of
August, 187-3, not a single American storm is traceable
to Europe, although admitting at the same time
thut " our storms probably originated over the
Atlantic," and while some American storms never
cross the Atlantic Oceaa at all, there are others,
as I have said, which do, because they have beeu
traced, and warnings of their approach verified. Under
those circumstances I cannot but believe Mr. Scott is in
very great error. Betweeu him and the Pacific for 3,500
miles he has a complete system of weather telegraphy esta-
blished and ready to assist him. Between Cape Race
aud Galway there are but 1,000 miles of ocean to
watch, spannedby cables and traversed by a fleet of rapid
oceau steamers, averaging more than forty-five vessels
at sea every week. Why should he not, therefore, test
this question practically, instead of condemning the
notion it priori? Surely if asub-editor of a New York paper
can send us gratuitously information about these storms, our
own Meteorological Office should be inclined to spend £500
in cablegrams, if only for the honour of the thing. It is
pretty evident that Mr. Scott has given too little atten-
tion to the Atlantic to make his opinion on the sub-
ject of very great value. Many others have, however, the
opinions of some of whom appear in the appendix to the
Blue Book of the Treasury Committee. Captain More-
land, of the Cunard steam ship Batavia, there says :
" I believe if our (Meteorological) office obtained daily,
or semi-daily reports from Washington, Boston, and
Trinity Biy, N.F., and studied the rate at which the
particular cycloue is travelling over the earth's surface, a
very accurate opinion may be formed of the approaching
weather, and much loss of life and property may be
avoided by accurate warnings to outward-bound ships.
I fiud that from a constant observation of the weather on
my homeward trips I can foretell the coming week's
weather very fairly while T am in Liverpool." I am
afraid, however, our Meteorological Committee are too
much engaged in purely scientific operations, and spend-
ing too much money on merely collecting facts for future
theories, especially uuder the present management, to do
anything really popularly practical. Recently they have
certaiuly ventured to add to their storm warnings daily
weather forecasts, but not on their own motion or out of
the £10,000 we have to pay for their work. To its
credit. The Times, in order to remedy this great defect of
the past system of the office, was willing to pay £500 for
au extra observation in the 24 hours as a basis for these
forecasts, permitting the office, however, to use them in
order to render its ordinary storm-warnings more
valuable.

If The Times pays for these forecasts it has a right to
a monopoly of them, and the credit also of their intro-
duction. But is it ( editable to the management of our
Meteorological Conun dee, not to be able to give the public
at large these forecasts ? Why should they be depeudeut
upoa The Times, or any other paper, for £500 to do the oii'y

popularly practical thing they can do ? If we want to
know what the weather may be, according to the present
arrangements of the Meteorological Olfice, we must
either make our own deductions from the bare facts they
give us, or read The Times. How many of the people of
Great Britain and Ireland read that paper, at any rate
early enough to make its forecasts of any value to them ?
How much more useful would these forecasts be — im-
perfect even as they are from the circumstances men-
tioned—if they were disseminated simultaneously over the
whole kingdom, as they might easily be through one of
our telegraphic press agencies. More than oue of the
witnesses before the Treasury Committee, and am
them the Astronomer Royal, urged a practical as well a*
a purely scientific conduct of the procedure of the Meteoro-
logical Committee. Why have not these suggestions
been adopted ? It is all very well to accumulate facts
and read papers dealing with them philosophically, but
the bearing of these facts would be better understood if
immediate use were made of them. Sir G. B. Airy said
the right man was wanted for this. If we cannot get
one here let us send to General Meyers at Washington
for one of his trained men. Certaiuly meteorology never
will be popularised amongst us so loug as it only tells us
what we already know about the weather. Give u3, a9
the Washington Signal Office does, forecasts, and it will
become as popular here through them as it has uuder
these circumstances become in America.

I have mucb more to say, but am afraid I have already
trespassed too much upon your valuable space.

I am, yours, &c, A. M. D.

POTATO CULTURE.— A French agricultural journal,
called the Basse Co/tr, describes the result of some experiments
in potato-growing recently conducted in Germany. The
principal conclusions to which the experimenters have come
seem to be two in number. The first of them is that the
vigour of the potato plant is always in direct proportion to
the weight of th.e tubercle used for sets — a theory which cer-
taiuly finds some support in common sense alone, considering
that the young shoots for some time draw their sole nourishment
from the mother potato. The second conclusion is that there is
a great variety in the productive power, not only of different
tubercles, but also of different " eyes " in the same potato. It
is found that the eyes at the top of the potato produce a much
more vigorous offspring than those in the lower part, and the
consequence is that those agriculturists who cut their potatoes
in half before planting them are not well advised in cutting
them vertically, but should always divide them horizontally,
planting the upper half and using the other as food for cattle.
But the best plau of all is to plant the tubercle whole, cutting
out, nevertheless, all the eyes except those in the top part.
Such being the principles laid down, we come bow to the ex-
periments upon which they are based. These were conduct d
in a gardeu soil by Professor Gantz, the amount of crop pro-
duced by several different settings of potatoes being accurately
estimated in statistical tables. It appeared that from tubercles
divided vertically only 5 tons were produced per acre, aud from
whole potatoes 7£ tons. The third sorts were potatoes hori-
zontally divid d, which are set down as having produced 9| tons.
In this particular, however, some of the other experimenters
do Dot a-ree with Kerr Gantz, but maintain that, other tilings
being equal, the whole potatoes will always produce more than
halves, however cut. On the fourth result, however, all agree,
and that is, that the whole potatoes from which the lower
eyes have been cut out produce 1 1| tons per acre, or more
than double the result shown by the sets first mentioned.—
Irish Farmers'' Gazette.

C 2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND COUNTIES FAT STOCK SHOW

The twenty-ninth annual exhibition of fat catt'e held
in Bingley Hall opened on Dec. 1 under very favour-
able auspices. Should the weather prove fine there is
every probability of a financial success being attained. The
number of entries oflive stock is not equal to those of last
year, being 246 against 375 ; but there are scarcely any
vacant stalls, the few to be met with here and there
b nng the result of accident, or some cause other than
withdrawal. T.iere are some very excellent animals in the
Show, but the general quality is not, perhaps, quite
equal to that of former years. Stock have doue badly this
year on the gras9, and they do not appear to have done
so well as usual in the stalta. There is a want of finish
about many of the animals which lowers the tone of the
"Show, and there is no superlatively good beast to take the
championship. Mr. Kidner's ox last year was a show in
i self, and alone worth going to London or Birmingham
to see. But such animals are not to be met with every
■ y ar. Mr. M'Combie's polled Aberdeen ox, " Black
Prince," some six or seven years ago at Islington, and Mr.
Kidner's Devon last year at Islington and Birmingham,
were a long way beyoud the usual excellence of show
animals, and we may not see their lite again for some
time to come. The Championship falls this year to
C iorthorn blood, but scarcely to the best butchers' beast
in the Hall. The entries of cattle are 113, of sheep CD,
and of pigs G4. The money prizes amount to about
£2,500, and in addition to that there are cups and
.medals to the value of about £300. The Committee have
gone back to the old rule in respect to the date of the
Show, and the days of thi week on which it is held, as
the departure from ordinary custom was notatteuded with
success last year. The miscellaneous exhibits of roots,
corn, machinery, and poultry till every foot of available
space ; altogether the Committee are to be congratulated
on a well-arranged and highly interesting Show, which
•we trust will meet with the patronage it deserves.
CATTLE.

The Herefords eome first in the catalogue, but not first
this year in quality and character as they were last year.
Mr. Robert Wor'.ley takes the first prize in Class 1 for
oxen exceeding four years old, and the extra prize of
£100 for the best Hereford in any of the classes. This
bullock is four years aud seven mouths old, full of thick
flesh, and handles to perfection. He is a little defective
In front of shoulder, ou his rump, and a little plain in
his twist and flank, but a most excellent animal when
every fault has been fouud. His live weight is 20 cwt.
1 qr. 211b. The second prize falls to Mr. H. Betteridge
for an animal that is not much beyoud mediocrity, aud
the third priEe goes to Mr. Colmau, M.P., for the animal
which was second in the younger class last year. This is
Mr. Price's blood, but the animal ha9 not improved in
feediflig; was better last year than he is now. Mr. Lobb

is highly commended for an uneven beast, which scarcely
calls for special mention. In Class 2, lor steers exceeding
three aud not exceeding four years old, the Earl of Powis
is first with the animal which took first in the next
younger class, both at Islington and at Birmingham last
year. This animal is of Mr. Price's breeding, and of
excellent quality, but he does not handle as well as he did
last year, and appears to have made fat rather than flesh.
The Eirl of Powis is also second with another animal of
the same blood, not equal in character, but a very useful
butchers' beast. Mr. Prichard's third prize is a nico
quality animal, and another exhibit which takes a high
commendation, belonging to the same owner, is useful, but
nothing more than an average show animal. In fact»
these two classes are not in the best Hereford form, and
are not the credit to the breed which they were last year.
In the next class for steers not exceeding three years the
first and third prizes fall to Mr. Piatt, aud the second to
the Earl of Powis for animals of Mr. Price's breeding.
The Hereford cows are only three in number, and a great
coutrast to the animals in the cow class last year, which
was fairly a good one; perhaps the fate of Mr. Pcren's cow
on that occasion, was a discouragement to exhibitors
The awards will be found in the prize list, although it
must appear to onlookers that they might very justly,
have beeu withheld for want of merit. The heifer class
is much better, in fact a really good one, although only
four animals are in competition. Mr. Pike's first prize
is a small taking animal of Mr. Taylor's breeding, with
excellent qualities, and yet deficiencies euough to put her
out of the first rank of prize-winning Herefords. Mr.
Philip Turner's second prize is a very nice quality heifer,
of beautiful character. Mrs. Sarah Edwards third, aud
Mr. John Prichards highly commended. When animals
from Showle Court, The Leen, and Wintercott, put in an
appearance the quality i9 sure to he good. As a class the
Herefords are not in good form this year at Bingley
Hall.

The Shorthorns are just a uiee lot of cattle, and that is
all. In Class 6 for oxen exceeding four years old there were
but two entries, aud the second prize is awarded to one
of them. Class 7 for steers exceeding three and not
exceeding four years old has 13 entries, including, as a
matter of course, some good animals. Mr. Bond's first
prize roan steer is a stylish Shorthorn, of good quality
and a good handler. Lord Tredegar is second, with
a massive animal very full of flesh. The Earl of
Ellesmere's third prize is quite auother type — neat
and pretty, but not a firm handler. Sir Watkin3
Wynu, Bart., obtaius a high commendation for a really
good animal. The Class, with one or two exceptions, re-
presents the average Shorthorn in show form ; hardly that
p -rhaps. The younger steers in Class 8 will come under
t le same description. The Earl of Lonsdale takes first

T1IU FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

21

honours with a fairly good animal, Mr. Adamson second,
and the third is withheld. The cows are a small lot
containing one good animal from live Stand Stud Com-
pany, which takes the first prize — nice quality, good
touch, thick through the heart, excellent chine and crops —
bred hy Messrs. Duddiug. The rest will scarcely gain
credit hy description. The heifers are a lot better, as
they are in the Hertford class. Mr. Richard Stratton's
heifer, Icicle, 2 years and & months, is the sweepstakes
winner — the champion of the Show. This is one of the
small and pretty type of Shorthorn excellence ; not a very
common one. She is short on the legs, fine in the bone,
long in the barrel, with excellent loin, wouderful chine and
rib — in fact good all over. Hut, (aud there is a but), she
is full of fat, not flesh, and as a butcher's beast would not
be worth so much by SI. per stone, consuming value, a9
the cross-bred Hereford, with which she was in com-
petition for the championship. The " best " animal in a
fat stock Show must be the best butcher's animal,
and in that respect it is dillicult to agree with the decision
of the judges. Mr. Coleman's secoud prize is a little
flit on the ribs, but in many respects a good Shorthorn ;
the third prize animal, belonging to Mr. Pike, is level and
good — very pretty quality. Mr. Henry Bettenge is
commended for a moderate animal. There are doubtless
t^vo good heifers out of five. Taking the Shorthorns as a
whole, they cannot fairly be described as going beyond
showyard mediocrity.

The Devons were a small show of six entries, and two
of these were decent. Mr. Fryer's first prize ox, which
also takes the £50 extra prize as the best D=von, cannot
be called a first-rate animal, and Mr. Smith's heifer is
neat and pretty, as good Devons always are; but she is
no better than she should be.

The Longhorns come next and may have many good
qualities; the difficulty, to any save a fancier of that
breed, is to discover them. We have never baen able to
see why this antiquated prototype of a more recent and
better breed should be encouraged and rescued from the
oblivion into which it must fall in the natural course o
things. A Longhorn is not as good as a Shorthorn in
any point of excellence, and falls much below it in many
respects. The breed canuot compete with the Herefords
when the latter are in their proper places. These flat-
ribbed, bare-shouldered, patchy-rumped animals may have
good milking capacities and be very hardy ; but we cannot
see why any breeder should spend histimeover slow-growing
stock, which has nothing in common better than other
breeds, and which can be beaten in detail by each and all
of them.

The Polled Scots are excellent. Mr. James Reid takes
he first prize and Messrs. Martin the second, and both
of them with good animals. Mr. M'Connel's beast, which
is highly commended, is uneven in his get-up, as is also
his secoud prize cow in the next class, where Mr. M'Com -
bie shows a level, thick-fleshed animal of Mr. Clark's
breeding. The West Highlanders are another very excel-
lent class, the quality being first- rate.

Thccrossbrcds are the best eatlle in the show by a great
deal. It would seem that Shorthorn blood on the Scotch
polled breeds produces the best butcher's animals. There
is no ether cross which comes out as well as this, and the
first class is the best as it usually is under any circurx-
tauces. Messrs. Martin take first prize in the class for
oxen over four years old, with the heaviest live weight in
the show. Altogether there are 24 entries in the several
classes, and this section of the show is quite up to modem
show yard form aud finish; it has probably not been
surpassed either at Islington or at Birmingham. It is
difficult to find an indilfereut animal. Amongst the
younger steers, which are all of the very best quality, is
winner of the extra prize of £30 as the best crossbred
This is the animal which, as the best butcher's animal
should, in our opinion, have taken the championship. He
is an extraordinarily thick fleshed beast, of excellent quality
and wonderful thickness ; yet he is not made on a very
big scale, but weighs 1G cwt. 21 lb. live weight, against
the Shorthorn heifer's 16 cwt. 1 qr. 7 lb. He has not
been considered as good as the heifer alive, but we should
expect to see him a better animal when dead. As it is the
heifer beats him for the championship and also for the
Earl of Warwick's silver cup, value £25, for the best
animal bred and fed by the exhibitor. The Crossbredd
and Scots are the pride of Bingley Hall Show this year.
SHEEP.

Sheep were tot in great force ; the entries were ouly G9
against 105 last year. The Leicesters, Liucolns, Cotswolds,
Oxfordshire Downs, Hampshire Downs, and Cross-breds-
were all represented by a two or three animals in each,
case, so that there was really no competition at all. Mr.
Stilgoe and Mr. Brassey furnish between them four pens
of Oxfordshire wethers, and Mr. Morrison sends two pens
of Hampshire. There were six entries of Southdown
wethers and Lord Walsiughara takes first and second
with great ease ; the Prime of Wales takes the third
prize and a high commeudation.

Shropshires are naturally the great feature of this part c£
the Show, and there are 33 entries in the different classes,
Taking them as a whole they are a fairly good lot of
Shropshire sheep. The class for pen of three fat wethers
is not such a strong one as last year, nor as good. Of
course Lord Chesham wins ; but his sheep are getting too
fine — growing out of type. His lordship has a clever
shepherd who is master of the art of getting up sheep for
show ; and this has now become one of the fine arts aud
a science into the bargain. His lordship's first 'prize pea
are not the best haudlers we have ever had
under our notice, neither are they perfectly well matched;
but they are got up well — no doubt at all about that.
The second prize, too, goes to the same flock. The third
prize is taken by Mrs. Beach for animals of a very different
type, more like Shropshires, and not only bigger but to
all intents and purposes — Shropshire purposes — better.
But these sheep had not been through the hands of Lord
Chesham's artist. However, to our mind, as Shropshires
they are better, because more useful sheep than Lurd

22

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Chesham's. There is no advantage in getting a Shrop-
shire sheep into Southdown form and style, because the
Southdown must win at that game. Mrs. Baach is likely
to breed rent-payer3 while Lord Chesham is likely to do
the prize-taking. There are some good single sheep, but
they do not afford a very good index to the capabilities of
the flock. Altogether the sheep are nothing out of the
common way in point of excellence.

PIGS.
Pigs are well represented, there being 64 entries against
GG 1; st year. In Class 42 for three fat pigs of one litter, not
exceeding ten months old, the exhibits are very creditable ;
Mr. Spackman is first with very nice quality black pigs,
and Mr. Crowther is second. In the older class for pigs
of one litter not exceeding fifteen months old Mr. Wheeler
takes the first prize with an excellent pen of white pigs,
and Mr. Mort's second prize pen are larger but not quite
the quality For single fat pigs exceeding fifteen months
old there are some of all sorts, but Mr. Puckering takes
the first prize with a square black pig not too big, and
not more overdone than a prize pig must of necessity be.
The breeding pigs are not the worst part of the Show,
and there were some very useful entries. Mr. Humphrey's
first prize Bevkshires are a particularly nice lot. The
Tamworth breed may be useful, but they do not commend
themselves to the stranger who is unaware of their hidden
virtues. For pigs of the large breeds the Earl of
Ellesmere and Mr. Peter Eden are first and seeond,
as usual, and Mr. Wheeler third. Pigs of a
small breed are sparingly represented by only four en-
tries, but they are very nice. Mr. Sexton takes first
prize with black Suffolks, of pretty quality — small, fine
bone, and plenty of hair. The Earl of Ellesmere is
second. Pigs of the middle breed are those which cannot
be conveniently classed in either of the foregoing divisions,
and the term makes a handy class for pigs which have no
very distinctive character. The pigs are, on the whole,
good.

THE JUDGES:—

CATTLE.

Mr. G. W. Baker, The Hoo Park Farm, Luton, Beds.

Mr. Gibbons, 24, Chiswiek-street, Carlisle.
Mr. John Thompson, Badminton, Chippenham.

SHEEP.

Mr. Thomas Instone, Callaughton, Much Wenlock.
Mr. James E. Rawlence, Bulbridge, Wilton, Salisbury.
Mr. Francis Sptncer, Alma House, Claybrook, Lutter-
worth.

PIGS.

Mr. Edward Little, Lanhill, Chippenham.
Mr. Henry 'fait, The Prince Consort's Shaw Farm,
Windsor.

CORN.

Mr. Joseph Guest, Ashted, Birmingham,

ROOTS.

Mr. William Brewster, Balderton Hall, Middle Salop.
Mr. Thomas Horley, jun., The Fosse, near Leamington.

POTATOES.

Mr. A. F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens,

Chiswick, London, W.
Mr. Samuel Evans, Arbury Gardens, Nuneaton.
CATTLE.

HEREFORDS.

Hereford Oxen, exceeding four years old : 1st, II. Wortley,
Norfolk; 2nd, H. Bettridge, East Hanney, Berks; 3rd, J. J.
Colman, M.P., Norfolk.

Hereford Steer, exceeding tliree and not exceeding four years
old : 1st and 2nd, Earl of Powis ; 3rd, J. Pritchard, Stan-
more, near Bridgnorth.

Hereford Steers, not exceeding three years old : 1st, F.
Piatt, Hereford; 2nd, the. E*rl of Powis ; 3rd, F. Piatt.

Hereford Cows : 1st, R Bowen, Craven Arms, Salop ; 2nd
T. Nott, Brampton Brian, Herefordshire ; 3rd, T. Jones, lied
Lion, Shrewsbury.

Hereford Heifers, not exceeding four years old : 1st, P. A.
Pike, Mitton, Tewkesbury ; 2nd, P. Turner, Pembridge, Here-
fordshire ; 3rd, Sarah Edwards, Le3minster.

SHORTHORNS.

Shorthorn Oxen, exce.ediug four years old : 2nd, Col. J .
Ellis, Bagworth Leicestershire.

Shorthorn Steers, exceeding three and not exceeding four
years: 1st, T. Bond, North Thoresby, Louth; 2r.d, Lord Tre"
degar; 3rd, Earl of Eilesmere ; highly commended, Sir W. W
Wynn, Bart, M.P.

Shorthorn Steers, not exceeding three years old : 1st, the
Earl of Lonsdale ; 2nd, D. Adamson, Aberdeen.

Shorthorn Cows : 1st, Stand Stud Company, Whitfield, near,
Manchester; 2nd, J. J. Sharp, Brought on, Kettering ; 3rd,
Colonel R. Loyd-Lindsay, M.P.

Shorthorn Heifers, not exceeding four years old ; 1st, R.
Stratton, Newport, Mon. ; 2nd. J. J. Colman, M.P., Norwich
3rd, P. A. Pike, Mitton, Tewkesbury.

DEVONS.

Devon Oxen or Steers of any age : 1st, W. Fryer, Toole,
Dorset ; 2nd, Her Majesty the Queen ; 3rd, W. Smith,
Wliimple, Devon.

Devon Cows or Heifers ; 1st, W. Smith, Whimple.

LONGHORNS.

Longhorn Oxen or Steers of any age : 1st, The Duke of
Buckingham and Chandos ; 2nd, R. Hall, Walton, Burton-on
Trent.

Longhorn Cows : 1st and 2nd, R. Hall, Burtonon-Trent
Longhorn Heifers, not exceediug four years old; 1st, R#
Hall; 2nd, W. J. Legh, M.P., Stockport.

SCOTCH BREEDS.

Polled Oxen or Steers, of any age : J. Reid, Alford, Aber-
deenshire ; 2nd, Messrs. James and William Martin, Aberdeen ;
highly commended, J. McCounell,.Glasnick, Kirkcowan.

Scotcli Polled Cows or Heifers : 1st, W. McCombie, Aber-
deen ; 2nd, J. McConnell, Kirkcowan.

West Highland Oxen or Steers: 1st, H. D. Adamson,
Alford, Aberdeen ; 2nd, J. Grey, High Wecklade, Northum-
berland.

Scotch Horned Cows or Heirers : 1st, Sir W. C. Trevelyan,
Bart., Willington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

EOR OTHER PURE BREEDS AND CROSS-BREEDS.

Fat Oxen, exceeding four years old : 1st, Messrs.; J. and W.
Martin, Newmarket, Aberdeen ; 2nd, R. Jardine, Lockerbie
N.B. ; 3rd, the Prince of Wales.

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

23

Fat Sheers, exceeding three and not exceeding four years old :
1st, D. Adamsou, Aberdeen ; 2nd, G. Strathan, Mains of Iu-
verebrie ; 3rd, Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart.

Fat Steers, not exceeding three years old : 1st, J. F. Hallj
Ripple, near Tewkesbury ; 2nd, J. and W. Martin ; 3rd, D.
Adamson, Aberdeen.

Fat Cows and Heifers: 1st, D. Adamson > 2nd, J. Reid;
3rd, Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart.

EXTRA. PRIZES.

Silver cup, or other suitable piece of ornamental plate, of
the value of £25, for best of any breed or age, to be bred and
fed by the exhibitor. — 11. Stratton, Newport, Mon.

The Elkington challenge cup, value 100 gs., for the best
animal, to be won two years successively, or any three years,
by ihe same exhibitor. — R. S rattou.

A prize of £100, for the best Hereford in any of the classes.
— R. Wortley, Aylshara.

A prize of £100, for the best Shorthorn in any of the
classes. — R. Stratton.

A prize of 50 gs., for the best Devon in either of the
cla- ses. — W. R. Fryer, Lytchett Minster, Poole, Dorset.

A prize of 20 gs., for the best Longhorn in any of the
classes. — W. Smith, Whimple.

A prize of £50, for the best Scot in classes 16 to 19 in-
clusive.— J. Reid, Alford.

A prize of £50, for the best cross-bred in classes 20 to 23
inclusive. — J. Fountain, Ripple.

SHEEP.

LEICESTERS.

Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-three months old :
1st, B. Painter, Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland ; 2nd, Mrs. S.
P. Herrick, Leicestershire.

L1NCOLNS.

Three Fat Wethe rs, not exceeding twenty-three months
old : 1st, C. Lister, Coleby Lodge, near Lincoln ; 2nd, C.
Sell, Poplar Farm, Cambridgeshire; highly commended, T.
Guunell, Willow House, Milton, Cambridgeshire.

COTSWOLDS.

Three Fat 'Wethers, not exceeding twenty-three months old :
R. Jacobs, Signett Hill, Burford, Oxon.

SOUTHDOWNS.

Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-three months old :
1st and 2nd, Lord Walshinghara ; 3rd, the Prince of Wales ;
highly commended, the Prince of Wales.

SHORTHORNS.

Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-three months old
1st and 2nd, Lord Chesham ; 3rd, Jos. Beach, Brentwood :
4th, G. German ; highly commended, H. Roger, Penbridge ;

Fat Shropshire wether, exceeding twenty-three and not
exceedingthirty-five months; 1st, L'jri Chesham ; highly
commended, Thomas Ryland.

Fat Shropshire wether, not exceeding twenty-three months :
1st, T. Ryland, Perry Barr ; highly commended, J. Beach.

OXFORDSIIIRES.

Three fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-three months old
1st, A. Brassey, Chipping Norton, Oxon; 2nd and 3rd, N.
Stilgoe, Adderbury, Oxon ; highly commended, W. Stilgoe,
Adderbury Grounds, Oxon.

HAMPSHIRE, WILTSHIRE. AND OTHER DOWN.

Three fat Wethers, not exceeding twentv-three months old :
1st and 2nd, A. MorrisoD, Tisbury, Wilts.

SHEEP NOT QUALIFIED TO COMPETE IN ANY OTHER CLASS.

Three fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-three months old :
1st, H. Farthing, Bridgwater.

CROSS-BREDS.

Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding tv/enty-three months old
1st, the Prince of Wales ; 2nd, W. Wells, Peterborough.

EWES.

Fat Leicester Ewe, having bred one or more lambs. — No
entry.

Fat Lincoln Ewe, having bred one or more lambs : 1st, C.
Sell, Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire.

Fat Cotswold Ewe, having bred one or more lambs : 1st, R.
Jacobs, Burford, Oxon.

Fat Southdown Ewe, having bred one or more lambs : 1st,
Lord Walsinghara ; highly commended, C. Chapman, Froces-
ter Court, Gloucestershire.

Fat Shropshire Ewe, having bred oue or more lambs : 1st,
Lord Chesham; 2nd, T. Nock, Sutton Maddock, Shifnal ;
highly commended, G.German, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

Fat Oxlordshire Ewe, having bred one or more lambs : A.
Brassey.

Fat Ewe, of any other pure breed, having bred one or more
lambs : A Morrison ; highly commended, H. Farthing.
FAT PIGS.

Three Fat Pigs of one litter, not exceeding ten months old :
1st, R. J. Spackraan, Melkshatn, Wilts ; 2nd, A. Crowther,
Star Inn, Bury ; highly commended, II. E. Duckering,
Northorpe, Kirton Lindsey.

Three Fat Pigs of one litter, not exceeding fifteen months
old : 1st, W. Wheeler, Long ComptoD, Shipston-on-Stour ;
2nd, W. Mort, Baschurch, Salop.

Fat Pig exceeding fifteen months; 1st, C. E. Duckering ;
2nd, R. F. Duckeriug ; highly comment el, the Earl ofElles-
mere.

BREEDING PIGS.

BERKSHIRE BREED.

Five Pigs of one litter, exceeding three and not exceeding
six months old : 1st, H. Huinfrey, Shrivenham, Berks ; 2nd
Arthur Stewart, Gloucester ; 3rd, R. Fowler, Aylesbury
Bucks ; highly commended, Miss H. Smith, Henley-in-Arden.

TAMWORTH BREED.

Five Pigs of one litter, exceeding three and not exceeding
six months old : 1st, H.Sharp, Packington, Coventry ; 2nd,
H. Barclay, Middleton Hall, Tamworth.

OTHER LARGE BREEDS.

Five Pigs of one litter, exceeding three and not exceeding
six months old : 1st, Earl Ellesmere ; 2nd, P. Eden, Cross-
lane, Salford ; 3rd, W. Wheeler ; highly commended, P.
Eden.

MIDDLE BREED.

Five Pigs of one litter, exceeding three and not exceeding
six months old : 1st, P. Eden ; 2nd, Colonel B. G. Davieo
Cooke, Colomendy, Mold, N.W.

SMALL BREED.

Five Pigs of one litter, exceeding three and not exceeding
six months old: 1st, G. M. Sexton, Ipswich ; 2nd, Earl of
Ellesmere.

EXHIBITORS OF IMPLEMENTS, SEEDS, &c, WITH
THEIR CHIEF EXHIBITS.

Proctor and Ryland, Birmingham. — Artificial manures.
Underbill, W. S., Newport, Salop. — Vertical engines,
Samuelson and Co., Banbury. — Mowing machines, reapers,
root pulpers and cutters.

24

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Ransomes, Sims, and Head, Ipswich.— Steam engines, ploughs
horse rakes.

Field, Alfred, and Co., Liverpool.— American agricultural im-
plements.

Turner, E. R. and P., Tpswich.— Corn crushers and kibblers.

Ball, George, North Kilworth, Rugby.— Carts and waggons.

Corbctt, S., and Sons, Wellington, Salop.— Grinding mills,

root pulpers.
Corbett and Peele, Shrewsbury.— Corn elevators, weighing

machines, turnip hoes, drills.
Powis, Charles, and Co., Gracechurch-street, Loudon. — Mor-
tising machines, sawing machinRS.
Albion Iron Works Co., Rugeley.— Sheep racks, horse rakes,

cheese presses.
Sherwin, G. E., Hackney, London. — Crushing and grinding

machines.
Marshall, Sons, and Co., Gainsborough.— Steam engines,

thrashing machines.
Ilindley, E. S , Bourton, Dorset.— Vertical engines an

boilers.
Wurr and Lewis, Walbrook, London.— Sawing machines,

mortising and boring machines.
Riches and Watts, Norwich.— Vertical engines, grist mills.
Barford and Perkins, Peterborough.— Steam ploughs and

diggers, grinding mills.
Barrows and Stewart, Banbury. — Portable steam engines.
Bristol Waggon Works Co., Bristol. — Farm carts, harvest

ladders, seed and manure distributors.
Humphries, Edward, Pershore, Worcestershire. — Thrashing

machines and engines.
Bentall, E. H., and Co., Maldon, Essex.— Chaff cutters, pul-
pers, turnip cutters, corn mills.
Ruston, Troctor, and Co., Lincoln.— Portable engines, thrash-
ing machines.
Mapplebeck and Lowe, Birmingham.— Chaff cutting machines,

turnip cutters, grinding mills.
Clayton and Shuttleworth, Lincoln.— Steam engines, thrash-
ing and finishing machines.
Duvallon and Lloyd, Birmingham.— Vertical " Atlas" engines,

hand pumps.
Hornsby, R., and Sons, Grantham.— Portable steam engines>
combiued thrashing, shaking, and finishing dressing
machines, reapers, ploughs.
Pickin, John, Birmingham.— Chaff cutters, butter churns,

lawn mowers.
Cheaviu, G , Boston, Lincolnshire. — Cistern tauk filters.
Pinfold, J. D., Rugby. — Engines and boilers, combined grist

mills.
Penney and Co., Lincoln.— Potato diggers, rotary corn

screens.
Smyth, James, and Sons, Peasenhall, Suffolk.—" Eclipse"

corn drills, with steerage.
Williams, John, and Son, Rhuddlan, near Rhyl, Nurth Wales.

—Mowing machines, chaff cutters.
Richmond and Chandler, Salford, Manchester.— Chaff cutters,

corn crushers, steaming apparatus.
Woods, Cocksed^e, and Co., Stowmarket. — Steam eugiues,

horse gears, root pulpers.
Perkins, John, and Sons, Lichfield. — Double and single-fur-
row ploughs.
Glover, W., and Sons, Warwick.— Cup drills, carts with gear-
ings.

Waite, Burnell, Huggins and Co., Upper Thames-4r<et,
Londoa. — American self-acting horse rakes, lawn mowers.
Handley, R. G., Birmingham. — French mill stones.
Jones, John Milton, Gloucester.— Specific for foot- rot in

sheep .
Davies, Griffith, Regent-street, London.— The Royal Poly-
technic cement.
Wright, John, and Co., Birmingham. — "Otto" gas engines,

rotary pumps.
Page, E., and Co., Bedford. — Chaff cutters, bean mills.
Deuiug, C, and Co., Chard, Somerset. — Chain drills.
Muller, II. L., Birmingham. — Gas making machines.
Sicker Safe Company, Soho, Birmingham. — Safes and deed

chests.
Lay, Francis, Derby. — Pulley blocks and hoists.
Winn, C. W. Easy Row, Birmingham. — Amateur's lathes.
Bamford, Henry, and Sons, Uttoxeter. — Chain pumps, horse

gears, oil-cake mills, chaff cutters.
Pickering, Jonathan, Stockton-on-Tees.— Pulley blocks, sack

hoists.
Vipan and Headly, Leicester. — Pulpers, corn crushers.
Alexanders aud Loveridge, Leominster — Cow cribs, sheep

racks.
Lowcock and Barr, Shrewsbury. — Mowers, chaff-cutters, &c.
Walker Alfred, Shrewsbury. — Steam engines and boilers.
Maldon Iron Works Co., Maldon, Essex. — Chaff-cutlers,

oil-cake breakers.
Tyler, W., Summer-row, Birmingham. — Roots, meal, oil-cakes

&c.
Holt and Willetts,Brierley Hill.— Patent sack hoists, spades,

shovels.
Ilollings Brothers, Swindon, Wilts. — Canadian corn-drills.
Harrison, McGregor, and Co., Leigh, Manchester. — Self-
raking machine, combined mowers and reapers.
Tittley, Henry, Smethwick, Birmingham. — Vertical boilers,

with engines combined, horizontal engines.
Houghton and Hill, Birmingham. — Mortising machines.
Ottley, Thomas, Birmingham. — Gold and silver medals for

agricultural shows.
Elwell, John, Birmingham. — Cattle cribs, gates, hurdles.
Armitage and Ruston, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. — Lever

horse hoes.
Marston, John, and Co., Birmingham. — Double and single

village carts.
Birchills Hall Iron Co., Walsall. — Tubular hurdles, fencing,

tree guards.
Ryland, Alfred, Birmingham. — Fuel-saving fire bars.
Howorth, James, Farnworth, near Bolton.— Revolving venti-
lators.
Kneebone and Timmis, Birmingham. — Churns, washing

machines.
Millward, John, Birmingham. — Weighing machines.
Harris, G. H., Birmingham. — Chaff cutters, pulpers, corn

crnshers.
Brokes, Isaac, and Co., Birmingham.— Calf, pig, and lamb

feeders.
Bradford, Thomas, and Co., Holborn, Loudon. — Churns,

washing, wringing, and mangling machines.
Walford, John II., Birmingham. — Fowl houses.
Bell aud Co., London. — Washing, wringing, and mangling

machines,
Martin, William, Manchester. — Improved sewage tauks and
filters.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

•25

Blancke, C. W. Julius, and Co., Manchester. — Boiler mount-
ings, water guages, lubricators,
llobey and Co., Lincoln. — Portable engines, " Itobey " engine

and locomotive boiler combined.
Thomas and Taylor, Stockport, Manchester. — Eccentric chums'

washing machines.
Adams, M., Hereford. — Field gates, hurdles, &c.
Bragging, G. F. and II., Banbury, Oxon. — Wicket and

entrance gate9.
Roe, Amos, Birmingham. — Gates, posts, hurdles, fencing.
IVriam, E. T.,Birmingliam. — Lock bolts with split points.
Hope Foundry Engineering Co., West Bromwich. — Washing,

wringing, and mangling machines.
Walker and Fenby, Birmingham. — Garden seats.gas apparatus.
Tangye Brothers, Birmingham. — The " Soho " Engines, with

Taneye's Governor, Steam, and Throttle Valve.
Gardner, John, Birmingham.— Chopping machine, engine and

boiler combined.
Cooper and Smith, Birmingham. — Model of boiler.
Chaplin, J<( Birmingham. — Salt-cellars, spoons, egg cups.
Day, Son, and Hewitt, Dorset-street, Baker-street, London. —

Medicine chests, cattle medicines.
Dickson, F. and A., and Sons, Upton, Chester. — Samples of

trees, shrubs, roots, seeds, etc.
Matthews, Son, and Co., Driffield, Yorkshire. — Corn Feeding

cake, Driffield linseed cake.
Elliman, Sons, and Co., Windsor. — Embrocation for horses

and cattle.
Barnard and Lake, Braintree, Essex. — Horse hoes.

SEEDS, FEEDING CAKES, MANURES, ETC.

Gibbs, James, and Co., Mark-lane, London. — Feeding cakes.
Baker and Bodington, Ranelagh Mills, Leamington. — Feeding
cake and meal.

Sutton and Sons, Reading. — Agricultural roots, grasses>

potatoes, " inagnum bonum " kidney potatoes.
Webb and Soas, Wordsley, Stourbridge. — Agricultural roots,

grasses, cereals, potatoes, special manures.
Morris and Griffin, Wolverhampton. — Artificial manures,

roots, and cereals.
Carter, James, and Co., High Ilolborn, London. — Agricul-
tural roots and grasses.
Dickson, James, and Sons, Chester. — Trees, seeds, &c.
Tipper, B. C, and Son, Balsall ll-.ath.— Cattle, horse, and

sheep cakes.
Hope, William Ash, and Sons, Agricultural Hall, London.—

Cattle and horse food.
Myers, Thomas, York and Birmingham. — Cattle and pig spice.
Eagles, J.G , Bath.— Cattle cakes.
Dames, C. EL, CUigwell, Essex. — Food for horses, cattle, sheep,

and pigs.
Beach, J., and Co., Dudley, Worcestershire. — Food for cattle

sheep, and pigs.
Day and Sons, Crewe. — Driffield oils, and other medicines for

horses, cattle, and sheep.
Carbon Fertiliser Co., Strand, Loudon. — Boue phosphate

manures.
Green, F., and Co., Birmingham. —Powders for horses and

cattle.
Harrison and Sons, Leicester. — Roots and grasses.
Barr, P. W., and Co., Liverpool. — Feeding stuffs.
Ayres, Chambers, and Ayre, Hull. — Feed cakes.
Binney and Son, Birmingham. — Steam fittings, lubricators.
Bliss, B. K., and Sons, New York.— American potatoes.
Sellors, F. B., Tewkesbury. — Cattle spice.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

BEDALE.

A special meeting of the Bedale Chamber of Agricul-
ture was held on Nov. 27, at the Black Swan Hotel,
Bedale. Captain Clarke, President of the Chamber,
occupied the chair.

The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Dunn, President of
the York Chamber of Agriculture, suggesting that the Bedale
Chamber should join with ,other local Chambers in forming
a Yorkshire Chamber of Agriculture.

The Chairman asked for the opinion of the members upon
the question.

After some discussion it was resolved that the President
write to Mr. Dunn declining the proposed joining.

The next business was the discussion of the recommenda-
t ions of the Cattle Plague Committee.

Mr. J. P. Booth, Killerby Hall, who was to have introduced
the subject, wrote as follows to Captain Clarke, the President
of the Chamber: —

" I am very sorry I cannot manage to get to the meeting
to-day, but I feel sure that in your hands the subject of the
cattle plague will find a very able advocate. I forward you
three papers, one with the recommendations of the Cattle
Plague Committee, another with the resolutions passed at the
meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, of Mr.
Jacob Wilsuu, and the third with an account of the reception

of the Royal Agricultural Society by Lord Beaconsfield, whi< h
reception we take to be very encouraging. I am quite of the
opinion expressed in your letter of the 24th, that we should
memorialise the Government to make the recommendations of
the committee into law; or think that if the Chamber pass a
resolution somewhat similar to that passed by the Council of
the Royal, it will be all we can do at present. You might
also send from the Chamber to request our members of the
North Riding to support, any measure brought in by the Go-
vernment for the suppression of cattle disease based on the
recommendations of the Cattle Plague Committee. Hoping
you will have a successful meeting, — Yours very truly, John
P. Booth."

The Chairman said that they regretted Mr. Booth's ab-
sence, but he was glad to say Mr. Smith, at short notice,
would introduce the matter.

Mr. J. Smith then said, the question of the importation of
live stock, ana consequently of cattle disease, had been so
often and so fully discussed at Farmers' Clubs, Chambers of
Agriculture, and elsewhere, that it was not necessary to make
lengthened remarks. He was, however, glad to see it was
taken out of the category of party questions ; and he agreed
with Mr. Leeman, M.P., "That the consumers were quite as
much interested in the prevention of imported diseases as
farmers themselves." There was an article recently iu The

20

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Times, on the diminution of live stock, having a very strong
bearing on this subject. It appeared that the diminution did
not arise from any reduction of pasturage, or turnip, or clover,
or of land under any kind of cropping from which our beef
and mutton were manufactured, for it appeared that the acre-
age of our pasturage and green crops had slightly increased
during the last three years, and that they had now a greater
extent of land under grass or crop tor feeding animals. If
such were the facts, and they were proved by the census —
during the last three years the country sufferej so great a
reduction of live stock whilst increasing the means to support
them, is it not fair to assume that the diminution of sheep
aud cattle may be fully attributed to stock-breeders (a class
amongst farmers who have suffered most heavily), finding it a
risky, grievous, and unprofitable business, in consequence of
the importation of foreign diseases ? And was it not less
f tir to assume that if proper measures were taken to prevent
such importation of foreign diseases, the number of cattle
and sheep would increase in the next three years in as great
a ratio as they had decreased in the last three, thereby
assuring to the consumers a constantly increasing supply of
animal food, which, together with the ever- increasing supply
of dead meat from abroad, will most assuredly together have
a tendency to lower prices without any real injury to the
British farmer. Mr. Smith concluded by proposing ; —

" That this Chamber of Agriculture desires to memorialise
the Government to adopt and carry out by legal enactment the
recommendations of the Cattle Plague Committee, feeling
satisfied that such legislation will tend to the lessening of in-
fect ous diseases and to the consequent public advantage."

Captain Other, in seconding the motion, said whilst all
mi;, lit not be well up in statistics, common sense onght to
guide any Government in a measure they might bring in, and
the best thing they could do would be to make law the recom-
mendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Cattle Plague.
If the cost of the cattle which had died from the cattle disease
—those imported and those which had died from imported
disease — were known, it would more than pay for all the cattle
ever imported.

Mr. G. T. Robinson, in supporting the motion, said as
one who had suffered very heavily from the cattle plague in
1866, he should like to say a few words. He was a free-trader
from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot ; but in this
case a protectionist policy was the best — a policy of protection
to the breeder, the grazier, and to the consumer. The con-
sumers had suffered as heavily, or more so, than any one else
from the cattle plague ; the price of meat had gone up, and
up, and up, and would not come down he feared under present
circumstances. Were the herds protected from the disease,
the cattle and sheep in this country would vastly increase in
number, and the meat from abroad, if brought dead instead of
alive, would not diminish. He said the Government ought to
carry out the recommendations of the Committee, disregarding
all the clamour against the measures, as the meetings protest-
ing against the recommendations were organised by people for
purely selfish motives.

Mr. Fryer, V.S., supported the resolution, convinced that
nothing would put an end to imported diseases but slaughtering
at ports of embarkation. He used to be of a different opinion,
but was now quite changed. But there was one thing which
must also be looked to — they must clean their house at home.

He knew of instances where farmers had Dot reported foot-
and-mouth disease until the fat stock had all been removed-
That must be put a stop to.

The motion was then put and agreed to unanimously.

A resolution was also agreed to that the Secretary should
draw up a memorial on the basis of the resolution already
passed, and forward it to the Members of the North Riding
for their support.

CIKENCESTER.

OUR MEAT SUPPLY.

A meeting of this Chamber was held on the 26th Nov.,
when Professor Sheldon read the following paper on
" Our Meat Supply" : —

The question of our meat supply is not so much becoming
as it has already become a matter of supreme importance to
us as a nation. Whether for good or ill I do not pretend to
say, but we have gradually become, from the highest to the
lowest classes, an essenthily meat consuming people. Within
the recollection of men who are not yet very old even far-
mers themselves seldom ate fresh meat except on Sundays,
whilst the labouring classes seldom ateitatall" from year's en^
to year's end." Home-fed bacon was the chief animal food
of the master, and the sole animal food of the man, and even
this was sparingly used. But now all is changed, and the
great bulk of our labouring populations eat flesh-meat daily,
while the classes above them are liberally supplied with al*
kinds of delicacies which are brought from all parts of the
world. There is food for reflection in this wonderful transfor-
mation in our mode of living. The extent to which it makes
us dependent on the rest of the world— dependent for our very
existence— is a fact of such mora m ous meaning that we do
not often, from fancy only, give it the amount of consideration
which it will one day demand from us in a voice which will
brook no further supineness at our hands. The expensive and
prodigal and altogether artificial habits of life which we have
got into are matters of grave concern to those among us who
try to read the hidden possibilities of the future. Not only
our supremacy as a naval power, but our very existence as a
nation, demands each year in an increasingly imperative
manner that we make every effort to maintain our position as
mistress of the seas ; and it equally demands that we remain,
as far as we honourably can, at peace with the world. If we
are ever unfortunate enough to go to war with a first-rate
naval power we must crush that power quickly, or there will
be a famine in this happy Eugland of ours. Or if we are
insane enough to quarrel with America the same result will
happen whether we crush her or not, and crush her we could
not. Therefore it follows that with our growing population
we are condemned to roll the stone of Sisyphus, and while we
constantly prepare for war, it becomes each year increasingly
necessary that we remain at peace. Coupled with the im-
portant fact that we have become essentially a nation of beef
and mutton eaters is the still more grave one that our popu-
lation has increased, and is increasing at a rate which fills all
thoughtful minds with serious alarm and misgiving. Look at
the figures relating thereto. According to the Registrar-
General's returns for the present year our populatiou in 1801
was 18,552,522 ; ten years later we had 21,300,573 ; in 1831
we had 24,423,588; in 1841, 27,097,095; in 1851,
27,764,034 ; in 1861, 29,358,927 ; and in 1871, 31,914,985.
We have, therefore, almost doubled iu seventy yean, aud if

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■27

we go on increasing in the. same ratio for another century we
shall have more than 100,000,001) of people to feed, to clothe,
to shelter, and to employ. We, of course, long before that
time shall have returned to the du»t from which we sprang,
but it is none the less on that account cur duty to lay a solid
foundation for the countless millions who will spring Irora
our ash-'s as we have sp'ung from those of our forefathers >
and the best way of providing against the future is to look
well to the present ; and, indeed, it is the present with which
we have more immediately to deal this evening. I need not,
and it would be ind-ed foreign to my present purpose to, do
more than briefly allude to the startling fact that at every
harvest time, so fir as bread is concerned, we are within two
months of absolute starvation ; and not we only, but the
whole o( the human family is. In this country it is difficult,
happily it is impossible, to realise even in thought this alarm-
iug truth ; but that it is a truth is plainly demonstrated I y
the terrible famine which has so very recently slaiu its scores
of thousands ia India. But try just for a moment to imagine
the awful catastrophe, the terrible volume of suffering, which
would ensue if the harvest of the world were, for one season
only, blighted. There would not be many of us left to reap
the following harvest. But we do not live by bread alone ;
beef and mutton are most important auxiliary articles of
fo-.nl — and the question of our nieat-sipply, on its own in-
trinsic merits, quite independently of what I have said about
corn harvests, and also in the light of that very question of
bread, is a question in itself of 8'ipre.me importance. Some
time back, when the people of Paris were suffering from a
famine of food an innocent French Princess is said to have
wondered why the people did not eat cakes ! This was all
very well in its way, but where were the cakes ? Leaving
behind us the questiou of cakes and of all other food of a
vegetable nature, I may now ask and try to answer the ques-
tion— " Where is the meat of the future to come from, on
which our ever-increasing millions must be fed ?" We have
seen above that our population increased, from 1861 to 1871,
2,556,053. This shows a yearly increase of 255,605, and a
daily one of 700. Now just think for a moment of the
dreadful importance of these figures — 700 additional mouths

of money value of more than £2,000,000. Now we cannu
afford to go on importing food at this alarming r»te of
increase ; but what are we to do to obviate it, and why has it
already risen to such enormous dimensions ? To the second
of these queries I will address myself first. I do uot fear any
serious contradiction when I state that the whole amount of
this enormous importation of animal food is due to the destruc-
tion caused among our own il-jeks and herds by contagious
diseases brought to this country by foreign cattle. First of
nil let me impress upon you the fact that epizootic diseases
amongst cattle and sheep hAve been in existence for centuries
in the steppes of Russia, and in Eistern Europe generally.
These diseases are chronic there, and it would seem as if they
were indigenous to that part of the world. I am aware of the
cavilling which exists among men of science about the word
" indigenous," as applied to infectious diseases existing in a
country. They contend that no disease can break out without
the germs being present, and that these germs must be
deposited. But this is mere hair-splitting. What we have,
to do with is the recurrence of these epizootic diseases amongst
cattle in Eastern Europe, and their transmission to this
country by cattle sent to us from there. The first outbreak of
foot-and-mouth in this country is traced to two lots of some
bovine species brought over in 1839 for the Zoological Gar-
dens, Regent's Park. Then came the lung disease, which was
introduced iuto Ireland by some Dutch cows that were landed
at Cork in the year 1810. And last, though not least, came
the rinderpest in 1865. The best informed men who have
investigated the subject state their conviction that these
foreign diseases cause an average annual loss of stock in these
islands of £10,000,000. From actual returns made for the
county of Hereford, the money loss from foot.aud-mouth dis-
ease alone in Great Britain and Ireland during 1872 was
stated at £19,510,707, as against £-1,606,582, the total value
of imported live st ck for the same period. It is hardly pos-
sible to imagine a more suicidal course to pursue than that of
allowing foreign cattle to come to this country, bringing with
them diseases which inflict on our own cattle a greater loss
than the value of the imported ones amounts to. The total
annual meat production of the United Kingdom is calculated

to feed each successive day. Here is serious food for reflec- I at £60,000,01)0, where it might be at least £80,000,000 but

tion for the political economist — for all of us in fact. How
are we to feed these mouths ? Where is the meat to come
from ? Let us look first at our own resources. According to
the statistical returns obtained and issued by order of Govern-
ment, we find that in 1867 we had 8,731,473 cattle, 33,817,951
sheep, and 4,221,100 pigs in Great Britain and Ireland.
Added together, the number of these animals amounts to
46,770,521. The numbers under the separate heads have
fluctuated considerably, and in the present year they stand as
follows -.—Cattle, 9,997,189 ; sheep, 32,252,579 ; pigs,
3,734,429. Together they amount to 45,984,197, showing a
decrease in totals of 786,327. This is alarming, for we
have to set against it an increase in population of about
two and a half millions of souls in the same period.
To meet the increased demand we imported last year 271,576
oxen, bulls, cows, and calves, and 1,041,329 sheep and lambs,
to say nothing of pigs and of the immense quantities of dead
meat which also have been imported in shape of fresh beef
and mutton, and of bacon. In 1874 our imports of cattle,
sheep, and pigs were 1,068,167 animals, valued at £5,250,000 ;
in 1875 they rose to 1,313,489, valued at £7,330,420, show-
ing an increase for the year of nearly 300,000 animals, and

for foreign diseases. The
what we paj for foreign
simple question, Would it
the £10,000,000 in our own pockets ?

difference is more than

flesh-meat. I ask yon the

not be better that we kept

The argument invaria.

bly brought forward by importers of foreign stock is that they
import animals from countries, such as Spain and Denmark,
which are free from diseases. But the history of cattle diseases
goes to prove, that no part of the Continent of Europe is free
from epizootics when cattle from the east are allowed to pass
in a current through it. I am not for a moment presuming
that the western countries of the Continent are naturally «ub.
ject to these maladies to the extent that the eastern ones are,
but they are never, as we might be, absolutely free from them,
because there is no streak of salt-water to stand as a barrier
against them, as we have it, between ns and the rest of Eu-
rope. They are, however, continually liable to have them by
reason of the interchange of stock which is continually going
on; and, if we allow them, they will as regularly transmit
them to us. Many times, to our cost, have they done so already.
But, you will ask, where are we to get a sufficient supply of ani-
mal food from to tide over the time which would elapse before
we could raise stock enough of our own for our requirements?

23

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

In reply, I would point to the American dead-meat trade,
which commenced in October, 1875, with 36,0001b. , and in-
creased until in April, 1877, it had attained to 8,578,2131b.,
valued at, £16,462. If such a trade in dead-meat be possible
with a country 3,000 miles away cannot the Continentalists
send us their meat dead instead of alive ? You may object that
ice is scarcer on the Continent than it is in America. Granted,
but natuial or artificial ice it is no longer necessary|to the pre-
servation of dead-meat. Messrs. Giffard and Berger, of Paris,
have invented a system of refrigerating rooms, in which the
method applied for prodncing the desired temperature is sim-
plicity itself. There is an entire absence of the chemical pro-
cesses employed in artificial freezing, such as ether, ammonia,
hydro-sulphuric acid, or the salts of potash or ammonia. All
that is used is a simple mechanism for compressing the ordi-
nary atmospheric air, and subjecting it, whilst under pressure
or rather while it is in the act of expanding trom pressure, to
the action of a jet of cold water, which, thrown suddenly upon
the air, deprives it of its heat, and the atmosphere thus
cooled passes into the chamber, the temperature of which
it is intended to reduce. A retort from which to
draw the air to be operated upon, a couple of cylinders
for compressing, a small pump to supply the stream
of water, and a freezing chamber are in reality all the
mechanism used in the combination with, of course, the
ordinary motive power. At a recent test of this system the
results were surprising. In half-an-hour after commencing
to work the machine the thermometer within the freezing
chamber stood at 20 degrees below zero, the interior of the
chamber was covered with hoar-frost half-an-inch thick, bot-
tles of water were frozen solid, and the general temperature of
the chamber in which the temporary freezing-chamber stood
was reduced to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, or the freezing point
The German exporters, I believe, complain loudly, and so do
the English importers of cattle, at our demand that they shall
send us their meat dead instead of alive. But they, of course,
are not English farmers, and have not that need to fear the
introduction of diseases that English farmers have. They
have got firmly rooted into the system of bringing live animals
over, and habit is strong. There are also, no doubt, certain
"vested interests" which would be abolished by the introduc.
tion of the dead meat instead of the live cattle trade. Hence
they naturally object to a change. But are, they to be
allowed to stand in the way of the welfare of British Agri_
culture? Are their interests to be regarded as of greater im.
portance than those of the thousands of British farmers ? Are
English farmers to be kept in chronic peril of being ruined
because of the vested interests of a coterie of traders in cattle ?
Nay, is the meat production of this country to be treated as
of an importance quite secondary to the Continental cattle,
trade ? The inhabitants of our towns and cities, too have taken
alarm at the project of Continental cattle being prohibited
from coming to this country alive. They, of course, have no
particular sympathy with the cattle importers I have referred
to — their object being to have cheap meat by whatever means.
But they regard this question purely from a consumer's stand-
point ; they have not studied the merits of the question suffi-
ciently and impartially — impartially they could not, because
they flew off at a tangent the moment they heard of the projecb
and came to the conclusion, which was as unjust as it was un-
true, that our farmers wanted to re-establish the old Protec-
tionist system. True, English farmers do demand Protection j
but not Protection against foreign competition, only Protec-
tion against foreign diseases. A grave responsibility rests on

those who first raised the false and mischievous cry that the
farmers were reactionary and Protectionist in their demands
for the prohibition of live-stock from the Continent of Europe ;
and the cry was as cowardly as it was false— it was like a cry
of " fire" in a crowded assembly, it created a frenzy of excite-
ment which drove a portion of the country mad. Tennyson
says that " a lie which is half the truth is even the blackest of
lies." The half-truth in this is that the farmers do demand
protection — from imported diseases. Panic-mongers have
raised this into a cry against the farmers, plausible of course
they made it, and they played on the tender susceptibilities of
their dupes by declaring that if foreign cattle were prohibited
meat would at once go up to famine prices, and that the far.
mers would get rich out of the helplessness of their fellow-
citizens. The cry of " Wolf, Wolf " was raised, and the far-
mers have been swamped once more. The rest of the world
seems very j»alous about farmers getting rich, and watches them
as a cat watches a mouse. If a farmer is indiscreet enough to
admit that he is saving a little money, his landlord thinks his
farm is worth more rent, and the tradesman cries out that he
ought to sell his beef and mutton at a less price. But, as a matter
of fact, getting rich is an amiable and pardonable weakness,
in which farmers very seldom indulge. Those who cry out so
loudly that farmers want to re-introduce Protectionism are
blind in the most hopeless manner — with the blindness of
those who wont see. When, I would ask, have farmers
clamoured for a stoppage of the American meat trade ? They
knew well enough that it would diminish their profits, which
were already small enough in all conscience, but they knew
that the dead meat trade was a fair and straightforward com-
peti'ion which they had to meet, and though they were very
much frightened at what they supposed the result would be,
yet they never hinted at Protection against it ; nor would
they ever have demanded Protection against Continental live
stock were it not for the diseases they bring along with them.
Those who advocate Eree Trade in cattle have themselves to
thank for the present high price of meat in this country. It
has been proved to satiety that no precautions of quarantine
and inspection have hitherto been sufficient to prevent the
introduction of disease along with these foreign cattle. If
these means had been effectual the farmers would never have
asked for prohibition. The English farmer has no need to
fear foreign competition, providing his flocks and herds are
secure from periodical attacks of diseases. Give him this
immunity and he can hold his own against all the world. A
Select Committee has recently bee n sitting to hear evidence
on this question, and it has issued a Report recommending
that live cattle shall not be allowed from certain infested
countries, and that all other cattle from abroad should be
most carefully inspected and quarantined on arrival in this
country. So far good ; but what will Government do ? Why,
the question will be shelved again as it has been shelved
before, and we have again to suffer from that hope deferred
which maketh the heart sick. I repeat again that the great
bulk of our meat-consuming public do not properly understand
this question. They stand in tlieir own light continually, and
their policy is a hand-to-mouth policy. If our farmers had
only fair play they could, after a time, produce animal food
enough to supply the country, at all events for some time to
come. But our population promises to become so large that
we cannot supply them ; still it is surely the highest wisdom
to produce as much as we can ourselves before we begin to
import from other countries. Suppose we get involved in a
war with a great naval power some day, what then will be the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

20

result ? Our own infernal resources haviug been so cruelly
slaughtered in the meantime, a great war of this kind would
quickly rid this country of contagious diseases amongst ani-
mals, but it would find us with a stock utterly inadequate to
supply our wants. Meanwhile Government is trilling with
tliis question of foreign diseases. On Friday Lord Beacons-
fiela promised a Bill on this question, and at the same moment,
almost, the Privy Council has rescinded the Cattle Plague
U solutions relating to the metropolis — rescinded them, for-
sooth, because the Smithfield Club Show is coming on, and,
rinderpest or no rinderpest, this must be held. We see now
what value the Council attaches to this question. What must
be done? This: The farmers of these islands hold every
county constituency in their own power, if they like to be
united, and they must be united now — they must tell their
representatives that if they cannot have justice done them by
this Parliament they must see to it that the next one will not
refuse it. Meantime British stock-farming is fast going to
the dogs.

An interesting discussion ensued.

MR. READ ON AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

The following remarks were made by Mr. Read in his
speech at Diss.

A sporting paper said I spoke very gloomily of agriculture,
but it was a happy thing for the farmers that they could still
pay 20s. in the pound and 10s. Gd. for a bad dinner. Of
course it is a sort of sneer the London press would indulge in,
for they get much better dinners, but what it costs them I
don't know. To-night] we have had a good tea for half-a-
crown, and, perhaps, that will not offend those gentlemen who
think we ought not to dine together and enjoy ourselves because
the times are bad. If the leading agriculturists of a district
go to their Show it is surely a fair way of spending their time
and money, and as a rule the farmers who go to those meetings
are the best and most well-to-do portion of the agricultural
community ; but, 1 think you will agree with me, however
genial and pleasant they may look at these dinners, there is a
class outside them who, perhaps, could not pay 20s. in the
pound, for it is no use disguising the fact that the times
recently have been very hard indeed for far-
mers, and especially the small farmers, of arable-
land. A third bad season must be a great deal worse to con-
tend with than a second, and the second than the first, and no
doubt this is our third bad season. I mean to contend — (I
don't know whether I am speaking without my book as to this
locality) — that we grew no more corn this year than last, and
the prices are but very little different — about 3s. per qr. more
than last year. In our district we did not grow so much wheat
as last year, and I am sure if you contrast the weight of the
root crop, it is not three-fourths, and perhaps not much more
than two-thirds, the weight of last year's roots. All this I am
wi ling to admit is not the fault of any one. It is the dispen-
sa iion of Providence and we must cheerfully bear with it. But
t way that we are no worse off this year than we were last is
t jj>ay what is not the fact. The only thing is that we must be
mudh nearer better times, and I do believe those better times
will come very shortly. Just one word about that old hobby of
mine, the Malt-tax. A London paper asked how I could
reconcile the fact when I state J that barley answered better to
cultivate than wheat, that the Malt-tax could be any injury to
08 at all. Now, Free- trade has taught us mauy things. Previous

to Free-trade a bushel of wheat and a stone of meat wereaK'Ut
the same value — both of them about 7». Alter twenty-four
years of Free-trade we find that a bushel of wheat is worth
about os. 6d. and meat about 10s. per stone. Now, suppose the
Government were to put an excise duty of 5s. a stone upon
every stone of batcher's meat, throughout the country, what
would that do? Wuuld it, not very much decrease the con-
sumption ? — and would not that ad upon the farmer and
reduce the value of his fat stock ? Of course it would. Sup-
pose it should reduce meat only 2s. per stone, and that it still
sold at 8s. per stone, even then it would be possible in certain
districts of England to say that it was bitter to grow meatth; n
to grow wheat notwithstanding this tax. That is the case
with barley. We can compete with barley against the whole
world, and I say it is a great injustice to the British farmer to
saddle him with the malt-tax when we have what they are
pleased to call Free-trade. Then ?n agricultural journal, in
commenting upon my speech at Acle, said that with ray sound
sense and practical knowledge I ought to induce the farmers
of Norfolk to breed their own stock as well as graze it.
have always said that where you have gras3 land it would be
a good thing to keep more stock, and certainly of a better
qnality. I have always said that if you could by any possi-
bility know the value of a good pedigree bull, and could com-
mand its services at a reasonable cost, you would never be
without one : but to suppose that we are going to transform
this great winter grazing county into a breeding county is
perfectly preposterous. You might as well tell the Irish
people that they ought to plough up all their pasture land aud
grow wheat. We can grow corn here but we cannot re: r
cattle to any great extent, and therefore it is ridiculous for
people who ought to know better to tell us that we in this
district ought to breed our own cattle as well as graze them.
There has been an article recently in that generally well-
informed paper, The Pall Mull Gazette, commenting on the
production of meat in Devonshire and Norfolk ; and because
the agricultural census is taken in June, when we have hardly
any cattle up n our arable land, whereas, of course, they have
a vast quantity in Devonshire, they come to the conclusion that
that county produces more meat than Norfolk. Why, it is
patent to everybody that if the census was taken in the month
of January instead of the month of June, Norfolk would be
placed in a very different position indeed, as I endeavoured to
press upon the committee that sat last session upon the cattle
diseases. I wrote to three different farmers in North, South,
and West Norfolk, and asked them to tell me how many cattle
they had on the 1st of December, aud how many when thiy
had made their returns to the Government P The result was
that whilst in the month of June they had 100, in the
month of December they had something like 400 cattle in their
yards and stalls.

NORFOLK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.— At the

last meeting of the Society, it was agreed that the
next Show should be held at North Walshara. Lord
Suffield was elected President for the ensuing year, Mr. T.
Chambers was re-elected Hon. Director, and Mr. J. Bacon
Secretary. On the motion of Mr. C. S. Read it was
resolved that "The Norfolk Agricultural Association re
spectfully urge upon Her Majesty's Government the great
importance of passing the main reommendations of the
Cattle Diseases Committee into law at the earliest possible
period of the coming session." A copy of he resolution
wf s ordered to be forwarded to the Prime Minister,

30

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

MR. MECHI CRITICISED.

TQ THE EDITOR OF THE MARK. LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Many who know nothing of the capital em-
ployed in farmiug by the tenant of Tiptree Hall aid the
tenants of Messing respectively will sympathise with Mr.
Golden Fairhead in his resistance to the habitual and the
very reprehensible practice of Mr. Mechi of tauuting
agriculturists generally with the application of an insuffi-
ciency of capital to the cultivation of the soil. Why Mr.
Mechi should do so, with his knowledge of the insecu-
rity to tenant capital which exists is to me and many
more a mystery. He continually points to Tiptree Hall,
its outlaid capital and results, as if his security there was
no better than elsewhere over the couutry. But has he the
notice to quit hanging over him there ? Has he the
danger of being rented up on his own improvements
there? Does he stand iu the possibility of eviction, and
by it of the confiscation of his property in his improve-
ments there? Does the law of distraint affect him there ?
Has he game preservation, game damages, and the mis-
chievous surveillance of the gamekeeper to contend with
and dishearten him there ? Is he embarrassed by anti-
quated estate restrictions as to cultivation there ? Is he,
in short, handicapped there by these and other difficul-
ties and trammelliugs which a still " protected" landed
system carries with it and places in the path of tenant's
security, tenant's enterprise, and tenant's independence
everywhere ? If not — if the security to tenant-capital at
Tiptree Hall is perfect, and in this respect an exception
to the general rule, it is no example to tenants still in
bondage of landlord-made laws, still in a state of inse-
curity in their farms, still liable to have their unexhausted
improvements confiscated arbitrarily by increased rent or
by eviction, and above all, obliged to compete with
foreign produce admitted free, while they are, handi-
capped by that " protection" to landlords whish thwarts
them at every step, and strangles them in every exertion
they make. I say it is unreasonable on the part of Mr.
Mechi or any one else to expect tenants to make large
investments of capital in improved farming under the
present circumstances of their position. As already
noticed, Mr. Mechi has not expended his capital at Tip-
tree Hall under the risk of the circumstances referred to.
Has he done so in Leadenhall- street, London ? I sus-
pect not. I guess he has perpetuity of tenure there — a
rent that cannot be increased on his improvements there,
and along with them the right to sell his interest and
the goodwill of his busiuess at pleasure, in the open
market, and to the highest purchaser there. Shall I
quote the old adage in reference to such a state of
things — What is sauce for the goose ought to be sauce
for the gander ? Clearly, if such conditions as these
are necessary to induce a liberal outlay of capi-
tal in the busiuess of Mr. Mechi and others
iu trade, they are much more required in the far
more important, while more precarious and uncertain,
business of cultivating the soil, and of growing therefrom
a nation'9 food. If Mr. Mechi and others can only

prosper under such security where their capital can be
turned over many times within the year, realising a profit
at every such opportunity, then surely are farmers, who
caD only make oue profit from their expended capital
within the year, and who have to contend against
weather, cattle disease, and other difficulties incidental to
their position even for that single chance — then, I say,
are they much m jre entitled to that security
which Mr. Mechi and others have, but which
he at least has never put forward systematically as
the necessary preliminary to those improvements of the
soil he is so clamant for. Therefore it is that I sym-
pathise with Mr. Golden Fairhead, why I think Mr.
Mechi has been hitherto putting the saddle on the wrong
horse — hitherto trying to make the team go with the
waggon first and the horses after — hitherto lecturing
tenants to improve when he should have been lecturing
landlords to emancipate and give security to their tilleis
of the land — hitherto pointing to Tiptree Hall as a model
to follow while keeping religiously in the background
that security of tenure and of capital which enabled and
induced its tenant to steam-plough, manure heavily, and
by other expensive processes at once increase its produce,
and realise more wealth from it annually for the benefit
of the community. By this practice of putting the wrong
end foremost great mischief has been done — by it, in
fact, a red herring has been drawn across the noses of the
landlords, so to say. They have been thus led to blame
their tenants where they should have blamed themselves*
When they should have been considering in what possible
manner they could give that security to their farmers
which all capital requires, they were running after Mr.
Mechi's lead, and calling for high cultivation under the
six months' notice to quit ! — I am, yours, &c,

Thomas Robertson.
Narraghmore, Athy, Nov- 24th.

DISEASE AND THE DECREASE OF LIVE
STOCK.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I have read with great interest the various dis-
cussions on the importation of cattle disease and diseased
cattle, and I see with dismay that most writers on the
subject would allow store cattle to come from some foreign
ports. Now, I think that small harm could arise from
fat cattle being imported and slaughtered at the ports of
our country, with proper supervision ; but to allow store
cattle to be 3ent into the heart of this country, and be
trucked from fair to fair as they would be, I am certain
would just be the worst plan that could be adopted for
our buying graziers, and the means of bringing death and
destruction to our breeding herds. Let us consider how
free from disease our cattle have been for the last niue
months, even though there have been reports of plague
having visited some few localities. I attribute this to
the care that has been exercised over the imports, aud to
the admirable manner in which the various railway com-
panies have cleaned and limed their trucks. Only the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

31

strict law that every truck must be cleansed and limed
could have effected this reform ; for the cattle dealers, as
a rule, are the most careless offenders in this respect.
What interest is it to them to have trucks cleaned ? The
cattle are out of their hands before auy harm comes.

T see you publish from The Times a statement of the
number of cattle in these islands and their apparent dimi-
nution. That is true I dou't doubt, although many people
are still averse to state the exact number of cattle on their
farms. If we look back a few years, we see that disease
killed a great many cattle, and the price of meat got up.
Well, that was a temptation to the breeder and grazier to
part with his two-year-olds fat, instead of keeping them
to three-year-olds, and increasiug their weight from 40 to
CO stones. This statement will agree with the expe-
rience of all graziers of this class. When prices are
high breeding farmers sell closer off their store cattle and
sheep. I could give instances that I know well. We can
remember when the dry summer of 1838 caused the
Lincolnshire farmers to sell largely off their lambs in the
autumn, instead of making them fat, and the price was as
low as 8s. each — not the price of much mutton certainly.
Well, when grass came again sheep got up very much in
price, and the scarceness of store ewes caused the price to
go up 20s. a head — over an average price for some year
previously, and the advanced price kept up for three
years. Then the reaction commenced as far as store stock
was concerned. During those high prices I knew sheep
breeders on high land that sold all their store ewes, and
now that the price of store sheep is pretty steady they
are getting up their stocks again.

Let us have no importation of store stock ; but on
all farms where it is suitable let our farmers rear good
young cattle, and import corn and cake. On what are
now corn farms grow green crops, sell more value in milk
than you sell in corn, and as much or more in meat. You
will have your own calves, which will do better for you
than any stock you cau buy, and value your corn crop as
so much meat and bedding for your stock. In this
county of Derby we are sending milk hundreds of miles
north and south, and buying more keep for the cows on
one farm than ten years ago was bought on ten, and
we only look on our small quantity of plough-land as a
convenience. I am, sir, youis &c,

A Grass Farmer.

SUFFOLK STUD BOOK ASSOCIATION

A meeting of this Association took place on Friday
week, at Ipswich, Lord Weveney, chairman.

The first question considered was the title of the Association,
and it was resolved that it should be " The Suffolk Stud Book
Association." Five was resolved upon as a quorum for
committee meetings, and then came the consideration of the
question as to the qualities required in a Suffolk horse.

Mr. Garrett, being appealed to by the Chairman, said it
was difficult to define the qualities required, inasmuch as they
were the good points of every good horse. They did not go
in for hirsute appendages, or for particolours, they went for a

whole colour, and clean legs, without morn hair than necessary .
They claimed for a Suffolk horse that lie should have every
good point a good horse had about him —activity, constitution,
and uniformity of colour. With regard to the head there
might be some difficulty. His memory carried him back to
when a plain head was rithcr characteristic of a Suffolk horse ;
still that could hardly be male a point of, for there was no
retson the head should not be improved. It was comparatively
easy to define a Clydesdale, but a Suffolk claimed all the good
points of a good horse. In constitution, perhaps, the Suffolk
horse was distinguished.

Mr. Perman Biddell said what a Suffolk horse should be
was pretty well understood by breeders, hut it required defini-
tion. At auy rate they would be able, he thought, to say
certain things which should not be found in a Suffolk horse.

The Chairman read the following letter from Mr. Manfred
Biddell to his brother : —

Playford, November 22nd, 1877.

" Dear Herman,— I fear and much regret that through ill-
ness I shall not be able to attend the meeting to forward the
promotion of a Suffolk Horse Stud Book, but I feel the im-
portance of the subject, and send you my ideas of what a Suffolk
horse should be. Colour — chesnut, golden or red hue preferred,
free from white on legs, but a white star or shim on face
rather approved than objected to. A few white or silver hairs
well blended with chesnut. ou back and hind quarters belong
to a certain strain of the breed, and have not been objected to,
but these must be in too small quantities to be confounded
with roan colour. Height varying from 15h. 3in. to 16h. 2in
high, on short flat legs, with short strong pasterns, free from*
much long hair, hard clean legs with bone of compact quality
being desired rather than large, soft legs. Shoulders very long,
lying rather forward to suit draft purposes. Hind-quarters
long, heavy, well and close, coupled with loin and back, having
the legs well under the horse. Girth should be large and
flanks well drooped. If the fore hand is a little low, this is
not objected to provided the neck is strong and the head well
formed and carried with spirit.

In all other respects he should be as in all o'her breeds, long,
low, and wide. "Yours, &c,

"Manfred Biddell ."

Mr. Herman Biddell thoughf chesnut would be sufficient
as to the colour, and a gentleman present suggested that
white should be noted as an objection, but Mr. A. Crisp said
white faces were always characteristic.

Mr. Mayiiew said there would be no objection to a little
ore hair of the right sort on the leg.

Mr. Herman Biddell said he had heard that remark
before, but had never heard it from a man who bred or liked
Suffolk horses. It came usually f-om good judges used to
other breeds. He never heard old Suffolk breeders complain
of want of hair provided the leg was good enough and
big enough.

Mr. Mayiiew said he had heard it spoken of as a defect.

Mr. Jas. Smith said he remembered hearing the late .Mr.
B. N. Shawe say the absence of hair under the dock was a
characteristic of Suffolk horses.

The Cu human remarked that colour was undoubtedly a
distinguishing characteristic, and

Mr. Biddell said they could not debar any of the
horses which had always beeu recognised as Suffolks, although
there were cases in which there had beeu out-county crosses.
He supposed they would allow them to be entered with a full

32

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

account of how they were bred, so that the public would not
be deceived in any way. He meant at the start ; he would not
'n the. future admit any such.

On the question of height,

Mr. Garrett said Mr. Freeman informed him that Mr.
Capon's Matchett was only lGh. 0£in. ; and Lotd Slradbroke's
mare was the same height.

Mr. Crisp said the breed originally was only lthanls ; and

Mr. B. W. Cooper said he thought judges might be trusted
to discourage anything like a leggy horse.

The Chairman thought some height should be defined.

Mr. Cooper, referring to what Mr. Biddell said in his letter
about the head, said they could hardly have too long features.

Eventually it was determined that a sub-committee should
be appointed to draw up a statement of the qualities desirable
in a Suffolk horse, and present it at a subsequent meeting, the
committee to consist of Sir John Blois, Mr. M. Biddell, Mr.
B. W. Cooper, Mr. F. G. Freeman, Mr. J. Mayhew, Mr. J.
Skeet, Mr. Jas. Smith, Mr. R.Garrett, Mr.Jas. Toller, Mr. S.
Wolton, Mr. E. G. Hodgson, and Mr. R. E. Lofft.

The secretaries were empowered to obtain office requisites,
and a conversation theu ensued as to funds, it being agreed
that the fund raised by private subscription should be applied
by the secretaries to the compilatiou of the first volume of the
gtnd book, and on the motion of

Mr, Garrett, seconded by Mr. Hodgson, it was agreed
that a subscription of a guinea should constitute membership
of the Association, and that each member should be entitled to
have his name, residence, &c, entered in the stud book, and ue
supplied with a copy free.

In reply to a question it was said no charge would be made
for entering horses in the stud book, and

Mr. Biddell remarked that it would greatly facilitate
the compilation of the stud book if owners would understand
that it was not compulsory to stick to a few old names.

A conversation subsequently took place, when considering
the. contents of the book, as to the entries of mares, which

Mr. Biddell regarded as attended with some amount of
difficulty.

Sir John Blois favoured some restriction as to the entry
of mares, but

Mr. Biddell thought it would be unwise to refuse to enter
a mare which was perhaps undoubtedly a Suffolk, because
her peligree was not known, and most of those present agree,
iug that the basis to start upon should be broad rather than
limited, a resolution was ultimately come to that mares should
be entered with certified pedigree and history as far as practi-
cable.

It was also resolved to enter Suffolk winners at the Roya
Show, and winners at the Suffolk Agricultural and Woodbridge
Horse Shows.

WORKHOUSE LIFE.

We have received the following communication from
the Secretary of the Howard Association : —

It is to be hoped that the attention of the Local Govern-
ment Board authorities will be increasingly directed to the
separation of pauper children and invalids from adult paupers
and from unsuitable nurses, in consequence of what has
recently occurred in a workhouse, near Birmingham, where
an attendant has been sentenced to two months' imprison-
ment for cruelly beating, with a leather strap, a miserable

pauper, 73 years of age, blind, dumb, paralysed, and hedri Mp n •
Iu connection with this oase the appearance, in The Contem-
porary Review (December, 1877), of a very valuable paper on
"Pauper Cliildreu," by Mr. Francis Peek, is very timely. He
advocates the enactment of a measure to prohibit thetrainiug
of children in the same building with |adult paupers, and to
provide for their being brought up exclusively in District
Schools, or in grouped Village Homes, on the Mettray plaiii
or on the Boarding-out system, individually, under regular
supervision. He shows that the latter system is universally
adopted in Scotland, where it works admirably in its moral,
sanitary, and economical results, as described by Mr. John
Skelton, in his interesting work on "The Boarding-out
System in Scotland" (published by Blackwood). Iu that part
of the nation pauper children are brought up for less than
£12 per annum each, whereas in English workhouses they
cost about £15, and in District Schools from £10 to £30
each. Mr. Peek describes the workhouses as being " the last
home of the drunkard whose drunkenness has brought him to
premature decay ; the refuge of the tramp who can tramp no
longer, and of the abandoned woman, whose dissipation and
disease have driven from the very streets — in a word, the cess-
pool into which drains the dregs of our population." Is this
a proper place to train the young and helpless wards of the
State P Yet of the 45,000 pauper children in England and
Wales only 5,600 are in the District Schools, and less than
3,000 are boarded out. Mr. Peek quotes from the description
of workhouse life given by an habitual visitor of those estab-
lishments:— "The nurses are to be pitied, living in an
atmosphere of disease day and night, doing work which they
hated, for bare food and clothing, their only hope an
occasional day out to get tipsy. The assortment of strange
bedfellows in a workhouse ward is such as poverty and the
Poor Law can alone bring together. Men in convict-looking
clothing are sitting on the sides of the beds ; faces are
amongst them on which one dare not look again. Strong
bad men are dying here after lives of sin and shame— wild
animals tracked to their lair, dying savage to the last. Children
are here. The little pale boy of ten years old has been two
years in that bed. A burglar is in one bed. In the next is a
boy of sixteen, with an innocent face. Is it any wonder, then,
that so many of the children, trained amid such horrible
associations, afterwards become ruined criminals ? And then
the State p>ys £30 for each in prison, or £19 in a re-
formatory. Whereas by a better training at an earlier period,
and removal from adult paupers, these young persons might,
at much less expense, have been rendered useful members
of the community, especially by the Village Home and
Boarding-out systems. As to the objection sometimes
urged against the latter, thstt it is difficult to find — at least
in England — suitable cottage homes for the children,
or to secure effectual supervision for them, Mr. Peek
remarks truly — " This objection has not been sustained by
experience, which shows that wherever the system has been
fairly tried, and wherever real efforts have been made to ob-
tain them, both homes and proper supervision have been forth-
coming."

" Chestnut " should always be spelt with a " t " in the
middle, in honour of its derivation from Chataigne and
Castanea — both from the city of Castanea, in Poutus, whence
chestnuts first came into Europe, as cherries came from a
neighbouring town, Cerasus, now Keresouu.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZfNE.

THE SMITH FIELD CLUB SHOW,

Tu spite of the removal of the Metropolitan cordon
by the Privy Council, the number of ca'tle at tho present
exhibition is a great falling off from that of last year,
which was an unusually large show. Pigs again were
fewer. On the other hand, the number of the sheep is
considerably in excess of that of last year. The
following table will show the number of entries for the
various breeds of cattle, for sheep, and for pigs, for this
year and the eight previous years.

Devons

ll^refords...
Shorthorns..

Sussex

Scots & other
breeds...

Sheep

Pis»s

Total entry

18(59

1870

1871

40

1S72
33

1873
46

1874
33

1875
31

1876
45

41

33

21-

43

30

28

33

23

22

33

60

45

41

43

65

32

33

53

23

26

28

21

33

32

27

36

23

28

36

24

16

54

72

74

17-2

182

149

167

188

177

161

153

55

55

60

56

49

47

46

61

4te

474

441

426

486

398

392

455

1877

30
20
30
31

57
172

51
391

Precisely as at Birmingham, there was a want
of finish in the bulk of the eutries in all the cattle
classes, which was heightened by the presence of animals
which would have been in their proper place at a market
or sale-yard, but which have no legitimate claim to be
exhibited at such meetings as those held in Bingley Hall
or Islington. It may be that a certain class of exhibitors
find it indirectly remunerative to send an ordinary animal
to one of the great Shows, by adding to their local repu-
tation, securing a fancy puce from some obscure butcher,
who is equally desirous of purchasing fame cheaply, and
perchance, obtaiuing from some quarter or other favour-
able mention, but thisclass of exhibits — the percentage of
of which appears to be increasing — lowers the tone of a
first-class Show, and caunot fail to be prejudicial, in the
long run, to the finances of the Club by lessening the
interest taken in the meetings by agriculturists and the
general public. The success of a Show must depend
financially on its attractions, and practically on its useful-
ness ; the discrimination of the British public is such
that mediocrity, even in a cattle Show, is quickly detec-
ted, whilst farmers and graziers require something more
than ordinary excellence to keep up their interest in
Shows. The demand of the present day is not for overfed
animals, wastefully and hideously fat, like they used to be,
and as the pigs often are now, but for well and judiciously
bred beasts, which have been equally well and judiciously
fed and ripened for Show, smallness of bone, lightness
of offal, fulness of flesh evenly laid on, and perfect sym-
metry, are the desiderata to be striven for. People are
tired of seeing animals which are unsightly alive, unprofit-
able to produce, and comparatively useless for food when
dead ; the fashion for them is, happily, fast dying out,
except in breeding-stock Shows, where, of all places, they
should not be. We have recently remarked how few
really first-class animals we see in a fat stock Show ;
some there were at Birmingham, and 3omc at Islington,

but their numbers were few in each case, and we looked
in vain for a champion really deserving the highest
honours as Mr. Kidner's Devon undoubtedly did last year.
We see no reason why such animals should not be forth-
coming every year. If an unostentatious local breed like
the Devons can turn out a representative possessing such
marked and indisputable excellence, suiely the pretentious
Shorthorn might be expected to do as much or more.
But the Shorthorns are cosmopolitan. Their virtues are
many ; but, notwithstanding the fabulous value attached
by some breeders — aud mauy fanciers — to certain strains
of blood ; they are not dazzling. The animals can be
adapted to all ordinary circumstances, and therefore deeerve
the greatest amount of attention ; but when sometimes they
come into a Showyard or into a fat-stock market they arc
inferior to some other breeds, and superior to but few.
The Ilerefords are capable of better things than we have
seen lately, and the Scotch breeds arc eoming well to the
front. There is no reason, then, that we can discern— ex-
cept that of general agricultural depression — why the
quality of future Shows should not be raised from tho
mediocrity which has characterised those of 1877 to a
higher standard of excellence than has yet been attained,
either as a whole or in individual cases. That which has
been done before can be done again, and we trust the time
is not far distant when the average quality of our great
Shows will be equal to that of the best exhibits of those
which have just closed.

The Devons, as a whole, were not as well repre-
sented as we have seen them in former year?,
and in detail they do not work out at all favourably
In Class 1 for steers not exceeding 2 years and G months
old, the animals were all of very moderate quality- The
first prize beast, a smooth-coated Devon, belonging to
Mr. Overman, was fairly good, handled well, aud wa3
quite a fiuished animal for a youngster ; the second prize
was taken by Mr. W. U. Fryer with a stylish beast of no
great merit ; and the third prize animal, belonging to Mr.
Arnold, had a good chine, and handled fairly well. In
the next class, for steers not exceeding 3 years and 3
months old, the Prince of Wales was fortunate to secure
lhe first prize, the Breed Cup for the best Devon, and the
Champion Cup for the best steer or ox in the Show. These
were very high honours for an animal of second-rate excel-
lence, which is all we could discover in him. Thecharacter
of this animal was good and his style neat, his back, rib
and rounds good, aud quality undeniable, but he stood high,
and was not particularly straight nor level — altogether, in
every respect, a ve y long way behind Mr. Kidner's older
ox, which stood in 1876 as the representative of his
breed. It is worthy of comment that last year the judges
passed this animal without notice when exhibited in the
younger elass. He was possibly the best Devon, but we
failed to see that he was the best male animal iu the Show,
as wc shall point out further on. Mr. Pinkard's second-
Li

3-1

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

prize beast was in some respects a better animal ; full of
flesh, with excellent loin, shoulder, and chine, lacking the
style of the first-prize winner, but weighing over one
cwt. more. Major Euller's third prize was a level, good-
backed animal, but failed in his rump and quarters. The
rest of the class were plain animals, and scarcely deserved
passing notice. The older beasts were a better lot, but
nothing extraordinary. Mr. Overman's first prize was a
big beast for a Devon, his live weight being 17 cwt. 1 qr-
20 lb. His shoulders were rather plain, and his ribs a
trifle flat, but he had great thickness through the heart, and
an extraordinary flank. The Prince of Wales took second
prize with an animal exhibited at Islington last year
without even a commendation, the beast was of nice
character, like the first prize in the previous class, and
both animals were bred by Mr. William Shapland, from
the stock of Mr. Geo. Shapland ; the quality was good,
but he was slack in his back, and not well-finished for an
ox of his age, 4 years 1 month. Major Buller's third
prize had good chine, back, ribs, and loin, but failing
quarters. Mr. William Ham obtained a high commenda-
tion for a big ox of the South Hams type, being by 1 lb.
the heaviest Devon in the Show.

Amongst the Heifers and Cows we could find but one
really good animal, namely, the first prize 3 years and 9
months old heifer, exhibited by Mr. John Overman ; this
was of true Devon type, very neat, and of excellent quality.
Mr. Walter was second, Mr. Turvill third, and Major
Buller highly commended : in each case for ordinary
animals. Of the two cows exhibited by Mr. Walter and
Major Buller, obtaining first and second prizes respectively,
the same remark will apply ; commendation instead of
prizes would have met the actual merits of the case. To
sum up the status quo of theDevons at Islington, it will
be correct to represent them as contrasting favourably
when numbers are considered, with the other pure breeds
but that is not saying more than that the breed was but
indifferently represented.

The Herefords were numerically weak, and the quality
indifferent, considering their capabilities ; on the whole
they were not as good as they were at Birmingham, where
they were not so good as usual. The younger steers were
particularly disappointing, though three out of the four
entries were bred by two of the best men of the day, Mr. J.
Price, of Pembridge, and Mr. William Taylor, of Ledbury,
the latter taking second prize with his own animal, and
the Earl of Po wis first and third prizes with selections
from the herd of the former. But neither of the entries
were up to the mark. A plain beast from Her Majesty's
Flemish Farm was highly commended, and another bullock
from the same herd obtained a first prize in the next class
for steers not exceeding 3 years and 3 months old, where
there is but that one entry, and had there been ordinary
competition it would probably have been passed over
without notice. The older bullocks in the class for oxen
above 8 years and 3 months, and not exceeding 4 years
and & months, were certainly not as good as they
flBfire ia the same class !ast year ; they were

all past maturity, and evinced that tendency to exaggera-
tion of detail which over-fed animals generally do. It must
be remembered that the herds from which most of these
animals were derived— those of Mr. Philip Turner,
of Pembridge, Mr. John Price, of Pembridge, Mr. Low,
of Brornfield, and others — are as highly bred from long
descent, and as select and pure — if not more so — than
the more vaunted Shorthorns, and that the breeding and
early treatment of these animals is such as to ensure
their early maturity when put into the feeder's hands.
And thus it happens that, after being taken to various
parts of the country to be stuffed for show, and exhibited
a full year after they should have attained their perfect ma-
turity and ripeness, they come to hand as good beasts
spoiled. They lose their flesh, and get unevenly fat ; a
naturally good loin, rump, or brisket is developed into a
monstrosity. There cannot be much common sense or
utility in the performance, and some day or other we
expect to see the oldest class in the pure breeds not ex-
ceeding three years and six months, which would be quite
comprehensive enough for all useful purposes ; it would
save time, money, and food, and be far more satisfactory
to the breeders. The first prize was taken by Mr. Page,
of Walmer Court, for a four years and two months old
bullock bred by Mr. Dearman Edwards, of Brinsop Court,
which also obtained the £40 Breed Cup, for the best
Hereford in the Show. This beast handled well, had a
wonderful loin, back, and chine, which, perhaps, made
him appear a little flat-sided; his forehand was excellent,
and the thickness through the heart very great. But
with all this he had not that wealth of flesh that charac-
terised the first prize animal bred by Mr. Low and ex-
hibited by Mr. Wortley last year in this class, nor even
of the first prize four years seven months old Hereford
ox bred by Mr. Bowen Jones and exhibited by
Mr. Wortley this year at Birmingham. The second prize
fell to Mr. Wortley for a grey bullock bred by Mr. Low,
and the third prize also to Mr. Wortley, for an animal
bred by Mr. Philip Turner, of Pembridge, weighing 22
cwt. 2 qrs. 16 lb., the heaviest Hereford in the Show ;
both of them having fed out indifferently, both were
very uneven, and the latter did not handle particularly
well. The Earl of Powis obtained a high commendation
for an animal bred by Mr. John Price, and commenda-
tions were given to the Earl of Darnley and Mr. John
Prichard, for bullocks from the herds of Mr. Lewis, of
Shebden, Leominster, and Mr. Samuel Jones, of Wen-
lock, respectively. The Hereford heifers were better as
a class, and the individual merit was greater. Mr. John
Pritchard, of Stanmore, took first prize with an animal
bred by himself, of good quality, straight and level, witk
excellent rounds and twist, but a barely covered
shoulder.. The second prize fell to Mr. Bees Keene, and
the third to Mr. James, in both cases for excellent Here-
fords bred outside the county. Mr. Darby, of Baschurch,
was highly commended for a very pretty heifer, bred in
Shropshire, which was not level enough to take the third
place, though of better character and quality than the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

35

one placed above her, and Mr. Percn, of South Pethcrton,
was commended for a Somersetshire-bred heifer from his
own herd. This class was agoodoue, though, unfortunately,
very small ; no doubt the exhibitors would rather have
seen their respective entries in-calf at home, but there
are usually barrens enough to bo found to make up a
larger class than this wa3. The four cows exhibited were
very indifferent, and the awards will be found in the
prize-list. Taking the Ilerefords as a whole, they were
sparingly represented, the older oxen uot as good as they
used to be in slower-going times, and the young steers
not in their usually gool form; whilst the most im-
portant class of all, that for steers not exceeding three
years and three months old, was virtually unrepresented
— containing only one animal of no show merit. On
these grounds we have a right to be disappointed with
them.

The Shorthorns were about the most "mixed" lot
we have ever seen at Islington. All the bad qualities
and imperfections of this breed appeared in basso-
relievo, whereas the excellencies and good points were
inlaglio. Bare shoulders, imperceptible neck-veins,
narrow chines, flat ribs, bad rumps and rounds, coarse
bone, thin flesh, and thick fat, all to be seen at the first
fat stock Show in the world. In the class for
Shorthorn steers, not exceeding 2 years and 6
months old, Sir John Swinburne, Bart., takes first
prize with a promising beast, very level, but inclined
to be coarse — had far too much daylight underneath
him. Mr. Bult's second prize was a short, but stylish
Shorthorn, of good quality ; and the third prize fell to
Mr. Beasley for a good-coated steer, handling well, but
small behind his shoulders. The class was indifferent.
The next class, for steers not exceeding 3 years and 3
months, contained only one entry — a plain-shouldered
flat-sided, uneven bullock, with a good loiu, belonging to
the Prince of Wales, and to this animal the judges
awarded the second prize, although it was difficult to see
that even a bare eommendation was deserved. The oxen
above 3 years and 3 months, and not exceeding 4 years
and G months, were not as creditable to the Shorthorn
breed as the corresponding Herefords were to their breed —
which is saying very little for them. Of the four exhibited
there was not one good one. Mr. Brace's ox, which took
the first prize, handled well, and was a moderately good
Shorthorn, with good quarters and (lark, excellent rounds
and twist, ribs not well sprung, flat sides, narrowish chine,
and a plain shoulder — just about what moderate Short-
horns usually are. The second prize is taken by Sir R.
C. Musgrave, Bart., with a big beast, 4 yrs. 2 mouths
old, weighing 24 cwt. 2 qrs., the heaviest animal in the
Show. He stood high on his legs, but was not the
coarsest beast of his breed, and was level and thick-fleshed.
The heifers were a good class, the best of the Shorthorns
independently of containing the winner of the Champion
Plate of 100 guineas. Mr. Catchpole's white heifer, of
his own breeding, 3 yrs. and 7 months old, was a really
good Shorthorn, as we described her last week before the

prizes were awarded ; and when her utmost merits have
been allowed there is absolutely nothing more to say about
her. Handsome and square, white, taking and attractive,
and of decent quality, this animal was well-fitted to become
the attraction of the Show ; but we are inclined to think
that there was at least one better animal there. One
thing has been clearly proved again and again — that if
there is the barest possibility of awarding the champion-
ship to the Shorthorn breed, the straining of a few points
will not hinder it. On occasions like last year it could
net be helped, but they are few and far between. This
heifer is better than Mr. Stratton's heifer at Birmingham ,
which was a year younger, in respect of character, which,
is of the true Shorthorn type, and also with regard to
her scale and wealth of flesh, her live weight being
18 cwt. 0 qr. 221b. ; but as a champion plate winner she
was not worthy of being mentioned in connexion with
Mr. M'Combie's polled Scot some years ago, and Mr.
Kidner's Devon of last year. The honours were
great : the Champion Plate of 100 guineas as the best
beast in the Show ; £50 Champion Cap as the best heifer
or cow ; £40 Breed Cup as the best Shorthorn ; and £20
as the winner of the first prize in her class — in all
£210 — for being a Shorthorn, and white and pretty into
the bargain. The second prize fell to Lord Tredegar's
heifer, which could boast a good loin, but nothing much
heside, and Mr. St. John Ackers' third prize was plain
J in her shoulders and crops, very slight through the heart,
and faulty in the rump, quite a common-place animal.
Mr. Fox Beavau was highly commended for a particularly
uneven heifer, very fat, and having an extraordinary back
and loin. Mr. Joseph Stratton's heifer wa3 also highly
commended, and commendations were given to Mr.
Rickett, Mr. Marsh, Sir J. Swinburne, and Lady Emily
Pigot. This class was the best of the Shorthorns, and
would have been a fairly good one had two animals been
absent — one from Her Majesty's Shaw Farm, and the
other belonging to Mr. Covell, of Pickhurst Green.
The Cows were very plain, one of the worst classes, if
not the worst, in all the Show. The first-prize animal,
belonging to Mr. Burn Blyth, was a very firm-handli lg
cow, but common-place to a degree not usually^seen even
in a local show. It is needless to describe the rest,
except that the third prize was given to an animal
exhibited by the Messrs. Franklin, of Ascott, Wallinj-
ford, which could boast a development of the " fools'
catch " which exceeded auything'common to old-fashioned
Herefords <; in the days when we wore straps." The
Shorthorns, a3 a whole, were a very poor example of
what this famous breed can do, on its own merits, in the
way of producing first-class butchers' beasts.

The Sussex Cattle were numerically strong, but iu very
few instances were they really well-fiuished. Mr.
Agate's first prize in the younger class was just a useful
steer and nothing more. The second prize, belonging to
Mr. Coote, was of nice quality, and the rest plain
en ough. Mr. Agate also took first prize in the next older
clas9, and also the Breed Cup of £10 for the best Sussex

D 2

36

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

beast in the Show. This animal had many faults, but
wa9 a good firm handler. The oxen were a better lot,
and Messrs. Keasmah's first prize was a very usefu
butchers' beast, weighing 21 cwt. Oqr. 2 lb. live weight.
here was nothing else of any consequenee amongst
these classes except a cow, bred and exhibited by Mr.
Campion, which was the only entry in the class, and
which was very justly awarded the first prize. This was
a better cow than we could find amongst the Shorthorns
by a long way, and, but for her want of firmness, might,
perchance, have taken the Breed Cup instead of the ox.

The Norfolk and SufFolk Polled breed was not worthy
of mention, and there was only one Welsh anima
exhibited.

The Scotch breeds, though irregularly and sparingly
represented, contained exhibits of great merit, sm-passing
in quality anything else in the Show. The West High-
landers were, as a class, poor, yet two of their number were
extraordinarily good ; the yellow dun belonging to Sir
William Gordon Gumming, which took the first prize,
was a 5 years and 9 months old animal, perfectly
finished, not over-ripe, and full of the very best quality
flesh possible — level and good all over. It is not easy to
understand why this bullock, weighing 20 cwt., should
not, on his merits, be accounted a better animal than the
champion Devon, which is not worth as much in any one
respect ; yet so the award was placed. The Duke of
Roxburgh's black was second, and was also a most capital
'bullock ; these animals had not been forced in their youth,
and had slowly grown into natural maturity under careful
and judicious feeding, being worth more per pound
consuming value than anything else in the Show excepting,
perhaps, the Polled Scot heifer belonging to Sir W. Gordon
Cumming, which, after some hesitation, was awarded the
Breed Cup as the best Scot, in addition to the first prize
in a small class of two. This was a beautiful animal, fine
in quality, the least possible amount of offal, level and
good all over, with a touch which could not well be sur-
passed. -She was so unusually good in her round and
twist that her rump looked a little defective in consequence,
but we should like to have seen her take the honours
which fell to the Shorthorn, and do not hesitate to pro-
nounce her the better heifer of the two — abetter butcher's
beast, and a better Scot than the other is a Shorthorn.
All the Polled Scots were good,, though not all up to the
mark ; Mr. M'Combie's animals, for instance, are not in
their usual form — no doubt the Metropolitan market pays
him. better ; they are always right enough there.

The Cross and Mixed-Bred Cattle were, of course, the
most useful, and were good — in some instances very good
■• — but we have seen them better, and that as recently as
at Birmingham. No doubt these are the sort of animals
ta eneeurage at fat stock Shows. The entries afford use-
ful study in the art of cross-breeding, and the results are
^ery plainly in favour of a cross between a pure-bred
Shorthorn bull and a polled Aberdeen or Galloway Cow
atwL where there are further eroases on the side of the eow
thegayl ejects of crossing are lessened. Thus we hape

noticed that one cross of Shorthorn blood on the side of
the dam is not as good as none at all, and that two crosses
are worse than one, the blood of the sire having that much
less power ; this rule is also exemplified by the complete-
powerof the pure-bred sire over an absolutely mongrel dam-
There were no bad animals amongst the crosses at Isling-
ton, and yet there was lacking the excellence we have seea
on former occasions. L jrd Lovat took the first prize in
the class for oxen with an animal weighing 22 cwt. 2 qrs.
3 lb., a very full-fleshed and excellent butchers' beast of
the most approved cross, between a Shorthorn bull and
Aberdeen cow, taking also the Breed Cup of £40 for
the best cross-bred in the Show. A cross-bred heifer, by
a Shorthorn bull out of a polled Galloway cow, exhibited
by Sir Walter Calverley Trevelyan, Bart-, which took
the first- prize in an excellent class, was one of the most
evenly fed animals in the Show, beautiful rib, back, and
loin, and remarkably level, as if cast in a mould — one of
the best females. In this division was an American ox*
exhibited by Messrs. John Bell and Sons, of Glasgow,
and bred in Kentucky, which was awarded a second prize .;
this animal was a representative of the best u grade "
Shorthorns which come to us in the form of dead meat
from the United States, having the appearance of a
second-rate Irish bullock.

To sum up the whole of the cattle classes, we have to
notice a falling off in quality and finish, and to point out
the fact that both in the Hereford and in the Shorthorn
divisions, the most important class of all — that for Steers
not exceeding 3 years and 3 months old — there was only-
one entry in each case, thus depriving the Show of what
should be its chief feature so far as those two breeds are
concerned. Another year we hope to see an alteration ia
this particular, and in other lespects to see a better show
of cattle.

The Sheep classes were well filled and the general quality
of the exhibits was of a very high order. This section of
the Show showed eo signs of deterioration or flag-
ging of interest, and some of the pens were of unusual ex-
cellence. The Southdowns were good throughout, each
of the classes being commended by the judges. Amongst
the wethers, under 23 months old, Lord Walsinghani was
victorious, taking both first and second prizes, and the
Breed Cup of £20 for the best pen of Southdowns. It
would be difficult to find six better sheep than these two
pens contained; the character, style, and quality of the
Merton flock is so well known that it is unnecessary to
state more than that these wethers were turned out in
the most excellent form, although we fancied they might
have handled a trifle better. The weights of these peas
were 6 cwt. 8 lb. and 6 cwt. 21 lb. espectively.
The third prize was taken by Mr. Henry Humphrey,
of Pulborough, with a pen of very usefal sheep. Messrs.
Emery, of Pulborough exhibited a pen of sheep possessing
many good qualities, whieh secured for them a very high
commendation ; Mr. Penfold's sheep were also highly
commended. The Sandringham flock was not at all
well represented this year, and the same may be said of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. Kigden's and (he Duke of Richmond's. The Good.
Wood sheep seem to have gone wrong altogether of late,
and we cannot hut regret tosee a flock, once so famous,
losing its prestige. However, the sheep of tftese ex-
hibitors, with others, were all good enough to call for a
class commendation from the judges. The same with the
ewes; Mr. Peufold's first priae peu haudled to perfection,
and Messrs. Emery's secoud prize ewes, though not so
firm, were excellent sheep. The Prince of Wales
showed a pen of capital ewes which were highly
eommeuded, as were the very pretty and liue
quality sheep seut by Mr. Colmaa and bred from
the (locks of Mr. Rigden and Lord Sondes. The Earl of
SulFolk was also highly commended for a pen of ewes bred
from Sir W. Throckmorton's stock. The Duke of Rich-
mond's ewes were very nice, but had no chance to w in in
such a class. The lambs were also commended by the
fudges. Messr9. Heasnian, of Angmering, took first prize
with a very excellent peu of lambs, with good backs and
shoulders, capital legs of mutton, and very firm handlers —
very useful, as the sheep from this flock, always are.
Another peu,exhibited by the Messrs. Heasman, was highly
eommeuded. Mr. Colman's pen, bred from the stocks of
Mr. Rigden and Sir VV. Throckmorton, took the second
prize. Mr. Heringtou's lambs were highly commended.
Altogether, the Southdowns — notwithstanding a few weak
places — were a capital lot of sheep.

The Hampshire and Wiltshire Downs were in smaller
force in the ewe and wether classes than last year, but
there was an excellent show of lambs. All the classes
were commended by the judges. The five entries of
wethers were all good, Mr. Morrison, of Tisbury, taking
first and second prizes, and the Breed Cup of £20, with
very fine quality mutton. Mr. Lewis Loyd's third
prize pen were square-made, good-character Hampshire
sheep, and Mr. Thomas Dodd and Mr. Henry Lambert,
were both highly commended, For ewes Messrs. Palmer,
of Cliddesden, Basingstoke, took .first prize for very firm-
handling sheep of the old style, and Mr. James Read, o'
Horniugton, Salisbury, was second with excellent quality.
The lambs were wonderfully good, and there were no less
than 13 pens in competition. The fiist prize fell to Sir
Edward Hulse for very stylish lambs, of good quality and
fine proportion, yet scarcely so good under the hand as Mr.
Twidell's second prize entry, which handled firm as
wethers but were not quite so evenly matched as the first-
prize lot. The live weights of the first and second prize
pens were 5 cwt. 1 qr. 19 lb. and 5 cwt. 1 qr, 3 lb. re-
spectively. Mr. Twidell wa3 also highly commended for a
second pen of the same sort, also full of flesh and wonder-
fully good for their ages, 9 months and 2 weeks. The
Shropshires were few in number, and good in quality as
usual, still, nothing out of the way for this excellent breed
of sheep. Mr. Thomas Nock secured the first prize in
the wether class and the Breed Cup of £20 ; Lord
Chesham was second and third with wethers, and first with
ewes. The one pen of lambs exhibited was not of
sufficient merit to secure even a coninieudation. The

Oxfordshire Down3 wcro very weak in numbers, there
beiug only 8 entries ; Mr. Brassey was first, and
Mr. Nathaniel Stillgoe second and third for wethers
of not more than ordinary show quality ; but Mr.
Druce's first prize pen of ewes was very excellent,
securing the £20 Breed Cup. Mr. Druce also took
second' prize for another entry and Mr. Brassey was
highly commended for ewes, taking also the first prize
for a pen of lambs — the only entry.

Leicesters were fairly good, Mr. Painter, of Oakham,
taking first prize in the wether class, Mrs. Perry llerrick
second, and Mr. William Brown third, Messrs. Green
and Sous' fust prize pen of ewes securing the Breed Cup
of £20.- Two pens of lambs exhibited by the Earl of
Lonsdale were only passable. Por Cotswold wethers Mr.
S. Smith obtained first prize and the Breed Cup, Mr.
Jacobs beiug secoud and reserve. Por ewes Mr. Russell
Swanwick, of the Royal Agricultural College Parm,
Cirencester, was first and second ; Mr. Smith received
honourable mention for two entries, one weighing 8 cwt.
3 qrs. 18ib., and first prize for one of his two pens of
lambs, which were the only entries. The Lincoln ewes
were distinguished by furnishing the Champion pen of
the Show, Mr. John Pears, of Mere, Lincoln, taking first
prize, the Breed Cup of £20, and the £50 Champion
Plate fur the best pen of sheep in the Show. These were
very high honours for any long-woolled breed to obtain,
because, however good the sheep may be of their kiud3
the mutton is not of equal consuming value to that of
the short- woolled breeds. But for all that, these ewes took
the honours, and fairly deserved them ; they were a very
extraordinary pen of sheep, good all over, handling be-
yond all criticism, and weighing no less than 9 cwt. 1 qr.
14 lb. live weight. There could be no question
as to the award, but we should like to see these sheep
dressed and hung up by the side of Lord Walsingham's
wethers, Mr. Morrison's wethers, or Mr. Penfold's ewes.
It would seem that a carcass of mutton weighing probably
something like 50 lb. per quarter could scarcely win from
the consumer's point of view._ .They handled like firm,
flesh, but it is hard to believe that it was not fat after
all. Mr. Algernon Hack's second prize psn of cwea
weighed 8 cwt. 2 qrs. 7 lb. live weight. Mr. Sell's first-
prize wethers were fine sheep, as were also the second
and third prize winners, exhibited by Mr. Hopkins and
Mr. Gunnell respectively ; Mr. Gunnell also received a
first prize for his pen of lambs, the only entry in the
class. The Kents were in very good form, Mr. Page, of
Walmer, taking first prize and the Breed Cup for wethers,
and Mr. de Chair Baker winning with ewes, Mr. Henry
Rigdeu being second. Cheviots, Ryclands, Dorsets, Nor-
folks, and Mountain Sheep, were about as usual — just
enough of each to form a sort of " variety column" in
the programme of the Show. Seeing that Irish sheep
contribute largely to our supply of mutton, especially to
the Northern towns, a class for Roscommons, if intro-
duced into the Birmingham and Islington fat stock Shows

38

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE.

mig'it prove useful, and be more su:cessful than the
recent attempt made at the Royal at Liverpool to encour-
age the breed. The cross-bred sheep were interesting,
and contained some very good entries. The first prize and
Breed Cup of £20 was taken by Mr. Overman with a
pen of 21-nicnth wethers, bred from Southdown ewes by
a long-wool ram. The quality was very good, and the
auimals were of the Down type, weighing 7 cwt. 2 qrs.
10 lb. The cross-bred lambs were fairly good. On the
whole the sheep were highly creditable to the breeders
and exhibitors — certainly the best section of the Show.
It is worthy of remark that not only the Champion
Plate, but three Breed Cups were taken by ewes, namely
Lincolus, Leicesters, and Oxfordshires ; but the Downs
proper win in the wether class.

The Pigs were very well done, and not, as a rule,
overdone. For the white breeds the Earl of Radnor and
the Marchioness of Camden secured first honours,
the former taking the Breed Cup of £15. Of Improved
Dorsets there were but three entries, Mr. Coate, of Ham-
moon, taking two first prizes and the Breed Cup. Berk-
shires were, as usual, very good ; Mr. Edwin Drew and
Lord Chesham were first and second with pigs under
9 months old, Mr. C. L. Sutherland and Mr. Richard
Fowler first and second with pigs not exceeding 12
months old, and Lord Chesham and Mr. Nathaniel Benja-
field first and second with pigs not exceeding 18 months
old; Lord Chesham taking the Breed Cup. M.r John
Coate, of Hammoon, took first prize for single pigs with
a very handsome Improved Dorset, and the same fell to
Lidy A. Murray for a Berkshire. There were 19 entries
in this class, and most of them were good animals. It
is to be hoped that another year the committee of
management will try " Sanitas," or some less objection-
able purifying agent than carbolic acid, at least for the
piggeries ; it may be highly effective, but its pungent odour
when mixed with the effluvium of swine melting in their
own fat is a most unhappy combination, producing an
effect on the human system, and a sensation on the olfac-
tory nerves , which is perfectly indescribable. An im-
provement in this respect would be highly desirable.

ROOTS, IMPLEMENTS, &c.
On entering the Hall, first to be visited
were the stands of the great seedsmen, not only because
these are always very interesting and attractive to inspect,
but also because it is only early in the day that it is easy
to see them, as they are always thronged with visitors as
soon as the Hall begins to fill. Following the stands in
their order according to their numbers, the first show of
roots, seeds, &c., was that on the stand of Messrs. Dick,
Radclyffe, and Co., on which we noticed specimens of field
roots, field and garden seeds, garden tools, and a pic-
turesque display of gourds of various shapes and colours.
The next seedsman's stand was that of Messrs. Thos
Cibbs and Co., of Halfmoon-street, Piccadilly. Here
here was an excellent display of roots, all selected, we

were assured, from field crops. The Green Globe Turnips
and Swedes were particularly good, and there was a cre-
ditable array of Mangels, Kohl Rabi, Cabbages, and
other farm and garden produce. A little further on was
the stand of Messrs. Webb and Co., of Wordsley. Here
we especially noticed a capital lot of Webb's Imperia*
Swede, some very fine Colonel North Globe and Inter-
mediate Mangels, and some capital Kohl Rabi. The
Kinver Globe Mangels and the Turnips were also good,
and altogether there was a great uniformity of excellence
in the roots exhibited, with respect to both size and
quality. The Long Red Mangels are the least creditable
on this and all the other root-stands in the Show
Throughout the country this variety of mangels suffered
from the prolonged drought of last summer, and are both
smaller and more fangy than they have been since they
were improved from the ugly old Long Red, narrow al*
the way up, to the broad-shouldered Mammoths of the
present day. There is no such heavy cropper as the im-
proved Long Red, called by various names by the different
seed-growers, and its failure to maintain its position this
year, in comparison with the best Globe varieties, should
not prejudice farmers against it. Seed-growers will have
some trouble in selecting a sufficient number of large and
shapely Long Reds from which to grow their stock seed
next season, and if they have enough seed of last summer's
crop to hold over, it would perhaps be advisable to do
without selection for one year. Messrs. George Gibbs and
Co. had an attractive exhibition of roots, potatoes, and
other varieties of field and garden produce. Twelve
cabbages weighing 629 lb. were especially noticeable, and
their Orange Jelly Turnips are very pretty roots, and
possess, we have no doubt, a very high feeding value,
although they cannot be heavy croppers. There were
a hundred varieties of potatoes on this stand. Messrs.
Raynbird and Co., of Basingstoke had a nice display of
turnips and other roots, seed corn, grasses, &c. In pass-
ing on to the next root-stand, we noticed some very fine
potatoes, hops, and corn on Messrs. Amies' stand, grown
with the help of their Chemical Manure. A little further
on was the large and striking display of Messrs.
Carter and Co., of High Holborn. We recently
gave a detailed report of the capital Root Show
held by this enterprising firm in the Agricultural
Hall, and we then had occasion to write in terms of
admiration of the great display as a whole, and of a large
proportion of the classes in particular. At the Smith-
field Club Show Messrs. Carter had some of the best of
their previous exhibits, and, as far as we remember, they
have never had a more creditable stand. Taking the
season into consideration, it was surprising to see the
Warden and Intermediate Mangels so large, whilst in
respect of quality and symmetry we have never seen them
better. The Long Reds on this as on all other stands
were inferior to the other varieties, and to the specimens
of the sort shown at previous exhibitions. This is the
fault of the season, and not of the stock. There was a
grand display of Carter's Imperial Hardy Swede, the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

roots being of great size and good quality. Still more
remarkable were the other turnips — the Improved
Purple Top Mammoth, Imperial Green Globe, Devonshire
Grey Stone, and other varieties. Never before have we seen
such a beautiful lot of turnips as there has been on this aud
other root-stands at the Smith field and other Shows this
season. The show of potatoes was a very good one, some
beauties from Sandringham beiug amongst the rest. Of
these, it was reported iu a daily paper, the Prince of
Wales, when inspecting Messrs. Carter's stand on Mon-
day, remarked that he had not any so good reserved for
his own table. The stand was further embellished with
the usual specimens of their dried grasses. Nest but one
to the great stand just noticed was one of more modest
pretensions, but by no means to be passed by hastily.
Mr. J. II. King, of Coggeshall, is often to be found
between the great stands of Messrs. Sutton and Carter'
whether iu order to separate those great rivals, or from
his own choice, we are unable to determine. At any rate
lie has no reason to hide his exhibits, whieh
are excellent in quality and shape, and of a goodly size
His " Unrivalled" swedes, if not precisely unrivalled
were amongst the best, and his Orange Globe Mangels
showed signs of careful selection in respect of form, qua.
lity, and freedom from fangs. There were also «ome
very nice Essex Prize Yellow Globes, and some excellent
Green and White Globe Turnips, Kolil-Rabi, and other
roots ; also samples of seeds. Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of
Reading, always have a large stand admirably filled and
arrangod ; but we do not remember ever to have seen
on it a more splendid display of roots, vegetables, seeds,
and grasses. We have seen larger mangels, but never
any of finer quality or truer form than the Berkshire Prize,
Intermediate, and Golden Tankard specimens. Even in
point of size these roots were wonderful for the season,
nd we did not expect to see them so large. Their
usually broad-shouldered Mammoth Long Reds did not
Bhow their type to perfection. Like other long red man-
gels this year they had no pretence to beauty, but they
were the only exceptions to the general excellence of the
exhibits. The well-known Champion Swedes were excel-
lent, being very large and well-shaped, and the Purple
Top, Pomeranian White, Grey Stone, and Green Globe
Turnips were remarkably fine in size, true in form, and
excellent in quality. The show of potatoes on this stand
was very good, Sutton's Magnum Bonum and other
ehoice varieties attracting special attention. The
Snowflake and other American varieties, grown by
Mr. M'Kinlay, were perfect beauties, as we had
occasion to describe them when referring to their
appearance at Birmingham. The Cabbages, White
Belgian Carrots, and other field and garden vege-
tables were atao good. We recently criticised all the
varieties of Messrs. Sutton's exhibits when reporting their
great Root Show at Reading, and at the Agricultural
Hall there was a selection of all that we saw at Reading.
The stand wa3 further set off with specimens of grasses,
auiples of seeds, and other articles too numerous to men-

tion here. One thing, however, we have forgotten that
should not go unnoticed, and that is the very fine show
of onions. Messrs- Harrison and Sons, of Leicester, had
a good show of roots aud other vegetables, amongst which
we noticed some of their Normauton Globe Mangels, very
fine iu quality and of fair size, some excellent Defiauco
Swedes, and White and Green Globe Turnips.

By the time that our inspection of the seedsmen"3
stands was completed, the galleries had become so crow-
ded with visitors that it was hardly possible to make cer-
tain of seeing all that called for attention in this part of
the show, still less of inquiring of the exhibitors or their
representatives if they had anything new to show. Con-
sequently it is probable that many objects of interest de-
serving of comment escaped our attention. Of course,
the vast majority of the exhibits have been often seen and
described before, and to attempt to mention all the stands
would be tedious to writer and readers alike, especially as
our list published last week briefly mentioned the princi-
pal articles shown by each exhibitor. Near the root
stands we noticed one that chiefly attracted the attention
of visitors from the display of some magnificent silver cups
and plates. This was the stand of Messrs. James Gibus
and Co., of Mark-lane, the well-known manufacturers of
the " PureTeeding Cake" and manures. Samples of
the cake were shown, and above them were a Hundred
Guinea Silver Cup for the best beast in the Smithfield
Club Show, 1S78, another Hundred Guinea Cup for the
best beast in the Birmingham Show next year, a 1'ifty
Guinea Cup for the best pen of sheep at the Smithfield
Club Show, and a piece of plate of the same value for the
best pen at Birmingham. It will be remembered that
Messrs. James Gibbs and Co. gave some liberal prizes at
Birmingham this year. These prizes are offered iu a
liberal and sensible manner — not after the fashion of a
challenge cup, which must be taken in two following years ,
or three times altogether by the same exhibitor before it is
won. Mr. Thos. Bigg showed his sheep-dipping appara-
tus and composition; Messrs. Day, Son, and Hewitt, of
Dorset-street, London, their well-known cattle medicines
and chemical compounds ; and Messrs. Day and Sons, of
Crewe, their cattle medicines. Mr. W. II. Hale exhibited
samples of manures for all kinds of agricultural produce.
Messrs* Matthews, Son, and Co., of Driffield, had samples
of their famous cake, " Driffield Special " Linseed and
Corn Cakes, nitro-phosphate, and other manures ; and
Messrs. Ohlendoiff and Co-, of Leadenhall-street, showed
Peruvian guano, both raw as it comes direct from Peru,
and dissolved, with guaranteed analysis.

There was a large show of implements, in many of
which there were improvements in detail too numerous to
mention in our necessarily limited report, but not many
striking novelties. In the galleries Messrs. Barford and
Perkins, of Peterborough, showed their steam ploughs,
grinding mills, cake-crushers, rollers, and other machines ;
Mr. Boby, of Bury St. Edmunds, his well known corn,
screen, dressing machine, haymaker, aud borsc-rake ; Mr.
Brcuton, of Pothalbic, St. Germans, the mowers and

40

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

reapers which we have often had occasion to mention
together witli lifting-jacks, sheep-racks, &c. ; Messrs.
ISnruey and Co, farm cisterns, tanks, cattle-trougns, and
corn-bins ; Messrs. Coleman and Morton, of Chelmsford,
their famous cultivators, corn-screens, liquid manurecarts,
&c. ; Messrs. Corbett and Son, of Wellington, grinding-
niills, root pulpers and strippers, and cake-breakers ;
Messrs. Harrison, McGregor, and L> o., of Leigh, Lanca-
shire, showed their "Albion" mowers, which were such
cessful at several trials last summer,aud their equally well-
known reapers ; Messrs. Hunt and Tawell, of Earls Colne,
showed horseand pony gear, chaff-cutters, dressing machines
cake-breakers, &c; Messrs. Hughes and Co., of the Borough
S.E., exhibited millstones, corn measures, sack-barrows,
and other requisites of the mill and the barn ; Messrs.
Lowcock and Barr, of Shrewsbury, a mower, horse hoe,
chaff-cutters, sack-barrows, &c. and Messrs. Picksley,
Sims, and Co., of Leigh, Lancashire, chaff-cutlers, mills,
root pulpers, and slicers, &c. Messrs. Rollins and Co., Lon-
don Bridge showed their " Hollingsworth" horse-rake, the
teeth ofwhich are made of steel, tempered in oil, seed-sowers
forks, pumps, hoes, and other tools. On Messrs. Samuel-
sou and%Co.'a stand there was a self raking reaping machine,
the " Imperial," fitted with six rakes, any one of which
may be used as dummy at the will of the driver, with a
new arrangement of gearing, and made light in draught
to suit hilly districts and the Continent. In other respects
the machine differs from the well-known " Omnium"
reaper which was also shown, as well a3 the " Eclipse"
reaper, the " Gem" mower, and a combined machine.
The well-known Gardner's turnip cutters were also ex-
hibited by Messrs. Samuelson. Messrs. Vipan and
Headly, of Leicester, had a good show of ploughs, horse-
hoes, pulpers, corn-crushers and other machines. Mr.
Walter A. Wood, of Worship-street, London, showed his
well-known reaping and mowing machines. His famous
self-binder is now widely known, and we fully described
it in our notices of its successful trial last autumn ; his
other reapers and his mowers have also been
frequently described in these columns. Messrs.
Burgess and Key also exhibited their excellent
eapers and mowers, some of which are especially
adapted for the Colonies. A new cutter bar for mowers
has been recently introduced by this firm, the new
arrangement being one by means of which the cutting
edges of the fingers can be taken out with the knife to
be sharpened when requisite. Messrs. Stidolph and
Aggio, Woodbriuge, showed their seed and grain cleaners;
to which we have on previous occasions called attention.
Mr. Le Butt, of Bury St. Edmund's, exhibited his corn
and malt screens, haymaking machines, plough, and har-
row ; Messrs. Waite, Burnell, and Co., of London, a
New England " Tiger" horse rake ; Mr. Bamlett, of
Thirsk, and Mr. W. Anson Wood, of Upper Thames-
street, reapers and mowers, and Messrs. Woolnough and
Co., horse hoes and drills. For other exhibits in the
galleries we must refer our readers to the list which we
. lust week.

On the ground lloor Messrs. Ilobey and Co., of Lin
coin, occupied Stand No. 1, with their traction and
vertical engines, the wheels of the traction engine being
fitted with inner tires of india-rubber. Robey's patent
Tubulous Boiler is fitted to all engines if required.
Messrs. Wallis and Steevens, of Basingstoke, showed a
thrashing machine, corn elevator, and a new traction
engine. They manufacture Petzold's Patent Spark Ex-
tinguisher, which they fit to any engine if desired, but
did not exhibit one at the Show. This ingenious
apparatus can be fitted to any engine, new
or old. It consists of an inner perforated case fitted
into the base of the chimney, and a tube, by means o
which steam from the exhaust pipe is brought to the
chimney base and forced through the perforations so as
effectually to extinguish all sparks as they rise. Messrs. Gai -
rett and Sons, of Saxmundham, showed their thrashing
machine, engine, drills, and horsehoes. Messrs. Horusby
andSons had a laree show of their famous reapers, mowers,
single and double-furrow ploughs, thrashing machine,
engine, &c. We did not notice any alteration in the
construction of the reapers or mowers since we noticed
them at the summer Shows. The stand was draped with
black cloth, the lamentable occasion of which — the
sudden death of the head of the firm, Mr. Richard
Hornsby — is probably known to all our readers. Messrs.
Barrows and Stewart, of Banbury, showed an engine and
thrashing machine of their manufacture. Messrs. Tasker
and Sons, Andover, and Messrs. Tuxford and Sons*
of Boston, exhibited engines and thrashing machines.
Messrs. John Fowler and Co., of Leeds, showed a 6-
horse power traction engine for agricultural purposes,
fitted with a patent hauling drum and 50 yards of rope,
especially designed for driving a thrashing machine and
straw elevator, and for hauling them on ordinary roads,
up steep inclines, or on otherwise difficult ground, with-
out complicating the wearing parts of the engine. Messrs.
Fowler also had a 14.-horse power steam cultivating en-
gine, an 8-horse power traction engine for agricultural
purposes, a 5-furrow plough, with pate it adjustable
skifes, a 9-tined cultivator, a model of Deucauville's
Patent Portable Tramway, and a model of a discer in-
tended to cultivate newly reclaimed land after it has been
ploughed once. In all Messrs. Fowler's engines, they
informed us, the crank shaft, intermediate shaft, and hind
axle bearings are accurately fitted or let into the wrought
iron plates of the boiler and bar, so that all strains are
taken by the plates instead of by the bolts, which are
only used to keep the bearings in their places. Messrs.
Clayton and Shuttleworth showed traction, portable,
horizontal, and vertical engines, and a thrashing machine
fitted with Wilder's Patent Drum Guard. Messrs.
Burrell and Co., of Thetford, have fitted one of their
patent winding drums on to the hind axle of their 6-
horse agricultural locomotive engine, which is also fitted
with two speeds, and with differential motion for turning
sharp curves. They also exhibited an 8-horse power
' combined ploughing and traction engine, fitted

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

11

with (wo speeds, their Fatcut Winding Drum, \
and CompeasatiDg gear. This engine is intended '
to be used as one of a pair for ploughing on the
double engine system ; but it can also be used singly for
other purposes by taking down the ploughing drum and
reversing the fore-carriage. Messrs. M'Laren, of Leeds,
showed an 8-horse power agricultural locomo.ive engine,
similar iu design to the G-horse power engine which we
described in our report of the Liverpool Show. The
specialities of the engine have stood the test of further
trial, and are adhered to by the makers. All the gearings
are of steel, and all engines are made with duplicate
speeds, the alteration being effected by means of two
levers working in a catch plate in such a manner as to
render it impossible for both pinions to be put in gear at
the same time. A long-stroke pump and other improve-
ments have been adopted. Messrs. Davey, Paxman, and
Co. had, besides theii excellent engines, an
improved form of Famphilion's Patent Farm-
yard Manure Spreader. We gave a descrip-
tion of this machine as Delf's Manure Spreader about a
year ago, Captain Delf, of lientley, Essex, having it then
in his hands, and at work on his farm, with the object of
improving it. It did its work very well when we saw it,
but with Captaiu Delf's assistance Messrs. Paxman and
Co. have introduced some important improvements. One
of these is a semi-circular slide in the side of the frame,
by means of which the helical agitator, which distributes
the manure, can be brought closer to or removed further
from the travelling web which carries the manure round
from the board on which it is dragged or thrown from the
cart; the other is a spiral spring which allows the
feed-board to recede when a large or hard substance
presses against it, thus preveuting injury to the feed-board.
The machine can with great ease be attached to or de-
tached from the cart with which it is used. The machine
is calculated to effect a great saving in labour as well as
iu doing away with the waste that is unavoidable when
manure is laid, and often left a long time in heaps on the
field. Its price is moderate, and we anticipate its success
as soon as it becomes widely known. Messrs. Howard
and Co., Bedford, had their usual large stand, on which
they exhibited their Farmers' Engine, a four-furrow steam
plough, their new triple plough, double and convertible
plough, single plough, harrows, haymakers, reapers,
mowers, and horserakes. The " Simplex " reaper has
been improved by the introduction of an arrangement
which enables the main wheel to be taken off in a couple
of minutes, and the spindles of the main and spur wheels
examined. The " Simplex " mower has a new heel-guard
which allows of the knife being taken out by hand, with
out the use of a spanner, and which is so fixed that "
canuot rise when the raachiue is in work. The haymaker
has a stat, very strong and simple, adapted to it. Messrs.
Howard also exhibited a new American pattern horse rake
on high wrought-iron wheels, fitted with^their patent self-
acting arrangement, and with separate hand lever — a
light aud yet strong rake, and a marvel of cheapness, well

suited to compete with the American rakes on their own
ground. Messrs. Holmes aud Sous, of Norwich, exhi-
bited their well-known seed sheller, drills and thrashing
machine. Messrs. Aveling and Porter, of Rochester
showed their engines ; Messrs. Jeffery and Blackstoue
engines, chaff cutters, and drills ; and Messrs. Turner, of
Ipswich, mills of various kinds. Messrs Ransomes, Sims
and Head, of Ipswich, had a good show of their famoi'g
steam engines, thrashing machine, single aud double fur-
row ploughs, horse rakes, and haymakers. Messrs. llan-
somes' new traction engine was fully described iu our
report of the Liverpool Show, when several improvement
which they have recently introduced in the construction
of their engines were detailed. Their steam-jacketed
cylinders effect a great economy iu fuel, and their fire
boxes arc constructed to burn either coal or wood, and
can be adapted for any description of fuei. The engines
can be fitted with expansion gear, or the new Patent
Automatic Governor, and in many other respects they aro
now manufactured in a greatly improved form. Messrs.
Eddington and Co., Chelmsford, exhibited traction,
portable and stationary engines, and steam cultivating
and ploughing apparatus. Messrs. Woods, Cocksedge
and Co., of Stowmarket, had a number of their well"
known mills, carts, vertical engines, &c. Messrs. Rus"
ton, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln, showed traction aud
portable engines fitted with new governors, brackets, and
other patented improvements ; also a horizontal engine
with wrought-iron stays, which can be drawn out with
great facility, and other advantages. A very compact
form of fixed engine, the " Soho," was shown by Messrs.
Tagfye Brothers and Holman, of Queen Victoria-street.
The design is quite a new one. A newly-arranged agri-
cultural traction engine was shown by the Reading Iron
Works Company, a horizontal engine, with patent
" Nozzle " vertical boiler, Mackie's patent spring pulley,
&c. Messrs. Marshall, Sons, and Co., of Gainsborough,
exhibited thrashing machines, a portable engine, with
new wrought-iron under-gearing ; an overhead traction
engine ; «lso a horizontal fixed slow speed-engine, with
automatic expansion gear, very compact, simple, and
strong. Messrs. Foster and Co., of Lincoln exhibited
portable, vertical, and horizontal fixed engines, thrashing
machine, saw benches and mills. Mr. Everitt, of Ryburgh,
Norfolk, showed a hay and corn loader ; Messrs. Crosskill
and Beverley, agricultural carriages ; Messrs. Brown and
May, Devices, portable steam engines; Messrs. Nalder
and Nalder, Wantage, a thrashing machine, engine, &c. ;
and Mr. Savage, of King's Lynn, steam ploughing tackle.
Messrs. Gibbons, of Wantage, and Mr. Allchin, of North-
ampton, were also exhibitors.

Mr, T. C. Darby, of Chelmsford, has brought out a
striking novelty, called the " Pedestrian Broadside Dig-
ger," a working model of which was exhibited. An eight-
horse power engine boiler is supported partly on trans-
verse wheels and partly upon feet, which rise and fall with
a set of diggers or spados, the machine shifting side-
ways, with a motion similar to walking — whence its name.

42

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The diggers are set in motion by means of levers and
eccentrics connected with a horizontal shaft situated
alongside the engine. The machine thus travels along
on the solid land, digging up the land on one side as it
goes. Five acres of heavy land have been dug by it in a
day to the depth of 10 inches. Almost the entire weight
of the implement is utilised in digging, and only one man
and a boy are required to work it.

LIST OF JU DGES

CATTLE.

Devons, Ilerefords, Sussex.

Levi Groves, Binghams, Melcombe, Dorchester.

Geo.Napper, (Mold, Wisborough-green, near Billing9hurst.

Jas. Tremaine. Polsue House, Grampound, Cornwall.

Shorthorns, and Cross or Mixed.
Thos. C. Booth, Warlaby, Northallerton.
Edward Bowly, Siddington House, Cirencester.
"William Cappe, Waddiugton, Lincoln.

Norfolk or Suffolk Polled, Scotch, (all classes), and
Welsh.
Henry Overman, Weasenham, Brandon, Norfolk.
Andrew Mitchell, The Walk House, Alloa, N.B.
James Bruce, Ruthwell, Annan.

SHEEP.

Leicesters, Cotswold, Liucolns, Kentish or Romney

Marsh.

Thos. Brown, Marham Hall, Downham Market, Norfolk.

H. Mackinder, Langton Grange, by Spilsby, Lincolnshire.

Thos. Potter, Yellowford, Thorverton, Devon.

SouthDowns, Hampshire or Wiltshire Downs, Cheviot,
Ryeland, Dorset, etc, and Mountain .
E. Baunton, West Knighton, Dorchester.
W. F. Bennett, Chilmark, Salisbury.
Geo. Rae, Middleton House, Alnwick.

Shropshire, Oxfordshire, and Cross Bred-
Thos. Fulcher, Elmham, Dereham, Norfolk.
John Treadwell, Upper Winchendon, Aylesbury.
Chas. Randell, Chadbury, near Evesham.

PIGS.
Alfred Ashworth, Egerton Hall, Bolton-le-Moors.
Henry Garland, Wargate, Wareham, Dorset.
John Risdon, Golsoncott, Washford, Taunton.

PRIZE LIST.
CATTLE.

DEVONS.

Steers not exceeding 2 years and 6 months old.

First prize, £25, to J. R. Overman, Bumham Sutton,

Norfolk.
Second, £15, to W. R. Fryer, Poole, Dorset.
Third, £10, to W. Arnold, Blandford, Dorset.
Highly Commended. — H.R.H. Prince of Wales, Sand-
ringham.

Steers not exceeding 3 years and 3 months old.
First prize, £25, to H.R.H Prince of Wales.

Second, £15, to G. H Pinckard, Godalmiug, Surrey.
Third, £10, Major Buller, Crediton, Devon.
Highly Commended. — J. Ham, Broadclyst, Devon.

Steers or Oxen above 3 years and 3 months, aud not ex-
ceeding 4 years aud G months old.

First prize, £25, to J. Overman, Buruham Sutton, Nor-
folk.
Second, £15, to H. R. H. Prince of Wales.
Third, £10, to M;ijor Buller, Crediton.
Highly Commended. — W. Ham, Collumpton, Devon.
Commended. — J. Coate, Blandford, Dorset.

Heifers not exceeding 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to J. Overman, Norfolk (Violet).
Second, £10, J. Walter, Wokingham, Berks.
Third, £5, to J. Turvill, Alton, Hants (Very Pretty).
Highly commended. — M. Buller, (Jrediton, Devon.

Cows above four years old.
First prize, £20, J. Walter, Wokingham.
Second, £10, Major Buller, Crediton.

HEREFORD^.

Not exceeding 2 years aud 6 months old.

First prize, £25, to LordPowis, Lydbury North, Shrop-
shire.

Second, £15, to W. Taylor, Ledbury.

Third, £10, to Lord Powis.

Highly commended. — H.M. the Queen, Flemish Farm*
Windsor.

Steers, not exceeding 3 years and 3 months old.
First prize, £25, to H.M. the Queen, Flemish Farm,

Windsor.
Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and 3 months and not

exceeding 4 years and 6 months old.
First prize, £25, to H. Page, Walmer, Kent.
Second, £15, to R. Wortley, Aylsham, Norfolk.
Third, £10, to R Wortley.
Highly commended. — Lord Powis.

Commended. — J. Pritchard, Stanmore,Bridgenorth, Salop.

Heifers, not exceeding 4 years old.
First prize, £20, J. Pritchard (Lady Jane).
Second, £10, to R. Keene, Caerleon, Monmouth (Rose).
Third, £5, to J. W. James, Mappowder Court, Dorset

(Matchless).

Cows, above 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to J. D. Allen, Fisbury, Salisbury

(Madame Rachel).
Second, £10, to H. Kelsey, East Grinstead (Diadem).

SHORTHORNS.
Steers not exceeding 2 years and 6 months old.
First prize, £25, Sir John Swinburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Second, £15, J. S. Bult, Kingston, Taunton.
Third, £10, J. N. Beasley, Northampton.
Reserve and highly commended. — D. M'Intosh, Romford,
Essex.

Steers not exceeding 3 years and 3 months old.
Second prize, £15, H.R.H. the Trince of Wales, San
dringham.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

4o

Steer or Oxen above 3 years and 3 months and not
exceeding 4 years and 6 months old.

First prize, £25, J. Bruce, Longside, Aberdeen.

Second, £15, Sir R. C, Musgrave, Penrith, Cumberland.
Heifers not exceeding 4 years old.

First prize, £20 to N. Catchpole, Ipswich (Pride o*
Thorn dale 2nd).

Second, £10, to Lord Tredegar, Newport, Mon. (Lady-
love.)

Third, £5, to B. St. J. Ackers, Painswick (Baroness
Pawlett).

Reserved and highly commended. — J. Stratton, Marl-
borough, Wilts (Rosamond).

Highly commended. — W. F. Beaven, Marlborough (Cow-
slip).

Commended. — Sir J. Swinburn (Lady Blanche 4th) »
R. Marsh, Little Offley, Hitchin (M oss Rose) ; Lady
Pigot (Flatterer).

Cows above 4 years old.
First prize £20, to R. B. Blyth, Reading.
Second, £10, to Lord Spencer, Northampton (Fancy).
Third £5, to W. T. and T. Franklin, Wallingford.

SUSSEX.
Steers not exceeding 2 years and 6 months old.
First prize, £20, to A. Agate, Horsham, Sussex.
Second, £10, to G. C. Coote, Arundel, Sussex.
Third, £5, E. and A. Stanford, Ashurst, Steyning.
Highly commended, J. Braby, Rudgwick, Sussex.

Steers or Oxen above 3 years and three months and not

exceeding 4 years and 6 monthold
First prize, £20, to J. and A. Heasman, Augmering>

Arundel.
Second, £10, to C. T. Lucas, Horsham, Sussex.
Third, £5, to G. C. Coote, Arundel.
Highly Commended, J. M. Montefiore, Crawley, Sussex 5

Mrs. Mary Coote, Littlebampton, Sussex.
Commended. — J. Neale, Pulborough, Sussex.

Steers, not exceeding three years and three months.
First prize, £20, to A. Agate, Horsham.
Second, £10, to to J. Neale, Coldwaltham.
Third, £5, to J. Turvill, Alton.
Highly Commended. — J. and A. HeasmaD, Angmerhig ;

C. Child, Slinfold.

Heifers not exceeding 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to E. Neame, Faversham.
Second, £10, to J. Braby, Rudgwick, Sussex (Heiress).
Third, W. Wood, Crawley, Sussex.
Highly Commended. — J. and C. L. Steere, Dorking.

Cows above 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to W. II. ^Campion, Hurstpierpoint

(Bolney).

NORFOLK OR, SUFFOLK POLLS.
Steers or Oxen of any age.
First prize, £15, to J. J. Colman, Norwich.
Second, £10, to R. E, Lofft, Bury St. Edmunds.
Reserve and commended. — C. Le Neve, Norwieh.

Heifers or Cows.
First prize, £15, to E. Cooke, Stalham, Norfolk.
Second, £10, to J. S. Postle, Smallburgh, Norfolk.
SCOTCH HIGHLANDERS.
Steers or Oxen of any age.
First prize, £25, to SirW. G. G. Cumming, Forres, Elgiu.
Second, £15, to Duke of Roxburghe, Kelso.
Third, £10, to Duke of Sutherland, Golspie.
Reserved and highly commended. — Mrs. Gerard Leigh
Luton Beds.

Heifers or Cows.
First prize, £20, to Sir W. C. Trevelyau, Nowcastle-ou-

Tyne.
Second, £10, to Duke of Sutherland.
SCOTCH POLLS.
Steers or Oxen, of any age.
First prize, £25, to R. Jardiue, Lockerbie, Dumfries.
Second, £15, to J. J. Colman, Norwich.
Third, £10, to W. M'Combie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen.
Reserved and highly commended. — J. S. Postle, Small-
burgh, Norfolk.

Heifers or Cows.
First prize, £20, to Sir W. G. G. Cumming (May

Flower of Altyre).
Reserved and highly commended. — W. M'Combie, Aber-
deen.

WELSH.
Steers or Oxen (Runts) of any age.
First prize, £15, to J. S. Postle, Smallburgh, Norfolk.
CROSSES OR MIXED-BREFDS.
Steers not exceeding 3 years old.
First prize, £25, to R. H. Harris, Forres, Moray.
Second, £15, to Sir J. Swinburne, Newcastle-od-Tyne.
Third, £10, to A. Longmore, Banff.
Highly commended. — J. and W. Martin, Aberdeen ; Z
W.Stilgoe, Oxford.

Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and not exceeding 4 years

and 6 mouths old.
First prize, £25, to Lord Lovat, Inverness,
Second, £15, to R. H. Harris, Forres, Moray.
Third, £10, to J. and W. Martin.
Highly commended. — T. Elliott, Jedburgh.

Heifers not exceeding 4 jears old.
First prize, £20, to Sir W. 'C Trevelyan, Newcastle-on-

Tyne.
Second, £10, to C. W. Schroeter, Billinghurst (Patsie).
Third, £5, to W. Cranfield, Huntingdon (Miss Parsons.)
Highly Commended. — J. and W. Martin, Aberdeen.
Commended. — R. Jardine, Lockerbie, Dumfries.
ANY BREEDS.
(not qualified for the other classes.)
Steers or Oxen, not exceeding four years and six months.
First prize, £20, to Earl of Darnley, Cobham Hall.
Second, £10, to J. Bell and Sons, Glasgow.

Heifers or Cows.
First prize, £20, to Her Majesty the Queen.
Second, £10, J. Wilson, Morpeth.
Highly Commended. — J. Overman, Burnham Sutton.
Commended. — Earl of Spencer, K.G., Althorpe Park.

44

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

SHEEP.

LEICESTEItS.
Wethers, 1 year old (uuder 23 months).
First prize, £20, to B. Painter, Oakham, Rutland.
Second, £15, to Mrs. P. Herrick, Loughborough.
Third, £5, to W. Brown, Ilolme-on-Sp-ilding-Moor.
Commended. — W. Brown ; B. Painter.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to J. Green and Son, Silsdcn, Yorks.
Second, £5, to T. Marris, Ulcehy, Lincolnshire.
Highly commended. — Mrs. P. Ilerrick.
Commended. — Lord Lonsdale, Oakham,

Wether L«mbs born in the year 1877.
First prize, £8, to Lord Lonsdale.

COTSWOLDS.

Wethers 1 year old, (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to S. Smith, Deddington, Oxon.
Second, £15, to R. Jacobs, Burford, Oxon.
Reserved. — II. Jacobs.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to R. Swauwick, College Farm, Ciren"

cester.
Second, £5, to R. Swauwick.

Highly Commended. — S. Smith, Deddington, Oxon.
Commended. — S. Smith.

Wether Lambs born in the year 1877.
First prize, £8, to S. Smith.

LINCOLNS.

Wethers 1 year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to C. Sell, Bassingbourne, Royston.
Second, £15, to II. J. Hopkins, North Guilsborough.
Third, £5, to T. Gunnell, Milton, Camb ridge.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to J. Pears, Lincoln.
Second, £5, to A. Hack, Grantham.
Commended. — R. C. Catling.

Wether Lambs, born in the year 1877-
First prize, £8, to T. Gunnell, Milton, Cambridge.

KENTISH OR ROMNEY-MARSH
Wethers 1 year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to H. Page, Walmer, Kent.
Second, £15, to W. de C. Baker, Canterbury.
Third, £5, to B. W. Tassell, Canterbury.
Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to W. de C. Baker.
Second, £5, to H. Rigden, Hythe, Kent.
Highly commended. — J. S. S. Godwin, Iladlow, Ton-
bridge.
Commended. — J. S. S. Godwin.

SOUTHDOWNS.
Wethers 1 year old (under 23 mouths).
First prize, £20, to Lord Walsingham.
Second, £15, to Lord Walsingham.
Third, £5, to H. Humphrey, Pulboro'.
Very highly commended. — E. C. and R. C. Emery,
Storriugton.

Highly commended. — II. II. Penfold, Chichester.
The class commended.

Ewes above 3 years old.

First prize, £10, to H. H. Penfold, Chichester

Second, £5, to E. C. and R. C. Emery, Storrington, Sus-
sex.

Highly commended, Earl of Suffolk ; H.R.H. Prince of
Wales ; Earl of Suffolk and Berks, Malmesbury ; J.
J. Colman, Norwich.

The class eom-tneuded.

Wether Lambs born in ihe year 18-77.

First prize, £8, to J. and A. Heasman, Aruudel.

Second, £4, to J. J. Colman, Norwich.

Highly commended, J. and A. Heasman ; E-. tlerington>
Chichester.

The class eommended.

HAMPSHIRE OR WILTSHIRE DOWNS.

Wethers, 1 year old (under 2S mouths).
First prize, £20, to A. Morrison, Tisbury, Wilts.
Second, £15, to A. Morrison.
Third, £5, to L. Lloyd, Addington, Surrey.
Highly commended. — H. Lambert, Great Abington, Cam-
bridge.
Commended, — T. Dodd, Wallingford, Berks.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to J. A. and T. Palmer, Basingtokc
Second, £5, to J. Read, Salisbury.

The class commended.
Wether Lambs born in the year 1877-
First prize, £8, to Sir E, Hulse, Salisbury.
Second, £4, to W, T. Twidell, Henley-on-Thames.
Highly commended.— W. T. Twidell.

SHROPSHIRES.
Wethers 1 year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to T. Nock, Saifnal.
Second, £15, to Lord Chesham.
Third, £5, to Lord Chesham.
Commended. — G. Cooke, Linton.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to Lord Chesham.
Second, £5, to J. Coxon, Lichfield, Stafford.
Reserved. — G. Cooke.

Wether Lambs, born in the year 1877.
[No merit.]

OXFORDSHIRES.
Wethers 1 year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to A. Brassey, Chipping Norton.
Second, £15, to N. Stilgoe, Adderbury, Oxford.
Third, £5, to Z. W. Stilgoe, Addedbury, Oxford.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to A. F. M. Druce, Eynsham, Oxford.
Second, £5, to A. F. M. Druce.
Highly commended. — A. Brassey.

Wether Lambs born in the year 1S77.
First prize, £8, to A. Brassey.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

45

CHEVIOTS.

Wethers of any nge.
First prize, £15, to Duke of Roxburghe, Kelso.
Secoud, £10, to A. Bras9ey, Chipping Norton.
Commended. — Duke of Roxburghe.

KENTISH, CHEVIOT, ICELAND, DORSET,

OR ANY OTHER PURE BREED NOT BEFORE SPECli'IEB.

Wethers 1 year old (under 23 mouths).
First prize, £20, to II Farthing.
Second, £15, to II. Farthing.
Third, £5, to J. S. Tucker, Liskeard.

Ewes above 3 years old.
First prize, £10, to H. Farthing, Nether Stowey, Bridg-
water.
Second, £5, to II. Farthing.
Commended. — J. I. Watts, Devizes.

Wether lambs boru in the year, 1877.
First prize, £8, to H Farthing.
Second, £4, J. S. Tucker, Liskeard.
Commended. — Mrs. Grigg, Liskeard.

MOUNTAINS (not being Cheviots).
Weathers, White-faced of any age .
First prize, £15, to R.J. Stranger, North Molton.
Second, £10, to Lord Poltimore, Exeter.

Wethers, Black-faced or Speckled -faced, of any age.
First prize, £15, to C. S. Plummer, Selkirk.
Second, £10, to C. S. Plummer.
Commended. — J. and W. Martin, Aberdeen.
CROSS-BREDS.
Wethers 1 year old (under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to J. Overman.
Second, £15, to C. Crawshay, Attleboro'.
Third, £10, to C. Crawshay.
Fourth, £5, to H. Lambert.
Commended. — J. Overman ; H. Lambert.

Wether Lambs, born in the year 1S77.
First prize, £8, to H. Lambert.
Second, £4, F. Battcock.

Highly commended. — Major-Gen. Sir M. Filzwigram.
Commended. — F. Battcock.

PIGS.

WHITE.

Not exceeding 9 months old.

First prize, £10, Marchioness of Camden, Lamberhurst,

Kent.
Second, £5, Lord Radnor, Highworth, Wilts.
Reserve and highly commended. — C. Charlwood, Reading

Above 9 and not exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, Lord Radnor.
Second, £5, Sir H. Verney, Winslow, Bucks.
Highly commended. — E. C. Tisdall, Kensington.

Above 12 and not exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, Lord Radnor.

BLACK.

Not exceeding 9 months old.

[No entry.]

Above 9 and not exceeding 12 months old.

Fir3t prize, £10, to J. Coate, Blandford, Dorset.

Above 12 and not exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, to J. Coate.

BERKSIIIRES.
Not exceeding 9 months old.
First prize, £10, to E. Drew, Blandford, Dorset.
Second, £5, to Lord Chcsham.

Above 9 aud not exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to C. L. Sutherland, Croydon.
Second, £5, R. Fowler, Aylesbury.

Above 12 and not exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, to Lord Chesham.
Second, £5, toN. Bt-njafidd, Motcombe.
Highly Commended. — II. S. Woodcock, Wigan.
OTHER BREEDS.
Not exceeding 9 months old.
First prize, £10, to J. Saunders, Castle Carey, Somerset.

Above 9 and not exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to Mr. E. C. Tisdall, Kensington.
Above 12 and not exceeding 11 months old.
I No entry.]
Single pigs, of any breed or age.
First prize, £8, to J. Coate, Blandford, Dorset.
Second, £-1, to Lady A. Murray, Leamington.
Highly commeuded. — J. Saunders, Castle Carey.
Commended. — E. C. Tisdall, Kensington.

BREED CUPS.

CATTLE.

Silver Cup value £40, for the best Devon Beast, to H.R.H,
Prince of Wales. Reserve : J. Overman.

Silver Cup value £40, for the best Hereford Beast, to II*
Page, Walmer, Kent. Reserve : J. Pritchard (Lady
Jane),

Silver Cup value £40, for the best Shorthorn Beast, to
N. Catchpole, Ipswich (Pride of Thorndale 2nd). Re-
serve : Sir J. Swinburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Silver Cup value £40, for the best Scotch Beast, to Sir
W. G. G. Cumming, Forres (May Flower of Altyre).
Reserve : Sir W. G. G. Cumming

Silver Cup value £40, for the best Cross-bred Beast, of
any other breed not before specified, to Lord Lovat,
Inverness.

SHEEP.

Silver Cup, value £40, for the hest Sussex beast. — A

Agate, Horham.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pem of Leicester Sheep,

to J. Green and Son, Silsden.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of Cotswold Sheep,

to S. Smith, Deddington.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of Lincoln Sheep,

to J. Pears, Lincoln.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of Southdown.

Sheep, to Lord Walsingham.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Hampshire or

Wiltshire Sheep, to A. Morrison, Tisbury.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Shropshire

Sheep, to T. Nock, Sutton Maddock, Shifnal,

46

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Silver Cup, value £20, foi the best pen of Oxfordshire
Sheep, to A. F. Milton Druce, Eynsham.

Silver Cup value £20, for tbe best pen of Cross Bred
Sheep of any kind, to J. Overman, Burnham Sutton,
Norfolk.

Silver Cup value £20, for the best Kentish, Ryeland
Dorset, or any other pure bred Slieep, not before speci-
fied, to EL Page, Walmer.

PIGS.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of any

White breed, to Lord Radnor, High worth, Wilts.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of any

Black breed, to J. Coate, Blandford, Dorset.
Silver Cup, value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of the

Berkshire breed, to Lord Chesham.
Silver Cup, value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of any

other breed, to J. Saunders, Castle Carey.

SILVER CUPS.

STEER OR OX.
Silver Cup, value £50, to the Exhibitor, for the best Steer
or Ox in any of classes (except in Class 31 — "Any
Breed ") to H.R.H. Prince of Wales (Devon).
HEIFER OR COW.

Silver Cup, value £50, to the Exhibitor, for the best
Heifer or Cow in any of the classes (except in Class 31
— " Any Breed,") to N. Catchpole, Ipswich (Pride of
Thorndale, 2nd).

CHAMPION PLATES.

FOR THE BEST BEAST IN THE SHOW.

A piece of plate value £100, to the Exhibitor of the
best Beast in the Show, to N. Catchpole, Ipswich (Pride
of Thorndale 2nd).
A Piece of Plate, value £50, to the exhibitor of the best

pen of three in the show. — J. Pears, Mere, Lincoln.

INDEX TO NAMES OF EXHIBITORS OF
MACHINERY, AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, &c,

IN THE LARGE HALL.

Stands No. 1 to 35 on the Ground Floor of Hall. Stands

No. 36 to 255 in the Galleries.

Stand. On the Ground Floor.

13 — Allehin, W., Northampton, engineer.
17 — Avelingand Porter, Rochester, ag. engineers.

5 — Barrows and Stewart, Banbury, ag. implement makers1
22 — Beverley Waggon Co., Yorkshire, engineers, etc.
32 — Brown and May, Devizes, engineers, etc.
11 — Burrell, C, and Sons, Norfolk, engineers, etc,

9 — Clayton and Shuttleworth, Lincoln, engineers, etc.
33 — Crosskill, W. and Sons, Beverley, ag. carts, and wgs,
15 — Davey, Paxman and Co., Colchester, engineers.
20— Eddington, W. and S. and Co., Chelmsford, eng. etc •
35 — Everitt, Percival, Norfolk, hay and corn loader.
34 — Foster, W., and Co., Lincoln, ag. engineers.

8 — Fowler, John, and Co., Leeds, steam plough engineers.

3 — Garrett, Rd., and Sons, Suffolk, gen. implement makers.
31— Gibbons, P., and H. P., Wantage, ag. implement makers.

Stand.
18 — Holmes and Son, Norwich, ag. engiueers.

4 — Homsby, Rd., and Sons,Grauthatn,ag. eng'neers.
16 — Howard, J. and F., Bedford, ag. engineers.
10 — flumphries, E., Worcester, thrashing machine maker.
24 — Jeffery and Blackstone, Stamford, ag. engineers.
14— M'Laren, J. and H., Leeds, engineers.
29— Marshall, Sons, and Co., Gainsborough, engineers.
30 — Nalder and Nalder, Berks, thrashing machine inakpr.
21 — Ransomes, Sims, and Head, Ipswich, plough makers.
28 — Reading Iron Works, Berks, engineers.

1 — Robey and Co., Lincoln, engineers, etc.
26— Ruston, Proctor, and Co. Lincoln, engineers, etc
12 — Savage, F., King's Lynn, ploughing and traction en.
27. — Tangye and Holman, Lawrence Pouutney-la.,eng. etc.

6. — Tasker, W. and Sons, Audover, ag. engineers.
23 — Turner, E. R. and F., Ipswich, ag. engineers.

7— Tuxford and Sons, Boston, ag. engineers.

2 — Wallis and Steevens, Basingstoke, ag. implement makers
19 — Willsherand Co., Gracechurch-street. E.C. ag. eng.
25 — Woods, Cocksedge, and Co., Stowmarket, ag. eng.

In the Galleries.

140 — Agricultural Association, Westminster, seeds, manures.
162 — Albion Iron Worka, Rugeley, chaff cutters, horse rakes.

54— Alexanders &Loveridge, Leominster, sheep troughs,&c

84 — Alway & Sons, Pentonville, churns and dairy utensils.

50 — Amies' Chemical Manure Co., Mark-lane, manures.

70 — Anderson, Abbott,& Anderson,Q.Victoria-st., bands, &c.

71 — Arnold & Sons, Smithfield, agricultural instruments.

72 — Atmospheric Churn Co., New Bond-street, churns.

79 — Ayres, Chambers, and Ayre, Hull, feeding oil cakes.
253 — Baker, J., Wisbeach, corn dressing machines.
206 — Baker, J. L. and Co., Kimbolton, horse hoes, &c.
238 — Baker, T., Comptou, corn dressing machines.
106 — Baker, W. P., King's Lynn, Norfolk, horse rakes.
248 — Ball, G., North Kilworth, near Rugby, carts.
231 — Ball & Son, Rothwell, Kettering, waggons, &c.
230 — Bamlett,A. C, Thirsk, Yorks, reaping machines.
146 — Barford & Perkins, Peterborough, steam ploughs, &c.
179 — Barnard & Lake, Braintree, Essex, horse hoes, &c.

73— Barr, P. W. & Co., Liverpool, cattle food.
105— Beach, J. & Co., Dudley, cattle food, &c.
110 — Bell & Co., Oxford-street, churns, chaff cutters.

98 — Bellamy, John, Milwall, water cisterns, corn bins.
164 — Bentall and Co., Maldon, Essex, chaff cutters.
153 —Bigg, Thomas, Great Dover-street, dipping apparatus.
173 — Boby,R., Bury St. Edmunds, haymakers, horse rakes.
107 — Bone, W., Framlingham, seed and grain cleaners.
161 — Boulton & Paul, Norwich, manure carts, &c.
255 — Bradford and Co., High Holborn, churns, &c.
149 — Brenton, W., St. Germans, mowers and reapersj
240 — Bristol Waggon Co., Bristol, agricultural carts.

56 — Brown, B. & J. & Co., Blackfriars, oil feeders.
148 — Brown, G. & Son, Leighton Buzzard, drills.

51 — Bunyard, Harry, Tooley-slreet, rick cloths.
146 — Burgess & Key, Holborn Viaduct, self-raker reapers.
109 — Burney and Co., Millwall Docks, farm cisterns, tanks*
255 — Cambridge & Parham, Bristol, engines and boilers.

93 — Campbell & Co., Thrapstone, steam engines & boilers.
116 — Cannings, J. S. & G., Horndean, water carts.

67 — Carbon Fertilizer Co., Paknerston-bdgs., manures.
216— Carson and Toone, Warminster, chaff cutters.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Stand.

^6— Carter Sc Co., High Ilolborn, seeds, roots, Sec.

62 — Chappell, H., Hackney-road, weighing machines.

82 Chemical Manfctring. Co,, Fenchurch street, manures.

131 — Clay, C, Wakefield, cultivators, horse hoes.

251 — Coleman & Morton, Chelmsford, cultivators, screens.

81 — Compton, & Co., Bermondsey, leather machine bands
158 — Cooch, H., Northampton, corn-dressing machines.
127 — Cooke, J., Lincoln, furrow ploughs.
17S — Corbett, S. & Son, Wellington, Salop, grinding mills.
181 — Corbett & Peele, Shrewsbury, winnowers, corn-dressing .
182— Cottis, W.,and Sons, Epping, Essex, chaff-cutters.
125 — Coultas, J., Grantham, corn and seed drills.
120 — Craig & Clark, Aberdeen, grubbers and scarifiers.
100 — Croggan & Co., Upper Tharaes-st., cattle troughs.
201— Crowley, J., and Co., Sheffield, chaff-cutters.
103 — Cullingford, Forest-gate, sheep folding and other nets.
144 — Dames, C. R., Chigwell, Essex, manures, &c.

80 — D irby, T. C, Chelmsford, horse hoes, steam diggers.
184— Davey, Sleep, & Co., Cornwall, turn-wrest ploughs.

74 — Day & Sons, Crewe, oils, drinks, powders for cattle.

68 — Day & Hewitt, London, medicines for horses, cattle.

41 — Delano & Co., Cheapside, sheep shears, turnip cutters'
199 — Dening, C. & Co., Chard, Somerset, Archimedian drills.

132 — Denton, H., Wolverhampton, chainharrows, horse hoes.
246 — Dodman, Alfd., KiDgsLynn, steam engines & boilers.

69 — Driffield & East Riding Cake Co, Driffield, linseed cakes-

78 — Duffield, H., Regent's-park, dairy utensils.

55 — Duffield, J., sen., Oxford-st., dairy utensils.

75 — Eagles, J. 6., Bath, champion cakes.
139 — Eagles, T. D., Fenchurch-st., vertical engines & boilers#

96 — Edgington, B., Duke-st., London-bridge, rick cloths

85 — Edgington, F., & Co., Old Kent-rd., waggon cloths.
119 — Elliman, Sons & Co., Slough, Bucks, cattle embrocation.
176 — Field, & Co. , Liverpool reaping machines, drills, plough .
223 — Fisken & Co., (Lim.), Leeds, windlasses fcr tackle &c.
229 — Gatward, J., Herts., corn and seed drills.

45 — Gibbs, G., & Co., Piccadilly, seeds, roots, &c.

76 — Gibbs, J., & Co., Mark-lane, feeding cakes & materials

39 — Gibbs, T., and Co., Piccadilly, seeds, roots, &c.
126 — Gilbert, W., Abingdon, corn drills.
138 — Gower, A. W., and Sons, Winchfield, corndrills.

57 — Hale, W. H. Rotherhithe, manures.
113 — Hall, A. and Son, Wilts., roots and seeds.
108 — Hancock, J . L., London, churns, root washers.

99 — Hancock, F. & C, Dudley, mills for grinding condiment .
243 — Handyside & Co., Derby, reaping & mowing machine.
104 — Harbord, H., Tooley-st., leather bands, mill bands.

97 — Harrison and Sons, Leicester, seeds, roots.
245 — Harrison and Co., Lancashire, mowers and reapers.
143 — Harrison, W. J., Waterloo-rd., London, dairy utensils.
201 — Hart, David, & Co., City-road, weighing machines.
196 — Hathaway, Chippenham, Wilts, churns.
150 — Haughton and Thompson, Carlisle, horse rakes.
218 — Hayes and Son, Stamford, carts, waggons.
200 — Hempstead k Co., Grantham, steam engines, &c.

89 — Hepburn & G»le, Southwark, leather driving bands, &c.
207 — Herbert and Son, Gray's-inn-rd., weighing machines.
177— Hill & Smith, Brier ly Hill, Staffordshire, troughs.
157— Hindley, E. S., Dorset, steam engines and boilers.

47 — Holgate & Co., Gt. Dover-st., S.E., machine bands.
133 — Hollings Brothers, Wilts, Canadian corn drills.

90 — Hope, W. A., & Sons, Ag. Hall, London, cattle food.

210 — Hopkinson, C, Retford, Notts, grinding mill*.

58— Howard, James, Chesham, batter prints.

47

Stand.

53 — Hughes, Jas., & Sons, Borough, S.E., mill stones, &c.
36 — Hunt & Tawell, Eisex, horse gear, chaff entt'TJ.
221 — Hunter, T., Ayrshire, turuip-topping machine, &c.
226— Johnstone Harvester Co., Chiswell-st., harvesters, &c

49 — Jones, J. M., Gloucester, specific for foot- rot.

249 — Kearsley, G., Ripon, mowing & reaping machines.
222 — Keyworth, J. H., & Co., Liverpool, mowers & reapers
233 — Kiddle, J., Salisbury, waggons.

88 — King, J. K., Coggeshall, Essex, roots, seeds, &c.
214 — Kittmer, B., Louth, Lincolnshire, blowing machine.
128— Laue, J. J., Old Ford-rd., E., steam engines k boilers'
239 — Larkworthy, J. L., &, Co., Worcester, drags, &c.

165 — Lawrence & Co., St. Mary Axe, refrigerators.
219 — Le Butt, J., Bury St. Edmunds, corn screens.

134 — Lewis, G., & Son, Kettering, horse hoes, sack lifters.
174— Lloyd, Thos., & Sons, Shoreditch, London, corn mills.
167— Lowcock & Barr, Shrewsbury, mowers, horse hoes,

59 — Lyon, D., John's-sq., Clerkenwell, E.C., grindstones.
220— Maldon Iron Works Co., Essex, chaff cutters, kibblers.
Ill — Markt & Co., Upper Thames-st., horse rakes.
142 — Mason, F., Ipswich, steam engines and boilers.

60— Matthews, F. C, Son, and Co., Yorkshire, cakes.
241 — Mattison, F. and H., Yorks, mowers, turnip eulters.
166 — Maynard Robert, Cambridge, steam engines.
203 — Milburn & Co., Coramercial-rd., E., dessicated grains.
117 — Morton, F., Liverpool, galvanised corrugated iron.
160— Murray, G. W., & Co., Banff, N.B., ploughs, &c.
232 — Murton & Turner, Norfolk, corn and seed drills.

63 — Newton, J. & Co., Rotherhithe, superphosphates.
152— Nicholson, W. N. & Son, Newark, oil cake breakers.

36— Norris, S. E. & Co., Shadwell, E., machine bands, &c.

64 — Ollendorff & Co., Leadenhall-st, E C, Peruvian guano.
197 — Orme, F., Holborn Viaduct, farmyard pumps.
244— Osborne, D. M. & Co., Liverpool, horse mowers, &c.
237— Page, E. & Co., Bedford, pipe and tile machines.
193— Parry W. & Co., Old-st., E.C., weighing machine.
121— Peirce, A. E., Oxford-st., cattle troughs and churns.

38 — Penny & Co., Lincoln, corn screens, sack lifters, &c.
194— Perkins, Paternoster, & Co. Hitchin, sack lifters.
190— Phcenix Oil Mill Co., Liverpool, feeding cakes, &c.
112 — Pick Sr Baker, Bedford, harrows and ploughs.
247— Picksley, Sims, & Co., Leigh, Lancashire, chaff cutters.
195 — Pinfold, J. D., Rugby, engines and boilers.
102— Plambeck & Darkin, Qn Vic-st., E.C., steam engines.

65— Poupard, T. J., Tooley-st., S.E, rick covers.

87 — Powell, G. D., Hornsey, Rise, London, waggon covers.
252— Powis, C. & Co.— Gracechurch-st., EC, steam engines!

87— Radclyffe, Dick, & Co., H. Holborn, seeds, roots, &c.
129— Rainforth, W. & Sons, Lincoln, drills and corn screens.
171— Ray, Mead, & Co., Upper Thames-st., steam engines.

48— Raynbird & Co., Basingstoke, roots, seeds, & manures.
211— Reeves, R. & J. & Son, Westbury, Wilts, drills & carts.
183— Reid, Ben, & Co., Aberdeen, drills, thrashing machines.

42— Reynolds, F. W., Southwark st, London, steamengines.
217— Riches & Wattf, Norwich, grist mills, chaff ctuters, &c .
250— Richmond & Chandler, Salford, chaff cutters, &c.
212— Roberts E. & H., Bucks, mills, chaff cutters, &c.
169— Robinson, J. W. & Co., Belle-st, Lpl, potato planters.
213— Robinson & Richardson, Kendal, barrel churns.
234— Rollins, J. G. & Co., Old Ssvan Wharf, hay rakes, Sic]

83— Russell, C. & Co., Old Kent-rd., S.E., engines & boilers
137— Sainty, J. & B., Wisbech, Cambs, corn-dressing machs
155— Samuelson & Co., Banbury, reaping & mowing mchins
170— Saviile-st, Foundry, Sheffield, bone mills, gn. elevators

43

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Stand.

191 — Sawney & Co., Beverley, carts, sacks, and elevators.
141 — Seekings& El'ery, Gloucester, steam engines & hosiers.

44— Seviu, C, Fenchureh-st., London, nutim-al and oil cake.

114 — Shauks, A.. & Son, Leadenhall-st., steam engines, &c.
159— Sheath Brothers, City-road, E.C., gutta percha bauds.
135 — Sinkwell, G., Dunstable, sacklifting machines, &c.

118 — Smith, T. & Co., Ipswich, horse rakes, cultivators.
151 — Smith, W., Kettering, horse hoes, turnip thinner, &c.
254— S nith & Grace, Northampton, horse hoes, grist mills.
123 — Spear and Jackson, Sheffield, forks, spades, shovels.
209 — Stacey and Sons, Uxbridge, chaff-cutters, seed drills.
185 — Stevens, Pellatt, & Co., Tooley-st., leather ra. bands.
192— Stidolph and Aggio, Woodbridge, barley screens.

94 — Sutton and Sons, Reading, Berks, seeds, roots, &c.
168 — Taylor and Co., London Bridge, chaff engines.
205 — Thomas and Taylor, Stockport, churns, dairy utensils.

66 — Thorley, J., Caledonian-road, London, cattle food.

175 — Thorley's, Cattle Food Co., Worship-street, cattle food

61— Tipper, B., Birmingham, Tripper's Medicated Mystery.

62 — Tipper and Son, Birmingham, cattle and sheep cakes.
186 — Tooley and Co., Dunstable, horse rakes.
189— Turner, St. Albans, liquid manure and other pumps.
215 — Uaderhil], W. S., Newport, steam engines and ploughs.

46 — Unite, J., E'lgware-road,rick cloths, cori sacks.
156 — Vipan and Headly, Leicester, ploughs, horse hoes.
147 — Waide, Wm., Leeds, barrel chums.
101 — Waite, Burnell, Huggins, U. Thames-st. manure forks.
202 — Watson and Haig, Andover, bone crushing mill
227 — Waygood, R., & Co., Grea* Dover-st., engines & boilers.
187 — Weatherhogg & Co., Oxford-street, steam engines.

43 — Webb, E., and Sons, Wordsley, seed, roots.
224 — Wedlake& Co., Hornchurch, steam e., chaff m. &c.
198— Weighell, Pickering, g. mills, h. gear, thrashing m.

77 — White, Joseph, and Co. .Trinity-square, oil feeders.
172 — Whiting Manufacturing Co., Liver., Canadian hay forks.
124. — Whitmee & Co., St. Johns-street, corn crushers.
208 — Wholey, Alford, Lincoln, drag harrow & pulveriser.
122 — Wilder, Reading, chaff-cutters.

95_Wigzell, Halsey, & Co., Mark-lane, steam e. & boilers.
188 — Wilkerson, jun., Bassingbourne, Roystou, horse rakes.
130— Williams. & Son, Rhuddlan, N. W., chaff-cutters, pulp.

92— Wilson, Grange Walk, Bermondsey, disintegrators.
235— Wood, Walter A., Worship-street, reapers and mowers.
242— Wood, W. A., Upper Thames-street, reapers & mowers.
1 63— Woolnough & Co., Kingston-on-Thames, horse h., drl.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB ANNUAL
MEETING.

Tb.; annual meeting of the members of the SmithfieM
Club was held on Tuesday Dec. 11th, at the Agricultural
Hall, the President, Lord Walsingham, in the chair. The
attendance was numerous, and included the Marquis 0*
Exeter, Lord Chesham, Lord Feversham, Mr. C. S. Read,
M.P., Mr.W. Phipps, M.P., Mr. Little, Mr. C. Howard.
Mr. Joseph Druce, Mr. B. E. Bennett, Mr. H. Trethewy,
Mr. Ellerman, Mr. Street, Mr. Masfen, Mr. Wilmore.
Mr. J. Overman, Mr. S. Sidney, Mr. T. Horley, juur., &c.

After the usual preliminaries,
The Hon. Sec, Ma. Bra.ndr.eth Gibbs, read the Report
of the Council, which was as follows : —
fc The Council begs to lay before the Gineral Meeting the

Annual Report of its proceedings during the past year. Three
meetings have been held, all of wlii^h have, as usual, been well
attended. In addition to the ordinary routine business of the
Club, and the matters connected with the last Show, the fol-
lowing subjects have had the careful consideration of the
Council: —

I. The preparation of the prize sheet for this year's Show.
It was resolved: That the special rules hitherto enacted
enforcing precautions against contagious and infectious diseases
be continued. That no second prize be awarded in any class
unless at least three animals (cattle) or three ppns of animals
(sheep and pigs) be exhibited, and no third prize unless there
be at least five animals or pens of animals, except on the
special recommendation of the Judges. That in the heifer
class (which has been substituted for the extra stock) the
restriction requiring heifers over four years old should have
had a live calf be abolished. The prizes for Ryelaud and
Dorset sheep have been increased, and fresh classes iustituted
for the Berkshire breed of pigs. Four cups have been offered
for pigs, viz., one for the best pen in each of the respective
divisions in the prize sheet. In accordance with the wish of
the Agricultural Hall Company, it was resolved that the
Champion Cup which is given by the Company (uuder their
agreement with the Club) should be offered in plate and not
in money. Also that the system introduced last year of three
judges being selected to adjudge the Champion Prize be aban-
doned, and that the old system of all the nine judges adjudi-
cating it be reverted to. In consequence of the difficulties
arising from the absolute disqualification of pigs if the state of
the dentition should indicate that their ages do not agree with
the certificate, it has been determined to return to the rule in
force some years back, and that in any such cases the Stewards
shall call upon the exhibitor to prove to their satisfaction the
correctness of his certificate. In consequence of the great
difficulties found to exist in ascertaining the live weights of
all the pigs exhibited, the Council has resolved to discontinue
the weighing, which was done last year for the first time as an
experiment, and also to discontinue the collection and publica-
tion of the dead weights of the animals exhibited.

II. The Council has, in accordance with the bye-laws, pre -
pared the House List of sixteen members of the Club, from
whom it recommends eight for election on the Council, to
succeed the eight who retire by rotation, and are not re.p.ligibl8
for one year. The scrutineers' report of those elected will be
presented before the close of the General Meeting.

III. The Council lays before the Meeting the usual printed
balance-sheet up to December 1st inst., showing balances in
hand amounting to £3,001 19s. 9|d. ; of this, however, £661
10s. belongs to the Life Composition Account. In addition
to the above balances the Club has to receive £1,355 from the
Agricultural Hall Company for this year's Exhibition. Against
these amounts there will be, as usual, the paym ent of prize
and other expenses connected with the present Show. The
total amount offered in prizes and cups is as follows : —

Cattle £1,275

Sheep 728

Pigs 192

Champion and other plate 735

Total £2,930

The invested capital standing in the names of the Trustees in
the Three per Cent. Consols amounts to £4,357 9s. 9d. ; of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

49

t h, 22,357 9*. '.'.!. is the investment of Life Compositiona
Rnd £2,000 the remaining surplus of annual income saved
some years back.

IV. The Council feeling the great inconvenience it would
be to exhibitors if (he animals exhibited this year could not 1)3
removed after the close of the Show beyond the Metropolitan
boundary, and considering the strictness of the precautions
enforced by the special rules of the Club against animals
becoming affected with disease, and also the efficient veterinary
examinations which take place daily during the S iow, there
could not, in the opiuion of the Council, be any risk in the
case of show animals, t ie President was requested to ask the
Lords of the Council to grant a special permission on a proper
veteriuary cettifica'e for such animals aB exhibitors migh> wish
to be removed into the country. A reply was received stating
that the L >rds of the Council hop 'd, if no case of cattle
plague occurred, to rescind this restriction at the end of No-
vember. This has since been done, and the Orler ca n« into
force after the 23rd ult. The Council considers it right to
allude to its action in this matter, in order to show that the
iut rests of exhibitors have received due consideration.

\ . The Council considering the importance, both to breeders,
graziers, and the public generally as consumers, that further
precaution should be in force to preveuf the introduction and
spreading of contagious and infectious diseases, have resolved
— That the Council of the S-nitlifield Club desires to express
its gratification for the appointment of the Select Committee
to inquire into the recent outbreak of cattle plague and the
importation of live stock, and it would respectfully urge upon
the Government the desirability of earning out as early as
possible the recommendation of that Committee.

In conclusion the Council is glad to be able, as heretofore
to congratulate the members on the continued prosperity of
the Club. At the same time it would again urge on its mem-
bers the desirability of their bringing the claims of the Club
under the notice of their agricultural friends, and pointing out
to them that by joining it, and thus increasing its funds, the
national objects for which it was instituted may be still further
materially promoted.

By order of the Couucil.

(Sigued) B. T. Brandreth Ginns,

Hon. Secretary.

The Chairman said it had been usual in former years for
some gentlemen who were not members of the Coun< il to
move and second the adoption of the Rep ort ; but at ths
Council meeting which had just been held it was suggested
that there might be some prima facie objections to that prac-
tice. It was remarked that as the Report itself had only been
adipted by the Council one hour before that meeting no one
who had not been present could have had time to consider it,
and be expected to agree in everything it contained. It was,
therefore, decided that, as was done in other societies, the
adoption of the Report should be moved by the President, or
g >me member of the Council, and he had great pleasure in
doing that himself.

The Marquis of Exeter seconded the motion, and it
was adopted unanimously.

The Chairman said he came now to the election of a Vice-
President for 1873, who, by virtue of that office, would be
President of the Club for 1879. The name of the Duke of
Sutherland was mentioned at the Council meeting that day,
and he begged to propose that his Grace be asked to become
their President for 1379. (Cheers) He believed his

Grace lmd added more acres to the cultivated land of Great
Britain than any other member of the Club, or, indeed, any
other man in England. (Loud cheers.)

Mr. John Tua.sk seconded the motion, and it was agreed to
amid applause.

The Vice-President and the Trustees were then re-elected.
The CHAIRMAN said he need not ask anybody to propose
the re-election of .Mr. Brand reth Gilihs as Hon. Seeritarj —
(cheers)— lie would do that himself, and he would not even
put it to the meeting.

Mr. J. T. ALLEN having seconded the motion, it was
cirried by acclamation, and Mr. Brandreth Gibbs said he was
greatly obliged for the honour thus renewed.

Tue Scrutineers reported that 'he following gentlemen
lud been elee'ed to fill the vacancies in the Council arisirg
from the retirement in rotation of eight members : — Mr. C. S.
Read, M.P., Mr. James Howard, Mr. Walter Farthing, M .
lliclnrd Stratton, Mr. El ward Bo-vley, Mr. 11.. I. Newton, Mr.
Frelerick Street, and Mr. T. W. Garrett Taylor. The r -.tir-
ing members were Mr. T. C. Booth, Mr. T. Brown, Mr. A-
Crosskill, Mr. H. Fookes, Mr. J. G.blett, Mr. 11. Ovcrmn,
Mr. J. S ratton, and Mr. H. Woods.

Mr. J.Trask wished to know whether lie would be right
in asking for the number of votes given for each of the
newly-elected members of the Council.
The Chairman : I think not.
Mr. Trask : What is the objection ?
Tne Chairman : It is not usual. All the scrutineers do is
to report the result of the election, and not the numbtn.

Mr. Crosskill thought there was a strong reason for not
giving the numbers, inasmuch as some of the gentlemen might
have been nominated, as was the case sometimes, without
their consent having hern asked.

Mr. F. Street : The scrutineers have given the numbers to
the Hon. S creWy, and that should be sufficient. (Hear, heai .)
Lord Ciiesham : I think the only instance of the nu nbers
being announced was when there happened to be a tie. That
occurred last year, when I was present, and there being a
tie, the election was decided by a show of hands.
The matter then dropped.

The Hon. Secretary laid on the table a copy of the
balance-sheet as audited by the stewards, and iutini ted that
it would be attached to the Prize-sheet, and sent to every
member of the Club in the usual way.
The B-ilance-sheet was as follows :

DETAIL STATEMENT OP ACCOUNT from Dec. 1st 1976.
to Dec. 1st, 1S77.

Showing the Cash received and paid, and the Ba'ances
brought forward from last year, an! the Balances carried
forward to next year.

Receipts.
Ba'ance in hands of Bankers, £ s. d. £ a. d.
including Life Compositions X'tJo

Is., December 1st, Is7t3

Balance in hands cf Hon. Sec.
December, 1st, 1870

Received since (by Bankers) —
Half-year's dividend on £ t,3n~

9s. 9d., 3 pe' cent, Couso's, due

January, IS'7

Half-year's dividend on £1,357

its. »(i., 3 per cent. Consols, duo

•J ii y, l->77

2 Annual Subscriptions for year

1877

1 Annual Subscription for year

ls78 ,.

£

s.

d.

£

8.

740

19

4

J

12

2

0

?4fl

10

61

10

10

2

2

0

1

1

0

— 129 1 8

3 0

50 THE FARMER

Car lieu forward 2,380 12 5

Received (by Hon. Secretary and Assistant
Secretary) —
Of the Agricultural Hall Co. for Show, 1876... 1,555 0 0

Life Compositions during the year 236 6 0

Annual Subscriptions.

1 for year 1871 110

3 „ 1875 3 3 0

37 „ 1876 38 17 0

269 ,, 1877 271 19 0

18 „ 1S7S 18 18 0

■ 333 18 0

Fines, Non-Exhibition of Live

Stock at Show, 187H 3 0 0

Extra payment on account of Im-
plement space, 1S76 (paid after

December 1st, 1876) 17 14 0

Payments ior Implement Stands

at Show, 1877 1,852 13 0

Non-Members' Fees, Live Stock,

at Show, 1>77 182 11 0

2,056 1 0

£6,861 19 2
Expenditure.

Prizes awarded at Show. 1876 2,102 0 0

Silver Cups (taken in plate, £165 ;

taken in money, £570) 735 0 0

Medals 33 12 0

Rewards to Feeders of First Prize

Animals 71 0 0

2,911 12 0

Steward's Fees 80 0 0

Judges 117 0 0

Veterinary Inspectors & Assistants 42 0 0
Inspector of Implement Galleries .. 8 3 0
Weighing Clerks and Superin-
tendent 4 19 3

Special Doorkeepers, &c 5 15 6

Inspector of Sanitary Certificates 2 2 0
Superintendent and A ssistants

delivering Stock after Show, la76 10 10 0

Bills, Ac— 300 14 9

Printing (Burnett — Balance)

Show, 1876 138 0 6

•Stationery (Mason) 15 10 9

Advertising — Mark Lane Express 4 11 0

Bell's Messenger 6 4 6

Agricultural Gazette 5 116

Chamber of AgricultureJuurnal 5 0 6

Field 7 4 0

Farmer 6 9 6

Ridgway, Farmer's Almanac .. 3 3 0
North British Agricu twist ... 6 18 8
"Weighing Machine and Atten-
dants, Hart & Co 10 10 10

Ingredients forDisinfecting Carts
Labour, and Inspector, &c,

Agricultural Hall Co 13 0 0

Cartage of Club's Goods, Holmes 0 9 0

Rosettes for Prize Animals 5 18 9

Placards for Show-yard Paraman 12 2 1
Diplomas, Feeders, 1st prize

Animals, Brooks & Co 25 3 10

Wood Cases for do., Bishop & Co. 6 9 0

Carriage of do., Sutton, Carriers 4 10 0
-Xmas. Boxes, P.O. Clerks and

Postmen 10 0

Lodgings and Expenses, Assis-
tant Secretary and two Clerks 10 19 8
Preparation of Agreement with
Agricultural Hall Company,

Kinsey & Ade 41 0 6

Drawing Hew Rules and Con-
ditions, do 4 12 10

Illuminating Vote of Thanks,

Waterlcw St, Co 1111 0

Case for do. Leuchars&Co 25 10 0

Stamped Cheque Books, Bankers

Show, 1877 1 10 0

376 4 5

Printing (Burnett, on account)

Show, 1877 46 14 0

Assistant Secretary's Salary 1

Year up to Michaelmas, 1877... 105 0 0
Clerks' Time as per time book, to

Dec. 1st, 1877 60 4 4

Postage and Receipt Stamps,
during the year (as per Post-
age Book) up to Dec. 1st, 1877 27 5 6J
Bankers' Commission on Country-
Cheques 0 2 4

• y Fee, Livestock, Returned 2 2 0

191 14 2\

Total Expenditure £3,859 19 4]

S MAGAZINE.

Carried forward 3,859 18 l\

Balance at Bankers, including Life
Compositions £661 10s , Dec. 1st

1877 2.P95 9 3

Balance in hands of Hon. Secre-
tary, Dec. 1st, 1877 6 10 6£

3,001 19 9J

£6,861 19 2

INVESTMENT ACCOUNT.
1S77 : December 1st. Amount of Stock standing
in 3 per cent. Consols in the names of the

Trustees £1,357 9 9

N.B.— This includes £2,000 Balance of surplus Annual
Income, invested till wanted for current expenses.
Examined and found correct.

(Signed) Walter Farthing.

Dec. 7th, 1877. Hugh Gobringb.

Some new members having then been elected,

Lorb Fevers ii am said : I have great pleasure in proposing
a vote of thanks to Lord Walsingham for his able conduct
as President of that Club during the past year. (Cheers.) I
can ouly express a hope that all future Frebidents of the Club
will discharge their duties in the same efficient manner as my
noble fiiend has done. (Cheers.)

Mr. T. Horey, Junk. : I have much^pleasure in second ing
the motion. I am sure we must all feel greatly o'llued
Lord Walsingham for the attention which lie has given to ihe
affairs of the Club during his year of office.

The motion having been carried by acclamation,

Lord Walsingham said : I am grateful to you, gentle-
men, for this kind expression of your feelings. All I can say is
that I have endeavoured to perform the duties of President to
the best of my humble ability, and I shall always look back to
the year of my presidency of this Club with the greatest pos-
sible pleasure and satisfaction. It has served to increase the in
terest which i have ever felt in the prosperity of the Smith-
field Club, and which I may say was an hereditary sentiment,
beginning long before I was a member of the Club. (Cheers.)

Mr. H. Trethe.v said he thought that before it
separated the meeting would be glad to have an opportunity
o f tei dpring their thanks to their Hon. Secretary, M . Brai-
dreth Gibbs, for the manner in which he had conducted the
business of the Club during the past year.

Mr. Fookes, in seconding the motion, remarked that the
Club would never have Mr. Gibbs' s equal as long as it existed.
(Cheers.)

This motion was agreed to unanimously.

Mr. F. Street said there was one question of importance
which he wished to bring before the meeting, relating to the
International Exhibition *o be held at Paris next summer. He
observed that the entries of stock were to be closed on the
20th of this month, and it appeared as if the prize sheet had
been prepared without any communication with the corres-
ponding secretary of the Club, or the Secretary of the-- Royal
Agricultural Society of England. As the prize sheet now
stood, under the head of long-wool sheep there were Lincolns,
Leicesters, Kentish, and Romney Marsh sheep all grouped
together, whilst there was a separate prize for Cotswolds, and
another for Cheviots. For the short-wools also, Shropshire,
Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and other Down sheep were in like
manner grouped together. That was perhaps hardly the
proper time for bringing that matter forward, but he thought
that an expression of opinion in the Club, followed by a com-
munication from its Hon. Secretary to the Secretary of the
Paris Exhibition might tend to the mutual interest of En-
glishmen and foreigners.

Mr. Brandretii Gibbs : His Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales lias done me the henour of entiusting me witli the

. PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

A

management of the Agricultural Division of the Pans Ethi-
bitioa and I shall not fail to make a representation to the
proper authorities ou the subject. (Cheeis,)

The Marquis ov Exeter : As the subject of the Paris
Exhibition has been mentioned, I may observe that a doubt
seems to prevail as to what the term " Shorthorn " means h8
used in the prise list. They are there described as "Short
horns of the Durham Breed." The term " Darlum " I under-
stand as applying to al! Shorthorns ; hut as "Shorthorns of
the Durham Breed " has been inserted in the prize list, some

people are under the impression that it mini mean soma
special breed of Shorthorns different from the ordinary
breed.

Mr. Br.v.niiiietii (.inns : Lfall our prize sheets some years

ago the Saorttiorus used ti stand as Durhams, but it was

always clearly understood that they were the ordinary Siiort-

,i co np ite ia the cJ lesee of the lloyal Agiiealtural

Society, ( ll-ar, hear.)

The meeting then separated.

THE YORKSHIRE

The annual exhibition of the Yorkshire Fat Stock
Society commeuced on December 11, and concluded on
the 13 th, under favourable conditions of success, as far as
regards weather and the absence of all cattle disease in
the county. One circumstance alone threw a gloom over
sanguine anticipations, and this arose from the fact that
this Society had commenced war a Voxdrancc. with an
equally powerful body, viz , the Leeds Smithfield Club
by fixing the date of the meeting at the same time as that
of the Leeds Society- The impolicy of this practice must
be self-evident as each Society can only receive the sup-
port of a section of the county. There beiug only in
that extensive district, and even in all England, a fixed
numbe. of animals on the move for the special purpose of
exhibition at the Christmas Fat Stock Shows, these
animals must be divided, and the Societies can only main-
tain their usu;.l quantity of exhibits by two modes. The
first is by giving such large piizesthat they tempt most o
the best animals, and more than their share of the others
by offering great prizes. The other mode is by working
their committee and extending their loeal interest in a
great many centres. The former mode has been adopted
by the Leeds Committee, who give £16, £8, and £i in 7
classes, and £12, £6, and £3 iu three classes, while the
York one only offers three prizes in four classes
of £10, £5, and £2, two prizes of £8 and
£A, three prizes of £7, £4, and £2, two
prizes of £5 and £3, and one of £5. This cause has
operated this year, and has brought to Leeds more than
its share of animals of the very highest order that have
already token firsts, at Birmingham, Hull, Sleaford, &c.
Amongst these we must mention Mr. Sadler's champion
cow, Mr. R. Strattou's celebrated Isolia, the two years
and ten months old heifer, which took the 100 guinea
champion cup at Birmingham, as well as all her class
prizes, Mr. R. Wortley's Hereford ox, Mr. Bruct's
Birmingham Polled Scot, and two other first prize auhua's,
as well as Mr. Colman's Norwich heifer, the Staud
Stud Company's majestic cow, iu additiou to Mr.
Robert Wright's Shorthorn ox, four years old, winner of
the first prize iu his class, and Mr. Joseph Heury
Stephenson's Hull ox, second to Mr. Wright's animal
here. Whether the York Committee have adopted tl e
second mode of extending its local influence or not,
certainly it is clear that the Show is not suffering from a
decrease of entries, the numbers being worked up in

FAT STOCK SHOW

the four classes of cattle to quite an average figure
We fear, however, that they will be slightly iess thau last
year. The following are a few animals of first-class rank
which we must not omit to notice, as they have done the
Socie.y the honour to show for smaller prizes than they
would have competed for at Leeds. The third prize ani-
mal at Hull, belonging to the E.u-1 of Ellesmere, takes
the first prize in the absence of the first and second
winners at Hull, who took a similar position at Lee. is.
Mr. Wallbank showed a beautiful thick-fleshed 2 year:!
7 months old ox, and obtained first prizs in the class of
young oxen. This was a capital class, consisting of
sixteen entries, twelve of which put iu an appeaiance.
Four cows only were entered, and the three prizes a 1
went to the Badale and Catterick district, Mr. Willis's
magnificent white cow, 5 years old, taking first prize ;
Mr. Earle's cow, of Bolton, just beat Mr. J. B. Booth's,
Killerby, 7 years 6 months old Shorthorn. The latter
was grand in her quality and figure, but owing to her
was somewhat uulevel iu her beef. The three year old
heifers were seven iu number, and the three year old
oxen were a magnificent show of fourteen out of serente. n
entries. Sir Walter Trevelyan, Bart., won both prize
and ex-Sheriff's plate, Mr. J. Reid coining second, the
Duke of Northumberland being highly commended, along
wiih Mr. T. Wait. Iu the district tenant farmers' class- a
Mr. J. H. Stephenson, of Brough, scored for Shorthorn
ox aud for Shorthorn cow, while F. Jordan's cxecutors>
Driffield, took first for ox of any other breed and for
cow or heifer of any other breed, these two animals beiu »
excessively beefy. Of the Scotch breeds only ten animals
were exhibited in four classes. Her Majesty's Djvon i x
aud heifer, which brought laurels from Birmingham, were
entered as extra stock. A large class of young bu!li
between the ages of 0 and 15 months wa3 exhibited aud
farmed as iHual by Mr. W. Linton, of Sheriff Huttou,
with Iiwiu Fitz Ingram.

The Sheep numbered forty-five entries in seven classes.
Mr. Rickell, Fockliugtou, took the first for three Leicesti r
wethers under 22 months old, Mr. J. Brown, of Tolliug-
hana, coming second with L'icestera of far purer type aud
quality. However, this is of no avail with cattle-jobber
judges. The Earl of Zetland's Southdown wethers were
of special excellence.

Of Pigs there were seven classes, making sixty-one
entries. They were a fair show, and the competition in

E -2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the Berkshire blanks was very superior and highly credit-
able to the breed, which it appears has taken root in the
North of England. The pork pigs cut a very poor figure
compared with the same class at Leeds.
There was a good show of Roots, Butter, and Poultry.

PRIZE LIST.

JUDGES. — Cattle: J. Kemp, Brunswicic.terrace, Spring
Bank, Hull ; R. Fisher, Leconfield, Beverley, T. Barber,
Sproatley Rise, Hull. — Sheep : T. Pickering, Garforth,
Leeds ; R. Fox-on, Welburn, Kirbymoorside. — Pigs and
Roots : T. Dodds, Mount Pleasant, Wakefi.-ld ; H. Taylor
Grange Farm, Wetherby.

CATTLE.

Shorthorns.

Ox not exceeding four years old. — First prize and cup, value
£25, the Earl of Ellesmere, Worsley Hall, Manchester ; secondi
D. Wright, Beal, Northumberland j third, R. Tasker,.Naburn,
York.

Ox not exc eding three years old. — First prize, J. Wallbank.
Berw!ck-on-Tweed ; second, W. T. Weill, Withern Hall,
Alford, Lincolnshire ; third, J Reid, Greystone, Alford, N.B.

Cow of any age — First prize, T. Willis, jun., Manor House,
Carperby, Bedale ; second, T I. Earle, Bolton, Catterick ;
third, J. B. Booth, Killerby, Catterick.

Heifer not exceeding four years old. — First prize, J. Reid
Greystone, Alford, N.B. ; second, H. Briggs, Son, and Co.,
Whitwood Collieries, Norraanton ; third, J. G. Wilson, Cliff e
Hall, Darlington.

Bulls.

Best Shorthorn bull, between the age of 6 and 15 mouths —
First prize and a piece of plate, value £12 12s., W. Linton,
Slieriff Hutton, York ; second, T and S. Beard, Roall Hall,
Whiteley Bridge, Ponteiract ; third, Lord Stourton, Stosrton
Park, Knaresbro'.

Cross Breeds.

Ox not exceeding four years old. — First prize and pieee of
plate, value £10, Sir W. C. Treveljan, Bart., Wallington,
Newcastle ; second, J. Reid, Greystone, Alford, N.B. Highly
commended: the Duke of Northumberland, Ala wick Castle,
Northumberland ; and P. Wait, Hope Farm, Berwick-on-
Tweed.

Cow of any age, or heifer not exceeding four years old.—
First and second prizes, Sir VV. C. Trevelyau, Bart.
District Tenant Farmers' Classes.

Shorthorn ox of any age. — First prize, J. H. Stephenson,
Sancton Grange, Brough ; second, F. Barrowby, Dishforth,
Tliirsk; third, T. Francis, Skipton-on-Swale, Thirsk.

Shorthorn cow of any age, or heifer not exceeding four
years old. — First prize and piece of plate, value £10, J. H.
Stephenson, Sancton Grange, Brough ; second, J. Radcliffe,
Stearsby, Easingwold.

Ox of any other breed or cross, of any age. — First prize, F.
Jordan's Executors, Eastburn, Driffield ; second, T. Woodward,
High Dunsforth, Ouseburn, York; third, F. Carr, Cannon
House, Eivington.

Cow or heifer of any other breed or cross ; the caw of any
age, and the heifer not exceeding four years old. — First prize
and cup, value £10, F. Jordan's Executors, Eistbnro, Drif-
field ; Becond, M. and W, Boville, Osmotherley, Northaller-
ton; third, G. Allan, Copnanthorpe, York,

Scotch Bkeeds.

Polled ox. — First prize and cup, value £30, J. and W. Mar-
tin, New Market, Aberdeen ; second, J. Wallbank, Berwick-
on-Tweed.

Polled cow or heifer. — First prize, J. Reid, Greystone.
Alford, N.B. ; second, G. Bruce, Keig, Whitehouse, Aber-
deenshire.

Horned Highland ox.— First prize, T. Gray, Spital Hall
Morpeth ; second, J. and W. Mar'in, New Market, Aberdeen.

Horned Highland cow or heifer. — Prize, Sir W. C. Tre-
velyan, Bart., Wallington, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

SHEEP.

Pea of three Leicester wethers, under 22 months old. — -First
prize, F. Rickell, Warter, Pocklinjjton ; second, J. Erown,
Tollingham, Holme-on-Spalding M>or. Commended: T.
Heagh, Romanby Farm, Northallerton.

Pen of three South or other Down wethers, under 22 months
old. — First prize and piece of plate, value £5, the Earl of
Zetland, Aske, Richmond ; second, the Etrl of Zetland.

Pen of three horned Scotch or mountain wethers, of any
age. — First prize, J. G. Wilson, Cliffe Hall, D.irlington ;
second, W. Taylor, Nether Poppleton, York.

Pen of three wethers, whitefaced or Down cross, under 22
months old. — First prize and piece of plnte, value £5, J. H.
Graves, Sutton-on-the-Forest ; second, R. Daniel, Oilston,
Easingwold. Highly commended : J. D. Gowland, Widding-
ton Manor.

Pen of three wethers, of any Scotch or mouutain cross,
under 22 months old. — First and second prizes, J. D. Gow-
land, Widiliogton Manor, Nun Mouktou, York. Commended :
W. G. Jarrett, Stamford Bridge.

Sheep, Leicester or longwool, any age, not a ram. — First
and second prizes, G. Wright, Broughton, Malton. Com-
mended : J. Brown, Tollingham, Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

Sheep, any other breed or cross, any age, not a ram. — First
prize, J. D. Gowland ; secind, R. Daniel, Oulston, Easing-
wold. Commended : W. G. Jarrett.

PIGS.

Large breed, of any age. — First prize, T. Nicholson, Grives
York ; seeond, R. E. Duckering, Northorpe, Kirton Lindsey ;
third, W. Cotton, Hesliugton, Yrork.

Small breed, exceeding 12 months old. — First prize and cup
value £5, as best pig, R. E Duckering, Kirton Lindsey ; se-
cond, T. Daker, Stockton-on-Forest, York ; third, W. H. Gar-
forth, Gilling Castle, York.

Small breed, not exceeding 12 months old. — First prize, T .
Nicholson, York ; second, J. Mollett. jun., Appleton Roebuck,
Tadcaster ; third, R. E. Duckering.

Middle breed, exceeding 12 months old. — First prize, G.
Crowther, Gioves, York; second, Capt. L. Barstow, H-izel-
bush, York ; third, i. Snowball, Stockton-on-the-Fjrest, York.

Middle breed, not exceeding 12 months old. — First prize, T.
Nicholson, York; second, T. Strickland, Thirsk J uuction ;
third, J. Mollett, jun., Appleton Roebuck.

Black or Berkshire breed, any age. — First prize, J. Renni-
son, Wholsea Grange ; second, H. Falkingham, Barker Hill,
York; H. Briggs, Son, and Co., Whitwood Collieries, Nor-
raanton, extra prize awarded.

Pen of pork pigs, under 20 weeks old. — First prize, T«
Nicholson, York ; second, W. Cooper, Heslington, York.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

5!

ROOTS. I son, Beilby, Everinghnm ; secoud, P. Dickson, Hesliugtou,

Sn specimens of long mangrl wur/.le, any variety. — First ; York.

prise, J. llliugworth, Haxby ; second, J. Ellis, Gillygate, York.

Six specimens of globe mangel wurzle, any variety. — first
and second prizes, Hon. E. Lascelles, Middlethorpe .Manor,
York.

Six specimens of swede turnips, any variety. — First prize,
T. Mortimer, Dunuinnton ; second, F. F. Curtis, Pocklingtou.

Six specimens of commun turnips. — First prize, T. BaLer-

'1'welve specimens of carrots, white or red.— First and second
prizes, F. Tnompson, Poppleton Hall.

Twenty specimens of round potatoes. — First prizp, C. Tar-
botton, Cawton, Gilling, York ; second, C. II. lludson, Upper
Helmsley, York.

Twenty specimens of kidney potatoes. — First prize, C. Tar-
botton, Cawton, Gilliug, York ; second, W. lioltby, Ruston

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND.

Monthly Council, Wednesday, Dec. 12th, 1877.
Present: Colouel Kingscote, C.H., M.P., President, in
the chair, Eirl Cathcart, the Etrl of Fevershatn, Lord
Cbesbara, Lord Skelinersdale, Lord Vernon, Sir A. K.
Macdonald, Bart., Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart., M.P.,
Sir W. Earle Welby-Gregory, Bart., M.P., Mr. Ark-
wright, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Aylmer, Mr. Booth,
Mr. Bowly, Mr. Cantrell, Mr. Druce, Mr.
Prankish, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Hemsley, Mr. T.
Horley, jun., Mr. Howard, Mr. Bowen .Tones, Mr. Lawes,
Mr. Leeds, Mr. Martin, Mr. Masfen, Mr. Pain, Mr.
Chandos-Pole-Gull, Mr. Randell, Mr. Ransome, Mr,
Russell, Mr. Sanday, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Stratton
Lieut.- Col. Turbervill, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Jacob Wil-
son, Professor Brown, Professor Simonds, and Dr.
Voelcker.

The following new members were elected : —

Brogden, James Garstaug, of Kent's Road, Grangeover-
Sands, Carnforth.

Cartwright, Frederick F'ox, of 8, Windsor Terrace, Clifton,
Bristol.

Cassavetti, Alexander, of 6, Addison Road, W.

Comes, John, of New Farm, Hurleitou, Nantwich.

Deakin, Joseph, of Eller How, Liudale Grange, Lancashire.

Durant, H. W., of North Tawton, Devon.

Ford, Thomas, of Shincliffe, Durham.

Fowler, John Arthur, of Inverbroom, Garve, Ross-shire.

Hill, Herbert, of Landbeach, Cambridge.

Heatley, Thomas, of High Hatton, Shawbury, Salop.

Herbert, J. 0., of Llanarth Court, Raglau, Monmouthshire.

Holland-Hibbert, Arthur Henry, of Munden House, Watford,
Herts.

Howorth, James, of Victoria Works, Farn worth, Lancashire.

Kettleweil, W. W., of East Harptree, Bristol.

King, Edmund, of Ashby Hall, Newmarket.

Kins-y, Timothy, of Old Hall, Kerry, Newtown, Montgomery-
shire.

Lightfoot, William, of Bishopton Road, Stockton-on-Tees.

Musson, Joseph, of Holt Hill House, AVhiston, Prescot.

Nelson, Edward Moatague, of Hanger Hill House, Ealing,
Middlesex.

Neville, Robert, of Butleigh Court, Glastonbury.

Part, Charles Thos., of 3, King's Bench Walk, Temple, E.C.

Rowe, Alfred, of Dinglefield, Liverpool.

Shuttleworth, Sir U. Kay, Bart., ol Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley.

Waterhouse, John Thomas, of Braithwell Manor, Rothcrham.

Winder, G. A., of Tonga Moor, Bolton.

Finances. — Mr. Randell presented the report, froirv
which it appeared that the Secretary's receipts during
the past mouth had been examined by the Committee,
and by Messrs. Oniilter, Bill, and Co., the Society's
accouutants, and found correct. The balauce iu
the hands of the bankers on November 30 was
£1,610 19s. 6J.

The Committee had met nine times, and made niue?
reports ; they did not recommeud any change in the
constitution of the Committee. This report was adopted.

Journal. — Mr. Whitehead reported that the papers
for the Memoir on British Agriculture, for the Congress
in connectioH with the Paris Exhtbition next year
were nearly completed. The Committee recommended
that a silver medal be presented to Professor Alvord
for his paper upon the "American Cattle Trade " in
the last number of the Journal. The Committee had
met eight times, and made eight reports. They re.
commended that the following constitute the Committee-
for the ensuing year: — Earl Cat heart, Lord Vernon
Sir W. E. Welby-Gregory, Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart., M.P.,'
Mr. Dent, Mr. Frankish, Mr. Hemsley, Mr. Bowen Jone3
Col. Kingscote, M. P., Mr. Milward, Mr. Chandos-
Pole-Gell, Mr. Ransome, Lieut. - Col. Turbervill, Mr.
Wells, and Mr. Whitehead. This report was adopted.

Chemical. — Lord Vernon reported that Dr.
Voelcker's annual report had been received, and that
the Committee recommended it for publication in the
Journal. The report of Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker
on the Woburn experiments had been read, and ordered
to be printed for the use of members of the Committee
at the February meeting. Mr. R. A. Warreu had atten-
ded and submitted accounts of the expeuses of experimental
farms at Woburn and Crawley, and a letter accompanying
them, and the Committee had resolved to have the same
printed for their own U3e. Dr. Voelcker's quarterly
report had been received, and ordered to be printed for
consideration, as usual. The Committee recommeuded
that Lord Vernon, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Howard, and Mr.
Bowen Jones be appointed a sub-committee to consult
with Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker as to the best and most
effectual means of relieving those geutlemen of the
responsibility attaching to the arrangement of those parts
of farming operations which arc subservient to the
carrying out of the ^scientific experiments under their

54

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

especial charge ; that the subcommittee be requested to
arrauge for a monthly report of the farming operations to
be submitted to the Chemical Committee, and for the
bilance-sheet for the year to be made up, in future, to
the 31st March, and that Mr. "Warren be invited to
s ive on the Chemical Committee. The Committee had
met eight times, and made eight reports. They recom.
meuded that the following constitute the Committee
Duke of Bedford, Earl of Lichfield, Lord Vernon, Sir W
E, Welby-Gregory, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Aveling, Mr
Carruthers, Mr. Dent, Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Howard, Mr
Hemsley, Mr. Bowen Jones, Mr. Lawes, Lieut.-Col
Turbevili, Dr. Voeloker, Mr. Warren, Mr. Wakefield
Mr. Wells, Mr. Whitehead, and Mr. Jacob Wilson.

Lord Vernon, in presenting this report, referred to
the illness of the Chairman of the Committee (Mr. Wells),
and illustrated the loss which the Committee had sustained
by his absence, as he had devoted so much personal care
and attention to the subjects which came before them
for examination. He then stated that the Committee had
paid a visit to the experimental farm at Woburn, and had
examined both the experimental field and the auxiliary
farm at Crawley. They wore glad to he able to express
their conviction that what had been done on the experi-
mental plots appeared to have been very successfully
accomplished, and that they were still going on satis.
factorily ; but the same could not be said with regard to
the Crawley farm. The Committee had, therefore,
deemed it desirable to arrive at a proper definition of
the responsibility resting upon Mr. Lawes and Dr.
Voelcker, with regard to the experimental field, and to
lelieve them as much as possible from any responsibility
ju reference to the auxiliary farm at Crawley. They had,
therefore, referred this question to a sub-Committee, and
trusted that in future any dissatisfaction which might
j,ave been felt in consequence of the foul condition in
which the Crawley farm was when takeu over by the
Council, and its imperfect cleansing in consequence of
the nature of the past season, would be removed.

Mr. Charles Howard expressed his satisfaction that
the Chemical Committee had paid a visit to the farms at
Woburn. He felt certain that the Committee had not
b sen aware how these experiments were being carried
oit. His own impression was that the reason why the
experiments had been undertaken was that valuers should
be enabled to determine the value of unexhausted im-
provements, but it appeared to him that hitherto they
hid beeu attempting to illustrate the cost of the deteriora-
tion of property.

Mr. Aveling moved the following resolution : —

That it be referred to the Chemical Committee to consider
at what cheaper rate than at present analyses (of mauures,
feeding stuff*, and other substances used in agriculture) could
be made by the consulting chemist for the bona-fide and sole
use of members of the Society, if the Society provided tl e
chemist with a laboratory and stuff entirely devoted to that
purpose, jind what additional cost such a plan would be to thf
Society ; and that the Chemical Committee he requested to

present a detailed report on this subject to the Council, a*
east one month before they move that it be adopted.

Mr. Randell, in seconding the motion, expressed
his conviction that the greatest check upon adulteration
would be the encouragement to farmers to send samples
of their manures aud feeding stuffs to the Society's chemist
for analysis. In no way could this be done so well as by
reducing the cost of each analysis, and in no way could
the Society be of more benefit to its members.

The resolution v/as then carried unanimously, and the
Report of the Committee adopted.

Botanical. — Mr. Whitehead (chairman) presented
the following Report of the Consulting Botanist for the
past year : —

" The number of applications by members of the
Society has considerably increased during the past year
having exceeded sixty.

" The samples of seed for crops which have passed
through my hands have beer; generally satisfactory, and
no case has occurred to me this year in which either
killed or spurious seeds have been foisted upon the pur-
chaser. The samples that I have had to condemn have
been defective either through the presence of worthless or
injurious weeds, or through bad or careless harvesting, so
that too large a proportion of unripe grains were collected,
or the grains were injured in thrashing or in other subse-
quent treatment.

" It is satisfactory that, as far as my experience goes,
the members of the Society have not been imposed upon
by the killed and coloured seeds which recent prosecu-
tions have shown to be again found in the market. The
extent to which killed or dead seeds are present in any
sample may easily be determined by the purchaser, and
no farmer should sow low-priced seed, or seed in any
way suspicious without experimenting himself in ger-
minating a fair sample, or submitting it for examination.
I believe no danger is to be feared from the trade gene-
rally, but unprincipled dealers in large towns are now
known to systematically increase their profits through
adulteration. The worthless article is chiefly imposed on
general dealers who supply seed but have uo practical
knowledge of this department of their business, and who
retail in good faith what they have purchased in the
lowest market as good seed.

" The reflection in the Annual Report of last year on
the inferior character of seed supplied to a member of the
Society by a Farmers' Association led to a remonstrance
from a firm supplying seed to such an Association, which
I placed before the Committee, and which, in their
opinion, fully justified the condemnation which was printed
in the Report.

" In the course of the year the Committee resolved to
make arrangeaients for supplying information as to the
insect daugeis of the farm. This was iutimated to the
members of the Society. The great alarm caused by the
threatened appearance of the Colorado beetle directed
much attention to insects which appeared among thc
crops ; and every strange or uukuowu insect was too ofteu

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ts

supposed to be a singe of the life of the dreaded beet'e.
The Society, by the distribution of coloured illustrations
of the Beetle amongst all its members, supplied them
with the means of recognising it in any of its forms-
But, happily, no authenticated case has yet been reported
of its appearance iu Britain, except as specimens supplied
to naturalists for scientific purposes. Eight applications
have been made in regard to insects, and the member*
have received satisfactory information from the ex-
perienced entomologist who has undertaken to answer
these iuquiries. The insects sent were well-known, and,
with one exception, were iunoceut creatures. — W. Car-
buthers, F.R.S."

The Committee had had under their serious considera-
tion the startling disclosures made during the recent pro-
secutions of the vendors of adulterated, coloured, and
killed seeds, and they recommended that the Couucil give
them similar power to that which is possessed by tbe
Chemical Committee, to present quarterly reports on the
cises of adulterated, killed, coloured, and inferior seeds
brought under the notice of the consulting botanist for
publication, together with the names of the vendors (sub-
ject to the approval of the Council) in the agricultural
newspapers. The Committee also recommended that it
should be styled for the future "The Seeds and Plant-
Diseases Committee," and that the following be the list of
its members for the ensuing year : —

Lord* Vernon, Sir W. E. Welby-Gregory, Sir M. W.
Ridley, Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Frankish , Mr. Brandreth
Gibbs, Mr. Bowen Jones, Lieut.-Col. Turberville, Mr
Whitehead, aud Dr. "Voelcker.

The Committee had met three times, and made three
reports.

Mr. Whitehead, in moving the aloption of this re
port, strongly recommended that the Society should
take action against the adulterators, colourers* and
killers of seeds. The Committee bad been asked to pro-
secute those persons, but they had not felt that it was the
function of the Society to act in that manner. The recent
transactions at fie Mansion House showed that the doc-
toring of seeds was a special business. Kilns were erected
for the purpose, aud trained persons were employed to
conduct the process, as it appeared to be a difficult and
troublesome one in many cases. Rapeseed of compara-
tively little value was scientifically killed for the purpose
of mixing with swede and other valuable seeds ; and
even a more disastrous kind of adulteration was practised
upon cloverseed. The Committee therefore recommended
that they should have power to take the same course as
the Chemical Committee had taken for some years, with a
very beneficial deterreit effect upon people who were dis-
posed to act dishonestly. He trusted that the members
of the Society would send samples of seeds to the Con-
sulting Botanist, and thus enable him to bring reports of
offending seedsmen before the Committee and the Council •
In that way members of the Society wmld, in course o'
time, become aniious to obtain the botanist's opinion, and
thus to screen themselves from the possibility of sowing.

worthless seed. The reason why the Committee had sug-
gested a change in the name was that they had recently
enlarged its scope, and, while, wishing to give it as simple
a name as possible, they desired that its name should con-
vey some idea of the area of its work. The report was
then adopted.

House.— Mr. Cantrell reported certain recommenda*
tions of the Committee as to repairs to the Society's
house. The Committee had met twice, and made two
reports, and they recommended that the following be the
Committee for the ensuing year : — The President, the
Chairman of the Finance Committee, Viscount Bridport,
Mr. Cautrell, aud Mr. Brandreth Gibbs. This report was
adopted.

Implement. — Mr. Hemsley (chairmau) reported that
the Committee had arranged the following list of prize3
for dairy appliances- The amount of these prizes ex-
ceeded by £30 the £100 granted at the last Council
meeting, and the Committee lecommended that this
addition to the grant be made by the Council : —

1. For the best Milk-can, suitable for conveying milk £

long distances by road or rail without injury 10

2. For the best Chnrn for churning a sufficient quantity

of milk to produce Dot more than 201b. of butter.. 10

3. For the best Churn for churning a sufficient quantity

of cream to produce not more than 201b. of butter 10

4. For the best mechanical or automatic Butter- worker,

suitable for large dairies and for factories 10

5. For the best mechanic J or automatic Butter-worker,

suitable for small dairies ; price to be specially con-
sidered io

6. For the best Cheese-tub ; economy of labour to be

specially considered 10

7. For the best Curd-knife

8. For the best Curd-mill 5

9. For the best Cheese-turniug apparatus 10

10. For the best mechanical means of cleaning churns and

other dairy utensils 1*0

11. For the best automatic means of preventing the rising

of cream 1^

12. For the best Milk-cooler 10

13. For the best method of keeping a large quantity of

Milk at a temperature under 40 deg. Fahr., for &
period of not less than 12 hours, sufficiently econo-
mical for practical purposes 20

The Committee further recommended that a prize of
£50 be offered for the best machine for milking cows, to
be tested during six consecutive months of the spring aui
summer of 1879, the date and conditions of entry to be
fixed at the next meeting of the Committee. This report
was adopted.

Stock Prizes. — Mr. T. C. Booth reported that the
Committee had revised the Stock Prize Sheet for the
Bristol meeting. The former had met live tim^s

56

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

made five reports. They recommended that the following
constitute the Committee for the ensuiug year : — Viscount
Bridport, Sir M. W. Ridley, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Aylmer,
Mr. Booth, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Evans. Mr. Fraukish, Mr.
Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Howard, Mr. Helinsley, Mr.
Horley, Mr. Mcintosh, Mr. Masfen, Mr. Milward, Mr.
Pain, Mr. Chandos-Pwle-Gell, Mr. Ridden, Mr. Sanday,
Mr. Stratton, Mr. Torr, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Jacob
Wilson, and the stewards of liye stock. This report was
adopted.

Veterinary. — Mr. C. T. Booth reported that during
the past year the members of the Society had used their
veterinary privileges as follows: — Six consultations by
letter, three post mortem examinations, and two consulta-
tions requiring visits fioin the Inspector. The Committee
mo\ed for renewal of the veterinary grant of £250 for
187S. The Committee had met five times, and made five
reports. They recommended that the following constitute
the Committee for the ensuing year : — Viscount Bridporti
Sir M. W. Ridley, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Booth, Dr. Car-
penter, Mr. Duguid, Hon. W. Egerton, Mr. Brandreth
Gibbs, Mr. Harpley, Mr. Howard, Colonel Kingscote,
Mr. Milward, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Dr. Quain, Mr
Sanday, Dr. Sanderson, Professor Simonds, Mr. Wake-
field, Mr. Wells, Mr. Jacob Wilson. This report was
adopted.

General — Bristol. — Lord Skelmeksdale (Chair-
man), reported that they had received a letter from the
Society's contractors, which had been referred to the
Local Committee, with a request that they obtain the
necessary consent for an extension of time to enable the
contractors to finish the Show-yard in time. The Com-
mittee had met ten times, and made ten reports, and they
recommended the following to be the Committee for the
ensuiug year :— Viscount Bridport, Lord Chesham, Lord
Skelmersdde, Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., M.P., Sir R. C.
Musgrave, Bart., Mr. Aveling, Mr. Aylmer, Mr. Booth,
Mr. Bowley, High Sheriff of Bristol, Mayor of Bristol)
Mr. Cantrell, Mr. T. Dyke, Hon. W. Egerton, M.P.,
Mr. Frankish, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Hemsley,
Mr. Horley, Mr. Bowen Jones, Mr. J. A. Jones,
Mr. Martin, Mr. Masfen, Mr. Milward, Mr. George
Nichols, Mr. Pole-Gell, Mr. Randell, Mr. Rawlence, Mr.
Ransome, Mr. Sanday, Mr. ShuUleworth, Mr. W. Smith,
Mr. Strattoo, Mr. Thomas, Mr. W. Thompson, Lieut. -
Colonel Turberville, Mr. George Turner. Mr. Jabez
Turner, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Wells, Mr. Whitehead, and
Mr. Jacob Wilson. This report was adopted.

Showyard Contracts. — Mr. Jacob Wilson (Chair-
man) reported that the Committee had met nine times,
nd made nine reports. They recommended that the
praseut Committee be re-appointed, with the addition of
Mr. Pole-Gell. A preliminary plan of the Bristol show-
yard had been approved, subject to certain modifications.
A complete plan will be submitted in February. This
report was adopted.

Education. — Lieu' -Col. FictonTurbhrvill reported
the following to be the result of the last Junior Examina-
tion:—

=

T

is

1

p

B

:>;

School*.

Candidates.

c

<

o

Li

q

"3

on

o

'3

c"
c

u

2

«

3

6

■A

IP

M

OS

§

o

OJ

—
o

X

o

QC

<

a

H

16

120

"

Surrey County

Wvles, F.

100

152

73

IIS

1st

,,

Budd, A.

17

L06

102

Hi

70

13S

2nd ^

Caldecott, C.

IK

97.

110

132

59

39H

3rd} «
3rd) a"

Bedford County

Walker. C.

17

125

101

109

58

396

Devon County

Chope.R.P.

15

\r>

78

HI

83

392

6th H

Glasnevin Col.

Golding, J.

17

126

92

33

90

390|6th

Surrey County

Waghorn.A.J.

!'•

95

105

122

13

stis'yth

The Committee recommended that the thanks of the
Council and the usual honorariain be forwarded to the
Examiners ; and that the successful candidates for the
Junior Scholarships be granted certificates of their having
passed, and this rule be made retrospective. The Com-
mittee also i ecommended that the Senior Examination be
held as usual af.er Easter in 1878 : and that the junior
scholarships gained last year be now paid. The Com-
mittee moved for the renewal of the education grant of
£500 for 1873. The Committee had met five times, and
made five reports. They recommended that the following
constitute the Committee for the ensuing year : — Duke of
Bedford, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Dent, Mr.
Bowen Jones, Colonel Kingscote, Lieut- Colonel Picton
Turbervill, Dr. Voelcker, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Whitehead.
This report was adopted.

Selection. — Mr. T. C. Booth reported the recom-
mendation of the Committee that Mr. Jacob Wilson be
reappointed Steward of General Arrangements for the
next three years. The Committee had met four times,
and made four reports. They recommended that the
following constitute the Committee for the ensuing
year : —

Viscount Bridport, Me. Booth, Hon. W. Egerton, Mr.
Milward, Mr. Chandos Pole-Gell, Mr. Jacob Wilson, aud
the Chairmen of Standing Committees.

This report was adopted.

The President annoumed the death of Mr. Richard
Hornsby, of Spittlegate, Grantham, a member of the
Council of the Society.

Mr. Stratton then moved the following resolutions,
of which he had given notice, viz., the abolition of the
following rule relating to pigs. " 19. If a litter of pigs
be sent with a breeding sow, the young pigs must be the
produce of the sow, and must not exceed two months old."
Also the following paragraph of rule 18 : — " All pigs ex.
hibited at the country meetings of the Society shall be
subjected to an examination of their mouths by the
Veterinary Inspector of the Society ; and should the
state of dentition in any pig indicate that the age of thc

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

57

animal has uot been correctly returned in the certificate
of entry, the stewards shall have power to disqualify such
pig, and shall report the circumstance to the Council at
its ensuing monthly meetiug." Also in rule of adjudica-
tion No. G, to strike out the first paragragh — viz. : " The
attention of the stewards and judges is particularly called
to the conditions applying to pigs. The senior steward
of live stock i3 requested to report auy malpractices on
the part of exhibitors, and auy person found guilty will
not be allowed to exhibit at future meetings of the
Society." Adding the following : — " Any person object-
ing to an entry on the score of age, or on the grouud of
sUch entry beiug made otherwise than in accordance with
the Society's rules, shall make his objection in writing to
(he secretary of the Society, not later than 5 p.m. on the
second day of the show, and shall at the same time
deposit the sum of £5, which shall be forfeited to the
Society in the event of the objection being considered
frivolous by the Council. Every objection will be care-
fully iuqured into by the stewards and Council, and any
person fouud guilty of malpractices will never again be
permitted to exhibit at the Society's shows." Mr_
Strattou referred to the disqualifications of pigs which had
been made for several years past, and which of late years
had become so numerous. Last year, at Birmingham, no
fewer than 17 pens had been disqualified, and some of
them had been exhibited by noblemen and gentlemen
bearing the best names in England. Dentition had been
accepted as a standard to judge of the age of pigs, and he had
no doubt that the Society's veterinary surgeons had applied
that accepted standard, but he thought that mistakes
might occasionally occur. He judged that it was for
this reason that the Birmingham Exhibition Society had
abolished a similar rule, and that the Smithfield Club had
relaxed its provisions. All breeders of farm stock would
admit that occasional exceptions would occur ; and he
held it to be wrong that one innocent man should be
punished to enable the Society to capture a number of
guilty ones. The Society, moreover, said that they did
not deem the exhibitors of disqualified pigs, guilty, but
only negligent, but he thought that the public would
regard those men who were disqualified a3 a set of rogues.
In his opinion, under the present circumstances, the
guilty were not punished, but the innocent were. The
Society itself could have no confidence in its own system,
or it would be much more stringent in enforcing its
provisions, and in dealing with those who transgressed
them.

Professor Buown observed that so far as Mr. Stratton's
point of view was concerned, he had very fairly stated his
case. The advocates of the dentition test had never
claimed infallibility, and it could not be expected that any
animal would carry in its mouth an authentic certificate
of the date of its birth. It was well-known, however,
that the dentition of pig3 undergo very remarkable
changes at certain ages of the animal, viz., at six, nine,
twelve, fifteen, and eighteen months old. This had been
thoroughly described by Professor Simouds mauy years
ago in the Society's Journal* The pig was, howcvci,

differently constituted from other animals of the farm.
The dentition of cattle frequently exhibited remarkable
divergences in reference to age, aud so also did that of
sheep. An exhibitor of pigs, who had been disqualified
on account of deutition, might be regardeo as having gone
very far beyond a certain limit ; and many exhibitors
openly state that if they show pigs honestly they have
very little or no chance of obtaining prizes, but that as
a general rule they keep pretty close to the actual a^es.
Veterinary surgeons did not pretend to be able to tell Ull-
age of a pig to a day or a week, but there are certain
indications as to deutition which never occur until defi-
nite time preceding each of the ages just mentioned ; and
it is only within this limit that the Veterinary Inspector
can be cheated. It is possible that an innocent person
may occassionally suffer, but he denied that this should
be any reason that the Society should not prevent a large
number of other exhibitors from beiug more guilty than
they now are.

Mr. Masfex referred to the fact that the Bath and
West of England Society had altered their rule so as to
put it in the power of the judges to call in the aid of the
Veterinary Inspector if they wished it. He thought that
this Society'3 rules might be altered in the same sense, and
he gave instances, derived from his own experience, of the
large arnouut of variation there is in the developemeut of
the dentition in sheep.

Mr. Jacob Wilson expressed his conviction that many
exhibitors forget the conditions attached to their entry of
pigs. He would remind such exhibitors that they certi-
fied not only that the pigs entered are of a certain agei
but that their detition shows it. He would not
relinquish the efforts of the Society to prevent fraudulent
exhibiting ; and he would further make it a rule that
two years' consecutive disqualifications should entail a
prohibition upou that exhibitor from again exhibiting at
the Society's shows. He was also of opinion that if other
Societies had the same rule as the Royal no complaints
would be made.

Professor Simoxds stated that the existing system had
its origiu at his suggestion twenty-five years ago, in con-
sequence of the gross frauds which prevailed at that time.
Before these rules were drawn up he had takeu enormous
pains to ascertain whether the dentition of pigs presented
better indications of the age of the animals than did th6
teeth of sheep, cattle, or horses, aud at the time he was
surprised to find that there were great regularities at cer-
tain well-marked periods in the life of the pig. He had
studied this subject exhaustively, in slaughterhouses a
well as elsewhere, and had tabulated the deutitiou of inor
than 500 pigs, and classified them according to their ages
and their deutition. The important changes which had been
referred to by Professor Brown were well known to take
place at definite intervals of three mouths, until the pig
became eighteen months old, and as their " classes " were
now constituted, pigs above that age were not brought
into competition. He could recollect that before these
rules were drawn up, and soon after they were first
brought into operation, pigs of eighteen mouths old and

53

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

upwards were frequently exhibited as under a year old ;
and as the present system had been in operation at the
Society's Shows for twenty-five years, aud had been
universally accepted by veterinary authorities in this
country aud on the Continent for nearly as long a
period, he trusted that the Society would not lightly
abolish it.

The President suggested that the existing rules
might be made somewhat less stringent, and that the
Stock Prize? Committee should confer with the veterinary
authorities with that view.

Mr. Brandreth Gibbs suggested that the state of
dentition required in each " class " of pigs should be de.
scribed in the prize sheet.

After some explanatory remarks from Mr. Stratton,
he withdrew his resolution.

A letter on the same subject was read from Mr.
Richard Fowler.

A letter of thanks was read from Professor Stockhardt
for his election as an honorary member.

A letter from Messrs. Vipan and Headly was read ask-
ing to have their prize cards reprinted, and the Secretary
was instructed to provide them with new cards, at their
expense, on their returning the old ones.

A letter wss read from Mr. Cunliffe Owen, enclosing
a. copy of the schedule respecting the exhibition of live
stock to be held at the Paris Universal Exhibition of
1878; and

Mr. Charles Howard took occasion to call atten-
tion to the fact that the last day for receiving appli-
cations for permission to exhibit beiug the 20lh of
December many English exhibitors would be prevented
from showing ; and he also observed that the classi-
fication of sheep was unsatisfactory to English breeders.

Mr. Brandreth Gibbs thereupon explained that both
these subjects were under consideration, and he thought
it most likely that some concession would be made as to
the date of eutry, and very probably also as to the other
point mentioned by Mr. Howard.

The following letters were read :— From Mr. W.
Smith, of Woolston, on steam cultivation ; from Mr.
John Loct, on the cultivation of the potato ; from M.
Trepayne, asking for contributions to a provincial museum
in France.

A copy of the new volume of the " Shorthorn Herd
Book," presented by the Shorthorn Society, was received
by the Council, and their thanks ordered to be forwarded
to the proper quarter.

The Report from the Council to the general meeting
of members was prepared.

The usual holidays having been granted to the Secre-
tary aud clerks, the Council adjourned over the Christ-
mas recess until Wednesday, February 6, 1878.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of this Society was held on Decem-
ber 13th, in Hanover-square. The chair was taken at
noon by the President, Colonel Kingscote, M.r., and

among those present were the Etrl of Lichfield, Lord
Vernou, Lord Chesham, Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., Major
Picton Turbevill, Dr. Voelcker, Mr. James Howard,
Professor Symonds, Mr. H. Neild, Mr. Bell, Mr. Hugh
Aylmer, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Jabob Wilson, Mr. R.
Stratton, Mr. Bell, Mr. John Helmsley.

The Report, which was read by the Secretary, Mr.
Jenkins, was as follows : —

The Council have to report that during th« year 1877 the
number of Governors and Members lias been increased by the
election of 1 Governor aud 412 Members, and diminished by
the death of 4 Governors and 107 Members, the resignation of
127 Members, and the removal of 50 Members by order of
the Council. The Society now consists of :—

81 Lil'e Governors,

71 Annual Governors,
2,280 Life Members,
4,182 Annual Members,

17 Honorary Members,
making a total of 6,631, aad showing an increase of 12A
Members during the current year. The half-yearly statement
of accounts to the 30th Juae last has been examined and
approved by the Society's auditors and accountants, and hus
been published for the information of the members in the last
number of the Journal. Since then the funded capital has
been increased by the investment of £4,000 in the New Three
per Cents. — chiefly the surplus receipts of the Liverpool
Meeting. The funded property of the Society is now £26,611
lis. 5d. New Three per Cents,, and the balance in th; hands
of the Bankers on the 1st inst. was £1,610 19s. 6d. The
Liverpool Meeting was one of the largest and most successful
which the Society has ever held, and the attendance on the
first three days even equalled that at the Manchester meeting.
Unfortunately the wet weather on the two closing davs pre-
vented many thousands of people from visiting the show, but
notwithstanding this drawback the total number registered by
the turnstiles has been exceeded only three times in the history
of the Society — namely at Leeds in 1861, at Manchester in
1869, and at Birmiogham in 1876, while the money receipts
were second only to those at Manchester. The Local Com-
mittee and the authorities at Liverpool made every exertion to
render the Meeting successful. Besides their remarkably
handsome additions to the Society's prize-list, the Local Com-
mittee organised a parade of more than 300 Liverpool cart-
horses in the Show-yard on the Saturday afternoon, and it
was generally admitted that this was a most instructive and
attractive as well as a novel exhibition. The Mayor and
Corporation and the merchants and manufacturers of Liver-
pool invited the members of the Soeiety to inspect the build-
ings aud processes over which they had control, aud many
Members of the Society availed themselves of this opportunity
to acquaint themselves with the extensive docks, public build-
ings, factories, and warehouses for which Liverpool is famous.
In every respect the couutry-meeting of 1877 will long be
remembered as one of the largest and most useful of those
which the Society has held. The competition for the Society's
Gold Medal offered for an efficient sheaf-biuder, took place at
harvest-time on Mr. Scotson's farm, at Aigburth, near Liver-
pool. Ouly three machines, all of American make, were
brought to trial, and although the Judges were of opinion
that these labour-saviug appliances had not yet been made
sufficiently perfect to justify them in awarding the Gold Medal,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZLNE.

10

they were of opinion that great credit was due to the three
inventions, tiud they recommended that a silver medal, iu
recognition of progress, shou'd be given to Mr. W. A. Wood,
and a high commendation bestowed on the binding mechanism
employed by D. M. Osborne and Co. The Judges also
suggested a renewal of the offer of the Gold Medal next year,
and the Stewards having reported favourably of this course,
the Couucil have acted in accordance with their recommenda-
tion. The competition (or the numerous prizes offered by the
Local Comm ttee for the best-managed Dairy (or Stock) and
Arable Farms in the counties of Lancaster, Chester, Denbigh,
and Flint, and in the Isle of Man was very keen : and the
striking reports on the two sections of the competition
written by Mr. J. C. Morton and Mr. S. D. Shirriff, respec-
tively, and published iu the last number of the Journal, are
well worthy of careful study. The Country-meeting for the
ensuing year will be IielJ at Bristol ; and the Council are glad
to announce that the Local Committee have obtained the use
of a most eligible site for the Show-yard on Durdlvim
Down. The Brist 1 Local Committee have offered the fol-
lowing Prizes for best-managed farms in the county of Glou-
cester, the eastern division of Somerset, and the noithern
division of Wilts :—

Section I. — Arable Farms with at least two-thirds of their
area under rotation of cropping : — Class 1. F.irms of 200
acres sud upwards ; first prize, £50 ; second, £25. Class 2,
Farms above 80 and less than 200 acres ; first prize, £30 ;
second, £15.

Section II. — Dairy or Stock Farms, where the course o
cultivation is chiefly directed to the production of Cheese,
Butter, or Animal Food : — Class 1 Farm of not less than 200
acres ; first prize, £50 ; second, £25. Class 2. Farms of not
less than 80 and under 200 acres ; first prize, £30 ; second,
£15.

In addition to ^lie renewed offer of the Society's Gold Medal
for an efficient Sheaf-binder, to Council have decided to offer
for competion at the Bristol Meeting prizes for improved
Dairy appliances ; and the Local Committee will offer prizes
for several classes of Dairy Produce. It is hoped that hy
these means the most improved methods and the best results
of cheese and butter making may be illustrated in the Bristol
Show-yard. Following the precedent of the last two years,
the Council have decided that the Bristol Meeting shall
commence on Wednesday, July 10th, and that the Implement-
yard shall be open to the public on the preceding day. The
Council have added the following new rules to the Implement
Prize-sheet : —

1. In the catalogue there shall be no statement of any
prize awarded to an implement except such as may luve been
awarded by the Royal Agricultural Society. 2. No placard
or other statement shall be attached to any machine, imple-
ment, or other article in the Society's Show-yard, referring to
any prize, except such as may have been awarded to it by the
Rojal Agricultural Society. 3. In the Show-yard exhibitors
must use smokeless coal, which, for their convenience, will be
provided and sold at a fixed price by the Society, or by an
agent duly appointed by it. 4. Shafting, belts, gearing, high-
speed machinery, and any other exhibits likely to prove
dangerous to the public, shall be securely fenced and protected
to the satisfaction of the Society's stewards or engineers ; but
such approval by the stewards or engineers shall not relieve
the exhibitor from his liability under other Clauses. 5.
Emery wheels and similar grinding machinery driven at high-

speeds will not be allowed to be exhibited in motion ; and the
decision of the So"iety'n stewards or engiuec rs iu relereuce to
such machinery shall in all cases be final and of immediate
effect. 6. Engine-drivers in charge of boilers under steam
aud of steam-engines when running, shall not absent thein
selves from their posts without leaving their machinery iu
charge of competent persons.

The Committee appointed by the Council to ascertain whit
sites within the Metropolitan area may be available and
suitable f r the Socic'y's Show in 1879 are continuing their
investigations, and it is hoped that they may be eventually
successful ; but up to the present time no defiinite conclusion
has bt-en arrived at. The health of the Live Stock of the Farm
has been the most prominent subject which the Council have
had to consider during the past year. At the Annual Meeting
in May, when it was still uncertain whether the Liverpool
Meeting could be held, they reported that they had watched
with the greatest anxiety and alarm the progress of the out-
breaks of cattle-pl gue in London and Hull ; that, in addition
to suggesting certain measures for the purpose of dealing with
the immediate emergency, they had represented to the Lord
Pres;dent ofthe Council the necessity of protecting English herds
from this and other foreign contagious diseases, by prohiiting
for the future the importation of Live Stock from European
ports, and by enforcing uniform and compulsory measures for
the suppression of contagious diseases amongst farm stock
throughout the kingdom. The result of these representations
was the appointment of a Select Commitee of the House of
Commons to inquire into the whole subject of Cattle Plague
and the Importation of Live Stock. The Council secured the
examination of practical and scientific witnesses, both agricul-
tural and otherwise ; and l hey believe that the evidence given
was felt to be of a most useful and representative character.
Although the recommendations made by the Select Committee
did not go so far as the resolutions of the Council which had
led to its appointment, either with regard to foreign or to
home stock, the Council felt it necessary to urge upon the
Government the desirability of taking, as soon as possible, the
necessary steps to carry those recommendations into effect.
At their request the Prime Minister received a deputation on
the subject on the 23rd of last month, when they had the
satisfaction of learning that it is the intention of the Govern-
ment to legislate uron the subject as early as possible next
session. A report of what took place at this interview has
been sent to every Member of the Society, and the Council
venture to express the hope that the Members generally will
use their influence in their several districts to obtain that
general effort to stamp out the contagious diseases of farm
stock to which the Prime Minister so pointedly referred. The
recent large importations of American meat into Great Britain
have proved that the prohibition of importations of live stock
need not enhance the price of meat to the consumer, as similar
appliances to those used by American exporters could be
adapted to the requirements of the Continental trade. Tlie
Couucil have therefore thought it desirable to place the
Members of the Society in possession of the fullest informa-
tion on this subject, and with this view have published two
exhaustive articles by Professor Sheldou, of Cirencester, and
Professor Alvord, of Massachussets, U.S., in the last number
of the Journal. The experiments upon pleuro pneumonia and
faot-and-mouth disease have been continued during the year
at the Brown Institution, under the superintendence of Dr.
Burdou Sanderson. Valuable indications have been obtained,
and described in the reports already published 'in the Journal

CO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

aud in the agricultural newspapers ; but before these caD be
accepted as final they will require carelul confirmation. Tlie
Council have renewed the grant for these investigations, the
scope of which will next year be expended to Qiarter-evil aud
diseases of a similar nature. Tne last Quarterly Report of the
Chemical Committee shows that the need of ciu'iuu in
purchasing artificial ma ures and feeding stuffs stil con-
tinues. The Council therefore take this opportunity of
once more repeating their advice that thebe substances
i iould be bought by guaranteed analysis, aud that their
quality should be checked by sending a sample from
the bulk to a qualified chemist for examination. The
Chemical Committee have lately visited the experimental
firm at Woburn, and have reported that as regards the experi-
mental field of 26 acres, the various plots sown for the second
year's experiments are in a satisfactory state of progress.
0*ing to the original condition of the Crawley Farm ot 90
acres, which is not experimental but only auxiliary, some time
must elapse before the land is thoroughly clean and the Farm
generally has been brought into a couditiou which will accord
with the result, of good farming. Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker
have submitted to the Chemical Committee the results of the
first year's experiments, and this reports is at present under
their consideration. A Snb-Committee has been appointed to
confer with Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker with the view of
relieving then if possible of the responsiblity of farming
operations, in order that their uudivided attention may be
given to the various experiments in progress. The Council
have had under their careful consideration the threatened im-
p irtation of the Colorado Beetle, and have made certain sug-
gestions to the Government with the view of teducing the
danger to a minimum. They have also issued to eacli mem-
ber of the Society figures of the beetle in all its stages, and a
statement of the means for its destruction, which have been
found most efficacious in America. This new danger has again
drawn the attention of the Council to the desirability of
placing withiu the reach of numbers of the Society competent
advice on injuries caused by insects to farm crops ; and they
have arranged with Mr. Carruthers, the Consulting Botanist,
to obtain such information and advice for the members at a
small rate. A copy of these additional privileges has been
sent to each member of the Society, together with instructions
a; to the methods of conveying information in regard to any
injuries which their crops may suffer from insects or other
cau8es. In consequence of the revelations made at the
recent trials at the Mansion House, as to the adultera-
tion, colouring, and killing of seeds,and of information
laid before the Botanical Committee showing the great
extent of this practice, the Council have authorised
the Botanical Committee to publish the names of the
persons who have sold to the members of the Society seed3
which have been determined by the Consulting Botanist to
have been killed, coloured, or adulterated. The Council hope
that such publication may tend to suppress the traffic in worth-
less seeds, and that the members of the Society will avail
themselves largely of the services of the Consulting Botanist
in the determination of the quality and germinating power of
seed*. Thirty-two candidates were entered for examination
for the Society's Junior Scholarships from the following
Schools : — Bedford County School (2), Devon County School
(1), Dorset County School (2), Glasnevin College (5), Sand-
bach Grammar School (3), Surrey County School (19). The
following candidat s, arranged in order of merit, have gained
Scholarships : —

Equal

1st . F. Wvles 1

2nd. A. BudJ, > Surrey County School,
f 3rd.C. Caldecott, J
l.3.d. Charles Walker, Bedford County School.

5th. Richard Pearce Chope, Devon County School*

0 h. John Gliding, Glasnevin College.

7th. A. J. Waghoru, Surrey County Schoel.

Twelve candidates were eligible to compete for the Society's
medals aud prizes offered to veterinary surgeons of not more
than fifteen montlih' standing for proficiency in Cattle Patho-
logy. Of these six have entered, and the examination will be
held at ihe Royal College of Veterinary Suigeons in the
course of the current month.

By order of the Council,

H. M. Jenkins, Secretary,

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said : Sir, I very readily accede
to the request which has been made to me that I would
move the adoption of the Report. I do not think that
'or years, perhaps not at any period in the history of the
Society, the Council has had to record more useful prac-
tical work than has been done in the last year. It seems
as though four or five years ago this Society woke to a
sense of its responsibility and its duties, aud considered
that as a great national Society it had something to do
besides holding annual shows and publishing two volumeg
of the Journal every year. From the time when the
Society attacked the perpetrators of those adulterations
which have ruined many farmers and injured a great
many more, it has received more support from the tenant-
farmers and occupiers of land in this kingdom than it
ever received before, and I am quite sure that at no pre-
vious period of its existence was it as popular as it is
now (cheers). If during the present year it had doDe
nothing more than attend to the great absorbing question
of cattle disease, it would have earned our grateful thanks
(Hear, hear). I was surprised to see it stated in a daily
paper this morning that the Committee which sat to con-
sider that subject was maiuly composed of agricultural
and Conservative members. Well, now, the exact con-
trary is the fact (Hear, hear). When the Governmeut
had proposed that Committee I greatly objected to it in
the tirst instance, because the agricultural interest was so
poorly represented, and because there wa3 such a great
preponderance of borough members ; and when it was
suggested that a certain addition should be made from
Ireland and Scotland, the House departed from the rules
usually followed in the formation of committees, and the
only Conservative that was added to the Committee was
a Home Ruler. We are as farmers greatly indebted to
Mr. Booth and Mr. Jacob Wilson for the excellent evi-
dence which they gave before that Committee, and the
zeal, patience, and assiduity which you, Sir, displayed
while serving on that Committee we shall ever remember
with gratitude (cheers). Among the subjects mentioned
in the Report is that of the adulteration of seeds. A few
years ago, as the meeting will remember} a Bill was passed
by Parliament to prevent the adulteration of seeds. There
can be no doubt that actually to kill seeds is a statutable
offence, but it appears that colouring seeds so as to make
them appear what they are not, which is considerably

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CI

worse even thnn the killing; of seeds, is not now punish-
able by law. I do hope that in the next Session of Par-
liament the Act will be so amended that anyone who
colours seeds for the purpose of deception will be brought
within its scope. Another sign that this Society is ad-
vancing, is the establishment of an experimental farm at
Woburn. It is nice to see the old name of Woburn
brought up again in conuection with agriculture after it
had slept, as it were, for a great number of years. In my
boyhood farmers used to look to Woburn and Holkham
for improvements connected with agriculture, and I am
glad to see that farm conducted with such liberality on
the part of the noble Duke, and with the authority, as it
were, of this Society. I do think it is necessary that
some explanation should be given as a result of the union
of practice and science with regard to the value of farm-
yard manure. It seems to me that chemical analysis has
in some cases put a rather extravagant value upon some
of the artificial fertilisers, and if our best farm-yard
manures are, as has been calculated, worth only 15s. per
ton, some of us may be paying rather dearly for our
whistle. I am very glad that this Society has recently
taken more notice than it did of smaller but kindred
societies (Hear, hear). The Society has been rather too
high and mighty, as it were — too much inclined to act by
itself; in fact, rather too aristocratic. I am very glad
lhat it now condescends to notice such unimportant insti-
tutions as the Chamber of Agriculture, the Farmers'
Club, and the different agricultural societies throughout
the kingdom (cheers). I can assure the Members of the
Council that we look upon this Society with a great deal
of affectionate regard, and consider it the parent Society
of the kingdom. Agriculture cannot afford to be dis-
united, especially among agricultural societies. We want
ajhead, Sir, and we have got one here ; and now that you
have been good aud gracious enough to take notice of
some of your offspring, the agricultural interest will, I
trust, be stronger and more united than it ha s ever been
before (cheers).

Mr. H. Neild, in seconding the motion, said he
wished, as a Lancashire man, to express his satisfaction
at the result of the Liverpool meeting. Allusion was
made> in the Report just presented, to the reports of the
judges in connection with the farm prizes. He would
advise every one who had not done so already to read
what was said on that subject in the Journal, more
especially as regarded farms which had not taken prizes ;
and he would point every one to the enormous results of
proper management in Lancashire. He was glad to see
what attention was to be given to dairy farming at the
Bristol meeting. In Lancashire, Cheshire, and other
counties in the north the churning of milk had, contrary
to the practice in the south, been extensively carried out,
and the result was that the butter-milk was three or
four times greater in quantity, and was used very much
in the rearing of young stock. That wa3 a matter of
considerable interest to farmers generally. In order to
guard against injury from adulterated seeds it had been

his practice to test seeds by first sowing only a small
quantity at a particular spot, ami by pursuing that
course his brother fanners would avoid a great deal of
loss and vexation. They should not take auy one's ipse
dixit with respect to the quality of seeds, but be guided
by their own experience. As to the Report, he had no
doubt it would meet with cordial acceptance throughout
the length and breadth of the kingdom.

The Report was then adopted.

On the motion of Mr. Coleman, seconded by Mr.
Fiulay Dun, thanks were voted to the auditors — Messrs.
Cautrell, Sherborne, aud Johnson, and they were re-
elected.

The business having thus terminated, the Chairman
invited remarks and suggestions for the consideration of
the Couucil.

After some observations of a congratulatory character
from Mr. W. Botley,

Mr. George Whalley said it appeared to him, as
a very old member of the Society, that there still pre-
vailed among farmers great ignorance with regard 1o
farming implements and the proper management of land.
If the laud were not made more fertile it would be im-
possible for occupiers to meet the difficulties of the times.
Many farmers seemed to him to need instruction in the
principles and practice of agriculture, and he would
venture to call the attention of the Council whether
that Society could in any way be made a centre of light,
which would radiate to all parts of the kingdom, any
way in which it could distribute the stores of knowledge
which were deposited there, so as to bring them home to
the njiiids of working farmers. If the Council employed
an intelligent man to go among farmers, and give them
lectures which would infuse into their mind3 a spirit of
real improvement, and instruct tbem in the economy of
labour and the proper management of laud, that would
in his opinion produce very beneficial results. On many
farms the land was not even kept clean, and hence it
could only produce poor crops.

Mr. Bowick expressed his gratitude to the Council for
what had been done in the Botanical Department. He
thought the growth of corn required much more attention
from them than it had received hitherto. As regarded
geueral production he did not think any gentleman would
consider Mr. Lawes's estimate of eight and twenty bushels
all round at all too low (Hear, hear). He knew a farm
on which the amount was certainly not more than 7a
bushels. In fact, he had himself paid as an incoming
tenant upon that estimate, and he knew it was not far out.
He hoped that by means of the Botanical and Chemical
Department something would be done to stimulate the
improved production of the three British cereals, barley,
oats, and wheat. Their friends on the Continent took
more pains to secure improvement in that kind of culti-
vation than English farmers, as was shown by the visits
of French and Belgian agriculturists during the harvest'
time.

62

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. II. NeILD suggested that in future "aged "stal-
lions should be placed by themselves in the prize list, and
that there should be a separate prise for stallions between
two and four years old.

Mr. J. Howard said he rose with great pleasure to pro.
pose a vote of thanks to the President (cheers). When
it was announced that the choice of the Council had fallen
upon Col. Kiugscote, that fact gave universal satisfaction
and the manner in which he had presided over the
proceedings of the Society, and the urbanity which he had
uniformly displayed proved the wisdom of the choice
(cheers). Whilst he was on his legs he would express a
hope that the Council would not depart from the policy
which it had recently pursued of holding the Annual
Meetings at one or the other great centres of population
(Hear, hear). The holding of a meeting at such a place
as Taunton was not only atte nded with loss to the Society
but entailed an enormous amount of loss and inconvenience
*o the exhibitors. He h oped the time was not far dis.
tant when the Annual Show of that Society would be held
in London or the immediate vicinity. He believed that
a larger number of farmers would come to the Metropolis
than to any other great centre of population, and in sup-
port of that view he might refer to tlie fact that such a
vast number of farmers come annually to the Smith-
field Show. He had been at some paius to ascertain the
opinion of exhibitors on that point, and he had fouuda-
universal concurrence of opinion amongst men of expe-
rience that a much larger number of farmers were drawn
•every year to the Sraithfield Show than had ever attended a
country meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, and
the greater number of farmers the Society could attract to
its Shows the better would it answer the purpose for
which it was founded (Hear, hear).

Lord Vernon, iu seconding the motion, said if the
appointment of Colonel Kingscote as president gave
universal satisfaction to the agricultural world, it did not
give less satisfaction to the members of the Council, which
had for fourteen or fifteen years observed his assiduous
and his high-minded demeanour as a member of their
body,- and noticed the earnestness which he performed the
duties that devolved upon him (cheers.) Up to the
moment when he became president, the Chairman was
more particularly engaged on the Finance Committee, and
it was no slight testimony to his skill in that department
that at the present time the Society had a funded property
of £26,000, and a balance of £1,600 (Hear, hear). The
expenses of the Show were iucreasing every year, and the
Council had to depend very much on the Chairman of
the Finance Committee. Col. Kingscote took a very
active part in the introduction of the deputation to the
Prime Minister with regard to the control of the importa-
tion of live stock. Differences of opinion might exist as
to the extent with which the State should go in
exercising such control, but no one could doubt that it
was necessary for tlie public welfare. One gentleman
had remarked that that Society should be more of a
centre of light as regarded agricultural progress in this

country. On that point they had to judge by results.
He must say it would have been more satisfactory if they
had had a much larger increase in the number of mem«
bers. He wondered that that had not been the case ;
because he did not know any other Society in England
which offered so many advantages, direct and indirect,
to its members. Among the direct advantages was that
of haviug two numbers of the Journal, which was edited
with so much skill by their worthy Secretary. One of
the indirect advantages was the protection which the
farmer constantly enjoyed with regard to the quality of
artificial manures and feeding stuffs, and another was that
the manufacturers of pure manures and feeding stuffs were
guided by the Society's chemist in reference to the Way
in which they should prepare their articles for sale to the
agricultural public. 500 copies of the Journal were now
sold in addition to those which were issued to the mem-
bers. As to the addition of 124 members in the past year,
the increase ought, iu his opinion, to be numbered by
thousands (Hear, hear).

The motion was then put by Mr. James Howard,
and carried by acclamation.

The Chairman said: I beg to thank Mr. Howard
and Lord Vernon for the very flattering terms in which
they respectively proposed and seconded the vote of
thanks, and also to thank the meeting for the manner in
which it received the proposal. I can only assure you
that any small service I can render to the Society is given
most cheerfully and heartily, and if I can only be of any
use, through this Society, to the farming community of
this kingdom I shall only be very thankful that such is
the case. It has afforded me the greatest pleasure to
watch the growing usefulness of this Society in its three
chief branches during the last few years. Like Lord
Vernon, I am surprised that such a Society has not more
members ; but I trust that next year there will be a
much larger increase than 124. The Council always feel
greatly indebted to gentlemen who take pains in canvass-
ing for new members, and there is one gentleman now in
the room who has recently sent up from Shropshire over
100 names. I myself once succeeded, by taking a little
trouble, in increasing the number of Governors, and a
little more canvassing would help the Society very mate-
rially. I may fairly say that the funds of the Society are
spent in a manner which is beneficial to farmers as a
body. I quite agree with Mr. Read that although it cost
a large sum, no money was ever better expended than that
which was spent in defending the action connected with
the adulteration of manures — (cheers) — and though I
hope the good sense of the seed merchants will prevent
them from adulterating in future, in the contrary event
we shall not shrink from risking having to pay the ex-
penses of an action arising from exposure. I am glad
that the Council have determined to offer prizes to vete-
rinary surgeons for proficiency in the science of cattle
pathology — a branch of study which has hitherto been
much neglected by the veterinary profession. As regards
the suggestion that the Council should send some one to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

C3

lecture to farmers, it appears to me to be open to two ob-
jections— first, that we should not be able to get many
fanners to attend lectures; and secondly, that those who
did attend might think there was not a sufficient union
of practice with science (laughter). We show the com-
bination of the two in the farm experiments at Woburn.
We must not, however, lay too much stress on any experi-

ments, for we all knaw that variations of climate and other
causes of the same kind render it impossible for any hard
and fast line to be safely laid down by science. (Hear,
hear.) Gentlemen, I hope that this Sjciety will continue
to prosper, and no effort on my part which can tend to
promote its prosperity will be wanting (cheers).
The meeting then separated.

THE BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS ASSOCIATION.

ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING.

The adjourned annual meeting of this Society was held on
IVc. 11, at the rooms of the Chamber of Trade, 4*6, Strand,
uuder the presidency ot Mr. B. C. TUdall. After the minutes
of the last meeting had been read and signed, the lion, secre-
tary (Mr. Henry F. Moore) reported that he had received
letters of apology for non-attendance from Mr. J. G. Crorap-
ton, the president of the association ; Lord Richard Howe
Browne, Mr. G. F. Jackson, Mr. W. Livesey, Professor Shel-
don, and Mr. James Odans. He further reported that the
association had now 202 members, and that it had the sum of
£17 10s. in hand. The medals of the association awarded at
the Dairy Show had not been yet awarded, as it took some
time to get the design — which Mr. Harrison Weir had kindly
given them — and die.

On the motion of Mr. Whittaker, "seconded by Mr. Barham
it was decided to lequest Lord Chesham to be the president for
1873, and that the following be the officers and committee : —

Vice-Presidents. — Same as in 1877.

Committee. — Lord Richard Howe Browne,' 29, Orchard-
street, W. ; Professor J. P. Sheldon, Royal Agricultural Co'-
lege, Cirencester ; Messrs. Joseph Aston, Tarporley, Cheshire ;
G. Barbara, College Farm, Church End, Finchley ; W. E.
Bear, Thorpe, Colchester; J. G. Crompton, The Lillies,
D.jrby ; John Coleman, Park Nook, Derby ; Stephen Holmes
Pegler, Montague House, Etweli ; G. F. Jackson, Hatton
Chester ; Ribert Leeds, Keswick Old Hall, Norfolk ; W.
Livesey, 13, Bank Parade, Preston ; T. Nuttall, Manor House,
Beeby, Leicestershire ; John H. Riffety, Agricultural Hall,
London, N. ; E. C. Tisdall, Helland Park Farm, Kensington ;
Matthew Walker, Chaddesden, Derby ; J. Welford, 4, War-
wick-place, Maida Vale, London, W. ; and John Whittaker
St. Albau's-vi las, Highgate,

Treasurer.— Mr. James Odams, The Grange, Bishop Stort,
ford.

Honorary Secretary. — Mr. Henry F. Moore, 13, Salisbury-
square, Fleet-street, Londou, E.C.

Mr. H. F. Moore moved, and Mr. Raffety seconded, the
following resolution, which was carried :—
T." That the best thanks of the association be given to Mr.
J. G. Crompton for his service? as president during the past
year ; and that he be requested to become a member of the
committee during the coming year."

Messrs. E. C. Tisdall and Henry F. Crump, of White-cross
street, Union-street, Borough, were appointed auditors.

Mr. E. C. Tisdall then read the following very able paper
on " Dairy Cattle."

The Committee of the British Dairy Farmers' Association
have thought that the attention of the members would be
wisely directed to aa inquiry into the best breed of dairy

«attle, with a view to their improvement, and have requested
me to introduce the suVj-ct to you this evening. I should
have preferred that some one "older in practice, abler than
myself" should have had this task allotted him. Believing,
however ,it matters little who sets this ball rolling— it is
sure to gather substance in its way — I have accepted the
office.

If we may judge by the numerous signs about us, dairy
farming appears at last likely to attract some of the attention
its great and growing importance deserves. The use of milk,
butter, aud cheese has largely increased during the past ten
years, beyond the ratio of our population— giving employment
to an amount of enterprise and capital but little suspected by
those unacquainted with the subject— the community receiv-
ing in return, according to the highest medical authorities,
" a larger amount of flesh and muscle forming food from its
outlay in dairy produce than from an equivalent spent in any
other article of diet." An idea has also been spreading in the
agricultural mind (not generally a rapid seed-bed) that on a
given amount of food an animal will make a larger return at
the dairy than in the shambles. Our American cousins knew
this long since, and with their usual acuteness acted upon it.
In the last report of the American Dairymen's Association
comparisons are instituted — the deduction being " that the
same amount of food produced twice the result when frd to. a
milch cow as when fed to a steer for beef." Another convic-
tion has been felt by many practical men— that milk producers
and beef makers need not of necessity be different animals—
that both qualities may be combined if only judicious selection
be exercised.

We are perfectly aware that Mr. Culley (" Observations on
Livestock") considers it as an impossibility [to unite* good
milkers with good feeders ; for, he says, whenever we attempt
both we are sure to get neither in perfection—" In propor-
tion as we gain the one in the same proportion we lose the
other. The more milk, the less beef; and the more we pursue
beef the less milk we get. In truth, they seem to be two
different varieties of the same kind for very different uses ; and
if so Miey ought most certainly to be differently pursued by
those who employ them. If the dairyman wants milk let
him pursue the milkin? tribe; let hi n have both bull and
cows of the best and greatest milking family he can find. On
the contrary, he that wants feeding or grazing cattle, let him
procure a bull and cows of that sort which feed the quickest,
wherever they are to be found. By pursuing too many objects
at once we are apt to lose sight of the priucipal, and by aim-
iug at too much we often lose all. Let us only keep to dis-
tinct sorts, and we shall obtain the prize in due time. It
apprehend it has been much owiug to the mixing of breeds
and improper crossings that has kept us so long from dis-
tinguishing the most valuable kinds."

64

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1 should not have quoted an opinion given in 1S17 if it had
not prevailed so extensively at the present day. Judging by
results, one would almost be led to infer that most breeders
not only agree with Mr. Culley that it is " impossible to unite
good milkers with good feeders," but that the latter are alone
worth their attention. On the otliT hand, many gentlemen
worthy of all credit affirm after a lifetime spsnt in the pursui
that the qualities in question are in certain kinds unired in
great perfection. Wuich of these parties are rignt, and how
much truth there may be ou both sides it is for us to inquire
Perhaps, if ws here define more preisely what we are in
search of it will assist in the solution of tbe problem
before ns.

As d<iry produce then is becoming daily ia greater request
and, therefore, of more valae, and the cow yields so much
more food in proportion than the steer, we will give her
priority. In addition to a compact frame, good temper, the
cow thould have great secreting powers to enable her vascular
system to supply continuously for a lengthened period a large
quantity of milk of such quality as to satisfy either the butur
orthecheeseraaker,andto do thissi.nply — these powers beingin-
dicsted by thin neck, fine chap and cheek bine— upon a liberal
but not extravagant diet ; she should breed a calf annually,
and when not further required to propagate or milk, should
possess such an aptitude to lay on fat as quickly to fit her for
the butcher. Such qualities in the females would, " when
well-matched," ensure equal powers of secretion and assimila-
tion in their off-pring, and so enable u* to produce a race of
animals giving the largest return of meat and milk from a
relative amount of food.

If this valuable combination can be found associated in any
one race of animals, it appears manifestly to be the interest of
both dairyman and grazier to secure and perpetuate it, aiming
at the reproduction of both qualities, for if breeders be
tempted to develop one at the expense of the other, they may
leave out of their calculation a factor, which may alone cause
the difference between profit and loss; and further, knowing
how easily hereditary goodness may disappear, they, by in-
attention to either of the points in question, may be gradually
destroying the usefulness, and even sapping the vitality of
their much-prized herds.

These being our requirements, is there any breed that nearly
fulfils them ? Our answer must be somewhat a conditional
one. There is a species of cattle extant, which, if the records
of their early historians are correct, has possessed these pro-
perties in a marked degree, and probably at this time, they and
their nearly allied relatives approach most closely to the
standard we have set up. Tou will have anticipated th»t I
allude to the " Improved Shorthorns." In reading the recitals
of all tale-bearers as to the great doings of their favourites
one must be somewhat chary of belief, knowing how easily in
story " eleven buck-ram men grew out of two " so, when that
Sunday evening's visit is related at Barmpton, of Chas. Collin
and Thos. Bates, at the instance of the dairymaid, to witness
the measurement of one meal's milk of an extraordinary cow
—which was said to be 26£ qts. — the question suggests itself,
when was that cow milked previously ?

In another relation, one person tells another person that
"her cow filia two cans (which together contained 19iqm.)
regularly morning and night while on grass," our credulity
is somewhat taxed. There are, however, too many instances
given with every detail of time and place, of the measurement
and weight of produce of cattle of this tribe, for us to resist

the belief that the early Shorthorns were both great milkpr
and good graziers. One of the earliest reliable cases, cited
both by Mr. Whittaker of Burley, and by Mr. Bell in hia
" History of Shorthorns," is that of the ancestress of Hubback.
Mr. Westell's Barforth (dam of Hubback's grandsire), who
gave 36 quarts of milk daily, from which was produced 241b.
of butter within the week — two successive weeks. In Mr.
Whittaker's sale catalogue of 1833 (kindly lent me with others
by Mr. Thornton) are two notable cases. (1) Lady M itilda
(bred by Mr. Charge) by Eclipse (238) grandam Aurora by
Comet (155), 16 lbs 1 oz. butter within the week while in Mr.
Wastell's possession. (2.) Chiltona (bred by Mr. Mason) by
St. Albans (1412), grandam, Cato cow of 1820 by Cato (119),
great grandam by Jupiter (3t2), 16 lb. 7 oz. butter in one
nveek in November. " Mr. Whittaker was a man whose sound
judgment and modest opinions entitle his observations to the
most sincere respect." — John Thornton. He was an extensive
breeder, and Mr. Wetherell speaks of his herd " as cows of
great character and blood, combining what is of the greatest
possible importance to Siorthorns, good feeders with good
milkers, Mr. Whittaker having for upwards of 30 years perse-
veringly and successfully united these two great essentials."

FROM BELL'S HISTORY OF SHORTHORNS.

(1.) Match'em (dam of Oxford Premium, cow), never gave
less than 12 qrs. per meal when on grass after calving.

(2.) First Duchess (Mr. Bates's), by Diisy Bull, gave 23
quarts milk daily at pasture — when churned 18 lb. 6 oz.
butter weekly for some time.

(3 ) Bright Eyes (R. Colling' s), dim of Marske bull, give

15 quarts each time of milking.

(4.) Alexander Hill's cow (by Masterman's bull), whose
descendants he sold to R. and C. Calling's, gave 18 quarts,
each meal — 36 quarts daily.

(5.) Dixon's cow (of Ingoe) gave very large quantities of
milk and beef, often breeding calves that were all gool
graziers, was fed at the age of 17 years, and made a very fat
and handsome cow. Mr. Bates remembered her.

(6.) Daisy, cow by Favourite (Mr. Hustlers, of Acclam), gave

16 quarts, matched against Appleton's (his tenant's) cow,
which gave 15J quarts on fog in autumn.

(7.) Bates' herd of 30 cows : I believe many Duchesses,

yielded 16^ dozen lb. butter weekly — besides the calves'

allowance.

In Carr's " History of the Booth Herds " was mentioned—
(Broughton, by Jerry) — as a cow of more than average
milking capacity.

Bliss, by Leonard (young Broughton's daughter), a very heavy
milker and regular breeder.

Blithe (Bliss's daughter), a great milker, and when dry got
quickly fat.

Bonnet (by Buckingham), a great milker/with great substance,
and when sold had a remarkably fine coat of long silky hair.

Toy (by Argns), neat cow, with a magnificent udder. Her
milking capabilities were the boast of the Kellerby dairy-
maids, and were transmitted to her famous twins Necklace
(only beaten by Duchess 31th) and Bracelet.

Satin (by Buckingham), dam Lady Stanley, grandam Brough-
ton, was all a dairyman could desire. In the full flush of
her milk she was wont to suckle two calves and require
milking dry after them.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

60

Of ChtisWs Tribe (by Priam).
Ciroline (by Fitz-Laonard), was a prodigious milker, giving, it
is credibly affirmed, when in her prime, lour average pail-
fulls of milk iu the day.

It has been a remarkable feature in Mr. Likin's system of
farming, his registry ol milk showing the annual quantities
given by each cow, enabling hina thereby to select Iilj rearing
calves from the best milkers. Very valuable and interesting
are the data afforded by Mr. Lakin's Registry of Beauchamp
Court, Worcestershire. The following are extracts : —

Milk,
gals, years,
1836. Stella (by Powyke Patriot

4746) gave an average of ... 980 for 5

1830. Star (Stella's dam by P.

Wharfdale 4748) 800 „ 9

1826. Old Strawberry (Star's
dam, best milker Mr. Likin
ever possessed). Equal to 14
quarts per day for 10 mouths

in each of the 15 years ... 1,050 ,; 15

1840. Norma (by Powyke 4743) 170 „ 8

1836. Novice (Norraa's dam, by

Patriot 4748) 1,040 „ 5

Cows, 5 4,740 „ 35

Average each, 948 „ 7

Or daily each cow. Quarts. 1,004 „ 7

Tables of this character, recounting the history of every
animal during 15 years, are invaluable, arid bear favourable
comparison with more modern instances carried out with all
the knowledge and experience which those who are last in the
field ought to enjoy.

In ordinary dairy districts the yearly average quantity of
milk given by each cow fed in the usual way is from 600 to
700 gals., and more often the former than the latter. There
are a few cases on record exceeding that amount, among which

are :—

Gals.

Messrs. Lavington, Wiltshire (half-bred) 765

„ Wright, Surrey (Yorkshire) 810

„ Crawley, Cheshire (Yorkshire) 866

In all these herds a very liberal style of feeding was adopted
—the cows being well pastured in summer, hay, roots, grains,
cake and corn in winter. Even under these favourable condi-
tions not one of them equals the old herds we have named.
There are also records of other breeds, but excepting the
Channel Islands and Ayrshire races, none approach the Short
horns in productive power and general utility. Both these
kinds possess great milking propensities, as the following
figures indicate: —

From the 12th Report or the Agricultural Dairy

Association.

Ayrshires.

Lady Kilburnie, Mr. Sturtevant, gave 863 gals, in 1 year.

Georgie, Mr. Sturtevant, gave 962 gals, in 1 year, and dr.
22 days.

Jean Armour, Mr. Peters, gave 28qrts. daily, lljlb. butter
a week.

Jerseys.
Myrtle, Mr. Fitch, gave 28 qrts. daily, 15 Jib. butter a week,
Maggie Mitchell, Mr. Tilden, gave 28 qrts. daily, 18fib.
butter, a week and 870 gals, in a year.
Lady Melton, Mr. Converse, averaged 15-921b, for 18 weeks.
Valuable as these breeds are in their respective places, it is
generally admitted that their qualifications as feeders are small
aud not suited to the good pastures of this country.

Let us no ir see to what extent the descendants of the early
Shorthorns have iuherited the properties of their illustrious
parents. Their powers of quick feeding and laying on finely
marbled flesh most rapidly is still manifest in every Show-yard.
On the other hand the milking properties of the tribe have not
reci ived their share of attention; on the contrary, some breeders,
superseding nature by providing nurse cows for their favourite's
offspring, and allowing the dams to go dry aa quhkly as possi-
ble, appear to have aimed at extinguishing the special useful-
ness of the tribe, while others, intent on Show honours aloue
have so forced their young bulls and heifers to an unnatural
degree of fa'.ness as to render them, the females especially,
almost incapable in the future of fulfilling their natural duties.
In order to estimate aright the emit of this treatment, let as
glance for a moment at the question of lactation. Can we,
therefore, wonder at the infertility and loss of milk-secretiog
power evinced by so many families of pure-bred Shorthorns ?
Mr.Carr, in the work before quoted, has an admirable paragraph
on this subject, which I beg your permission to introduce-
(See p. 91.) What is the natural deduction which every prac-
tical man ought to draw in this matter P Not only to avoid
purchasing so treated or maltreated cattle for stock or dairy
purposes, but their descendants also, the injury often beingtraus-
mitted beyond their own offspring. Many instances of this
loss of generative and secretive power are on record. Two
cases have recently occurred in my own herd. No. 1 is a
handsome roan heifer that from the first would fatten so freely
even on little else than ordinary pasture that every effort to
obtain a calf from her was useless ; change of diet, from mo-
derate to poor ; change of bull, plenty of exercise in the open
air were tried, but all to no purpose ; the Cattle Show seemed
her only resource at four years old. No. 2 is the daughter of
a grand milker, bred by Mr. Drake ; the dam's average over
nine months oflastyeir was 12-41 qrts., not including her
period of rest, or near 900 gals, in the year. This season
calving the end of March, she has averaged 15 qts. a day over
more than eight months, being 910 gals., and is still in milk.
The excellence of the dam induced me to buy her daughter, a.
superior heifer with great style and substance ; during the eight
months in 1876 she was milking her average was 3-93 q'sperday,
or 240 gals, for the year. The present season showed but little or
no improvement ; her milk lasted nine months, and averaged
3-72 quarts daily, or 250 gallons for the season— one of the
poorest returns I have compiled. The explanation, however,
is easy— the_ heifer had been trained for the Chippeuham
Show. She won the prize, but in winning that she his lost
her family's reputation aud her own usefulness. I shall
probably persevere for another year or two with her, to sea
if the evil effects of forcing can b3 remedied by judicious
treatment, if not in her own case, perhaps in that of her
offspring.

Training for Show honours — what a misnomer ! Good
training is a development of the auimal's properties to such an
extent that the gn atest usefulness may be reached, but fashion-
able training means the sacrifice of every good quality in tha

86

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE.

"niliviJual beast, ending in their extinction in the tribe. Per-
haps here we have an explanation of the wide-spread objection
which practical dairy farmers have to the pure-bred Shorthorn-
Tor many years I was persuaded, against my will, not to in-
vest in them ; every friend advised me to leave them alone —
they were useless and would ruin ray herd. Believing, how-
ever, that their old and valuable properties were still latent*
though from neglect undeveloped, I decided upon crossing a
herd of large dairy cows with pure-bred bulls from families
noted for their milking propensities, of which there are many
etill extant, such as the Henriettas of Kingscote, the Peaih
of Nunwick, the Chaff Seraphinas tribe, Mr. Jefferson's Bride
family and oldest of all Knightley cattle, Stephen's Princes>e5
and their off-shoots. There are doubtless many other families
which still retain the power of their ancestors if they are pro-
perly educed. Almost all depends on this — by discreet feeding,
I md usage, early breeding, regular and cle&u-milkiug cows may
be trained to a high standard of usefulness.

Of course it is taken for granted certain qualities are present
in the heifers — the extent of thess depends on the sagacity of
their breeders. If bulls are used only from deep-milking daras5
themselves again' the members of milking tribes, ooupled
with cows only of similar qualities, the result must be a race
with strong secretive powers, and the more often this system
of selection be observed, the more fixed become the qualities
so much desired. This we find is the case in the instances
just quoted, for where properly pairtd and the milking ten-
dencies well attended to, the old powers of the Shorthorn still
exist in perfection. In proof of which I can attest Mr.
Drake's Meadowfiowers, Mr. Saunder's Pearh, Mr. Hand's
Cowslips are splendid milkers. Mr. Wilson writes that one of the
Henriettas that she was one of the best cows in his dairy of
thirty. Mr. Bland informed me, at the lastGaddesby sale, that
his Princesses are all milkers. Rose Ann by Conra, one of the
tribe, calved twins, male and female, some time since. After
they had contented themselves, 8 qts- of milk each night and
morning were drawn from her, an enormous yield, rarely
equalled. .1 am fortunate enough to be the owner of one o'
these calves, and among my heifers I would not substitute for
< him any bull in the country. Brother Jonathan has also
something to say about modern Shorthorns. In 1874: Flora
xave 1,200 gals, milk, equal to 415 lb. butter yearly. Rosa
gave 1,360 gals. milk. Maid of Athol gave milk 1,500 gals.
513 lb. butter yearly. These cases are related by Professor
Wctherell of Boston, who writes : " It is not necessary to prove
that the Shorthorns are great milkers ; the breed for nearly
1,000 years has been known, as it still is, distinguished for that
quality."

So much for the females. Now a word or two about the
males. It is a well ascertained fact that in-bred families
possess the .greatest power of transmitting their qualities
(whatever they may be) to their descendants. The extent to
which the practice has been carried in Shorthorn breeding i*
only too well known. The inference therefore is that bulls o
this tribe would be very powerful agents in impressing the
properties of the breed on their offspring, and such is, in fact)
the case. Professor Wetherell says, " as a rule the prepotency
of the male of pure-bred stock greatly preponderates. Spare
neither time nor money in procuring the right sort of bull,
making sure always that he ia of a renowned milking ancestry.
.Milking qualities, like other good and bad qualities, are here-
ditary, and therefore transmissible. In regard to Shorthorns
balls asHubback, Favourite, Kelton 1st, Belvidere, Duke

of Northumberland, and Earl of Dublin were all remarkably
prepotent in their influence on their progeny. This last-namel
bull impressed deep-milking qualities upon all his get, this
being due, as it was claimed, to the influence of the Princess
blood, was inherited by and characterised this noble bull." 'I
believe these opinions, in the main, are supported by almost
ever/ writer and breeder on this side of the Atlantic also.

Now, what is our position and duty as practical dairy
farmers in relation hereto ? Most of us possess herds of
more or less value generally of mixed breeds, iu which the 'Un-
registered Shorthorn is very prominent. Are we to sacrific6
these and replace them by high-priced pedigree stock,
among which, without careful selection, we find fewer prizes
than blanks? Most certainly.no! I beg to submit that
seeing the increasing demand for and value of dairy produce,
our wisest course is, before Normandy and Swedish butter,
American cheese, and Swiss milk usurp our place iu the
markets, to take action at once and improve the productive
character of our own herds by using pure-bred Shorthorn
bulls among them, whether Ayrshire, Hereforl, Devon,
Jersey, Shorthorn, or all combined, it matters not. We have
shown no bulls are so valuable for crossing with them, and
none alter their character so soon and so desirably as the
Shorthorn. To my brother dairymen, then, I would em-
phatically say, '' Breed from your own stock."

Home-bred stock is always more profitable than bought stock
Use-pure-bred Shorthorn bulls from dams which you know to
be deep milkers, do not be led away by high-sounding namps
or handsome frames. " Haridsome is that handsome does," and
the first requisite -of a dairyman's bull is that lie comes from a
proved and well-known tribe which possesses the qualities you.
can appreciate and which he can transmit. Such animals are
not difficult to find nor expensive to buy. You may purchase
them at auy price that suits your pocket and taste, from £10
to £100. Treat the produce of this union again in the same
way, pairing them with mates of the same tire as their sirej
thus fixing and rendering permanent those types of character
which are sow so valuable, and I am sorry to add so scarce.
If yon will permit me here, I will give you in a word my own
experience on these points. During the first ten years in busi-
ness I purchased my heifers and cows, the second ten years I
bred considerably and found our own stock milk and thrive far
better than those bought in ; and for nearly the last ten years
I have adopted the system mentioned above with the happiest
results. Every cow's milk is regularly measured and tabulated.
The average amount of milk given daily by a number of
bought-iu heifers taken at various periods from 1847 to 185
is 7.99 qts., equal to 426 gals, annually, keeping in milk 7'2
months. At a later periol, sixteen home-bred heifers by good,
but not pure-bred bulls, yielded an average daily of 7'35 qts.,
but kept in milk, 11-15 months equal to 600 gals, annually.
List year ten heifers by a pure-bred Shorthorn from good
dairy cows gave 9.51 qts. daily, and kept it up over a period
of twelve months each equal to 868 gils. yearly.

The system of feeding his been the same throughout—
pasture in summer supplemented by grains and hay, aud in
winter stalled on roots, grains, hay, aud to the best milkers
some meal. I could give you the details of others having
second and third crosses, which are still more deceive ; but I
shall weary you, and it is quite too long and superfious. The plan
is simyle, and passing beforehand proved successful in other
cases. Like produces likes, and herds will mated soon become
well-bred*, only supposing that you know what you are aiai'aj
at, a^d, as Abe Lincoln said, " Go on pegging away."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

07

There is oue contingent all important to breeders audowuera
«f stock which must be said in conclusion. The imported
disc ises which our cattle are subject to have taken much of
tl e satisfaction and all the security out of stock-breeding.
" The ills that bovine flesh is heir to" cause sufficient losses
without receiving weekly shiploads of foot-and-mouth disease
pleuro-pnemonia, and rinderpest, which spread like a murrain
and destroy our best herds. The present Government is said
to be the farmer's friend. They would prove themselves not
that ouly, but the friends of every milk and meat consumer in
the land, if they put an end to this scourge. The remedy is
•easy, and, the power in their hands, we trust they will use itj
and at once. It is probable that when freed from these re-
peated inflictions of contagious disease, the geueral health and

well-being of our herds would soon be restored to something
like their pristine vigour and condition. Then the breeder
would take heart again, and English Shorthorn and Scotch
Galloways would soon displace the scraggy foreigner in our
nmket-places. The pleased agriculturist, too, secured from
constant anxiety, might then have some satisfaction in his
pastoral life, and watch M his loving herd wind slowly o'er the
lea" with all the pleasure and delight of a man who feels
that while success awaits him he is uot only adding to his oiv"
stores, but contributing to the comfort and wants of the
community.

An interesting discussion ensued, and it was resolved to
have the paper printed for distribution among the members of
the Association.

CENTRAL CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE,

ANNUAL MEETING.

A meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Agriculture was
held at noon on Dec. 12th, at the Salisbury Hotel, prepara-
tory to the annual meeting which immediately followed. In
the absence of the President (Earl Fortescue), the chair was
taken by Mr. C. M. Caldecott.

At the commencement of the proceedings,

The Secretary (Mr. Algernon Clarke) said the Rooms
Committee had communicated with the Society of Arts, and
made a provisional arrangement with the Secretary of that
Society for the holding of Council meetings in its rooms. The
Committee proposed that an arrngement should be concluded
for one year, the terms to be a guinea and a-half for each
meeting ; and as the Council usually held seven meetings in
the year and never more than eight, the expense attending the
meetings would be much less than it had been hitherto.

On the motion of Mr. T. Willson, seconded by Mr. D.
Long, the arrangement was sanctioned, the former gentleman
remarking that the rooms of the Society of Arts were admirably
adapted for the purpose, and the latter that the terms appeared
to him exceedingly moderate.

Mr. R. Stratton, as Chairman of the Committee on Cattle
Diseases, submitted a printed form of petition to the House of
Commons which had, he said, been circulated among the local
Chambers throughout the country.

On the motion o: Mr. T. Willson, seconded by Mr. St.
John Ackers, the petition was referred back to the Commit-
tee for further consideration.

A discussion ensued with regard to the deputation which it
had been arranged should hold an interview with the Lord
President of the Council on the subject of cattle diseases, on
the following Friday ; and it was determined that a memorial
should be prepared which would embody the recommendations
of the Select Committee of the House of Commons.

The Secretary then read a letter from Professor Tanner,
of the Science aud Art Department of the Privy Council,
requesting to be informed whether the Council was diposed to
take any steps for the purpose of securing for the sous of
farmers the advantages of scientific education in connection
with that Department.

Mr. H. Biddell said he believed there was a Committee of
the Royal Agricultural Society for that purpose.

Captain Craigie remarked that there was also a Standing
Committee of the Chamber.

Mr. Bell deprecated the question being disposed of in that
manner.

Mr. T. Willson urop-jsed the formation of a new Commit .
tee to confer with Professor Tanner on the subject, aud to re-
port to the next meeting of the Council.

Mr. Bell seconded the motion, and, it having been adopted,
Captain Craigie, Mr. Bail, Mr. Willson, and Mr. Phipps, M.P.,
were appoiuted to constitute the committee.

On the motion of Mr. J'n.i , M.P., the Report of the Local
Taxation Committee, presented to the last meeting, was re-
ceived and adopted, after which, on the motion of Mr. Clay,
seconded by Mr. Lywood, the annual Report to be submitted
to the annual meeting of the Chamber was agreed to.

The Secretary then read a letter, which he said he had
just received from the Lord President of the Council, stating
that a Cabinet Council having been fixed for Friday at 12.3Q,
it would not be possible for him to receive a deputation from
the Chamoer as soon as had been announced, and that lie
would receive it either at three o'clock on that day (Friday) or
at two o'clock on Thursday, his Grace intimating a preference
for tne latter.

After some conversation, it was decided that the interview
should be held on Thursday.

A discussion took place with regard to the subjects for future
Council meetings, aud it was determined that at the meeting
in February the first subject should be " Deductions from
Gross Rateable Value," and the secon 1," The Operation of the
Agricultural Holdings Act."

The Council meeting havingthus terminated.jtlieannual meet-
ing of ihe Chamber followed, Mr. G. F. Muntz succeeding Mr,
Caldecott in the chair in consequence of the latter gentleuiuu
b^ing unwe 1.

Mr. T. Willson, the auditor, presented the balance-sheet,
fr jm which it appeared that the receipts, including £317 Os. 9d.
in hand at the begiuuing of the jear, amounted to £716 Is. 5d.,
aud that the disbursements left a balance of £77 9s. 9d,

In reply to Mr. Read, M.P., Mr. Willson explained that
the balance at the beginning of last year was swollen con-
siderably by the collection of a considerable amount of arrears
and by the postponement of payments in consequence of the
Finance Committee being unable to make a quorum, and that
the establishment charges amouuU'd in the past year, as in the
preceding one, to about £300.

A vjte of thanks was given to Mr. T. Willson, and he was
re. pp i iiitcd auditor.

The following gentlemen were elected to fill the eight vacan-
cies in the Cjuncil, arising from retirement by rotation : — Mr.
G. F. Mun'z, Mr. James Howard, Mr. C. Clay, Mr. T. Duck-

F 2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

66

ham, Mr. Whitaker Wilson, Mr. Masfen, Mr. St. Joha Ackers^
and Mr. H. Neild.

Mr. James Howard gave notica that at the next meeting
he will raise the question of the payment of members of the
Council; and

Mr. T. Briggs gave notice that on the same oceasion he
will bring forward the subject of the malt-tax.

The Twelfth Annual Report was then presented, being as
follows : —

The Council of the Central and Associated Chambers of
Agriculture has to report that forty-nine Chambers of Agri-
culture and Farmers' Clubs are now in association, con-
tributing to the funds of the Council, and sending deputed
members to its meetings, namely :— The Central, Banbury,
Bedale, Brecknockshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire
and Isle of Ely, Cheshire, North Cneshire, Cirencester,
Cornwall, Cowbridge, Croydon, Devon and Cornwall,
Dorsetshire, South Durham and North Yorkshire,
Essex, Glouceeter-shire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertford-
shire, Kowdenshire, East Kent, West Kent, South Wiltshire,
Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Monmouthshire,
Newbury, Newcastle-on-Tyoe, Norfolk, Northamptonshire,
Nottinghamshire, Penrith, Peterborough, Ripon, Shropshire,
Somersetshire, Staffordshire, East Suffolk, West Suffolk,
Sunderland, Swindon, Warwickshire, Wisbech and North of
Isle of Ely, Worcestershire, East Riding of lorkshire,
West Riding of Yorkshire, and York; while the Scottish
Chamber is in corresponding association.

Local Taxation. — The Council at its meeting in March,
attended by representatives of twenty.seven Chambers,
expressed its satisfaction at the prompt re-introduction of the
Prisons Bill by the Government, and at the progress made by
that measure in the House of Commons. The Council passed
& resolution by a large majority approving generally of the
Valuation Bill as tending to secure a more, uniform and fair
assessment of rated property, and recorded its satisfaction at
the withdrawal of provisions tc which Chambers of Agricul-
ture had previously objected.

Mr. Clare Read having given notice in the House of Com-
mons of bis memorable motion on Representative County
Boards, the Council at the same meeting unanimously passed
a resolution strongly supporting Mr. Read's motion. That
motion was subsequently passed, by the consent of both great
parties in the House of Commons, and will undoubtedly
form the basis of the promised reform in Local Government.
At the adjourned discussion on Local Taxation and Adminis-
tration in April, a resolution expressing disappointment at
the small amount of relief given to real property with regard
to local taxation for matters general in their operation and
character, was withdrawn ; and of two amendments thanking
the Government for relief afforded to latepayers, one was lost
by a majority of one vote, and the other not put, owing to
"the previous question" being carried by a majority of
twenty-one to fourteen. The June meeting considered pro-
posed amendments to the Valuation Bill with reference to
taking actual rental as gross value, making rateable value the
basis for income-tax, and establishing special county boards
for appeal. The Council resolved by twenty to fifteen votes
in favour of amending the Definition of Gross Value con-
tained in clause 105 ot the Bill, so that rent, where no other
consideration is given for the hire of a hereditament, should
be taken as the basis of assessment. The Council unani-
mously supported the proposal to charge income-tax upon

rateable instead of gross value ; and a resolution was unani-
mously passed objecting to the Courts of Appeal provided by
the Valuation Bill, especially to the Justices in Petty Sessions,
the resolution further declaring tliat uuiformity of assessment
would be best secured by the establishment of Representative
County Boards. The Council, at its November meeting,
voted its thanks to the Local Taxation Committee, which has
presented to the several meetings during the year its valuable
reports upon measures before Parliament affecting the
interests of ratepayers, and in testimony of the great
services rendered by that Committee, your Council
are happy to quote from the Committee's own
annual report the following summary of its work:—
" The chief events of the past Session of Parliament affecting
Local Taxation were the passing of the Prisons Bill, the una-
nimous acceptance by the House of Commons of Mr. Clare
Read's motion for establishing representative county board",
and the carryiug of a measure to secure uniformity in the
very irregular dates of local accounts. Io the Prisons Act of
1877 the Committee recognise a further and most important
consequence of Sir Massey Lopes' successful motion of 1872.
That decision of Parliament is loyally followed by the Govern-
ment measure, which charges national duties on national
funds, and relieves ratepayers from a heavy and exceptional
tax. The passing of such a statute must therefore mark the
past session. During the past eight sessions the LoaaljTaxa-
tion Committee have had reason to object, in whole or in part,
to no less than 02 Bills, as adding to the special charges on
ratepayers. Gf these measures 43 have been defeated, 13
amended in their more objectionable features, and iu only
three instances has resistance proved unavailing. Viewing
the necessity of thus continuiug to protect an overweighted
class from the indiscriminate imposition of new burdens, the
Oommittee cannot but trust that an abuse of privileges which
may seriously endanger the most valuable safeguards of Par-
liamentary procedure will be made for the future impossible.

Highway Legislation. — No remedy having been pro-
vided by Parliament lor the continually increasing burden and
injustice to ratepayers consequent upon the abolition of turn-
pike tolls, and the efforts of Chambers of Agriculture to
obtain a good measure of Road Reform having for years
proved fruitless, the question was again considered by
the Council at its November meeting, when it was unani-
mously resolved : — "That the continued abolition of turnpike
trusts, the unsatisfactory condition of roads in some districts,,
and the increasing burden of highwy rates, render more im-
perative the introduction of a comprehensive highway bill, and
Councji trust that, in any legislation on the subject, due re-
gard will be had to the classification of highways and the
adoption of an improved system of tolls or local licenses
towards the maintenance of main roads ; and, further, that
it is desirable in every district to bring all highway, poor-law,
and sanitary administration under one authority, and to con-
stitute in every county a representative provincial board."

Traction Engines on Common Roads. — At the Feb-
ruary meeting the Council unanimously resolved, that it is
highly desirable, for the advancement of agriculture, that the
law should be so amended as to give every encouragement to
the use of locomotives, having due regard to the public safety
and interests.

Cattle Disease and Importation. — The past year has
been signalised by a remarkable advance in public opinion on
the question of Prevention of Contagious Diseases of Animals.
The sudden invasion and rapid spread of cattle plague early in

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the year demonstrated the inadequacy of the existing regula-
tions against imports of contagion ; yet the ultimate success
of the Privy Council Veterinary Department in stamping out
the disease proved how completely a contagious malady can be
mastered and suppressed by a central authority, acting by its
own officers and under its own rules. The alarm created by
the progress of the plague, the feeling aroused by the action of
the Chambers of Agriculture, the Londou Farmers' Club, the
Royal Agricultural Society, and other agricultural bodies,
and the debates in Parliament, led to the appointment of a
Select Committee of the House of Commons on Cattle Plague
ana Importation ; and the Report of that Committee, mak-
ing recommendations embodying to a large extent the pro-
posals which have been advocated for years by the Chambers
of Agriculture must be regarded not only as the greatest
Parliamentary event of the year affecting agricultural in-
terests, but as the highest encouragement to the Chambers to
persevere in their efforts for obtaining a sound system of
sanitary protection for the live stock of the United Kingdom.
The proposals laid before the Lord President, and His Grace'g
replies were printed in last year's Annual Report, and at the
February meeting the Council passed a resolution regretting
that those replies were unsatisfactory. It was also resolved
unanimously that the Council could not admit that the difficul-
ties attending interference with existing trade are insuperable,
the contrary being proved by the successful importation of
dead meat from America. The Council considered that
an alteration in the manner of conducting the trade
in animals with the Continent of Euiope is ab-
solutely necessary, and firmly maintained the proposals of
the joint deputation with regard to slaughter, quarantine, and
uniform internal regulations, as the minimum that could be
considered to afford anything like adequate protection frou
disease. And in view of the altered circuiutances of the
present time, the Council desired to press as strongly as pos-
sible the great desirableness of the slaughter of all cattle at
the port, not of debarkation, but of embarkation, except such
as are intended for and entered as store stock ; while such live
stock should be admitted, as before proposed, only uuder regu-
lations of strict quarantine at the ports of debarkation.
Copies of the resolutions were forwarded to the Lord Presi-
dent of the Privy Council and to the Prime Minister. At the
March meeting, the Council voted its warmest thanks to the
Chairman, Earl Fortescue, for the prompt and able manner
in which his lordship had brought forward the Cattle Disease
and Cattle Importation question in the House of Lords. At
the April meeting the Council resolved to support the motion
of which the Vice-Chairman, Sir George Jenkinson, had given
notice in the House of Commons in favour of slaughtering
imported cattle at the places of embarkation, excepting store
cattle to be admitted under strict quarantine. Owing to
want of opportunity, however, and other circumstances be-
yond the Vice-Chairman's control, this motion was not brought
forward ; and the result instead was the appointment of a
Select Committee to inquire into the whole subject of con-
tagious cattle diseases and the importation of live stock. At
the same time the Council declared its opinion that the large
and successful importation of American meat would fully jus-
tify the Government in giving immediate effect to Sir George
Jenkinson's proposal without the delay inseparable from
another Committee of Inquiry; but that if an inquiry be
held, it should be thorough and exhaustive, embracing the
whole question of the cost to the country of cattle diseases.

t he Cattle Diseases Committee of the Council were autho-
z 'd to watch the inquiry and to select witnesses to give evi-
dence ou behalf of the Chambers of Agriculture. Tha
Council also declared its opinion that, owing to their diver-
sity, the orders of different local authorities are inadequate to
deal with the increasmg spread of cattle diseases, and recom-
mended that the Privy Council should i3sue uniform and com-
pu'aory orders to apply to the whole of the country. Excep-
tion of certain districts from the operation of these orders
should be made, where shown to be necessary, by the local
authorities of those districts. Aud, inasmuch as it is au
established fact that the cattle plague is not indigenous to
this country, but imported, and that farmers and graziers are
in no way responsible for its introduction, the members of
this Chamber pleaded that they who suffer loss in conse-
quence of the appearance of the plague amongst their cattle
ought in all cases to receive full compensation from the impe-
rial exchequer, and not from local rates. Copies of these
resolutions were forwarded to every member of the House of
Commons. At the April meeting, on the recommendation of
the Cattle Diseases Committee, fifteen gentlemen were named
to be requested by the Council to give evi ieuce before the
Select Committee; and the Cattle Diseases Committee accord-
ingly invited and received the assurance of the best assistance
of those gentlemen in speaking to the heads of evidence pre-
pared! However, upon an intimation being received from Sir
H. Selwin-Ibbetson that, for the purpose of concluding the
inquiry at an early date, the number of witnesses on behalf of
the Couucil must he limited to two or three, Professor John
G;mgee, Mr. William Stratton, and Mr. James Odanis only
were called expressly on behalf of the Council. These wit-
nesses gave mo3t valuable and important evidence, as to the
extent of losses by preventible diseases of animals, the feasi-
bility of preventing the re-introduction of such diseases from
abroad, the practicability of replacing the large imports by a
dead meat trade, the willingness of farmers to submit to the
necessary sanitary regulations, and the views of the Cham-
bers respecting remedial measures which alone would be
effectual. Trie Council cannot but feel that the facts and
views laid before the Select Com uittee by Professor Gamgee,
Mr. William Stratton, and Mr. James Odams on their behalf
together with the important acd powerful statements and expo
sitionof the views of agriculturists on the question given in
evidence by Mr. C. S. Rea , M.P., Mr. James Howard, Mr,
Thomas C. Booth, Mr. Jacob Wilson, Mr. George Rea, Pro
fessor J. P. Sheldon, Mr. John Soulby, Mr. A. G. Robinson,
Mr. James Melvin, and Mr. C. Tisdall, were irresistible in
leading the Select Committee to report mainly in favour of the
views and proposals of these witnesses, approved, as they
were, by the whole agricultural community. At the Novem-
ber meeting, the Council adopted a Report from the Cattle
Diseases Committee as follows : " Your Committee have great
pleasure in congratulating the Council on the very
able and satisfactory Report of the Select Committee
of the House of Commons on CaUle Plague and
Importation of Live Stock — a committee not specially repre-
senting the agricultural interest, but comprising influential
members of all political parties. After a most patient aud
laborious investigation, that Committee came to the conclu-
i-ion.that the measures which the Central and Associate I
Chambers of Agriculture have consistently advocated ?s neces
sary for the suppression of these diseases are such as it is
desirable should be adopted in the interests of the commun i

70

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

at large, and not of agriculturists ouly. Your Committee view
with extreme regret the continued reiteration ol the ground-
less imputation that our efforts to obtain security for our
flecks and herds against imported disease arise from a desire
to procure any reversal of the Free-trade policy long delibe.
rately adopted by this country. We havo throughout sought
protection, not against competition, but contagion from
abroad. Your Committee would call attention to the fact
that during the restrictions tlu3 year on the importation of
lve stock from the greater part of Europe the prices of meat
have not risen, but, on the contrary, are appreciably lower —
the natural result of the comparative .freedom of our home
stock from disease and of a largely-increased importation of
dead meat. Your Committee trust that the Government will
lose no time in taking the necessary steps to carry out the
recommendations of the Select Committee in a matter of such
pressing importance. And your Committee recommend the
Council forthwith to memorialise the Lord President to this
effect, and to prepare a petition for presentation to Parliament
at the beginning of next session, earnestly praying for the
requisite legislation on the subject. Yrour Committee cannot
conclude without expressing their deep obligation to those
gentlemen whose valuable evidence effectually enforced before
the Select Committee the views so long maintained by the
Coiucil on this question. — Fortescue, Chairman." It
was resolved that a 'memorial to the Lord President
shmld be drawn up, to be presented by deputation, praying
that legislative effect may be given to the recommendations of

the Select Committee, which include slaughter of imported
animals at the place of debarkation, a step, your Council be-
lieve, naturally leading to the ultimate adoption of slaughter
at the ports of foreign embarkation. &. form of petition to"
the House of Commons has been prepared and circulated ;
and in accordance with the resolutions of the Council the co»
operation of the Associated Chambers of Agriculture, and all
Farmers' Clubs and Agricultural Societies throughout the
kingdom, is being sought, for the purpose of urging Parliament
to pass the recommendations of the Select Committee into
law. At present the Cattle Diseases Committee have not
succeeded in devising a satisfactory method of inquiry into the
amount of meat annually produced in the kingdom, in accord'
ance with resolutions of the Council to collect such statistics
as proposed by Baron Limsdale ; but the subject is still under
consideration.

The Council has to announce that its future place of
meeting will be the large room of the Society of Arts
Adelphi ; while the office of the Chamber and meeting place
for committees is at 21, Arundel-street, Strand, W.C.

A statement of accounts is appended to this report.

John Algernon Ciarke, Secretary.

On the motion of Mr. Adkins, seconded by Mr. Bell, the
Report was adopted.

A discussioH respecting the circulation of the rules resulted
in the passing of a lesolution to the effect that a copy of
them should be appended to the next annual report.

The meeting then separated.

AGRICULTURE IN JAPAN.

No. I.

The principal productions of Japan are rice, silk, tea,
ti^ar, cotton, hemp, wheat, tobacco; the minor products
sre camphor, beeswax, honey, beans, cassia, seaweed,
andigo, mushrooms, &c. The methods pursued by the
growers of these articles have been described at various
times by our Consular service. There is an increasing
interest attached to the affairs of that country, and here-
after we may learn more fully the condition of the
Agricultural classes. At present our information is
limited to. the growing of a few of the more prominent
articles. The rice appears to be the chief source of food
for the people, and upon the success of this crop depends
the question of dearth or abundance. It is only in recent
years that the Government have withdrawn their suicidal
c licts against the export, whereby the cultivation had
been limited to the immediate wants of the country aud
the extension to fresh lands was discouraged.

The plant is known under the name of " Me ;" the
grain, before the husk is removed, is designated as " Momi "
(paddy) ; without the husk it is known as " Kome," or
rice, The hill, or upland, rice, which is sown ou dry
soil, is called "Okabo" ; ordinary rice is, as is generally
known, grown en irrigated lands. The early kinds are
small in grain and not sweet, but they meet a want when,
sis in the height of summer, there may be an absence of
grain of any kind. The ordinary, or late, crops are big
iu grain and sweet in flavour. In Japan, as in all rice-

growing countries, attention is paid as to what particular
kind of grain thrives in a fat and what in a thin soil ;
also what kinds of rice are best adapted to a cold aud
what to a warm climate. The Japanese have several
kinds, to which distinctive names are given, these being
either universal throughout the country or confined to
particular districts. Prior to sowing, the seed (rice-
grain) is always soaked in water, the length of immer-
sion depending on whether the sowing is for early,
ordinary, or late crops. The sowings are, however,
generally made between the mid die of February and the
end of April. The rice is taken just as it is packed in
bags, and immersed in water — a stream, well, or pond
all answering the purpose equally well. It is there left to
soak for ten, fifteen, or twenty days, and then taken out
and warm water poured over the bags, which are now
covered with an additional covering of matting, so as to in-
duce warmth and force the sprouting of the grain. Another
plan is to open the bags after they have been soaked, and
to dry the grain for two or three days, taking care to turn
it about frequently. It i3 brought indoors about dusk,
and covered with matting. The rice is sown when the
grain is on the point of sprouting. In some parts of the
country the rice is sown almost immediately after it has
been taken out of the water, and when the husks of tho
grain have j ust burst, and no more. The ground for the
reception of the seed ia chosen with an eye to richness

THE FARMER'S MAGAZfNE.

of soil aiut tjooJ facilities for irrigation. Towards the end
of the auluinu it is well ploughed, and stable manure is
mixed wioh the upturned soil. When spring comes
round, the soil is gone over with a spade, aud all lumpy
soil broken at each stroke of the spide or hoe ; trefoil,
young bamboo leaves, or, indeed, green leaves of any kind,
iish manure, or refuse oil is mixed with the soil, which is
manured besides, and then well flooded. The water
channels aro well banked up all round, aud care i3 taken
to keep the ground free from weeds : further, the surface
of the soil is smoothed down so as to present no irregu-
larities. When the water is cleared, and all muddy
particles are sunk to the bottom, the seed is sown broadcast.
This work is only entrusted to experienced bauds ; other-
wise the seed would appear in patches. After the sowing
the water is drawn off ; a fiue day is chosen for this, no
that the warm rays of the sun may penetrate the soil. The
•oil is left dry from morning to evening, when it is again
flooded, and so left till morning. The water is not allowed
to be more than two or three inches deep. If the weather
looks like rain the water is drawn off ; otherwise the rain
would wash away the seedlings altogether. When the
seedlings are well up, fish manure, or refuse oil, is
scattered over them to force them on and induce a thick
growth. Transplanting takes place in from forty-five to
fifty-five days after sowing : in this work the wives and
daughters of the farmers are largely employed. The
seedlings are planted out in tufts, two, three, four,
or five plants going to the tuft, according to the
practice prevailing in different localities. The tufts
are planted out in lines, with a space of from one
to two feet between each tuft. Much dexterity is
displayed in this, and a knowledge of the capabilities of
the soil is essential, so as to kaovf whether to plant
the rice out close or far apart. So soon as the planting
out is over, the proprietor goes round his lands to see
with a practised eye, whether any irregularities exist ; and
whatever he notices amiss he rectifies at once. From
15,000 to 20,000 tufts are required for 300 tsnboes of
ground (a tsubo measuring six feet square). In sowing,
a little over a pint-and-a-half of grain will suffice for
thirty tsuboes of ground. After planting out, the ground
is gone over with a light hand-rake and hoe, aud care is
taken that the soil does not press so heavily at the roots
of the seedlings, all foot-mr.rks are carefully erased3
the the ground is constantly weeded. When the plants
are well forward and full in grain, the water is taken off
the fields, so that the sun may penetrate the soil aud thus
harden the grain. When the earth has become thoroughly
hard at the roots of the plants, it is accepted as a sign
that the grain has attained a proper consistency of
hardness.

Rice crops suffer much from the depredations of birds
and vermin, and all sorts of appliances are resorted to
to scare tiese away. Either straw ropes, with clappers
attached, are stretched across the fields, or scare-crows
arc placed here and there. A favourite coutrivauce, par
ticularly noticeable iu hilly districts, is this; A hollowed

bamboo, of a foot or so in length, in which is a small stick,
is inserted ; this is supported on a couple of props, right
and left, which just keeps it at a balance. It is then placed
in such a position as to allow any of the small natural
rivulets of water that abound to play into it, thus causing
it to clatter up and down. It effectually scares away
birds and the like.

When harvest-time comes round, the crops are cut with
a sickle, the rice is bound in aheaves and left to dry in
the sun for about five days, and it is suspended, ears
down, from a bamboo frame. It is then taken iuto the
barns aud passed through a toothed instrument, which
roughly separates the ears from the stalks. It is then
run through a sieve and again dried in the sun; afterwards
it is winnowed, by which process the good and inferior
grains are separated, the one falling to the right and the
other to the left of the machine. Another aperture pro-
vides for the egress of dust, refuse, stalk, &:c. The grain
is then placed in a pestle and the husk separated from,
the grain, after which it is again winnowed and passed
through a fuunel placed on an inclined plane ; the best
and heaviest grain finds its way down the incline, the light
kind being caught in a wire-work net. The rke is nu\v
measured out, and made up into bags holding from 12 to
22 gallons of grain. The size of a rice bag is held to b
a test of the physique of the men of any particular dis
trict where rice is grown. The bigger the bag the
stronger and better built the man. The province of Owari
is noted for the size of its rice bags; the smallest are those
of Hizen and Dewa. Rice of the first quality i3 grown in
the provinces of Mino, Hego, Ise, Owari, Totomi, Ilizen,
Hinga, Yamashiro, Yamato, Suruga, Idzn, Omi, and
Mikawa. Second quality is grown in Harmie Tamba,
Tango, aud Tajima. Third quality in Kadzusa, Shimosa,
Musashi, Kaga, Echigo, and Shiuano. The relative pro-
duce : With a good harvest, one-qiurter acres best ground
produces 816 lb. of rice, of medium ground 583 lb., and
of inferior ground 467 lb. With a bad harvest one-quarter
acre of best ground produce of 467 lb., of medium ground
3501b., and of inferior ground 2S9 lb. These results are
based on the average products of a well-known rice district
in Hizen. The annual rice produce of Japan is estimated
at 30,000,000 kokus (a koku is equal to 250 catties, or
333 lb.) ; 50 bushels to the acre is considered an average
crop. 9,000,000 acres of ground are said to be under
tillage in the empire, supporting about 3a souls to the
acre. There is mention of the existence at Niigata of a
rice exchange (Beisha), from which the Government are
said to derive a large sum. The Company consists of
fifty members, each of whom pays a sum of 50 dollars as
entrance fee. The sales are conducted by auction, the
highest bidder being the purchaser. Five per cent, bargain-
money is deposited at the time of purchase, aud after the
lapse of ten days the purchaser may, if he think fit,
throw up his contract by forfeiting his bargain-money, or
he can adhere to it by paying another 5 per cent. The
ri c is taken, delivered at the end of the month, at j

price paid is according to the market value atth

72

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The cotton plant is not indigenous to Japan, but is said
to have been introduced somewhere between the years
782 aad 805 a.d. It is more generally believed to have
been introduced abou*-, the period comprised between the
years 1558 and 1609, and it has since then been extensively
cultivated, more particularly in the Southern provinces
bordering on the sea. There are now in Japan several
varieties of tho cotton plant, each having its peculiar ex-
cellence or otherwise. The mode of cultivation varies
according to the different qualities of soil, but that pur-
sued in the province of Totomi is generally quoted as an
example. Iu that province a soil of which one-third
part is sand is generally considered best adapted for
cotton. The seed is sown early in summer, and generally
in wheat-fields, iu furrows between the rows of wheat,
which are well manured before receiving the seed.

The manure is composed of burnt straw ashes, lees of
oil, chopped weeds, rice bran, and swamp mud, mixed in
equal proportions. It is usually worked over and over
again for about ten days, and then left to stand for about
fifty days before using. It is dropped in with the hand,
and the process is a familiar sight to anyone going about

the country. The seed is steeped a day and night in
water, then taken out and mixed with straw ashes. The
seeds are sown at proper distances from each other and
then covered with a layer of earth about half an inch
thick It is considered beneficial to tramp the earth
down lightly. Four or five day3 after sowing, the sprouts
appear. After the wheat crop has been gathered, the
young cotton plauta are thinned out aud a little liquid
manure poured over them. Soon alter this, when the
plants have attained a height of about four iuehes, a
manure made of fish, lees of oil, and sake, the whole
powdered fine, is applied. Later on, when the plants are
about six or seven inches high, the top sprout is nipped
off, and a slight manuring given as before. After this, w^en
the plant has put out some six or seven branches, the leaf-
buds at the end of each are nipped off, as also any leaf-buda
that appear along the branches. The flowers now gradu-
ally bloom, and then the seed-pod ripens, after which the
pod opens and displays the cotton. The cotton is then
picked aud dried in the sun. A grinding machine is
used for separating the cotton from the seed. When the
seeds have been got rid of, the cotton is then beaten out
even, and is now called finished cotton.

ROYAL DUBLIN FAT STOCK SHOW.

The entries were as follows: — Cattle, 59; sheep, 19
pens ; swine, 9 ; poultry, 353 ; piggeries, 133 ; farm and
dairy produce, 60 ; animal produce, 23 ; collections of
farm produce, 3, and 2 collections not for competition ;
Irish manufactured tweeds, 2. There were no entries of
agricultural produce from agricultural schools, the Com-
missioners of National Education, in their zeal for econo-
my, having withheld the small sum formerly granted for
the purpose of being awarded to the best collection from
agricultural schools exhibited at the Winter Show of the
Royal Dublin Society.

CATTLE.
The first section consists of two-year-old oxen of any
breed, and the first prize was easily taken by a bullock
belonging to and bred by J. L. Naper, Esq. Mr. Naper
has shown two-year-old oxen for several years, and always
brought out superior animals ; but his prize ox of this year
was, we consider, the be3t all over we have seen from the
Loughcrew stalls. He was particularly good in the back,
rib, aud loin, full in the thigh, and well finished, being
for his age a very ripe animal. Mr. O'Connell L. Mur-
phy's second prize ox was large, but uneven, and not up
to the quality of many animals we have seen Mr. Murphy
turn out in former years.

The aged section contained some very middling ani-
mals ; but the pair of oxen exhibited by the Marquis of
Headfort, which took first and second prizes, were unde-
niably good. They were large, thick, well-finished
bullocks, their especial dietary since they were put up to
fatten having been, for each, 6 stones of turnips, 4 lb. of
cak e, 4 lb of oats and hay. Mr. O'Conaell Murphy had

a good black polled cross-bred bullock in the section
which was highly commended.

In the class of fat cows there was nothing remarkable.
The class, a3 a whole, was very much inferior to previous
shows. Mr. Radcliff took the two prizes, and Mr. O'Con*
nell Murphy an H. C. The Duke of Leinster exhibited
an even two-year-old heifer, which got the first prize in
her class, and Mr Richard Walsh took the second with a
very fairly fed animal. We observe that Mr. Walsh still
uses Indian meal stirabout, along with oilcake and crushed
oats, in preparing his cattle for the Winter Show. Ma-
jor Barton showed a three-year-old Shorthorn heifer,
which was the best female in the house-fed classes. She
was bred by Mr. Littleboy, and is a handsome animal,
long and dsep in the frame, and covered with flesh of
first-rate quality ; altogether, a thoroughly useful animal,
not a mere mass of fat only fit for the chandler, and " too
rare and good for human nature's daily food," but profita-
ble both for butcher and consumer. Mr. R. Wilkir son
took the second prize with a good heifer, and Mr. Murphy
an H. C

In the out-fed class several animals were brought out
which could only be regarded as well-conditioned stores.
In the section in which oxen of any age or breed were
shown in pairs the Marquis of Headfort showed a pair of
very superier animals which got the first prize. These
oxen were four years old last May, and in addition to the
far-famed pasture of the Headfort demesne, had each got
daily for some time past 41b. of cake, and 2 lb. of
crushed oats. Both bullocks were well covered on the
back and ribs with hard flesh ; a dark roan, which was the
better animal of the two, was remarkably good in the fore

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

flank, and showed altogether a deal of Booth style, which
was, no doubt, owing to the fact that his sire was bred at
Kingefort. Mr. Mark Curtis took the secoud prize with
a pair of good oxen, and Mr. St. George Pepper the third
prize with a pair of large beasts, bat not snch well-finished
animals as we have seen coming from Ballygarth Castle.

Iu the class of cows of any age, Mr. T. D. M'Caun took
the first prize with a fairly finished pair; Mr. R. S.
Featherstonhaugh the second prize with two haudsome
Hereford cows of superior quality. Mr. P. B. Norton's
pair took the third prize, and Mr. U. W. RpyneH's pair of
Herefords were highly commended. Mr. Richard Walsh
took first ami second prizes in the section of two heifers of
Buy atre. These were all good animals, one of the first
prize pair being particularly so.

The three sections which were made up of single out-fed
cattle were fairly filled in point of numbers, but there was
nothingin these sections calling for special remark. On the
whole, the cow section was the best. Mr. Corbally's cow
was put first, Mr. Ridgeway's second, while Mr, Walsh's
cow was highly commended, and Mr. Blake's com-
mended.

SHEEP.

The wethers exhibited in the loug-woolled class were of
a useful description. The creim of the sheep depart-
ment was found in the short-woolled class, where Mr.
Naper took first and second prizes in the section of shear-
ling wethers with two pens, three in each, which were
superior to anything we have yet seen in Kildare-street.
These sheep were very handsome, and possessed great
character, while in respect to the way they had been
finished, they could not be beaten anywhere ; first-rate
quality, combined with early maturity, marking them as
rent-paying animals. Two of the wethers in Mr. Naper's
first prize pen weighed respectively 18 stones, and the
third sheep 1 9 stones, live weight. Mr. Peake took the
prize in the next section with a pen of three two-shear
wethers, of heavy weight and top quality. One of the
wethers was a remarkably thick animal, and, altogether,
it was a lot of splendid sheep, showing great perfection
in breeding and feeding. There was a special class for
Roscommon sheep, consisting of two classes. There
were two pens in each class of ordinary market sheep.

SWINE.

There were only cine lots of swine, which were chiefly
of a useful description for general use. Lord Clonmel
and Mr. Naper were the exhibitors of white pigs, and
Mr. Reynell, Mr. Waterhouse, and Mr. Peacocke of
Berkghire3. The Guardians of the North Dublin Union
showed three large, coarse pigs, which had been fed on
the offal of the workhouse.

PRIZE LIST.
JUDGES AND STEWARDS.— Pat Stock: J. Sanson,
Cloona Castle, Hullymouut; J. F. Boraford, Drumlargan,
Garadice , W. Heathcock, 32, Market-square, Liverpool.
Stewards: C. Cannon, J.P.; P. Riall, D.L. ; W.Owen,
J.P. Sheep amd Pigs ; J.Simson; A, Darker, Barn

73

Hill, Clousilla ; W. Ilea hcock. Stewards : Coloue1
Ffolliott, D.L. ; R. Chalouer, D.L. ; T. G. W. Saudford,
D.L.

CATTLE.

TAT OXEN.

Ox, calved in 1875. — First prize, J. L. Naper, Loughcrewj
Oldcastlf (Shorthorn) ; secoud, O'Conuell L. Murphy, Bree-
mount House, Trim.

Ox, calved prior to 1875. — First prize, R. Ball, Clonmel-
lon ; secoud, R. Ball.

fat cows.

Fat cow. — First prize, W. P. Radcliffe, Hindlestowrj,
Kells, Couuty Meath; second, R. W. Reynell, Kiilynon,
Killucan.

TAT HEIFERS.

Fat heifer, calved in 1875. — First prize, His Grace the Duke
of Lrinster, Carton, Maynooth ; second, R. Walsh, Kings-
wood, Saugart.

Fat heifer, calved prior to 1875 — First prize, Major H. L.
Barton, Straffau House, Straffin Station, County Kil-
dare ; second, R. Wilkinson, Balcorris, Santry, County
Dublin.

OUT-TED FAT CATTLE.

Two oxen, any age or breed. — First prize, Marquis of Head-
fort, Headfort House, Kells, County Meath ; second, M.
Curtis, Flemingtown, Naul ; third, T. S. G. Pepper, Bally-
garth Castle, Julianstown, County Meath.

Two cows of any ae:e. — First prize, T. D. M'Cann, Bea-
mond, Drogheda ; second, R. S. Featherstonhough, Rockview,
Killucan ; third, P. R. Norton, 'Purvey House, Dunabate.
Highly commended : R. W. Reynell.

Two heifers, any age. — First prize, R. Walsh ; second, R.
Walsh j third, R. Blake, Ladyrath, Wilkenstown, Navan.

SINGLE OUT-FED CATTLE.

Single ox. — First prize, L. Steen, Maidstown, Ardee ;
second, M. Goodbody, Inchmore House, Clara, King's
County.

Single heifer. — First prize, P. Blake ; second, R. Walsh.

Single cow. — First prize, M. J. Corbally, Rathbeal Hall,
Swords ; second, T. N. Ridgeway, Aghan Villa, Geashill.
Highly commended : R. Walsh. Commended : P. Blake.

SHEEP.

LONG-WOOLS.

Pen of three shearling wethers. — First prize, J. Dennis,
Ballygall House, Finglass ; second, R. Walsh.

Three wethers, exceeding one shear, and not exceeding three
shaar — First prize, R. Walsh ; second, J. Dennis.

Three ewes. — Commended : S. Mowbray, Killeany, Mount-
rath.

SHORT WOOLS.

Three shearling wethers. — First prize, J. N. Naper ;
second, J. N. Naper.

Three wethers, exceeding one shear, and not exceeding
three shear. — Prize, J. Peake, Mullaghmore, County Monag-
han.

Three ewes. — First prize, J. L. Naper ; second, S. Mow-
bray.

ROSCOMMON SHEEP.

Three shearling wethers. — First prize, R. Walsh ; second,
J. Dennis.

Three wethers, exceeding one shear, and not exceeding three
Bhear.— -First prize, J, Dennis ; second, R, Walsh.

u

TUB FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Three sheep, of any age or bu>oJ not qualified to compete
in the foregoing classes. — First pruo, 11. Walsh; second, S.
Mowbray.

PIGS.
Three pigR, small breed, not exceeding eighteen months old.
—Earl of Cloniuel.

Single pig, small breed, of any agp, not competing in the mers1 Gazette

foresoinj section.— First prize, J. L. Naper ; secoud, Eirl of
Clonmel.

Single pig, large breed, ot any age, not competing in the
foregoing section. — First prize, R. W. Reynell ; second, R.
W. Reynell.

Tliree pigs exhibited by a public institution. — Prize, Guard-
ians of North Dublin Union. — Abridged from The bisk Far-

Li'VE STOCK NOTES.

One of the hydra-headed mis-statements which are being
brought up continually against the cosmopolitan Short-
horn is that it cannot thrive on hard commons. I must
plead guilty to having once thought so myself ; but it
was only when "to see Shorthorns" was to visit the
pampered pets in their comfortable Towneley home. I was
subsequently shown, and soon learnt to know, that they
are a hardy race. My eyes were opened first at War-
laby, when I saw deep- fleshed blooming heifers straying
fetlock deep to find a bite over the snow-clad pasture.
In Carnarvonshire amidst the mountain morasses I sub-
sequently found them flourish, to the discomfiture of the
black native kine. Since that, one has known of experi-
ments tried in Devonshire with a variety of sorts, in-
cluding the aboriginal of the soil, and the Shorthorn
came out undoubtedly triumphant. Whether it can
adapt itself to the vicissitudes of hot climates as well as to
the severity of cold we don't know. But to see a herd,
as I did yesterday, feeding over hoof on a sort of half
grass, half sedge pasture, with rush and briar, scabious
and hard head, all flourishing, and to find them not only
thick-coated, but heavy-fleshed and mellow, glossy, and
with every indication of thorough health, speaks volumes
in their favour. Nor have they any artificial advantage
whatever; no hay at night, only the long "fog" for
breakfast, luncheon, and dinner, and no shelter to go to,
Bave a screen of holly against the wet South-westerly
winds. A collection of Herefords of the same age in an
adjoining field looked to my prejudiced eye, you may re-
mark, not a whit the better, if so well. But I am satis-
fied to have fought the battle of the pedigree Shorthorn.
Passing from their vicinity we are on a wet clay park,
amidst a flock of level and very shapely Shropshire sheep.
"Surely they rot here," I remark inquiringly. "Never had
one with a fluke in it that we know of, but then they
have plenty of dry food, cake, and chaff in the troughs
there." " Well, but they would certainly have rotted
where those cattle were ?" " I agree ; but you must remem-
ber the carnation grass grew there, and it all wants
draining. This land has been bled, but of course
ts close consistency holds the transient water
somewhat resolutely. There is no stagnant
soak, however, and that make all the difference. At
least that's my idea, and we certainly escape the rot,
which you could fairly expect as a certainty." "Well, but
how do you escape the foot-rot ?" " We scarcely ever have
it. Now and then one falls, but we dress it at once, and

it is soon well. It is the strong land that is our salva»
tion. It is your light, sandy soil that keeps your South-
downs lame, as you say they are." This was undoubtedly
novel reasoning to me ; but there must be something in
it, for we neighbours, though not clsse, have had this
same comparative experience for years. Even in brighter
lands than our impatient youth deems England to be,
sheep are suffering and scarce. An ex-squatter tells me
that he has just heard from Australia that on " paddocks"
(only thirty miles about in extent, my friend) where
twenty thousand sheep used to range, owing to the
excessive drought there is scarcely one to be seen now.
" They die like flies." How the experience of our life
varies ! How useless it is to look over into to-morrow !
Prudent catiginosa node premit dens our future. How
terribly frightened we were as farmers at the idea of the
overwhelming tide that was to arise of tinned Australian
meat ! Nature ever rectifies itself in one way or another.
When your day's work is over, just calmly sit you down
on the end of the canal-boat there and enjoy over your
pipe the sunset hues upon the Western sky, without
troubling what the morrow is to bring. Whatever the
stern task or hard experience be, so long as your ways
be honest you will have ample courage and intelligence
granted you to meet them with. I note an inquiry as to
the food, or rather the amount that is fitting for a fatten-
ing animal. Half the stock goes wrong from over-
stuffing, not to enlarge upon the woful waste of money
to the poeket. Seven pounds a day of mixed meal and
cake is the outside quantity that a yearling can consume
with advantage. More wonld only sicken and retard his
progress. This we have learnt from hard experience^
Don't over-do the root dose either. Just enough to keep
them open. Well-saved clover hay, fragrant as honey
and sweet to chew, helps more than corn and linseed.
One used to storm at the cowman and carter for saying
so, but I have lived to realise the fact. Take pain3,
then, at harvest-time. It is consequently wise to forecast
and consider how to secure the greatest possible quantity
of this extra-precious provender. In the first place;,,
don't attempt to ripen your own clover seed. You will
usually get a sample full of weed, partially malted, and
partially redolent of mildew. Apply to the professional
salesman, who has learnt his art, for it is no less ; by dint
of repeated experiment success and disappointment
alternate. This, however, applies rather to next spring's
performanee, For the present prepare due drcssiug for

THE FARMERS MAUAZINEJ.

75

the land. It is done well and Cheaply thus : by an
accumulation of ashes soaked in manure juice. The ash
is the best possible food for the young clover. If you
have the advantage of V pits, under sparred floors, you
are fortunate. But if not, as is commonly the case, and you
don't care or have not the means to make them now, get
the hedger to cut aud collect an amount of hazol, willow,
and, in fact, any wood free from thorns, which, on the
first wet day, the men can tie into clcsely-packed bundles
of faggots. Of these in the pens pack a floor, having
strewn a thick coating of ashes beneath. It is surprising
■what a cake of rich stuff will be spaded out in spring-
time, and how it will tell as nutriment for the starting
rootlets. It is, moreover, a great saving of litter, for
the liquid passing through, glances off the bright and
polished stems, getting absorbed by the dust below.
"When the seediug-time comes, too, take advantage of a
dry day to send the liquid-manure cart over the furrows.
Not a drop will be lost. It will all speak up. Liebig
teaches us that manurial essence taken in by soil in need
cannot be driven out by washing of the rains, even any
particle of it, any more than you can squeeze ink out of
new blotting-paper. When the pad has got soaked and
glossy with accumulated drink it will take in no more.
So too of the soil. But you are not likely to have any
such superabundance of liquid manure. Auyhow, secure
what you have in its undiluted potency, so well as you
can. It will bear much watering before it is distributed,
or it may burn the throat of the land. Above all things
give it the fair chance of a dry day, and toasted earth to
operate on. Fields thus prepared the last season, without
artificial of any sort, having only had a coating of muck
before the winter, show glorious roots alongside acres of
"spindlings" where artificial only has been given.

I omitted to comment, as I intended above, on the
value of cultivation in cattle, or rather stock generally.
If the rich, weighty Shropshire sheep can be grown and
t hrive where the galloping, wild Welsh wethers used
formerly to haunt, what an increase of value to the
country at large it must be, and consequently how great a
stimulus to ardent youth to use eye aud brains to keep
continually advancing to the better, which, after all, is
the law of our existence. I have lately seen a team of
cart horses clipped, and doing wondrous well. It seems so
hopeless sometimes to attempt drying the long coats of
the soaked animals from work under rain. Nature must
adapt them to meet many vicissitudes, no doubt, else
how do animals do in the open, as sometimes they
seem to prefer to encounter the driving storm ? Then,
on the other hand, some sorts will haste to shelter. It
is a subject that beats our imagination. It is just pru-
dent, perhaps, to do our best to make them comfortable,
when we have subjected them somewhat to civilisation.
Undried heels in the horse oftcu bring on a cracked
condition. For this give a good handful of clean-
washed groundsel twice-a-day, and the humour will soon
disappear. It seems a specific for this affection.

Vigil.

THE THAMES AND THE SEWAGE.— Mr. Mcchi
writes as follows to The limes ■. —

Sir J. W. Bazalgette, in his letter to you this day,
appears to be unaware that the quantity of solid matter in
liquid voidances exceeds that in the so-called solid excreta,
and as a manurial value, when dry, of £17 10s. per ton,
while the latter is only estimated, when dried, at £3 17*.
per ton. (See the late Dr. Letheby's tables.) It should
also be reraembe ed that animal voidances, washed from our
streets, form a considerable addition to that enormous
quantity supplied by a population of 4,000,000, who consume
daily the annual average produce of 20,000 acres of land}
in addition to vast supplies of foreign tea, coffee, sugar,
rice, wines, fruits, and other commodities, all having a
manurial value.

Surely such an accumulation must raise the banks of our
river. The fact is, the sewage should have gone to the land
1ustead of to the r'ver. The cost of doing this could hardly
have been greater in the one case than in the other, and
it must be done some day ; for, as at present, it amounts to
national suicide. What would be said of a proposal that
4,000,000 of well-fed sheep in a single district should deposit
their voidances in a river instead of on the land ? And yet
this comparison is a just one.

Agriculture lost much of its fertilizing supplies when house
cesspools were abolished, but I trust that the common sense
of the country will some day correct the tremendous mistake
which has been made.

DAIRY MANAGEMENT AND CATTLE FATTENING.
—I wonder how many farmers out of every hundred have
r°ad and studied the late Mr. Horsfall's admirable papers on
these subjects ? — papers which, in my humble opinion, would
put money into the pockets of juvenile farmers, and perhaps
of the seniors too. They are contained in the 17th and 18th
volumes of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, and if
published separately in a cheap shilling pamphlet, would confer
a real benefit on British agriculture ; for I do not believe that
up to this time, one farmer in a hundred has ever seen thera,
although they were published in the Journals of 1856 and
1857. Just now, when the dairy question has come to the
surface, these papers have an especial value, aud should no
longer be buried in the ruins of antiquity. We should hear
much less about unprofitable catt le feeding if Mr. Horsfall's
advice was acted on. When I reflect upon the masses of most
valuable practical and scientific information contained in the
Royal Agricultural Society's Journals, I cannot help thinking
how much profit they would bring to the farmer who frequently
referred to them. There is plenty of time for young eyes to
read them during the long winter evenings. No farmhouse
should be without them as a profitable investment. It would
be a fortunate thing if every farmer would think, as I do, that
our stock of agricultural knowledge might be almost daily
increased. — J. J. Mechi.

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.— Mr. P. Cunliffe
Owen, Secretary to the Rjyal British Commission, in-
forms us that the date fixed for sending in entries for the
live stock to be shown at the Paris Universal Exhibitiou
of 1S78 has becu iiteudul to the 15th uf this month.

76

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

DETERMINATION OF SEX.— With regard to the age-
of the birds which are to be bred together, there is no univers
sal rule. Cocks and hens in their second season will always
breed well together, and the chickens usually Hedge more
kindly than the produce of either older or younger birds. The
offspring of cockerels and pullets mated together are worst
in this particular, and in the large breeds are also more sub-
ject to leg-weakness. A cockerel mated with adult hens is
preferred by most amateurs, and usutlly produces very vigor,
ous and large chickens, but if only two or three, hens be put
with him there is almost sure to be a preponderance of
cockerels. An adult cock mated with pullets is also a good
arrangement. A valuable nen may be kept, and her eggs set
as long as she lays ; but, except in rare cases, a cock is of
little or no use after he is four years old, unless for exhibition,
for which purpose we have known birds preserved for seven
years and even more. In some cases, as we have hinted,
productive power may be maintained beyond four years ; and
so long as a breeding bird of proved value shows indisput-
able liveliness and vigour it would be a pity to discard him*
"We have hinted in the last paragraph that the breeder has
some control over the sexes of his produce, and we may re-
peat here more definitely that the following have long been
verified by general experience as ordinary rules, though
numerous exceptions occur: — 1. If a vigorous cockerel be
mated with not more than three adult hens, the cocks almost
always largely predominate in at least the early broods ; later
this becomes uncertain. 2. If an adult cock be mated with
iiot more than three pullets the result is very uncertain, the
one sex being as likely to occur as the other, but usually there
is a decided predominance on ope side rather than equality.
3. If an adult cock be mated with five or more pullets the
pullets are generally in excess ; and what cockerels there are
will be most numerous in the earlier eggs. 4. Young birds
or adult birds mated together are very uncertain ; but the
fewer hens and the more vigorous the stock, the greater is the
proportion of cockerels, which are always more numerous
in the earlier eggs of a season than trie later. It is also a
curious fact that chickens hatched late in the season are
often perceptibly more short-legged than the earlier birds ; we
have often remarked this in our own yard, and it has also
been observed by others. From these facts, while nothing like
certainty can be obtained, it is raauifest that the breeder pos-
sesses considerable power of obtaining such results as are
desired. — " CasseWs Illustrated Book of Poultry."

WEDDING RINGS. — In speaking of wedding-rings we
learn that these important symbols have not always been
manufactured from the precious metal, gold. We are told
that in lieu of a ring the church key has often been used ;
and Walpole tells of an instance where a curtain ring was
employed. The Duke of Hamilton fell so violently in love with
the younger of the celebrated Misses Gunning, at a party in Lord
Chesterfield's house, that two days after he sent for a parsor
to perform the marriage ceremony ; but as the Duke hac"
neither licence nor ring the clergyman refused to act. Noth
ing daunted, Hamilton declared " he would send for the Arch-
bishop ; at last they were married with a ring of a bed-cur-
tain, at half-past twelve at night, at Mayfair Chapel." For-
getful bridegrooms have been reduced to greater straits than
this even ; in one instance a leather ring had, on the spur of
the moment, to be cat out of a piece of kid from the bride's

glove. A tragic at >ry of a forgotten wedding-ring is told in
the " Livps of the Liudsays." When he should have been at
church, Celiu Lindsays, the young Earl of Balcarres was
quietly eatiug his breakfast in nightgown and slippers: when
reminded that Mauritia of Nassau was waiting for him at the
altar, he hurried to church, but forgot the ring ; a friend pre-
sent gave him one, which he, without looking at, placed on
the bride's finger. After the ceremony was over, the countess
glanced at her hand, and beheld a grinning Death's-head on
her ring. She fainted away ; and the omen made such an
impression on her that on recovering, she, declared she was
destined to die within the year, a presentiment that, probably
brought about its own fulfilment, for in a few months the
careless Colin was a widower. — Chambers'1 Journal.

A CANADIAN OPINION OF PROTECTION— We are
not affected by American competition to any appreciable
extent in Ontario, and but little in Quebec, while Manitoba
and the Maritime Frovinces are now looking to Ontario for
their supplies of the machinery we manufacture rather than to
the States, which lie contiguous to them, and it is only a
question of time, capital, and enterprise until all the Dominion
will use only reapers and mowers built in Canada. The
change from 15 to 17£ per cent, has not helped, but rather
hurt, the Canadian manufacturer, for it has had no appreciable
effect on the importation of machines, and has enhanced the
cost of producing them. A reaper is a compound article. A
great many manufactured articles enter into its construction
on most of which we have to p^y 17^ per cent, duty, instead
of 15 as formerly. Having to pay this I7£ per cent, on s°
many articles used in building a reaper, increases its cost, as
compared to the time when we paid only 15 per cent.
Let our friends who love protection put a duty on
pig iron, coal, coke, steel, &c, which are now free, and
will not the cost of producing reapers be greater, and must
not the price of the manufactured articles be enhanced P And
if the price in Canada is much increased, then in comes the
Complete article from some other country which has <br years
been kept out by low prices, more than by the 15 and 17£
per cent, duties that have prevailed. Then we would be com-
pelled to cry for protection from " protection," just as the
country cried out last winter when it was announced that
gas pipes and boiler tubes were put in the 17£ per cent,
list. It was at once seen that every boiler would cost more
than formerly, and from this protection, in so far as tabes were
concerned, the Government wisely relieved the country. It is
easy to increase the cost of manufactured goods by protection,
while if we would control our own market, and if we ever hope
to become a successful exporting nation, we must produce
cheaply, which can never be done under a high tariff. A
revision of the tariff would have been no remedy for hard
times. With the good crop, coupled with industry and fru-
gality, we will see a change lor the better long before there is
a change in the Government, brought about by the failure to
protect us sufficiently. — Toronto Weekly Globe.

MR. DAVID PULLEN.— We are glad to see it announced
that the proposal originated by Mr. B. Ashford, of the
Britannia Carriage Works, Fulham, fo' a testimanial to the
Assistant Secretary of the Smithfield Club has met with a
hearty response from exhibitors and others, and the present is
intended to be a New Year's gift of a timepiece, with a puree
containing the handsome sum of £500.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

77

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

FROM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 24.

Capricious and uncertain as our climate is, it is
unusual for Christmas to arrive dressed in other
guise than that of time-honoured frost and snow.
Of late years, however, a green Christmas has
been not unfrequently experienced, and to a
thoughtful observer it is evident that changes of
an important character are taking place in the
natural phenomena with which we have been wont
to associate the advent of the seasons. Old-
fashioned winters, as they are called, are becom-
ing the exception rather than the rule, and the
course of the year is broadly marked with a wet
and a dry season. During the past week the
weather has been to a great extent of an abnormal
character, the atmosphere having been humid, and
the temperature comparatively high. Frosts have
occurred occasionally at night it is true, but it can
hardly be said that winter, properly so called, has
arrived. Farmers have been enabled to make up
some of the lee-way lost through the recent heavy
rain, but outdoor operations have not been making
very rapid progress. Thrashing has been carried
on without much hindrance, but many samples of
damp aad inferior grain are still offered in our
markets. The aspect of the winter-sown wheat-
plant gives rise to no complaint, but at the same
time a too rapid development may render it more
sensitive to the action of frost later on. In the
present scarcity of roots and winter fodder the open
character of the weather and greenness of the pas-
tures are favourable for stock farmers. The approach
of the holiday season has exercised its usual quiet-
ing effect upon the grain trade, as at this season
of the year buyers and sellers alike, besides being
willing to abandon themselves as far as possible to
the genial influences which the season brings, are
accustomed to pause awhile to cast a retrospective
glance at past transactions before giving themselves
up to the anxiety and excitement of a new
campaign. This feeling has predominated during
the past week, and business has therefore been
very quiet — not weaker, through want of confi-
dence in the future course of prices, but deficient
in activity under the influence of the approaching
holidays. An interval of comparative quiet may,
generally speaking, be confidently anticipated at
Christmas, although last year it was of very short
duration, owing to unusual political excitement,

which had the effect of sending up prices 16s. per
qr. last spring. Whether the same cause will have
the same effect now remains to be seen, but an
ominou3 cloud hangs over the political horizon,
which is being watched with painful anxiety, as,
unlike the cloud which gathered in 1876, it
threatens the peace of this country. There is, of
course, always a tendency to exaggeration in times
of crisis, but political matters are far from reas-
suring, and, until something more definite can be
learnt as to the probable future course of events,
holders retain their confidence, and refrain from
pressing sales of wheat, even in face of liberal
supplies. Business has, therefore, been confined
to the supply of the immediate requirements of
millers, and, as a rule, prices have been fairly sus-
tained. The large arrivals from American Atlantic
ports have in a few instances led to a slipht reduc-
tion, but it has been scarcely quotable, and as the
Baltic ports are now closed no alteration has taken
place in Russian wheat. Stocks are, however,
large, and the imports from India show no diminu-
tion ; while the export movement continues fairly
active, and a healthy tone animates the market.
Maize has fully supported last week's prices, but
grinding barley and oats have given way slightly
on the week. The sales of English wheat noted
last week were 43,670 qrs., at 51s. 7d., against
47,103 qrs., at 50s. 4d. in the previous year. The
London averages were 57s. 3d. on 922 qrs. The
imports into the kingdom for the week ending
December 15th were 1,230,236 cwts. wheat, and
156,042 cwts. flour. Last Monday's market was
well attended, but the trade was to a great extent
influenced by the dulness which usually prevails
at the approach of the holiday season, and the
business transacted was mainly of a retail charac-
ter. The week's arrivals of English wheat
amounted to 2,798 qrs., and the small supply fresh
up on factors' stands met a slow sale at previous
currencies. The imports of foreign were again
liberal, in all 90,923 qrs., of which quantity 41,288
qrs. consisted of East Indian and Persian produce,
and 37,607 qrs. of American. The arrivals from
North Russian ports were only 3,870 qrs., the re-
mainder of the supply being from Germany and
New Zealand. Millers showed little disposition
to purchase, and where sales were effected previous
prices were, generally speaking, obtained, excert

78

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

for American sorts, which, being pressed for sals
ex-ship, gave way about' 6d. per quarter on the
week, with a quiet consumptive demand. The
week's exports were 8,170 qrs., which showed a
decrease of 3,404 qrs. on those of the previous
week. The supply of barley consisted of 4,547
quarters of home-grown, and 12,886 quarters of
foreign. There was an improved inquiry for malt-
ing descriptions, but giinding sorts were dull,
and prices the turn in buyers' favour. Maize
was again in very moderate su pply, the return
giving only 7,693 qrs. The trade for this article
ruled very stead j, and the full prices of the pre-
ceding week were obtainable both for round and
flat corn. There was a fair arrival of oats for the
time of year, the return showing about 37,500 qrs.
Dealers were enabled to supply themselves on for-
mer terms, but the demand was inactive both for
new and old corn. On Wednesday there were 380
qrs. of English Wheat and 32,110 qrs. of foreign
reported, and with a scanty attendance of buyers
business ruled dull for both wheat and feeding-
stuffs at nominally Monday's prices. On Friday
the supply had increased to 780 qrs. of English
wheat, and 32,480 qrs. of foreign. There was an
improved demand for wheat off stands at the close
of the market, although no quotable rise took place
in prices. Feeding-corn ruled quiet at previous
currencies. The imports of flour into the United
Kingdom for the week ending December 15th were
156,042 cwt., against 180,389 cwt. in the previous
week. The receipts were 20,118 sacks of English,
and 7,336 sacks and 10,208 barrels of foreign. The
trade has been inanimate, but no quotable altera-
tion can be noted in the value of either sacks or
barrels. The week's imports of beans were
101,433 cwts. and of peas 53,406 cwts.,
showing an increase of 37,254 cwts. on the
former, and 5,090 cwts. on the latter. There
has been a moderate amount of business passing
in both articles, but prices have undergone no
variation. The deliveries of malt were 19,149 qrs.
and the exports 4,508. A considerable want of
activity has been experienced in. this branch of
the trade during the past week, and quotations
have given way slightly for all varieties. A
healthy tone predominates in the agricultural
seed trade, in spite of the limited amount of busi-
ness which has been passing, owing to the near
approach of the holiday season, and previous prices
have been well supported for nearly all articles.
The few samples of new English red clover on
offer have been of only medium quality and
irregular value. American advices quote a reduc-
tion of Is. per cwt. for this article, but the induce-

ment is not sufficient to attract buyers here, whoaa
wants are being amply met by the supply of
French seed of good quality now offering in our
market. White clover and trefoil have attracted
but little attention, and values are unaltered. Of
mustard and canary, occasional sales have been
made at late rates, while fine rapeseed has advanced
Is. to 2s. per qr. owing to scarcity. Provincial
trade has ruled quiet during the past week, and the
tendency of prices has been in buyers' favour for
wheat, barley, and oats. At Livei pool on T uesday,
there waB a moderate enquiry for wheat at a de-
cline of Id. to 2d. per cental for both white and
red sorts. Flour was slow at previous currencies,
and barley and oats ruled quiet, without quotable
changes in values. A steady consumptive demand
was experienced for maize, at 29s. 3d. to 29s. 6d.
per qr. for new mixed American. The week's im-
ports included 46,700 qrs. of wheat and 21,600
qrs. of maize. At Newcastle wheat has been very
dull, but as holders have not pressed sales prices
have not undergone any quotable alteration ;
neither has any change taken place in the value
of spring corn. At Peterborough and Hull there
has been a quiet trade for both English and
foreign wheat at about last week's prices. At
Edinburgh the market was well supplied with
grain from the farmers, and wheat sold slowly at
a decline of Is. to 2s. per qr. Oats were also Is.
per qr. lower, but barley was unaltered in value.
At Leith the weather has been dry, and a mild
temperature has prevailed. At market on Wednes-
day Scotch wheat gave way Is. per qr., but foreign
was not quotably cheaper, although where sales of
Russian sorts were pressed prices were somewhat
irregular. Barley and oats were 6d. per qr. cheaper,
and flour met a slow sale at former prices. The
week's imports have been large of barley and flour,
but moderate of other articles. At Glasgow there
has been only a limited business passing in wheat
and flour, and the tendency of prices has been
against sellers. Spring corn has ruled quiet, and
maize has declined 3d. per qr. There have been
large arrivals of feeding corn during the past
week, but the imports of wheat have been
moderate. At Dublin the weather has been cold
and frosty, and the grain trade has ruled dull
for both wheat and maize, at a decline of Is. and
6d. per qr. respectively. At Cork dulness has pre-
vailed, and business has been depressed by the
political uneasiness. Holders of wheat refrain from
pressing sales, and business has been limited to the
supply of immediate milling requirements. Maize
remains steady, and quotations are unchanged for
all articles.

T I J E F A RMER'S M AG AZI N E.

The following are the Reports from Mark Lano
during the past month : —

Monday, Dec. 3. — The arrivals during the past week
have been : Euglish wheat, 2,569 qrs. ; foreign, 73,550
qrs. Exports, 6,524 qrs. There was again a small supply
of English wheat fresh up to market this morning, and
only the first samples maintained last week's prices, other
sorts selling slowly at drooping rallies ; of foreign the
arrivals were heavy, aud, with a moderate attendance of
millers, and a quiet consumptive demand was experi-
enced at about late rates. Country flour 19,964 9acks;
foreign, 2,768 sacks, and 4,381 brls. The trade ruled
slow for both sacks and barrels at about former quotations.
English Barley, 2,069 qrs.; Scotch, 1,492 qrs.;
foreign, 6,594 qrs. A weaker tendeucy was apparent,
and rather less money had to be accepted to effect sales.
Malt : English, 18,434 qrs. ; Scotch, 160 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,342 qrs. A quiet trade at unaltered currencies.
Maize, 7,702 qrs. ; a rather slower sale for both round
and flat corn, prices being the turn easier. English
oats, 1,430 qrs. ; Scotch, 130 qrs.; foreign, 44,071 qrs.
Fine old corn was fully as dear, but for secondary
qualities the trade was dull at barely late rates. English
beans, 965 qrs; foreign, 7,356 qrs. In moderate request
at former prices. Linseed, 38,274 qrs. Exports, 2,564
qrs. Unchanged.

Monday, Dec. 10. — The arrivals during the past week
have been : English wheat, 2,585 qrs. ; foreign 90,307
qrs. Exports 11,583 qrs. There was only a small supply of
English wheat at market this morning, and most of the
samples were in poor condition. For all fine lots
there was a ready sale at fully late rates, but
inferior descriptions were irregular in value. The im-
ports of foreign were again heavy, and, with a fair
attendance of millers, an improved demand was ex-
perienced at last Monday's extreme prices. Country flour,
17,872 sacks; foreign, 4,532 saeks, and 1,622 brls. A
quiet trade for both sacks and barrels at previous currencies.
English barley, 2,218 qrs.; Scotch, 489 qrs.; foreign
18,324 qrs. Inferior sorts of malting were the turn
cheaper to sell, but all fine qualities and grinding sorts,
although slow, were not quotably cheaper. Malt : Eng-
lish, 14,188 qrs.; Scotch, 120 qrs. Exports, 853
qrs. A dull trade at about former prices. Maize ;
10,081 qrs. Very firm, and 3d. to 6d. dearer for both
round and flat corn off stands. Euglish oats, 1,430 qrs. .
foreign, 86,673 qrs. Business was restricted, owing
to the liberal arrivals from abroad, and all descriptions
of new corn gave way 3d. to Gd. per qr. English beans,
G23 qrs.; foreign, 1,715 qrs. Very little doing, and
about Is. per qr. cheaper to sell. Linseed, 29,964 qrs.
Exports, 1,616 qr9. A slow sale at a decline of about Is.
per qr.

Monday, December 17th. — Tlie arrivals during
the past week have been : English wheat, 2,798

qrs. ; foreign. 90,923 qrs. Exports, S.179 qrs.
Tbere was only a small supply of English wheat
offering at market this morning, and the trade ruled slow
at former currencies. Of foreign the arrivals were again
liberal, and consisted mainly of American and East Indian
descriptions. With a fair attendance of millers a quiet
consumptive demand was experienced, at last week's prices.
Country flour, 20,118 sacks; foreign, 7,366 sacks and
10,208 barrels. There was not much business passing,
but previous rates were, generally speaking, obtainable for
both sacks and barrels. English barley, 4,188 qrs.;
Scotch, 359 qrs. ; foreign,"12,886 qrs. Malting varieties
were a shade firmer, but grinding sorts rather cheaper
when pressed for sale. Malt : Euglish, 18,199 qrs. ;
Scotch, 950 qrs. Exports, 4,508 qrs. Business ruled
slow, but quotations were nominally unchanged.
Maize, 7,693 qrs. The inquiry was a little less brisk,
but last week's prices were maintained for both round
tad flat sorts. English oats, 938 qrs. ; Scotch, 100
qrs ; foreign, 37,502 qrs. Old corn was unaltered in
value, but a decline of 3d. per qr. on the week took
place for all new varieties. English beans, 545 qrs. ;
foreign, 76 qrs. A quiet demand, at about late rates.
Linseed, 35,022 qrs. Exports, 1,885 qrs. Unaltered.

Monday, December 24th. — The arrivals dur-
ing the past week have been : English wheat,
2,614 qrs. Exports, 8,154 qrs. The supply of
English wheat fresh up to market this morning was
again small, and the trade, althongh quiet, was very firm
at fully late rates ; the arrivals of foreign were fair, and
considering the holiday character of the season the
market was well attended, and an active demand was
experienced at last Monday's extreme prices. Country flour
17,684 sacks ; foreign 2,292 sacks, and 1,475 brls. A
steady sale for both sacks and barrels at former currencies.
English barley, 2,539 qrs. ; Scotch, 250 qrs. ; foreign
20,732 qrs. There was a moderate inquiry for both
malting and grinding descriptions, and quotations under-
went no alteration. Malt : English, 16,265 qrs. ;
Scotch, 1,051 qrs. Exports, 2,445 qrs. A
dull trade, prices being the turn in buyers' favour.
Maize, 324 qrs. In fair demand, and very firmly
held at last Monday's extreme values. English oats, 992
qrs.; Scotch, 109 qrs.; Irish, 720Jqrs. : foreign, 53,671
qrs. Exports, 105 qrs. In moderate request at about last
week's prices. English beans, 641 qrs. ; foreign, 3,164
qrs. A slow sale at former rates. Liuseed, 11,049
qrs. Exports, 5,082 qrs. Unaltered in value and slow to
sell.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN FLOUR AND
IN MARK LANE.

„__ , _ _ . _ Shillings per Quarter

WHEAT, Eaaex & Kent, white old — to — new 6t» to 62

„ » , t» red old— — new 60 61

Norfolk, LincLush.,and Yorksh. red old 49 new 50 52

BARLEY Chevalier new 42 66

Grinding 36 to 39 Distilling 34 87

MALT, pale new68to73 old 70s. 75s.brown 53 67

R^-E , 36 38

80

OATS, English, feed 25 to 30

Scotch, feed — —

Irish, feed, white27
Ditto, black 24

BEANS, Mazajjan ...30
Htrrow —

PEAS, white boilers 40

Potato —

Potato —

28 Pine —

26 Potato —

34 Ticks 35

— Pigeon, old 43

45 Maple 38 to 40 Grey 35

FLOUR, per sack of 2S01bs., town households 46

Best country households, 43

Norfolk and Suffolk *>

POEEIGN GRAIN.

Shillings per Quarter

WHEAT, Dantzio, mixed 60 to 67 extra — to 71

Konigsberg 59 65 extra — 70

Rostock 60 66 old. — —

Silesian, red — — white — —

Poraera., Meckberg., and Ucnermrk red 54

Ghirka 50 to 63 Russian, hard, 50 to 64,Saxonska 51
Danish and Holstein, red — —...red American 52

Chilian, white 60 ..Californian 61 Australian 56

BARLEY, grinding 29 to 30 distilling 36

OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 23 to 25 feed 24

Danish and Swedish, feed 22 to 24 ..Stralsund ... 24

Canada 24 to 26 Riga 18 to 19 Petersburg... 19

TARBb, Spring 35

BEANS, Frieslandand Holstein •• —

Italian 32 to 33. ..Egyptian 34

PEAS, feeding and maple... 38 40 fine boilers 39

MAIZE, white 33 35. yellow 31

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

- — FLUCTUATIONS in the AVERAGE PRICE of WHEAT

48
36
50
46
42

Spanish, p. sack 45
extra and dble. 28

FLOUR, per sack, French 41 47

American, per bri 26 27.

3RIT1SH SEEDS.
Mustard, per bush., brown lis. to 15s., white... 10s. to 15s

Canary, per qr new 48s. to 50s fine... 49s.

Clovers ed, fine red and dark purple 90s., com... 60s

Coriander, per cwt. 22s

Tares, winter, new, per bushel . 6s.6d

Trefoil, fine old 38s

Ryegrass, perqr 38s.

Linseed, perqr. ...sowing 66s. to 68s., crushing 64s,

Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 !5s. to £11 0s>

Rapeseed, per qr new... 78s. 84».

Rape Cake, per ton *5 to £6 0s,

FOREIGN SEEDS.

Coriander, per cwt 26a- t0 28s

Cloverseed, red 58s. to 64s white 63s.

Hempseed, small 36s. to 38s. per qr Dutch 42s.

Trefoil 3fls.

Ryegrass, per cwt *)*•

Linseed, per qr Baltic 55s. to 56s. ... Bombay 57s.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 15s. to £10 17s 6d.

Rape Cake, per ton £6 10s. to £6 0s.

Rapeseed, Calcutta 62s. 66*.

Carraway **»■ 48e'

IMPERIAL AVERAGES

For the week ending Dec. 22, 1877.

Wheat 42,758* qrs. 61s. 4d.

Barley 83,6*71 „ 43s 3d.

Oats 6,241* „ 23a. lid.

64s-
27s-
6s.0d-
42s-
403-
66s-

44s.
38s.
42s.
68s.

LONDON AVERAGES.

Wheat 822 qra. 67s. 31.

Barley 568 „ 43s. 3d.

Oats — •> —s- od-

COMPARATIVE AVERAGES.

WHEAT.
Tears. Qrs. s

1873.. 61,157| ... 6:
1874... 61,663} ... 4
1876... 49,1251 ... 4
1876... 41,545} ... 6
1877... 42,758} ... 5

BARLEY.
Qrs.

86,460}
84,801 |
81,1014
76,937}
83,66?!

OATS.
Qrs.

6,41»f ... 2

4,2474 ... 2

4,6714 ... 2

4,918} ... 2

6,241i ... 2

AVERAGE S

Fob ihi Six Wbbks

HBOIFS

17, 1877

Nov. 24, 1877

Dec. 1, 1877

8, 1877

15, 1877

22, 1877

Aggregate Avg. of above.
The Bameperiod in 1876..,,

Nov.

Dec,
Dec.
Dec

Wheat,
a. d.

51

8

51

5

51

7

51

4

51

7

61

4

51

8

18

7

Barley.

«. d.

43 8
41 0

44 2
44 1
44 0

43 S

44 0
39 1

Oats.

8. d

21 9

24 3

21 11

23 10

24 0

23 11

24 3
26 5

Pbicb. iNov. 17.

Nov. 21.

Dec. 1.

Deo. 8. |Dec. 16.

61a. 8d. —- ,

61s. 7d. ... |
618. 6d. ... ••
61s. 4d. 1 ...

... p

... I
... w

".' r ... i

Dec. 2$.

FOREIGN GRAIN ENTERED FOR HOME CON

SUMPTION DURING THE WEEK ENDING DEC. 15.

Wheat cwt». 321238

Barley 85370

Oats 91997

Beans , ., „ 14550

Feaa cwts. 1823

Maize „ 3791

Flour 13088

CORN IMPORTED AND EXPORTED

For tee week ending Dec. 15.

Imported into

Exported.

Engl'd.

Scotl'd.

Ireland.

British.

Foreign

Cwts

973361

2H9131

235735

7335

49778

66721

269509

1806

Cwts.

61790
133777

14308

3628
40421
19012

Cwts.

205085

34580

19200

4285
85155

Cwts.

6301

131

1286

"l92

Owts.
43511

2

l eas

Beans

"370
658

1863379

263199

348305

5910

44539

Barley Meal

97161

6768
2096

"sn

45780
243

13101

931
"334
"45

1519
10

In. Corn Meal ...

....

Grand Total..
Malt.. are

106336
19b9/16

...

46023
309522

13101
361106

1310
9220
2127

1529
46068

Cobeitt #artitn jBarfeet

LONDON, THUKsnAT, December 20.

This being Christmas week, our market naturally wears a
more lively aspect, but business is not what it ouxht to be,
buyers holding aloof till Saturday's market. The supply of
vegetables has been above the average, and prices have
ruled low. Amongst Apples the commoner sorts have been
in excess of the demand, whilst first-rate varieties, ahough
making only average prices, have been short. Pears have
been mainly supplied fr.im the Continent, prices averaging
higher than for several years past, but owing to the forward
season they are nearly over. A very short supply of Cobo
lately has temporarily enhanced their value.

FRUIT.

a. rt. a. 'i.

Apples, V half-sieve

Cobs, per lb 0

Grapes, V lb 1

Lemons, %1 hundred. 4

Melons eaoh C

Oranges, V hundred 2

0 12 i
0 0 0
6 to 12 c

Peaches, per doi ...... 0 0 0 0

Pears, 5(9 dozen „ 2 fl 10 0

Pine Apples, 18 lb 16 SO

Figs, preen, each 0 0 0 0

Walnuts, per bushel 5 0 8 0

A.rtlohokes, per bus. 2 0 to 4 o

Eng, Globe, doz 2 0 4 0

Asparagus, sp., bun .16 0 0

Beans, Pr.. new, TH b. 10 0 0

Scarlet Runners, b. 0 0 0 1

Beet, per dezen 10 2 0

Brus. Sprouts, '& bs. 6 0 0

Cabbages, per dozen 10 2 0

Carrots, II bunch 0 4 0 6

Cauliflowers, per doi. 16 4 0

Celery, ^t bundle 18 2 0

Chllies, green, per 1C0.. 3 0 0 0

Cucumbers, each ...„. 10 16

Endive, per doz „. 10 2 0

Batavian, per doz.... 16 0 0

Garlic, per lb 0 6 0 (

Herbs, per bunch ...... 0 2 0 4

VKGETABLE8.

Horse Radish, ^ bund. 4 0

Leeks, per Duuoh 0 2

Lettuces, Co. per doz. 2 0

English, score 2 0

Mint ,f.-rn.. per bunch 0 6

Mushrooms, ^) pottle 1 0

Onions, 5tB 1 ' bunohes 3 6

Young, ^ bundls _. 0 6

Parsley, perbunoh „. 0 4

Radishes, per bunch.. 0 1

8panish per doz 1 0

New Jersey, per doz 2 0

Salsafy, %l bundle 1 0

Shallots, *) lb 0 6

Spinach per bushel _. 2 6

Tomatoes, •£ doz. ...... 1 0

Turnips, '& bun. 0 4

Potatoes :— Essex Regents, £90s. to 110s. ; Kent Regents,
100s. to llOs. ; Kent Kidneys, 140s. to 160s.

Printed by Hazell, Watson, &Viney, 265, Strand, London.

48, FENCHTJSCH STREET, LONDON.

PINE OLD MADEIRAS,

Sparkling Champagnes,

FINE OLD PORTS,
BURGUNDIES, RED AND WHITE,

Sparkling Burgundies, Red and White,

SHERRIES, IN EVERY VARIETY,
Moselles, Hocks, Sauternes and Clarets,

Sparkling Moselles and Hocks,

AUSTRIAN AND HUNGARIAN WINES,

And every other description of Wines of the finest
quality may always be had on the most reasonable terms

FROM

Messrs. Tuxford & Co.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

PBICE LISTS -A-HSTID S^ZMIZPLIES
Of any of the above Wines may be had

ON APPLICATION.

CORBY, LINCOLNSHIRE.

T^ARM TO BE LET, near to the Railway Station, containing about 350 acres, 9q
acres of which are grass. There are a new House and three homesteads,
all of which are in good repair. A lease for seven years if desired. Apply to
John Harris, Newton House, Irnham, Bourne ; or to Collyer, Briatow, Withers,
and Russell, the Receivers, 4, Bedford Row, London.

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k CO.,

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 184,6.
APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TRINITY HOUSE, &e., &c.

ADVERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS.
TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Booksellers

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d. per annum.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LI ME THE FIFTY-THIRD.

1niK2 SKK1E5

JANUARY TO JUNK, MDCCCLX XVIII

LONDON,

PUBLISHED f;V EtOGERSOfl AND TUXFORD, RAND

MAY BE HAD BT ORDER THROUGH ALL BOOKSELLERS.

LONDON :
PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON, & VINE?, 265, STRAND.

v. S"3

IN DEX.

A.

Aberystwith College, -264

Adulteration of Feeding Stuffs and Manures,

269,27 1
Agricultural Law Cases, 263, 362
Agricultural Societies : —

Borouglibndge, 138, 395

British Dairy Farmers, 64

Cheshire, 496

East of Fife, 159

Highland, 139, 183, 285, 347, 379, 461

KioKscote, 8l

Leicestershire, 86

Mid Lothian, 1 29

Norfolk, 29

North East of Ireland, 347

Royal of England, 53, 217, 309, 374, 421, 433

Shorthorn, 220, 3l4, 441
Anecdotes of the late King of Italy, 160, 196
A Parable : By a Man of Mark Lane, 193

B:

Barley Cultivation, 186

Buecher Breeding Farm. Illinois, 451.

Birmingham Sewage Farm. 44 1

Breeding of Curt Horses, 2b6

Breeding of Stock, 270

Brown Institution, 144

C.

Capital and Land, 276
Carbolic Acid for. Sheep, 306
Cattle Feeding, 1,262
Chambers ov Agriculture : —

Banbury, 358

Bedale, 25, 347

Breconshire, 351.'

Buckinghamshire, 203

Cambridgeshire, 3i.">

Central, 67, 221, 296, 3Sl, 462

Cirencester, 26, 135

Cornwall, 359

Devon and Cornwall, 3l5

Devonshire, 442

Fast Suffolk, 210, 3l5

Gloucester, 87., 359- l66

Herefordshire;, 315

Herts, 315.

Hexham, 87

Leicestershire 8T4 I35j M;f

Lincolnshire, b7, 317

Monmouthshire, 136, 317.

Norfolk, LD2, 4 12

Northamptonshire, 103

North Cheshire, 317

Nottingham, 317

Shropshire, 88

South Durham and North Yorks, 206, 317

South Wilts, 442

Staffordshire, 467

Sunderland, 89

Swindon, 89, 351'

Vale of Clyde, 357

AVarwickskire, 317,467

West Riding, «9

Worcestershire, 90, 317, 359, 467

York, 317,467
Charity Lands, 420
Cheese Factories, 230
Cheese from Potatoes, 265
Cleopatra's Needle, 301
Cold Storage Wharf, 474
Colic in the Horse, 367

Conference of South Midland Guardians, 499
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill,239, 304, 322-

24, 344, 476
Co-operative Sanitation, 96
Cork Butter Market, 195

Corn Trade Reviews, 77, 164, 251, 336, 414, 500
County Government Bill, 482
Cultivation of Roots, 444.

D.

Dairy Farming, 328

Dead Meat Trade, 420

Decline of Agriculture, 40 1

Diseased Meat, 197

Diseases of Stock, 30, 102, 153, 239

E.

Earthworms, 408

Ejjgs as Food, 3 56

Elementary Education Act, 86

Emigration, 460

English Cart Horse Stud Association,

Experiments in Turnip Cultivation, 370

P.

Failures in England and AYales, 400
Farmers' Sons, 443
Farmers' ('libs . —

Botley, 199, 271

Carmarthen, 235

Central, I, 168, 286, 383-

Croydon, l"s

Kramlinghaua, i~ I

371, 46P

a.

IND5S£.

Galashiels, 192

!x worth, 18 ;i

Maidstone, 286, 444

Midland, 44b'

Newcastle, 109, 269

Penrith, 26i)

Smithfield, 2 25

Staindrop, 237

Srowmarke-t, J 12, 1 86i

i eviotdale, 91

Tuubridge Wells, 176, l9l, 270

Upton-on-Severn, 394

V

Firm Work in Harvest, 383

ing Cattle, 257, 232', 307, 320j 3-5 1, 355
!■' ax Culture, 137
•"I sli of Diseased Animals, 34L
l-'olding Sheep on Turnips, 403
p'i"e Land-. 326

Free Trade in Land, 126, 157, 226, 320, 360, 458
French Dairy Products, 468
French Wheat Crop, 95-

G.

Gold in India, 117

i Currencies, 80, 166
i I rievances of Tenant Farmers, 357

H.

Harvest in Australia, 261

1 Lereford Herd Book Society, 160, 349, 49*

Highways Bill, 231

Home and Fobeign Farming:* —

Australia, 446

Brindisi, 150

Denmark, 477

Franc, 468

India, 411

Japan, 70, 99

Scotlond, 129

Spain, 17

Trans vaaL 93

r.

I importation ol Live Slock, 94, ns, [99, 3l:>,il7.

420
Irish Cattle Trade Association, 2.57
Irish Land Laws, 234, 259

Lecture by Lieut -Col. Jones, 12'

Light Land, 281

Lime in Agriculture, 352

Linseed Oil — Report, 124

Live Stock Note?, 74, 114, 132, '55,177,2.'),

277, 279, 3L8, 365, 396-400, 4.7L.4.98-
London Corn Trade Association, 495

M.
Meat Supply, 26, 136, 206, 261, 344, 350, 3.6b*
Meetings of the Half-year: —

Alexandra Park, 428

Ayr, 436

Bedford, 34S

Birmingham, 2U, 31 *2

Botley, 348

Carmarthen, 349

Cork, 440

Cottingham, 409*

Dublin, 72. 438

Glasgow, 461

Honiton, 424

Jersey, 395

Manchester, 479

Newark, 4g6

Norwich, 302

Otley, 497

Peterborough, 359'

Ripley, 440

Smithfield, 33

Talgarth, 34Q'

York, 5]
Meteorological Notes, 14ii
Middlemen, 369

N.

National Agricultural Labourers' Conference, 431
National Association of British and Irish Mil-
lers, 449
Nitrogenous Manures, 265
Notes from Tiptree, 30, 75, 86, 145-48, 229, 278

y.

Obituary: —

Loid Kinnaird, 145

Mr. C W. Johnson, 335
On Slandering Safely, 151
Origin, Decay, and Renovation of Soils, IK'
Origin of Nitrate in the Soil, 413

Journalism during the Republican Age of Rome
149

L.

Labour Question, 1 3

Land and the People, The, 339, 363, 400 43!

Land Question, 266

Large and Small Holdings

Pasture Land, 108

Paupeiism in the Metropolis, 16

Pedigree versus Quality, 143

Phonograph, The, 161

Pk-uro-Puenmonia in xAmerica, 255

Poaching as a Profession, 284

Potato Culture, 19, 152

Poultry Fattening, l3l

Preserving Mtat, 343, 460

Proposed Agricultural Exhibition in Lonon

258, 325
Protection in the Cnited States, 90

R

tlub'.it and Hare Disguster, 301!

Return of Numbers of Live Stock, 432

Review of L877 al Home, 97

Rhymes! 9 i. 1 37. 233? 308, i I 3

Rooks and Wood Pigeons; 159

Rougharn Farm AgieemeiH, 409

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, 4l9

S.

Sale at Fosse Farm, Radford,

Sale at, Worsley Hall. J 79

S.-i Warehouse at Manchester, is;

Seven VVotidersol America, 264

Steam Cultivation^ 2 13

S' raw— lis Value and Waste, 274

Stud-Book Association, 31*, 304

8 will Fed Gat tie, 405

Tenant Farmers' Economy, -2 35
Tenant Right, 260
Tobacco in India, 268
Ti ici ion Engines, 215
Treatment of Ewes, 327

Trade <>f Hull, l is
Trade of Liverpool, 122
Transfer of Land, 481
Transit of Live Cattle, 1 13
Tribunal of Rooks, 1V2
L'urnip Growing, 342

U.

University College, Aberystwith, 264

Useful Hints for Farmers, 76, ^56, 268, 353, il *-,

475
Use of Artificial Foods, 109; 269;
Utilisation of .Sewage, 12

V.

Veterinary Report, 4?9

Victor Emmanuel, the late, 16(), l')i

W.

Weather Forecasts, 18, 1 1 6, 368
Weather Statistics, 14 ,259
Weeds, 138
Workhou,»e Life, 33.

Wl\ E EM B E L L.I-S-H ME N T S

Royal Live?i . u

fride of Thorndaie, 2nd .

Late Mr. Richard: Horusby.

Mr. Henry. Corbbt

A Cotswold Yearling Ram

Grateful,

Page
1

81?

167
253
339
41-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

C O N T E N T S

JULY, 187$.

late. — FIVE TO ONE

Description of Plate.

Red Rust in Wheat

Agriculture in Baoaria

The Importation op Live Stock.

The Pari8 Cattle Show

Co-operation and Analysis

Agricultural Meetings in 1878.

Agricultural Societies

Chambers of Agriculture

Breeding and Management of Farm Horses

Historical Survey of French Agriculture

Field Experiments in Ireland .

The Land and the People

The Royal Agricultural Society of England and the

Experiments with Manures on Corn and Root Crops

Newcastle Horse Show

The Agricultural Hall Horse Show

Live Stock Notes ....

Bath and West of England Society : Meeting at Oxpo

Miscellaneous. ....

Review of the Corn Trade

mprovemrnt of

d, June 10 to 1

Page
1

3

4

6 and 9
. 14

. 15
7, 37, and 69
. 21
. 25
. 28
. 30
. 32
Cereals. 44.

. 4r

. 52

. 53

. 56

. 57

• 76

. 78

TUXFORD & CO.,

Wine Importers,
48, FENCHURCH STREET, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

POET ... ... 24s., 30s., 36s., 42s. per dozen & upwards,,

SHERRY 18s., 24s., 30s., 36s.

MADEIRA ... .... 30s., 36s., 42s., 48s.

(As supplied to the wounded in the East.)

MARSALA ... ... 20s., 24s., 28s., 32s.

CHAMPAGNE ... 30s., 36s.. 42s., 50s.

CLARET 12s., 15s., 18s., 24s.

BURGUNDY ... 24s., 30s., 36s., 42s.

Ditto (Sparkling) 36s., 42s,, 48s, 54s.

MOSELLE 24s., 30s., 36s., 42s.

Ditto (Sparkling) 32s., 38s., 44s>, 50s.

HOCK 20s., 24s., 30s., 36s,

HOCK (Sparkling) 32s., 38s,, 44s., 50s.

SAUTERNE 18s., 24s., 30s., 36s.

BRANDY 38s., 42s., 48s.

WHISKY 38s., 42s>

RUM 40s., 42s.

GIN ... ... 30s., 32s.

PORT in Quarter Casks of 28 gallons, from £14 14s.
SHERRY in Quarter Casks of 27 gallons, from £10 10s.

Sole Agent for Rousseau & Cie Reims Champagne,
Rivaz & Cie Cognac Brandies.

TUXFORD & CO.,

Wine Importers,
FENCHURCH STREET, KC.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

ALL GOODS FORWARDED CARRIAGE PAID.

Q ^x i^ssUm*

No. 2, Vol. LIL] FEBRUARY, 1878. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

0*

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

2Betnrate&

TO THB

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PHICB TWO 6HILLIWGS.

HAZKLL. WATSON, & V1NBY.] [PRINTBR8, 206, STRAND.

IONDON AND COUNTY BANKING COMPANY.

ESTABLISHED IN 1836, AND INCORPORATED IN 1874 UNDER "THE COMPANIES ACT, ltKSa."

SUBSCRIBED CAPITAL...£3,750,000, in 75,000 SHARES of £50 EACH.

PAID-UP CAPITAL £1'SS X

RESERVE FUND 699,985 0

DIRECTORS.
SIR THOMAS TYRINGHAM BER- I FREDERICK FRANCIS, Esq.

NARD. BaEt.
ROBT. ALEX. BROOKS, Esq.
JOHN JAMES CATER, Esq.
THOMAS STOCK COWIE, Esq.

WTLLIAM NICOL. E#Q.
ABRAHAM H. PHILLPOTT8, Fsq.
WILLIAM HENRY STONE, Esq.
JAMES D. THOMSON, Esq.

CHIEF INSPECTOR.
W. J. NORFOLK, Esq.

FREDERICK HARRISON, Esq.
EDWARD HARBORD LUSHING-
TON, Fsq.
, JAMES MORLEY, Esq.
Gbnbrai. Manager.— WTLLIAM McKEWAN, Esq.

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT. SECRETARY.

JAMES GRAY, Esq. GEORGE GOUGH, Esq

HEAD OFFICE, 21, LOMBARD STREET.

Hbad Office Managers.— WILLIAM HOWARD Esq.; JOSEPH ALFRED SMITH, Esq.

THE LONDON AND COUNTY BANK opens— ^^

DRAWING ACCOUNTS with Commercial Houses and Private Individuals, upon the plan usually adopted by ooaer

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS.— Deposit Receipts are issued for sums of Money placed upon these Accounts, and Interest is
•Howed for such peri >ds and at such rates as may be agreed udou. reference boiug had to the state of the Money Market.

CIRCULAR NOTES AND LETTERS OP CRKiDIT are issued, payable in the principal Cities and Towns ot the Con-
tinent, in Australia, Canada, India, and China, the United States, and elsewhere.

The Agency of Foreign and Country Banka is undertaken.

The Pcechase and Sals of Government and other Stocks, of English or Foreign Shares effeoted, and Divlmjds,
AjriruiTiBs, &c , received for Customers of the Bank.

Great facilities are also afforded to the Customers of the Bank fcr the receipt oi Money from the Towns where the Com-
pany has Branches.

The Officers of the Bank are bound not to disclose the transactions of any of its Customers.

By Order of the Directors, WM. McKEWAN, General Manager.

THOMAS BIGGr,

Agricultural & 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 Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for eflectually
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 lollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

% lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

8 1b. 40 „ „ „ 0 4 0

101b. 50 ,, „ „ 0 6 0

201b. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
801b. 150 ,, ,, included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 ,, „ , 10 0

60 lb. 250 ,, ., 13 6

601b. 300 „ „ 17 6

801b. 400 ,. „ „ 1 17 6

1001b. 600 „ ,, , 2 6 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
Prom Mr. Hbbkpath, the oelebrated 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
Oie mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions
given, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,
will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk "J in the skin, the

deece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numerott
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hsbapath, Sen., F.C.S., &c, Ac.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professorof Chemistry,

ijeicester House, Great Dover-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1865.

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ol the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had 1 been at home, I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' Tho
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 dressier, the
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Beiug determined to have
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of your
Specific, which 1 received the following day; and although
the weather was most severe in February during 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 sitfest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. RENNET.

B^" Flocknuasters would be 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 tenacioua
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless,
or they are not what they are represent ed to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS £!«, £5, J64, A «.

fc

'

^ e> :

^ j

1

si

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

FEBRUARY, 1878.

PLATE.

rRIDE OF THORNDALE 2nd,
A Prize Shorthorn Heifer, the Property of Mr. N. Catchpole, Ipswich.

Pride of Thorndale 2nd, a white heifer, three
years and seven months old when entered at the
Sinithtteld Club Cattle Show 1877, is by Oxford
Prize out of Piicle of Thorndale, by Thorndale
Grand Duke, was bred and exhibited by Mr. \V.
Catchpole, and awarded the cup for the best beast
in the show. She is sweet to look upon, having a
pretty head, with a kind eye and a slight dish in
the face, beautifully laid shoulder, an even,
lengthy, broad back, with deep, nicely-sprung
ribs, a level under-line and good quarters, but
rather light in her thighs for a fat heifer, which
was palpable to any one, though the coat was well

brushed up, and of which she had enough to
please the most fastidious lover of hairy beef. In
fact, with recollections of hobbling, puffy, panting
Baker-street obesities and the grease tub, she re-
minded us more of present agricultural show trim
than a Smithfield Club prize beast of years gone
by. We thought it a pity to send such a beauty
to the shambles, and as there is a note at the
bottom of the list of prize cups to this effect, "No
animal having once won either of these cups can
compete for it again," she may not be eaten, but
eating still.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

KINGSCOTE.

THE SCOTCH AGRICULTURAL LABOURER.

At the last meeting of the above Association, Colonel
Kingscote in the chair, Mr. John Clay, of Winfield,
Berwick-on-T\veed, gave a lecture on " The Scotch
Agricultural Labourer, together with Labour and its
Bearing on Land."

Mr. Clay said : — The South of Scotland, or what is popu-
larly known as the " Borders," is eminently an agricultural
country. It possesses no minerals to speak of, and its in-
habitants are little acquainted with manufactures excepting
the snaking of tweeds, a branch of trade pursued by the
populations at the thriving towns of Galashiels, Hawick, and
Selkirk. An immense quantity of wool grown upon the ad-
joining hills goes into consumption at those places. Agricul-
ture has thus been left Iree to develope itself in a more than

Old Series.

Q

ordinary manner. With such a fair field it has made
rapid progress during the last fif y years, and with few inter-
ruptions it has had a course of unparalleled success, benefiting
more or less the landlord, the tenant, and the labourer. It is
not my intention to touch in a direct manner either the land-
lord or bis tenant. My mission to-night is iu the first place
to put belore yuu in a rapid and concise manner the position
of the liorder labourer. It would be impossible for me to
touch upon the whole labouring population of Scotland con-
nected with agriculture, as every district has its different
habits and customs. Secondly, there will f jllow some remarks
upon labour and its bearing upon rents. Be it remembered
that I speak only of my own country, and that white speaking
of Scottish labour I do not wish to throw any animadversions
upon the labouring classes here. In travelling across the dis-
trict to which I belong you will find three classes of farms. Upon
the green hills of Cheviot, or the heather-clad Lammermoors,
there are immense sheep runs, bearing from five hundred to
live thousand head, either of the Cheviot breed or the more

LXXX1V.-

82

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

hardy blackfaced. Those farms are in a state of nature just
as they were when —

" Wild in the woods the noble savage ran."

The labour employed upon such farms is almost entirely con-
fiued to the shepherds, with a few extra hands at sheep-shear,
ing or hay-time. Those hill shepherds are by far the best
class of servants <n the district, and in fact they are the noblest
specimens of labourers I have ever met. They are a shrewd,
thinking class of individuals, seemingly lazy and indolent i»
many ways, but keenly alive to their master's interest. Their
thought by diy and their dream by night is their stock, and
for its sake they spare no pains. They rarely ever shift, and it
is no uncommon thing for generation to succeed generation ;
as the old man either retires or leaves this mortal scene for
smother world, so the son fills his place. The duty ofa
shepherd is not so much to work as to observe. They have to
study the character of their stock, they have to regard its
vrell-doins, whether a change of pasture or treatment is neces-
sary or not, and they have to watch the elements for sudden
storms or drifting snows. Living away amid those solitary
hills, where even the wild stream of the curlew or the bab-
bling of the brook is music to the stranger's ear, situated fa
from the haunts of the busy world, there has grown up year
after year a noble class of men, whose lives are marked by no
eventful history, but who plod on with honourable industry,
leaving behind them no " footprints on the sands of time "
but those which an earnest and faithful career must ever earn.
Without such a class of men the system pursued amid those
hills cnuld not be followed out. With ihe increase of wealth
and a different style of life, it is a matter of some difficulty
to get resident tenants for places so far removed from the
eentre of civilisation, if we may so term it. Til is, most of
the holding are "led" farms— that is, they are rented by
non-resid<-nt tenants, who visit them weekly or monthly, as
the case may be. Great responsibility therefore rests upon
the men, an 1 in a great miny cases it is tl e shepherd who
manages, and not the master. The manner in which those
rervants are paid is also an admirable one. Instead of re-
ceiving hard cash they are allowed the keep of from 50 to 65
sheep, which are mixed through the master's flock. Accord-
ing to their attention and ability so is their profit. With
other perquisites, such as a tree house and girden, keep of
cow, potatoes and meal, the income of a hill shepherd runs
from £55 to £70 per annum, according as prices and seasons
vary. Round the edges of those hills and on the higher
elevations where strictly arable farming will not pay, there are
a large number of holdings which may be termed as hill and
half-hill farms, that i% a larger proportion of grazing than
arable land. Tne remainder of the district is taken up by
purely arable farms. Upon the two latter classes nearly the
same de>cription of labour is employed. On a moderate- sized
farm, say 600 acres, there is a steward or bailiff. The men
who occupy this position are as a rule drawn from the hinds,
horsemen, or carters, the most active being selected ; but as
in many other branches of labour, this occupation ofteu fol.
lows fro n father to son. A shsp'ierd, a cattleman, five or six
horsemen, generally an odd man to do all sorts of work, along
with six or eight women, and a stout lad or two, comprise the
workpeople of such a place. In summer time and harvest the
ordinary labour is supplemented by a few Irishmen, who re-
ceive Is. 6d. per day and some rations. Speaking of the
social condition of the labourers, the lecturer said there
existed between employed and employer a mutual bond of

confidence, which he hoped would not soon be broken, as it
was the experience of all sensible partips that better labour
was secured by firmness combined with justice and kindness
than the usual system of driving men on. The circum-
stances amid which the people live, continued the lecturer,
have much to do with their weltare and comfort Scotland
has long been famous for its education, and the interests of
the class to which I refer have not been neglected. They are
in every respect an educated and an intelligent race of in'
dividuals. I have met one or two who con'd not read, but
they are few and far between. Nearly every family has the
benefit of a newspaper, and it is wonderful how well versed
they are upon the topics of the day. On no class has the
influence of the Press be^u more apparent than this one. It
has given them more liberty of thought and action, but their
good sense has n*ver allowed that liberty to run into license-
And while they are fairly educated, they are deeply imbued
with religious feelings. If you see a people mindful of th^ir
Creator, if you see a district where from every point o1 the
compass there comes wending by road and lane, o'er hill and
dale, the inhabitants to their kirk, believe me it is a happy
and prosperous region of the globe. No Sabbath desecration
pollutes the land. It is a day of rest when every farm pUce
and country village send forth in decent attire its population
to the sanctuary. It is not so much this outward show that
is to be looked at. It, is the inward feeling of reverence for
their Church. For it their fathers suffered, and for it they
are ready to suffer again. When Burns wrote his immortal
verses upon " The Cotter's Saturday Night" he pictured
forth in elegant language the home life of a Scottish
peasant, and in it he bid great stress upon the religious feel-
in s which are still held dear by those descendants of the
Scottish Covenanters : —

" From scenes like these old grandeur springs,
That makes her loved at home, revered abroad ;

Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
An houest man's the noblest work of Gud."

Family life, said the lecturer, was the rule throu rhout he
south of Scotland. The " bothy" system was almost unknown
and it was ouly on rare occasions that a son or daughter left
the parent's home. The demand for labour in the large towns,
which had drawn a great many young men from the villages
a few yean ago, had now stopped, and had even turned the
other way. The custom of hiring of female workers away
from home, which had formerly prevailed to a great extent
was now discontinued, and they now had family life iu its
greatest simplicity. This system of female labour was styled
the bondage system, which in, itself suggested a bad state of
affairs. Female labour was necessary to every farm, and it
is the best, and iu many respects the cheapest, for certain
descriptions of farm-work, and some twenty years ago uo
farmer would accept a hind or shepherd without a female
worker. When the shepherds had grown-up daughters, it
was all very well, but they frequently had to hire a bondager,
which opened up a pa h to immorality, which in Scotland
needed to be checked rather than fostered. The evil,however,
had worked its own remedy, and a female bondager was now
a rara aris. Then again, continued the lecturer, all our
labourers live upon the farm. A long row of six or fifteen
cottages hard by a farm-steadiug is an object which attracts
the eye of a stranger. Close to their work, under the eye of
the master, with a suitable garden arid a comfortable home,
live the servants of the farm. Year by year our cottages

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

improve. A lionse with only our room is a matter of his-
tory, la evpry direction costly cottars are seen, and comfort
reigns supreme so far as dwellings are concerned. Winn a new
lease is entered upon a notable feature is that new cottages
are the first improvement. Without good houses it is im-
possible to get good servants. With regard to the food, said
the lecturer, a great deal of improvement has been effected
within the last 50 years. Formerly the staple food was oat-
meal, but now wheaten bread was much eaten, and many a
butcher's cart travelled the coun'ry where never one was seen
before. Tea was the favourite beverage, but taken thrice a
day he thought it was neither wholesome nor frugal. As to
the drink question, he was happy to say that, though intem-
perance raged like a demon in the towus, the country popu-
lations were singularly free from its influence. There was
little doubt but that the Scottish temperament was prone to
duiiikeuness, but gradually throughout the country districts
they had eradicated most of the public-houses which opened
up temp'ation to the surrounding inhabitants. With better
homes, improved education, and less temptation, intemperance
was on the decrease among the labouring class. Crime of
any description was almost unknown among them. They
were not, however, perfect, and illegitimacy was a prevailing
evil. Little respect was paid to aged parents, and ingratitude
to kinl and indulgent masters was not (infrequent. The
lecturer then give a sketch of the change in wages during
the present ceutury from a total amount in k ep and kind and
a little money of under £17 to the present rate of nearly
£60, of which £36 was in money and the remainder in cot-
tage, garden, aud keep. Payments by kind, which at one
time were universally general, still continued, although they
had lost their geueral character within the last few years.
Women were paid Is 8d. per day, and in harvest 4s. per
day. Bailiffs and shepherds were better paid than ordiuary
ploughmen. Iu the case of the latter, said the lecturer,
much depends upon the price of stock, as I explained be-
fore. It must also be kept in rniud that these wages are up-
standing— that is, they are payable through foul or fair
weather, through health "and sickness. A man may be absent
from work for sis weeks, and still claim lull wages ; not so
with women, who are payable daily. In Roxburghshire
where kind payments are still largely prevalent, the money
value will be about £50 to £52, some halt dozen pounds less
than the pure money man. Tne rates in those sister counties
are higher than any in Scotland, and are, perhaps, iu r lie same
position to the Uuited Kingdom, excepting the c maty ot
Northumberland, which lies immediately on the other
side of the border. Wages with us have always hern progres-
sive, never by any chance retrogressive. They have crept r.p
slowly and cautiously, but still surely, aud the value of our
labour rests upon a steadfast foundation. We had no strines,
no trades' unions, no political and self-enriching agitators,
nothing but the grand old laws of supply and demand to
regulate the scale. Long after the wages of pitmen and
tsadesmen had begun to rise (I am talking of the last ten
}• ars) the yearly payments of the Scottish agricultural
labourer stood still, and although day by day they read of the
immense success of the unions throughout the length and
breadth of the land they appeared to be personally unin-
terested. Tnere were a lew meetings, to which the employers
offered no opposition. 13at it was not the ploughmen who
began them, aud demagogues who tried to stir the fire retired
from the scene after a few ineffectual efforts. The consequence

vias that there being no unions or combinations on either side
a rise of wages came when the natural time arrived, and
aMiough farmers resisted the upward teniency as far as they
could by all legitimate meats, they felt they were powerless
to stem the tide that was flowing against them. All engage-
ments in Scotland, when not previo isly made at home, are
arranged at feeing markets. With a fair field and no favour,
one emplojer bids against another, and thus a well-balanced
wage, ami one adequate to the demand, was established from
year to year. Seldom, indeed, did neighbours lay their heads
together, for truth to tell every man had enough to do with
Ins own business. Tue Scottish farmers also saw that their
men aud women were not receiviug wages iu proportion to
tradesmen and others, and as year by year came round it found
them prepared to advance their terim. At least such was the
case till last year, when, in fellow-feeling with other labour
markets, ours also halted. It remains stationary, neither
advancing nor retiring, although more than probable next
hiring time will see a decline. A notable feature in connection
with the rise of wages was the fact that no demand was made
for shorter hours. Ten hours per day is a general rule on all
funis, aud ploughmen have to look after teams over aud above
those hours. During winter the work lasts from da.vu to
dark, with a short interval for dinner. There are no general
holidays, and yearly servants are content with three or four
days in each season. I may say b -fore leaving this part of the
subject that oar agricultural labourers have a thorough con-
tempt for trades' unions. Some parties say they are not
educated enough to understand them. But as I stand here, I
will throw down the gauntlet on behalf of their luteiligence
and foresight in co npirison with any class who hold the same
position. Combination of parties may raise commodities to
an indited degree, and so trades' uuions may for a time havo
effect u iou the value of labour, but be assured they can never
fight agaiust a falling market. As long as times are prosperous
and the wheel of fortune runs up the hill, they may go for-
ward ; but the inevitable end of all such illegitimate combina-
tions, so far as the laws of political economy are concerned,
will be disaster and ruin. Far be it fro n me to deny the
workman his rights of combination, or any otlnr meaus by
winch he can better himself; but, so far as I can judge, a
more sound basis is attaiued by allowing the laws of supply
and demand to work their own cure. After giving a review
of the wages paid to labourers in the different counties of
Sc itiaud per acre, the average beiug estimated at bis. per
acre, which was about 75 per cent, more thau it was 25 years
a-;o, the lecturer remarked : With such euormously in-
creased expenses it would appear almo-t impossible for the
viiueot laud to go upwards, but notwithstanding nearly in
tne same ratio as wages rose, so did rents. Od heavy clay
lands this was perhips not the case, although such farms in-
creased iu value; but upon the hg.it soil, or what we term
turnip and barley farms, the rise in yearly value was very
in irked. Oi course, if wages had not incratsed, the rents
would have been relatively higher. Up to the present time,
on most descriptions of laud throughout Scotland, larger
lab mr bills have been followed by larger rents. Nor has the
prosperity of the farming c immunity been affected, for those
increased rents meant greater profit to the agriculturist. Such,
at least, was the case up to 1875. Previous to that date the
fanner^ had enjoyed favourable seasons, with the exception of
18J2, for ten or fifteen years. All the while the outside

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world was in a whirl of excitement, and as new factories rose
and fresh shafts pierced the bowels of the earth, the wages of
the consuming multitudes increased accordingly. There was
an unlimited demand for produce. As from every black
country and busy city there came a cry for beef and beer, for
bread and broadcloth, money flowed to farmers in the same
degree. With wealth rapidly increasing, a mania arose for
I.ind. Every holding that was advertised had a host of ad-
mirers, for men of all trades and professions — butcher, baker>
and tailor — hastened to make their fortune out of the products
of the soil. The question then was not so much the price of
labour as how to get enough of it, and it seemed strange that
its value did not rise sooner. The very fact of its not increas-
ing so rapidly as in other branches of trade did an immense
amount of harm to agriculturists. High prices for produce
came three or four years before high rates for labour. It
would have undoubetedly been better for the farmers if wages
had risen sooner, for a great number of farms were leased
upon the basis of large profits and small labour bills. And
now we have to contend against those high rates disastrous
seasons, and restricted consumption." After indulging in some
rather gloomy forebodings as to the character of the next
season, the lecturer concluded : Corn-growing and cattle-
feeding have been leaving but small returns of late years, and
upon estates consisting of such farms the rent-roll will
not increase very much. Farms that were leased nineteen
years ago will in most cases make more money, but those let
either last year or this are far below the value of the same
quality of land lour or five years ago. At present on the
Scottish border heavy land holdings are worth about the same
as they were twenty years past. Produce rm risen since then,
but the labour bill has come in to counteract any increase on
rent. Although some years since this class of land was letting
very dear, influenced no doubt by the immense rise upon light
land, I am satisfied that no rise was justifiable. There was no
margin left for bad seasons, which we have experienced for two
years gone by, and it is likely that considerable reduction will
be needed if we have a succession of middling and unsatisfac-
tory ones. We may therefore say upon this particular class of
land the rise of wages has had a direct effect, and that year by
year it will be more felt. The profits to he derived will depend
upon a judicious use of the labour employed more than upon
the other items of management. In conclusion, if the com-
mercial prosperity of the country had not been so seriously
checked, if the seasons had been moderately favourable in
Scotland, the landlord or his tenant would have had but little
to fear from the rise of wages. It is more the decrease of the
wages of the outside multitude, of the consuming millions,
combined with the years of disaster, that will tell upon the
value of land. If frcm the causes which I have stated, and
those which I venture to forecast, there is to be a decline
somewhere, 1, for one, hope it will not fall seriously upon the
ploughman or female worker. They have wrought slowly and
judiciously up to their piesent rates of payments, and as they
are well worthy of their hire it is not d sirable they should
suffer a great diminution. Far rather let it fall upon the
rents of the landlord and the profits of the farmer, both of
which can afford some strain after the good times which 1 fear
are past for the present.

Colonel Kxxgscote said they must all feel very greatly
indebted to Mr. Clay for his very instructive lecture, one
which would not only please them, but would be a very great
boon to the community at large. The labour question, from

a Scotch point of view, had now been clearly put before them.
Tuere was a great deal in the character of the Scotch labourer
which they could admire. His knowledge of Scotland was
very limited, but, when travelling in Scotland, what had struck
him more particularly about the Scottish labouring class had
been their very great love of education. The children thought
nothing of going very long distances every day in order to
attend school. When sporting among the gillies he had been
struck with the amount of knowledge they possessed, not only
of local interest, but more especially of what was going on in
the world. Instead of this knowledge having been a dangerous
tiling for the Scottish labourers, he was glad to learn from the
lecturer that it had led them to be free and independent, and
not to join in the strikes, or to listen to any of the union
agitators who had done so much harm in this country. He
really thought from a contrast of the Scottish with the English
labourers that it was to education that the former owed their
freedom from these uoions, as he observed that in most places
where there had been unions a short time ago — and they had
nearly all died out now— it was among the worst educated of
the labourers that they had sprung np, flourished, and decayed.
He noticed that Mr. Macdonald, the lion, member for Stafford,
was now advocating, because the times were bad, that the
labourers — not the agricultural, but mining labourers — should
only work so many hours a day, so as to lessen the out-put of
coal in order to make labour more valuable, but there could be
no more suicidal policy than that. Mr. Clay had shown them
that it was the freedom of the market of labour, if he might
use the expression, that had kept up the wages of Scotland,
and that if there had been any force used it would have tended
very much to the falling off of the wages given to the labourer.
To that free and open market for labour the Scottish labourer
owed it that his wages had increased rather than decreased,
and he had thus taught his English cousins a very great lesson.
Although Mr. Clay had not said much about it, he thought the
Scottish labourer worked better for his wages than the gene-
rality of labourers in the lowland countries. There was one
thing that struck him, and that was that in harvest time the
Scottish farmers could always fall back upon women and Irish-
men. There was a time when Irishmen came here, but they
never saw one now, although he did not know why. He would
like to know where the women came from of whom Mr. Clay
spoke, because, although they used ta work in the fields in this
country some years ago, they never saw any now. It was said
that that kind of work was bad for their morals, and that if
they worked in the fields they could not attend to their chil-
dren. Were these women wives, or mothers, or what? and
how was it that they got a larger proportion of women than
men ? Mr. Clay had quoted the poetry of Burns, but there
was another great Scotch poet. Sir Walter Scott, who had
also written beautiful lines upon the character of his country-
men, and the heart of the Scotchman still gave a responsive
throb when he read that beautiful apostrophe to his native
land —

" Land of brown heath and shaggy wood,
Land of the mountain and the flood,
Land of my sires ! what mortal hand
Can e'er untie the filial baud .

That knits me to thy rugged strand ! "
With regard to the different style of paying wages — the Eng-
lish labourer being paid entirely in money, and the Scotch a
great deal in kind — he was tot quite prepared to say which
was the right system, but the former, he thought, was the
better principle of the two. He both hoped aad trusted that

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tf5

the remarks with regard to the better housing of the labouring
class both in England aid .Scotland would be generally acted
ou all over the country. The price of the cottages, he under-
stood, was different in the two countries. The Scottish
labourer lived in a very small cottage, which, however, was a
palace compared with the cottages here ; but he was very con-
tented, and it would be difficult to flud cleaner dressed or better
educated children than his. After a concluding word of thanks
to the lecturer, Colonel Kingscote resumed his Bat,

Mr. Holborow said the lecture they had heard had been
very interesting, and one from which they could take many
useful hints, aud he wished there had been more of the labour-
ing class present to hear it. He was afraid they did not quite
come up to the Scottish labourer, whose habits and practices
seemed superior to their own. Ha understood they made
capital servants, and were, besides, men of strong constitution
and frugal habits. Two or three points had struck him in the
lecture. First, with reference to the change from what was
called the bothy system to the dwelling in cottages. The for-
mer seeded to have been very bad, and the preseut one — that
of the labourers having homes of their own— seemed much
better. He had been very much struck with the number of
cottages that the lecturer said might sometimes be seen on
farms at the present day. He wished he could say as much of
the cottages about here. They had certainly been improved
of late years, but they were not one half so good as they ought
t j be. If there was one thing more than another in which the
landowners of the cduntry fell short, it was in not supplying
good cottage accommodation to the labourers on their landed
property. There was a great deficiency both in the quality
aud quantity of cottage accommodation. He had also been
struck with what the lecturer had said about females being
employed. Here everything seemed to have been said aud
done to prevent them going out to work. For his own part
he could never see that going.to work in the fields had had a
bad effect on women either morally or socially. How it might
be iu factories he did not know. It was very pleasing to 'car
that the Scotch agricultural labourers were so very sober.
Alas ! it was not the case in this part of Great Britain. He
believed it was not so much the question how much a man
earned as what use he made of his money when he earned it
The labouring man spent a great deal too much in the public
house, and it was not merely that he was spending his money
and leaving his wife and children without their food and
raiment, but when he got to the publio-house he imbibed all
sorts of bad ideas that made him not only a bad servant but a
bad subject also. With regard to the remark that in Scotland
they were very apt to forget their duty to their aged parents
when they became unable to earn their own living, he was
obliged to say that this was a common occurrence throughout
this part of England. He had been a guardian of the poor
for something like 25 years, and he had a good opportunity of
observing. He thought the system of payment during sick-
ness was a very good one, but he presumed in that case the
labourers must be hired by the year.

Mr. Clay : They are.

Mr. Holborow : Is there a Scotch law which compels
you to ?

Mr. Clay : I may say that it is not in the legislature, but
it has grown into law through custom, and it is now never dis-
puted in a court of law.

Mr. Holborow thought the custom a very good one. It
was a very sad thing for a maD as soon as he was taken ill to

be obliged to goto the relieving officer, and if snch a custom
were in force here he would be very glad indeed, and he felt
that they as masters fell a little short iu that respect in not
caring more than they did about their servants. With regard
to the work done at harvest time, he supposed there was a
good deal of piece-work.

Mr. Clay : Piece-work in harvest time is almost unknown
except with Irishmen. Our yearly servants work a regular
day's work, but our womeu receive something like 4s. per
day, and our Irishmen are hired as cheaply as possible. Last
year we had an invasion of them, and got them cheap. We
engage Irishmen for about 20s. or 22s. and their rations
throughout the harvest. We allow our men extra rations,
but not extra payment during harvest. We never have the
slightest difficulty. In fact, the men generally work more
willingly during harvest than at any other time.

Mr. Cox was not quite sure that putting down the public -
houses, as was suggested by tli6 lecturer, would tend mnch to
lessen drunkenness. He happened to have been bred up in a
village where there were no public houses at all. The villagers
had to walk two miles to get to the nearest public-house,
but when they did get there they said they did not
get the chance very often, and they accordingly had
a good go in, and that village actually produced
more confirmed drunkards than did Kingscote. (A
Voice: They only wanted the public house a few miles further
off.) A friend of his lived in a village where the labourers
only spent 3d. a week for beer. Here was a case where
public houses did not tend to produce drunkenness. He be-
lieved that grocers encouraged drunkenness more than public-,
houses.

Mr. Drew thought it would be bad for this neighbourhood
if the hired men and lads were paid during illness. He
thought they were wrong in giving the labourer so much beer
during harvest. He could not get his labourers to do without
the beer, but he wished the others would put their shoulders
to the wheel and do without it. The example, he thought,
would soon be followed.

Mr. Lister thought they should set their faces against
beerhouses and support good commercial houses, and not allow
I anyone to have a license unless they sold victuals. He con-
sidered the latter to be necessary institutions for travellers, and
must therefore be supported.

Colonel KiNGScoxssaid he felt very strongly on this drink
question. If the system of giving drink to the labourer were
swept away it would be greatly to the benefit of the labourer
and of the employer. He thought there were too many
public-houses. He was not, however, for sweeping them all
away but for making them a higher grade. He did not think
that there were nearly so many cases of drunkenness among
agricultural labourers now-a-days — not nearly so many — aa
formerly. If they were to ask the landlord of that house
the difference in money spent in beer now and a few years
ago they would bo all astonished at his answer. He thought
it was a wrong system giving beer to labourers. With regard to
the wages they would find it much cheaper paying a good man
well than paying a middle man less. The speaker concluded
by proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer.

Mr. Garlick seconded the motion.

Mr. Clay said he did not come of his own accord, but at
the wish of his friend, Mr. Teters, and at the request of the
Colonel. With regard to the questions put by the latter, he
would say that it was just as regular for women to work m

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TIIE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Scotland as for them to take their dinner. They did not begin
very early, but if they could uot get house places they got
work iu the fields. The married women did not do any of
this work, but a widow might sometimes go out in harvest
time, but that was only an exception. With regard to the
Irishmen, they had become a necessity. They could not do
without them. They generally paid thera 2ls. 6d. a week,
but they would have to have thera however much they might
have to pay. With regard to the cottages ■

Col. KlNGSCOTB : What area of land do they occupy ?

Mr. Clay: I think about one cottage to every 100 acres.

Mr. Peters : Yes, that would be a fair average.

Col. Kiivgscote : Tl'en each farm must be a little village.

Mr. Cla.y : Yes. It was no uncommon thing, proceeded
the speaker, to see £200 a year going into the labourer's
cottage, and there were lots with £100 to £120 per annum.
With regard to the drink question, it had been found that in
every parish where there were no pub'ie houses there was less
crime and less drunkenness. Druukenness was at the bottom
of all the crime in the country, and if the pot-houses tha1
studded the country all over botli in England and a trreat part
of Scotland were put do Tn, most of the crime would disap-
pear. In conclusion, he would propose a vote of thanks to
Colonel Kingscote for presiding that evening.

LEICESTERSHIRE.
The annual meeting of the Leicestershire Agricultural
Society was held on Saturday, Jan. 12, Major Freer , residing.
The following report was presented to the meeting ; — "'Ine
committee have again the pleasure in this their annual report
of congratulating the members on the fiiancial condition of
the Society. The committee deviated from the recommenda-
tion proposed in last year's report with regard to the extra
payment of Id. per tod on all wool sent to the fair, only
uliargiug it to non-members, the result being that several
subscribers were added to the Society, and a balance in its
favour of £745, as against a loss in the previous year of
£21 7s. lOd. The committee have no cause to regret having
followed the suggestion of the last year's report of taking the
show to other market towns in the county than Leicester
every alternate year, thus hoping to disseminate a useful
medium for enterprise in smaller centres. The committee
are enabled to give about £200 extra in prizes this year,
enhancing the premiums on the most useful classes, notably
that for cart stallions ; also separating two and three-year-old
geldings and fillies, re-introducing shoeing prizes, and many
other smaller additious, all of which, by the entries, prove
that they are appreciated ; also, at the same time, the com
raittee would remind the members that if a good show is to be
ensured, Lrger prizes must be giv.-n— p;.r:i;a!arly in the open
classes— as there are so many other kindrel societies who
offer inducements more lucrative, and consequently get the
better exhibits ; therefore they earnestly request that every
member will use his influence to increase the number of
subscriptions. The committee record their beat thanks to the
gentlemen of the county and the Hunts for their substantial
support, and trust that the Society may be favoured with their
continuance. The annual show was held at Melton Mowbray.
The committee are much indebted to the Earl of Wilton for
the free use of his park, and also to the inhabitants of Melton
for their cordial welcome and co-operation." Mr. Grant
moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr.

Simpkin, and carried unanimously. The report of the Finance
Committee showed that there was in the treasurer's hand a
balance of £206 8s., and in ndditiou there were arrears of
donations £96 15s., and of subscriptions £40. from these
there had to be deducted a few prizes which were not yet due.
Mr. Richardson suegested that the annual show this year
should be held iu Leicester, and also that the Corporation
shou!d be asked to grant them the free use of the ground
instead of charging thera a price for letting as they hitherto
had done. .Mr. Glover seconded the motion, which was
carried unanimously.

BAD TIMES AND CHEAP HIKINGS.— In former papers
I have mentioned cheap hirings of land, and now quote
another. Steeple Grange Farm, about thirteen miles b<-low
Maldon, and the same distance from a railway station, is of
good but stiff cold land uudraiued, with some useul pasture,
and adjoins good roads; it al*o abuts on the River Black-
water, so that corn can be forwarded to London by barge at a
small cost, and return cargoes of chalk, lime, or manure may
unload on the farm. The extent is about 460 acres. It
belongs to St. Bartholomew's Hospital (of which, when alder-
man, I was a governoi), and was let on a twelve years' lease
to the last tenant at about £1 per acre. It was left in a
weedy condition, as is too generally the case where there is no
valuation tor tenants' unexhausted improvements. No bid
having been made for it, a wealthy first-class farmer, who
holds other farms in the neighbourhood, has hired it oa the
following terms (as I am informed) : The first year rent free,
and afterwards a long lease at 10s. per acre (the average
price of 1 \ bushels of wheat). No doubt the new tenant will
clean the land, chalk it, and heavily stock it with well-fed
animals, and, as a natural consequence, derive great advan-
tages from bis hiring. The hospital governors will drain the
land, if required, on payment of a moderate percentage, and
I hope, for his own sake, that the tenant will accept the offer •
This is another instance showing how closely the landowner's
and tenant's interests are allied, and how unfavourable con-
ditions react on the landowner. When I was governor of this
hospital I suggested that all lauds requiring drainage should
be drained compulsorily ; and I would add covered yards, for
these are two operations from which the tenant must derive
advantages. But there is an unfortunate belief in our county
that glutinous clays do not require under-draiuing, provided
the surface furrows are deep and open. — /. /. Mechi.

THE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACT. -The follow-

\ ing regulations have been made 0y the Home Secretary, in

\ pursuance of the Elementary Eiucation Act, 1876 : — " 1. In

the case of a child sent to a certified day industrial school

under an attendance ord-r, or without an order of court, the

j sum which his parent shall undertake to pay towards the

i industrial training:, elementary education, and meals of such

j child shall be such sum as may be agreed upon between the

parent of the child and the managers of the school, not less

thau 13. aud not more than 2s. a week. 2. An attendance at

a cert'fied day industrial school shall not count for the purpose

of the first schedule of the E'ementary Education Act, 1876,

unless it comprise three hours of secular instruction. 3. The

regulations made by the Secretary ol State on the same subj ct

on the 10th of April, IS 77, are litreby cancelled,"

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

87

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

GLO JJCBSTE R.
A meeting was held at the Spread Eagle Hotel, on Saturday,
Jan. 12th, Mr. T. Cadle, the Chairman, presiding. It was
resolved to petition Parliament to carry into legislation the
recommendations of the Special Committpe of last session on
the importation of cattle with a view to prevent the spread o^
disease. The Tetbury High •■ ay Board had forwarded to the
B*rkeley Highway Board a suggested petition, praying that
imperial or other aid might be given towards the maintenance
of turnpike roads, and that taxation should be equally levied
on a'l kinds of property. This the Berkeley Board had sent
to the Chamber of Arricultiire, thinking it the proper body to
deal with it. The subject was postpon d.

II E X H A M .

The members of this Club held their annual meeting on
Jan. 15, in the Club-room, Hexham. Mr. Thomas Drydon,
of Moss lv unels, presi |pd. Major Nicholson was re-elected
President; Mr. W. fi Beaumont, M- P., Mr. J. M. Bidley,
Mr. J. Errington, Mr. Robert Wallis, and Mr. C. G. Grey
were re-elected Vice presidents, and Mr. Win. Trotter Secretary
and Treasurer. It was resolved to record on the minutes
regret at the loss the Club had sustained in the death of Mr.
Taylor, of Parkshields, one of the most active and painstaking
members of the committee. A discussion then took place on
the recommendations of the Select Coramiltee of the House of
Commons on Cattle Plague and the Importation of Live Stock.
Mr. Wilkinson thought cattle markets should be regularly
disinfected as well as railway trucks. In his opinion the sheep
market at Newcastle was one of the filthiest places in the
country. It was resolved to petition the House of Commons
to give legislative effect to the recoramendatons of the Select
Committee on Cattle Plague and the Importation of Live
Stock.

LEICESTER.

At a special meetiug of the Leicester Chamber of Commerce
on Jan. 18, resolutions were passed unanimously stating that
in the present depressed condition of trade, and in view of the
incitement to interference in the war raging in Turkey, the
Chamber deem it their duty to express their views of the posi-
tion in which Eaglaud has been placed with regard to this
question. In their opinion great uneasiness might have been
spared the trading community if the satisfactory declaration of
continued neutrality now made in the early part of the Queen's
Speech to Parliament had been published at an earlier date on
behalf of the whole Government, accompanied by an expressed
determination to do everything possible to procure united
action on the part of all the great Powers to obtain a lasting
peace, instead of preparing for interference alone, as appears
from the latter part of the Speech is still the implied intention
of the Government ; and that the Chamber strongly deprecate
persistence in the system of isolation still apparent in the
policy of the Government, more especially as the other Powers
are virtually interested in preventing the only probable occur-
rence— namely, the occupation of Constantinople — iu which
the English Government declare our in teres ta arc threatened.

LINCOLNSHIRE.
The 11th annual meetiug of this Chamber was held a
Spaldiug, in the Corn Exchange, on Jan. 13.

After the reading of the Report and oilier busiuess had been
concluded, Mr. J. Algernon Clarke addressed the meeting
" On the work of Chambers ol Agriculture." Having stated the
objects for which these Chambers were established 12 years
ago, and alluded to the great work they had done in promoting
improvement iu agriculture, he said that about four years alter
the commencement of the Chamber of Agriculture movement
they had as many as 18,000 members of the Chambers, bat the
numbers had since dwiudied down Jto something iike 10,000.
The fact was, however, that many of the returns made were fic-
titious, subscriptions had been got in with difficulty, and luke-
warmness had been shown in the movement iu so ue parts of
the country that some of the Chambers had been dissolved. He
however, noticed wiihsoue satisfaction tliat the speaking powers
displayed by members of the Clumbers of Agriculture was quite
equal to that of the members of the Chambers of Commerce.
Still he found — speaking for the Central Chamber — that tfure
was a backwardness on the part of many gen.Uemen to come
forward at those meetings and express their views on the
various Bubjects tli cussed. Whether it was from innate
mudesty on the part of tenant-farmers he could not say, but it
was a fact that many who could give the best information and
advice on many subjects were silent, aud allowed a few speakers
to monopolise too large a portion of the time allowed for their
proceedings. Iu the few years of their proceedings great coiu-
plaiut was made by farmers on that point. They 3aid nothing
at the meetings, but when they got away they wrote and com-
plained that members of Parliament and others were allowed
to occupy nearly the whole time of the meeting. But he (Mr.
Clarke) must say that in all his experience of the 12 years
that he had attended the meetings of the Chambers he had
never observed the least bias towards one speaker more than
another ; or that there had even been any attempt made to
induce one gentlemen to speak in preference, to others. Then,
again, it was said that the Chambers would be nothing more
than Conservative clubs, and that they would be us-d for poli-
tical purposes. But he did nit thiuk they had been so used ;
and as for Conservatives predominating in the Chambers, he
only knew that the presidents of the Ceutral Cnamber had
been alternately Liberals and Conservatives, Lord Portescue
and Lord Granville having been chairmen, so that there had
been no party political bias given to any of their proceedings.
Mr. Clarke then proceeded to enumerate the questions that
had been taken up by the Central Chamber. The corn aver-
ages, weights and measures, insurance of farming stock, and
the assessment of tithes on market gardens aud special crops
were some of them ; but they had made no headway with the
alterations they wished to have made in those matters. An-
other important subject was the appointment of a Minister of
Commerce— a Cabinet Minister they wauted -but although
they had had several deputations on that subject nothing had
yet been doue in the matter. Among the questions which
they thought such a Minister ought to take up was that of the
arterial trunk drainage of the country. The Central Chamber
had also dealt with the question of ground game, and ha"

33

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

several times resolved that it is desirable that rabbits and hare
should be excluded from the list of protected animals : but a.<-
present they had made no headway in that direction. They
also resolved simultaneously with the above that that removal
should be accompanied by an alteration in the law of trespass,
because it was thought that if a tenant is not to be damaged
by rabbits neither ought he to be damaged by poachers or others
going over his land whenever they pleased. The gun tax and
farm locomotives had also engaged the attention of the Cham-
ber ; and it had been decided to support a Bill in Parliament
for facilities for the transit of agricultural locomotives. With
regard to agricultural statistics there had been some discordant
feeling1, some of the farmers declaring that they would not
furnish the Government with returns unless the Government
showed an inclination to do something for them in return.
He believed the feeling was that if statistics were to be of any
value, furnishing them must be made compulsory, not every
year, but once every three or five years. In discussing the
Agricultural Children Bill introduced by Mr. Read, the educa-
tional endowment for secondary education, Mr. Clarke said,
had occupied considerable time, the question being whether
it was just that the working classes who could get educated
under the elementary clauses should have the benefit of the
education left to the middle classes ; or whether, now the agri-
culturists have to pay heavy educational rates, these endow-
ments should be appropriated, as far as possible, to the educa-
tion of the middle classes, including farmers' sons. But on that
matter they had made very little progress. Another very im-
portant matter that the Chamber had d;scusaed was the Agri-
cultural Seeds Bill promoted by Mr. C. Sharpe, and introduced
into and carried through the House of Commons by Sir W. E.
Welby. They had also had many discussions and passed many
resolutions on Poor-law relief, but nothing had come of it ; and
the Malt tax was another subject that had been noticed, but
it had entirely gone to sleep. Tiiey had, however, made con.
siderable headway with respect to local taxation, a'great deal
having been done in that direction ; but still much remained
to be done. The question of compfnsition for unexhausted
improvements had been fully discussed, as well as the Conta-
gious Diseases (Animals) Act, and the cattle plague regula-
tions. Mr. Clarke, in giving an oatline of what had beeu
done by the Chambers with the last-named matters, quoted
figures showing the enormous losses of cattle and sheep in
England from pleuropneumonia and foot-and-mouth diseasesj
and urged upon the farmers the n°cessity of supporting the
recommendations of the Select Committee of the House of
Commons of the past year as to the importation of live stock.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Clarke for his inter-
esting address, which was ordered to be printed and circulated
amongst the members of the Society.

Mr. Turnor moved the adoption of a petition to Parliament
in support of the recommendations of the Select Committee on
Cattle Plague and Importation of Live Stock.

The petition was adopted, and signed by most of those pre.
sent.

SHROPSHIRE.

A general meeting of the members of this Chamber was
held in the office, The Square, Shrewsbury, on January
the 12th, to receive the report of the Traction Engines
Committee. The President, Mr. Stanley Lcighton, M.P.,
look the chair.

REPORT OF THE TRACTION ENGINES COMMITTEE.

1. — In the Oswestry Highway District, county Salop, four
miles of road are traversed every day by two traction engiues
drawing two waggons. The cost of repair before their use was
£26 per mile. The cost of repair since their use is £500 per
mile and likely to increase.

2. — In the Llangollen Highway District, county Denbigh,
six miles of ioad are traversed every day by two traction
engines and waggon. The cost of repair before their use was
£30 per mile. The cost of repair since their use is £180 per
mile and likely to increase.

3. — In the Llanfyllin ,Highway District, county Mont-
gomery, six and a half miles of road are traversed by traction
engines. The cost of repair before their use was £5 per mile.
The cobt of repair siuce their nse is £70 per mile.

4. — In the Pool and Forden Highway District, coun'y
Salop, the cost per mile of the roads used by traction engines
has increased from £11 to £150.

5.— Rusheliffe in Derbyshire, Rye in Sussex, Mold and
Wrexham, in Flintshire, Condover in Shropshire, and Gnosal in
Staffordshire, are only 3ome of the districts which might be
named similarly affected.

Every ratepayer in England is in danger of being burdened
with a like ruinous expenditure.

The owners of traction engines in moat cases contribute
nothing to the Highway Rates of the roads they destroy.

A distinction is clear between the occasional use of roads by
traction engines for the purpose of moving agricultural imple-
ments, to which we do not object, and the vast damage done
by engines continuously used in connection with mines.
Stanley Leighton, President,
William Neveit, Vice-President,

12 Jan., 1878. J. Bowen Jones, Hon. Sec.

The Chairman stated that the report which had been
drawn up by the committee was a mere statement of facts.
The committee had abstained from expressing any opinion on
the matter, preferring that the bare facts should go before the
public, so that they could form their own opinion. He would
move that the report should be adopted.

Mr. Underbill said he attended the meeting which was
held twelve months ago, and made some remarks upon the
subject. He wished to know whether it was the opinion of
the committee that it cost more for the repair of the roads
when materials were hauled by steam power than when hauled
by horses.

The CnAiRMAN observed that in all cases where steam had
been used the cost of repair of the roads had very much
increased.

Mr. Underhill thought some explanations should be given
of the figures, as a mere statement like that contained in the
report was not calculated to do much good.

The Chairman said the report applied to the regular use of
traction engiues, and not to their occasional use by agricul-
turists.

Mr. Underbill said he had copied from The Comhill
Magazine for January an article on the question, and he found
that at the time of James I., 1622, no carrier was allowed to
travel with a cart which had four wheels, and he was only
allowed to carry 20 cwt. It seemed to him that they were
going back to that state of things.

Mr. Donaldson Hudson said they ought to bear in mind
that it was not so much the actual tonnage which passed over

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

89

a road during a given Week which did the damage as the ex-
cessive weight which was put on one pair of wheels. If he
understood Mr. Underhill aright he contended that it would
do as much harm to draw a thousand tons by horse power
with waggons carrying four tons as to draw waggons weighing
eight tons by a traction engine ; but that was not the case.
The roads were not calculated to bear more than a certain
weight. His own idea was that future legislation should be
so framed as to compel the owners of traction eugines to
reduce the weight of the engiues and the waggons.

Mr. G. Smithies thought a bald report like the one just
read would do no good. He thought it should be amplified.
In his opinion there was great difficulty in interfering with
trade in any way. He could hardly vote for the report to be
sent forth to the world in its present state.

Mr. T. HorTon said they might depend upon it the com-
mittee would not publish what was stated in the report if it
were not true. They had made inquiries.

Mr. T. L. Meire : Persons are at liberty to go and see for
themselves.

The Chairman said he was informed that the roads at
Weston now cost £200 a year more than they did before
traction engines passed over them. All the information they
had was called hearsay. They had no power to call upon
persons to give evidence upon oath. They had founded the
statements set forth in the report in the existing state of things .
Mr. Smythies had alluded to the baldness of the report. That
was exactly what they desired. They wished to put the
matter before people in such a way that they would be aston-
ished, and might say " We don't believe it ; give us proof,
give us the facts."

Mr. Bather seconded the motion for the adoption of the
report. He thought the wisdom of the report was that it
stated facts. He should have been sorry if anything had
been said against traction engines, as he thought when pro-
perly regulated they would prove a great benefit. In his
opinion they ought to give the greatest possible encouragement
to them. What they wanted was better regulation.

Mr. J. Bowen Jones said the committee did not wish to
throw any obstacle in the way of the use of steam.

Sir Baldwin Leighton asked if the proposed meeting in
London had been abandoned P

Mr. J. Hudson : Yes.

Sir Baldwin Leighton said he thought that was a great
mistake. He believed the Government were quite prepared to
hear what was the public opinion on the subject.

The motion for the adoption of the report was then pat and
carried.

SUNDERLAND.

The annual meeting was held on Saturday, January 12, at
Sunderland, Mr. R. L. Peiuberton in the chair. After the
report had been read, the Chairmin was requested to sign the
petition on the cattle disease question circulated by the Cen-
tral Chamber. Mr. Pemberton was re-elected President, and
Mr. J. N. Lawson Secretary. At the annual dinner, which
followed the meeting, Lieut-Colonel Gourley, M.P., Mr. C.
M. Palmer, M.P., and other gentlemen addressed the com-
pany.

SWINDON.

At a meeting of this Chamber, held at Swindon, on
January the 12th, Mr. S. Colbourne, the President, in
the chair, it was resolved that the Chairman should sign>

ou behalf of the Chamber, the petition sent out
by the Central Chamber, in favour of the recommen-
dations of the Cattle Disease Committee. Mr. J. H.
Piper read a paper on " Couuty Boards," and, after some
discussion the following resolution was carried unani-
mously : —

"That this Chamber, while fully recognising the set vices
of magistrates in Quarter Sessions, is of opiuion that, in view
of the increased spending power, it is desirable to establish
County Financial Boards to transact all county business other
than the administration of justice."

WEST RIDING.

The annual meeting and dinner of the West Riding
Chamber of Agriculture were held on Friday, Jan. 11th,
at Wakefield. Mr. Stanhope, M.P., presided.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report,
regretted that it could not be written in a more cheerful spirit
than last year. The last had been another of a series of bad
years for the agriculturist, and that taken in conjunction with
the commercial depression which continued without any
immediate signs of abatement, increased the difficulties of a'l
trades in carrying ou the business of the country. Speaking
of foot-and-mouth disease he said that in the long run it pro-
bably affected the farmers' interests more seriously even than
the cattle plague. It seemed very difficult to trace, and no
restrictions seemed to stump it out. The disease broke out in
the spring of last year, and it seemed as if it would again
prevail to a serious extent. About this time the cattle plague
was again imported from abroad, but, thanks to the exertions
of Lord Sandon and the local authorities, the disease was
almost entirely confined to the districts where it broke out.
Now it was a very curious fact that the regulations which
were enforced with the view of getting rid of the cattle plague
l,ad the effect of curtailing the foot-and-mouth disease also.
From the day those restrictions were put in force the number
of cattle attacked by foot-and-mouth disease in the West
Riding became very insignificant. The returns used to show
numbers] ranging from 1,400 to 2,000, but for the week
ending loth December there were only sixteen head affected by
foot-and-mouth disease ; for the week ending 22ud December
there was only oue affected, and for the two following weeks
there was a clear book. If these regulations could only be
enforced by law, it appeared that the disease would be com-
pletely stamped out ; and it was for farmers to consider whether
on the reappearance of the disease it was worth while to
undergo restrictions respecting the moving of cattle aud the
holding of fairs, now that it had been conclusively proved that
the disease could be got lid of by these means. He openly
confessed that upon this question of restriction his views had
undergone a complete change, and he was now convinced that
the only proper way to deal with the disease was to stamp it
out by restrictive measures. In connection with this point
another arose, the handling of which gave great difficulty.
They were well aware that a largs increase had taken pUce in
the importation of dead meat from America. This meat had
been brought to England in large quantities and in excellent
condition throughout the summer ; and if dead meat could be
brought in a wholesome and sound condition for 2,000 miles,
it followed that it could be brought a less distance. Then fol-
lowed the question so vital to farmers — if our own markets
could be supplied ao largely aud so well with meat slaughtered

20

TUE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

on the other 3ide of tho arater, what necessity was there to
bring over live auimals, which might contain in them even
the germs ot disease ? The experiment th it dead meat could
be brought such great distances cut the ground from under the
feet of those who argued that restrictions upon the importation
of live cattle would prejudicnlly affect the interest of con-
sumers, and strengthened the position of those who wished by
restrictive measures to prevent the importation ol disease from
the Continent.

Mr. Lifsoombe, in seconding the adoptim of the report, said
the West Riding Chamber could rightly tike to itself no little
credit for its action in regard to the cattle disease, which was
one of the most pressing questions which had occupied the
nrnds of farmers during the last half century. Mr. Stanhope
had very naturally giveu the Government all the credit for the
energetic measures recently taken in the country to stamp out
the disease ; but far more credit was due to the agriculturists
themselves, who had not ceased for jears past, through their
local Chambers and through the Central Chambpr, to impress
upon the Government the necessity of determined action. They
had, however, only as yet reachet the threshold of the move-
ment, and they ought not to rest satisfied until a regular and
systematic restriction for preventing the country being inun-
d»ted by disease was enforced by Act ot Parliament. A com-
mittee of the House of Commons had reconiuieuded that cer-
tain enactments should be passed, but that was all that had
really been done. It would take all their influence to keep
the Government up to the. mark, because he saw with regret
the Liberal Press, which as a Liberal in politics he should
have wished to see better informed, were settiag it abo it that
farmers had some, siuister and selfish motives for wishing to
bring about the lestrictions, and were not, as was really the
case, only actuated for the good of the gpneral community,
lie saw it stated in one newspaper that whilst farmers required
fat beasts to be slaughtered, they wished store and dairy cattle
to be exempted. The insinuation was tiiat farmers wished to
get cheap store annuals fro n abroad and fatten them for the
butcher, but that they did not want fat animals to come. This
was a most erroneous and unjust liable statement. Tne farmer
did not wish to keep out fat animals and to admit store ani-
mals A 1 he wished was that permission should be given for the
importation of cer ain pedigree animals, and such breeds as
that ot Jersey and Guernsey, but he was wiling that these
should be subject to a strict quarantine.

The officers for the coming year were then appiiuted. Mr.
Stanhope was unanimously re-elected president, and Mr.
Lipscombe vice-president.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

At the last meeting of this Chamber it was resolved that
the Chairman, on behalf of the Chamber, should sign the
petition circulated by the Ceutral Cruncher askiug Parlia-
ment to pass into law the recommendations of the Select
Committee on Cattle Plague and the Iraportatioj of Live
S.ock.

REVENUE AND PROTECTION IN THE
UNITED STATES.

Upon the question of tariff reform which is exciting so
much interest at this time, Dr. Holland says in Scribner for
December : —

It is beginning to be apprehended that the petting of our
industries, at this period of our history, is a luxury which, as

.a great, impoverished people, we cannot afford. We have
learned, at least, that protection cannot keen industries alive
when the market for their products is insufficient, and that we
are paving much more than we ought to pay for goods, while
the man who produces then is not to be benefitted. Some of
our industries, which have been utterly overshadowed by pro-
tection, have died out. An illustration of the working of pro-
tection, in increasing the costs of goods to the ppople, can be
found in almost everything we wear. A silk hat, for instance,
which ouyht to cost, at its best, no morethau five dollars, now
costs eight. The duty of sixty per cent, on the plush and
other silk employed m ikes the silk hat a luxury, and nobody is
benefitted. We pay three dollars more for the hat than we
ought to piy ; the hatter himself does not at all increase his
profits, while he finds his business cut down to its lowest m*rk
compatible with continued existence, for only rich people will
buy silk hats at the price. A low tariff on the material — say
a tariff of twenty per cent. — would iucrease the revenue, and
so cheapen the hat that everybody could afford to buy it. and
thus set aU the manufacturers at work. Forty millions of
people, »ith every man and woman of the nu nber heavily
taxed .lo keep alive the woollen industries, while the gates are
shut down and their workmen unemployed, do not form a very
e< ifying spectacle. The people have petted the manufacturer
a good many years. They have submitted to a taxation for
this purpose that none but -a prosperous people could stand.
Now it seems to us th it it is time for the people to take care
of themselves — time for the fostering mother to push the birds
out ol the nes*\

We have built a wail around us — a wall of protection. Our
manufactories are lying still because they have no market.
They can get no market outsidp, for, with raw material taxed,
as they are in many instances, they cannot compete in the
markets of the world. Again, they can get no markets outside,
because what those markets have to give us in exchange is
shutout by " protection." Trade is a game of give and take ;
and we cannot shut out the products of other natioas if we
hope to sell them our hand. We ask for no free trade that
will be inconsistent with a tariff that will give up the largest
revenue: but it seems to us that the policy ol taxing the peo-
ple of the Uoi ed States for the proportion of industries that
have become bankrupt under the policy, or have ceased to find
a sufficient market at home, is about played out.

STRAIGHT-LACED BUMBLEDOM.— The proprietor
of the Bath Theatre having kiudly invited the workhouse
children to wituess his pantomime, a crtaiu Captaiu Yeel 3
rose on his hind legs at a meeting of the Guardians, and
declared " that he considered it was very fair and proper that
the inmates of the workhouse, who had been brought there by
thtir own improvid n e, should not have facilities for amuse-
meuts ol the kind proposed." A Reverend Acworth " had
never been to a theatre in his life, and blessed God that he
had been taught that such things were worldly amusements."
Noble Yeeles ! more noble Acworth ! With such large souled
creatures amon« 11?, who can wonder that our " dear old
Church of England " is in such a state of prosperity and
ppace, not harassed from without, rent by no internal schism,
but full of kindness, mercy, and charity to all men ! — World.

THE FARMER'S J1AGAZIXE

!>1

TEVIOTDALE FARMERS' CLUB.

LARGE AND SMALL AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS.

A meeting of the Teviotdale Farmers' Club was held in the
Tower Hotel, Hawick, on Thursday, January 3rd. Mr. Grieve,
Skelfhill, president, occupied the chair. A discussion on
large or small agricultural holdings was opened by Provost
Lwen, who, in the course of a long paper, said : The question
is, whether large holdings or small holdings are most bene,
fieial for the country ? If you refer to the imports it will be
seen that a great quantity of produce is now brought into
this country which might all, with a better system of agricul-
ture on the part of our agriculturists, have bepu produced at
home. In order to keep before me and the Club something
definite, I propose to take an actual case for the sake, of argu
m nt. The estate or farm belonging to the burgh of Hawick
lies within a short distance of this town, is high-lying ground,
goodish soil, partly in pasture and partly in crop, but capable
of great improvement. It extt nds for 800 acre*, and has a
most exce lent farm steading. Of course, one obj ct of the
Council is to obtain the greatest rent they can for the pro.
perty for the common goud, but that, I apprehend, is not the
only o^jf-ct ; the Council should also look to the benefit o
the burgh, and the secondary consideration is, whether or not
the laud can be made mere beneficial to the town by being
divided into smaller farms, suitable for persons who will st<rt
d«iry farms, and increase the supply of milk, butter, eggs,
poultry, &c, of which there is a short supply to the town at
present — milk, for instance, being scarce and dear. From
what I have been informed I am led to believe it will be
most advantageous to set aside about 300 or 400 acres for the
chief farm, with the onstead, and lay out the rest of the land
in smaller farms of about 100 acres each, wi:h a plain stead-
ing, to cost about £500 to £600 each ; and I am told there
will be plenty of good tenants for such farms. I understand
it is the prevailing opiuion amongst large landed proprietors
and large farmers that the larger the holdings are the better
for both landlord and tenants, but there are others who think
the holdings of land in single hands are in miny cases too
large for the general good of the country. It is obviously the
present interest of a landlord to obtain the greatest amount of
rent with the least outlay for buildings ; hence, when he can
get a farmer to take a large tract of laud aud ouly require one
farm-steading upon it, such a tenant is preferred before those
who req uire more steadiugs and cottages ; but, after all, this
arrangement may not be so good lor the ultimate interest of
the landlord. It is also the interest of a farmer who has a
large command of capital to take as much laud and as many
" led" farms as he can get, but it is a great hardship to
other farmers, who may be deprived of a living by the junc-
tion of different farms into one holding. From an extemive
landowner's point of view, if he can get hold of enterprising
wealthy farmers to improve the landlord's land with the far-
mer's capital, it looks very well ; but in considering the ques-
tion we must not only look at it from a landlord's point of
yiew, but also in a general way all round. Large holding*
must be proved to be good for the couutry at lar^e and for
the farmers and the peasantry, or the system is not satisfac-
tory. Now, seeing the large farm system has been the grea^

idea with landlords of late years, let us test it by its resnltn. If
it is the best system it should be most produc'ive. ; but it does
not stand this test. The agricultural statistics show that the
acreage under wheat whs considerably less in 1878 than in
1875, barley about the same, oats only 100,000 acres more,
beans less, peas less, potatoes less, jrrass and permanent pas-
ture about 700,000 acres more ; but there are fewer cattle
and sheep thin there were in the United Kingdom in 1875.
Thus it is proved that the adding of farm to farm has not
increased the productiveness of the soil, and therefore large
farms have been no gain to the country. Indeed, farming
must have gone back somewhere, for we know it has gone
forward in other places. But I will pursue this no further,
except by way of contrast to mention ihat Mr. Meehi, of
Tiptree, states that England only produces a return of £5 per
acre, and it could produce £13 8s. per acre ; and I have heard
our own leading agriculturists say that Sco'land could at
least double iis productiveness under favourable eircum-tances.
It is very striking that, with all the boasted high farming of
this country, farraing is making so little progress, and still
more startling that foreign farmers, with their "little farms
we'l-ti led," are beating the large farmers of this country, as
evidenced by the great quantity of loreign farm produce that
is now sent here. I believe it will be admitted that good
small farmers as a rule larm their lands as well as large lar-
mers, even in this country. Bu I must go further, and fay,
'rom what I have seen, that the peasant farmers on the Con-
tinent cultivate their small holdings far better than any large
larms I have ever seen. The land being in general their owu
property, they have every inducement to improve it. From
morning dawn till dewy eve the peasantry and their families
are to be seen at work on their plots of ground, p'oughing,
digging, weeding, sowing, or gathering their crops of all
kinds. People in this couutry think our agrieul urists are
good husbandmen, but they would get a lesson if they were to
see the peasantiy of some other countries working their farms
to the perlectionof our gardens, and weeding their fields as we
weed an onion bed, and valuing and using the liquid aud solid
mauurecf their homestead as if they bought it by the gill or
pound, while we allow manure here to run to waste. The
same c&relu'ness, iudustry, and adaptation to circumstances
are displayed by the small pastoral fanners in Swiizerland and
Norway. 1 wish our upland farmers here only saw whit pains
'he peasantry in these countries take to increase their crops of
grass and hay ; how ihey irrigate their hillsides by leading
the rills of water hither and thither ; and how they top-dress
aud niauure their pastures also. These peasantry ke.-p frill-
ing their pastures so that the pastures may feed their flocks.
Do the hill farmers in this couutry do anything to improve the
pasture on their hillsides ? I saw it was stated at the Social
Science Congress that some ot the pasture lands of Ireland
were becoming so poor by constant grazing and the removal
of the cattle, sheep, wool, &c, therefrom, without anything
being done to restoie or recuperate the soil, that some parts
of the land are gettiug worthless. Looking at the success of
small holdings in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Den-
mark, and Norway, both in arable and pastoral countries, and
how the small farmers and peasantry arc thriving and better-

02

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ing their condition there, as well as exporting large quantities
of their produce to this country, it can hardly be doubted that
the same system of small holdings with right leases or with
proprietary rights would do equally well, if not better, in this
country. Indeed, I think if the Scotch peasantry had the
same opportunities of obtaining land of their own they would
not be one whit behind, but rather upsides with the Continen-
tal peasant proprietors. I am aware districts of country in
Ireland and the Highlands can be pointed to where crofiers
don't do well, but give the Scotch people good land on fair
terms and there is no fear about success. In his concluding re-
marks the Provost said he did not condemn large holdings in
all cases, and pointed out that the country population were
being gradually driven to the town through the joining f
siu all to large farms.

Mr. Hobktkk, Broadhaugh, thought it would be a great
mistake to divide the landed property of the burgh into small
farms ; it would be greatly enhanced in value it judiciously
let as a single holding. The Provost had quoted the results
of last year's farming in this country, but it was no fair case
to adduce, as the unfavourable season had baffled the efforts
of the most energetic and the most skilful. As to the case to
the Continental peasant proprietors who toiled so hardly on
their patches of land, that rather indicated poverty than pros"
perity. Farmers who would now keep pace with the times,
must work with their heads rather than their hands, and em-
ploy the most improved agricultural machinery. The yield of
wheat had, it was true, fallen off [in this country, be-
cause finer climates could produce it better and more
cheaply, and the farmers at home found it more profitable to
graze. He strongly approved of large holdings in preference
to small ones.

Mr. Green, Branxholrapark, said that Continental agricul-
turists could not yet compete with the beef and mutton of
this country, whatever they might do as to grain.

The Chairman quite disapproved of the small holding
system. Tne Commissioner of the Scotsman was at present
giving what he could from his own knowledge say was a very
exact description of the Highland crofter system and its re-
sults, which was nit at all favourable to the advocates of small
holdings.

Mr. Oliver, of Thornwood, said th at it would not pay the
modern farmer to discard the advantages that science, art,
and commerce had placed within his reach. Labour was dear
because industry had now a wider field, and therefore the far-
mer must have a minimum of manual labour with a maximum
of mechanical labour if his enterpris e was to pay and his pro-
ducts compete with others in the market. It was obvious,
then, that the modern farmer must hold a different position,
and be altogether a different sort of individual from what his
forefathers were. He must be a man of liberal education and
some knowledge of the world. He must also be possessed of
a considerable amount of capital. Improving, draining, top-
dressing, and liming, and all the various implements and
machinery required a large outlay, and a large amount of skill
and practical knowledge was necessary to administer this capi-
tal prudently, so as to bring a good return. To farm profitably
it was necessary to farm well — every acre of ground must be
turned to the best account, and every assistance that scientific
knowledge could give must be taken advantage of. Improved
agriculture and the liberal and wise administration of capital
would produce on a dozen average farms as much as could be
grown by all the crofters in Roxburghshire a couple of hun-

dred years ago. It might be objected that in large farms one
man held land which supported thirty or forty families at one
time, and that thus many famines were deprived of the means
cf livelihood ; but this was very far from being the case. The
advance of the arts and sciences and the great development of
trade had created au ever-increasing demand for 1 abour ; and
the man who would only live in wretchedness and discomfort
as a crofter might now earn large wages and increased com-
forts for himself and family elsewhere. Circumstances had
entirely changed in our country, and the crofter by the side of
the modern agriculturist would be as much at a disadvantage
as the old cottage hand-loom and spinning-wheel would be if
brought into competition with the power-loom aud the inven-
tions of Sir Richard Arkwright. The small farmer, with
relatively small means, could neither farm liberally, nor avail
himself of the inventions and improvements of the present
day ; consequently he would farm at a greater expenditure of
labour and have a smaller return than his more wealthy com-
petitor ; and just in proportion as his produce was less, s0
much both he and the country would be poorer. The capita-
list, on the other hand, could avail himself of all mechanical
appliances ; he could enrich the soil and double the crops ; and
he was thus enabled to hand over a much greater amount
of food for the support of those engaged in other pur-
suits, and could do so at a much less expenditure ot labour,
thus in a twofold degree increasing the resources and ^wealth
of the country. He contended, therefore, that large holdings
were the best .

Mr. Brown, Edinburgh, held that agricultural labourers
were very much belter off when in receipt of good wages from
an extensive farmer than when cultivating small patches of land
on their own account.

The Croupier thought the letting-out of the burgh pro-
perty in 100-acre farms would tell against its revenue, as
the homesteads would involve so much outlay of money. But
the case of such land as the burgh's in close proximity to a
populous town did not afford a fair example of the working
out of the small holding system. He reviewed most of Provost
Ewen's arguments, and contended that small holdings were not
beneficial to the landlord, tenant, or the community. He
thought a 400-acre arable farm was the most suitable for the
general good.

Mr. Fraser, Mr. G. Davidson, Mr. Nichol, Mr. Cathrae, and
Mr. James Grieve also took part in the discussion.

Provost EwEN.in reply, said his arguments had been met,
but he was not satisfied that many of them had been confuted,
and he still adhered in the main to the opinions he had ex-
pressed. None of the speakers had ventured to defend the "lea"
farm system.

A LIMIT TO FOLLY.— The limit to folly should be the
danger to life, and we think that limit has been reached. No
lady in a ballroom should be allowed to carry more than twice
her length behind her, while at dinner parties the descent from
the drawing-room should be conducted on the block system.
A servant could be stationed at every landing to announce the
line clear, and to allow the next lady's train to pass. If some
such measure is not adopted soon, the abuse may call for a
sterner remedy. In Queen Elizabeth's time the executioner
cut off men's heads ; the ' block system ' of the present day
would be more merciful and merely abridge ladies' tails, —
Matrfair.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

03

DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT DETAILS.

Mr. Phantompou:jd :

With theory deep
A farm pray keep,

Look very well after pounds, Sir,
For the trivial peace
No man of sense

Would turn himself half round, Sir.
Mr. Pennywise :

And what about keys?
Do you keep these ?
Mr. Phantompound :

No, that is a trivial matter,

And if a few grains

Some rogue retains
His chickens will be fatter.
Mr. Pennywise :

" De Gi/stibus" — Yes—
I must confess

Though little I know of Latin,
I would rather far
Have bolt and bar

And chickens &t/iometo fatten.
But how about tools ?
For there are fools
Who carefully break, or lose them.

Mr. Phantompound :

Ah ! so it may be,
But theory

Don' t stoop to see how they use them.
It is very true
A lot of new

Steel forks that I lately paid for
Are not to be found ;
" They were not sound" —

Men " wondered what they were made for."
Mr. Pennywise :

And so you must get
Another set ;

But how about rakes and hooks, Sir P
Mr. Phantosipotjnd :

Can't tell you, you see
Main chance for me ;

I look to the plan and books, Sir.

Mr. Penny-wise.

And your fat'ning shed,
It must be said,

Is awfully wet and dirty ;
You have only teu,
To foul a den,

That might be kept clean with thirty.

Mr. Phantompound :

Well ! The drains are there,

And very rare

Are buildings on such a plan, Sir ;

There's more than enough

Of food and stuff,

And a most trustworthy man, Sir.

I've arranged a sctieme— —
Mr. Pennywise (Aside) :

Perhaps a dream ■

Mr. Puantompound:

Compacted so well together
That oceans of tin
Should tumble in,

In spite of the roughest weather.
Keep tiieory right,
Main chance in sight

Mr. Pennywise (Aside) s

And storehouses with empty shelves, Sir.

Mr. Piiamtompound :

If majors be straight,
As sure as fate,

The minors will right themselves, Sir.

Mr. Pennywise :

So little Bo-peep
Said of her sheep,

Whenever she failed to find them,
" 0 let 'em alone
And they'll come home

And carry their tails behind 'em."
But no one has heard
That this occurred

As the sanguine lass expected.
There's a major mess,
I rather guess,

Where minors are all neglected.

J. C. Westervaxe.

THE TRANSVAAL.— Mr. Sidney H. Farrar, to whose visit
on behalf of Messrs. J. and F. Howard to this country we have
already alluded, thus concludes an interesting communication
to the Gape Argus, of Nov. 22, upon his travels in the newly-
annexed Britishterritory. "If all the unused laud of the mother-
country could b e heavily taxed, under penalty of reverting to
the Crown, mauy a home question would be solved aud there
would at least be no comparison between a lazy Dutch boer
and an indifferent British landowner. So far as I can judge
from my rapid journey, I think the Transvaal is the finest
farming country in the world, and I have travelled in many
lands. The whole of the district from the town of Newcastle
in Natal to Pretoria in the Transvaal is eminently suited for the
cultivation of cereals, as the ground is perfectly level. At
present the progress of this truly magnificent district is retarded
on account of its very sparse population. There will be some
difficulty, too, in getting out from Europe those agricultural
emigrants absolutely necessary to develop the resources of the
country, since I am informed that the Government of the
Transvaal has no land to give away, the greatest part thereon
being already in the hands of Dutch farmers who do not
occupy or cultivate one twentieth part of their holdings. It
is said that the only plan to overcome this difficulty, and that
it is a very serious one I do not think any reflecting person
will deny, is for the Government to compel the farmers to
occupy their farms or pay a very heavy tax, failing which suoh
land will rerert to the Government. In this manner the
Government may in time acquire some land which it can
dispose of as above indicated. The country is very rich in
resources, the climate is excellent, and it is a pity that such
advantages should not be developed by an enterprising and in-
dustrious population."— Bedfordshire Times,

94

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

IMPORTATION OF LIVE STOCK FROM THE CONTINENT.

The Veterinary Journal says : —

Our readers are undoubtedly aware of the position we have
long maintained and the views enunciated, both in this
J mrnal and in the public press, with regard to the measures
necessary for the prevention and suppression of contagious
diseases among the domestic animals. We have 'or many
years insisted that it is worse thin useless attempting to get
rid of these diseases, which do such terrible damage to our
agriculture and cause such seri.ius loss to the public in this
country, so long as we allowed he ingress of live stock from
infected coun ries, and therefore incurred ihe risk of repeated
introduction of these maladies from abroad. Port inspection
we have shown to be uurelia le, while slaughter at the port
of debarkation — even with the exercise of all possible care
and vigilance — will not confer absolute safety. In proof of the
litter assertion, we refer to the last invasion of Cattle Plague.
Under these circumstances, and not without due cou'-i leration
and weighing of the arguments pro and con , we concluded
that the largest measure of safety was to be found in limiting
the food supply from foreign sources to that of dead meat —
the animals to be slaughtered and their carcases to be dres ed
on the other side of the Channel. Not only wo'ild this reduce
the danger of receiving contagious diseases to the lowest
degree, but it would also be more profitable to the exporter,
better in some respects for the consumer of such flesh, and
also prove more humane to the animals themselves, as they
would then be spared much fatigue, if not positive cruelty in
transit to our shores. The question was, and is, one which
involves several important interests, and comes quite within
the domain of veterinary sauitary science and police ; it has
received much discussion, and some authorities had even
asserted that the importation of live stock from the Continent
is absolutely necessary, and that, if prohibited, consumers of
flesh would suffer from enhanced prices, scarcity, and other
evils. We had no fear on this head : trade has a marvellous
way of accommodating itself to circumstances, and we felt
certain that neither producers nor consumers would be incon-
venienced, but, on the contrary, would be benefitfd in time, —
in fact, we anticipated that in a few years we should look
hick with astonishment and dismay at the then wasteful, in-
convenient, unreasonable, and cruel mode of supplying meat
from foreign sources to our population. The fears and dismal
prognostications of those who adopted the opposite view, and
maintaiued that we could not dispense with the importation of
live cattle, has, almost in a few months, been proved to be
unfounded ; and as time goes on, the proof that we were correct
in our estimate will become stronger and more evident. In
the meautime we would draw attention to the following
remarks by The Times, which will show that, as on many
other occasions, our predictions have notbeen baseless or

£, The prohibition of the importation of live cattle from a
large portion of the Continent, made imperative this year by
the arrival of iufected cattle from Germany, has not diminished
the supply of fresh meat for the United Kingdom, nor has it
raised prices even in London, which believed itself dependent
for about a third of its beef and mutton upon arrivals of
foreign animals. The trade in foreign animals has not been
destroyed, and the decrease in importation has noi confirmed

the apprehensions expressed on behalf of consumers last spring.
The number of cattle, sheep, and swine which we received
from abroad in the ten months ended the 31st October, this
year and lust, appears thus, as arranged from the Trade and
Navigation Accounts : —

187«.
Oxen and bulls.. 149,584

Cows 51,712

Calves 41,286

Decrease in

1877.

1877.

131,915 .

.. 17,669

23,169 .

28,543

28,279 .

.. 13,007

183,363 .

.. 59,219

763,969 .

. 148,866

1S,630 .

. 21,546

Total cattle ... 242,582
Sheep and lambs 912,835
Swine 40,176

In ten months the decrease in the number of oxen and bu!K'
most of them slaughtered at once or meat and a small pro-
portion sold to be grazed and fattened, has been only 17,669,
or llf per cent. Cows, which come principally to be milked
or grazed before they are sent into the meat market, fell off in
number more than one-half; but a loss of 23,513 Dutch and
other cows is immaterial in connexion with the total supply of
meat. The decrease in calves was 13,007, or nearly a third.
Sheep and lambs were 118,866 fewer than iu. the correspond-
ing ten mouths of 1876, being a decrease of nearly a third ;
and the imports of swine fell off 21,546, or somewhat more
than half.

Wh.it we lost in weight of meat by this decrease in the
number ot foreign auimais imported may be estimated with a
fair approximation to the truth. Ex'ensive inquiries into the
probable average dead-weigh'sof animals havebeen made by Mr.
C. S. Read, M.P., Mr. James Howard, and Mr. John Algernon
Clarke, from which it appears that, with a moderate valuation,
we may take the general average deadweight of imported
oxen and bulls at 5J cwt., of cows 5 cwt., of calves 1 cwt.. of
sheep and lambs \ cwt., and of swine 1 cwt. The estimated
dead-weight of foreign animals imported in ten months
ended October 31. in 1873 and 1877 respectively, will stand
thus :—

Average dead-

Decrease.

weight per head. 1876.

1877.

in 1877.

Cwt. Cwt.

Cwt.

Cwt.

Oxen and bulls ... 5f ... 860,108 ..

. 758,511 .

. 101,597

Cows 5 ... 258,560 ..

. 115,845 .

. 142,715

Calves 1 ... 41,286 ..

. 28,279 ..

. 13,007

Total cattle ... — ...1,159,954..

902,6*5 .

. 257,319

Sheep and lambs 0£ ... 456,417 ..

. 381,984 ..

. 74,433

Swine 1 ... 40,176 ..

. 18,630 ..

. 21,516

Total weight ... — ...1,656,547 ...1,303,249 ... 353,298

The total decrease in weight of meat imported as live animals
in the last 10 months was, according to this estimate,
353,293 cwt., or scarcely more than a filth below the quantity
iu the corresjonding period of 1876.

Now, it is very satisfactory to find that this diminution of
supply was far more than compensated by a great increase in
the arrivals of fresh dead meat. In the 10 mouths we receive 1
as follows : —

Increase
1876. 1877. in 1S77.

Cwt. Cwt. Cwt.

Beef, fresh or slightly salted 96,St7 ... 412,034 ... 315,187

Meat unenumerated, princi-
pally fresh mutton 66,198 ... 93,433 ... 27,235

Meat preserved otherwise

than hy salting 308,363 ... 883,465 ... 180,107

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 95

ESTIMATE OF THE WHEAT CROP OF
FRANCE IN 1877.

Fresh pork ..

20,309 ... 7,712 (less) 12,592

Total

...391,717 ... 901,611 ... 509,927

The shipments of fresh dead meat from abroad have in-
creased 509,927 cwt., or no less th^n 130 per cent. ; and
while we have lost 353,298 cwt. of fresh meat in the shape
of live animal*, we have gained 509,927 cwt. of fesh meat,
which has come ready killed iu hampers, packages, cloths, or
tins.

Already the quantity of foreign fresh meat coming to us
dead is considerably over half as much as that coming to us
alive, the 901,614 cwt. of Iresh dead meat received in the last
ten months being 51 per cent, as compared with the 1 656,547
cwt. of live animals imported in the corresponding
months of 1S76, before, the cattle plague restrirt'ons were put
on ; and at the present rate of increase in the dead meat trade
the quantity of foreign fresh meat brought to us dead will
in less than a year reach the total weight of that brought to
us alive.

The supplies of foreign salted beef have but sligh'ly in-
creased. In the period referred to there has been a
considerable falling-off in the imports of bacon, of salted beef,
aud of salted pork, though the weight of hams is very much
m ire.

Taking both salt and fre«h meat, the total weight of dead
meat imported into the Uni'ed Kingdom now exceeds the
estimated dead weight of all the live animals imported. For
in the teu months of 1877 we have received 79 1,915 cwt. of
s'.lted meat and 901,641 cwt. of fresh, o( slightly salted, and
of preserved meat, making a total importation of 1,692,559
cwt., whereas the estimated dead-weight of the live animals im-
ported in the ten months of 1876, before the imports were
published, was 1,656,517 cwt.

Of course the foreign supply of live and dead meat together
bears only a small proportion to the quantity produced by our
home breeders and graziers.

HOW TO BEG SUCCESSFULLY.— A. Baltimore tramp
has attained great distinction in his profession. Here is his
story : — '• At Perryville I went to a house with a brick iu my
hand, and asked the, lady if she would pleise be so kind as to
put some butter on it. The request excited her curiosity, and
she. asked, ' Why do you want to put butter on a brick? ' I
told her I was goiug to eat it. 'Surely ' she said, 'you are
not so hungry as to eat a buttered brick ? Come into the
house and I will give ycu sjme food.' I begged a square meal,
for which 1 iiad set so slick a trap. In the western section of
the State I asked for something (to eat at a house and was
refused. I then begged for a looking-glass, which aroused
curiosity to know what I would do with the mirror. I replied,
* I want to see my>elf starving to death.' They then gave me
what I wanted."

The Echo Agricoh of the 9th ultimo contains a volu-
minous supplement in the form of an account of the past
season in France, with the approximate breadth of land
sown with wheat and the amount thence derived. In
introducing the subject M. Laverriere remarks that the
estimate would have appeared sooner but for unforeseen
delays, yet that this is hardly to be regretted, since the
conclusions deductible therefrom are more opportuue now
than they were three mouths ago. At that time the
general impression was that the harvest wa3 mediocre.
Yet the rates continued within relatively moderate limits
remunerative for the grower without being onerou3 to the
consumer, while at the same time attractive to such im-
portation as was necessary to strengthen stocks and serve
the interests of speculation. Had the table appeared at
this juncture it would probably have brought about such
a state of the markets as would have checked the arrivals
from abroad. To-day this inconvenience is out of the
question, hut the possibility of a prolongation of the
Eastern crisis has not escaped the attention of American
speculators, who, convinced that the French harvest is
utterly bad, natter themselves that recourse must be had
to them to supply the deficit. The question, then, arises,
Is there a deficit ? From the statistics collected it appears
that the total yield of 1877 amounts to 98,903.000 hec-
tolitres, while that of 1876 reached only 93,355,000, or
according to the official figures 95,437,000 hectolitres.

At first sight this statement appears to he au
exaggeration, but if the specific yield has been inferior to
that of 1876 the surface devoted to wheat is greater by
more than 900 000 acres. Iu thirty-five departement3
this increase ranged from five to twenty-five per cent. ;
in some parts of the Marne and the Saone-et-Loire it was
30 per cent., while in the Gard, where the invasions of
the phylloxera had forced the proprietors to remove the
vines, the land so cleared was sown with wheat, three
times the usual quantity of which was put into the ground.
While in eleven departements the breadth of wheat was
smaller than usual, the decrease was so slight that the
correspondents refrain from expressing it in figures. In
fourteen departements the yield of 1877 was superior to
that of the previous year, while in four others it was
partly superior, partly as good. In twenty-three departe-
ments the yield is either as good all round as that of 1876,
or rendered practically so by some districts having a
better, some an inferior return. There remain thirty-two
departements whose harvest was more or less below that of
1876. The last harvest therefore did not exhibit any
falling-off as regards quantity, but in weight the hectolitre
of 1877 is much inferior to that of 1876. Thus while
93,355,000 hectolitres in 1876 gave 73,327,860 metric
quintals, in 1877, 98,908,000 hectolitres give 74,238,010
quintals.

913

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Dividing the whole of France into twenty-one regions
the figures may be rendered in their English equivalents
as below : —

Regions..

Alpes (Savoie, Hautes-Alpes)

Pyrenees (Hautes, Basses, Orien-
tals)

Vosges (Haute-Saone)

Maures (Var)

Jura. (Doubs, Jura, Ain)

Provence (Basses-Alpes, Var, Vau-
cluse, Bouches-du-Rhone)

Central Plateau (Nievre, Saone-
et-Loire, Rhone, Loire, Ardeche
Gard, Allier, Puy-de-Dome
Haute-Loire, Lozere, Creuse,
Haute-Vienne, Correze, Cantal,
Aveyron, Tarn)

Ardennes

Brittany (Orne, Mayenne, Maine-
et-Loire, Deux Sevres, Manche,
Ille-et-Vilaine, Loire-lnft-rieure,
VeDde' -,C6tes-du-Nord, Morbihan,
Pinistere)

Causses (Lozere, Aveyron)

Languedoc (Gard, He'rault)

Quercy (Lot)

Poitou (Vienne, Charent, Deux-
Sevres)

Burgundy (Haute-Savoie, Haute-
Marue, Cote d'Or, Yonne, Nievre)

Lorraine (Meurthe-et- Moselle,
Vosges, Meuse)

Champagne (Ardennes, Marne,
Aube)

Paris Basin (Nord, Aisne, Seine,
Seine-et-Marne, Yonne, Pas-de-
Calais,Somme,Oise, Seine-et-Oise,
Loiret, Cher, Seine-Inferieure,
Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher,
Indre, Calvados, Orne, Sarthe,
Indr<-et Loire, Vienne, Maine-et-
Loire)

Bordeaux Basin (Tarn, Aude,
Pyrenees - Orientales, Tarn - et-
Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Ariege,
Charente, Dordogne, Lot-et-
Garonne, Gers, Gironde, Landesi
Basses, and Hautes Pyren-es) ...

Limagne (Allier, Puy-de-D6rae) ...

Bresse (C6te d'Or, Sa6ne-et-Loire,
Ain, Isere, Dr6me)

Corsica

Acres.

113620

79040
177840

98800
330980

597740

950950
61750

2316860
212420
234650
14S200

494000

713830

632320

498940

5194410

2981290
244530

1128790
153140

17364100

Bushels.

1699500

880000
29/0000

880000
6429500

7216000

11849750
1031250

33643500
2315500

358S750
1980000

7796250
10774500
10029250

8203250

105327750

32246500
4083750

17347000
1705000

271997000

The approximate yield per acre is estimated as follows
—Gers, 5^ bushels; Landes, Lot-et-Garonne,6^ bushels
Lozere, 8 bushels; Var, Gard, Aveyron, Tarn, Gironde
9 bushels ; Cantal, 10 bushels ; Pyrenees, Tarn-et-
Garonne, Bouches-du-Rhone, Loire, Ardeche, Deux-
Sevres, Cote d'Or, Corsica, 11 bushels; Vancluse,
Manche, 12 bushels; Basses-Alpes, Nievre, Saone-et,
Loire, Rhone, Puy-de-Dome, Haute-Loire, Creuse
Haute-Vienne, Correze, Maine-et-Loire, Ille-et-Vilaine,
C6tes-du-Nord, Morbiban, Lot, Meuse, Aude, Dordogne ,
Charente-Tnferieure, Drome, 13 bushels; Aube, 14-
bushels ; Savoy, Allier, Vendee, Loire-Infe'rieure, Yonne,
Cher, Indre, Iudre-et-Loire, Haute-Garonue. Isere,

lS^biwhels; Haute-Saone, Ardenne9, Orne, Mayenne,
Pinistere, Herault, Vienne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Eure,
Sarthe, 16| bushels ; Doubs, Haute-Marne, Loiret, Loire-
et-Cher, Orne, 18 bushels ; Jura, Vosges, Calvados, 19
bushels ; Charente, 20 busbels ; Aine, Seiue-et-Marne,
Aisne, Pas -de-Calais, Eure- et-Loire, 22 bushels; Somme,
Seine-et-Oise, 24 bushels ; Nord, Oise, 25 bushels ;
Seine, 26£ bushels.

CO-OPERATIVE SANITATION.— The ingenious Scots
have hit upon a plan for cheapening the luxury of sound sani-
tary advice. Some of the leading noblemen and gentlemen in
the neighbourhood of Ediuburgh have been struck with the
difficulty that at present hampers the householder iu obtaining
skilled opinions upon and periodical inspection of sanitary
appliances in their dwellings. Por one thing, it is extremely
costly to fee experts, and then there is often suspicion that the
cheap sanitary engineer is in league with patent-mongers or
opulent plumbers whose influence on the opinion is the reverse
of wholesome. The only way of avoiding faithless counsellors
is to consult a professional engineer of high scientific standingj
whose fees are usually fixed at prohibitive rates. Por want of
any means of getting advice of this sort houses get into an
insanitary condition before the occupiers are aware of the
fact. Perhaps it is not till death has stricken his family that
the householder becomes conscious of the unwholesomeness of
his dwelling. To meet such |cases it is proposed by some of
the most distinguished citizens of Edinburgh to apply the co-
operative principle to scientific sanitary inspection. They are
attempting to organise an association, the annual subscription
to which will be one guinea, for the purpose of securing to its
members, free of charge, that skilled sanitary supervision and
advice which could only be got at enormous cost through in-
dividual action. The association is to secure the exclusive
services of one or more well-educated young engineers, who,
acting under the sober control of a consulting engineer of
high standing, will, when required, inspect and report upon
the dwellings of members, giving estimates as to the cost of
any alterationsthat may be deemed advisable. Their recom-
mendations must be limited to strictly indispensable points,
and no officer of the association is to hold any pecuniary in-
terest in any patent or manufacture. The Professor of En-
gineering in the University of Edinburgh has taken such a
warm interest in this novel scheme that he has offered for the
first year to give the association his gratuitous services.
Another feature of the scheme is that each member, on pay-
ment of a trifling fee, may secure the services of the officials
for any charitable society whose work in individual cases
might be aided by them, or for any person in whom they are
interested, who, though deserving, is too poor to obtain for
himself good sanitary advice. This association involves the
novel application of a very old principle. It simply does for
the sanitation of the houses of the middle classes what the
medical club or sick society does for the personal sanitation of
the artisan, who, if he were to act individually, could not
afford to purchase the best medical advice. There is no reason
why so sensible and beneficent an idea should not be success-
fully carried out in practice.— Examiner,

TUK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

97

THE YEAR 1877.

For the third time in succession it ia our uu-
pleasant duty to review an agricultural year
which presents but few features that arc not of a
gloomy character. The year 1875 brought us one
of the worst harvests on record, and in 1876 the
corn crops were nearly as deficient, the hay crop
ruuch worse, but the root crops better. From the
Returns published in The Mark Lane Express for
January 7, we find that the year l^i>2 was the
latest for which the returns of cereal crops were
anything like as discouraging as they are for the
3rear 1877. In the former of these two years out
of 618 returns of the wheat crop 508 were under
average, 100 average, and only 10 over average
That was about as bad as the summary for the
wheat crop in the present return. Out of 558
returns of the barley crop in 1862, 264 were under
average, 263 average, and 31 over average — an
improvement on the barley crop returns of 1877.
Beans and peas were much better in the former
than in the latter year.

The year was ushered in by storms of an unusu-
ally severe character, and with a continuance of
the almost uninterrupted rainfall that prevailed
generally throughout the winter. Serious fears were
expressed as to the result of so much wet on the
wheat plant ; but, owing to the absence of severe
or prolonged frosts, the growing crop continued to
look well, and to preserve its thickness of plant,
In the middle and latter part of January we were
favoured with mild, spring-like weather, which
gave treacherous hopes of an early spring ; but
this was followed by a generally raiuy period,
which lasted through February. March came in
dry and cold, and some progress was made with
spring-sowing. Such progress, however, was soon
retarded by rain and snow, and it was not till the
end of the month that even the sowing of beans
and peas could be completed, while barley-sowing
was not half finished. April weather was fickle,
the frequent rains rendering barley-sowing a pro-
tracted and laborious operation. With May
came north-east winds, and drier weather — so dry
in some districts that the late-sown barley had not
sufficient moisture to bring it out of the ground
quickly and regularly, especially on the heavy lands,
where the tilth was rough and bad. It was not
till nearly the end of the month that spring-sowing
was finished, and the prospects for barley and oats
were very unfavourable. Winter beans and peas
.looked promising, and wheat was full in plant and
fairly forward. But there were some sharp frosts
late in May, and even in June, which injured the

growing wheat-ears, and probably the winter
beans also, June, however, was generally a
cheering month, and frequent showers alternated
with bright sunshine brought the crops on nicely.
Favourable anticipations began to be expressed, as
it was thought that there was time, with forcing
weather, for the crops to recover lost time. But
July was a thorough damper on such hopes, being
cold and wet. Wheat began to show unmistak-
able signs of blight, and spring corn was wonder-
fully short, thin, and backward. The hay crop
was abundant, but had not been well secured, even
where it was not still in the fields, as it was in
many districts, and particularly in Ireland, there
to remain till harvest, or even in some cases till
after the corn crops were secured. The root crops
had been put in very late, and mangels were hope-
lessly backward. The showery weather, however,
kept turnips healthy, and in England one of the
best crops ever grown was the result, though in
Scotland the crop was almost a failure. Harvest
iu the Southern and Eastern counties became
general about the middle of August, and at first
the weather was all that could be desired, so that
on early farms the bulk of the corn was quickly
and well secured. But soon the rainy weather
returned, protracting the harvest greatly, and
causing great damage to crops, especially in the
North of England and Scotland. After the
middle of the month there was a spell of drier
weather, enabling English farmers in early districts
to complete harvest by the middle of September
— a very late finishing for them — and Scotchmen
to make good progress, except in the Northern
counties, where the corn was still green. Iu the
middle of October there were again severe storms,
which did a great deal of injury to the crops
still out in the late parts of Scotland. This wet
weather, though disastrous to our Northern
neighbours, was a great help to farmers in the
Eastern and Southern counties, where the land
had become too hard to be ploughed with advan-
txge for the wheat crop. Wheat-sowing was
then driven off beyond its usual time, and after
it had become general it was interrupted by
another period of rainy weathet, which prevailed
generally throughout November, with a few short
intervals, which allowed wheat to be put in by
instalments. A large amount of rainfall during
the latter part of the mouth put a stop to field
operations, and though the weather since has beeu
drier, a large breadth of land intended for wheat
still remains unsown, especially in the North, and

03 THE FARMER'S

in Ireland. Ploughing is very backward, and frost
came on Wednesday night to hinder the continu-
ance of that operation, but to help on other farm
work also in arrear, such as carting manure on to
fields for roots or young clovers. The young wbeat
is for the most part underneath, or only just peeping
out of the ground, and the slight covering of
snow was beneficial to it as some protection against
the keen frost, which, however, only lasted two
or three days, and has been followed by mild
showery weather up to the present date. Our
business is with the year which closes to-night ;
so we will not speculate on the prospects of
tbe year to come, which are of course very much
. in the dark.

During the year we have suffered not only from a
blight upon our crops, but from a murrain amongst
our cattle. The history of the visitation of Cattle
Plague is fresh in the .memory of our readers, and
we need not recapitulate it. We do not regard it
as a misfortune, since it brought us the Cattle

MAGAZINE.

Disease Committee and the prospect of legislation
that we hope— though not without fear and trem.
bling — may be effectual as a preventive to the fre-
quently recurring inroads of foreign diseases. The
Report of the Cattle Diseases Committee has been
the most important agricultural Parliamentary
event of the year. In other respects the last
Session was peculiarly barren for farmers — like
the harvest. The Prisons Bill and the Destruc-
tive Insects Bill were the only measures passed
that were of peculiar interest to agriculturists in
England. To the Scotch farmers a stone was
presented by Mr. M'Lagan as a substitute for the
eo-g of Game-Law reform which they asked for.
They are now sitting over and not unreasonably
finding fault with this silicious monstrosity, and
its producer is cackling over it as if it were some-
thing to be proud of ; but sit upon or cackle over
it as they may, they will never^ succeed in hatch-
ing it.

AGRICULTURE IN JAPAN.

No. II.

The rearing of silkworms has always received great
attention at the hands of the Japanese, and has now
attained to a high degree of perfection. The commence-
ment of the season varies in the different parts of the
country as the temperature happens to be high or low.
When the -climate has a pretty equable temperature the
ilkworm egg cards are taken out of store about the
beginning of April, and hung up in a quiet nook of the
house. After the lapse of twenty-two or twenty-three
days the worms will appear. They are carefully watched,
and paper is wrapped round the cards, which are now
placed in a basket-tray. They are looked at every morning,
and brushed off lightly with a feather-fan into
another piece of paper. Mulberry-leaves are then taken,
cut very fine, and well sifted, tossed so as to get rid of
the leaf-fibre, and then naked with a certain proportion
of millet bran. With this the worms are fed. The
great thing to guard against is disease, so that careful
watching of the worms day and night is moat essential.
If the weather is exceptionally hot, then the worms are
kept cool ; if, on the other hand, cold, then proper
warmth is looked after. There are several varieties of
the mulberry. Exposed and open ground is generally
selected for a plantation, with a stream near at hand.
The ground is alvyays well drained. With worms in-
tended for reproduct ion more than ordinary care is exer-
cised in the selection of leaves for their food. The
mulberry trees known as Ichibe-i (an early kind), Yoku-mei
and I-awo-jiku (late kinds) are most fancied. Yonezawa
,' a Dewa, Yanagawa in Oshin, Uyeda in Shinshin, and

Shimamewa in Joshin are celebrated for their silkworm-
eggs. The provinces of Oshin, Dewa Koshin, Skinshin,
and Joshin have the best reputation for silk. Shimouita
and Omaua in Joshin have also a high name, and as,
too, have Maebashi and Takasaki in Joshin.

Tea is said to have been first introduced into Japan
from China in the year 782, but it did not come into
universal use till 1190. The districts which have a repu-
tation for the best tea are those ofUji, Daigo, and Togano,
situated in Yamashiro. Surumi, in Omi, takes next rauk,
but the shrub is very generally grown throughout the
empire. The ground best adapted for its cultivation
exhibits a rtddish soil, mixed with small stones, open to
the South and East, but shut in from the North and East.
Plantations are situated in warm but yet temperate
climates. The plant blossoms late in the autumn, and
the nut or seed follows the flower. These nuts, however^
do not ripen until the winter of the ensuing year; when ripe
the nut bursts and the seed falls to the ground. This is
kuown as the "ochiko," and is reckonedthe best for sowing.
They are placed in bags aud stored. The seeds are sown
in the course of the last month of the year. Patches of
ground measuring six feet square are marked out ; these
are divided off in three parts, in each of which holes of
little over a foot in diameter are dug. Manure is used, and
after the lapse of two days a small quantity of seed is sown
in each hole ; about an inch of light soil is then sprinkled
over the seed. The seedlings will show up early in sum-
mer. In the ensuing year the ^seedlings are carefully
protected from the cold. In the second year liquid

TOE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

89

manure is applied, but solid manure i9 not used until
the third year. If the plantation is a very good
one the leaves are pieked immediately after the third
year. The time for picking depends npou the tem-
perature of the season ; but the most fitting time
is when the shrub is in what is known as the three-
leaf stage, and when summer has well set iu. This
picking makes the best tea. When four or more
leaves appear they are somewhat dry in consistency, and
make inferior tea. Choosing a fine bright day, the
women and childreu in the tea-growing districts get
together, each with a basket in hand, and set to work
pickiug. The best leaves forming first-class teas are
picked; aud after thirty days comes the second picking
for medium leas.

According to a native authority tobacco was intro-
duced into Japan in the year 1605, and was first planted
at Nagasaki, in Ilizen. Iu those provinces where a high
degree of temperature prevails, the plant lives throughout
the winter; but it is, nevertheless, customary to sow
fresh seed iu the early spring of each successive year.
In Awa, where a good deal of tobacco is grown, the seed
is sown in early spring in fields well exposed to the sun,
and duly prepared for its reception. Well-sifted stable-
manure is strewn over the fields, and the seedlings
appear alter the lapse of abont twenty days ; the old
manure is then swept away, and liquid manure applied from
time to time. If the plants are too dense they are thinned
out. The larger plants are now planted out into fields
well prepared for the purpose, in rows with about eight
inches space between each plant, the furrows between
each row being about two feet wide. Tbey are again
well sprinkled with liquid manure, al.-o with the lees of oil,
at intervals of about seven days. A covering of wheat or
millet-bran is now laid over the furrows. The bitter
taste of the leaf is, in a measure, an effectual safeguard
against the ravages of insects, but the leaves are never-
theless carefully tended to prevent damage from such
cause. If the reproduction from seed is not desired, the
flowers should be . cut oiF and the stem pruned down;
otherwise the leaves will lose in flavour anil smell. Iu
Osumi exceptional attention is paid to the cultivation of
the tobacco plant. The lee3 of oil, if liberally used, and
stable-manure sparsely applied, have a great effect upon
the plant, producing a small leaf with an excellent flavour ;
while if the opposite course is followed, the leaves grow
to an immense size, but are very inferior in taste. The
manuring of tobacco differs from that of other plants, in
that manure is plentifully applied both to the roots and
leaves. Gathering the leaves in the he ght of summer,
when the flowers are of a light tint, two or three of the
leaves nearest the root are gat In-red. These are called
" first leaves," but produce tobacco of second quality.
After the lapse of a fortnight the leaves are gathered by
twos, and from these the best tobacco is produced. Any-
remaining leaves are afterwards broken off along with the
stem and dried. These form the lowest quality of
tobacco. After gathering, the leaves are arranged iu

regular layers and covered with straw-matting, which is
removed in a couple of days. The leaves are now ot a
light yellow colour. They are then fastened by the
stem iu twos and threes to a rope slung in a si.
room, and, after being so left for fourteen or fifteen days,
they are dried for two or three days in the sun, after
which they arc exposed for a couple of nights in order
that they may be moistened with dew. They are then
smoothed out and arranged in layers, the stems being
fastened toge her, pressed down with boards, and packed
away in a dark roo

Hemp grows wild throughout Japan, but care is more
especially given to its preparation iu the Northern di3-
ricts, where it is in ide up into piece-goods, known as
" echigo chigimi. eehigo jofu, sonezawa chijimi," &c.
The plant is perennial, and attains to a growth of six
feet and upwards. The stem is -covered with a short
hairy substance; the leaves are heart-shipel, with a
sharp point ; the surface of ihe leaf bluish in colour, and
the back white ; both sides are furry and rough to the
touch. Iu the summer small sprouts of about two or
three inches in length appear at the point where the
leaves join the stem. These throw oat blossoms which
develop into small white flowers, the female flower beii'g
next the leaf, the male next the stalk. There are three
descriptions of the plant : oue is called "akagin," a
second " shiragiu," aud a third " shirappa." The last-
named has a much whiter leaf tian the two former.
There is no very material difference iu the quality of the
three plants, but such as may exist depends on the
amount of care bestowed on the cultivation. The plant
being a perennial there is no occasiou to sow seed, pro-
pagation being carried on by means of shoots taken from
the roots. The proper time for doing this 13 in the
autumn, when the shoots are plauted out at a d stance of
three feet apart Notwithstanding this space between
the plants, the ground is completely covered in a very
short tine. The new plants are not tit for U3e until
after a three years' growth. They arj generally p 0-
tected with a fencing, and the ground is kept free from
weeds and creepers. The best plaut grows very straight,
with the leaves at regular io-evals. The inferior kind3
grow crooked, and bear a great, number of leaves. The
fibre is otyjued in the following manner : When the
summer has set in, the plantation is fired, after which
the ground is well prepared with manure, and so left till
the close of the summer, when the shoots will have
attained their full height ; they are then cut, and soaked
in running water for about four hours. After immersion
the stalks are broken iu about three places, thus separating
the rind from the pith. In the interstices thus made
the thumb of the left hand is inserted, and the stalks
sheiled. The shredded parts are then placed iu layers.
They are next hid out 0u a bra d, set up with a foot-
pi: ce at oue end so as to make an inclined plane; a
small-edged 1 10I '3 then grasped in the right-hand, the
shreds being fi mly held down with the left, and the
inner white coating is then scraped off. The shreds are

11 3

390

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

now hung on a frame, after which they are again placed
on the board, and this time the outer green pith is
scraped off. The fibre is then tied together in bundles
and dried. This scraping, or stripping, of the outer green
peel requires much deftness, and is ouly done by an expe-
rienced hand. Only cue day is occupied in doing the
above; so that a man cuts just as much, and no more,
than he can get through in the day's work- When the
fibre has been tied together in bundles it is hung up to
dry, and carefully guarded from wet. This dried fibre is
woveu into cloth and all kinds of piece-goods. The
coarser kinds are also made into an inferior description
of cloth, very brown in colour, and known as " akari
moraen." The outer greeu bark, or peel, is also dried
macerated, and made into paper pulp, used for the
coarsest kinds of paper. It is sometimes used in its
dried state by the poorer classes as a stuffing
for mattrasses. The best of the outer or surface fibre is
also made up into material very strong in texture, and of
a mouse colour, knowu as " kara hagi moraen." The
pith, or what is left after obtaining the fibre, is utilised
in finishing off the thatch of houses. A man well up in
the cultivation of hemp will raise 1301b. of hemp from a
piece of ground measuring 80 tsuboes (a tsubo being six
feet square) ; but the average production is about 851b.
for the same measurement of ground. Hempen cloths
are freely used by the Japanese, and it is not improbable
that before lone; machinery may be brought to bear upon
this industry.

The Government has turned its attention to stock-
farming, aud is endeavouring to ascertain, with expe-
rienced foreign aid, what are the localities best adapted
for stock-farming and cattle-runs. Particular inqu iries
have been instituted, too, in respect to soil and grasses.
Experiments have proved that red and white clovr,
aud the rye fain ily of glasses thrive wonderfully
in jJapan; and this, coupled with the statement
that there is in the country sufficient pasture land to
maintain 28,000,000 sheep, producing wool on an average
of 51b. per fleece, would apparently justify the Govern-
ment in the attention given to the subject, and to the (it
is to be hoped) judicious outlay of money to procure
information, either by observation or experiment, on these
important subjects. Amongst the most interesting expe-
riments are those that have been made at the farms of
the Colonisation Department in Yedo. At one of these
40 acres of ground have been laid out with fruit-trees and
flowers ; at a second 140 acres have been planted with
fruit-trees, cereal crops, and grassee; and a third is used
exclusively for pasture land, its area being about 75
.acres. Experiments made on the thud-mentioned farm
appear to have been exceptionally successful, and more
particularly with the Italian rye-grass seed. This success
cannot but be highly satisfactory to those interested in
it ; for, if sheep-farming is to attain to any importance,
grasses will have to be largely imported, cwiug to the
aferior quality of the natural herbage. Fruit-trees and
shrub-fruits hare thriven wonderfully the first aiul

second farms, both from seed and hy grafting. The
flavour of the fruit is pronounced as excellent, and it is
said that the most promising trees are seedlings grafted
on indigenous stocks.

There is mention of a very recent visit of the Mikado
to Hakodati, being the first time any Sovereign of Japan
has ever gone so far North in his dominions. His
Majesty's stay was but short, not extending over two
days, during wh ich time he made an excursion to the
model farm at Nansi. This farm, we are told by Consul
Eusden, which at first was expected to be of such great
benefit, is still carr ied on at an immense expense, no
attempt being made to make the farm pay for the great
outlay. This, he remarks, is much to be deplored, as
there is no doubt much beneficial improvement might be
derived from the extension of agriculture in that island.
The climate, so far North, is well adapted for growing
rice, which is the staple food of the people ; but, as they
are becoming more accustcrmd to the foreign way o
living, there is much to be done in the raising of cattle,
cereals, vegetables, and fruit, for the climate so closely
resembles England, and the soil is so rich and fertile, that,
with very little troub le, almost anything will grow. At
the present time the few bullocks that are required for
the consumption of foreigners, the natives, and the ship-
ping, are brought from Nambu, and are but sorry animals
at the best ; but, were the Japanese to take this matter
n hand, and devote a small part of the rich pasture land
to the raising of cattle, n ot only an immense profit might
be derived, but beef equal to the Koba beef might be sold
at the same price for the poor substitute now supplied,
and, since the Japanese have of late taken so much to beef
diet, to them it would be an immense advantage.
Kagorhimo, we are told, is celebrated for its horses, and
for the large size of its bamboo trees. The island of
Sakurajima, also, is renowned for its gigantic daikon, or
native turnips, which attain a magnitude treble that of
those grown in any other part of Japan. These large
turnips take the place of the rice, the soil not being very
suitable for the latter. The other productions are cam-
phor, beeswax, honey, beans, cassia, seaweed, pearl,
hemp-cloth, indigo, mushrooms, cedar-wood, katsuwo.
bushi, and awabi.

With respect to the condition of the people, we are
; formed that little or no distress exists amongst the agri-
cultural classes. Their wants are few, and they are
content to live on without seeking materially to improve
their circumstances. Of late years a great rise has taken
place in the price of ar tides of daily uee. But, if certain
commodities have become dear, the Japanese must set off
as against this the greater cheapness of transit aud loco-
motion. The people are beginning to adopt foreign inven-
tions. A rice-mill, worked by steam, has been put up at
Niigata. A Company was formed, uot long ago, in the
same locality, to manufacture wine. An Italian was
engaged as superintendent, but the attempt was a failure.
Grapes are so plentiful in some parts that wine-making
may eventually prove a success. It is said that two

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

101

thousand people gain a livelihood in Niigata by selling
snow-ice in the summer months. Holes for the snow to
drift in are dug in the sand-hills by the seashore, and
thatched over at the end of winter. The snow has been
known to last for two years. There is a peculiar beverage
called "sake," for which the district between Osaka and
Kobe is most famous. Throughout the whole of Japan
Itamin sake is best known, ami is largely exported in
junks to Yedo. Sake is biewed from rice, and iu its for-
mation two kinds of rice-malt are used. These are after-
wards mixed with other rice, at different times, and
a certain quantity of water beiug added (20 to 25 gallons
of water to 201b. rice), the whole is left till a certain
kind of fermentation takes place in about niue or ten
days. The liquid is boiled down according to the quality
or quantity of the sake to be produced, and is then placed
in tubs of immense size, and kept well closed till required
for use. The rice from which the sake has been manu.
factured is called " kas," and is used as manure, and also,
after having been dried in the sun, is made into cakes
much liked by the Japanese. The making of sake gives
employment to large numbers of labourers from the
neighbouring provinces of Tamba and Tauji, who assemble
in large numbers at a fair held annually at Nishinomiya,
at which place the owners of sake establishments engage
their employes for the ensuing season. The season com-
mences in the early part of January, though the prepa-
ration for the malt, cleansing of rice, &c, go ou some
time before that. The export usually takes place iu the
summer.

At Osaka a brewery on an extensive 3cale is at work,
and brews besr of a fair quality from hops obtained from
America. This liquid is much consumed by the Japanese.

It is satisfactory to observe that the necessity of pro-
viding the country with good roads appears to be appre-
ciated by the Government, and that they have lately
endeavoured to make this subject popular by calling upou
the newly-created Assemblies, both local and central, to
give it their consideration. Iu the present state of the
roads it is only the productions that are grown on or
near to the outer fringe of the country that can hope to
reach the ports at prices that will pay for export. A man
may grow rice, tea, tobacco, hemp, &c., in the rich land
of the interior, where agricul ural labour i3 cheap, at a
slight cost; but, by the time he has conveyed such bulky
produce to a market on the backs of ponies or bullocks,
which form the only meaus of transport, the
price often becomes too high to enable him to com-
pete successfully with the same produce of other countries.
It can scarcely be expected that Japan rice will ever com-
pete extensively in the home markets with that of India,
Burmah. or Saigon ; but cheaper prices would encourage
a considerable demand in Northern China, San Francisco,
and Australia. Better communication with the Western
coast — which could be easily supplied by continuing the
railway from Kioto to Otz, on the Biwa Lake, a distance
of ten miles, and by constructing a good ordiuary road
from Macbara to Tsuru^^, a distance of thirty miles —

would enable the rice, which is grown in great abundance
on the West coast, to be brought at a much cheaper cost
than at present from Niigata to Osaka, Iu Yezo, an
island of 35,000 square miles, with a population little •
over 100,000, there are vast tract3 of laud untouched by
spade or plough, which are as admirably suited to wheat
cultivation as the Pacific slopes or the plains of South
Australia. And even on the main island it is estimated
that not more than a fourth part of the area has been
biought under cultivation.

THE AUT OF PUTTING THINGS.

Transatlantic journalists have a ligurative way of put-
ting things which is very unique and peculiarly
American. Here are a few samples from The New
York Tribune:

Two more Chicago banks have gone to find redemption in
the bosom of financial Abraham. The Thud National Bank
and the Central National Bank are the defunct institutions.

Only a ripple, and scarcely that, to mark the spot where the
Third National wen*, down ; and not a wave of trouble rolls
across the peaceful bieast of any other bank in town.

Let's liquidate ! The officers of the Central National Bank
signify a desire to treat all their customers alike, and ac-
cordingly invite them to call at the counter and get what i8
due to them.

A big haul ! The Fishery Commission catches Uncle Sam
on its little book ; five-and-a-half million dollars awarded to
Canada yesterday, and fisherman's luck is to be paid for by
one-third of the Geneva award.

The Senate Republicans and Democrats are engaged ir.
mortal combat — they have locked horns, and propose to fight
to the death.

Oh, it was pitiful! In a whole party full, friends he had
none ! Patterson, the traitor to his friends, brings his wifa
and children into the Senate to witness his vindication ; but,
instead, he is levelled with the dogs in the kennel.

Why, Sammy ! Rumours are current that Tilden is to
make another struggle for the Presidency : he hears a voice
from Washington, calling " Samuel," and answers " Here am
I.

Idolatry indeed ! The Fetish- worshippers of the House
bend the knee before a paper deity !

A man overboard — if the wild winds and mad waves had
wrecked his vessel he would have been a hero, but as the
mainboom did the business he is only a floater.

A bright English mechanic, with speculation in his eye and
invention in his brain, recently constructed an engine, the

mo'ive power of which was gunpowder The theory

was beautiful, but as for the working of the model — well, the
inventor left very suddenly when he put the machine in ope-
ration, and he has not yet returned.

SCARLET FEVER BY THE POST.— Dr. Cornells
Fox writes iu The Sanitary Record: — "There can be no
question i>\ the mind of any one who has taken an interest in
sanitary subjects but that scarlet fever poison is disseminated
by letters, for proofs of this accident have been repeatedly af .
forded. The outbreak of this disease in a villags post-office
has presented itself to my notice on two 0-Cf.sions, and ir
both cases the disease has spread."

102

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

NORFOLK.

The aunual meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture
for tho purpose of receiving the anuual reports and appointing
officers was held on Saturday, December 15th, at the Norfolk
Hotel, Mr. R. T. Gurdon in the chair.

After the annual report had been read and adopted, and thn
Aualyst's report read, Mr. Gurdon, on the motion of Mr. C. S.
Read, M.P., seconded by Mr. Everett, was re-elected presi-
dent.

On the motion of Mr. Dele, Mr. Grimmer was re-elected
vi r-president.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P , the president, and Mr. II Grimmer,
were re-appointed delegates to the Central Chamber.

Cattle Diseases.
Mr. Read, M.P., was anxious that before the meeting of
Parliament petitions should be presented from (his Chamber
requesting the Government to pass at once into law the
recommendations of the select committee as to cattle plague
and the importation of live stock. The Central Chamber of
Agriculture and the Farmers' Club had drawn up a form of
petition, which might be adopted by this Chamber. Bathe
w mid first ask whether the Chamber would prefer to di cuss
t lose recommendations at a future meeting. Bat he fancied
t tat every member knew what those recommendations were ;
a ^ whenever the Government brought in a bill, which the
Pr.me Minister and the Lord President had promised to do, no
diubt the Chamber would discuss it ; consequently it seemed
unnecessary to have two meetings, which might both be held
wiihin a month, to consider the same subject.

The Chairman said that the effect of the recomraenda-
ti j:is were that foreign cattle should be slaughtered at the ports
of debarkation.

Mr. Read said the crucial point of the recom Herniations of
the select committee was that all cattle from districts where
cattle plague existed should be prohibited entering this coun-
try, aud that all other stock should only be admitted into
certain specified ports, and there be slaughtered, instead of
being allowed to mix with the home stock. Tnat was what
they I' ad said over and over again in that Chamber. If they
had these stringent regulations for stopping the importation
of foreign diseases the owners of stock must take precious
good care when disease broke out in their neighbourhood to
exterminate it as quickly as possible. Mr. Read then read a
pj ition framed in support of the recommendations of the
select committee. The select committee had, he said, been
very much misrepresented, even by the London press, who
certainly ought to have known better. There was recently a
paragraph in The Daily News which said that this committee
was largely composed of agricultural and Conservative mem-
bers. Now as the committee was first placed before the
House by the Government, there was a majority of four
borough members against county members, whereupon he pro-
tested agniust that constitution of th* committee, because a
great number of those who represented boroughs might, per-
haps, know that a Shorthorn wa3 not a pig, but th-ir know-
i edge of cattle must bs very limited indeed. He thought it
was just also that Ireland should be more fully represent ,
its chief wealth was in cattle, and as it sent so many stock to
this part of tin '. House added 4 mo ■

3 from Ireland and 1 from Scotland, and 3 of these happened
to be Liberals, and therefore as the committee was constituted
in the end there were fourteen Liberals and thirteen Conser-
vatives, and one of the Conservatives, being chairmau, never
voted. That gave the Liberals a majority of one. There
were also fourteen borough members against thirteen county
members, giving also a majority of one to the borough mem-
bers, and in addition, the chairman, a county member, did
not vote. Therefore, it was most unfortunate that they were
always misrepresent!. The paragraph went on to say that
we must expect some protective policy to be revived. E\eu
the daily paper which circulated in thii district was good
enough to demand that the Cohden Club should take up this
question of Free Trade. Really that very well informed and
generally most fair and impartial paper seemed to have lost its
senses for a moment — it wis only one day, he was happy to
say ; it came back afterwards, and said something more to
the point. But it lectured the Prime Minister for saying th it
he " should not consider the interests of agriculture apart
from the gcaeral interests of all classes ;" and upon that text
was preached the serraou that we were going to revive protec-
tion for the benefit of the farmers and to the destruction, he
supposed, of the import trade in cattle. Now he, for one,
did not care how much meat the foreigner sent us. Of
course he said that guardedly. He did uot want them to
beat them down so that the grazing stock would not pay ; but
he did say that if the Americans would send us meat there
was no reason why there should be this traffic in live animals,
which was so dangerous.

The Chairman did not agree with the idea that this ques-
tion was oue of politics. It was not in any degree one of
Liberal or Conservative, but he was afraid that it was b<ing
made oue of town against country. That was a very unfor-
tunate thing indeed, because the towns were very strong and
very active, and were very apt to get the best of the country
if it came to a fight. But their great object was to show the
towns that they did not wish the Prime Minister or any one
else to consider the interests of agriculture apart from the
general interests of all classes. They were endeavouring to
protect the interests of the towns quite as much as their own.
It was for the interests of the towns that there should be as
much meat, and as good and cheap, as possible; and if tlwy
could prove to the townspeople the danger arising from the
importation of live stock from foreign countries as diminish-
ing the supply and, consequently, as increasing prices, they
would be conferring upon them a benefit. However, in every
way they ought to combat the assertion that they were work-
ing for the interests of the country as against those of the
town. If that were so he would not be any party to it.

Mr. I. O. H. Taylor, as a citizen of Norwich, agreed with
the observations made by the President. He felt greatly inter-
ested in the success of this measure, as he was convinced that
by stopping the diseases a great benefit would be conferred
upon the meat-eating working classes of the town.

Mr. R. Smith proposed that the Chamber should depute
the Chairman to sign the petition.

The Chairman then signed the petition at the uuanimous
request of the Chamber.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

10$

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

THE LABOUR QUESTION.

Oq Saturday, December 15, a meeting of this Cham"
ber of Agriculture was held at the Com Exchange, when
the following paper on "The Labour Question in its Rela-
tion to Agriculture " was read by Mr. \V. II. Gattv, of

Market Ilarborough : —

The subject T have selected for my address, " The Labour
Q'ltstion ia its Itelation to Agriculture," though somewhat
different from those usually discussed here, is of such impor-
tance to the lauded iuterest in all its b ranches at the present
time that I shall plead uo excu»e for bringing it before this
Chamber. To deal with it in its entirety ou au occasion like
this is impossible. I shall therefore take oaly the economical
side ol the subject, and even this more cursorily than I could
have wished, but I desire to draw attention to some of the facts
and laws on a consideration of which the solution of this
most ditticult question must depend, and then leave to others
of greater practical experience than nayself the application of
them. The produce resulting from the cultivation of land
may be divided into three parts— Rent ; the profit of the capi-
tal st, occupier, or firmer ; aiid the wages of the labourer em-
ployed in cultivation. O*' cour<e, one person m*y take the
whole of the produce if he cultivates his own laud himself ;
but usually it is divided, as I have said, between the landlord,
the firmer, and the labourer. It is commonly said that the
iuterest ot these three is identical, and it is so, as far as
they all have an interest in gettiug the greatest possible
a nount of produce out of the laud, but there the identity of
interest ceases. Beyond this their interests are antagonistic,
for it is the interest of each to get as large a share of the gross
produce as they can, and the larger or mailer share eacli will
have must depend upon the ordinary laws of supply and de-
mand— i.e., on the competition between the members- of each
class for what the other two classes contribute towards the
production. Still, the less this natural antagonism is brought
iu'o play the better will it be for all parties. I said agricul-
tural prodnce is usually divided into three parts, but it is not
necessarily so. Agricultural produce is the result of the com-
bined application of two forces — Capital and Labour — to what
may be called the raw material — Laud. Tiie application of
the same quantities of capital aud labour to all the different
kinds of laud in the eountry will not produce the same re-
sults ; some portions of land beiug more fertile or otherwise
advantageous thau others, wili give back much greaterreturns
to the capitalist and labourer. This fact is the origin of rent.
True rent is that portion of the produce of unimproved land
which the capitalist is willing to pay the owners of the most
fertile and convenient lands for the advantages they offer
in cultivation. Land, the market value of whose produce
is no more than will pay the wages ordiuarily paid
to agriculural labourers, and the ordinary trading interest
on the capital advanced as those wages, and in buying the in-
struments and seed necessary to produce a crop, will pay no
rent. Such being the case, it will at once be seen that reut
depends on the relative proportions existing between the
current rate of interest on capital invested in trade ; the
current rate of wages paid to labourers ; and the market
value of the proluce of the land. Such is rent in its simplest
form — the price paid for the occupation of unimprdved land-
When land has been improved by the investment of ca
clearing, draining, &c, &c, the increased price pai .
occupation is not really rent, though it is commonly cai"'>

but interest on the capital advanced in the impiovements.
This iuterest, however, becomes practically a portion of the
rent, as the capital is sunk in the land, and forms a com-
ponent part of its value ; it is liable, therefore, to the same
contingencies as rent, and may, like it, be absorbed altogether
should the current rate of interest ou trading capital, and
the current rate of wages, 'rise at a greater rate than the cur-
rent market value of agricultural produce. Of course, these
laws are subject to modifications in practice ; as, for in-
stance, farmers may be satisfied with less interest for their
capital than other traders, and agricultural labourers with
lower wages than others, in cous.-quence of the more healthy
aud pleasant nature of their employment ; but no modification
of this kind affects the principle, that there can be no rent
paid on the least fertile and leant convenient lands in cultiva-
tion, and that the standard of such lands as can pay ren : will
rise in proportion as the amount of interest to be paid on the
capital employed in cultivating thera rises more rapidly
than the market value of their produce — whether this increase
of interest is dependent on a larger capital bsing reqiired, or
on the current rate of iuterest on trading capital ruling
higher than before ; and, as by far the larger part of the
capital employed on arable lauds is required to advance the
wages of the labourers, and to pay for the machinery used
in cultivating them — the chief cost of ivhich machinery agtin
is dependent on the wages paid to the mechanics who make
it — it will at ouce be seen how intimately connected is rent
with the price of labour generally, and especially of agricul-
tural labour. Again, that portion of the produce which does
not go to the landowner is divided between the farmer and
the labourer ; and the one or the other will get the larger
share at any one time, according as, at that time, the number
of agricultural labourers is greater or less ic proportion to
*he capital employed in agriculture wherewith to pay them;
aud the number of labourers seeking for agricultural employ-
ment will depend ou the competition of other capitalists with
the farmer for their labour. These are truisms whieh
probably no one will contradict. Let me, then, apply
these laws to certain facts in the past and present history of
agriculture ; and see how they are likely to affect it in the
fu'ure. To apprehend clearly the present position of the
agricultural interest, we should go back to the end of the last
century, to the period of the great Continental war. In 1790
the population of Great Britain was about 9| millions, of
whom the larger part were engaged in agriculture. In 1811
the number of the people had increased to 12£ millions, and
35 per cent, of the families in the country were employed in
agriculture. In 1831 the population had increased to 16£
millions, but the families employed in agriculture were then
only 28 per cent. This alteration will appear in a more
striking point of view if a comparison be made of the in-
crease of families in each class during the twenty years, 1811
to 1831. The increase in the number of families altogethe. i
was at the rate of 34 per cent. ; the addition to those of the
agricultural class was only 7 per cent. In the census of
18-41 the occupations of the people were more particularly-
defined, and out of a population of 18f millions, 1,490,785
were employed in agriculture ; otherwise occupied 6,304,917—
1 to 4j. In 1851 the number of persons employed in any
way connected with agriculture was 1,928,796; in 1861,
1.833,295; in 1871, l,63t,lt>2, whilst in manufacture*
trades, aud professions, the number was 8,830,201, or 1 in Ffc
The decrease in agricultural labourers alone, from 1S51 to

104

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1871, was 101,000. Again, when Mr. Pitt brought forward
his proposal for an income tax in 1798 his calculations were
based on these estimates :— Rent of land, tenants' profits,
tithes, &c, £54,000,000 per annum ; profits of trades and
professions, £44,000,000. In 1843 the actual annual value
of rent and tithes assessed was about £47,000,000, to which
may be added £22,000,000 for tenants' profits; total,
69,000,000, as compared with 1798. I have no account of
the. amount assessed on trades at this period, but Mr. Porter, in
his " Progress of the Nation," calculates the personal property
(exclusive of money in the public funds) to he about
£1,500,000,000. Now, if we| capitalise the trading income
of £44^000,000 in 1798 at 15 per cent., i.e., £300,000,000,
we see what an immense increase in the capital, available
for commerce, had occurred in the first half o" this century.
And the latest income tax returns published show
how much more rapidly that increase has gone on
since. In 1872 the total income tax paid on Schedule
A, i <?., all kinds of real property, houses, factories, warehouses,
&c., as well as land, and Schedule B, was £3,681,380. Under
Schedule D, the profits of trades, &c, it was £4,546,918. The
average price of wheat for the first 20 years of this century
was 80s. per quarter ; from 1820 to 1830, 58s. ; 1830 to 1840,
49s. ; from 1840 to 1855 I have not the exact figures, but I
think any gentleman who remembers will admit that they were
not higher than the previous years; 1855 to 1860, 57s. ; 1S60
to 1865,47s. 6d.; 1865 to 1870, 54s. 6d.; 1870 to 1876,
53s. 2d. ; averaging, for the last 22 years, 53s. The average
price of meat from 1801 to 1815 was 5s. 3d. per 81b. ; from
1816 to 1820 it sunk to 3s. 9d., and.for the next 35 years the
price kept low. From 1855 the price of meat has been slowly
and gradually rising, till the average price of beef for the last
six years is the same as that of the first 15— viz, 5«. 3d. At
Manchester, in 1810, the weekly wages of carpenters was 25s. i
bricklayers, 22s. 6d. ; masons, 22s. ; tailors, 18s. 6d. ; shoe-
makers, ;i6s. ; hand-loom weavers, 16s. 3d. ; labourers, 15s.
About the same time the wages of agricultural labourers varied
in different parts of the country from 8s. to 12s. per week, with
more or less of perquisites. This money rate of wages in all
branches of industry continued almost stationary for the first
half of the century, but, in consequence of the fall in price of
the prime necessaries of life, the real wages of labour were
considerably increased. From 1840 to 1850 the ordinary rate
of wages of colliers was from 3s. to 4s. per day ; miners, 2s.
8d. to 3i. ; engineers, 3s. to 4s. ; blacksmiths, 3s. to 4s. ; car
penters, 3s. to 3s. 6d. ; labourers, 2s. to 2s. 6d. For the last few
years the wages of mechanics, of all sorts, have been from 8d.
to 9d. an hour, according to the nature of their employments
and their situation in town or country ; and the wages of
agricultural labourers from 16s. to 20s., and often more if
their earnings by piece work are taken into consideration.
Since 1850, in consequence of the enormous stimulus given
to commerce and manufactures by the gold discoveries in
California and Australia, and the development of steam
power, the accumulated wealth of the country has increased
at a rate surprising even the dreams of economists a hundred
years ago. And, whereas at that time the chief obstruction
to the efforts of philanthropists to improve the condition
of the lower classes was the tendency of the popula-
tion to increase at a greater rate than the capital which
was to find them employment during the last 25 year8
the opposite condition has obtained, the capital invested
n productive industry having nearly trebled, whilst the

increase of the whole popu'ation is only about 25 per cent.
From these statistics it will be seen that the'uumbers of the
agricultural labourers, in proportion to the rest of the people,
have been declining throughout the century ; that for the last
sixty years the price of agricultural produce has ruled lower
than it did at the beginning of the century, during part o' the
time much lower ; that the wages of labour, especially of
mechanics, have now for many years been rising ; whilst
during the whole of the century the capital employed in other
branches of industry has increased much more rapidly than
that employed in agriculture. The report of these changes
has been that whereas at the beginning of the century the
amount of capital and the number of labourers employed in
agriculture were equal to, if not in excess of, the capital and
labour employed in trade, and, consequently, that the ordinary
rate of wages for all other employments was based on, and
regulated by, that for the agricultural labourer, since 1815
these proportions have been gradually altering, slowly at first
but recently at a very rapid pace, so that instead of agri-
cultural wages being the standard for wages in genera!, they
have themselves become subject to regulation by the price
paid for labour of a similar kind in a great variety o>
industries, and depend not on what the farmer can afford t„
pay out of his profits, but on profits of those industries which
are competing with him for labour. Parallel with this con.
dition of the labourers and the price of labour, the position of
the farmer has also altered in many repects, not only as regards
his o*n status as a capitalist, but also iu his relation as such
to other traders. For many years after 1815 the amount of
capital required to stock a farm remained almost stationary,
and although the price of agricultural produce fell consider-
ably, and the money interest on this capital might be less, a
variety of circumstances concurred to prevent this loss being
as great, or as much felt, as the fall in prices would seem to
warrant. Iucreased production, the result of improved culti-
vation, made up partly for reduced value of produce, and the
general cheapening of articles of necessity and convenience
made money go father than before. Moreover, the agricul-
tural interest has benefited, if not so much as the commercial
classes, still very materially by the increased facility of loco,
motion, which the introduction of railways has brought
about. The average prices of agricultural produce, as given
in the Board of Trade returns, are taken from the prices in
the markets of certain large towns, and, of course, include
the cjst of its conveyauce to those markets. Though these
published prices ruled low as compared with those of the
earlier part of the century, the cost of conveyance was con-
siderably lessened by the improved communication provided
by better roads, canals, and latterly by the railroads ; and the
larger part of this saving has gone into the pockets of the
farmer. In effect, improved communication, by enabling the
produce of a much larger area of country to reach easily and
cheaply the best markets has placed those districts in as
favourable a position as that of the lands which were in the
immediate neighbou rhood of those markets before; and as, in
general, rents have not been much raised, this advantage has
to a certain extent, compensated for the tendency of the
wages of labour iu the country to assimilate themselves to
the wages in towns. For the last few years, however, the
benefit accruing to the farmer from this cause has beeu gradu-
ally coming to a standstill, prices being pretty well equalised
through the country. So long as the two forces about
balauced each other, the labourers were beaefitcd withou

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

]05

Josh to the farmer ; but the sudden and great rise in wages
brought about by the extraordinary impulse given to all kinds,
of manufacturing industry on the cessation of the Franco-
German War occurred without any equivalent improvement
>n the price of agricultural produce, and consequently was an
Uncompensated loss to the farmer. I have said that the in-
crease in the gross produce of the land helped to mike up for
its reduced value ; but the very means by which this increased
production is brought about necessitate the use of a largpr
capital by the farmer, and his inducement to employ more
capital must be the prospect of gaining the ordinary rate of
interest on it. But the quantity of produce capable of being
raised on any given piece of land is not indefinite, and after a
certain, and not advanced, stage in the progress of agricul-
ture it is the law of production from the laud that every in-
crease of produce is obtained by a more than proportional
increase of expense, and therefore, to give the same interest
on the fresh capital expended, the price of the gross produce
raised must be higher than before its application. Uuited
competition from foreigu countries checks this rise in prices
and the British farmer must be satisfied with less interest on
his new capital, unless he cm iuduce some one else to provide
that part of it necessary for permaneut improve-
ments who will be satisli'd with less than the or-
dinary trading profit. Now, ths law of production I have
just quoted does not apply to capital employed in other indus
tries. In most, additional capital will produce equivalent ad-
ditional profit ; in many, even an increased profit. And
whereas increased facilities of communication have somewhat
improved the position of the farmer by opening to him new
and better markets, it has done this, and more also, for other
traders by enabling them to do either a larger business with
the same capital or the same business with a smaller capital.
In several respects, therefore, capital employed in agriculture
is placed at a disadvantage compared with capital employed in
trade ; and at the present time there are so many causes for
anxiety to a farmer in carrying on his business that I cannot
see anything in his personal or social position to compensate
for the economical disadvantages he labours under. By the
ordinary laws of political economy capital is withdrawn from
the least advantageous businesses, and if this state of things
were to last much longer we should see the rents of inferior
farms a great deal reduced, and probably the worst laud now
occupied go out of cultivation altogether. Such is a
short and, I believe, true sketch of the economical history of
agriculture during the present century, the shades of the pic-
tare becoming darker during the last few years. What, then,
are the prospects for the future ? I believe I may speak
hopefully on this point. I think the climax of the revolution
through which agriculture, iu common with every other in-
dustfy, is passing has been reached, and that soon we shall be
in smooth water. The causes which have created this revo-
lution cannot, from thsir very nature, be often, if ever,
repeated. We cannot be always reconstructing our fiscal
policy. It will probably be long, very long, before such an
event as the Calilornian and Australian gold discoveries occurs
again to disturb the financial condition of the world ; and
equally long, most likely, before a new motive power is found
capable of effecting such a complete mechanical revolution as
the use of steam has done. There will be sufficient occupa-
tion for the next few generations to develope and utilise these
forces, and during this period the ordinary laws by which
human progress is governed will re-assert themselves, and
restore the normal equilibrium between capital and labour.

We need not expect the recurrence of such a hurricane
of money - making, if 1 may use the illustration,
as prevailed a few years ago, and winch, by suddenly
drawing an excessive Bmonnt of capital iuto industrial in-
vestments, unsetlled and demoralised the labour market. The
ordinary principles of population will quickly produce their
natural effect, and provide a supply of labour aooner in
excess, it is to be feared, than below the demand. Already
something of the kind may be noticed. Wages, which iu
several branches of industry rose with unexampled rapidity,
have fallen almost to their old rate, and although the con-
sumption of coal and iron is considerably larger than it was
ten years ago, there are numbers of the workmen engaged in
those industries out of employment. I believe I am correct
in saying farmers have had much less difficulty in procuring
labourers this year than they had for four years previously,
and the tone of the men is more subdued. The crihis is hap-
pily passing away, but it has not been a'together without its
advantages in putting an end to a state of things which for
some time has been decaying. The semi-feudal state of de-
pendence between landlord and tenant, employer and em-
ployed, is gone, and the practice of independent contract
between each of these parties will be substituted instead. The
landlord will find his advantage in having a few large,
wealthy, and independent tenants, instead of a number of
small dependent ones, and looking on them as his partners
in the cultivation of his property, in trusting them to use
their ability and capital in the way they see best. A farm
must be treated as a factory — made to produce the artie'e
which the state of the markets and the circumstances of tlie
times show to be most profitable. And the farmer will be
none the worse off in carrying out this method, because he
his about him a stiff of well-p^il inte.ligent labourers, with
whom he has to bargain for their services in the sime way
that he does with the corn or the cattle dealer. The gain to
the labourers in this revolution no one can doubt. It will
rest with themselves to de' ermine whether the benefits they
have received shall be permanent or not. But it is not by
mean3 o> strikes er trades' unions they will be maintained.
Industry, sobriety, frugality, and prudence with regard to
early marriages, are their only natural safeguards. If ever
again the supply of needy labourers overtakes the demand,
no combination on their part can keep up wages, and then
their last state will be worse than their first by the bitter
sense of loss which will accompany it. There is however
one unsatisractory point at present, to which Mr. C. S. Read
very forcibly, if not bitterly, alluded in an address he gave at
the Farmers' Club last year— the falling off in the quantity and
quality of the work done by the agricultural labourer. But
I do not think this falling off is peculiar to them. I fear it
must be admitted that handicraftsmen of all sorts are
amenable to the same accusation. This general deterioration
of work is due in a great measure to the excitement in the
labour market I have mentioned, and in agriculture there is
another special cause for it— the habit of the younger and
abler portion of the rural population to seek other employments,
leaving the old and feeble to work on the land. Agricultural
wages have now reached such a standard as to make immi-
gration a doubtful advantage from a pecuniary point of view ;
but the young rustic is stimulated with a desire after novelty,
and the feverish gaiety of the town is a temptation loo strong
for his simple nature to resist, and lures him from his proper
occupation. It is, however, essential to the welfare of
agriculture to check thi* habit, and attract the best men to the

IOG

THE FARMER' MAGfAZlN!

arm; ail the only way I can see to counteract ttie evil
influence is to offer, at least, equal inducements to
remain. Rural life must be made pleasant and cheer-
ful. The comforts of a light and roomy cottage, and
the pleasures of a gaiden, will be the best antidote to the
craving lor the bustle aid excitement of the town. The
village library and the workman's club rnu-it be the rivals of
the mniic-haH and theatre. The labourer's respect for his
calling should be cultivated, and I believe the best way t°
p-oduie this feeling is for his master to show that he has a
respect for him. " A fair day's work for a fair day s wages "
should be the maxim by which both are guided, and it should
be understood when each has performed his part in this con-
tract they stand on an equality. The labourer will lear11
that the produce of the land is the only source from which
his wages can be paid, aud, therefore, it is his interest to
ra .ke that produce as great as possible by throwing his heart
and energies into his work. The con duct complained of iz-
the ignorant revenge of those who are smarting under a
feeling of oppression, as trades' unions are the almost natural
reaction from the state of dependence in which the labouring
p ipulation have till lately existed. They have thrown off
their dependence on their masters, and are not yet able to
s and alone. They, therefore, seek in combination thj
strength they feel in need of, and give to the ind vidual
freedom of will they have not yet learnt to use for that of the
multitude, moved and directed as it is by, too often, self-
inte es:ed leaders. Time, education, and, above all, 'Il-
licit by the master of dealing with his ser vant as an inde-
p-ndent contractor will teach the labourer the weakness and
fallacy of union control, and when once he has learnt that
it is more in accordance with his manly dignity to make a
bargain for himself, and having made a bargain, good or bad,
honestly to fulfil it, he will scoru to submit his judgment or
his work to the irresponsible orders of an ag itator, and
again, as in diys of old, British workmanship will become the
model for the rest of the world to imitate.

The Chairman : I understand it is the custom of this Cham-
ber for an address to termiuate with a substantive resolution.
It is difficult to frame one on the subject I have brought before
you, but to place myself in order I will move : —

" That this Chamber considers the labour question, in its
relation to the future of agriculture, to be satisfactory."

Mr. It G. Scriven said he had great pleasure in seconding
the resolution. He fully agreed with Mr. Gatty that the.
labour question was in a satisfactory state. They could all
understand that the great impulse which was given to al,
trades three or four years ago did raise, for a time, the de-
mand for labourers, and had its effect upon agriculture; bnt,
as Mr, Gatty hud pointed out, there was now no difficulty in
getting labourers; indeed he was afraid there would be men
standing about for want of work. He did not think, how-
ever, it was likely that the rise in wages wou Id be lowered
and he did not wish that it should be. They did not wish to
see the labourers ground down to the last penny. He hoped
the Chamber would agree with the resolution.

Mr. W- Saull thought there was something rather inde-
finite in the resolution. He thanked Mr. Gatty for the paper
he had written, but the resolution that the labour question
was satisfactory he could not support, and he thought the
figures which Mr. Gatty had'given would hardly justify the
conclusion at which he had arrived, and even if theoretically
it was so he thought it was their duty to consider the question

practically. He did not doubt for one moment that the
wages had risen; indeed, he considered that the advance had
been too great, and had rendered it somewhat difficult for the
farmer to pay the wages. Was the present state of agricul-
ture sufficiently prosperous to justify the amount of wages
now given ? There was no question that the demand for
labour had been great, but what had induced that demand ?
It had been that the prosperity of the commercial community
had induced the better portion of the labourers to be ex-
tracted from the ngricultual community, and they had left a
number of men who looked merely to Saturday night, and did
not consider the interests of the farmer, amongst whom dis-
satisfaction predominated, and whose work was of such a
character as not to justify the amount that was paid for it.
He was quite sure, from his little experience as a practical
farm r, that circumstances were not in such a satisfactory
state as predicted by Mr. Gatty. Again, there was another
side to the question. The elements had been so much against
the farmer that they had checked him in hu crops ; and
whether he had had a return for the amouut of capital expended
was not a question, because it had been proved that he had
not, and he was quite sure the'question of labour must to
some extent affect him, because, whatever might be the sea-
sons, there were two people who must be paid — the landlord
would receive his rent, and the labourer would receive his
weekly wages. In conclusion, he reminded them that the dis-
cussions which took place in that Chamber were read by the
labourers, who, if they believed that the farmers were satisfied
with the money they were giving would bslieve that they
could afford to give more.

Mr Berry (Stauion) said he did not agree with all Mr.
Saull had stated, but agreed with Mr. Gatty that the labour
question, in its relation to agriculture, was in a satisfactory
stale. At the same time he thought there was something else
which sheuld be added to the resolution. The expenses on
ploughed land, owing to the increased cost of labour, had
greatly increased, and if they could get that in some way
combined with the resolution, he thought they might come to
a definite point satisfactory to the farmer. Within the last
five or six years the price of labour had increased 25 per cent.
The cost of labour per acre was now 45s., being an increase
of lis. 3d. per acre. Then there were the increased tax^s.
Within the last ten years his taxes had increased fro.n 2s. 6d.
to nearly 5s. per acre, being an increase of 2s. 6d,on his land.
The tradesmen's bills had also increased from 3s. to 5s. per
acre. Thus there was an increase of 15s. 9d. per acre on the
ploughed laud, and the question in his mind was, where was
this 15s. 9d. per acre to come from? Further, in his opinion,
the rents during the last 10 or 15 years had increased 25
or 30 per cent., so that the expenses during the last few years
had increased £1 per acre. He had gone through his books
for the last four or five years, and found that his ploughed
laud cost him .£8 2s. per acre, and his produce did not amount
to £7 10s. per acre, so that there was a loss of 12s. per acre.
He should, therefore, suggest that something be added to the
resolution recommending that a reduction of 25 per cent, be
made on the rent of the ploughed lands, in order to meet the
present disadvantageous times, and he was sure, under more
prosprrous circumstances, the farmers would be quite willing
to add the 25 per cent- to the rents again.

Mr. J. M. Vernon thought they had wandered beyond the
subject. He shonld have been very glad if it had been further
extended, so that one might have had an opportunity of ex-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

107

pressing an cpi lion with reference to it, but at present, if he
understood the question correctly, it was whether they were
satisfied with the existing state of the agricultural labour
market, and he thought they were bound to that simple ques-
tion. He believed that the labourers, at the present time,
were a more thinking class of people than they had been since
he had had a knowledge of men and thing*, and he was now
more convinced than ever that there was no disposition on
their part to go rushing into a mad enthusiasm supposing the
tenant farmers could give almost anything in the shape of
wages. The farmers were willing to give them all they could
afford in proportion to the return they received, and he trusted
that the kindly feeling which had grown up would continue
and increase. At present they were giving all that they
possibly could give to the labourer for his labour, and he be-
hev d the labourer was much better satisfied than he had been
for many years past.

The Rev. W. Bn;v said that he did not at present think
that the labour question in its relation to agriculture was satis-
factory, and he should like to know to whom Mr. Gttty
thought it was satisfactory ? He trusted not to the labourer,
fram what he read in The Labourers' Chronicle every week.
He was qtiite sure it was not satisfactory to the fanner, from
whit he had heard in that room, and he was quite sure it
wis not satisfactory to the parson or the publ c at large. He
knew very little about farming, but he was convinced there was
one blot upon the le.bour question in its relation to agricul-
ture, and that was the present system of out-door relief, and
he was goiug to make an amendment to the effect, " That so
long as the present system of out-door relief continues, the
labour question in its relation to agriculture never can be
satisfactory to the labourer, the farmer, or th» community at
large." It could not be satisfactory to the labourer, because
it was impossible a man could be satisfied when he wis told
tint the ordinary accidents could not be met out of his wages,
and he was obliged to go to the Guardians for his doctor, and
for everythiug that was not absolutely a necessity of life. It
seemed to him the most humiliating thing possible for any
branch of a trade to say that it could not pay the men it em-
ployed sufficient to meet the accidents of life without taking
from other people's pockets.

Mr. E. K. Fisher said Mr. Bury had asked him to second
his amendment, but he did not do it on that account, because
he should never express sentiments to please anyone if he did
not agree with them. He could not say that he quite agreed
with Mr. Bury in the amendment he had proposed, but he
hoped to see the day when the substance of it misfht be ad-
m'tted. He did not think, considering that the present race
of agricultural labourers had been educated under the present
system of out-door relief, that they could take away from
them, and without notice, what they looked upon as some
sort of resource for their old age. At the same time he did
not think he should be gratified in letting the matter drop
without seconding the amendment, but he hoped in future
they would see such a system of frugality and independence
exerted by the poor which would allow them to dispense alto-
gether with the out-door relief. There was one observation
whi'-h fell from Mr. Berry, of Stanion, to which he would refer.
He did not like it to go forth as an accredited fact that the rent
of land had been raised within the last five or six years to the
extent of 20 or 25 per cent. He had had a little experience
in this matter, and his observations had extended over a much
Larger area and he did not believe, so far as these Midland

Counties were concerned, that the rent of agricultural laud
had increased at all within the last five years. — (Mr. Berry :
I said ten to fi teen years.) — Well, as to that, there had in
later times, been going on a continued reduction in the rent of
land which had brought, or was bringing, the average rent to
the condition it was ten or fifteen years ago. But he contended,
they ought now to consider this question, and that was really
the important point before them now, whether they, as farmers,
could afford to pay the present rate for labour ; if not, whether
they could expect the rate of labour would be lowered, and
if they could not expect it to be lowered, in what way they
were to meet the deficiency. He did not hope to
look forward to any great reduction in the present rate of
wages, and he did not hope to see it, because he believed there
was nothing more demoralising than wages upon which men
could not live. He thought the present rate of wages, how-
ever difficult they (the farmers) might find it to procure the
money, was not more than it was necessary for the labourer
and his wile to support themselves and their families upon.
Therefore, he thought they must look for economy in the
me' hods of cultivation, and that could be found first of all in
the introduction of good machinery that would do the work,
and secondly, in the improvement of the labourer himse f,
because the intelligent labourer must always be worth more
than the stupid one. Then there was the influence of educa-
tion upon the agricultural labourer. The present tendency of
education, he believed, was to elevate the sharper children of
parents engaged in agriculu-al pursuits, and to induce them
to look to becoming something higher tlnn agricultural la-
bourers. He thought the question which would cause a great
deal of consideration in future would be how far they would
be able to maintain the position of the agricultural labourer
when the article they were having to deal with was having its
best blood taken from it and drawn into the towus aud manu-
factories. That placed them in a very disagreeable position,
because they had to pay the higher price, which they were
satisfied to pay for the good article, for the stupid members of
the families of the agricultural labourers. As he had said
before, this was a thing which would find its own level ; the
manufacturers' clerk market, the railway clerk market, and
the railway porter market would be overdone, consequently
there would not be that tendency for the clever boys of agri-
cultural labourers to go into the towns, and it would devolve
upon the farmers to provide some inducements to those persons
to remain at home. They must try to encourage habits of
sobriety, steadiness, and frugality in the labourers, and try t o
originate some system of insurance which would prevent them
in the future becoming a burden upon the rates— which would
induce them to look forward to future independence instead of
future dependence.

The Rev. W, Burt said he fully agreed with t all Mr.
Fisher had said. He knew it would be unjust to do away
with out-door relief at once. The labourers had come to look
upon the relief as the crutches on which they could depend,
and he simply said their stnte could never be satisfactory till
they could take away the crutches and the labourer could
walk without them.

After a little further discussion, Mr. Bury replied to the
various speakers, and the amendmeut was put. Only four
hands were held up in its favour, and it was, consequently
lost.

On the motion of Mr. Saull, seconded by Mr. Chettlb,
the further discussion of the question was adjourned until the
next meeting of the Council.

m

THE FARMER'S MACAZlIfE,

FARMER Sr CL UBS,

CROYDON.

MEADOW AND PASTURE LANDS.

A meeting of the Croydon Farmers' Cluh was held at
Croydon, on Thursday, Dec. 20th, to hear and discuss a paper
by Dr. Shorthocse on" Meadow and Pasture Lands— Their
Renovation and Repair." Mr. R. Fuller presided.

Among other suggestions which the paper contained was
one for the use of petroleum for steeping seeds before 30 wing,
the Doctor having learnt by experiment as well as from other
sources that this would effectually prevent the rooks from
walking off with the seed. With regard to flowering-plants
and fruit trees, he suggested a reason why it is so difficult to
keep up successive crops of them. He attributed this diffi-
culty to bees and butterflies, by whose agency the pollen of
one plint gets mixed up with that of another. As an iustance
of this he remarked that in the neighbourhood cf Carshalton,
where much lavender is grown, other plants frequently smell
strongly of lavender. His suggestion to all owners of large
areas of such plants or trees was that they put a number of
beehives in their fields for the bees to deposit their honey
there instead of going further a-field. As for the butterflies
he recommended that a lot of nics girls should be set to
catch them. On the more serious subject of the renovation
and repair of pasture lands, the Doctor came down very
strongly ou those owners and occupiers who did not take
proper pains to keep under the growth of weeds on their land,
mentioning the estate of the Earl of Egraont at Baustead as
an instance of deterioration in value through such negligence
during the lifetime of the late Eirl. He took the liberty of
parodying a couplet of Goldsmith's, as follows : —
" 111 fares the land, to hast'ning ills a prey,
Where weeds accumulate and plants decay."
He advocated breaking up the land in cases where weeds grew
in such force as iu some places which he knew in the neigh-
bourhood. He advised farmers to spend a little time in the
study of botany, which would better enable them to protect
themselves against imposition iu the purchase and use of seeds,
manure, &c. On the subject of manures, he said he believed
fish to be the best, and he was surprised that in places where
it was very cheap — and could even be obtained sometimes for
the fetching— farmers set no store by it. The only objections
that he knew of were— first, its fearful stench, which prevented
its use very near towns or villages ; and, secondly, the extreme
fondness of rooks for this particular kind of manure. He
remembered the case of a farmer not far who bought several
trucks of fish manure very cheap, which came by rail to Sutton-
station, where the stench was so fearful that before he could
fetch it away he was threatened with an action, passengers
being nnable to use the station, and when he got it on his land
the rooks descended in thousands, and feasted on it with such
gusto that a gun fired close by made very little impression on
them !

After the reading of the paper, the Chairman having
jnvited questions or discussion,

Dr. Shorthouse said, in answer to Mr. Edwards and Mr.
Smith, that mistletoe and similar plants were parasites, and
would never grow on perfectly sound trees, rottenness being
essential to their existeuee.

Mr. Brow.n asked whether petroleum could be applied to
corn as a dressing, to keep birds from interfering with it. He
had tried it with peas, and found it answered the purpose,
lie believed iu dressing almost everything.

Mr. S. Walker said he was not so much troubled by birds
as by fly, and he asked whether the petroleum dressing would
keep the fly off turnips and other youug crops ? If so, it would
be a very valuable thing.

Mr. Fox said he was about to ask the same question, and he
also wanted to ask Dr. Shorthouse whether he would mow or
fed a field the first year after laying it down for pasture?

Another gentleman said he had not tried petroleum, but he
hid tried a mixture of assafcetida and lime, and never had a
crop disturbed so little as when he used that.

Mr. Horsley did not quite agree with Dr. Shorthouse' s
suggestion that a meadow should be ploughed up to renovate
it. It would depend a good deal on the soil. Generally, if
some, good heavy arrows were put on, and small renovating
seeds sown, procured from men who had studied the thiug
and knew what would suit, he thought it would be found
better than following the Doctor's suggestion. As to dress-
ing, he had tried carbolic dressing this year, but could not
yet speak positively of the result ; he was, however, favour-
ably impressed.

Mr. M. Walker said he had used the refuse of his farm
for years as a dressing for poor land, and by that means had
got a piece of poor land on a hill into such a state that it
was better land than what he paid £3- an acre for. Their
machinery blew the dust and wee s out of the chaff, and
the refuse was kept in certain receptacles, from which they
took it about every other year, and put on about 12 loads to
the acre. Road scrapings would do for grass land.

Dr. Shorthouse said he had mentioned road scrapings.

Mr Fox said road scrapings mixed with lime would do
well. He wished to ask if the Doctor thought sorrel and
brakes could be got rid of without breaking up the land. He
agreed with Mr. Horsley that it was often better to renovate
grass land than to plough it up.

Mr. Stacey wished to tender his thanks for the Doctor's
very valuable paper. The subject was important not only be-
cause of the bad management now general, but because many
pieces of land now tilled must eventually be laid down for
grass. He thought that even poor grass land might be reno-
vated without being broken up. No doubt there were some
weeds which could not be got rid of except by digging them
out, but he had seen pieces of land — and there was one down
the Brighton- road, near the Boneman's-place, which had
been reclaimed by the use of manure alone, having been for-
merly entirely overgrown with useless weeds, but had become
a very fair piece of grass laud.

Mr. Smith thought it a most unprofitable thing to lay
down heavy clay land for grass. If it were drained and then
ploughed it would be found to contain such constituents
that wheat might be grown year after year on it without ex-
haustion, as had been shown by Messrs. Fowler in their
cultivation of deep clays with draining. Such land could
not be profitable till drained, but after that the best thing
was to sow it with com crops, with pulse occasionally.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

KM*

The Chairman said that like Mr. Staeey he sliuuld be sorry
to allow an opportunity to pass without rendering his be*1
thanks to the Doctor for bringing the subject forward. Not
only was it a very highly important one, but it came at a most
opportuue time, when agriculturists in general had had to
struggle as they had not for many years before, having had
three very unprofitable seasons, while the price of corn had
not been very remunerative. They were finding out that on
some lands corn was no longer remunerative. He thought tha'
if they ploughed up a pasture, that was an eradication — not a
renovation. Ou the breaking up of pasture generally — which
was a point more for a lawyer tlmn a farmer, though it might
be useful for valuers and surveyors to consider it — he agreed
with Mr. Horsley and Mr. Fox that it was not the readiest
way to produce good pastures. His impression was that they
should be strongly scarified, to just such an extent as might
appear necessary so as not to destroy the sward, and afterwards
renovated with grass sui'ed to the soil, and dressed with such
manures as were calculated to make it grow. About 20 year
ago he introduced the question of the propriety of kying down
heavy lands for pasture on these hills. It occurred to him
about that time that when the land required anything like four
horses to plough it, the best thing was to lay it down for pas-
ture. He differed from Mr. Smith, and would mention that
he knew an instance, in the parish of Cudham, on land belong-
ing to Mr. Moxon, where some land was laid down for pasture
about the time he had alluded to, and he was prepared to say
now, without fear of contradiction by anyone, that it was better
worth 50s. per acre than the land round it not laid down for
pasture was worth 12s. A tenant farmer lately told him of a
field which he laid down for grass about ten years ago, in the
parish of Burstow, without any conditions about being paid
for it. The landlord required the land (or his own purposes this
year, but the tenant, berore going out, had the good sense
andgood feeling to say " I can't stick the plough iato that
beautiful piece of pasture that I created; I'll leave it to him."
Aud the landlord acted very well, making him a present in
consideration of it.

Mr. Smith. — Was it drained first ?

The Chairman thought it was not. The draining was just
the same there as on the other parts of the farm, but he could
never get it the right way upwards till he got a green sward on
the top of it.

Mr. Stacey thought most of the land in that neighbour-
hood was drained.

The Chairman wished not to be misunderstood. He was
not blind to the importance of draiuiug. He did not say the
land would not be better for draining, whether aiable or pas-
ture. As to the use of petroleum in the way mentioned by
the Doctor, he had lately heard of a tenant farmer who took the
same means to secure himself from injury by pheasants. He
should be glad to hear Mr. Smith's reason for advocating the
growth of eorn on heavy clay land. He confessed that he had
had difficulty in believing lighter lands could be more profitably
laid down for grass, as a good sward could seldom be kept on
them in the summer. But they might see that in the
headlands, where the grass had an opportunity of growing, it
usually sprang up there, and sometimes to a considerable extent.
He happened to be born on the farm now occupied by Mr.
Walker, ^vhere his (the speaker's) relatives farmed for 100
years, and he could quite endorse what Mr. Walker said about
the piece of land whieh used to be ploughed with four or six
horses before he got there and turned it into grass. In answer

to Mr. Fox's question whether newly-laid grass-land should bJ
fed or mown, he should say " mown."

Mr. SMITH still adhered to his opinion, and referred to the
experience of a friend of his in Here fordshire, where the land
was heavy clay, and all his grass land was not worth Jd. ar.
acre. The chief farming there was sheep fanning, but sheep
could not be fo'ded on that lund without getting foot-rot and
all sorts of things. The owner had built a magnificent mansiou
there, though if he had spent the money on improving his laud
which he spent on his house he probably need not have let his
land at all. His friend thoroughly drained three fields, two of
which he ploughed, and put one down for pasture, and though
he had no steam cultivation he could grow wheat and beans
year after year, on the first two fields. Some one had said that
turnips would grow on a deal board, with proper manures,
but. he would not farm any soil without having it
drained first — he'd 6ee the landlord hanged first. He wanted
it drained, and then to nip it up about 12 inches deep.

Dr. Shortiiouse, r plying to the questions that had been
put, said the cost of dressing an acre of corn with petroleum
would, cf course, be much more than that of an acre ol turnips.
Another point in connection with this was the length of the
time the seed would be in the ground before germinating. Iu
the case of corn sown in winter and laying some time in the
earth, a good deal of the taste and scent of the petroleum
might be lost. It was really amusing to see birds spit out the
seeds if they got any in their rtouths which had got a share of
the petroleum. He should have no compunction about break-
ing up a piece of ground so worthless as some he had mentioned.
Cattle might as well be turned on a turnpike road. Sorrel
must be ploughed out or scarified very deep ; it could not be
got rid of in any other way. In draining land the maiden
soil is acted upon, no roots having before been able to penetrate
it ; and this accounts for its productiveness. Therefore, lie
always advocated draining land.

NEWCASTLE.

THE USE OP ARTIFICIAL F0OB.

At the last meeting of this Club Mr. Hall read the
following paper : —

Last year I had the honour to read a paper here on
" Grazing Farms and their Management," 1 intended on that
occasion to have offered a few remarks on the use of artificial
feeding stuffs. I was, however, unable to do so, and I think
it was well, as since then I have looked more carefully into the
subject, and have made some experiments which I hope may
prove interesting. It is remarkable lhat, notwithstanding the
immense quantities of artificial feeding stuffs used in this
country by practical farmers, very few indeed can make up
their minds to say positively that they pay. Nor is this state
of affairs much to be wondered at ; for, however difficult it
may be to say that they do pay, it must be much more difficult
to say that they do not. There is only one point against them,
but it is an important one, viz., expense, whilst in their favour
there are at least three strong points. By the judicious use of
artificial feeding stuffs more beef and mutton can be produced
on a given quantity of land, and in less lime than without
them. The quality of the produce is better. Their manurial
value is very considerable. I may here state, gentlemen, that
my remarks apply solely to their use on grazing farms. Let
us look at the extra quantity of stock that can be fattened on
grass when supplemented by meal or cake. It would be rather

310

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

suit, perhaps, to state precisely bow many more cattle
conld be fattened on a certain portion of land with cake than
without it. I should say, however, that where four could be
fattened on grass alone fi«e would fatten on the same area with
an addition of four or five pounds of cake or meal each per
day. Suppose we take a small park that would feed four
heifers of 45 stones weight in nine weeks. Allowing them to
be in good condition when put into this park, they ought to
leave the graziers, say £4 per head without any artificial feed-
ing. Instead of putting in four, suppose we put in five, and
give them each cake or meal of the value of 3s. per week, or a
total of 27s. per head for nine weeks, we then have four cattle>
leaving £16 without extra food ; five cattle, leaving £20 with
extra food. We have the five heifers costing a total of £6
15s. for extra food. But the extra animal returns £4 of this
sum, and allowing the beef to be 3d. per stone better quality
than that of the purely gras9 fed ones, we have lis. 3d. per
head, or £2 16s. 3d., to add to the £4, which pays for the
whole of the cake ; and the grazier has the benefit of the extra
quality and quantity of manure produced Dy the consumption
of the cake. I have no doubt that many farmers will say tha*
these calculations are all very well upon paper, but that they
are not true. I believe, gentlemen, that I have not been ex-
travagant io this calculation ; in fact, the profit of the grazier
would in all probability be much greater than I have stated-
The cattle wonld be fat much sooner when fed with cake, and
we must remember that short keep on good land iB a matter
of much importance. Then there are certain seasons of the
year when the price of fat stock is much higher than at others
The artificial feeder has a better chance of having his stock
ready for these markets than the farmer who does not use
extra food. The manure made by artificially fed cattle is of
considerably more value than that made by cattle fed on grass
alone. In order to ascertain as nearly as possible the relative
values of these manures, I had specimens of each analysed by
the excellent analyst to this Club, Mr. Pattinson. This gen-
tleman sent me a very exact and, I should say, very accurate
analysis. He found that the dung of cattle fed on grass alone
contained water, 8915 per cent.; organic matter, 861 ; ash,
2-24 ; whilst the duug of caftle fed on grass, and supplemented
with about 51b. of linseed cake, cotton cake, and pea meal,
mixed, contained — water, 87-34 per cent.; organic matter,
9-42; ash, 3.24; or 1-81 per cent, less water, -81 percent,
more organic matter, 1" per cent, more ash than the dung of
the wholly grass fed ones. The organic matter in the dung
of the unsupplemented ones contained — nitrogen, "30 per
cent., equal to ammonia '36 ; whilst in the dung of the sup-
plemented ones it contained, nitrogen, *37, equal to ammonia
•45. The ash in the dung of the unsupplemented ones con-
taiued, potash, -15 ; phosphoric acid, "28. la the dung of the
supplemented ones it contained, potash, *]2, or rather less
than the other; phosphoric acid, '40, or nearly double the
other ; equal to tribasic phosphate of lime in each respectively
•61 and "87 ; whilst the siliceous matter in each amounted
respectively to 1'14 and 2 per cent. It is clear from this
analysis that the fertilising agents, ammonia and phosphate of
lime, are much more strongly represented in the dung of cake-
ed cattle than in that of purely grass-fed ones. Phosphate of
lime is especially present in greaer quantity. Auy one who
has noticed the effects of artificial feeding on grass must have
observed that the pasture bears a marked change. In fact no
one seems to doubt this. I am convinced that after caking
cattle upon land for several years consecutively the manurial
value becomes barely appreciable. Having noticed this for

some time, I this year caused a very small quantity of nitrate
of soda to be sown on a place where the cake troughs had
been standing. I assure you, gentlemen, that the effect of this
was marvellous. The grass grew up with such freshness and
vigour as I have never seen equalled by any top-dressing. The
dr lppings of cake-fed cattle cause a great change on the
grasses of our pastures, having much the same effect as a top-
dressing with bones. Although I observe this differauce :
that whereas bones cause clover to grow in great abi n 'ance,
the droppings of artificially-fed cattle have a tendency to
develop other grasses, such as cocksfoot. I firm'y believe,
also, that cattle and sheep fatten much more quickly on pas-
tures where cake has been consumed, or which have been top-
dre-ised with bones or nitrate, as their food by that means is
much more highly nitrogenised. To say that, the use of arfi-
fi :ial feeding stuffs is at all times remunerative would be simply
absurd, for there can be no doubt that there are very many
cases in which they do not pay. In fast, to make them pay
much cire and calculation must be exercised. I believe that
it is not profitable to be^in to give cake to very leau cattle on
grass, nor almost under any circumstances to continue its nse
for a lengthened period. For we must ever keep the fact
before us that it is a very expensive business. I fancy that
artificial feeding pays best v. hen a farmer has a lot of cattle in
very go.od condition, and wishes to have them fat as quickly as
possible. It not uufrequently happens, also, that certain fields
will make cattle nearly fat, but not of sufficient quality to com-
mandite bet,t price. In a case of this kinl a little cake for
about eight weeks, to finish them, as it is called, will aln.oit
invariably pay extremely well. I think it is a good plan to
use cake in certain fields, always having in these fields cattle
in good condition ; and, as they become fat and get disposed
of, to put in their places cattle from other fields where cake
has uot been used. These again are finished, and their places
taken as before. Tims the farmer works his cattle away,
always bringing them forward to better keep. The cake
troughs c m be. removed from one field to another, as is deemed
best, and the improved manure is thus more evenly deposited
over the farm. It ought also to be noticed that cike should
be consumed in dry fields, ao that the manure may not be
washeJ awiy. Bit to lay down hard and fast rules, stating
under what circumstances artificial feeding will pay, and when
it will not, would be. a task which I presume few men would
undertake. I have seen many instances where it has been
done most successfully. I have also seen instances where the
reverse has been the case ; but I have never seen it, in my
opinion, judiciously used where it has failed. How often have
we heard it stated, gentlemen, that the men who have made
mo t money by farming never bought a hundredweight of cake
in their lives. This may be very true. Bat we must remem-
ber that there are psychological questions connected with the
miking of mouey distinct from the mere qualification of a
farmer. It might perhaps be expected thai in this paper I
should say something about the different kinds of feeding
stuffs. I shall not, however, attempt to notice them all. The
principal kinds of feeding stuffs used on grazing farms ;-re
linseed cake, cotton cake, rape cake, and meal. Tne first-
mentioned of these is undoubtedly the greatest fat-producirg
agent used by the farmer, and is, perhaps, more extensively
used than any kind of manufactured food. Cotton cake, also,
when of good quality and judiciously used, is an excellent
feeding stuff. In fact, I believe that a mixture of pure linseed
cake aud cotton cake, in equal proportions, is the very best

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Hi

food for cattle on grass. Decorticated cotton cake is very
highly spoken of, and justly so, as it contains about eighteen
per cent, less woody fibre than the non-decorticated, and about
double the quantity of nitrogen and flesh-forming principles.
The analysis of rape cake is very much like that of linseed
cake; but neither its taste nor its smell s<>em to be relished by
cattle. Sheep, however, are rather fond of it, and do well
with it. Pea meal and bean meal possess about the same Besh.
forming qualities as linseed cake: of the two I prefer bean
meal, as it is rather healthier for stock. It is a matter of
much importance to procure feeding stuffs of good quality, a'
there is sometimes a very great amount of adulteration prac-
tised in their manufacture. In the manufacture of cotton cake
it is especially desirable tint the whole of the cotton fibre
should be removed from the seed, as it causes the cake to be
extremely indigestible, and consequently most injurions to the
health of the stock. The best way of supplying cake cr meal
t? cattle on grass is to give them it in small troughs — one
trough to each animal. These troughs ought occasionally to
be removed from oae part of the Field to another. might
state that earthenware and wooden troughs are mostly used ;
but both of these are easily broken and damaged. I have had
a quantity made of sheet iron, which are clean, light, and can-
not be broken. I do not think, Mr. Chairman and gentle-
men, that I can say very much more about artificial feeding.
One thing, however, is clear, and that is that the landed pro-
prietor as well as the farmer is benefited to no small extent by
having artificial feeding stuffs consumed on his lands. A farm
where such feeding has been conducted during a lease must be
worth a much higher rent than one where it has not. But I
now approach dangerous ground, and must leave the vexed
question of unexhausted improvements to be setfled by wiser
heads than mine. I may, however, be allowed to say that the
farmer who enriches the lands of another deserves more liberal
treatment than he whe leaves them as he sot them, or a shade
worse. When judiciously conducted artificial feeding will pay
the farmer handsomely ; but, whether judiciously conducted
or not, it will at all times benefit the land, and, as a matter of
course, the landed proprietor. Let the farmer then exercise
his judgment as well as his purse when he disnenses their oil-
cake to his beeves, and to such a one let the landowner exercise
his benevolence.

Mr. Wallace (Trench Hall) said every farra^ ie the dis-
trict wonld admit that the question of artificial feeding stuffs
was of great importance, more particularly at the present time,
when there was a failure in the turnip crop, and when there
was so much competition brought to bearupon British farmers
from abroad, rendering it necessary that they should do all
they could in connection with feeding stock in this conntry.
He had had only one year's experience of the use of artificial
feeding stuffs. This year he had added a quantity of cake or
meal to some land which was not equal to topping off or finish-
ing cattle, and in a money point of view that expenditure had
been profitable; and he was certnin he would get a consker
able remuneration in the manurial value of the cake consumed.
They must look at the money they would gain from the cattle
by the use of artificial feeding stuffs in the first instance, and
then at the increased value of the manure made. He nex*
spole of the great value of manure made in cattle boxes over
that made in foldjards, and said that if every farmer knew the
great difference in the value they would petition landlords to
have boxes. This year a portion of a field of turnips at
Ravensworth was finished off %wilb. box manure, and the tur-

nips in that part were superior to those in o'her portions of
the fa-Id. In the. county of Durham and in manv parts of
Northumberland a great quautity of mauure wis washed away
from foldyarda into drains and ditches. All the useful ingre-
dients of the manure were washed away in foldyards, whilst in
cattle boxes the manure was under cover the whole time, and
all the valuable properties were"Baved, and could be cirted on
to the land. He only wished he, as an agent, had means at
his command, and then, with the assistance of farmers, there
would not be many open foldtards.

The Sr.c rbtart. (Mr. Thomas Bell, IT -dley Hall) said Mr.
Hall had given them an analysis of the composition of the
manures, and it would be well to know the money value of the
manures. In a paper written by Dr. Voelcker it was stated
that the monev value of the manure from one ton of linseed
cake was £4 12s. 6d.; decorticated cotton cake, £<\ 10s.;
undecorticated cotton cake, £3 18s. 01.; rape cake, £t 18s.
6d.; and barley meal, £1 10s. In buying and using artificial
foods there was no doubt they often lost sight of the value of
the manure. They got. payment, in the money returned from
the cattle sold at once ; but if Dr. Voelcker's figures were
orrect, it would be apparent to everybody that they also git
a very large profit from using artificial foods in the value of
the manure made.

Mr, Ap.ui Tinbaxl (Newcastle) said no subject ought to
occupy the attention of farmers more than the feeding of
stock. The question introduced by Mr. Willace was most
important. The difference between manure made in covered
yards and open yards was incredible. In open foldyards the
manure was exposed to the atmosphere, and — this was a great
d Bcredit to the landlord — in nine cases out of ten the manure
was drowned in water, and the. best part washed away by
rain. If they had manure made in covered folds they would
require less artificial manure.

Mr. Robert Bell (Town Hall Buildings) said that in
using artificial food there was no doubt they were not to ex-
pect all the profit out of the cattle theaiselves, but also out of
the improved condition in which the land was left, which
enabled farmers to realise greater advantages. By using arti-
ficial foods of the right kind they could feed off double the
quantity of stock they could without it ; and that was a point
to be considered in these hard times As to cotton cake, he
did not now believe in the difference between decorticated and
undecorticated cake, for the machinery was now so complete
that he believed cotton cake could be made undecorticated
without fibre in it.

Mr. Brydcoj (Seaham) recommended the use of Indian
meal for feeding cattle, along with cotton cake.

Mr. Henderson (Horsley Hill, South Shields) did not
think Mr. Hall had told them anything new ; but, considering
the deficient turnip crop, a paper like this would remind far-
mers how they might feed their stock during the wiuter. Mr.
Wallace had told them of the re suits upon a crop of turnips
manure taken from boxes ; but his experience was that they
wanted manure well decomposed for turnips.

Mr. Wallace said manure could be turned over and over
in boxes and become decomposed. He did not lead the manure
fresh from the boxes. Manure kept in boxes, and not washed
by rain, was worth twice as much as manure that was kept in
the open yard, and had all the good properties washed out.

The Secretary said that Dr. Voelcker stated oue ton of
rotten farmyard manure contained a money value of 15s. 4d.,
and of fresh farmyard manure 15s, 7jd.

112

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINB.

STOWMARKET AND CENTRAL SUFFOLK.

Oa Thursday, Dec, 18th, at the monthly meeting of the
above Club, Dr. Taylor, F.G S., Curator of the Ipswich
Museum, delivered an able lecture oa " Soils, their Origin)
Decay, and Renovation." The chair was taken by Mr. U. A.
Oakes, one of the vice-presidents of the Club.

Dr. Taylor, observing that he thought the subject of soils
still open to further remarks, more especially from the direc-
tion in which he should principally treat it, said the term soil
was one which was employed very loosely for the upper and
looser coverings of the dry land all over the earth. With the
exception of such words as light, heavy, marly, and so on, no
other qualification was employed in speaking of different
soils. This was unfortunate, because soils differed from each
other in a very marked degree. As a rule, soils may be re-
garded as beiu< derived by weather action from the underly-
ing rocks, but in the Eastern Counties, as well as a larger area
of Midland and Northern England, we were favoured by hav-
ing extensive sheets of materials not derived immediately from
the underlying rocks, but brought from a distance, these beds
of sand, gravel, and clay being called the drift beds. They
had been formed in a great measure by the breaking up
and re-depositing of rocks of different geological ages and
chemical constituents. Consequently, the soils derived from
the weathering of the boulder clays, or formed by their wash-
ing along the slopes of valleys, were likely to be richer than
soils derived immediately from the weathering of some homo-
genous kind of rock, such as granite, sandstone, or limestone.
The agricultural success of the Eastern Counties was, perhaps,
chiefly due to this peculiarity in the soil. Some rocks weath-
ered into better soils than others, although it should be
remembered that we spoke of soil as good and bad according
to whether it would grow the crops which we required, with-
out respect to its chemical compositions. Rocks, according
to their degree of hardness, weathered at a different per-
centage. Thus, over hard slate rocks there would be found
in the absence of the drift beds very little soil, and as these
slate rcrcks usually formed hilly districts, owing to their su-
perior hardness, and the slope of the ground was greater, the
weathering of the rock into fixed soil was prevented by its
being washed. If not carried down by rivers, it might possi-
bly be washed into valleys among the hills, where rich, alluvial
soil would be met with. In other places it was found that
granite weathered into a loose, fine, white-coloured soil, but
usually very poor for almost all the purposes of vegetable
growth, notwithstanding that it contained some very valuable
constituents, such as potash, soda, and alumina, derived from
the decomposition of its felspar. The materials of the new
red sandstone formation weathered immediately, and formed
rich surface and subsoils. Tne hard sandstone of the coal
measures weathered comparatively little, but the shales asso-
ciated with it weathered more rapidly. Among the various
geological formations we meet with thick deposits of clay —
either in the condition of shales or of the firm clay known in
Essex as London clay. These beds of clay cropped out in
different parts of Great Britain, as, for instance, the Oxford
clay in the fen disricts, the London clay in Essex, or the
Kimmeridge clay in the fens of Lincolnshire. These clays
weathered into stiff soils and subsoils when uncovered by
drifts, and although they coutained rich materials, their
mechanical condition, perhaps, did not allow plants to absorb
these materials a* feadily as they might. The mechanical

| onditiou of soils. Dr. Taylor Baid, was quite as important a
c nsideratiou as regards their utility to plants as their ohemi-
cal constituents. When soils were broken up from their stiff
clayey condition in which they occurred over the areas he had
mentioned, so that the atmosphere as well as water could find
its way through the interstices, such soils proved good cereal
soils, but if they were not so treated they would have to be
left alone as pasture lands — an adaptation which, perhaps,
involved less labour, owing to the readiness with which these
clays retained the moisture necessary for the growth of
grasses. Deep draining was always required in these subclay
soils. Then, again, the colour of a soil was of no mean im-
portance. It was found that dark soils were physically acted
U'lon by heat, and even light, more powerfully than the white
or light-coloured soils, which reflected both. Hence, the
germination of seed would be quicker in the former ihan in
the latter. Drainage, especially deep drainage in clay soils,
by carrying off the excesses of moisture, allowed the land to
abs irb the heat of the suu, which previously had been ex-
pended in evaporating the water on its surface. On the sur-
face of soils where vegetation had grown and decomposed,
and the remains, perhaps, of insects, &c, or the droppings of
animals had accumulated, there was formed what was called a
humus, which gave the characteristic black colour to mould.
This humus was a peculiar condition of carbonic acid, and
was useful to plants in enabling them all the more readily to
absorb the materials of their growth from the soil. Earth
worms, Dr. Taylor said, held a high place in his opinion. In
pastures they could not fail to be beneficial, by the top dress-
ing produced by their castings. As they lived entirely up )n
the humus, and did no harm whatever to the roots, their bur-
rows must be beneficial to the underlying soil in allowiug free
access to air and water, for it was a mistake to suppose that
the roots of plants did not require air nearly as much as the
leaves. Moreover, when water could thus get down into the
soil and be distributed equally through it, it could dissolve the
siluble salts contained in the soil, and be itself broken up into
Tapour, for the roots of plants required not water but watery
vapour, and unless water existed in the soil in this condition
it was of no use to the plant. Plants could actually starve
for want of water, however much it might be present, if it wag
not present in the state of watery vapour. Turning to th<?
decay of the soil, Dr. Tayler showed the amount of wear and
tear which was going on every year from weather action. It
was calculated, he said, that this amounted to about one foot
in thickness of the entire surface of Great Britain in 6,000
yeirs. This wear and tear, however, was compensated for by
the fact that the subsoils beneath were weathered and decom-
posed in their turn, so that there was always a certain relative
thickness of soil, notwithstanding that the upper surface films
hid been carried away. It this were not the case many
places would be laid bare, and solid rock would crop up, as
was the case in mountainous districts. Tue breaking up or
cultivation of arable lauds, of course, allowed the weather to
set more piwat fully uoon the soil, .ud to waite it in a high-jr
degree than it otherwise wo ill have dine, owing to its
me;hanical looseness, whereas in pasture lands protected by
permanent gnsses there was less weather action g>ini» n.
It was not merely necessary to give the land the miterials
taken from it by the crops grown. Supposing this could
always be done, it would only einble us to farm at one m<?>ia
level from one generation to another. Dr. Taylor showed that
it was utterly impossible to replace over any area all the
soluble materials which had been taken fro-n it in the alupe of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

113

crops. The droppings of animals, althorgh they had been fed
from the same area, were not enough, an! e.en if we cjuIiI
replace, when the animals died, the solid mutter of their bones
— their phosphate and carbonate of lime — there woull still
have to be accounted for a large quantity of soluble salts car.
ried off by drainage into t lie rivers and into the sea. lie held
it, tierefore, as of absolute importance that in high farming
artificial manures, arid especially phosphates, should be em-
ployed. Plants also, like animals, threw off certain tissues or
excreta, and if certain plants were grown in the same soil for
a long period the soil became poisoned by their excreta. One
affect of tillagp, or the turning over the soil, was to expose it
to the atmosphere, and this caused the excrete matter to be
oxidised, or burnt up. Not unfrequently it was found that
when cultivation had been carried on over the same es'ate for
a long period of time, at a certain depth from the surface a
h ird basement bed seemed to have formed, these beds being
known as iron pans, which required the strongest of deep
ploughs to break them up. These iron pans were formed by
the insoluble matter contained in the loose soils above having
been carried down by the percolation of water and precipi-
tated at this lower level, where they usually occurred as an
oxide or carbonate of iron, farmers were averse to breaking
up this bed, because it required time for the exposure to
v either to oxidise it ; but Dr. Taylor said he was convinced
that this policy was a mistake. Going on to apeak of the
renovation of the soil, Dr. Taylor sho'.ved that this very
largely depended upon the chemical composition and mechani-
cal condition of the soil. The chemical composition of the
crops which were intended to be grown must also be taken
into consideration, and he could not help thinking that scien-
tific agriculture had been absurdly blamed by those who had
taken advantage of it, as they thought, without understand-
ing its first principles. Re had heard of farmers who bought
high-priced artificial manures and put them upon land without
first enquiring whether they were suitable to the crops intended
to be grown, or whether the soils on which they were placed
required them or not, aud if disappointment was the result
under such circumstances science had been stupidly blamed
for what was the result really of a want of common sense.
The way to derive the greatest benefit from the soil was that
all the necessary salts contained in it should be rendered easily
available for the plants grown. These salts might be present,
but owing to their being insoluble or to the mechanical condi-
tion of the soil not being favourable, they could not be utilised
by the crops ; for instance, it was found that over stiff clay
lands a capital expedient was simply the burning of the masses
of clay and using the result as a top dressing, la this burnt
condition the potash contained in the clay, which previously
was insoluble, became soluble, and could be taken up by the
plants requiring it, such as turnips or mangels. Dr. Taylor
pointed out that clay and iron could absorb nitrogen in a cer-
tain degree from the atmosphere, but the chief means by
which plants obtained their nitrogen was from the atmosphere
during thunderstorms, during which a portion of the nitrogen
and oxygen of the atmosphere, now mechanically mixed, was
chemically combined and carried down to the eartti with the
falling rain. He believed with Liebig that plants r. quired
very little additional nitrogen, and that there was suffici -nt in
the nature of all mechauically good-conditioned soils to serve
every purpose. Of course some soils were very poor and light,
as in some of our own light lands, and under suoh cireu-D-
stances nitrogen was unquestionably of benefit, hnt it must be

remembered that nitrogen was chiefly beneficial, not a3 an ele-
ment of growth, but a promoter of growth, or stimulant. It
was usually present in green or growing leave3 aud stems,
rtiosphorus, on the other hand, was usually present most
abundantly in the reproductive parts of plants, as in the \
corn, or barley, beans, and peas, or in the secondary means
of reproduction, as the tubers of potatoes. Nitrogen was also
found in (he underground stems cf such plants as the mangel
and turnips. These reproductive pr»rts could not possibly
obtain healthy development without the presence of phosphates
in the soil, and these phosphates must be soluble, as in tha
artificial condition sold by manure manufacturers. Care, hoW-
ever, must be taken as to the soils they were put upon, for if
they were placed on loose, sandy soils, containing iron, possi-
bly the iron in the soil would precipitate the phosphate from
a soluble into an insoluble condition, rendering a large portion
of it useless to the. plant. It was best, perhaps, to use the
phosphate with farmyard manure or some kind of nitrogen, as
a vehicle as much to prevent its precipitation into an insolu-
ble form as for any other reason. Moreover, it was found
that phosphates were always better in such a combination .
Dr. Taylor also mentioned that as to eilica, one of the ele-
ments of the soil, there was generally enough of it in nearly
all soils to form the siliceous constituents of crops. Carbon
also uras obtained from the atmosphere. The chief elements,
therefore, which were necessary to ra'se the soils from a de-
praved or exhausted condition and thoroughly renovate them
for the purposes required by high farming were the alkalis,
such as potash and soda ; aud in the cases of cereal and legu-
minous plants, such as peas, vetches, lucerne, and sanfoin,
soluble phosphates. Dr. Taylor also pointed out the necessity
for understanding the geological nature of the subsoils on
farms, especially those which had their ups and downs — he
did not mean fiaancia'ly, but as regards their geographical
contour. It was very possible that a pit opened here and
there would reveal the presence of materials that might be of
great practical use. In this way underlying clays might be
opened and ued for top dressings for lighter lands, or sandy
materials might be excavated which would render a too tena-
cious claj less stiff; or peat might be obtained from a marsh
and after being partially burned and soaked with liquid
manure, used with the utmost advantage as a top dressing for
many kinds of crops. Even in draining, Dr. Taylor pointed
out that a knowledge of the geology of a farm might be use-
ful, it having been found in instauces where there was no fall,
that it was possible to dig a well through an overlying bed of
clay into an underlying sandy bed, by which raeaus the drain-
age could issue as through a sieve through the porous bed
beneath.

The Cha.IRMA.iJ, iu opening the discussion, complimented the
lecturer on his interesting address, and couvjentad on the im-
portance to the farmer of a thorough know .edge of the article
with which he had to deal daily. Such a Knowledge, he said,
they were enabled to gain by so able and so plain-spoken an
address as Dr. Taylor's. The origin of the soil, he said, th'y
hardly took so much interest in as they might ; in the decay
of the soil they were more interested, while in the renov tion of
it they were more intensely interested. The decay of tht soil
iu one respect, he observed, was less in this district, owing to
its flatness, while as to the renovation of the soil, he said it
wonld be hard work to convince some of his friends that the
artificial manures were superior to that from the farmya-d.
Id reply to Mr. Karch, of Combs, Dr. Taylor explained

[

114

the difference between reluming a crop to the soil in manure
and the accumulations of decayed vegetable matter in a wood
or forest. Dr. Taylor said it was impossible to return pre.
cisely the same elements.

Mr. BuBcn said he had ploughed in cut straw, but had not
observed any advantage ; but

Dr. Taylor said he could not say whather it would be
an advantage or not without knowing the nature of the
soil.

Mr. Wm. Wilson asked for further information as to mix-
ing sand and clay. He had both, and he mixed them, but had
not found it answer.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

could hardly do without more capital. Mr. Page also
enquired as to the advantage of turning up the iron pans.

Mr. M. Prentice, alluding to the mechanical condition of
the soil, asked whether sawdust or tan could not be advan-
tageously used in promoting the percolation of water and air P

Mr. Betts asked the value of manure made of sawdust
instead of straw, and whether sawdust was at all conducive to
wireworm ?

Mr. T. Linwood, referring to the lecturer's remarks on
silica, asked how it was that a few grains of wheat growing
in a cellar did not produce stiff straw, if silica were entirely
obtained, not from air, but from the soil ?

Mr. 0. Roberts asked for suggestions as to how to utilise

Dr. Taylor asked whether the clay in Mr. Wilson's case the boulder clay underlying many farms.

contained small pebbles of chalk, or whether it was a fine
tenacious clay. In the latter case he thought marl would be
infinitely better than sand, but he urged gentlemen to remem-
ber that the mechanical condition of soils was of almost equal
importance with their chemical constituents.

Mr. W. S. Hunt said chemistry in relation to agriculture
was in its infancy. Farmers wanted to know what sort of

Mr. J. Farrow reiterated his opinion expressed at previous
meetings against deep draining on stiff clay soils. He did net
believe they could have too much farmyard manure, and he
asked the lecturer's opinion as to the manurial value of the
tan and straw in itself.

Dr. Taylor, in reply, complimented the members on their
acute questions, and especially Mr. Hunt on his shrewd and

manures to put on certain soils, and also what manures were sound remarks. Straw, he said, was of uo manurial value da
required for particular crops. He believed that a good top
dressing for barley was nitrate of soda and superphosphate.
Mr. Hunt also alluded to the wear and tear of the land, ob-
serving that what was washed away was not the worst portion
of the soil, because it was the soluble portion, and what was
wanted was to render soluble what was left insoluble. Until
they knew how to analyse the soil it seemed to him that they

would not know how to apply artificial manures. At present might be beneficial to the laud. Dr. Taylor expressed his
he looked upon them as a sort of leap in the dark. Mr.
Hunt also remarked that land containing oxide of iron pro-
duced a good deal of straw with & shrivelled kernel.

Mr S. Page asked for information as to the depreciation
of manure occasioned by exposing the manure in heaps on the
field. If there was this depreciation he said the best thing
was to plough it in at once with a steam plough, which they

itself, but in certain conditions of the soil it might be valuable
as a mechanical agent in rendering the soil more open to tire
influences of the weather. As to Mr. Betts' question, he said
it was possible that sawdust might contain the larvje of the
skipjack beetle, and thus be conducive to wireworm, while
tan refuse, on the other hand, would be destructive to insect
life, and from containing a slight percentage of phosphorus

opinion that ploughing manurial s*raw into boulder clay
might be serviceable in rendering it less stiff, while as to deep
drainage, he said, it was a question of engineering. If sur-
face drains were sufficient to take the water off a farm it
would be absurd to resort to deep draining, but if without
deep draiuing the surface water was retained in excess in the
soil, deep draining was necessary.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

Fawsley Shorthorn cattle, by the strength of their con-
centrated blood. In fact, it puzzles me how, within such
a narrow area as the native meadows of the Hereford, the
breed is kept up without damage to their constitution.
Animals can possibly be inbred without danger to a
deeper point on the soil of their inheritance tl an else-
where.

Listening to a discussion upon dog-kind between some

The reading portion of the agricultural community have

reason to congratulate themselves that J. H. has not only

taken up his pen, but the cause of Hereford cattle. Not

that they need any commendation— they are always, as

was especially exhibited at the late Tredegar Show, an

admirable breed. Whether they have a claim to that

which is an undoubted mission of the Shorthorn, the im-
provement of other sorts, is a question of taste to the

public ; but in themselves they have, both as regards j youths of mettle and authority upon the subject, I was

startled to note the energy with which they insisted upon
the necessity of a good animals's going back to some
famous old strain, and that under such circumstances fox-
terriers will make fifty or sixty guineas a-piece. A Berk-
shire boar has been sold before now for £120, and sheep
it a far higher figure. In fact, the " blue blood" of ai y
breed is essential for crossing with, and will fetch its
price. Let this be an eucouragment to the young breeder
to begin with the right stuff, and to stick judiciously to it.
On every side men are looking out for Berkshire pigs
that carry well out at the stern, or, as it is technically said,

their form and certainly the butcher's stall, every reason
to demand our praise. Tt is satisfactory that such a suc-
cessful and wealthy exhibitor as Mr. Bailey (already so
famed for his dogs, horses, and poultry) is taking them
-up in earnest, having recently bought the almost fault-
less bull, Tredegar. J. H. can not only write sensibly
and in the spiriUf a gentleman ; but is himself possessed,
das I know from inspection, of an excellent herd of his
.own of ancient.deecent and bearing a remarkably even type.
They are rather small by comparison with others, but
ir.it defect can be accounted for, as in the case of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

have their " tails well set on," not in, as is too usually the
case. A drooping quarter implies the cut off of a lump
of meat, a deficit which reduces the size of the breakfast-
table ham. It is quite time that the breeder should be
attempting an improvement in that respect. One doe3
see a goodly sample of creditable build occasionally, but
they run rare. The Irish hunter gaius jumping power
from the " goose rump." But edible animals should have
the Arab, or Yorkshire coach- horse, croup.

I have recently seen a herd in which there are some
most superior and taking animals of the Bates and
Knightly cross, the elements of which sometimes com.
pound roughly. It is the property of Mr. P. Sartorious,
at Rushden Hall, Higham Ferrers. He has also one of
the most Fawsley-looking bulls of the right sort, level,
stylish, and mellow-fleshed, that I have seen for a long
time. He has been unfortunate in having a preponder-
ance of bull calves, but his Waterloo and other fashionable
females will swell a good balance, I anticipate, when his
turn comes to sell off. The same week I had another
peep at the Kimbolton herd, which is wonderfully well
done, and does credit to the selection in the first instance.
I don't know a herd of such superlative character which
has grown up half as fast. I bad not expected to see any-
thing like what I did. To take a few only, the white
Oxford Louise endorses the merit of her dam, the Mar-
chioness of Oxford 3rd, and her famous sire Duke of Con-
naught. She has that first requisite, a broad back and loin,
very long quarters, a thick, deep thigh, and splendid bosom.
She is altogether, and at once, a most attractive heifer.
Bat, most important fact, the bulls on service are all
three exceedingly choice. The Third Duke of Underley,
the Fifth Marquis of Worcester, and the Grand Duke of
Morecombe, constitute the lot. The outward world shud-
dered when they heard and read of Ljrd Fitzhardinge's
tremendous purchase at Dunmore, and yet almost more
when the whispered tidings spread that the Duke of Man-
chester had given three thousand guineas for a Duchess
bull calf to Lord Bective. These bold ventures, with
ordinary luck, amply answer. The Duke of Connaught
is stated to have cleared himself, and this 3rd Duke of
Underley has only to live an ordinary bull's life to do that
well with a nugget for Kimbolton to boot, in a choice
collection of his heifer stock. His sire, the 2nd Duke of
Tregunter, first bought and used by our veteran leader
Mr- Bowly, of Siddington, was sold at his sale for nine
hundred guineas, to Lord Bective, who took him, after a
short letting, into use at Underley. Like Marmaduke
(that grand bull of old) he had a slight rise at the tail-
end, which, however, he lived to outgrow — if not quite,
almost wholly so. He attained great distinction as a sire,
and now stands in the foremost ranks of such. His
greatest credit has been possibly his heifers. The Third
Duke's dam, 8th Duchess of Oneida, is a tubular, massive
eo\\ -, who carried herself proudly the last time I saw her
iu the group, upon a grassy mound at Underley, although
then labouring under the weight of au inert mass within,

115

of ample proportions, I saw enjoying his evening meal
just directly after his sale. Next I looked him over at
Kimbolton — a stripling, somewhat out of shape, a hobble-
de-hoy in short trousers, and out at the elbows. He wa9
a creature to hope about, but whose future it was impos-
sible to predict. He is now some eighteen months old-
and has grown very even and shapely again. I was pre-
pared to find his head too feminine, but it is not so at all ;
his horns, at present throwing back, give him a milder
look than if they were enrh d in front, like those the quon-
dam prize-winners, Stadsnan and Skyrocket, had.
As he licks fondly his owner's hand through the feed
opening, he gives us the idea of being uneven ; but when
he is led out he is a Duchess bull all over, of the same
type as the Dukes of Connaught and Rothsay, that is,
shorter and more fully bosomed than the 7th Duke of
York sort (which is also a kind of Duchess tribe ideal),
but very level over, substantial, and yet full of that
thoroughbred refinement which for generations these
bulls have given to their offspring, from whatever dams.
These three Dukes are very various in development, but
still are sufficiently alike to pass for cousins. The 3rd
Duke's vocation will be to mate admirably with such old
but hitherto unfashionable tribes as the Kimbolton Fop-
pies and Sonsies, a grand sample of which ancient Cum-
berland sort, purchased at Sir Wilfrid Lawson's, I saw
amongst the herd, her colour a dark, deep roan. Three
better bulls than the Duke of Manchester owns it were
hard to wish for. Next we take the Grand Duke of
Morecombe, who fidgets about a good deal whilst led.
He has no occasion to seek to avoid inspection, for he is
long, thick, even all over, and has a very sensible head.
He is justly pronounced to be a very grand young bull,
and heifers are beginning to resort to him from a dis-
tance. Of course that breadth of beam and levelled
frame owe something to Baron Oxford and Priam. The
10th Grand Duke puts in a claim for some softening, and
the 2nd Duke of Tregunter is to be congratulated on his
son. Next advances the 5th Marquis of Worcester, a
rich blue roan, having a wonderfully flat back and long
quarters. He has a sweet head, yet fully masculine. He
is very deep in his front, and wears an abundant coat. He
is massive, thick, elegant. Simply I write as I said, " I
don't see a fault — he is good enough for the Royal,"
where he possibly may be sent. What wonder his being
so excellent when he gains his handling from the 3rd
Duke of Hillhurst, when he boasts of the 3rd Duke of Clare
for his grandsire, and the exquisite Clear S tar for his
great-graud-dam ! With such famous ancestry he should
assuredly be A I, as he is. I have only to repeat that
they are a noble trio, and t bat, good as the stock is
already, with such sires iu use, the Kimbolton herd must
ere long teem with as choice youn gsters as any herd can
boast. There is already there a shapely lot, whiih i3 not
now likely to deteriorate. I was as much delighted as
surprised by what I 3aw ; for the herd has been one of
rapid aud receut growth. Tbey are done well— sufficiently

of which she was shortly and happily delivered, and is | so to delight the eye, and yet not so much so, I thiuk, as
cow in-calf again. The Third Duke, a thick-coated calf to affect their fertility. Vigil Jan. 5,

i a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

BRITISH AND AMERICAN METEOROLOGY.

The Americans have, as is generally known, a
Meteorological Department sustained by Govern-
ment; and we have one also, but not likewise.
The two organisations differ in many respects, bat
chiefly in this, that the former is worked more with
a view to immediate public utility than the latter
is. The American organisation is what its name
indicates — a veritable weather signal office, issuing
daily weather forecasts for the information and
benefit of the public at large. In this respect it
differs very materially from our Meteorological
Office, which contents itself with supplying storm
warnings at various seaports, chiefly beneficial to
fishermen and coasting vessels, and in one case to
collieries. Recently it has been induced by a
Gpecial subsidy to supply The Times with daily
forecasts. The information, however, which it
gives generally to the public is ex post facto, and con-
sequently of very little practical value excepting
as regards climatology.

The difference between the two organisation
will appear more striking if attention is directed
to the work done by the American office. As we
have already stated, its great features are its daily
weather forecasts, and their wide dissemination
throughout the country. This is accomplished
through the press and by the issue of various publi-
cations comprising maps, bulletins, and reports.
In 1874 it issued of these various documents no
less than 4,494,320 copies, of which 3,491,046
were farmers' bulletins, and 470,622 weather maps.
These publications the Astronomer Royal told the
Treasury Committee which last year inquired into
the conditions and mode of administration of the
annual grant made to our Meteorological Com-
mittee, were the most extraordinary things of the
kind in the world. "They contained," he said,
" observations made three times a day, and they
are brought together, and each of them has its own
synopsis of what has been observed. Then it goes
to probabilities of what is to come ; then facts
upon the wind and weather, and then general
remarks as to verifications." These reports indi-
cate the probable condition of the weather
in the district to which they are sent, in-
cluding not only notices of storms generally
considered dangerous but, when possible, also
giving indications of dry weather, light rains,
and extremes of temperature. They comprise
" synopses " and " probabilities," the former con-
sisting of a synoptic view of the meteoric condi-
tion of the United States as gathered from the

data received in each regular report from the dif-
ferent observing stations ; the latter of deductions
made by the office from the data in its possession
at the time of each report as to the meteoric con-
ditions probable during the next ensuing eight
hours. What are called "facts and verifications"
are also given in these bulletins. The former
state the atmospheric conditions immediately
following the probabilities, and the'extent to which
the probabilities agree with these conditions is
pointed out in the verifications, The office has thus
always aimed to exhibit equally its successes and
its failures. So far as the former are concerned,
they are certainly most satisfactory, rising from an
average of 69 per cent, in 1S69, to a fraction over
88 per cent, in 1876. The percentage of verifica-
tions exhibits a proportion to the number of
observing stations in the districts to which they
refer. It is thus to a certain extent mathemati-
cally demonstrated that the rules applied for the
deductions of the forecasts are practically correct,
and that, with enlarged facilities, the percentage
of verifications can be still further increased.

The faith of the public in the announcements of
the Office is very strong. The close watch kept
upon it, and the popular knowledge of the subject
of its duties, cannot be better shown than by the
quiet criticisms to which it is subjected when an
error occurs in a work which at first was deemed
impossible. It is, in fact, one of the most popular
departments of the Government — so much so that
the nation does not grudge over £140,000 annually
for its maintenance. Practical people as they are.,
the Americans feel that this large amount of
money is well laid out, They get something of
immediate value as a return for it. The agricul-
turist derives benefit from its forecasts in his
seed time and harvest. Physicians acknowledge its
usefulness in guiding them in the treatment of
their patients. In fact, all classes of the com-
munity acknowledge the very great practical value
of the work so well done by the Washington
Weather Signal Office. The members of the
Treasury Committee already referred to, from the
bearing of the questions which they put to Mr.
Scott, the Secretary of our Meteorological Com-
mittee, seemed also highly to appreciate its work,
and appeared desirous that its practical features
should be adopted by that committee. Fur
instance, the Astronomer Royal was asked if he'
thought it woald be a desirable thinp: for our

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINJB.

Meteorological Office to do as the Americans do —
to attempt daily forecasts aud probabilities of tbe
weather, aud then to state whether they have
been successful or not. "I think," ho replied, "it
is the only way in which the thing can be brought
to test, and ultimately to rule." And why should
we not have a weather signal oilico constituted
and worked like that at Washington ? A corres-
pondent recently referred in our columns to the
objections made to the accomplishment of this,
and which were chiefly based on the fact that
we had the ocean to the west of us, taken in con-
nection with the fact that our weather came chiefly
from that quarter. This difficulty of our situation
lias only been raised on il priori grounds. We have
already had warnings of storms coming from
America to us which have been sufficiently
verified to warrant some effort and expense to
attempt further and more complete experiments
in that direction. Our correspondent also culled
attention in this connection to the opinion of a
captain of a Ounard steamship that "if our office
obtained daily or semi-daily reports from Wash-
ington, Boston, and Trinity Bay,N.F., and studied
the rate at which the particular cyclone is travel-
ling over the earth's surface, a very accurate
opinion must be formed of the approach-
ing weather."' He could himself, he said,
form a constant observation of the weather on
his homeward trips, foretell very fairly
the coming week's weather while he was in
Liverpool. This is the opinion of an experienced
observer, and therefore of great weight as opposed
to the objections raised against weather forecasts
because of our geographical position. General
Meyer, chief of the staff of the Washington
Signal Office, has expressed an opinion similar to
that just referred to. With such evidence before
us, we must take leave to doubt Mr. Scott's assu-
rance that the- warnings of storms leaving the
American coast were not worth paying cablegrams
for. Another objection raised is want of funds.
This, however, can easily be remedied by confining
the work of the office chiefly to land meteorology
and only to that of the ocean when conuected with
it. We are glad to notice that the report of ihe
Treasury Committee expresses the opinion that
ocean meteorology should be transferred to the
Ilydrographical Department of the Admiralty.
Were this done, nearly £4,000 of the grant
made to the Committee would be available
for much needed stations on the west coast
of Ireland and elsewhere, and for cable-
grams from the Washington Signal Office.
The Government should also permit the free use

117

of the telegraph to the Committee. This is done
by France, and by the Great Northern Telegraph
Company. A saving of £.3,000 would thus be
made to the Office, making with that now paid on
account of ocean meteoi-ologv a sum of nearly
£7,000.

But something more immediately useful we
should have than has as yet been supplied by our
Meteorological Oifice, which is, as we have shown ,
very far behind the Washington Office in imme-
diate useful results. Why should not our farmers
be placed in as favourable a position as regards
coming weather as those of America ? And the
same question may be asked on behalf of the
public generally. In fact, the interests involved
are of such magnitude and importance as
to warrant the Government taking the work
under its own supervision. In the United
States it is placed under the control of
the Secretary of War. With the example set
before us by our practical American cousins, we
should not rest contented with the present unsatis-
factory position of our Meteorological Office. If
it has the skill necessary to do the work which wo
have pointed out, it should be induced to use it.
If it has not this skill, let it in some way be sup-
plied with it. Immediate practical results we may
fairly demand when they are practicable. This
we believe they are, aud we have, therefore, a right
to expect them in return for the money we are
called upon to pay for our present Meteorological
Office, and which, if the results were more popular,
could doubtless be doubled.

GOLD IN INDIA.— The discovery of goH ia South-
India, so long asserted by some Australian speculators, turns
out to be a fact. Iu the coffee-growing district of Wynaad,
sixty-two tons of the auriferous quartz, described as " Alpha
stone from Wright's level," has produced above thirty ounces
of rich gold, or an average of nine pennyweights per ton.
The gold has been bought by a Madras firm, and specimens of
the quartz have been submitted to the Governor, the Dake of
Buckingham and Chandos. The Commissioner of the district;
has visited the works, aud the result is that a company is
projected to work the Alpha rock, with a capital of £150,000 '
A steady out-turn of gold, secured by capital and honest in-
dustry, would solve many of our most difficult Indian questions
of finance and currency. — Mayfair.

AN INCOMPLETE AMUSEMENT. — The Squire :
" Well, Mosso le Barroug, how did you like ths Meet of the
Queen's Hounds this Morning ?" Distinguished .Frenchman :
" O, ver much ! Ze Paysage it vos beautiful ; ze Ladies, zey
vare sharmeengs ; and ze Costumes vare adorables ! But—
zare vas no Promenade ! — no Band of Music !— Nossing !"— -
Punch.

US

THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE.

THE STATE OF TRADE IN HULL IN 1877.

HULL, January lsf, 1S78. — During the past year we have
td fair homeward employment for steamers from the Baltic.
Cronstadt opened in May at 2s. 9d. Linseed, 27s. 6d. Flax, for
Hull, and the season closed at 4s. and 25s. Riga opened in
Way at 3s. 3d. Oats, 35s. to 37s. 6d. Flax to Hull, and closed
at 2.-', 9J. to 3s. and 40s. Alexandria cotton seed season
op( ned in October at 21s. to 22s. 6d. to Hull, bnt fell to lis.
in December accepted by the " John Adamson," s.s. for Hull.
From New York and Montreal many boats found good em-
ployment at 7s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. Wheat to U.K. During the
Indian Rice Famine several steamers were profitably engaged
on time for Indian coasting employment, which completely
collapsed in October, when many charterers incurred heavy
. osses through being compelled to cancel on best terms. 138
stealers are now registered at the Hull Custom House, of
192,040 gross tons. For sailing ships Quebec opened at 81s.
dry Deals to Hull, also 33s. Timber and 82s. 6d. Deals, clos-
i lg at 77s. 6d. third floated. Cronstadt opened at 47s. 6d. to
50s. Deals, and the season closed at 52s. 6d. Higher Bothnia
ports opened at 55s. to 60s. for Hull, and closed at about the
same rates. The Hull Dock Company received dues in 1877
on 2,279,734 tons of shipping, against 2,258,701 tons in 1876
and 2,095,677 tons in 1S75. The Albert Dock in December
was completely blocked with shipping, which proves an uigent
need of increased dock accommodation, and it is significant of
the bright prospects of the port that this occurred at a time
when many commercial interests were suffering from depres-
sion in trade.

WHEAT.— The import into Hull during 1877 was the
largest ever yet recorded, viz., 953,390 qrs., against 635,812
qrs. in 1876 and 798,145 qrs. in 1875. The total import of
Wheat and Flour into the United Kingdom has been
14,862,000 qrs., against 12,185,000 qrs. in 1S76 and
13,085,000 qrs. in 1875, and afloat for the United Kingdom
there are now 1,240,000 qrs., against 2,218,000 qrs. in 1876 and
1,800,000 qrs. in 1875. The supplies this year have again been
drawn from numerous and distant sources. America, however,
including California has sent us by far the largest share, and bids
flirt) become as important a purveyor to Hull as it has long been
to Liverpool. Prices at the commencement of the year stood
at 54s. to 57s. per qr. for Baltic white wheat, 53s. to 56s. for
C ilifornian and Oregon, 50s. to 53s. for Spanish and Chilian*
and 41s. to 43s. for Egyptian, all per 480 lb., English red
being quoted 48s. to 51s. per 504 lbs. Without fluctuating
much, the tendency of markets was rather downwards during
the early months of the year ; in the latter half of March
prices took a turn, and by the third week in April had risen
4'. to 5s. per qr. The actual outbreak of war between Rus-
sia and Turkey caused a further spring of 8s. to 10s. per qr.,
the highest point being reached about the 1st of May, wheu
fine white foreign wheats were quoted up to 70s. and English
red, which became very scarce, as high as 70s. to 73s., but it
soon became apparent that the effect of the war upon our
food supplies would be much less than had been at first ima-
gined, and this latter advance was soon lost again. The mar-
kets now became dependent upon the weather, which up to
July had not on the whole been unfavourable, and the crops
both at home and abroad, though somewhat backward, pro-
mised very fairly, but at this critical period the weather

became broken, and continued more or less unsettled through*
out July and August. In the South of England the harvest
was secured in fair condition, though not of very fine quality,
but North of the Humber, and to a great extent in Lincoln-
shire also, the cold, wet weather so retarded the maturing of
the crops that even by the end of August very little coru was
sufficiently ripe to be cut, and a more prolonged harvest per-
iod has not often been experienced. This could not fail to
have its effect upon prices, and when by the end of September
it was found that the harvest was still unfinished, while the
ingathered corn was both small in quantity, inferior in quality,
and in poor condition, prices had risen 3s. to 4s. per qr., and
would probably have risen more but for the large foreign arri-
vals, those into this port averaging during the last six months
of the year fully 20,000 qrs. weekly. Since then the value of
good sound wheat has experienced but little fluctuation, and
we close the year with Dantzig and Konigsberg high mixed
wheat at 58s. to 62s., Californian and Oregon 63s. to 65s.,
Spanish 56s. to 60s., Chilian 58s. to 59s., Egyptian 45s. to
46s., and good red foreign 52s. to 55s. per 480 lb., English
old 58s. to 60s. and almost exhausted, new very irregular in
quality, and making from 38s. to 52s. per 504 lb. The
stocks in warehouses are estimated at 120,000 qrs.
In connection with the food supply of Hull may be men-
tioned the great increase of provisions (bacon, hams, &c.)
since the establishment of the " Wilson American Liners ;"
and the very large importation of potatoes (46,000 tons)
since the 1st September has been a very welcome addition to
the home crop, which was so diminished by disease.

BARLEY. — We have this year to record a much larger
foreign importation of this cereal than last year, namely,
568,035 qrs., against 406,713 <jrs. in 1876 and 451,733 qrs.
in 1875, and most of it has been of malting quality, as the
export from the Black Sea, whence the bulk of our supplies of
grinding barley is generally drawn, has been obstructed by
war during the last two-thirds of the year. Owing to short
supplies in spring, the last malting season closed much earlier
than usual, and prices continued to range high for anything
offering of suitable quality. The new crop in this country
suffered seriously from rain, aud as some of the North Eur-
opean countries also have not escaped the effect of a wet har-
vest, prices have been well kept up for all fair malting qualities
ever since the supplies of uew commenced to appear on the
market. The principal feature in the trade this year has been
the introduction of malting barley to this country from North
America, the qualify of which, however, has not generally
found favour with our maltsters. The home crop has suffered
irretrievably, with almost the sole exception of some districts
on the Norfolk coast, and a great part is only fit for grinding
purposes. Prices for malting qualities have not experienced
much fluctuation, rising 2s. to 3s. per qr. from the beginning
of the year up to March, since when they have remained
almost stationary, and Eotwithstanding the general inferiority
of this year's to last year's crop, we close just 2s. to 3s. higher
than we began for malting samples, the present values being
36s. to 42s. for English, 42s. to 44<. for Danish Chevalier,
and 39s. to 41s. for Danish two-rowed, all per 418 lb., whilst
un feeding barley the rise is 5s. per qr., 31s. to 32s. per 418

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

119

lb. -Heine the value of Danish six-rowed and Black Sea. Stocks
are 50,001) qrs,-

OATS. — The supplies have heen somewhat larger than last
year, 291,230 qrs., against 206,017 qrs. in 187G and 332,800
qrs. in 1375, and the demand has been a steady consumptive
one. Prices rose 2s. to 3s. per qr. in May on the outbreak of
the Russo-Turkish war, but have since relapsed, and are now
2*. to 3s. per qr. below those current at the beginning of the
year, say 23s. 6d. to 21s. 6d. per 33(5 lb. for white Scanian.
Stocks are estimated at 36,000, which is rather less than last
year.

BEANS show a falling off in the arrivals, say 107,887 qrs.,
against 140,150 qrs. in 1876, and the bulk has again been
from Egypt. Prices rose in May, when Egyptian (Saide)
reaclud as high as 39s. to 40s. per 480 lb., soon after dropped
t> 30s. to 31s., improved again in consequence of the unusually
small rise of the Nile, and now stand at 33s. to 3 Is. per 480
lb., or about 3s. per qr. below their value at the beginning
of the year. Stocks are small, being only 32,000 qrs.

TEAS. — Supplies are slightly in excess of last year, 28,794
qrs., against 20,870 qrs. This article has become altogether
of little account in the trade of the port, its place being
taken by maize. Prices have ruled steady throughout the
year, and close as they began at 38s. to 39s. per 504 lb. for
Feeders. Stocks are 5,000 qrs.

MAIZE continues to hold a prominent position in our im-
ports, the figures this year being 363,432 qrs., against 4S6.513
qrs. last year and 212,641 qrs. in 1875. Prices have under-
gone considerable fluctuation ; opening in January at 27s. to
28s. per 480 lb. for mixed American, receding to 25s. to 26s.
during March, rising in May, like all other articles, and
reaching 30s. to 31s., soon declining again 3s. to 4s. per qr.,
once more improving during the Autumn, and closing at the
opening values of 30s. to 31s. per 480 lb. Stocks are smaller
than last year, say about 30,000 qrs.

LINSEED. — Many causes have combined to make the
trade in linseed of 1877 appear in figures less important as
compared with seasons immediately preceding. Through a
continuance of hostilities in the East, the Russian railroads
have been to so very large an extent engaged in the transpor1
o-f war material that to get produce down to the seaboard haa
baen throughout a matter of difficulty and uncertainty, a fact
which, combined with the blockade of the Black Sea, at once
accounts for so reduced an import from Russia. India with
an abundant crop has furnished us with comparatively large
supplies, otherwise we might have seen our figures of import
stand almost unprecedentedly low. The supply, however, has
been fully equal to the demand, perhaps even rather exceeding
it, inasmuch as the bulk of the recent importations have been
taken to store for lack of buyers, the cause of which is no
doubt to be traced to the unsatisfactory state of agricultural
interests. A disastrously wet season not only seriously
affected the potato crop, but created havoc in the quality and
condition of all home-grown cereals ; hence our farmer is by
loss in this respect induced to seek a cheaper food than linseed
cake, and turns his attention to cotton cake at nearly half the
price. To review the course of prices daring the year : We
opened with fairly large stocks, being estimated at about
200,000 qrs., the value of Bombay being 54s. 416 lb., Calcutta
53s. 410 lb., and fine Petersburg 51s. 424 lb. For the first
three months the demand was but small, and values gradually
receded till about the middle of March, when Calcutta under
pressure was dine as low as 19s. 6d. 410 lb. L.A.T. direct

from ship, and Bombay even at 49s. 6d. 416 lb. A change
however, now took place ; Indian shipments fell off, holders
gained confidence, which was strengthened by the dark aspect
of politics, and during the months of April and May a con-
siderable business was done, principally from warehouse. From
47s. 6d., the lowest point of fine Petersburg in March, there
was a smart rebound in April, 4s. to 5s. being recovered in
one week with a continued upward tendency until the middle
of May, when quotations stood at 56s. for fine Petersburg!
59s. for Calcutta, and 60s. for Bombay. As one by one the
mills closed for the summer a reaction set in, a gradual fall
being experienced until the end of June, when fine Petersburg
touched 50s. 6d. 424 lb., but here another feature intervened
to check the downward movement, the deficit of import as
compared with 1876 increased weekly, confidence became once
more established, and when by the end of September the de-
ficit had reached 120,000 qrs. short of the same period in
1876 values had recovered fully 5s. per qr. Basing caicula
tions on statistics it was fair to assume that linseed must hold
steady in price, but the trade generally was doomed to disap-
pointment ; no cake demand set in, and the effect of an indif-
ferent harvest became all too apparent. With an average en-
quiry we should have closed the year with unprecedentedly low
stocks, whereas for lack of demand all the Continental arrivals
have been taken to store, and the year closes with a dull
market at 51s. 424 lb. for fine Petersburg, 5is. 410 lb. for
Calcutta, and 55s 416 lb. for Bombay, our stocks being about
75,000 qrs. The very mild weather may also in a great
measure account for the slackness of the last three months of
the \ ear ; should a decided change to winter now set in, and con
tinue, we may fairly look for an improved demand for linseed
cake, which has always stood pre-eminent as an article of
artificial cattle food.

COTTONSEED.— The import shows a further increase, .
being 169,022 tons against 139,368 tois lastysar. Shipments
from the crop of 1877 commenced earlier than usual, and
already the arrivals exceed last year at same date by
fully 20,000 tons. Notwithstanding the large supply, the
market is well maintained, with a gradually improving ten-
dency since the middle of November, when it was at the
lowest on the spot. The quality is not well spoken of as to
its yield of oil. Little or nothing has been done for shipmen *
after January, importers showing no disposition to enter into
engagements further forward. The relatively high price this
season without a corresponding improvement in the value of
cake points to an indifferent result for the crusher. In January
last the quotation for good sound seeds was £8 7s. 6d. to
£8 10s. per ton. During February it declined to £8 2s. 6d.,
and in March, with heavy arrivals, business was done at ££ ;
but before the close of April the price stood at £9 5s. to
£9 7s. 6d., and in May at £9 15s. to £10 for hest samples in
warehouse, after which it declined to £9 5s. to £9, varying
only tor such qualities about 2s. 6d. per ton, until arrival of
new crop in October, when £9 5s. was paid. November
opened at £8 17s.6d., and was 10s. lower a fortnight afterwards ,
During December prices improved to £8 12s. 6d. to
£8 17s. 6d., and the nearest closing value on the spot ia
£8 15s. per ton.

LINSEED OIL on the 1st January, 1877, was 25s. 6d. to
25s. 9d. per cwt., and with slight fluctuation the month closed
at nearly the same price, say at 25s. 9d. During February
53.31. to 25s. 6d. was the prevailing quotation. In March,
we had to record lower prices, 23s. 9d> was the price on tfc£

120

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,.

lOtli, but it changed about fitfully within a small range clos-
ing 24s. lgd. at the enil of the month. April was a month
of gradual recovery, and by the middle of April 27s. 6d. was
fail ly established, and the closing priceof this mouth was as high
as 29s. 9d. During the early days of May 30s. 3d. was the
price. It fell later to 29s. and to 28s., and closed at 27s. 3d.
June saw pric's ranging from 27s. 4|d. to 28s , falling to
26s. 9d., closing tha month with 27s. ljd. In. July 28s. 9d.
was the highest price attained ; at the close 28s. 3d. Daring
the cnt re month of August, with the exception of two or
three days, the article gradually improved, closing at 29s. In
September the improvement continued without intermission,
the piice on the last business day (Saturday) was 30s. 3d.
Throughout October the market kept very firm, and closed at
30s. 4|d. In November a fall to 29s. 6d. took place, a slight
rally improved it 3d. per cwt, but it ultimately closed at this
price, 29s. 6d. Until after the first half of December we had a
drooping market, and a little later on a slight improvement
took place. As we write, just before the end of the month,
27s. 91. records the exact value. The forward business in
liaseed oil has been of a less speculative character during the
year, but there have been times when large transactions have
been entered into. Daring some periods the price for forward
delivery has been less than for current. At this moment
there is not more than ljd. per cwt. between the price of
December, 1877, and January-April, 1878. The export is
considerably less, being 13,415 tons compared with 18,536
tons in 1376.

REITNED COTTON OIL has become to a still greater
exteut than last year a favouiite article, and has indeed for many
purposes taken the place of liuseed oil. On the 1st January
29s. 6d. was the market value, from which it soon advanced
to 30s. ; the mouth closed at the opening price, 29s. 6d. In
February 29s. to 29s. Sd.was the prevailing price until nearly (he
close o f the month, when it gave way, and ended 28s. to 28s. 3d.
In March it fell to 27s. 91., but rallied after the middle of
the mouth, closing however at 28s. April was a month of
marked improvement, and the price at the end of it was
30s. 9d. to 31s. In May the improvement continued, and
during the early days 32s. was reached. From this price,
however, a recession took place, and (he price on the 30th was
30s. In June, after some trifling fluctuations, it closed at
30s. 3d. to 6d. During the month of July it improved gra-
dually to 31s. 6d. In August a further slight enhancement
in value occurred, and 32s. l£d. was the nearest price at the
end of the month. In September it rose to 33s. 6d., but fell
3d. per cwt. at the extreme end of the mouth. During Octo-
ber it fell gradually to 31s. 6d. By the 10th November
30s. 3d. was the price, but from this it rapidly recovered to
32s., showing a little weakness just before the end of the
month, but closing at 32s. exactly. In December it has gone
gradually down to 30s. 6d., which precisely represents the
price on the 291 h. This article has come much more mlo
favour for speculation, with regard to which it now fairly
competes with linseed oil. The export contrasts better with
last year than linseed oil, the figures being 12,041 tons in
1877 against 12,763 tons in 1876. Compared with last year
less than half the quantity has gone to Spain, and not one ton
since llie imposition of increased duties by the new Spanish
tariff.

RAPE OIL. — During the whole of this year the trade in
this article has been small, no rubsen seed having been
crushed iu the pott : the refiner have been entirely dependent

upon foreign supplies fur the best brown oil. We commenced
the year with foreign brown at 39s. 9d. per cwt. in casks, and
Black Sea 36s. 6d. per cwt. naked. By March the price had
falleu 5s. per cwt., but before the end of September it was
again as dear as at the commencement of the year. The year
closes with no stocks of Black Sea oil and limited supplies of
German brown at 33s. 3d. per cwt, in casks.

OLIVE OIL. — The year opened without any oil on sale,
£50 10s. per ton being the nominal quotation for Gallipoli,
and at this price sales of early arrivals took place, the value
afterwards gradually decliniug till May, when Gallipoli was
£17 per ton. Unfavourable news arriving from the producing
countries in August, prices rose to £51, and to £53 in Sep-
tember, at which price small sales were made ; since then the
market has been rather quiet at £52 to £53 10s. per ton for
Gallipoli, other kinds ruling in proportion.

ELAX. — The import of the year is £10,338 tons, against
6,898 tons in 1876, showing an increase of 50 per cent; but
a considerable portion of this has gone forward to other ports
and has not been consumed in the neighbouring spinning dis-
trict. On the whole, this branch of trade has not been a
satisfactory one either to the importers or to the spinaers, the
demand for the yarn having ruled dull throughout the year at
uarermmeralive prices, hence not only a great quantity of
machinery has stood idle, but short time has also been resorted
to. There seems no immediate prospect of any improvement to
the spring trade unless brought about by a better state of
things in the United States and other consuming countries.
There has been no great fluctuation in price throughout the
year, and the market closes at about the quotations last given .
Some of the fresh crop of Kiga flax has arrived here,
but taking (he whole of the marks the quality is disappoint-
ing.

HEMP.— The import is 8,506 tons, against 8,631 tons in
1876, showing a slight deficiency. The trade in Russian
hemp has ruled quiet throughout the year ; the early arrivals
of winter dressed Puga goods went readily in consumption,
but the bulk of the summer dressed being of coarse quality
and wanting in softness has not met much enquiry. The crop
of 1877 is favourably reported on, and as shipments of the
winter dressed sorts are expected to be made in January-Feb-
ruary, via Pillau, the trade will soon have an opportunity of
testing the accuracy of the reports. Taking the shipments of
Petersburg hemp together as a whole the quality has been
very poor and disappointing to the trade ; some few parcels
have arrived of excellent quality, and these have been readily
bought up. Erom Konigsberg the shipments have, as a rule,
given satisfaction, although there have been imported several
parcels not up to the standard shipments. The year closes
with a quiet market at our quotations.

OIL CAKES. — The consumption of Ltnseed Cakes dur-
ing the past twelve months has certainly been very much below
the average of many previous years. This is no doubt owing
in a great measure to the unprofitable seasons which farmers
have lately had, and their consequent indisposition to expend
more than is absolutely necessary on these cakes, cotton cakes
having been used to a great extent in their place. Prices dur-
ing the year have ruled low, and the trade to crushers generally
has been unsatisfactory. The year opened with best pure cakes
at about £10 5s. per ton, at which they continued till the
latter part of February, when they gave way about 2s. 6d. per
ton, and remained thereat till the middle of April, when a
rally look place, of 5s, per ton, £10 7s. Gd. being then the

THE FARMER'S MAGINEAZ

121

value. During May and Juue prices steadily declined, and
£9 15s. was reached by the end of the last named month ; a
reaction then set in, and £10 7s. 6d., the highest price of the
year, was again reached in the second week of August, but was
not maintained, £10 5s. being the value in the following week
and continuing so up to the present time, the year closing at
the same price at which it opened. Rape Cakes. —Of feed-
ing qualities there has bpen a remarkable dearth during the
year, the market remaining bare of supplies up to October,
when small arrivals of German rubsen seed enabled a limited
quantity of these cakes to be made, which sold at the very
high price of £3 to £8 5s. per ton, and values continued to
range about those figures to the present time, £8 being to-day's
value. Cotton Cakes. — A very large business has been
done in these cake, larger probably than in any previous year.
The abundant supply aud low price of maize, however, had a
powerful influence in keeping down quotations. The year
opened with £5 12s. Gd. per ton as the value, and a gradual
fill took place till £5 2s. Gd. was reached in the last week of
March. In April a great change took place, owing to excite-
ment in the seed market, and four weeks respectively showed
quotations £5 5s., £5 10s., £6 10s., and £6 5s. The second
week of May gave the highest price of the year, £G 15s., from
which time quotations gradually receded to £6 at the end of
July. At the beginning of September £5 15s. was the value,
since when they have ranged between that figure and £5 10s.,
the year closing with £5 15s. as the quotation and only limited
stocks in the mills.

PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT GUANO (RAW).— Im-
ports for the year 18/7 amount to 11,000 tons, as compared
with 17,000 tons in 1876 and 3,300 tons in 1875. The de-
mand has been good, sales exceeding those of 1876 by 1,000
tons and being greater than in any year since 1872. This
has no doubt arisen from the improved condition ot the gaauo,
which has been generally dry and of fair quality. Ohlen-
dorff's Dissolved Peruvian Guano. — 0.ving to the drier
condition of the raw guano sales have declined somewhat in
tiiis district, and to assimilate the price of this valuable
manure more nearly to that of t he raw gnano, Messrs. Ohleu-
dorff & Co. have now reduced their price £1 per ton, present
quotation being £12 10s. per ton for quantity with guarantee
of 8 per cent, ammonia and 22 per ceut. phosphates, which
will no doubt enable agriculturists to use it more freely in
the future.

NITRATE OF SODA.— Stocks being heavy at the com-
mencement of the season, imports have been small, being only
2,450 tons against over 10,000 tons in 1876, but deliveries
have gone on so briskly that we close the year with a stock
of only about 1,400 tons.

TAR. — The arrivals thi3 year from the Baltic are very
3raall indeed, consisting of 5,297 barrels, from Wilmington,
U.S., 8,423 barrels, and from Archangel 6,970 barrels, total
import 20,690 barrels, against 31,615 in 1S76. During the
first quaiter of the year prices ruled steady, 21s. to 22s. being
the value of Stockholm, and 20s. to 21s. of Archangel. In
April forced sales of speculators' tar in London caused the
price of Stockholm to recede to 18s. 6d. and Archangel to
16s. 6d.; prices soon however rallied, and from May to the be-
ginning of August Stockholm ruled at 20s. to 21s. and
Archangel 17s. Later on in August, arrivals coming in more
freely, the market became depressed, and 19s. was accepted for
Stockholm aud 16s. 6d. Archangel. In consequence of much
smaller arrivals into the U.K., than were Anticipated, pricc':

since the month of September have ruled steady, viz : at 2 Is
to 22s. for Stockholm and 17s. to 17s. Gd. Archangel, anl
these may now be considered their nearest values. American
tar, which occupies so prominent a feature in the import this
year, is essentially a distiller's article, and the barrels being
about one-third less than Stockholm its value is now about 14s,
to 15s. per barrel. The stock of all kinds is about 8,700
barrels.

TURPENTINE SPIRITS.— The direct import is mostly
from America, and consists in all of 5,606 barrels, or 89 1 tons.
Early in the year the value was 34s., which has never been
reached again during the year; from February to May, with
slight variations, prices ruled about 28s. In June, when
the arrivals of " new " comrnenced3 the price rapidly
receded to 23s. 6d., but rallied again during the following
three months, and 27s. to 28s. was its nearest value in Sep-
tember, consequent on diminished stocks. Large arrivals
coming in agiin during the month of October the price de-
clined to 25s., since which the market has kept moderately
steady, with 24s. 6d. to 25s. about its present value.

ROSIN. — The import this year is mostly from American
ports, viz., 18,518 barrels or 2,365 tons, and only 30 ton8
from Bordeaux ; total import 2,395 tons. French competi-
tion with America in this article, as also in spirits turpentine,
may now be regarded as ended so far as regards the supply
iuto this country. Early in the year 6s. 6d. to 7s. was the
value of common strained, 7s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. for medium, 9s.
to 12s. fine, and 12s. to 14s. for extra pale soapers qualities.
From March to June prices ruled lower, viz., 5s. Gd. to 5s 9d.
for common strained, but lor the better sorts prices remained
about the same. In July common strained receded to 5s.,
with 6s. 6d. to 7s. for medium, 8s. to 8s, 6d. fine, and 10s. to
12s. extra pale soapers. During the last three months rather
better prices have beeu obtained, viz., 5s. 9d. to 6s. for com-
mon strained, 7s. to 7s. 6d. medium, 8s. 6d. to 9s. fine, and
12s. to 13s. extra pale soapers, at which quotation the year
closes.

PETROLEUM.— The direct import of this cheap and
valuable article for lighting purposes is about the same as last
year, and consists of twelve cargoes, all from New York ;
total import, 28,945 barrels, or 1,099,870 gallons, against
28,419 barrels or 1,125,760 gallons last year. Of the import
this year, two cargoes cousistel of " Naptha" or " Mineral
Spirit," a lighter and more volatile description for burning
purposes. The year opened with a drooping market, Is. 8d.
per gallon for Petroleum and Is. per gallon for Naptha were the
prices in the month of January ; in February the prices had
receded to Is. for Petroleum and lid. for Naptha. In Juue
the lowest price during the year was reached, viz: 10 d. to 10 jd.
Petroleum and 8d. to 8Jd. Naptha. In September prices
somewhat rallied, and Is. Id. became the value of Petroleum
and 9d. to lOd. Naptha. Supplies having come forward more
liberally than was expected, prices, the last three months, have
ruled steady, and although we are in the middle of the season
when the largest consumption i3 taking place, petroleum cannot
be quoted at more than Is. per gallon and Naptha 9d. to lOd.
— Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping .

COOKED OR UNCOOKED FOOD.— The experiments to
determine the relative value of cooked .and uncooked meal in
feeding pigs at the Maine, U.S., Agricu Itural College are
being continued. Seven years' experience gives a verdict in
favour of the uncooked food as being the most profitable.—
It : ' Fanners' Gazette*

122

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

SAMUEL DOWNES & CO.'S- ASFNUAL CIRCULAR.

LIVERPOOL, 2nd January, 1878. — In our
monthly circular of November, 1870, and Augusb
1877, we ventured to direct the attention of our readers to a
question often asked, " What is the value of Turkish com-
merce to Great Britain ? " and showed in the latter one that
our cotton trade with Turkey proper was greater than with
any other foreign country. We stated that British exports to
Russia, which has a population of 69 millions, were valued at
£8,500,000, whilst to Turkey, with 31 millions, they were
£6,380,000 in 1876, and we dow add to Russia, they amounted
in 1875 to £11,346,000, and to Turkey, £§,346,000.
The reader will observe they indicate a declining
trade with Russia, and a stationary one with
Turkey. Therefore it was contended that England had a
large pecuniary stake at issue in this Eastern war. It was
also asserted that Russia imposedprohibitory duties on British
manufactures, whilst barbarous Turkey imposed nominal ones>
and that if Russia acquired Constantinople, or even one
Turkish port in the Black Sea or Levantine Coast, she would
introduce the same scale of import duties which she now
enforces on the shores of the Baltic. It is idle to suppose
that Russia would act otherwise. If the Emperor dared to
do so there would be a loud outcry on the part of her manu-
facturers that would prove irresistible even to him. It therefore
follows that the possession of Constantinople by Russia would
prejudicially affect British exports to Turkey, reducing them
from 6i millions to a nominal amount. Such was the line of
reasoning in our August circular of last year, and the article
was extensively quoted by the London and Provincal Press ,
London Morning Post, Public Opinion, Manchester Courier,
Chester Chronicle, and many other journals, and to all we
tender our acknowledgements. Our object in writing the laf|
paragraph is not to indulge in perhaps a pardonable egoti sm,
but to indicate how well served the Russian Government is by
her diplomatic agents and spies in the various towns of the
United Kingdom. It is essential to restate the foregoing, in
order that the reader should understand what we are now
going to narrate. On November the 7th, two months after
the issue of our circular, a gentleman connected with the press
kindly sent to us the following extract from the St. Peters-
burg Gazette of the preceding date — the official journal of the
Russian Government — " That British commercial interest
were far greater in Russia than Turkey. The amount Of
British import and export to and from Russia being nearly
£32,000,000, while to and from Tuikey they figure at
£13,000,000." The official character of the paragraph is the
more evident that the foregoing was wired to this country by
Reuter's Telegraphic Agency on the date it appeared in the
Gazette. Our contention was based on the well-known axiom
that the export trade of a state is of more consequence to it
than the import. The export trade to Turkey averaged 65
millions per annumn in 1875 and 1876; let the reader cap-
italise it, say at ten or fifteen years' purchase, and it is wortn
60 to 90 millions. |Were sve wrong in affirming, in the early
part of this article, that English manufacturers had a large
pecuniary stake at issue in this Eastern war ? We will ven-
ture to add that an English Ministry, of whatever political
colour, that would allow so valuable and increasing a branch
of our export to be sacrificed, or partly sacrificed, would incur

more than a grave responsibility, they would merit impeacK--
ment. If the trade be lost, how and where is it to be re-
placed ? The manufacturers, who have little to gain and'
much to lose, are yet anxious to retain this commerce at this
time of keen competition, whilst a group of extreme enthusi"'
asts, £he' majority of them have everything to gain and nothing
to lose, are in favour of throwing it to the winds in the
interests, as they allege, of "justice, freedom, and humanity."
Such is the summary viewed through commercial' spectacles,
and we leave the reader to draw his own inferences.

COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE.— A dull and un -
satisfactory trade has been the feature of the year. The un-
favourable weather in the summer and autumn months greatly
damaged the hay, corn, and potato crops, and it will be obvious
that the cultivators of arable farms have had a disastrous year v
Strikes in the rural districts have been less troublesome, but
not so with towns and manufacturing districts, where they have
told very injuriously. We will give one instance. To this
town iron girders have been introduced from Belgium ; it was
more advantageous to import than to produce. Yet, within'
one hundred yards of the spot where these are now erected
there are two manufactories, the proprietors of which could
not successfully compete. And why ? Because the rate of
wages is lower in Belgium than in Great Britain. It has been
advanced that commercial affairs will improve when the Eastern
war ceases. The improvement will be an evanescent one, and-
there can be no sustained amendment until the rate of wages
for skilled and unskilled labour is lower. It is greatly to be
regretted that the parliamentary chieftains in the State do not
tackle this question — only two have, Mr. Bright and Mr. Roe-
buck ; the others shrink from the duty, for the reason that the
first party (this is written irrespective of party) which has the
courage to do so would wean, and detach from itself a portion of
the working men's voting power. Thus are the interests of a
great nation sacrificed to the interests of party.

HONORARY DISTINCTIONS TO AGRICULTURISTS.-
On two occasions during the last few years we have advueated
in our annual circular the desirability of the Crown conferring
honorary distinctions on enterprising practical farmers, &c.r
who, by their expenditure of time and money, have contributed
to cheapen the cost of producing food in this country. In the
first instance it was during the premiership of Mr. Gladstone, in
the second one during that of my Lord Beaconsfield. We
think it was made manifest that these experiments had lowered
the cost of producing corn fully 2s. 6d. per qr., some think
more. These practical experimentalists have, therefore, bene-
fited not merely Great Britain, but the Universe. One Govern-
ment has acted on the suggestion. The King of Sweden has,
within the last few weeks adopted it. Perhaps the present
English Cabinet will imitate the example, not an unwise pro-
ceeding in these days of eleetion by ballot.

NITRATE OF SODA, is firmer on the spot, the closing price
is 15s. to 15s. 3d. for under 5 refraction, and 15s. l£d. for 5^
to 6 refraction. The stock is 150,000 against 401,000 in 1876
and 330,000 bags in 1875. The total shipments from Iquique
from 1st January to 31st October were 180,000 against
291,000 in 1876, and 283,000 tons in 1875. In round num-
bers there will be about one-half the quantity in Great Britain

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

123

id the ensuing spring : in the face of that fact is the presen
price of 15s. 3d. to 6 for February delivery unduly high ?

Superior quality of Peruvian Government Guano, 10 to 13
of ammonia, light in colour, we offer at £11 5s. to £13 per
ton ; Peruvian Guano, phosphatic, and with a leaser qnantity
of amraonw, £7 13s. 3d. to £9 10s. per ton ; both guaranteed
and delivered from the Mersey Dock Board Warehouses a
Birkenhead. Owing to the high values now insisted on fo
Guano and Nitrate, there is a steady and increasing deman
for foreign Bone Meal and Dust at £7 10s. to £7 15s. per ten
and prices will not be lower for six months. River Plate Bone
Ash, Superphosphate of Lime, &c ., offering at the quotations.
American Fish Manure inquired for, but no stock ; the value
is £5 10s. for "half-dried," 6 per cent, of ammonia, and £7
to £7 10s. for " dried scrap," with 9 to 10 of ammonia. Sul.
phate of Ammonia firm, at £19 12s. 6d. to £20 10s.

OILCAKES. — The demand has been very moderate for
some weeks, which is ascribed chiefly to the large quantities of
damaged wheat iujuredduring the last harvest. At the close Of
November this market was bare of linseed cake, but 36,000 bags,
&c, have arrived within the last few days, and prime thin, in
barrels, sold at £10 2s. 6d. to £]0 7s. 6d. , with fair Western
in bags, at £10 to £10 2s. 6d.— at which we offer. More
inquiry for American decorticated cotton seed cake — fair
realising £7 12s. 6d. to £7 15s., best at £7 17s. 6d. to £8—,
the wealthy north-country graziers purchasing to hold over
There is a great eagerness evinced to buy only of the bright
yellow coloured ; this we contend is unwise. As remarked in
a former circular, we attach little importance to colour ; the
great points are the quantity of oil and flesh-forming materials
sweetness, effectual decortication of the seed, and regularity ot
the quality. At a recent meeting of the Central Farmers
Club it was affirmed " that the use of a daily feed of 31b. of
this cake and 31b. of Indian meal, at a cost of less than 6d. per
day, would generally be amply repaid in the increased use of
butter alone, to say nothing of the impioved condition of the
cows, the reduced consumption of otber food, and the extra
value of the maDure." We refer those readers who file our
circular to the one issued on March 22nd, 1873, wherein is an
admirable receipt for a cheap nutritious cattle food. Locust
Beans, £5 15s. to £6 per ton, in bulk. F oreign Molasses
suitable for cattle feeding, we can offer at 9s. 6d. to 9s. 9d.
per cwt. We are open to sell two parcels of prime thin
oblong Linseed Cake, expected within the next ten to twenty-
one days from the United States, and which w shall dispose
of at very naionable prices.

LINSEED. — An irregular market, with sales of Bombay at
55s. 6d., in quantity ex- quay ; the future of it is partly
influenced by politics. Of American Red Cloverseed few
sales reported during the last few days. Fine State is worth
about 49s. to 51s., and fair to good Western 46s. to 47s. per cwt.

Price of SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME.— To the fol-
owing narrative we desire to direct the observation of our
readers. — The Editor of The Chamber of Agriculture
Journal writes to us: — "I have had two or three complaints
that the prices in your weekly list of Fertilisers, &c. (which we
occasionally publish), are much below the market value —
that Superphosphate, for instance, is given 30s. per ton
below the market price." The statement will amuse and sur-
prise our readers. The most conclusive reply is to say we
are prepared to deliver 500 to 1,000 tons at the prices we have
quoted, and for months past, in our weekly list, viz. — a
Superphosphate of Lime, guaranteed to contain 26 per cent.

soluble, at £3 5s. to £3 7s. 6d., and 35 per cent, ditto at
£1 10s. to £4 12s. 6d. per ton, in bulk, nett cash, and free to
rail or vessel, at the depot, which is within 0 miles of Liver,
pool. We will deliver in February or March next, at the
buyer's option. No order to be for less than five tons, and the
price of that quantity will be £3 7s. 6d. and £t 12s. 6d. per
ton, respectively. To be tested by Professor Voelcker. This
offer is open until the 31st inst. If required in bags a small
extra charge is made. We have reason to know that our
weekly reports are extensively read by landowners and farmers,
and also dealers, and the latter seem to appreciate them
(judging by the extent of their orders) more than either of the
other two classes. The necessity of a weekly report is
evident when a correspondent of this Journal — whether agent,
manufacturer, or bailiff we care not — inferentially admits that
he is charging, or connives at the charge to his buyer, or
employer, of 30s. per ton more than the market price 1 What
extortinate profits are obtained from needy or uninformed
agriculturists is the obvious moral of this narrative, and we
repeat what we have before stated, that it is more advan-
tageous to certain buyers to purchase through brokers.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FOREIGN RAGS.

COTTON RAGS.— The past year has been marked by c0n
tinued depression ; scarcely one ray of light has appeared to
brighten the gloomy prospect, nor can we see anything in the
immediate future to encourage a hope of improvement. The
over-production of paper has flooded the markets, and caused
a keen competition among paper-makers, with a consequent
reduction in value of paper, which, combined with an abundant
supply of Esparto and other paper-making fibres, has naturally
affected the prices of rags, and inevitably led to a decline in
values. Accordingly, importers who have refused market
rates on arrival have generally had to accept lower prices after
incurring storage expenses. The depreciation is most marked
in 1st whites, prices of which have given way 20 per cent. ;
2nd and 3rd whites, 10 to 15 per cent. ; blues and colours,
10 per cent. Prices for medium and lower grades are now on
a par with the lowest touched during the past fifteen years,
while 1st whites are considerably lower than they have been
for the last twenty years. Shippers who have acted upon our
advices, given from time to time during the year, have no
cause to regret doing so, as we have almost invariably recom-
mended tliem to buy with caution, and with due regard to the
strong tendency towards lower prices.

JUTE CUTTINGS, BAGGING, AND ROPES.— In our
last Annual Report we quoted a strong demand witli favour
able prospects for some months. After spring the American
markets became less animated, the demand fell off, and prices
have gradually declined ever since. We now quote jute cut.
tings at 98. 6d., which, compared with the top price this year
(14s. 6d.), shows a fall of 30 to 40 per cent. Similar remarkg
apply to bagging and ropes, but the decline has not been so
large, and prices generally are coming to a point at which the>e
grades can be dealt in without much fear of loss.

WOOLLENS — The chief supply has been from Turkey, a
large portion being army clippings. When the war com*
menced one or two buyers thought new blue coarse clippings
would be in demand for army clothing, and prices were run up
to 25s. per cwt. in anticipation, which proved to be a mistake
as they have since come down ; last sales were at 17s., but
future imports arc likely to be worse in quality, and we fear

■•Ji

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

this price will not be maintained. Other sorts, such as 1st
white stockings, merinos, and fine new cloth clippings, have
declined considerably, while coloured softs have nearly main-
tained their price. On the whole, we should think shipper8
have not much cause to complain, most of the imports having
been sold ex-quay on arrival, thus saving storage expenses.
Prices may now be considered safe for one or two months, but
we look for lower values as summer approaches.
We quote present values of cotton rags as under :

Egyptian.

d. s. d.

1st whites..
2nd whites.
Ord. whites! 8 9 to 9 3

Blues 8 6 90

Colours ...17 0 7

Smyrna.

s. d. s. d.
15 0tol7 0
12 0 14 0
90 100
8 6 9 0
7 6 8 0

Constanti-
nople.

s. d. s. d.
14 0tol4 6
11 6 12 0
8 0 8 6
8 6 9 0
7 6 8 0

Beyrout.

s. d. s. d.
14 0tol4 6
11 6 12 0
9 0 9 6
8 9 10 0
7 6 8 0

s. d.

s. d.

Sicilian white linens 12 0 to 16 0

„ „ cotton 10 0 14 0

„ coloured „ 7 0 8 0

Venetian white cotton 10 6 14 0

coloured 7 0 8 0

Spanish, 1st white cottons ... 15 0 17 0

2nd do. do. ... 10 6 12 0'

Colours do. ... 7 0 8 0

Bombay gunnies 6 0 8 0

„ Hemp bagging 12 0 12 6

„ White cottons 7 0 8 6

„ Colours do 3 6 4 6

J. Jowett & Co., Rag Brokers.

35, 3loorjhids, Lktrpool, January \sl, 18~8,

THE LINSEED AND OIL TRADES.

We have again the pleasure to send you our Annual
Circular, its retrospect differing from that of most other trades,
as a fairly remunerative return has resulted to crushers from
the articles in which we are interested, whereas business
generally has been exceedingly dull. Supplies of Linseed have
been short, owing to the blockade of the Black Sea and Azov
ports, although ample to the present time. Smaller stocks,
however, are held than is usual at this period, and uuless ship-
ments from India are larger tiian we are led to expect, wo may
run short ere the season is finished. Small shipments of
Azov seed were made previously to the blockade, also a mode-
rate quantity via Northern Russian ports, the latter chiefly
direct to Continent.

LINSEED early in January showed more firmness, arrived
Calcutta making 52s. 6d., but later, with a very slow cake
demand, it declined to 51s. ; distant shipments also dropped
from 54s. 6d. to 53s. Five Azov cargoes arrived off the coast
during the month, and sold at 54s., 53s. 61., 53s. 3d., and
52s. 6d. respectively. 51s. was the value of arrived Calcutta
at the commencement of February ; with free supplies it soon
receded to 50s., but at the close of the month a recovery to
SOs. 6d. was established. March to May shipments made
51s. 6d. to 52s. 3d., and some 15,000 bags Bombay February-
April, steamer shipments, sold at 543. ; during the month an
arrived Turkish cargo realised 51s., and a floating Kertch
cargo 51s. 6d. We had a dull trade nearly all March. Cal-
cutta on the spot declined to 48s. and 48s. 6d. ; March.May
shipments to 48s , but towards its close there was considerable
activity, and some improvement in value. Bombay cargoes
made 40s, 6d. c.i.f. to Continent. In April a large amount of

business was transacted, the serious aspect' of affurs in thtr
East causing considerable speculation, and from 48s. 9d, on the'
spot Calcutta advanced fully 10*. per qr., at the end of April
58s. 6d. and 55s. being paid ex warehouse, and a like advance
for seed to be shipp d. A spring Azov cargo sold at 50s.
c.i.f. to Continent, and for seed afloat £3s. 6d. c.i.f., afterwards
56s. c.i.f. up to 5Bs. c.i.f. was paid. For some time in May,
with few arrivals, ready Calcutta was maintained at 59s. 6d.
and 59s., but it declined to 55s., by the close of the month, and
forward seed dropped from 59s. to 52s. 3d., and afterward
recovered to 53s. Azov cargoes made 58s. U.K. and 57s. c.i.f
Continent direct. In June, with little or no Cake demand,
the value of Calcutta dropped to 52s. for spot parcels, and
fluctuated between 54s. and 52s. for shipments; some Az iv
seed, shipped via St. Petersburg, made 52s. 6d. c.i.f., and a
coast cargo 52s. c.i.f., both for the Continent, also steamer
lots at 53s. 9d. and 53s. 6d. U.K.

The market opened with a dull tendency in July, spot Cil-
cutta offering at 53s. to 52s. 6d., but improvement in 0.1 and
scarcity of arrivals caused a run upon warehoused parcels, and
prices went up to 54s. 6d. by the end of July ; forward busi-
ness was done at 52s. up to 5 ts. during the month. An Azov
cargo afloat sold at 53s. CJ.K. Oiie floating to Amsterdam
at 51s. c.i.f., and two arrived cargoes, made 53s. CJ.K.

For a short time in August 54s. remained the spot value of
Calcutta, but becoming scarce it improved to 56s. ; afterwards,
with free supplies, the advance was lost, and at the close of tha;
month the value had again become 54j. Foi ward sales were
male at 53s. 6d., advancing to 55s., but by the close of August
51s. had been accepted. Some Azov seed off the coast made
55s. 9d., and autumn shipments, via the Baltic, sold at 56s.
c.i.f. to Continent. 54s. was obtained, and shipments for
Hull direct 56s. to 56s. 6d. Azov, for shipment via Riga, made
54s. c.i.f. Continent.

In October 55s. 6d. to 55s. were the opening prices of Cd-
cutta, but, with free supplies, temporarily declined to 54s. ;
afterwards 55s. to 55s. 6d. was again paid ; by the end of
October the value receded to 54s. 6d. Several forward sales
of Bombay seed were made this month at 56s. 6d. c.i.f. Con-
tinent for seed-loading, and 56s. 6d. to 56s. 91. were the prices
of March-April, steamer shipments, delivered U.K., as well as
November-December shipments at 58s. delivered U.K. Azov-
cargoes, shipment at Riga, made 57s. to 57s. 6d., and parcels
floating to Hull 56s. 3d. to 56s. In November, with some
arrivals, the value of Calcutta dropped to 54s. ex steamer, ard
at about this price it remained steady through the rest of the
month. Forward seed generally dull, with a lot of steamer
seed offering; business done at 54s. 6d. to 54s. Cargoes of
Azov seed via Riga sold at 57s. 6d., also 55s. 61. c.i.f. Conti-
nent, and a parcel to Hull at 56s. Free arrivals of Calcutta in
December soon reduced the value to 51s. 6d. and 51s. 3J„
Forward seed was quite neglected except during a short inter-
val of political excitement, when some sales were made of
steamer shipments at 51s. 91. to 52s. 6d., and by sailers at
52s. 6d. to 53s.

Stocks in mills are small. The stock of seed in warehouse
here, and afloat in the docks, amounts to 80,000 qrs.,at Liver
pool 7,500 qrs., and at Hull there is about 120,000 qrs. iu
importers' and crushers' hands.

Afloat there is about 400,000 qrs., consisting of almost
entirely East India seed.

London has imported 793,000 qrs., consisting of 777,000
qrs- East India, Baltic 9,000 qrs., Black Sea and Azov 3,400
qrs., Archangel 1,600 qrs., and sundries .0,000 qrs.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

125

The aggregate import into the Tinted Kingdom is made up
of 1,1-25,000 qrs. East Indies, 26,600 qrs. Black Sea and Azov>
325,000 qrs. Petersburg 40,000 qrs. Archangel, 76,000 qrs-
Riga (including 10,000 qrs. sowing seed), 100,000 qrs. llevej
Merael, Konigsberg, &c., and remaiuder sundries.

Tiie Black Si;a and Azov cargoes, coming to direct U.K.
ports, and calling on the coast for orders, consisted of about
64,150 qrs., which were discharged as follows, viz. : — Hull
8,900 qrs., London 3,400 qrs., Dover 2,950 qrs., Bristol
2,700 qrs., Bridgwater 2,500 qrs., Stockton 2,350 qrs.,
Aberdeen 2,000 qrs., Sharpness 1,600 qrs., and Leith 200 qrs. ;
21,450 qrs. went to France, 10,500 qrs. to Belgium, and
5,600 qrs. to Holland.

LINSEED OIL was in fair request, at 26s. 9d. to 27s. at
commencement of January, continuing steady thereat for a
week or two, but was quoted 26s. 6d. to 26s. 3d. at the close o'
this month, with almost a cessation of export iuquiry,
although the make was small — prices dropped to 2£s. by the
end of February. 25s. to 24s. 3d. were the values in March,
with a recovery to 24s. 6d. at its close. With the war excite-
ment in April it advanced rapidly, aud improved to 31s.; this
having subsided, part of this rise was lost in May, and before
the month was out 27s. 9d. to 27s. 6d. had been accepted. It
fell to 26s. 9d. in June, but rallied to 273. 6d. after; and
d.iriug July, with a. very small make, a rise to 29s. and
2'Js. 3d took place. An advance to 30s. and 30s. 3d. occurred
in August, at about which it remained steady until the end of
the month. Early in September, with continued scarcity,
price improved to 30s. Gd., and a further 18s. per ton by the
second week, at which it continued steady until its close.
31s. was paid in October, with a fall to 30s. during that mouth,
aud before its close 31s. was again made. With a larger sup-
ply the value gave way in November to 29s. 3d., with a slight
ra ly of 10s. to 15s. for a short time, and closing at 29s. 3d.
A decline to 27s. 9d. occurred in December.

LINSEED CAKES.— English made were in limited de-
mand in January, the consumption being far below that
usually looked for at this time, £11 being the nearest value of
the best ruikcs. There was no alteration in prices in Feb-
ruary, the consumption showing little or no improvement.
This state of things continued throughout March, with some
consumptive demand. 5s. advance was obtained in April, and
£11 5s. to £11 paid in May, and a slow sale in June and
July reduced quotations to £11 to £10 15s. There was a
very small demand ia August and September, as usual during
harvest operations, and rates were without cha nge, and re-
mained curreat uatil the end of the year, with a little better
demand in the last two months.

Of foreign the import into the United Kingdom in
1877 amounts to 155,000 tons of all descriptions. The
consumption in January was comparatively small, prime
brands of American selling slowly at £10 10s. to £11 5s., a
relapse to £10 to £10 15s. took place in February ; £9 10s.
to £10 10s. were the rates in Marcli and April, and about these
rales were current in May, June, and July, with very small
consumption ; during August there was no change ; 5s. more
was obtainable in September, and £10 to £10 15s. have been
current since, the trade altogether having been of a quiet
character.

RAPESEED.— TheM irket was very strong at the beginning
of the year, but later there was a falling off in demand, and
brown C Jjutta on the spot from 60s. declined to 58s. by close
of January, with little inquiry; a fall of 2s. occurred in Febru-

ary, and it was dull during March at 55s. to 54s. ; the state of
political matters in the Eist iu April caused a recovery to 66s.
again, but this subsided, and a fall to 53s. occurred by the
middle of June ; after this, with news of a very deficient Con-
tinental crop, an active export inquiry set in, prices advanced
to 60s. by the end of July, with a very firm market, a further
improvement cf 2s. to 2s. Cd. occurred in August, 62s. to 61s.
were the values in September and October with a slow sale,
and during November it fell to 58s., and this price has been
about its value since.

RAPE OIL fluctuated in January a good deal, the value of
English rown Oi) being 38s. 9d. to 39s. at the commencement,
advancing to 40s. quickly, but at the end of the month it was
quoted at 38s. 6d. This was paid early in February, but not
maintained long, and 37a. 6d. accepted at its close. Early in
March several " bear" operations reduced the value to 35s,,
after declining to 3ts. 6d. ; an improvement occurred in April
to 36s. 6d., but this advance was lost in May, when it fell to
3te. 6J. again. Iu June there was a further drop to 3As., but
it improved to 34s. 9d. at the close of this month, and iu July,
with the stroug demand for Rajjeseed, an advance in its price,
Rape Oil followed suit, aud 37s. was ptid at the end of July,
and by the close of August an advance to 39s. was established.
39s. to 38s. 6d. were the values in September, and during
October it declined to 37s., and, with little variation, this was
the price in November ; a slight advance occurred, in December,
and to-day 37s. 6d. is the nearest quotation-

RAPE CAKES from Etst Indian Seed were quoted £4 15s.
to £6 all January, with a moderate sale only. £5 12s. 6d. to
£5 15s. was paid iu February, £5 10s. to £5 5s. were the
values in March and April. £5 10s. to £5 15s. in May, an^
5s. advance in June and July. £3 2s. 6d. to £6 5s. were
given ia August with a better demand, and the same prices in
September. £6 to £5 17s. 6d. were quoted in October, and
£5 15s. to £6 in November— during December the demand
remained steady at £6.

COTTON SEED.— The import of this article in 1S77 into
the United Kingdom amounted to 265,000 tons. Considerable
business was transacted in January : spot seed made £8 5s.
and advanced to £8 12s. 6d. Free arrivals towards the end
of the mouth dropped the value to £8 2s. 6d. ; however at its
close, 2?. 6d. more was obtained. £8 7s. 6d. to £8 12 s. 6d
were paid for shipments, £9 5s. to £8 2s. 6d. were the spot
values in February, with sales of March shipments at £8 7s-
6d. to £8 8s. 9d. Severa 1 'coaet cargoes were placed at £8
7s. 6d. to £8 6s. 3d. and £8 5s. Tiie market was quiet during
March, £8 5s. and £8 3s. 9d. paid for coast cargoes, and £8
to £8 2s. 6d. accepted at Hull. An improved demand waa
manifest in April, coast seed directly advanced to £8 10s.
and the war excitement speedily enhanced value to £9 15s. on
the coast, while £10 was obtained at the end of the month for
warehoused parcels — the latter price was given early in May
both for warehouse seed at Hull and for Strait shipment to
this port, and for 3 coast cargoes £10 Is. 3d. was giveu but
before the end of the month £9 10s. had been accepted for
spot parcels. In June prices became easier ; coast seed sold
at £9 2s. 0d., also new crop November shipment to outports
made £8 5s., later shipments £8 2s. 6d. During July seed
was very quiet at £9 to £9 5s., both on spot aud for coast
cargoes, but a good deal of business was transacted iu the new
crop, say £9 to £9 2s. 6d., October shipments, and at £3 5g
to £3 8s. 3d, November dispatch. Sjrae c art arrivals in
August sold at £9 Ss. 9d. to £9 10s., and lar^e sales of new

126

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

seed were made, say for November to January shipments, at
£8 2s. 6d. to £3 3s. 9d , and £3 5 3. ; also October shipments
at £8 12s. 6d. to £8 15s. The spot quotation in September
was £9 5s. to £9 2s. 6d., with sales of October shipments at
£3 15s., at £3 lis. 3d., and November -January at £3 3s. 9d.
to £8 6s. 3d., also September dispatch at £9 to £9 5s.
A good inquiry continued through Ojtober — *pot at £9 2s.
6d. to £9 Is. 3d., and new seed early October dispatch, at £9
2s. 6d. to £9, all the month £8 17s. 6d. to £8 15s., November
£8 10s., and December cargoes made £8 7s. 6d. In the first
week of November, with free supplies, prices became somewhat
easier, £8 7s. 6d. accepted on spot, but an inquiry to cover
oversold contracts soon checked the fall, and repurchases were
made at £8 10s. to £8 15s. for forward shipments. A firmer
tone showed itself in December, spot seed made £8 12s. 6d. to
£3 17s. 6d. at Hull, and here £8 15s. to £3 lis. 3d., and
early cargoes at £8 17s. 6d. to £8 18s. 9d., later on in the
month £8 16s. 3d. accepted for cargoes December shipment,
£8 15s. to £8 17s. 6d., the closing spot values both here and
at Hull.

COTTON OIL advanced from 27s. 9d. at the opening of
January to 28s. 9d. by the middle of the month. The mike
being large and sales pressing, the improvement was soon lost,
and by the close of January it had declined to 27s. Gd., and by
the end of February 26s. was accepted. In March 25s. to 6d.

25s. 3d. ; there was considerable improvement in April, when
it run up to £29. A fall of 20s. per ton occurred in May, and
28s. to 27s. 6d. were the values in June, and, with good export
demand, 29s. 6d. was established at the end of July, and 30s.
was obtained in August ; with a very good demand it advanced
to 31s. in September; but, with a slow sale, a fall to 29s.
occurred in October, and this was about the value in November;
with a moderate sale in December at 28s. 9d. down to 28s.

COTTON CAKES were in considerable demand all Janu-
ary, and of ready sale at £6 per ton ; this was about the value
in February. A slow sale in March reduced the price to £5
15s. In April an improvement of £1 per ton occurred, and
£7 was the nominal value during May. During June £6
15s. to £6 5s. were the quotations, and throughout July £6 5s-
to £6 10s. A decline of 5s. to 7s. 6d. per ton occurred in
August, and £6 to £6 5s. were the values during September
aid October. A good sale was experienced in November at
£6 2s. 6d. to £6 7s. 6d., as also in December. The ton-
sumption is the largest ever known, for, with an impoit of
265,000 tons of seed in the United Kigndom in 1877, ag; insfc
230,000 tons in 1876, there are no stocks held worth noticing,
showing how large a quantity has been used. — Asuto *
Edridge & Co., Old Broad Street, London, [Jan. 1st
1878.

FREE TRADE IN LAND.

Mr. Joseph. ^Kay has published the following letter in
The Manchester 'Examiner. Others will follow : —

With your permission I wish to explain, as simply, clearly,
and shortly as I can, the facts of a great subject, which will
henceforward until its settlement more and more draw to
itself the attention of the public — I mean the subject of the
Land Laws.

It is surrounded by so many technicalities, and by so many
statutes and decisions of the courts — the law is so diflicul t
even for lawyers to understand; such a vast literature of
rubbish has grown up around it ; so many thousands of cases
have been argued and reported upon its meaning ; and lawyers
are so unwilling to put their own hands to the work of re-
form— that it is not wonderful that the most singular mistakes
should be made by many public speakers in dealing with this
question, and that the real reforms, which are needed, should
till be wrapped in so much obscurity. And yet I believ e
that this subject is capable of a simple and intelligible state-
ment, and that the facts in which the unprofessional public
are interested are few and easy of comprehension. I am,
however, almost astonished at myself for venturing on the
above statement when I reflect that I have known the deed
of settlement of one estate to require many months for its
preparation ; to cover nearly a barrow load of paper when
written out preparatory to being engrossed on parchment ;
and to cost over £i00 for the oonveyancer's oharges alone,
without reckoning either the solicitor's charges or the cost of
the necessary stamps. And yet with all this cumbrous, oostly ,
and scarcely intelligible verbosity, the title of such an estate
is scarcely ever free from some doubt or question. I propose
to try to explain :—

1. The actual co ndition of things which the present Land
Laws have produced.

2. What the actual existing laws are under which this con
dition has been produced.

3. The different state of things which exists in foreign
countries.

4. What remedies we ought to seek.

Tub Actual Condition of Things -which the Pre-
sent Land Laws have Produced. — To ascertain this we
must consult some extraordinary and interesting returns, which
have been recently prepared — I mean, of course, the so-called
" Doorslay Books." These returns were mived for in the
House of Lords, on the 19th Feb., 1872, by the present Earl
of Derby — himself one of the largest of the English land-
owners— who in moving for the returns showed clearly what
his motive for wishing for them was, by stating his belief that
the number of landowners in the United Kingdom was nearer
300,000 than 30,000, as has been constantly stated ; that it
was a popular falhcy to suppose that small estates were
gradually being absorbed in the iarger ones ; but that " it
was true that the class of peasant proprietors formerly to be
found in the rural districts was tending to disappear." It was
therefore with the expectation, if not with the object, of
making out these propositions that the return was demanded
of and granted by the assembly of the greatest landowners of
the United Kingdom. So far as giving us an approximate
idea of the size and number of the great estates, these
returns are as interesting as they are astounding ; and as-#
founding they most certainly are, for they disclose a state of
things existing in Great Britain and Ireland which has no
parallel in any other civilised country in the world. But
even in professing to state the size and number of the great
e states, they do not tell us the whole of the story, for they do
not include in the alleged sizes of these estates the acreage of
any woods or plantations, or of any waste or common lands,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

127

all the yast extent of which property is not added to the
estates of their owners. "Domesday Books," therefore,
only give the sizes ol the estates after deducting the immense
area covered with woods, plantations, waste, and common
I lands.

So far as showing the number of the owners of small agri-
cultural estates, or as they used to be called " yeoman pro-
prietors' estates," the " Domesday Books " are utterly worth-
less, if not utterly misleading, for notonly do they mix up in
the number of "oicners of one acre and upwards " all the large
number of small building plots purchased by members of the
middle and shopkeeping classes, on which to erect houses or
villas, a great proportion of which are leaseholds for 99 years,
but they also mix up in the same number and reckon as owners
of land all holders of land on leases for terms exceeding 99
years. That is, in order to swell the number of sms.ll owners,
they have reckoned leaseholders as owners ! It is difficult to
conceive a more misleading statement. I will try to explain
why I say so. First of all, it should be remembered 'that
at the end of these terms of 9G or more years, the lands held
by these leaseholders return to the great landowners, together
-with all that has been expended npon them, and together with
all the improvements in value which has resulted from this
expenditure. A leaseholder has never the same feeling to-
wards, nor the same full interest in, the land he so holds as he
would have if he knew that it was his own property. But
more than this, the land held for these terms of 99 years or
more is almost always subject to various kinds of covenants
and conditions — such as to expend upon it a certain sum
of money for buildings or other kinds of improvement ; or
to expend at certain periodical times on restorations ; or to
insure ; or to cultivate in a particular kind of way ; or not to
use the lands for certain named and specified purposes; or
not to shoot the game ; or to allow the landlord to enter to
inspect, or to shoot the game, or for other purposes ; or not
to cut any timber, or not to remove fences, or to keep up
erections on the land ; or to observe some other agreed duties.
Many of these leases contain agreements that the landowners
shall have the power to enter and take possession if any of
thesecovenants is broken.

Such a holding as this is less like real ownership than a
horse hired by anyone is like a horse which belongs to him,
for, at any rate, when anyone hire" a horse he ii not bound
down by covenants as a leaseholder is. I say, therefore, that
it was ridiculous and misleading in the extreme to include
these leaseholds for 99 years and upwards among the free-
holds, or, in other words, among the small estates belonging
cut and out to the oecupiers themselves. If we could possibly
ascertain the number of yeoman proprietors actually owning
out and out small farms, we should find that number a very
small and, as Lord Derby admits, a constantly decreasing one.
Even the House of Lords did not venture to propose that these
99 years' leaseholds should be reckoned as freeholds. The
nearest approach to such a proposition was made by the
Marquis of Salisbury, who " urged that the 999 years' lease-
holds ought to be included in the returns." But when we
come to consider the number and site of the great estates, we
find the returns of extraordinary interest. Although the full
size of these great estates are not shown, on account of the
omission of woods, waste lands, and commons, the returns are
indeed so startling that one is lost in astonishment that Lord
Derby should have deemed it for the interest of his brother-
landowners to disclose the truth.

I shall only attempt to state some of the more remarkable
results, merely observing that etch one is worthy of serious
reflection, and that its full significance can only be grasped by
trying to form some approximate idea of the meaning of these
figures. The total ami of England and Wales is, after deduct-
ing the quantity within the metropolitan area, 37,243,859
acres. How is this vast extent divided among the inhabitants P
66 persons own 1,917,076 acres. 100 persons own 3,917,641.
Less than 280 persons own 5,425,764, or nearly one-sixth of
the enclosed land of England and Wales. 523 persons own
one-fifth of England and Wales. 710 persons own more than
one-fourth of England and Wales. 874 persons own 9,267,031
aores. Just think how small a number 874 persons are in a
church or town hall, and then try to realise what the figures
9,267,031 signify. And it is to be remembered that in none
of these calculations are the extents of woods, commons, and
waste lands included. But to continue, in the county of
Northumberland, which contains 1,220,000 acres, 26 persons
own one-half the county. One Englishman owns more than
186,397 acres, another more than 132,996 acres, and another
more than 102,785 acres. A body of men, which does not
probably exceed 4,500, own more than 17,498,200 acres, or
more than one-half of all England and Wales.

In Scotland the returns are still more startling. The total
acreage of Scotland is 18,946,694 acres. One owner alone
has 1,326,000 acres in Scotland, and also 32,095 in England,
or a total of 1,358,548 acres. A second owner has 431,000
acres, a third owner has 424,000, a fourth owner has 373,000,
a fifth owner has 306,000. Twelve owners have 4,339,722
acres, or nearly one quarter of the whole of Scotland ; or, in
other words, a tract of country larger than the whole of
Wales, and equal in size to eight English cou nties, viz., Bed-
fordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Che-
shire, Cornwall, Cumberland, and Derbyshire. 20 owners
have each more than 120,000 acres. 24 owners have 4,931,884
or more than one quarter of Scotland. 70 owners have about
9,400,000 acres, or about one-half of Scotland. 171 owner,
have 11,029,228 acres. While nine-tenths of the whole of
Scotland, that is, of the whole of 18,946,694 acres, belong to
fewer than 1,700 persons. The existence of these great pro-
perties in Scotland has led to the depopulating of great tracts
of country in order to create great deer forests. There is no
return of their acreage, but the Hou. Lyulph Stanley calcu-
lates that mnch more than 2,000,000 acres have been cleared
of hundreds of thousands of sheep, and depopulated, in order
to make room for deer ; or, in other words, the homes and
farms and food of thousands of families have been destroyed
in order to feed the deer and encourage sport, and this in a
country which is alleged to be so crowded as to make it absurd
to suppose that any alteration in the Land Laws would enable
the middle or labouring classes to acquire land.

But let U3 turn to Ireland. Here, also, the fraraers of the
returns have reckoned leaseholds for more than 99 years as
freeholds. And here, also, it is impossible to ascertain from
the returns the number of yeomen proprietors who exist in the
island. No doubt the number, spite of the sales of lands un-
der the Encumbered Estates Act, the Land Act, the Bright
clauses, and the Disestablishment Act is very small. But what-
ever the number, the returns do not enable us to ascertain it
for the reasons already given. Now certainly one would have
said, a priori, that if there was any country in the world in
which it was desirable to have a large und widely distributed
body of yeomen proprietors, that country was Ireland. Such

123

:HE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

proprietors, wherever they exist, are always found to be con-
servative in the best sense of the word, deeply interested in
public peace and order, self-denying and saving, prosperous)
and anxious to promote the good education of their children.
In all couutries where the Land Laws have allowed or pro-
moted the existence of such proprietors these results have
invariably followed. Similar laws would be followed, as I
believe, by similar results in Ireland. But notouly are there very
few such proprietors in Ireland, but the system of great estates
adds in Ireland, to its other evils, one which is not experienced
to any great extent in England or Scotland — namely, the evil
of absenteeism. A large proportion of the great landowners of
Ireland reside in distant countries, carry away the revenues of
their Irish lands into those countries, and instead of spending
those revenues among their Irish tenants and neighbours, in
the promotion of Irish industries and in the improvement of
their Irish tenants, they spend them among other people, while
their Irish tenants are left, without the support or countenance
of their landlords, to the tender mercies of agents, who are
often strangers to Ireland. But let us see what light these
returns throw upon the division of land in Ireland. Tlie total
area of Ireland is 20,159,678 acres. Of this — 452 persons own
each more than 5,000 acres. 135 persons own each more than
10,000 acres. 90 persons own each more than 20,000 acres.
14 persons own each more than 50,000 acres. 3 persons own each
more than 100,000 acres. 1 person owns 170,119 acres. 292
persons hold 6,458,100 acres, or about one-third of the island.
744 persons hold 9,612,728 acres, or about one-half of the
island. Taking the acreage of the 12 largest owners in each
of the three kingdoms, we have the following result : In
England the 12 largest owners hold in the aggregate 1,058.883
acres ; and their respective acreages are 186,397, 132,996,
102,785, 91,024, 87,515, 78,542, 70,022, 68,066, 66,105,
61,018, 57,802, and 56,600. In Scotland the 12 largest
owners hold in the aggregate 4,339,722 acres ; and their re-
spective acreages are 1,358,548, 431,000, 424,000, 373,000,
306,000, 302,283, 253,221, 220,663, 194,040, 175,114, 166,151,
and 165,648. In Ireland the 12 largest owners hold in the
aggregate 1,297,888 acres, and their respective acreages are
170,119, 156,974, 121,353, 118,607, 114,881, 101,030, 95,008,
94,551,93,629,86,321, 72,915, and 69,501. In the United
Kingdom the 12 largest owners hold in the aggregate no less
than 4,440,467 acres, as the able summary published in The
Times states. Two-thirds of the whole of England and Wales
are held by only 10,207 persons. Two-thirds ot the whole of
Scotland are held by only 330 persons. Two-thirds of the whole
of Ireland are held by 1,942 persons Of the remaining one.
third a great part will, at the termination of the leaseholds for
the present remainders of the original term for 99 years and
upwards, revert to these great owners, with all the improve-
ments made upon them by the expenditure of the leaseholders _

Mr. Froude, the enthusiastic advocate for the present system
of Land Laws, says frankly, " The House of Lords does own
more than a third of the whole area of Great Britain. Two-
thirds of it really belong to great peers and commoners, whose
estates are continually devouring the small estates adjoining
them. This statement by the landowners' one-sided and eager
partisan that the great estates, vast as they already are, are
" continually devouring" the few remaining small agricultural
properties is borne out by the admission of one great land-
owner, Lord Derby, that the class of peasant proprietors for-
merly to be found in the rural districts was tending to disap-

pear." The statements are only too sadly true. There is no
doubt that England once possessed a large class of independent,
well-to-do, self-supporting yeoman proprietors. Old writers
treat it as one ef the boasts of old England that she had so
many small freehold yeomen. Where are they now ? By our
system of Land Laws we have been cutting away the base of
our social pyramid, while nearly all other civilised countries
have been pursuing an exactly opposite policy.

Since the French Revolution of 1789 the greater part of
the land throughout the republics of Switzerland and France,
the empires of Germany and Austria, and the kingdoms of
Holland, Belgium, and Italy, has been released from its feudal
fetters, and has iu every such case begun immediately to
break up into smaller estates. In all those countries the con-
sequence has been, what it would be in Great Britain and
Ireland, the division of the land into estates of all sizes and
the creation of a class of conservative, industrious, prosperous,
and independent yeomaa proprietors.

Lord Derby shows us by his returns what the condition of
the large estates is in Great Britain and Ireland, although he
avoids showing what the effects of all this has been upon our
small farmers and upon our agricultural labourers.

It would be a most interesting subjpet of enquiry, had we only
the means of following it out, to ascertain how each of the
great estates came to be formed — how many were created by
the industry and personal efforts of some ancestor; how many
were the grants of sovereigns to their favourites ; how many
were gradually amassed by successive marriages of conveni-
ence ; how many were obtained by ambitious statesmen in the
troublous times of our rough island story by the attainder
and death of rivals ; how many were either created or im
mensely increased by grants of the vast possessions of the
re'igious houses and of the Roman Church ; how many were
the results of our fierce and bloody civil wars and struggles.
It would indeed be a curious and instructive study. But they
exist, and no one wishes to interefere with the just rights of
property. The only question we all desire to have answered
is, Is it for the common weal that the laws which affect land,
and which, as I and many others affirm, have the same effect
here that similar laws used to have on the Continent of
Europe — viz., to keep the land tied up in great estates, and
to prevent it coming into the market as much as it otherwise
would do — should be retained upon the statute book of Great
Britain and Ireland ?

Before leaving this division of our subject, let us for a
moment consider what effect these laws have on the class of
the peasantry in Great Britain. In the countries" in which
these laws have been repealed, the peasants and small lease-
hold farmers know that if they exercise sufficient self-denial
and thrift, and if they are successful in laying by their sav-
ings, they may look forward to the time when they may pur-
chase a cottage, a garden, or a small farm of their own. This
knowledge is an immense incentive to exertion, self-denial,
and economy. Throughout the greater part of Europe, and
in the most thickly-populated provinces of those countries, in
provinces where land sells for agricultural purposes at prices
equal, and even higher, than in England, tens of thousands,
nay millions, of the peasants and small farmers have worked
their way upwards to the position of independent yeoman pro-
prietors. How strangely different is the case in Great Britain !
How many peasants can call their cottages or their gardens
their own freeholds ? How many have the slightest security

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1-29

of tenure, even of the smallest cottage, except the will of their
landlords? Nay, more, how many small farmers, no matter
what their iniustry, their thrift, or their self-denial, can ever
hope to win the smallest freehold of their own ? One of the
most interesting'bodies of men in our isiand med to be the
small "statesmen," or freehold farmers, of Cumberland and
Westmoreland, a set of independent yeomaury of which any
country might Jiave been proud. Withiu the last 50 years
they have been disappearing before the " devouring maw " of
the great owners, who bay regardless of rent or profit, and
often merely for the purpose of swelling their already vast
possessions.

But, it is said, this will always be the case— the great
estates will always devour the small ; a small farmer or a pea-
sant will never he able to compete with a rich owner in the
auction room ; the small freeholder will never sell unless it is
better for him to do so ; no laws will stop this tendency of
things in Great Britain. I believe this to be the greatest pos-
sible fallacy. It is contradicted by the experience of all other
countries. The existence and small number of these vast
estates create au unnatural and unwise competition amongst
them, each to emulate his neighbour to increase his posses-
sions. Each great owner knows that political influence,
social influence, position among other great neighbours, de-
pend to a great degree in this country on the extent of landed
possessions. When, therefore, a small freehold adjoining one
of these vast estates comes into the market, owing to death,
or embarrassment, or other cause, it constantly happsns that
the agent of the great landowners comes into the auction
room and buys up the small freehold, wholly regardless of the
question whether the sam paid can ever return any reasonable
amount of interest or not. So the poorer bidder, inasmuch as he
must consider what return he could hope to make on his outlay,
finds himself nowhere in the struggle. I could mention the
names of great proprietors who have for long years acted on
this principle simply with the view of enlarging their estates.
"In some c junties," as Mr. Lefevre states, "all the land
which comes into the market is bought up by the trustees of
wills directing the accumulation of land; while iu most parts
of the country, if a small freehold of a few acres comes into
the market, it is almost certain to be bought up by an ad-
joiuiug owner, either for the purpose of rounding off a corner

of his estate, or for extending political influence, or still more
often by the advice of the family solicitor, who is always in
favour of increasing the family estates. On most large estates
there will be found the remans of several manor houses,
either converted into farmhouses or labourers' cottages, show-
ing that in former times the number of resident squires must
have been far more numerous.

If our laws did not keep the great estates out of the
market, wheu many circumstances would otherwise often
bring them into it ; if the laws did not assist the landowners
to preserve their estates from the natural consequence of
spendthrift and specu'ative successors, of bad or iguorant
management, and of immoral, gambling, or improvident
children ; if the laws did not keep the great estates together,
spile of all changes of circum fauces which occur to make it
expedient in an owner to sell ; if the laws of primogeniture
wills, and settlements were altered ; and if the dead man's
arrangements were not allowed to bind the land long after
his death — many of these estates would come into the market,
and would, iu order to fetch the best prices, divide and sell in
smaller plots, just as they have done to some extent in Ireland
under the Encumbered Estates and L\nd Acts, spite of primo-
geniture and settlements ; and just as they have always done
in foreign countries to an immense extent, where primogeni-
ture and settlements have either been done away with or
greatly modified. Besides, the very knowledge that a great
proprietor could not tie up his estate and secure it from sale
for many future years would of itself diminish this exag-
gerated longing to acquire land for the purpose of founding a
family and acquiring social and political influence. Even the
richer and greater owners would consider whether the price
asked would be a good investment or not. But if all this is
not true — if no alteration of these laws would prevent the
accumulation in a few hands, and the long continuance of the
same estate in the same family, then of what possible use can
these Land Laws he ?

By these Land Laws, as it seems to me, we not only injure
our small farmer and peasant classes, and reduce them below
the level of such classes iu the countries where these laws have
been repealed, but wo also at the same time deprive the
country of the immensely valuable element of a contented,
prosperous, intelligent, and conservative rural population. «

DAIRY FARMING IN SCOTLAND.

At a meeting of the Western District of Mid-Lothian
Agricultural Association a paper was read by Mr. Hamilton,
of Cairns, on " Dairy Farming."

Mr. Hamilton said: — In drawing your attention to this
subject I am aware it is one that is losing favour in this dis-
trict, and would by no means recommend it on all soils or
situations within the bounds of this Association ; but there are
others iu the district where, distant from police manur •■, it
might be adopted with advantage, to consume the fodder and
turnip on the farm. It is not my intention to enter iuto
minute details as to whether it might be advxn'ageous or
otherwise. Thismust.be left to each individual to judge for
himself. Such is the situation of the farm, Ihe conditions of
lease, &c, &c. However, there are some th'.ugs, to insure a
profitable return I cannot pass over — viz, good house accom-
modation for the cows, the preparing of their food, and the

produce for the market, and to promote, as far ns possible, the
health and comfort of the cows. I would recommend the num-
ber in each byre not to exceed 12 ; a good supply of pure
water ; and their pasture, if practicable, as near the byres as
it can be got. With a good stock of A'.rihire cows, and the
details wrought out in a proper manner, the dairy should pay a«
well, if not better, on many farms than any other system of
farming that T am aware or — the present prices and future
prosppcts of the produce being all in their favour, having le&j
foreign competition to meet with in the market than any other
product o the farm. With our daily increasing population the
demand for dairy produce will also increase; and I am of
opinion, were it more extended in the country, the cows pss-
tut » in the ticlds during the summer months, the manure
made on the farm when it is wanted, the milk and butter sent
tj large centres of population by rail or otherwise, it would_be

K

130

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

found of superior quality to that of town dairies, with less
disease. I now give what I cousidera fair estinute of the ex-
penditure and income of each com on a farm where a dairy of,
say, 30 are kept as a regular sto^k, four or live queys taken in
annually, and alike number of old cows sold off. I am avvare
both the produce and expenditure will vary considerably on one
farm from another, but I have taken what I consider a fair
average :
Annual income of each cow—

600 gallons of milk at lOd £25 0 0

12 tonaof dungat 7s. Cd. 4 10 0

£29 10
Annual expenditure of each cow-
Pasture grass £4 0

Vetches or clover 1 0

Meal,&c,Sc 4 0

Turnips, 3 toDS at 12s 116

2 tons oat straw 60s 6 0

iron of hay 80s 2 0

7 , per cent, to uphold stock ,, 1 10

Working expenses 3 0

rketing produce 2 0

Cost and upholding of dairy uleasils 0 10

Profit 3 14

£29 10 0

Valuing the cows at £20 each, these figures, if found correct(
show a profit, of about 18 per c nt. on this department of the
farm, and I would say an indirect profit in resting the land;
besides, it gives the farmer another string to his bow in a sea-
son such as this, when the arable portion of many farms will
show a decided loss. However, I trust the meeting will cri-
ticise the figures freely, as by doing so we are more likely to
arrive at a correct estimate.

Mr. George Glendinning was at a loss to understand
how 12 tons of dung could be raised in accordance with the
tabulated figures.

Mr. Glendtnntng (Hatton Mains) pointed out that the
scientific dairymen in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, to whom Mr.
Hamilton referred, had a different system altogether from or-
dinary farmers. The dairymen did not use the same quantity
of turnips for one thing, and he contrived to have a great deal
more dung than he paid for straw.

Mr. P. Auld considered the estimates in regard to keep were
far too low, and went on to cite a number of cases in which
the balance was all on the wrong side of the ledger. For a
dairy of 30 cows a man required a capital of £620, made up aa
follow;: 30 cows at £18, £540; horse and cart, £40; dairy
ntensils £30; cash in hand to start with, £10. That was
about it, for when they managed to tide over three days they
got more cash in, and they required no credit. The income
derived from those 30 cows was set down at £750. Then, on
flic other hand, the interest on £020 at 5 per cent, was £31 ;
two-and-a-half women, £96 16s. ; one man, a horse and a
quarter, £100, grass £120, draft £-150, meat £120, ten acres of
turnips at £10, .£100 ; two deaths of cows £36, loss from
murrain, £20, total £773 16s.— leaving a balance against the
dairy farmer amounting to £23 16s. That was what had ac-
tually taken place. In another case, with about the same
amount of capital, the income from 30 cows was valued at
£720, interest £31, draff £260, cake £66, grass £45, tares
£24, turnips £S0, cows dead £40, murrain £25, labour
£200, total £771— leaving a loss of £51. In a third case

the figures were, income of 14 cows at £24, £336 ; expen.
diture— draff £78, meat £22, labour £130, grass £60, turnips
£64, loss from murrain £30, interest £17, total £401— leaving
a loss of £65. In a fourth case, where 18 cows were kept,
there was a loss of £2 8s. Iu one of the cases quoted, Mr.
Auld remarked that a man had been struggling for the last 50
years, keeping the shaft in the mill and starving a wife and
family.

M r. M;Dowell (Malcolmston) did not think it was right to
place such instances (wliere stall feeding was resorted to) side
by side with the kind cf dairy farming to which Mr. Hamilton
referred. In the main the estimates of Mr. Ha nlltou were pretty
nearly correct, though he (Mr. M'Dowelt) took exception to
the items in regard to turnips, straw, and dung.

Mr. Glendinning (Hatton Main.-) thought they would
hardly succeed in makiug farms pay without a dairy. The first
thing a nun should do in taking a farm was to get a wife to
manage his dairy. Mr. A ill had told them that a man starve^-
his wife at dairy fanning. Tney bad only to look at the ft purish-
ing farms of Lanarkshire or Ayrshire to find out whether it
was so or not. His impression was that in Lan irkihire, Ayr-
shire, and Kirkcudbrightshire they cculd not get so much off
turnips as they could off dairies. He agreed there were differ-
ent methods cf feeding, but take a regular diiry, where the
cows .-rent yeld every three months, and where there was com-
paratively little feeding, he believed 321b. of turnips was all
the average of them got per day. Many of them, in his opinion,
could not pay their rent unless they kept a dairy, and, the
moaient they gave up the dairy they might give up the farm.

Mr. Auld said the price of milk quoted by Mr. Hamilton
was above the average. It was strange how so many had been
obliged to give up dairies, while others who kept no dairy
managed to pay their rents.

Mr. Glendinning (Hatton Mains) said he thought he
could furnish a reason why so many had given up dairy farm-
ing. He was an old dairyman himsel1', and had churned milk
40 years ago, but when they got a little too full in the purse
they did not want to take upon them the trouble and attention
a dairy required.

Mr. Auld said he did not refer to Lanarkshire or Ayrshire.,
but to their own neighbourhood.

Mr. Glendinning (Hatton Mains) : I take Butelaud.

Mr. Davidson (Dean Park) referred to the statement that
armers would receive an iudirect benefit from their pasturage
by cows. He did not think the land improved iu condition
when grazed by cows. Oa ordinary rotation pasture failed
when grazed by cows.

Mr. Kerr (Broomhouse) said he had never had any diffi-
culty with the dairy, but the horses and men ate up everything
that grew on the place.

Mr. Glendinning (Hatton Mains) : That is just for want
of management.

Mr. Melvin, jun., observed that much depended on the
locality.

Mr. Hamilton admitted that a good deal depended on
localities and the situation of a farm. He maintained, how-
ever, that resting the land was a benefit. Referring to the ob-
jections of Mr. George Glendinning, he said he did not value
turnips so highly as the last-named gentleman. They were
sometimes a total failure, aud lie would substitute a little extra
food. Mr. Auld had referred to stall-feeding, but the subject
in hand was dairies kept regularly on the farm. As to giving
draff, he prohibited it. He agreed with Mr. Glendinning tint

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

131

many of them seemed in this matter to he jilting above their
profession, lie maintained that with proper management iu
certain localities dairy cows would pay quite as well as any
stock. Regarding the use of crones, lie was aware that some
liked a first cross between a Shorthorn hull and an Ayrshire

from which tiipy could obtain as much milk and butter for the
foou they consumed as could be got from the Ayrshire cow.

The opinion of Mr. Glendiuning, and that of the majority of
the meeting, was that dairy fanning might profitably be carried

cow, but there was, in hia opinion, no cow or class of cattle on 0" blSn farma wllere cows or breeding stock were kept

POULTRY FATTENING FAIRLY TESTED.

" Master says they chicken are eating their heads off,'"
observed Jones, our new bailiff, or ''odd" man, as he
was generally called, as he passed by on his way to the
pig-sties, with a pail full of that delectable compound
known as hog-wash on each arm. I was feeding the
fowls, about 90, all ages and sizes. " Yes," I said, pick-
ing up a stick and trying to make the old rooster let the
young ones eat their maize ;h peace ; — "yes, they do eat
a great deal — I suppose they ought to be rattened. You
spiteful thing, leave oil"." This last remark was not
addressed to Jones, but to the old rooster, a3, ev
me, he began pecking indiscriminately at every chicken
he saw eating. Enforcing my observation with a tap from
my stick, he started away and began crowing defiantly
at the world in general, and me iu particular, but was
too anxious to eat up all the maize he could fixd, before
anyone else could get it, to crow .very long. When
Jones came back I told him I should have a dozen
chickens shut up, and asked him to sec that the fatting-
coop was in order. He promised he would Jo so, and
also come in the evening after the fowls had gone to
roost, to catch the doomed chickens, and put them in. A

ions. Taking a chicken out of the coop, I sat
down with him in my lap, dipped one of the roll:
uel, and then fouud 1 had left the bird'3 v
loose, lie flapped and fluttered them about, upsetting
some of the gruel over me, and screaming all the time a
! a'>d piercing protest against his ill-usage. I
caught hold of his wings at the back with one band, and
began putting the slippery roll down his throat with the
other. That certainly stopped his cries, but he g
and straiued iu a disagreeable manner before he could
swallow it. As soon as that was down I tried another;
half of it went down his throat, and left half of it sticl
out of his beak ; he tried to swallow it, the gruel was
running down his neck feathers, hi3 comb turned from
red to purple, he was evidently choking, so I tried to
help him by pushing my finger into his beak, but he only
gasped and swallowed more ineffectually than before. I
begin to feel much as bad as a sailor would on a rough sea.
Theu, with a sudden effort the bird wriggled out of my
grasp, and lay on the floor apparently dying. It was
dreadful ! Rushiug out into the open air I ran against
my much worse half, who exclaimed, " Whatever is

very quiet, civil, obliging man was Jones, very different | &nl'lia '> nave J"3'1 8eea a ghost ?" "No," I returned
from his predecessor, who never had lime to do anything
in the poultry yard, for "he couldn't abide they chicken —
more plague than profit." Of course I kuew how to
rear poultry for the market profitably ; tor had I not
read all the great authorities upon the subject? and did
they not all point to the same conclusion that the way to
bo wealthy was to rear as many fowls as possible? And
as that involved early rising, why "healthy and wise"
must follow as a matter of course. When I went into
the hen-house next morning, carrying a great bowl of
ground oats mixed into a thick baiter with skim milk,
there was a great bustle among the twelve chickens im-
prisoned in a coop, like a plate-rake fastened against the
wall. I put some of the food into a little trough
attached to the front of the coup, and kept on feeding
them as long as they could eat, then .'eft them well
supplied with water. This 1 repeated at di
and again just before tea. Maters went on very well
for about teu days ; then I found by looking at my books
that the chicks ought to be crammed. There were also
very elaborate instructions how the cramming should be
performed ; nothing could be easier (ou paper). I
lastened on a large apron, mixed the ground oats into a
dough, rolled it up iuto rolls about the size of my m
liuger, made a basin of gruel, and theu commenced

faintly, " but I've killed a chicken ; there he is, in there —
do see after him, for I can't go near the thing again."
The bare thought made me shudder. Just then the
identical gruel-besmeared, draggle-tailed, half-choked
bird came ont of the door. He had got rid of his horrid
mouthful somehow, aud shaking his feathers was rejoicing
iu his newly -recovered liberty, showing no signs of dying
before ho was obliged to do so. My husband begau to
laugh. He. said, " You look more dead than the chicken ;
what have you been doing ? You are covered with meal
and some sticky stuff." I explained how matters stood,
aud quite agreed with his verdict, " That sort of thing
would never do." Who could go about all day iu that
slate of dirt and discomfort ? and to change ones dres3
three times a day was not to be thought of, even if one
had the moial courage to try again after such a dismal
failure. I confess I had not. So after changing my
dress I went iu search of Jones's wife, who had been a
servant at an old-fashioned farm house aud understood
such m liters. She agred to finish cramming them at the
rate of OJ. per head. The process occupied eleven days,
ag altogether three weeks from the time since they
were first cooped. One Thursday morning Jones killed
them all, and I tried my hand at getting them ready for
market, but 1 found i should be all day. and they were to

K t

132

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

be sent to London that afternoon. Mrs. Jones was
c-uieu in to help for half a day. " How much ought
they to fetch?" I asked, as she was carefully packing
them in the hamper. " Well, ma'am," she replied, " the
higgler would give about 3s. 9d. for such chicken ; may be
you'll get more in London. You see autumn's a bad
time to sell ; they're cheap just now. Spring chicken
fetihes more, but this place is too cold and damp to rear
them." The hamper was sent off, and in a day or two I
had a cheque from the salesman ; they had realised
£2 Gs. 6d., which, deducting £1 the value of the meal

they had consumed, 3^. for carriage and commission, and
6s. 9d. for Mrs. Jones's work, left a balance of 16s. 9d.
I afterwards found the higgler would have giveu 2s. each
for them just as they were running about, so that I had lost
7s. 3d. by fatting them. Judging by the books I ought to
have had a handsome profit. My advice to people about
to fat chickens would be the same as Punch's famous
advice to people about to marry, " Don't." I shall not
try the experiment again just yet. — Nelly Smith in
Sussex Express.

THE IMPORTATION OF

A matter of considerable interest to British
stock-breeders will be found in the conditions
under which it has been proposed to open Austra-
lian ports to ©ur pedigree stock. Coming, as it
does, at a time when public attention is being
earnestly directed to the advisability of freeing
our own flocks and herds from contagious cattle
diseases, the deliberations of our colonial friends
and customers on the momentous question as to
the means whereby they may venture to import
our stock without at the same time importing our
contagious diseases of animals, are of great
importance to the higher branches of our agri-
cultural industry. The time will come, and we
trust it is not far distant, when we shall have to
consider the terms upon which we may safely
import the blood we have exported, with the
advantages which fresh soil and climate can give
it, in safety to our own flocks and herds ; and the
difficulties with which our best customers in Aus-
tralia, Canada, and the United States have now to
eontend will eventually be our own. It should
scarcely be necessary to point out that the most
remunerative branch of pedigree stock-breeding at
home is the export trade with the Colonies, the
United States, and the Continent of Europe.
Mr. Booth, in his evidence before the Cattle
Plague Committee, stated, of his owu knowledge t
that orders for £100,000 worth of English stock
were then waiting execution, on account of the
diseased state of this country. Happily the
question at issue, so far as we are concerned, rests
on the broad basis of the public weal, and not
merely on a class interest ; but the country cannot
with greater impunity ignore the interests involved
in agriculture than agriculturists can afford to
neglect their own welfare. The whole subject
demands the careful attention of farmers, aud of
all classes of the community.

Mr. Alexander Bruce, Chief Inspector of Stock
.to the Colony of New South Wales, has addressed

LIVE STOCK INTO AUSTRALIA.

an important communication to the Executive
Committee of the Colony, on the question of
admitting British stock to Australian ports, and
has laid before the Society rules and regulations
under which he believes such importations might
with safety be permitted, which we publish
herewith. Mr. Bruce deals first with the
necessity for importing fresh blood, a question
which would seemingly require no discus-
sion but for Mr. Curr's attempt to show that
colonial stock had attained an excellence
beyond which it would be vain to attempt im-
provement which could not be attained by breed-
ing inter se. If England lays no claim to such
a position in respect of her breeding stock — as the
ecent purchase of a heifer bred in America from,
one of the most valued strains of English blood
at an enormous price, would seem to indicate — it
requires no argument to prove that .Australia has
not yet arrived at a state of cattle-breeding
independence. In treating this part of the subject
Mr. Bruce displays a knowledge of the breeder's
art which will be read with interest here, repre-
senting to Colonial stockowners that by purchasing
English blood of the same strains as are there
most valued, a result may be arrived at which
would otherwise be unattainable, and professiona
breeders be enabled to breed more closely than
they could do with safety from Australian stock.
Assuming the necessity of such importations, Mr.
Bruce propounds his scheme for overcoming
disease risks, which is simply a long quarantine
after a shipment and voyage in which severe
restrictions are to be carried out. This it is
supposed would suffice to preclude the possibility
of either Cattle Plague, Foot-and-Mouth Disease,
or Sheep- pox, being introduced into the Colonies.
The inc ubatory stages of these diseases are gene-
rally understood and acknowledged to be such as
would ensure the development of each of them
during an ordinary mail-packet passage to Austra-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

lia. But Mr. Truce suggests that the journey bo
made iu a sailing-vessel, as occupying longer time,
and also as avoiding the risks arising from a
steamer's larger store of ships' live stock, and from
calling at various ports. The number of pedigreo
cattle is also proposed to be limited. A careful and
suitable quarantine is proposed to extend over a
period of three months, and a periodical veterinary
supervision of three mouths after the expiration
of the quarantine. " If, therefore, " argues Mr.
Bruce, " ths stock were inspected when they left
England, the disease would most assuredly break
out before the voyage was well begun. . . . •
There is no ^veterinary surgeon of any standing in
Europe who would not say that it was utterly
unknown for either of these diseases to lie latent
in the animal one-eighth of the time occupied by

the voyage If, again, an animal were

to leave the vessel with the seeds of the infection
in it, an eighth of the term of quarantine could
not pass before the disease showed itself, and it
would be impossible that an animal could, even in
that case, leave the quarantine with the disease
incubating in its system." Then with regard to
the conditions of shipment, Mr. Bruce proposes to
depend on the certificate of the seller as to the
animals having been free from contact with
infection, and on isolation during transit from the
farm to the ship. For details of the plan we
must refer our readers to the extract we publish
from Mr. Bruce's paper. It appears that the great
majority of the Intercolonial Agricultural Societies
are in favour of resuming live stock importations,
and it is highly important that something like
unanimity of opinion should exist on the subject,
as the action of the Colony will affect the whole
of Australia.

So far as the diseases in question are concerned
it would be difficult to suggest a better plan than
that proposed by Mr. Bruce ; in fact, it covers the
whole ground, and embraces every practicable and
reasonable precaution, and we hope to see it
successfully carried out. "We cannot condemn the
quarantine in this instance, although we attach
very little importance to it. Quarantine, like
charity, should begin at home. The safety will
lie in the care which is taken on this side, and on
protection from infection during the transit — not
on lengthened quarantine and supervision for
diseases with short incubatory stages. It will be
observed that Pleuro-pneumonia is not mentioned
by Mr. Bruce, because, unfortunately, it is not an
unknown disease in Australia. The long quaran-
tine may possibly be directed against that
particular disease. A system of isolation carried

out by breeders hero in perfect good faith — as it
undoubtedly would be, notwithstanding Mr. Ourr'a
unworthy suspicions — and under the veterinary
inspection if required, would be of far greater
value than lengthened quarantine there. If stock
are started healthy, and protected from infection
during transit by resorting to the cattle-float and
horse-box, there would remain but one apparent
danger — ships' stores. It is evident that this is a
very serious one, for, to ensure safety these stores
must be subjected to as rigid restrictions as the
stud stock. On this ground Mr. Bruce proposes to
ship on sailing vessels ; otherwise the shorter
passage by mail steamer would be in every way
preferable.

With regard to these ships' stores Mi-. Bruce
tells us that " While the ship remains in harbour
the stock are under the supervision of the inspector
and in charge of the Customs' officer, who allows
no cattle or sheep to be landed — but pigs were
omitted from the Act of 1871, and cannot be re-
tained. A measure rectifying this and other
defects in that Act was, however, introduced in
Parliament, as far back as 1873, and will, no doubt,
be passed as soon as the business of the House will
allow, as the Government is fully impressed with
its urgency." Great care, however, will have to
be exercised here in shipping these ships' stores, if
any, and live stock should not be taken in during
the voyage. Apropos to this, a case of great
interest was mentioned by Mr. Bruce, and com-
mented on by the Chairman of the New South
Wales Agricultural Society, Dr. R. L. Jenkins, in
the discussion which followed the reading of tha
paper. It appears that in 1870 Foot-and-Mouth
Disease was introduced into Australia, although
veterinary opinion here is somewhat sceptical as to
the facts. Mr. Bruce speaks of the circumstance
as having occurred from the skins of diseased
sheep being used during rough weather to
pad the cattle stalls during a storm off the coast
of Australia, and says that these sheep had been
" killed for the use of the passengers shortly after
they left London." Dr. Jenkins, however, speak-
ing of the same circumstance, says that the padding
was made out of li the skins of sheep which had
been killed and the carcases thrown overboard in
consequence of their being virulently affected with
Foot-and-Mouth Disease." Mr. J. Stewart, a
veterinary surgeon, of Darlinghurst, Sydney,
meutions the case in a communication to T/ie
Veterinarian, giving the wrong date, and
triumphantly pointing it out as a clear case of
some kind of disease being " engendered " on ship-
board from the want of pure air ! The disease was

134

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

promptly stamped out, as it was also in the Colony
of Victoria, after tbe destruction of two herds of
cattle. In the latter case it was introduced by a single
animal. Dr. Jenkins, who was the owner of one of
the animals in question, argues that the facts of the
case are opposed to the theory of the loner voyage
being a complete safeguard against a disease which
is said to "pass through all its stages in some
three weeks ;" but we do not regard it at all in
that light. The facts, as we understand them from
the evidence, are simply that Foot-and-Mouth
Disease was embarked with the ships' stores, and
that the contagium was conveyed to the stud
cattle by the direct agency of the infected skins
shortly before the termination of the voyage, the
disease being developed by the time the animals
were landed at Dawes' Point. That part of the
matter is clear enough. But this case of Foot-
and-Mouth Disease on board the Paramatta is
nevertheless of great interest and importance,
inasmuch as it goes to prove that the contagium
of Foot-and-Mouth Disease is not so perishable as
it is supposed to be by some authorities. If Mr.
Bruce is correct in his statement as to the sheep
being killed soon after the ship left London, we
have the fact of the contagium of the disease —
the spores, or germs, or whatever may constitute
contasium in its resting stage — lying dormant for
the greater part of a voyage which Mr. Stewart
speaks of as having occupied ninety days. To have
this matter authenticated in detail would be of
the greatest interest. Of one thing our Colonial
friends may rest assured, namely, that the greatest
care wll be taken on this side to ensure the success
of any measures they may adopt ; and, judging
by our own unfortunate experience they have more
to fear from Foot-and-Mouth Disease than from
Sheep-pox or Cattle Plague.

The following are the conditions under which Mr.
Alexander Bruce, Chief Inspector of Stock for the Colony
of New South Wales, advocates the opening of Australian
ports to British stock : —

1. That importations be only allowed from countries in
which there is little or no foot-and-mouth disease, and no
rinderpest, sheep-pox, nor any other infectious disease in
stock, not known in Australia.

This not only reduces the risk from foot-and-mouth disease
to a minimum, but limits it to that ailment alone ; and that
disease is frequently at such a low ebb in England as to admit
of importations under these safe conditions.

2. That the seller of stock grant a certificate of sound-
ness, which should be endorsed as correct by the district
inspector.

Tins aims at the assurance that the stock are sound when
they stai* for the seaport — a most important guarantee against
their bringing the infection here.

3. That the stock are not conveyed to the port in ordinary
cattle or sheep trucks, nor put into a stable by the way.

This would also tend very materially to prevent the stock
being infected in reaching the port of shipment.

4. That a duly qualified veterinary surgeon examine the
stock — including those for the ship's use — prior to shipment.

In carrying out this duty the V. S. would see that the
seller's certificate, eudorsed by the district inspector, was pro-
duced ; and otherwise satisfy himself that all the stock to be
put on board the vessel wa3 free froin infection.

5. That stock are only carried by sailing vessels, and iu
limited numbers.

The object of this is to lengthen the probation, and
diminish the risk there is on steamers through their making
short passages, carrying more " ship's " stock, and calling at
different ports.

6. That no forage or fittings which have been in contact
with the stock, hides, or skins are landed from vessels from
places outside Australia.

The necessity for this precaution is obvious, and it is one
which can be easily enforced.

7. That the captain and attendant on the etook make de*
clarations as to their number and health, and that the captain
daily record in his log the health of the stock.

Not only are these declarations very valuable, but they
afford a good opportunity of obtaining full information in
regard to the stock.

8. That the stock are examined by a V. S. and an inspector
immediately on tbe arrival of the ship.

After a p robation of a three (3) months' voyage such an ex-
amination as this would of itself, in ninety- nine cases out of
every hundred, be sufficient precaution against the introduction
of disease.

9. That the stock are washed and disinfected before leaving
the ship.

This would completely remove any outward taint from the
stock, and the quarantine would detect any inward.

10. That there be two thoroughly isolated quarantines,
suspected and probationary.

If proper sites be selected, islands or peninsulas, there could
be no risk whatever of disease spreading from the quarantines,
and they would make the matter a certainty.

11. That the stock, including the ship's stock, be conveyed
'roru the vessel to quarantine by water.

The object here is obvious.

12. That the stock should be placed and remain in quaran-
tine for a period of not less than three months.

With such a period of probation, during which the stock
would be constantly under the supervision of the inspector,
and frequently under that of the Chief Inspector, it is utterly
mpossible for disease to exist and not be detected, supposing
the stock had been incubating the disease when quarantined.

13. That, on the expiry of the term of quarantine, the stock
be examined by a veterinary surgeon and the Chief Inspector,
and, if sound, discharged.

This would be a mere formal inspection for the purpose of
granting the necessary certificate.

1*4' I fiat the stock, affer leaving quarantine, be visited an(i
inspected periodically for three months after they leave the
quarantine.

Although it is not for a moment to be suspected that the
stock would show any symptoms of disease, this precaution,
which is taken in regard to intercolonial sheep, should be so
also in the cse of these stock.

There are thus some fourteen different precautions which, in
the event of importations being resumed, it is proposed to
take, to prevent the introduction of disease, and this almost
any single one of them faithfully carried out would do,
especially as the effect of the first precaution will practically
be to remove all risk from rinderpest and sheep-pox, and, at
times, also from foot-and-mouth disease, while the whole of
the risk which can possibly occur will be that arising through
the existence of a few isolated cases of that disease in the
country from which the stock are intended to be shipped.

When again these precautions are considered as a whole, as
in fact they would always operate, it must be evident that it
is practically impossible for the infection to be brought to our
shores, and utterly impossible for it to reach our stock j fo ,.
before this could happen every one of these precautions would
have to fail, and there are some of them — such as the proba-

TfiE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tion on board ship and in the quarantine— which are pelf
acting, and therefore could never fail.

It might perhaps be said that the precautions I propose
have been unnecessarily multiplied, and I believe that one-half
of them might be omitted with safety ; but, although this is
the case, I think the right course to take is not to throw a
single chance away, and to take every precaution, especially
as those I propose in addition to the quarantine would entail
but comparatively little trouble or expense ou the importers of
the stock, while they on the other hand have all along
declared that they are prepared to go any length in tint
direction, and to submit to auy restriction, in order to ensure
that disease is not introduced with the stock.

From what I have said it will be gathered that I take an
eniirely opposite view of this matter from my friend, Mr.
Curr, and that I am of opinion, as I trust I havo shown —

1st. That there is the greatest possible necessity for the re-
newal of importations ; and, 2nd, that stock can, at times,
under proper regulations, be imported from Great Britain,
Canada, and the United States without the least risk of in-
troducing disease.

Alex. Bruce, Chief Inspector of Stock.

Sydney, Octoher 23, 1877.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

CIRENCESTER.

The twelfth annual mie'iig of ths Ciamber wis h-li at
the Run Public Room on Dec. 31, and influenti illy attended.
Mr. Edward Bowly, of Siddiugton, presided. The annual re-
port stated the extent and nature of last year's business, and
referred at some len jth to the experimental work of the
Chamber. Professor Wrightson having conducted a series of
nine yearly experiments and now left the neighbourhood, was
about to issue a detailed statement of the results achieved. To
that gentleman, for the able energetic manner in which he
conducted the experiments, and for undertaking to publish a
report, the Chamber tendered a hearty vote of thanks. It was
announced amidst applause that Professor Sheldon had kindly
promised to continue the experimental work for the ensuing
year. To Professor Church, for his services in analysing
artificial mauure and feeding stuffs, a vote of thanks was also
tendered. The finances of the Chamber, in respect to the
general and experimental funds, were shown to be highly
satisfactory, so much so, indeed, on the last head that no ; in-
scription would be asked for for the ensuing year. The report
was received and ordered to be circulated. Mr. W. J.
Edmonds, of Southrop, was elected president for 1878. Messrs.
T. R. Ilulbert and II. Ruck, and Professor Sheldon were
added to the committee. Mr. R. Ellett was re-appointed hon.
secretary, and Mr. J. Saowsell hon. assistant secretary.

The meeting then passed on to the subject for discussion,
" Landlord's Right of Distress for Rent," introduced by Mr.
W. J. Edmonds, in what the Gloucestershire Chronicle
describes as a brief and able paper. He reviewed the snhject
from the points as affecting landlords, farmers, and the public-
Upon all he submitted reasons for concluding that any change
of the present system of landlord's priority would be inimical
to all interests, which he contended were identical, for the
welfare and advantage of oue meautthc welfare and advantage
of all. lie concluded by proposing the following resolution,

viz. : — "That this Chamber considers that it would be ai
to disturb the law of landlords' right for distress for rent
present existing, believing that it satisfies the landlord as to
the safety of his rent, and adds to the security of the tenant's
capital invested in the soil, thus conducing to the public
benefit."

Mr. C. Bowly, to give a fillip to the discussion, spoke
against the resolution, and the reasons adduced to substantiate
it, arguing that he saw no reason why the first principle of
farming should be different from the principles applied to
commeree generally.

Mr. T. R. Hulbert supported and seconded the resola-
tion, which met with the approbation of Mr. H. Ruck and
also of Mr. R. Ellett, who spoke in favour of an alteration
in the law to the extent of making the claims of different
classes of creditors uniform — not giving a landlord the power
of only claiming for one year's rent, while in case of his death
his executors could recover for almost any amount they chose
to assert was owing. He argued- that there was a very
material difference between the renting of land and purchasing
commercial goods, and that it advantageously justified the
distinction which the law at present recognised. The. resolut
tion was passed, and a vote of thanks to the retiring President
terminated the proceedings.

LEICESTERSHIRE.
Sir Archibald Palmer, Bart., presic!ed,«nd Mr. A. Pell, M f.
Mr. W. IM". Ileygate, M.P., and Mr. S. W. Clowes, M.P.
were present at a meeting of the Leicestershire Cha inner o'
Agriculture on Saturday, December 29, at the Bell Hotel,
Leicester. Mr. Willson, the Secretary, introduced the sub-
ject of the recommendations of the Select Committee on Cattle
Plague and Importation of Live Stock, and these were
discussed seriatim. All were eventually adopted with

136

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

exception of five. Mr. Fell, M.P., took objection to the
first: "That, as a statutory arrangement, the importation of
all animals from Russia, and of cattle from Germany (except
Schleswig Holstein), and Belgium, be prohibited, whilst that
of other animals from these last two countries, and of all
animals from the rest of Europe should be subject to the
provisions of tbe same schedule, power being reserved to the
Privy Council to prohibit the importation of animals from
other countries if they think fit." The hon. member coo.
fessed that he could not fathom the meaning of that suggestion
more especially as to the " schedule ;" but Mr. Heygate
thought they might safely swallow it, seeing that it was the
only recommendation that had been carried unanimously.
However, the Chamber decided to ignore it altogether. Mr.
Willson moved the adoption of the eighth recommendation,
that in the case of pi euro-pneumonia the compensation for
the slaughter of animals, whether suspected or diseased, shoulp
be at the same rate as in the case of cattle plague, but
should be payable out of the local funds. Mr. Wright
seconded the motion. Mr. Gatty moved, as an amendment,
that the compensation for animals slaughtered for pleuro-
pneumonia should, as in the case of those from cattle plague,
he paid from the imperial funds. Mr. Forster seconded the
amendment ; but on being put to the Chamber it was
negatived by a majority, and the motion carried. The ninth
clause, " That stock exposed in Islington market should not
be allowed to leave the Metropolitan district alive," was also
ignored. Upon the eleventh, which deals with the exten-
sion of the restrictions applicable to Great Britain, to the
Channel Islands and Ireland, Mr. Gatty moved the addition
of the words, " and that steps be taken to ensure the more
careful treatment of cattle in their transit by sea." Mr. W.
Wright seconded the motion, which was adopted. Mr. Fell
called attention to the twelfth recommendation, " t hat no
further restrictions should be placed upon the importation
of foreign animals in respect of foot-and-mouth diseese and
pleuro-pneumonia unless orders be enforced throughout Great
Britain that the movement of all cattle in infected districts
be prohibited, fairs and markets restricted, and the movement
of cattle in infected yards be stopped and regulated.

MONMOUTHSHIRE.

A general meeting of the Monmouthshire Chamber of
Agriculture took place at Abergavenny on Dec. 31, the Pre-
sident, Sir Henry Jackson, Bart., M.P., in the chair.

Mr. R. Stratton, of Duffryn, read a paper on " The Agri-
cultural Situation and the Meat Question." He said he did
not possess any particular knowledge authorising him to
speak with authority on the subject ; he had brought it forward
because it was a subject uppermost in the agricultural mind
at the present time, and one which might be usefully discussed
at meetings of this kind at this particular moment. There
was nothing like looking an evil in the face, and therefore it
was wise to inquire into the best way of dealing with their
dilemma. The present situation of agriculture and its future
prospects caused great anxiety to those connected with the
laud, it being a matter of equal concern to the landlord and
the tenant whether prosperity or adversity was to be the
farmers' portion — and it was a labourers' question as well.
Farmers could not go on losing money for any length of time ;
thereforj, if things did not improve, rents must cone down,
an] wages would aurely be reduced. Elaborate arguments

were not needed to prove that agricultural affairs were in a bad
way, for on every baud they heard complaints of bad seasons,
bad crops, ever-increasing expenses, deficiency of capital,
scarcity of stock, farms to let, jand bankrupt farmers. The
last harvest was one of the worst ever known in this country,
and instead of obtaining the high prices which might fairly
be calculated upon, farmers had to submit to comparatively
low prices in consequence ot the enormous crop of grain in
America — a crop extraordinary for magnitude as ours was for
deficiency. The amount of money to be paid for A.merican
grain was probably not less than £100,000,000, and if that
sum found its way into the pockets of British farmers no
doubt there would not be such an outcry against hard times.
The agricultural returns sh owed a falling-off in home stock
amounting to 146,208 head, or 2| per cent, since last year,
aud there was a falling-off in the number of sheep also. Mon-
mouthshire was no exception to the rule. The returns from
that county disclosed a falling-off for the year of 1,814 cattle,
the numbers being 43,222 in 1876 and 40,378 in 1877. In
sheep the falling-off amounted to 1,620, the 36,770 owned by
farmers in 1876 having decreased to 35,150 in 1877. The
returns to which he referred also showed a continual increase
of permanent pasture, amount ing in nine years to 922,000
acres, and it might naturally be expected that there would be
an increase in the number of cattle and sheep ; yet the fact
was that they had a decrease. What was the reason of that
diminution ? It was not owing to any other cause, in hi9
opinion, than tbe .foreign diseases which had been so rife
for some years. In this county alone the actual loss in flesh
from these causes amounted to £50,000 in one year, and the
total loss in Great Britain in the same period he estimated at
£12,000,000. He did not mean to say that farmers had actu-
ally lost this startling amount, for there had been a certain
proportion of increase in the pri ce of meat, though, of course,
farmers did not reap full benefit, as the foreigner had his
share. The consumer had suffered the most, and hitherto this
had been a consumers' more than a farmers' question, though
farmers had suffered individually fearfully, and no one could un-
derstand the vexation and misery of having a valuable flock or
herd decimated by foot-and-mouth disease except him who had
experienced it. But the question no longer concerned the
consumer most, and the farmers' fancied monopoly in the meat
trade was only fancy. A new trade in dead meat had sprung
up, having a great effect on prices in England, and instead of
the '' Roast beel of Old England," the cry now was the " Roast
beef of New England." The competition would be as keen
in meat as in grain ; stock and grain farmers were now io
the same boat, and they would have all their work to ride
securely through the storm. Beef could be profitably pro-
duced at 3£d. per lb. in the Western States of America, and
notwithstanding middling meat sent over — and some spoiled
—the great bulk came over in good, fair condition, and expe-
rience would make those employed in the trade more perfect
in their arrangements. No doubt there would always be
difficulty in the summer time, but practically there was no
difficulty during, at least, six months in the year. Then large
supplies might also be expected from the Continent of
Europe and from Australia ; therefore farmers in this country
must make up their minds to lowering prices, and set about
considering how to produce meat at a lower price. Now, he
would say at the outset that if farmers were to remain subject
to foot-and-mouth disease and cattle plague, farmers might
as well throw up the sponge at once, for under such condi-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

107

tious stock-farming in this country, with its high rents, ex-
cessive rates, and dear labour could not possibly succeed. In
fact, under the new conditions, it would be impossible to
make a do of it unless the country got legislation on the basi8
of the report of the Select Committee which inquired into this
subject last summer. The Bill promised would be opposed by
those who would rather see the col lapse ot British agriculture
than have the great principle of Free -trade meuaeed. He did not
Bay this in any party or po litical spirit, for Chambers of Agri-
culture had nothing to do with such things, and they wanted
all party feeling dropped in bringing about an act of common
justice and political economy. He hoped that the President
would set an example to his party by supporting the Govern-
ment Bill if it went far enough to secure the stamping-out of
foreign infectious diseases in the shortest possible time, the
slaughter of all foreign fat stock at the port of debarkation,
and the quarantine of store stock, in order to prevent these
foreign diseases. If the Bill did not go far enough he trusted
Sir Henry would endeavour to amend it. Of other disabilities
which affected the farmer he would mention two. First
there were the scandalously ine fficient modes of transit of
Irish cattle, whereby cruelty and loss were inflicted. It was
high time that the Government enforced a system of transport,
more in accordance with the spirit of the age. Then another
preventable cause of a serious loss to farmers was the gadfly.
The damage done by this insect must amount in the aggre-
gate to a large sum annually. He estimated the damage done
to cattle by the gadfly at £1 per head, and therefore the effect
of the destruction of the fly — which could be easily effected
by puncturing the tubercles of infected beasts or dressing them
with chemicals in the spring— would be very greit. In the
course of further observa tions Mr. Stratton recommended
English farmers to lay t hemselves out for providing for the
summer meat supply, which they could do at 7d. per lb.,
against 91. in the winter. He advocated the cake and corn
feeding as the most profitable, and he said that if this plan
was adopted many beasts would come out in prime condition
in October which were now sold in summer but little better
than they were in the spring. One benefit of the American
meat trade was that it caused a decrease in the number of
American dairies, by which English dairymen would gain, be-
cause labour was cheaper here than in the United States.
Having gone into statistics to show the profitableness of
raising stock for the meat market, the speaker said the Eng-
lish climate was perhaps the best in the world for that pur-
pose, and if care and discretion were used there was no reason
why British farmers should not succeed well in competing
with the world.

There followed a brief discussion.

Mr. Fothergill, Mr; Williams, and Mr. Rawlings
agreed that Mr. Stratton's paper was a very valuable one, and
each speaker declared that farmers did not want protection
except against the importation of disease.

The PRESrDENT also pointed out that before Parliament
would legislate in the direction pointed out by Mr. Stratton
it must be shown that the measures indicated would be suc-
cessful in stamping out foot-and-mouth disease and cattle
plague. If farmers were able to prove their argument, then
they would have a very strong case indeed.

The above excellent summary is taken from The Hereford
Journal. The Hereford Times contains a full report of
Mr. Stratton's able paper, which is a very long one.

" PAX VOBISCUM !"
Let her come in ! The New Year cannot bring

A guest more welcome, or a friend more needed.
Whilst echoes of our Christmas chants yet ring,

Is her benign appeal to pass unheeded ?
Hath " Peace on Earth " lost meaning in their minds

Who mouth the text at this our holiest season,
But whom the red mirage of War so blinds

To the high beacon-lights of ruth and reason ?

Let her come in ! Her claim is not the first,

Whilst evil lives to slay, and wrong needs righting.
There is a peace whose calm is more accurst

Than e'en the fiercest storm of righteous fighting.
But once the storm hath stricken— for the right,

As most men hold — and ancient wrong lies broken,
Let Peaceful Counsel bring her guiding light,

And sheathed sword twined with olive for a token.

Let her come in ! Midst shipwreck's shocks and strains,

The hand of reason may well leave the rudder ;
But thinking on those blood-dved Eastern plains

The hardest hater of hoar wrong might shudder.
Not blood, not vengeance, is the Christian cry,

Death to the wrong, but not the wrong-doer's slaughter !
Carnage is scarce so fair that we need fly

To hail the red-armed Fury as " God's daughter."

Let her come in ! Whilst loud the joy-bells greet

The opening Year, a woful world may listen
To hear the gentle fall of those fair feet,

At whose soft sound Hope's sad eyes well may glisten.
Princes and Politicians, here's a guest

Wnom roughly to repulse were blindest folly.
Let her come in, while with glad welcome's zest

We twine her olive in our Christmas holly. — Punch.

FLAX CULTURE IN VARIOUS CO UNTRIES.— The
following statistical summary may afford a very approxima-
tive idea of the quantity of flax grown throughout the
world : —

Country. Year. Acres.

Austria 1876 253,323

Belgium 1876 140,901

Denmark 1871 17,686

Egypt — 15,000

France 1873 203,630

Germany 1874 530,642

Greece 1867 957

Hungary 1875 19,903

Holland 1875 49,982

Italy — 201,033

Russia — 1,928,568

Sweden 1873 37,500

Ireland 1876 132,878

Great Britain ... 1876 7,640

3,599,643
The whole acreage is in all cases much larger than above
stated, inasmuch as reliable statistics are not to be had in-
several countries, while those countries which chiefly carry
on flax-growing for the sake of the seed have not been in
eluded in the above summary. Thus, for instance, the
Bombay Presidency has about 85,000 acres, while some
206,305 statute acres are also grown for seed purposes in th«
United States. — Journal of Applied Science'

138

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

BO ROUGH B RIDGE.

The quarterly meeting of this Society was held on Saturday,
January 5th, at the. Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge, Mr. A. S.
Lawson, Aldborough Manor, President of the Society, in the
chuir.

Mr. Pater Crow read a paper on " Weeds " Mr. Crow,
after some preliminary remarks as to the definition of weeds-
said the weeds in grass land were much fewer in variety and
less injurious than in arable, because some plants which were
treated as weeds in arable land were, useful additions to that
collection of plants which formed pasture land. The this'le
was the most common, and it was perhaps impossible to
entirely destroy it, but by mowing it off every year just
before it flowered, and once or twice afterwards, its numbers
might be considerably reduced. The buck thistle was a
biennial plant, and easily destroyed by being cut down early
before flowering. He had found great difficulty in getting rid
of the common nettle, which generally grew in beds where
hedges had been some time removed. He had tried several
methods of diminishing it, but the most effectual was pulling
the stalks whenever they were strong enough to draw out by
the root. Cattle were sometimes seriously injured by eating
the leaves of the autumn-ftowering crocus, but it was easily
destroyed by carefully pulling the leaves every spring. The
seed was concealed beneath the surface of the. ground, aud on
the withering of the. fljwers in the autumn the stalk rose the
following spring, and brought the seed up with it to be
ripened by the sun, so that the seed was destroyed by pulling
the leaves. The common hemlock, althonrh rarely seen in
pastures, was often objectionably plentiful in meadows, but it
seemed to quite disappear on the fields being grazed by either
cattle or sheep in early spring. The wild rampion was very
objectionable if eaten by dairy cows, a? it gave a most dis-
agreeable flavour, like onions, to milk and butter. He had not
seen much of that plant, but he thought draining went far t°
eradicate it. There were several annual and biennial weeds
common to grass land, such as St. John's wort, but they were
all easily pulled by the hand, and only required attention to be
practically extirpated. With regard to arable land, the most
troublesome weed which agriculturists had to conteud with
was couch grass. He could tell them nothiug new as to how
they should deal with it, but he was sanguine that the applica-
tion of steam power, by enabling them to cultivate their
stubbles earlier in autumn, would help them to contend more
successfully against it. With respect to the red poppy and
charlock, he knew of no way of reducing the numbers of those
plants than the hoe and hand-weeding, aud inducing as many
seeds as possible to germinate by autumn cultivation, when
they were destroyed by subsequent ploughings. Knot grass,
cockle, shepherd's needle, hayriff, wild oats, aud many other
annuals could be only treated in the same way as poppies
and charlock. Colt's foot flowered *ery early in spring, and
was a most obstinate weed to contend with, for every part of
its root produced a plant, and penetrated to a great depth.
The best mode of reducing it was to cut off the crowns in the
early spring. The common barberry, although scarcely to be
classed as a weed, was much disliked in the districts where it
grew indigenously in the hedges, because it was supposed to

injure crops of wheat adjoining to a considerable distance by
a 'ungus or mildew, peculiar to the barberry, and which w;\s
blown from the plant to thewheat. When arable land had been
long neglected, and successive crops of poppy, charlock, and
o her weed seeds had been deposited year after year, the
quickest, cheapest, and most effectual method of clearing it
w«8 to plough it any time during winter, and leave it un.
to vhed until about the middle of May, by which time the
conch grass would have put forth all its adventitious roots.
The thistle would be ready to burst into flower, and all the
poppy and charlock seed within the influence of the sun would
have germinated. Ou being asain ploughed, all the annuals
were at once annihilated, and the perennials, being iu their
mast vigorous growth, were more easily and completely
destroyed than when nearly at rest in autumn. He did not
recommend this mode of cleaning land except in extreme cases*
and was certain that the best and cheapest way of preventing
the growth of weeds was the liberal use of manures, and the
production of heavy crops of cereals and roots. Weed seeds
were too easily detected to be often sown with cereal crops,
but they were so similar in size aud appearance to clover seeds
that it was almost impossible to separate them. The most
respectable seed merchants asserted that it was next to im-
possible, to buy a sample of cloverseed free from dockseed, but
this might be remedied in a great measure by the cloverseed
growers either pulling out or cutting off the dock before seed-
ing, and before reaping the crop, in which case they would
obtain a much better price for their seed. The only way of
eradicating the dock was hind-weeding. Sorrel was largely
sown amongst cloverseed. The dodder, if kept to itself, soon
perished, but when it could twine round clover the original
root died, and the plant lived thenceforward by striking its
roots into the stalks of the clover or fUx. This plant destroyed
large patches of clover, but it did not ripen its seeds so far
north as that district, or if it did it rotted in the earth before
the next crop suitable for its continuance was sown. He had
tried to destroy dodder by digging a trench round the patches,
and then covering it with straw and burning but the ci'des
not b"ing wide enough, he was unsuccessful. His chief object
was to see whether any means could be devised to induce
cloverseed growers to take more pains to keep cloverseed from
being mixed with weed seed. He washy no means sure that
couch grass-seed was not sown along with rye grass, for there
was generally an abundant crop of couch in fields where rye
grass had been plentifully mixed in sheep pastures. The Seed
Adulteration Act would by no means remedy the careless
neglect of the seed grower, and seemed to him to apply to the
wilful admixture of killed or other seeds after they left the
hands of the growers.
Mr. Dent thought the subject of the paper was a very
roper oue to be brought before the Association at the present
ime, because agriculture, like every other trade or profession
being iu a very depressed state, a great many agriculturists,
both landlords and tenant farmers, had come to the conclusion
that very much greater liberty was needed in the cultivation
of land by the farmer. He thought the doctrine that the
farmer should be allowed to grow what crops he chose and to
tell whatever produce he grew was guiuiug ground daily, and

TKK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

11'.)

Would, lie believed, in tbe end meet with acceptance from most
intelligent men, whether they were landlords or tenant
farmers. Undoubtedly it" the tenant-farmer w»s to be allowed
to grow what crops he liked, the landlords must stipulate that
he did not grow one thing, and that was weeds. Because of all
the evils that could afflict a farm preponderance of couch grass
in arable land showed poverty of cultivation, and that the land
had not been treated in the manner it ought to have been.
However beautiful weeds might be in their right position, they
were a most disagreeable object to the landlord or tenant who
had to cultivate the land. for his part, he thought, as a rule,
a great many farmers were somewhat too careless as to the
quantity of weeds they allowed to grow in the outlying places
of the farm. Men who would be ashamed to see any quantity
of weeds growing in their turnips, and who would be most
particular to kefp the yellow ragwort, or even thistles, from
coming into flower in their pasture lands, would neglect the
hedge-rows, ditch-sides, aud by-lanes, or parts of the high
road adjoining their farms. Those were prolific sources of
weed-growing which farmers were too careless about. There
was a proverb which contained a good deal of truth, that
" One year's seeding takes seven years' weeding." He was
sat i^fied that if they had freedom of cultivation, which he
believed was now the thing which was particularly necessary
in agriculture, great attention would be paid to the displace,
ment and getting rid of weeds. He thought they very often
sowed a great deal of weeds with clover and rye grass. He
agreed with Mr. Crowe that in land where the most manure
was applied there was the smallest crop of weeds. Where
there was a poverty in the treatment of land, where there was
a want of expenditure of capital in manure, there was very
often a poor root crop and a superabundance of weeds. He
would ask them whether sufficient was done in the way of
looking after the by-ways and roadsides adjoining the farms to
see that thistles, ragwort, and other weeds of that kind whose
seeds spread rapidly were not allowed to flourish. In con-
c'usiou, Mr. Dent said he hoped the year 1878 would be a
more advantageous one to the farmers than that which had
just passed, for he felt that it had been a very gloomy time,
and one for which they would require two or three very good
years to recoup them for their losses.

Mr. Ford said that so long as land was cultivated there
would be weeds. Strange to say, the very act of cultivation
brought forth weeds. Land which had not been disturbed
for a long period, when broken up was soon covered with weeds,
and he attributed that to the fact that the ground, by being
broken, was rendered more susceptible to receive the pollen
which was waited about at certain times of the year; that
pollen falling on grass laud did not take ro t, but in arable
land it found a habitat suitable for propagation. Professor
Buckland had said that a single sow-thistle would produce
10,000 seeds, and a red poppy 50,000, which, allowing for the
various causes of mortality, would leave an abundant surplus
for the reproduction of those weeds. He suggested that the
suppression of weeds in wa&te places should be enforced by
legislation.

The Rev. C. II. Sale said the thistle should be cut off be-
fore it flowered, because if the flower was allowed to form it
would ripen after it was cut down. They had heard a wrinkle
about crow's foot. It was a weed they could scarcely get rid
of, and he had seen the roots eight or ten feet deep. The
only way he knew of destroying nettles was to beat them wel'
when the stalks were hollow ; and if a shower of rain came

so- n afterwards they would rot. IIh thought it would be
dillicult to exterminate them by pulling op, as he had seen
the roots five feet deep. He felt that there must be some,
way of dealing successfully with red poppies and ketlock.
He had observed that some years scarcely a poppy could be
seen, whereas other years they were abundant, and that male
it appear as it there was some peculiar condition favourable
to rheir growth, lie thought sowing land with salt would
effectually kill poppies.

Mr. Behnett recommended the cutting of thistles before
the nop was formed, a plan which he bad found very effectual,
lie had also been successful in destroying couch grass with
frequent use of the hoe until fallow time. Ketlocks could only
be destroyed by summer fallow.

Mr. HaKLAND said ou light land they had a difficult weed
to deal with in spur weed, iu which turnips would not thrive
at all, and the only way to get rid of it was to lime it.

Mr. Lancaster said his practice in 'dealing with wild oats
was to fork it out.

Mr. Brogden thought salt would not kill poppies unless it
was in such quantities as to nearly kill the wheat.

Mr. T. Sc iTT thought it was almost impossible to purchase
cloverseeds without weed seeds to some extent. With respect
to deep cultivation, there was no doubt if th?y cultivated land
aud moved the subsoil which had not been subject to the sun's
influence for a long time, there must be a great amount of
weeds. There was nothing became a farmer better than to
e'ean out his hedge backs. He quite agreed with Mr. For d
that some legislative enactment should be made in respect to
the compulsory destruction of weeds in waste places. With
regard to killing weeds, he thought there was nothing like the
horse hoe and poppy extirpator. Ragwort was easily destroyed
by pasturing sheep, but it was difficult to get rid of thistles.

Mr. Dent said they did not require any more legislation as
to dealing with weeds, as the road surveyors now possessed all
the powers necessary.

Mr. Crowe, in replying, said salt would destroy any plant,
and the poppy among the wheat, for the very reason that the
wheat would stand more than the poppy.

Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Crowe, to Mr. Dent,
and to the president, and the proceedings terminated.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society wa s
held in their chambers, No. 3, George IV. B'idge.

Oeii.e -bearers. — The following are the names of the
noblemen aud gentlemen to be proposed by the direc'ors at
the general meeting ou the 16th current, to fill the vacancies
in the list of office-bearers: — Vice Presidents — The Right
Hon. the Earl of D ilkeith, K.T., M.P. ; the Right lion, the
Earl of Galloway, the Right Hon. the Earl of Stair, E.T. ;
the Right lion. Lord Herries. Ordinary Directors — The
Right Hon. Lord Polwarth, John II. Dickson of Corstorphiue,
Saugbton Mains, Edinburgh ; James Maxtone Graham of
Redgorton, Battleby, Perth ; James Hope, Duddingston,
Edinburgh; James Kennedy of Sundaywell, Braudleys,
Sanquhar; Charles Scott riummer of Sunderland: llu.ll, Sel-
kirk ; Andrew Ralston, Glarais House, Glamis. Extraordi-
nary Directors — Robert Vans Agnew of Barnbarroch, M.P. ;
W. G. Carruthers of Djrraont, Lockerbie ; John Gilchri-t-
Clark of Speddocb, D.tbton, Thornhill ; Patrick Dudgeon of
Cargen, Dumfries ; Robert Jardine of Castlemilk, Lockerbie ;
Christopher Johnstone, Diusroodie Lodge, Lockerbie; Well-

140

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

wood H. Maxwell of Munches, Dalbeattie ; Mark John
Stewart of Blairderry, M.P., Ardwell, Wigtownshire ; Lieut. -
Colonel George Q. Walker of Crawfordton, Tliornhill.

General Meeting — The programme of business for the
anniversary general meeting on the 16th was arranged a3
follows : — Election of members ; election of office-bearers ;
accounts for 1876-77; Argyll Naval Fund accounts; thanks
to be voted to local committee, etc., of the Edinburgh Show;
arrangements for Du.nfries Show, 1878 ; motion by Mr-
Thomson, Holmes, as to election of the local committee in
charge of the annual shows ; requisition from Perth district
for show in 1877-9 petition to House of Commous in regard
to cattle disease ; reports on district shows and on cottage
competitions; contents of Volume X. of the Society's Trans-
actions ; agricultural education bye-laws, and report of
examination for bursaries; report of minor examination of
veterinary students ; premiums awarded in 1877 and offered
in 1878 in the agricultural and forestry departments.

New Members. — The list of candidates for admission as
members at the general meeting was submitted, and the secre-
tary stated that additional names could be received up to the
morning of the 16th.

Finance. — Tne secretary laid on the table printed extrac ts

of the accounts for 1876-77, signed, in terms of the bye laws,

by two members of the Finance Committee and by the auditor.

Trial of Turnip-raising Machines. — The following

report of the trial of turnip-raising machines was read : —

"The trial of turnip-raising machines selected at the
Elinburgh Show took place on Tuesday, the 4th December,
on the farm of Niddrie Mains, when four machines appeared
ou the ground — namely, from Brigham and Co., Berwick-on-
Tweed, two machines ; from John Gregory, Westoe, South
Shields, one machine ; and 7rom Duncan Ross, Academy
Court, Inverness, one machine. The turnips operated upon
were of the Swedish and hybrid varieties, and a fair crop-
T >e shaws were wet, and the ground in a damp condition,
owing to recent rains, so the machines were put to rather a
*evpre test.

" Mr. Brigham's machine, with circular saw for cutting the
shaws, was found not to be in a working condition, and was
*nerefore laid aside. The other machine by the same maker,
cutting two drills at once, was tried both on the swedes an d
hybrid turnips, going over about a quarter of an acre. The
shaw- cutting apparatus in this is somewhat similar to the
knives of a reaping machine, being driven from the wheel by
piuions and a crank rod, the bar being suspended on springs
attached to the frame of the machine. This contrivance
enables the knives to rise and fall according to the size of the
turnips, and to adjust itself to some extent to the proper
height for operating on the neck of the turnip shaw. It is
too heavy for one horse, but can be drawn easily by two.
Had the shaw-cutting arrangement been limited to one instead
of two drills at a time, this part of its work would no doubt
have been doue in a more successful manner. The many
chances of irregularity both in the size and shape of ridges ;
and in growth of crop in two parallel drills, greatly add to the
mechanical difficulties which the machine has to contend
with in practice in the field. Its price is £15.

"Mr. Gregory's machine also takes two drills at once, and
was tried on the same quantity of ground and variety of tur-
nips. The shaw-cutting apparutus here is a knife fixed to the
frame, but as it has no self-adjusting power to suit the
inequalities of the turnips, it is apt to pass over the shaws of

the smaller ones without cutting them. The price of this
machine is £8.

" Mr. Duncan Ross's machine, taking one drill at a time,
was also tried in the same way. This machine has a double
knife projecting in front, which catches the neck of the tur-
nip as it moves along the drill, cutting the shaw off. This
knife is fixed in a moveable frame, which is balanced in such
a way as to rise and fall according to the height of the turnip.
The price of this machine is £5 8s., and can be made to take
two drills at £9 9s.

" The three machines tried are all nearly alike in their per-
formance as regards the root-cutting, which is done by a
knife firmly fixed in the frame passing under the turnips so as
to cut the roots ; and the committee being satisfied that this
was equally well done by all the machines tried, their direction
was mainly directed to the shaw cutting; and that operation
being satisfactorily done by Mr. Ross's machine, and not by
either of the others, and his mode of balancing the knife so as
to suit the height of the turnips being simple and effective,
they recommend the directors to award to Mr. Ross the minor
gold medal."

The Board approved of the report.

Dumfries and Perth Shows. — The Secretary stated
that at a meeting of members held at Dumfries on the 19 h
December, to consider the prize-list and regulations for the
Dumfries Show, it had been suggested that the amount of the
prizes for Cheddar cheese (56 lb. and upwards) should be
increased from £12 to £30 or £50 ; and that at a meeting
held at Perth on the 28th December, the classes of stock for
the proposed show at Perth in 1879 had been approved of,
subject to the following suggestions : — (1) That a section
should be added for cross oxen of any age; (2) That a
premium should be offered for the best foal shown with marea
in section 5 ; (3) That in place of offering a premium for the
best throughbred stallion, a prize should be given for the best
Clydesdale horse, to serve in the district of the show in season
1879 ; (4) That Cotswolds and Lincolns should be shown in
the same class ; (5) That short-woolled sheep should be shown
in one class ; (6) That there should be sections for half-bred
and for cross-bred wether hoggs above one shear ; (7) That
in place of premiums for best-woolled tups, prizes should be
given for the best five fleeces of the Cheviot, black-faced, and
Leicester breeds ; (8) That in the last section for cheese the
words " flat make " should be deleted.

The board resolved to offer eight prizes for Cheddar cheese
(56 1b. and upwards) at Dumfries, namely:— £10, £8, £0,
£5, £4, £3, £2, and £1— in all £39 ; and that there should
be three prizes of £5, £3, and £2 in each of the other four
sections for cheese. In regard to the suggestions made at
the Perth meeting, it was agreed to adopt the whole except
the first and second.

Essays and Reports. — Various premiums were awarded
for reports in the agricultural and forestry departments. The
names of the successful competitors will be intimated at the
general meeting. Several subjects were expunged and new
ones added to the list for 1878.

A WHITE ELEPHANT.— An important personage has
lstely died at Siam in the shape of one of the King's white
elephants, and according to custom it was buried with the
highest funeral honours. One hundred Buddhist priests, we
are told, officiated at the ceremony, and the body was conveyed
to its last resting-place accompanied by a procession of thirty
State bargee. — Allen's Indian Mail,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

141

METEOROLOGICAL NOTES.

NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION.— During the
year 1877 the National Life-boat Institution rescued 811 lives
and 35 vessels from destruction. In the same period this Life-
beat Institution granted rewards for saving 200 lives by boats,
8C that 1,011 lives were saved through its instrumentality.
Since its foundation, this Society has contributed to save
25,400 porsons, and it has granted 978 gold medals with
£54,000 in money. — Times, 1st January, 1878.

Rainfall, 1877, in Jan, at Camden Town, London, as note(*
by Mr. G. Symons, 4.71 inch, maximum temp 66.4 on 19th,
minimum temp 28.5 on 23rd.— Feb : R 1.78 inch, mas temp
68.5 on 7th, and lowest 25.3 on 28th.— March : R 2.38 inch,
mix temp 59.4 on 29th and 23.5 on 1st Jan. — April: R 2.59
inch, mix temp 61 deg. on 4th, min temp 33.4 on 20th. —
May: R 1.91 inch, max. temp. 63.0 on 26th, min. temp. 29.2
on 4th.— .Tune : R 0.42 inch, max temp 81.7, min temp 41.7 on
7th. — July; R 3.94 inch, max temp 87.1 on 31st, min temp 43.6
on 6th. — Aug : R 2.23 inch, max temp 82 9 on 20th ; min temp
42.4 on 24th. — Sept : R 0.S3, max temp 73.3 on 11th, min temD
36.1 on 25th. — Oct. : R 1.97 inch, max temp 67.5 on 14th, min
temp 30.9 on 19th. — The Jan R at Maidstone, Se'borne,
Hitchin, Banbury, Bury St. Edmunds, Norwich, Bridport,
Barnstaple, Bodmin, and Cirencester, respectively, was : 4.74,
6.03, 8.28, 3.74,4.21, 2.95, 2.49, 6.49, 6.23, 8.33 inches.— For
Feb : 1.83, 1.91, 1.76, 1.72, 3.15, 2.53, 1.31, 3 33, 3.27, and 2.01
inches.— For March: 3.23, 2.94, 1.99,2.12, 2 62, 2 36, 1.84, 2.88,
3.56 and 2. 19 inch respectively.— April R 2.57 3.43 3 31, 2.64,

2.29, 3.90, 3.82, 5.67, 3.32, and 2.49 inch respectively.— For
May : 2.26, 3.25, 2.52, 3.31, 1.54, 1.91, 2.10. 2.95, 6.02, 2.05
inch respectively — June: 0.77, 0.73, 0.93, 0.89, 1.53,
1.57, 0.81, 1.42, 2.11, 1.05 inch.— For July: 1.85, 5.19,
3.23, 4.52, 3.11, 3.25, 2.12, 4.80, 4.93, 3.93 inches.— For
Aug : 2 58, 3.86, 3.03, 4.30, 3.76, 3.20, 6.09, 6.38, and
6.31 inches respectively.— For Sept: 0.73, 1.44, 179, 2.23,
1.40,3.05.2.40,3.18,3.75, and 2.10 inches respectively.— For
Oct: 2.13,3.21,1.38,1.64, 1.34,1.71,2.19,3.91,3.69, and 2.33
inches respectively. As to these 10 towns, the R return for
Norwich is deficient for April and August. — At Shifnal Jan R
wa3 3.81 inch; Tenbury, 3.31 ; Leicester, 3.11 ; Boston, 3.08;
Grimsby, 2.81; Mansfield, 4.15; Manchester, 5.01; York,
3.20 ; Skipton Arnclifle, 11.17 ; N. Shields, 3.08 ; Borrowdale,
Seathwaite, 25.65 inch. — Feb : R for these places, respectively,
2.72, 2.09, 2.17, 2.09, 2.10, 2.40, 4.29, 2.09, 6.56, 1.58, 14.43
inches.— March : R ditto, 2.56, 2.10, 1.84, Boston, 1.45 ;
Grimsby, 2.35; Mansfield, 2.57; Manchester, 2.43; York,
2.93; Skipton (Arncliffe), 4.80, N. Shields, 1.70; Borrow-
dale, Seathwaite, 7.74 inches of R.— April : 2.31, 3.01,
8.07, 3.19, 3.33, 2.90. (No returns for Manchester.)
York, 3.53 ; Skipton, 4.33 ; N. Shields, 3.53 ; Borrow-
dale, 5.43 inch.— May: 2.32, 3.32, 2.15, 1.41, 1.34, 3.40,
2.76, 2.29, 3.73 2.23, 10.92, inches of R respectively fell.—
June : 1.06, 1.27, 0.83, 1.17, 1.50, 1.57, 2.35. (No return for
York.) Skipton, 3.47 ; N. Shields, 1.09; Borrowdale, 10.61
inches of R fell respectively.— July : R 6.63, 3.33, 2.64, 2.82
2.23, 2.55 inch of R. (No return for Manchester.) York, 2.99
Skipton, 7.71 ; N. Shields, 2.43; and at Borrowdale, 15.15
inches of R respectively fell. — In August at these places, 5.00,
4.89, 2.57, 2.92, 4.12, 4.73 inches of R fell. (No return for
Manchester.— At York, 4.46; Skipton, 7.11 ; N. Shields, 6.32
and at Borrowdale (Seathwaite), 11.79 inches of R fell.— In
Sept, at these 11 places respectively (except at Manchester,

with no return): 2.63, 2.23, 1.52, 2.18, 4.82, 3.53, 3.20, 4.24,
1.76, 8.96 inch of R fell.— In Oct : ditto (Manchester no return)

2.30, 2.32, 1.37, 2.24, 1.72, 1.81, 3.02, 9.15, 2.61, and 22.92
(Seathwaite) inches of R fell respectively. — At Haverfordwest,
S. W ales, the Jan R was 8.98 inch.— At Aberdovey, 5.71 ;
Llandudno, 5.14 inches.— In Scotland, in Jan, at Dumfries,
7.66 inch of R fell ; at Hawick, 6.13; Kilunnnc k, 6.48; Cas-

tle Toward, 7.63; at Mull, 5.81; St. Andrew's. 4.15; Grand-
tully, 6.72 ; at Braeinar, 4.43 ; Aberdeen, 3.31 ;Gairloch, 4.38;
Portree 8.26; Inverness (Uullodenj, 2.39; Helmsdale, 2.82 J
and at Sandwick, 3.43 inches of R fell.— In Feb : for these It
places, tho return of R. was respectively, 2 66, 2.55, 4.42, 7.13
6 17, 1.50, 2.33,3 03, 2.68, 6.53. (Portree no return.) 3.12, 5.53,
4.33 inches of R.— In March: 2.21, 1.98, 2.61, 2.92, 2.73, 1.87.
2.33, 2.19, 2.24, 3.12, 4.18, 1.66, 2.82, 2.81 inches of R fell re-
spectively.— In April: 2.93, 3.39 (Kilmarnock no return),
3.80 (Mull no return) ; 2.55,3.79,1.93,3.03, 1.45, 1.77,1.88,
2.16, 1.44 (at Sandwick) inches of R fell respectively. — In May:
3.20,2.66,2.14,1.71,2.63,1.55, 2.63, 1.55, 2.62,1.89,2.96 (no
return for Gareloch) ; 3.57, 2.37, 2.39, and for Sandwick 2.73
inches of R fell respectively — In June : the return was re-
spectively, 2.66, 2.17, 3-76, 5.63,7.33,3.10, 4.26, 5.76, 3.68, 6.50,
8.47, 3.18, 3.05, and for Sandwick 3.38 inches of R fell respec-
tively.—In July : 4.79,4 70, 4.09, 4.81,6.31, 2.75 2.94, 3.29,
3.04,4.56,6.22, 2.81,2.89,2.85 (Sandwick) inches of R fell
respectively.— In Aug : 6.95, 7.56, 3.76, 6.79, 4.15, 6.85, 6.03,
6.29, 6.55, 4.8), 4.91, 5.06, 6.16, 2.50 (Sandwick) iaches of R
fell respectively.— In Sept : 2.37, 1.67, 1 81, 2.36, 2.57, 2.20, 2 13,
2.10, 1.80, 2.50, 3.80, 1.41, 1.21, and at Sandwick 1.63 inches of
R fell respectively.— In Oct : 6.27, 4.68, 5.01 inches of R fell at
the 3 places firstly named. No return for Castle Toward.
Mull, 7.52 ; St. Andrews, 3.55 ; Grand Tally, 5.38 ; Braomir,
5.66; Aberdeen, 2.14; Gareloch, 6.41; Portree, 1">. 37 ; Inver-
ness, 3.79 ; Helmsdale, 4.61 ; and Sandwick 4.57 inches of R
fell.— In Ireland, for the 1 ) months, Jan to Oct inclusive. —
TheRatGalway was 6.90,3.22,2.60,3.31,3.53,2.11,3.20,5.22,
2.43, and 5.63 inches of R respectively.— At Edenfel (Omagh)
6.79, 3.40, 2.43, 1.92, 2.46, 3.46, 4.31, 6.74, 2.27, 4 07 inches of R
fell.— At Killaloe : 6.06,4 72 (March no return), 3.55, 1.92, 2.46,
3.46, 4. 31, 5.77, 2.77, and 4.07 inches of R fell respectively.—
According to Dr. Allnatt, of Frant, Sussex, the year 1877, as
he observed it, 594 feet above the mean level of the sea, denoted
these meteorological phenomena, viz., — Jan.: A nearly
unbroken series of excessive temperature, which lasted, with
one solitary exception, from 1st to the 31st inclusive; gale3
on the 14th and 20th, 25th, 23th, 29th ; rainfall, 2'83 inches
in excess.— Feb. : Excess of R., 1.52 inches, much ozone;
gales on the 4th in Scotland, and a hurricane on 20th ; winds
westerly, rough, and boisterous.— March : 7th, a gale, N.E. ;
and on 17th a storm in Scotland— a month of moderate
ozone ; on 2nd the temp, rose 137 deg. from 22 deg.— April :
A month of elemental perturbation; hurricane on 4th in
Herts.; on 5th and 6th storms in Scotland; on 15th an
Atlantic gale " invaded the English Coast " ; excess of rain-
fall 022 inch.— May : A wintry month, 2 i days below average
temp ; wall-fruit trees much injured ; gales on 17th, 27th,
28th ; much snow in Scotland on 1th ; the highest thermal
point of this month only reached 3.6 deg. beyond the average,
and the monthly mean was 6 deg. below 60 years' computa-
tion.— June : A dry month, commencing with an equatorial
gale ; much heat on 3rd, when thermometer stood 67 deg. in
shade, and 71 deg. on 4th ; Solar radiation on 3rd, 131 deg. ;
deficient R. — July : A genial month, with abundant
R., and thunderstorms; on 15th, south wind and heavy
showers ; much heat on 29th, 30th, 31st, much ozone ;
Thermometer in shade on these days, 78, 76, 80 deg. of
Fahrenheit respectively. — August : Many thunderstorms,
and excess of R ; much heat on 14th, 19th, 21st, shade
thermometer stood at 85 deg., and 22 days were in excess;
winds chiefly equatorial, with gales on 3 days.— September
was an unseasonab le month, with deficiency of ozone ; a
moderate gale on the 12th, with monthly deficiency of R
0.81 inch below the computed value for 35 years,— Oct.
produced much atmospherical disturbance with destructive
gales ; on 8th and 11th gales prevailed, and on 21st and 23rd,
w ith R; a fierce gale prevailed on the 28th; excess in

142

THE PARMER' MAGAZINE.

R., and ranch ozone fluring this month.— November : Many
L;iles and tempests prevailed j Atlantic cyclones also ; these
tempestuous winds were preceded by symmetrical radiating
cloud modifications in the N.W. angle, " and the radii have
bean supposed by physicists to exert a specific influence on
telluric magnetism." But Dr. Allnatt suggests : " May not
these manifestations of the positive and negative section of the
statical magneto-electric conditions in the higher regions
of the atmosphere affect by conduction the earth's surface ?"
—Dec. was much calmer j monthly R upwards of one
inch-and-a-half in excess ; a moderate gale with rain on the
lilh; on 20th and 24th another moderate gale from 3.W.
But : " On Christmas day the open weather completely
broke up, the ni^ht thermometer registered 25 deg.,and the
mean of the day was 8.6 deg. below the average; to 29th,
depression occurred; barometer sank from 29.30 inch to
2S"80 inch. The respective thermometrical night registers
were 25, 27, 23 deg ; the diurnal means were from 6.7 to 8.6
below the averages ; on 29th, temp, rose from 67 mm. to
8.8 deg. max., a rise in 12 hours of 16 deg ; on 31st a north
wind reduced the temp, to the normal Christmas average ; the
weather in this vicinitv (Banbury) was much the same, and
on the 30th pelting showers of rain with much wind, inun-
dating the roads, occurred ; fine on the 31st." Dr. Allnatt
in his table, gives the mean temp, for Dec. 1877, and for 50
years respectively, as follows :— For each day, viz , 42.3, 42.6 ;
42 6, 42; 42.41; 42.11, 9; 42.3, 43.1; 45.42; 42.6, 42.2;
373' 41.4; 43.40, 8; 35.40, 5; 31.39,5; 45,40, 3; 36.3, 40.3;
31 to, 5; 35.10, 6; 41.6, 40.4; 41.40, 1; 37 3, 41.6; 31.39, 6 ;
3s 39' 6- 40.39; 43.38, 2; 40.38; 39.38; 25-6, 37.2; 32.36, 7;
20 3,' 37.1; 30.36, 7; 43.37, 1; 47.33. 8; 38.38, 2.-The
R at Frant, in Dec, was 3.50 inch. — The Dec. 1S77
r for these 32 places respectively was as follows,
viz: Cuxhaven, 2 23; Sumburgh Heal, 5.13; Storn-
away, 6.78 ; Thurso, 3.37 ; Wick, 3.02 ; Nairn, 1.93 ; Aber-
deen,'2.66 ; Leith, 1.66; N. Shields, 1.53; Scarborough,
2 27 -'York, 2.14 ; Nottingham, 1.90 ; Ardrossan, 6.61 ; Green-
castle, 5.80*5 Donaghadee, 3.0; Kingstown, 2.03; Holyhead,
417- Liverpool, 2.88; Valentia, 6.85; Roche's Point, 5.29;
Pembroke, 3.03 ; Portishead, 2.27 ; Plymouth, 2.66 ; Hurst
Castle, 1.65; Dover, 2.77; L mdon, 1.51; Oxford, 1.60; Cam-
bridge, 1.73; Yarmouth, 195; Jersey, 3.03; and Paris,
1.86 inches. In the Regent's Park, London, the 1377 R was as
follows, viz.:— Jan 5.06, on 25 days ; Feb 1.90, during 13 days;
March,' 2.22, 9 days ; April, 2,53, 16 days ; May, 2.54, 13

days ; Juno 0.47, 7 days; July, 3.59, 17 days; Aug, 2.29, TO
days ; Sept, 0.82, 12 days ; Oct, 1.93, 11 days ; Nov, 3.79, 22
days : and in Dec, 1.57 inch during 17 days.— Total 23.71
inch during 201 days. — The 12 months R at Camden
Square, London, was 28.17 inchjduring 195 days, including
3.88 inch for Nov., and P59 inch during December. — During
these years, 1358-77 inclusive, 20 years, Mr. Symons noted
the R as follows, viz., respectively, 18.87; 23.21; 32.21;
22.27; 27.59; 21.59; 16.93; 29.18; 31.60; 26.29; 23.40; 25.42;
21.32; 25.02; 33.83; 22.67; 18.82; 28.11, 26.16; and for 1877,
2S.17 inch. It appears that the 1377 R was about 12 > per
cent, above the average. — January produced move than twice
the usual R. — The months January- April inclusive pro luced 11
inch instead of 6 inch of R.— May and June were dry months.
— Tae excess of the year, 3.15 inch, is nearly that of Jan— The
chief daily R was on 11th Nov 0.83 inch. — In Ireland,
at Cahirciveen, in Jan 7.40 inch of R fell; Fob. no return ;
March, 4.81 inch ; April, 6.31 ; May, 3.52 ; Juno, 2.39 ; July,
2.31; Aug no return; Sept 3.02; Oct 5,36 inch.— At Cork,
for these ths, 8.08; 2.56; 2.99; 6.45; 3.80; 1.43; 6.08;

3.23; and 7.18 inch respectively. — At Dublin tho R was, for
Jan, 8.63 ; Feb, 1.29 ; March, 2.81 ; April, 5.03 ; May, 2,10 .
Juno, 0.96; July, 3.21; Aug, 4.78; Sept, 2.01; Oct, 2.11.—
In Feb., at Haverford, Aberdovey, Llandudno, and Cardiff,
the rainfall was, respectively, 3.77; 4.75; 1.11; and 2.79
inch.— ilarch, 4.06 ; 3.01; 2.92; 2.66 inch.— April, 5.92; 2.51 J
2.30 ; and 2.90 inch.— May, 4.42 ; 3.32; 2.32; 2.47 inch.— June,
2.91; 3.69; 1.59; and 1.43 inch.— July, 4.45; 6.03; 5,23; 1.91
inch.— Aug, 6.07; 6,98; 5.77; 5.70 inch.— Sept, 3,92; 2.59;
4.3J ; and 325 inch.— Oct, 6.22 ; 4.69 ; 3.30 ; and 1.89 inch,
respectively. — In London, sunshine and rising barometer
were noted on the 31st Dec. — If any reader desires to record a
no:able storm, etc., it should be forwarded to Mr. G. J.
Symms, the Meterologlst, 62, Camden Square, Lou Ion, for
insertion in his monthly magazine.

I am, yours faithfully,

Svvalcliffe, Oxon. Christopher Cooke.

P. S.— The Wantage R in 1877 was 29| inch— between 3 and
4 inch above the average ; Jau, Aug, Nov, rainy ; June, dry ;
May frosts destroyed the f'-uit. At Glasgow, of 4,670 days
4,259 were dry and 3,411 rainy ; in 1872 there were 205 rainy
days— the rainiest year of 21 years'; in 1370 there were 231
dry days at Glasgow.

MARK TWAIN'S IDLE EXCURSIONS.— We prowled
on several hours, sometimes by the sea-side, sometimes in land,
andfiaally managed to get lost, which is a feat that requires
talent in Bermula. I had on new shoes. They were No. 7's
wheal started, hat were not more than 5's now, and still
diminishing. I walked two hours in those shoes after that be-
fore we reached home. Doubtless I could have the reader's
sympathy for the asking. Many people have never had the
headache or the toothache, and [ am one of these myself;
hut. everybody has worn tight shoes for two or three hours, and
know the luxury of taking them off in a retired place and
seeing his feet swell up and observe the firmament. Few of
us will ever forget the exquisite hour we were married. Once
when I was a callow, bashful cub, I took a plain uuseutimental
country girl to a comedy one night. I had known her a day;
she seemed divine ; I wore my new boots. At the end of the
first half-hour she said, " Why do you fidget so with your feet ?"
I said, " Did I ?" — then I put my attention there and kept still.
At the end of another half-hour she said, "Why, do you say-
Yes, oh, yes!' and ha! ha! oh! ceitainly! very true ? " to every-

thing I say, when half the time those are en'irely irrelevant
answers ?" I blushed, and explained that I had been a little
absent-minded. At the end of another half-hour she said,
" Please, why do you grin so steadfastly at vacancy, and yet
look so sad?" I explained that I always did that when 1 was
reflecting. An hour passed, and then she turned and coutemp-
lated me with her earnest eyes and said, " Why do you cry all
the time ?" I explaiued that very funny comedies always
made me cry. At last human nature surrendered, 1 secretly
slipped my boots off. This was a mistake. I was not able to
get them on any more. It was a rainy night ; there were no
omnibuses going our way ; and as I walked home, burning up
with shame, with the girl on one arm and my boots under the
other, I was an object worthy of some compassion, especially in.
those moments of martyrdom when I had to pass through the
glare that fell upon the pavement from street lamps. Finally,
this child of the forest said, " Where are your boots ?" aud
being taken unprepared, I put a fitting finish to the follies of
the eveuiug with the stupid remark, " The higher classis do.
not wear them to the theatre."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

143

FEDIGREE AGAINST QUALITY.

Our correspondent, Mr. W. II. Sothatn, has sent us
the following article, an abridgment of one which, he
h;u published in an American paper : —

It is a sad mistake for a man to extol his steeds, herds, or
flocks to court popularity ; neither is such a man aware of the
injury he does to the community he professes to instruct by
so doing. Every practical breeder is aware that there is
diversity of character in almost all breeds aud that it is the
skill of the breeder that conveys it to perfection ; he forms a
perfect type of his own, and breeds to it. Mens' judgment
will vary in this type, but there is but one standard lor a pro-
fitable aui .ial, destined lor the shambles, which is the final
end of all, and he who breeds to that higher standard of
excellence is the man to be upheld.

No man can arrive at this exalted station unless his skill
has taught him to reach that standard of perfection uniformly
throughout the whole herd, s'.ud, or flock, regardless of
breed.

Tiirre are some families in all breeds superior to others
more especially in the Shorthorn cattle, aud it requires the
most consummate skill to obtain uniformity ; very few possess
that skill. Pedigree and speculation have turned mens' brains,
aud men of money, who knew not the value of it or how it
was obtained, have, in their recklessness, over, owered enter-
prise. These fancy men, in their madness for pedigree and
" in breeding," have been deceived by hidden outs from Scots,
which converts pedigree into a hodgepodge character, and has
turned those who worshipped it into ridicule. Bat no practical
man can be mistaken.

Dukes aud Duchesses stand high on the human record ;
therefore the nobility must sustain these titles in Shorthorns,
regardless of the hidden crosses in their pedigrees. Although
they have improved them, it would be considered de.gradiug
were the facts brought to light; still these cannot be hid from
a practical man of judgment.

A cow, heifer, or calf, with from 5,000 to 40,000 dollars
tied to the tail, with a pedigree of pure Bates' Duchess, no
matter how inferior the animal, must be sustained, and the
rich " commoner," jealous of nobility, feeling himself equal in
purse, and shut out from the aristocratic circle for the want
of title aud a registered pedigree, is determined to vie with
them, regardless of price, in obtaining fanciful ones for his
Shorthorn herd ; heads it with a Duke, with 4,000 guineas on
his horus, and then a Duchess or two, with an equal sum at
their tails, thus putting his herd on an equality in the fancy
things, no matter how uneven his herd might be.

I never knew a speculator, with money or an estate to back
him, with a hobby for fancy, that had a uniform herd ; hence
the Duchess mania, notwithstanding Mr. Bates, in his con-
fession in " Bell on Bates," admitted that the cross he made
with the West Highland heifers was not ouly an improvement
on his Shorthorns, but even on his fanciful Duchesses.

No better apparent proof could be given of this to thinking,
practical men, familiar with that breed, than the Duchess
heifer purchased by Col. Collipping, at his and Mr. Spears'
sale, at Chicago, for 15,000 dollars : a good judge might have
taken her for a superior West Highland heifer in colour,
shape, and quality. An original "pure Bites' Duchess "
never produced so thick and mellow a hide as did she ; her
neck, vein, aud shoulder points were purely Scot. It was plain
to me that the object ol Mr. Bates, in making this cross, was

to reduce the long, coarse legs, 'the ragged shoulder points
improve the neck vein, lower the high hips, spring the fore
ribs, so as to change the paunch into a straighter uuderline,

thus giving symmetry to the original " pure B ites' Duchess."
But where, oil where, is pedigree P and why were such ex-
orbitant prices given for it ? Will some of the agricultural
editors who have been puffing the Duchesses and Thomas
Bates' explain this? Will some of the buyers themselves en-
lighten us ? It would be beneficial to breeders aud the
couutry if this explanation could be made satisfactory.

It is this mad speculation that has brought on this panic in
Shorthorns, and has caused so many heavy failures. A Duke
or a Duchess mu^t be had, at fictitious prices, regardless of
the inferiority of the animal. The pedigree aud the title were
all in all.

I have before cited Mr. Abram Ilenick's Kentucky herd as
an example, and will do so again, as I thiuk such a one is
worthy of making an impression on breeders. His cows and
heifers all look as if they had been run in the same mould, in
symmetry, quality, and substance, colour vary in?. In ex-
amining his pedigree you will find an approved mixture of
Stevenson, Booth, Bates, and Knightly. He never allowed
fancy to betray his judgment, neither would he allow a large
coarse bull to enter his herd, by which the majority ot breeders
have been led astray in Dukes, with their extended haunches
more particularly. Although Mr. Renick is using, at present,
a Duke bull, he has none of the general coarseness and
paunchy character of the Dakes. He possesses the apparent
element of Booth in his fonquarters. Pedigree would not
have tempted Mr. Renick to have purchased this bull had
not the animal suited the type he had for ned in his mind,
thus modeling the nucleus of his herd, established his
uniformity, and a name so well and favourably known among
all breeders.

THE EVILS OF THE LIVE CATTLE

TRANSIT.

We are told upon good authority that, since the adoption
of the abattoir system of slaughtering cattle by wholesale,
fully 90 per cent, of the meat consumed iu New York is so
unhealthy as to be totally unfit for food. A large portion of
the cattle have come from Texas, or Kansas, or Colorado — a
rough jouruey of one or two thousaud miles. Before the re-
cent improvements iu stock cars they were half starved oa the
way. Tne loss of weight on the journey is usually from 10
to 20 per cent. 5 per cent, of the hogs aud sheep are
smothered to death. The bulky steers are maimed and
bruised. But, even if the animals arrived sound and whole,
the fact would still remain that they come in such an ex-
hausted condition that they are totally unfit for food uutil
they have had time to recover from their fatigue. Every one
who has travelled by rail from JSTew York to a Western city
knows how tiresome the journey is. It must be far mote so
to uureasouing animals packed together like herrings, without
choice or opportunity to change their position, and scared at
fiuding themselves thus whirled away. Nervous excitement
always produces more or less fever, which consumes the vital
forces and dries up the juices of the body. After such a
journey, rest is absolute y necessary to restore health to the
vital functions. But it is a well-known fact that, although a
steer ordinarily loses from 100 to 150 pounds on the journey

144

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

from Texas or Colorpdo, the dealer carries the shrinkages to
the account of profit aud loss, and turns the animals into
meat without more than a few hours' delay.

There can be no doubt that the noticeable deterioration in
the quality of our meat within a few years is chiefly owing
to this cause The abattoir system has well-uigh swept away
the ancient and honourable guild of butchers of the past, wh°
used to scour the country round for fat cattle, and drive them
to the city or ship them by canal or steamboat. They were
connoisseurs, and, after passing their hands over an animal,
bought with unerring judgment. The butcher of to-day has
to take what he can get. He has no longer the profits and
perquisites of the slaughter-house. It is his interest to hold
his tongue and sell what comes to him. He buys the best-
looking meat he can get for his money, and sells what the
market affords. But the old butchers shake their heads, and
own that meat is not what it used to be.

Now, it would be a great misfortune if this state of things
were a necessary result of the abattoir system. Since its
adoption the odious slaughter-houses have been driven from
the crowded parts of the city. It is a saving in time and
money, and by concentrating the business at points convenient
to the railroads has tended to encourage the raising and ship-
ment of cattle, until now their transportation pays better than
any other Western freight. The trouble is that there are no
safeguards thrown around this important industry for the pro-
tection of the public. Ignorance and cupidity are allowed
free course. We question whether there is a great city in the
world, outside of the United States, where such an important
part of its food supply, and one so subject to abuse, is left
without any adequate iuspection. It is as though we abolished
the quarantine aud left the gates of the city open for yellow
fever — beeause there are diseased animals continually coming
to the abattoirs, and who knows where they are going? The
origin of the plague— the most terrible scourge known to the
human family — is attributed to the use of diseased animal
food. We have inspectors of grain who get forty cents a car-
load for inspecting this innocent commodity, which does not
come within the province of the sanitary authorities. But
the Board of Health have confessed their inabilit to control
or check the fraudulent sale of skimmed and swill milk which
is going on under their noses. They plead that their appro-
priation is insufficient to employ more than one milk-inspector,
and of course it will go no further towards providing for the
thorough inspection of cattle, even if all the abattoirs around
the city were within their control. Some means certainly
should be adopted to give people a little more confidence in
what they are eating.

Take the abattoir at Sixty-fifth Street, for example. Its
cattle are turned for a few hours into muddy and rocky yards,
where hogs and goats would not find existence tolerable. The
New York Central Railroad, which brings the cattle to this
a\> ittoir, stretches through miles of interval land in Winches-
ter county, suitable for gracing cattle, where they could be
turned out for a few days' rest and recuperation. A steer that
loses from 100 to 1501b. weight in the journey from Texas
or Colorado, and arrives in a fevered condition, would regain
enough flesh in a few days to more than meet the expense of
detention, so that the consignee would lose nothing by paying
some regard to the public welfare. But such provisions can-
not be expected of the private corporations that carry on this
business. They wilt do exactly what they are compelled to
do to protect the public health, and nothing more. It is time
that they were taught that the public have some rights whicn
tlioy are bound to respect. — New York Sun.

EXPERIMENTS AT THE BROWN

INSTITUTION

ON THE COMMUNICATION OP FOOT-AND-MOUTH

DISEASE FROM DISEASED TO HEALTHY

ANIMALS.

By W. Duguid, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Surgeon to the
Institution.

In a report already published in the Journal of the Royal
Agricultural Society, Dr. Sanderson gave an account of some
preliminary experiments on foot-and-mouth disease, which
appeared to show that under certain circumstances its commu-
nication by mediate contagion is more difficult than is usually
supposed. Iu the experiments in question, the infecting mate-
rial was obtained at Deptford, either from live animals or (in
one case) from an animal just slaughtered. Iu all these cases
the appearances of the disease were so characteristic that,
although nothiug was known of the previous history of the
cases, no doubt could be en'ertained of their nature.

Opportunities have since offered themselves for repeating the
most important of these observations, particularly those relatin g
to the infecting power of the discharge from the mouth. For
this purpose material was obtained, not from infected cattle
just imported from the Continent, but from animals in the
Metropolitan Cattle Market, reported by the inspector as
affected with foot-and-mouth disease.

As before, three of the experimental animals at the Brown
Institution were fed, February 1st, 1877, with hay which was
more or less soaked with the discharge from the mouths of
the diseased animals. Subsequently, March 22nd, a fourth
animal was treated in a similar manner. All of these acquired
foot-and-mouth disease ; the time of incubation in the several
cases being thirty-six hours, two days, two days, and three
days, the first indication of the disease being afforded by the
increase of bodily temperature. In each case the rise of tem-
perature was followed after one day by the first appearance of
the mouth eruption, which, twenty-four hours later, had
assumed the vesicular form.

The following table exhibits the progress and duration o f
the disease : —

Number

of
Animal.

Temperature.

Eruption.

First
Rise.

Maxi- 1 Restora-

mum tion to

Reached. Normal.

First
Appear-
ance.

Full
Develop-
ment.

I.

II.
III.
IV.

18 hours.
t-8 „
Ird day.
56 hours.

4th day.
4th „
5th „
4(h „

7th day.
7th „
8th „
6th „

3rd day.
3rd „
4th „
3rd „

4th day.
4th „
5th „
4th „

The times stated in the table are reckoned from the day ou
which the animals were fed on the soaked hay.
The range of temperature was as follows : —

Number

of

Normal.

First Rise.

Maximum.

Animal.

deg.

deg.

deg.

I.

101-99

102-5

104-8

11.

101-99

1028

105-2

III.

1020

1031

105-6

IV.

101-55

102-2

104-5

The lestoration of the temperature to the normal might be
evidently taken in this disease as a good sign of convalescence,
for although at this period the scars on the mucous membranes
were very obvious, the animals had already beguu to feed aud
ruminate naturally.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

145

Or. thfi sixth day of the disease in the animal last experi-
mented on, hay, soaked vvitli discharge collected from tlie
mouth, was given to two other healthy animals (the two
three-year-olds), without any effect. It is interesting to notice
that although the stableman who was employed iu attending
on the diseased animals had charge at the same time of four
healthy ones, none of them were affected.

In order to obtain information as to the risk of communica-
tion of foot-and-mouth disease by litter removed from infected
sheds, the bullock No. IV. was littered for eight days (?'. c. the
whole time of their illness) with the straw removed twice
a-day from l\os. I., II., and III., but it did not show any
signs of infection.

The promptitude with which the same animal was attacked
several weeks alter, when fed with soaked hay, proved that
this immunity was not dependent on insusceptibility. Finally )
the two remaining animals not used in previous experiments
were littered in a similar manner with the straw removed from
No. IV. during the whole time of its illness, but again withou1
effect.— Veterinarian.

THE LATE LORD KINNAIRD AS AN
AGRICULTURIST.

It was as a pioneer in agricultural matters that Lord
Kinnaird was most widely known. As a landlord he
was like many more, "just hard enough ." At the same time
he was respected by his tenants and by very many more. His
lordship farmed very extensively. Besides having 1,200 acres
regularly in his own hands, several other farms were occa-
sionally in the proprietor's occupancy, during which time
thorough draining and steam cultivation were carried on,
For many years his lordship had steam employed in the culti-
vation of his strong soils, in pulping chaff, cutting, heating
and otherwise preparing the food of animals. His large and
well-equipped farms have long been regarded as perfect
schools of agriculture, and have as sueh been visited by agri-
culturists from almost all countries. On no farm or estate iu
the United Kingdom has steam power been brought into so
general use as at Rossie Priory. Whether we look at the
draining by steam, the " knifing " — three feet deep — of much
of the strong clays by steam, the reaping and hauling by
steam in harvest, it must be admitted that the late nobleman
did much to further the application of this mighty power in
farm-work. He used principally Fowler's double-engine
system in field cultivation. The traction engine with which
his lordship worked a 9-feet reaper ii haavest, laying the corn
in swathe, was of American design.

All sorts of new machinery were to be found on his lord-
ship's farms. He took great interest in putting new imple-
ments to a practical test. Of a mechauical and inventive
turn himself, he invented several improved and useful imple-
ments, and helped to perfect many others. To the Bdl's
reaper machine he give a great lift. His farms, including
tho°e let, were mostly provided with substantial covered
court3, and pulping and dialling accommodation was care-
fully arrtnged.

So long ago as 1828 the late nobleman founded a flock of
Soithlown sheep. These he superseded iu a few years by
a ft. ck of Mae-faced Dishley Leicesters. After breeding them
for a considerable tine, Lord Kmuaird was fascinated by the
greater size of, and larger return from, the Border 1. icesters,
ot which he establithed a flock in 18G3. Bams of the Mer-

toun, Millendeau, Rock, and Ellinghara blood were used. The
llock was sold in the autumn of 1876.

A Shorthorn herd was started in 1835 by purchases from
Rose, of Gotham. The herd was carefully kept, and much
good Booth blood was introduced in the form of bulls until
about fifteen months ago, when the Shorthorns were dispersed
by Mr. Thornton. The clay-soil farms did not prove favour-
able for pedigree stock-brepding; and after gaining not a few
prizes at national Bhows, his lordship di-poscd of the herd in
order that his attention might be more exclusively than before
devoted to the development of steam cultivation.

His lo.d-hip was gifted with a ready and telling pen, which
lie freely used in periodicals and newspapers on behalf of
reform aud improvement. lie wa3 a hard worker, and his
able advocacy will be much missed by many a good cause. In
short, Scotch agriculturists have been suddenly called upon to
mourn the loss of an enlightened, enterprising, and influ-
e itial friend of agriculture. No doubt his lordship in farm-
ing mat ers may be said to have lived well-uigh half a century
before his time, yet his relatives have the consolation that
tie late lord's long and busy life has not been spent in vain.
The fruits of his lordship's labours will serve as a memorial of
the deceased peer for many a day.

The title and estates fall to the deceased's brother, the Hon.
Arthur Kinnaird, M.P. for Perth. A vacancy thus occurs in
the representation ol that city in Parliament. — North British
Agriculturist.

COVERED AND ENCLOSED CATTLE YARDS.— In
reply to several inquiries I write as follows: — " I have found
that it is not necessary to cut the straw for bedding in the
covered yards. The cattle trample it and break it, and, as the
depth of the manure increases, the plunging in of their feet
mixes it hetter than any dung-fork could do it, so that it comes
out short and ready for the laud. Where horses are kept iu
ooxes (which is a capital plan), it is essential to cut the straw
into short lengths — say, about 4 inches — because they are flat-
footed, unlike the opening and pointed hoofs of cattle, pigs,
and sheep. That excellent and admirable agriculturist, Mr.
Lawrence, of Cirencester, always kept his horse3 so. Sad mis-
takes are made by some who have covered yards, who tell me,
much to my astonishment, that they have to water the litter to
keep it moist. That at once tells me that they have adopted
the old plan of outside littering, expecting the urine to be as
abnndant as the heavy rainfall, whereas in the case of covered
yards it is essential to use as little straw as possible, and to take
care that the first layers get thoroughly soaked and wet with
urine before another thin layer is placed upon it— barely
enough to keep the animals clean. It is difficult to break in
farm labourers to this at first, having been used to deposit"
straw by the wig^onloadto sop up the rain-water. My men
and boys thoroughly understand this, so that there is never any
smell or fire-fanging in the mass — for consolidating by treading-
prevents heat and STiell ; but when the fork raises the mass its
scent and power are unmistakeable. We look upon guano and.
artificials wi'h contempt, as compared with the covered-yard
manure from fattening animals, taken at once to the land.
The covered and enclosed yards with paved floors are, I know,
the "key of the position " in cittle feeding. \\"e shall hear
less complaints about cattle not paying when this system is
generally adopted ; one of my practical neighbours has just
put up three such yards. There is plenty of evidence to show
tint ca<tle are much more healthy in ventilated covered yards
than iu fields. — /. J, .

iiO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE SEED-BED AND STEAM PLOUGH,

I hold it to be a sound and valuable principle that we
should, as agriculturists, not be ashamed to tell of our failures
as well as of our successes. Had that principle been acted
upon by some of my brother-farmers who have been usiug the
steam plough or cultivator, I should not have been a loser of
some £200 or £300. But then it is only by comparative trials
that we can gain the knowledge, in some cases, why we suc-
ceed or fail. Had I not so compared I might have been still
in doubt or ignorance as to the causes of my loss. Let me,
howevei, as a preliminary to this long paper, say — Take care
of your long-established seed-bed, and don't bury or impoverish
it, but let it be very rich and well solidified for the wheat crop ;
for Liebeg tells us, in his Natural Laws of Husbandry, and
other works, that owing to the feeble root development of
wheat it requires, in the seed-bed, enough food for 100 wheat
crops to produce one full wheat crop." And I quite believe
this ; but it is not so with oats or rye, or even barley.

I hope we are all agreed that steam power is cheaper and
more effective than either horse or manual labour, on the land
or at the homestead. Our manufacturers have long since
arrived at such a conclusion, and therefore we ought to cul-
tivate by steam ; but then the manner of that cultivation is, to
my mind, and from my experience, the most important part of
the question.

Dangerous as is the too-sudden addition of depth by the
horse plough, still more so is it with the steam plou?h, for the
latter may be said to multiply each horse in regard to power
by three, four, or even five.

In Vol. iii., Part 1, New Series, of the Royal Agricultural
Society's Journal we find 330 pages occupied by reports of
steam-cultivation, made by the able committees appointed by
the Society : most valuable and instructive they are in regard
to 60,000 acres steam-cultivated. But with all this I fail to
find a single instance where comparison has been made in the
Came field of the yield of corn under the two systems of horse
and steam ploughing. The Committee say, p. 125, " We faij
of exact evidence as to iucreased produce because farmers, as
a body, will not, and indeed cannot, (P) carry out accurate
experiments — in many cases the increase has not been suffi-
ciently marked to be visible to the eye, whilst in others from
4 to 8 bush, per acre is the estimated increase of corn crops."
Now from my experience it is in this " appearance " of the
crop that the danger lies, for mine and my neighbour's wheat
crops on the steam.ploughed land appeared to be all that could
be desired, and were pronounced very superior to the horse-
ploughed portion which (fortunately for me and for others
too) I had left in each field for a comparative result. From
its very first growth to its actual development the steam-
ploughed plants looked full of vigour in straw and l^af, bulky
as compared with the thinner and poorer- looking portion
horse-ploughed ; but when cut we had on the stem-ploughed
land bulk without weight, aud ou the horse-ploughed weight
without bulk. The straw-binders (when we sold the straw)
had to make their bundles of steam-ploughed much larger than
those from the horse-ploughed. The pitchers and loaders soon
discovered the difference. Well, we were all deceived, for the
steam-ploughed was fully 12 bush, less per acre than the horse-
ploughed, and a proportionate diminution of straw, involving a

loss of more than £1 per acre, besides the exfra -cost of plough .
ing. In fact I lost over £200 on my wheat crop. The same
thing occurred in my neighbour's field, where every one was
deceived to the extent of 3 sacks p< r acre or more.

I want to know whether others as well as myself have
tested their crops by comparison in tiie same field. A great
many of my agricultural friends have been steam-ploughing for
some years, and I should be glad to hear from them if they
have made comparisons.

In 1873 I happened to compare Mr. Middleditch's crops
(sold by public auctiou) with the price realised by mine in the
same year, and it stood thus — Mr. Middleditch's corn and
straw : —

Wheatperacre £11 11 0

Barley 6 17 4

Beans 7 16 0

Oats 6 2 5

£32 8 9

Mp. Mechi's crop3, horse-ploughed : —

Wheat £H 4

Barley 16 0

Beans 10 2

Picked peas, net price 15 15

No oats

£58 1 0
My barley crop in 1873, grown after wheat, was very good —
7 qr. on one field, and 7a qr. on the other per acre.

Mr. Middleditch's auction expenses would over-balance my
expenses of harvesting, thrashing, and carting to market.

Was this difference, or any part of the difference, in these
crops caused by steam-ploughing instead of horse-ploughing ?
or by farm manure against artificial ? perhaps by both — cer-
tainly Mr. Middleditch's land is better than mine — I wish he
had tried a portion of his fields horse-ploughed, for his own
guidance and for our information. Oue of the evils resulting
has been, on our stiff clays, the increased expense and difficulty
in preparing the land for the seed, harrowing seven or eight
times where two or three would formerly suffice ; and in wet
weather the drill cuts Hues in the pasty subsoil mixed with the
seed-bed, which has become less friable, for our subsoil islike
melted glue or birdlime when wet, despite drainage.

The question of how best to utilise the steam-plough is one
of immense importance, for use it we must while horses are
so dear. A shy neighbour said to my bailiff, " If your master
has used the steam plough he will never use it again ; " but did
not give any reason. But I found out afterwards that his crop
of oats onthesteam-plo ughed land only yielded half a crop as
compared with the horse-ploughed.

There is a natural desire to deepen one's cultivation when
the steam-plough comes to us, and has the power to do it.
remember that my friend Carey protested against my plough"
ing with his engines 0 inches deep and bringing up that nasty
yellow subsoil, so I changed it to 8 inches ; but 8 inches with
a Fowler's plough often turns out to be, in many cases, 15 to
18 inches.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

re

My advice is — keep your seed-bed on the surface, and only
break up the subsoil under it — not in great blocks, but iu
small pieces, or better still, in a friable condition if possible.

This has been my practice for 34 years, usually for root
crops, using horse-ploughs, the second or following p]
having no breast. The manure, which has been previously
applied on the surface, fills on the subsoil, so that we have a
" sandwich of manure " between two slices of earth, the seed-
bed being the upper one and the, subsoil the under slice. The
subso-1 thus gets manured trad grtduully improved, without
admixture with the surface soil. My abundant crops, both of
roots and cereals, have always given evidence of the success of
this practice.

fowler's steam plough with asubsoiler attaehed did this well
on my farm 20 years ago, but Carey says none of the farme.rs
would use it, so 1 could not get one on hire. Not one of m
neighbours has subsoiled for the last 31 years.

I was (and so were my neighbonrs) en husiastic on the
subject of steam cultivation. We saw how quickly, deeply,
aid effectually the soil was broken up and aerated and the
weeds killed — such a quick and perfect summer fallow ; and so
it was ; but we little thought that much mischief was being
done by mixing too abundantly the wretched subsoil with th
loug-aerated and long-manured top soil, thus impoverishing th
latter.

A' well known first-class land valuer and farmer when he
saw Fowler's steam plough breaking up my light, hard-
bottomed land, 12 inches deep, exclaimed enthusiastically,
" Mr. Mechi, this will add £3 an acre to the fee simple value
of your land," but both he and I were mistaken. What i« may
do in fifty years' time is auother part of the question . Wheu
our stiff clay in summer becomes dry and hud the steam-
plcugh can only work by getting under the dry surf ice and
thus bringing up immense clods of poor subsoil.

In newly-made railway cuttings we may see how dark and
superior that thin layer of top soil appears as compared with
the pale poverty-stricken subsoil, so we should reflect that if
we mix the two we ought to double our supply of manure .
but even that would hardly compensate, because the top soi{
has for ages received the benefit of heat, rains, dews, and
atmospheric changes, and, as Liebig proved to us, it has also
the power to arrest and fix all the ammonia, phosphates, and
potash that we usually put on it. No doubt this is why most
plants, especially the cereals, prefer the top soil and multiply
their lateral fibres therein, using the lower roots more as pumps
for water supply.

Jethro Tull told us that a plant having only one of its
roots in water contrived to moisten a boxful of dry earth in
which its lower roots had been placed.

More than 30 years ago the late Mr. Shaw, our then
secretary, and a deputation from the London Farmers' Club
visited me, and saw my mangel rows 4 feet apart ; they
exclaimed, " What a waste of land ! " (This was late in July.)
I replied, " There is not an inch of soil between the rows
unoccupied by fibres." They decidedly dissented, so 1 told my
old bailiff (Mayne) to spud the land between the rows, and
thus my statement was verified very much to the surprise of
my practical visitors, who were reproved by Mr. Shaw for not
Knowing better.

When we recently ploughed a field (steam-ploughed last
year) our horse-plough came frequently into contact with un-
dissolved blocks, which impeded the plough. We want more
pulverisation with the steam plough on adhesive soils. No

doubt the blunt, thick shares, and the rapidity of movement of
the steam cultivator, tear up blocks of earth instead of cutting
them, as is done by the thinner and sharper shares of the
ordinary slow-moving horse-ploughs. The land is thus in an
unsuitable condition for plant-roots, which require a pul-
verised soil. In this respect I consider Mr. Smith's (of
Woolston) plan very superior, because the shares are thinner
and the motion slower, and especially he is right in using a
single stem to break up the subsoil without mixing it with the
surface seed-bed. The blocks made by the powerful steam-
ploughs no doubt allow the water to pass freely among them,
but not, I fear, always through them. By impoverishing the
surface soil we violate the sound law laid down by Liebig iu
his Natural Laws of Uushandry; that it is on the closeness of
the particles of earth, saturated with manure, that our crop-^
depend, especially the wheat crop ; and this explains why the
Rev. Mr. Moule is right as to the value of his system, lor the
sifted earth frequently intermixed with the mannr? becomes
reguhfly coated or saturated, and thus confers a benefit greater
than could be obtained from an equal quantity of manure
applied in the ordinary way.

Good gardeners, when double digging, take care that ths
poor subsoil shall only be raised and turned over and broken
and the good soil replaced upon it. The late Rev. Mr Smith,
of LoU Weedon, always turned back the top soil, and then cul-
tivated and manured the bared subsoil, ul imately replacing upoa
it the surface soil. He was indeed an adept in wise cultivation
and great produce, as I had the pleasure to witness.

Thirty years ago I grew splendid white carrots by forking
the subsoil and then covering it with the top soil. All follow-
ing crops were much improved by it. Both my bailiff and
myself are convinced that ray loss caused by mixing too much
of the subsoil with the surface soil, or by burying the latter,
has caused me, directly and indirectly, a loss of nearly£390; and
I am not sure that we have seen the last of it yet. The earth
dug out to make an open ditch some 30 years ago was spread
on the adjoining soil, aud impoverished it for many years.

The clover crop, which, during spring and summer, feed
deeply in the soil and subsoil, appears to suffer much less from
the steam plough than the cereals ; mangels also push their
powerful fangs deeply and widely into the soil and subsoil, in
search of the good soil which has been mixed with the poor
subsoil. I never saw my mangels so faugy as after the steam
plough ; in fact they had all to be raised by the fork at an in-
creased expense, for it was impossible to pull them by hand —
especially the long red ; their quality was good, although the
bulb was so fangy. Tliere may be lands wiiere the suhsoil is of
very good quality, but as a rule in our county the soil under the
cultivated soil is not in a healthy coudition for plants, but
becomes improved by a gradual stirring aud manuring, keeping
it beneath the cultivated soil.

I think that the steam cultivators should be on the principle
of Bentall's broadshare— with sharp-pointed and broad
horizontally-placed slicers, so as to cut through the ground
rather than to tear up great blocks, as they do in their present
form. I like the steam ploughs, but when they go deep they
bury the top soil, and do more injury than the cultivators. It
appeared to me, in 1858, when tried on my own farm — and -
still believe it— that the subsoiler attached to and following
nder the surface plough steadies it, and enables it to turn
over the surface soil without intermixing it with the poor sub-
soil, which is left to the action of the subsoiler. I awai';
anxiously for comparative results on this matter.

143

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

A neighbour of mine parted with his tackle some year
ago because he found his crops so much smaller than mine,
and less than he formerly giew under horse culture. I would,
therefore advise our steam plough makers so to arrange that
the soil and subsoil might be broken without intermixing
with each other. This would greatly increase the sale of
steam cultivators.

It should be remembered that one inch deep of soil per acre
is 100 tons ; therefore, if we only mix two or three inches
deep of the subsoil with the topsoil, it impoverishes it to the
extent of probably 60 per cent., for our seed-bed rarely exceeds
five inches iu depth. A good dressing of chalk is only 20 to
25 ton per acre, or a quarter of an inch in depth.

Extract from p. 417 of Reports on Steam Cultivation :—
" The steam is almost entirely confined to autumn cultivation.
Here, as at Sutton, it is found desirable, in the case of fallow
laud, to throw the surface into deep ridges before winter, and
the fine surface is never again buried."

Extract from p. 411 : — " It appears to us that Smith's
implements break up and open the soil in a manner superior
to 'a cultivator." P. 377 :— " All the land for cereal

crops is ploughed by horses ; the steam plough goes too deep
and irregularly."

It is perfectly clear to me that the great clods produced by
the steam plough must be reduced to a fiue tilth by the Cross-
kill dra^s, &c, if we are to get a good crop of roots. At pa
377 of the Reports we have full particulars of these opera-
tions.

I have cross-examined several members of our Central
Farmers' Club, and they have confessed, rather reluctautly,
that they parted with their steam tackle because they fouud
their crops diminished. We must use steam, but so as not to
mix the subsoil with the old seed-bed. This, in my opinion,
c m be best done by attaching to the first plough a subsoiler
— and we must manure much more abundantly as we deepen
our cultivation. I have also ascertained that much mischief
has been done by the horse plough, where a sudden deepening
of a shallow seed-bed has caused the subsoil to be either mixed
wi'h or turned over upon it. But let it not be supposed that I
am for shallow cultivation. On the contrary, for 30 years I
have been a deep cultivator, both in theory aud practice ; but
keep your seed-bed uppermost and unweakened. — J. J.
Mechi, December, 1877.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COM.
MONS ON CATTLE PLAGUE AND IMPORTATION OF LIVE STOCK.

We reprint these recommendations as issued by the Central
Chamber of Agriculture.

1. That as a statutory arrangement the importation of all
animals from Russia, and of cattle from Germany (except
Schleswig-Holstein) and Belgium, be prohibited, whilst that
of other animals from these last two countries, and of all
animals from the rest of Europe, should be subject to the pro-
visions of the same schedule, power being reserved to the
Privy Council to prohibit the importation of animals from
other countries if they think fit. An exception, however,
should be made in favour of store aud dairy animals, provided
they remain in quarantine for fourteen days, and afterwards
are placed under inspection for two months. •

2. That the Privy Council should be empowered to deal
directly with the cattle plague whenever it appears iu this
lcountry, and that for this purpose it should receive from the

ooal authority immediate notice of every outbreak.

3. That the power to order the slaughter of animals sus-
pected of cattle plague should extend to animals in premises
adjoining to the infected premises.

4. That whilst the compensation for the slaughter of ani-
mals affected by cattle plague should remain as it is at pre -
sent, the compensation for the slaughter of animals suspected
of that disease should be the full value (not, however, ex-
ceeding £40).

5. That all compensation for the animals so slaughtered,
whether diseased or suspected, should be defrayed from im-
perial funds.

6. That in case of pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth
disease breaking out, the Privy Council should have power to
fix the limits of the district which is to be treated as infected.

7. That uniform rules applicable to all districts declared
infected should be issued by the Privy Council, but should be
enforced by the local authority, subject to the supervision of
the Privy Council.

8. That, in the case of pleuro-pneumonia, the compensation
for the slaughter of animals, whether suspected or diseased,
should be at the same rate as in the case of cattle plague, but
should be payable out of local funds.

9. Thst stock exposed in Islington Market should not be
allowed to leave the metropolitan district alive.

10. That, in the metropolis and large towns, dairy aud
cattle sheds should be subject to registration, inspection, and
regulations.

11. That the restrictions applicable to Great Britain should
be extended to Irelaud and the Channel Islands, or else that
ports should be specified in Great Britain by the Privy Coun-
cil to which alone importations of live animals from Ireland
and the Channel Islands should be lawful, the animals not
being permitted to betaken inland unless examined and passed
by a Privy Council Inspector at the port of debarkation.

12. And your Committee are of opinion that no further
restrictions should be placed on the importation of | foreign
animals in respejt to foot-and-mouth disease and pleuro-
pneumonia, unless at the same time orders be enforced through-
out Great Britain that in every district where either pleuro-
pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease exists, and which has
been declared by the Privy Council to be infected, all move-
ment of cattle be prohibited except under licence, that fair3
and markets be under similar restrictions, and that absolute
prohibition of movement be enforced against infected farms
for periods varying from two months in pleuro-pneumonia to
twenty-eight days in outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

13. That where required effect should be given by the
Legislature to these recommendations.

The following is the form of petition to Parliament
now being circulated by the Central Chamber for signa-
ture : —

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1-if)

TO THE liONOTJEABLE THE COMMONS OF THE UNITED
KINGDOM IN I'AliLIAMliNT ASSEMBLED.
Tlie Humble Petition of
Siioweth :
That jour petitioners, being breeders and feeders of live
stock or interested in the production of meat and dairy
produce, have suffered and are subject to great losses by fan.
ported and preventible diseases of animals ;

That the risk of breeding and feeding animals liable to
attacks from the frequent re-introduction and spread of foot-
and-mouth disease, pleuro-pneumonia, and other contagious
maladies has been the means of materially reducing the total
head of cattle and sheep in the Uuited Kingdom ;

That the admission ot foreign diseases into the United
Kingdom has greatly damaged the export trade in high cla-s
stock for the improvement of foreign and colonial herds and
Hocks ;

That your petitioners hail with satisfaction the recommenda-
tions for the suppression of contagious diseases of animals
made by the Select Committee on cattle plague and importa-
tion of live stock.

That your petitioners are willing to aid in Buch intern 1
regulations as may be necessary for repressing diseases, pro-
vided that the recommendations of the Select Committee, in
respect of imported foreign animals, be carried into effect ;

And that your petitioners have no desire to reverse in an y
way the policy of free trade and of open competition with
producers in all parts of the world, but only to secure the
herds and flocks of the United Kingdom from imported con-
tagious diseases.

Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your
honourable House will be pleased to pass the recom-
mendations of the Select Committee on cattle plague and
importation of live stock into law.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
[This must be copied in writing without erasures, and one
at least of the signatures must be on the first sheet.]

JOURNALISM TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

There seems to have been a necessity since time imme-
morial among at least half-civilised nations to bring events of
importance to the knowledge of the people by the medium of
writing. To this purpose answered the hieroglyphic inscrip-
tions of the Egyptians, the tombs of Babylon, covered with
Assyrian characters, the Phoenician tablets, and the well-known
Marmor Radium.

The first Roman journal, over two thousand years ago, ap-
peared only once a year. This paper, intended especially to
b« read by the public, was known by the title " Annales
Maximi." The editor of this paper was the Pontifex Maxinius,
whose duty it was to chronicle all the important events of the
year. The news was written on white wooden tablets, and
attached to the residences of the citizens. It must have beeu
a very curious sight to see the old Romans crowding around
the tablets to get a look at the latest news. But the thirst
after knowledge and the curiosity of the people grew rapidly,
and in such a measure that the Government, the only issuer
of the journal, found itself obliged to issue a daily. It is
very interesting to know that some of these journals, having
reached 2,041 years, are still in existence. The name of the
journal was " Acta Populi Romano Diurna," and appeared
daily, cither as Album, ;'.<?., while the tablets huug out iu pub-

lie, or the contents were written with red chalk on the walls
of the houses. The contents of this journal comprised what
would be classed as daily news in our modern papers. From
the want of the necessary material political articles were not
to be had. Nevertheless, according to the views of the
Romau Government, it was a true journal, and intended as
reading matter for the public, which might also he inferred
from the fact that the archives of State were carved iu bronze
and inaccessible to the public. Perhaps it would be of interest
to some of our readers to peruse a copy of a verbal transla.
tion from the oldest journal known, issued 168 years before
the birth of Christ : " Consul Sicinus was the acting judge
to-day. There was a heavy thunderstorm, and the lightning
split an oak at the foot of the hills of Veli. In an hostelry
at the foot of the hills of James there was a fight, in which
the landlord was badly wounded. Tilinius punished some
butchers on account of their selling meat which had not been
inspected ; the money thus paid was used to erect a chapel to
the Goddess Laverea. The broker Ausidius fled from town
to-day, taking money with him belonging to other people ; ha
was caught, and had to refund the money. The brigand
Demiphon, who was captured by officer Nerva, has been cru-
cified to-day. The flotilla from Astia arrived to-day."

You can see from this that it was in olden time pretty much
the same as in our days. We only wish that our officials
would attend to the butchers as well as Titinius did. It
must be of interest to journalists to know that Julius Cfc<ar
the greatest of all Romans, paid special attention to jour-
nalism. He saw the necessity of instructing his people in
everything occurring in the State ; and we find this quotation
in Suetonius :—

" Julius Cresar, as soon as he had entered his public office,
caused not only to be written, but also spread among the
people, the proceediugs of the Senate."

This was the first political paper, and, as it contained news
about building, births, deaths, executions, and anecdotes, it
can be likened very much to our modern papers. It seems
incredible, but it can be proved, that already in the olden
times there were stenographers who took down the speeches
made in the Senate or in public. They were called notarii ;
and we find a place in Suetonius where Augustus is angry
because the stenographers reported the speech of C:esar for
Metellus in a very imperfect manner. There must have been
reporters, judging from a letter of Cicero to Ccclius, also pri-
vate reporters, who gathered the news and sent them by the
cursus publieus — an institution similar to our mail-
throughout the provinces.

"You can see from this that Alciba's saying, "There is
nothing new under the sun," is verified once more. — Trans-
lated from the German.

DRIVING TRADE OUT OF THE COUNTRY.— An
ounce of fact is worth a ton of comment or argument touch-
ing the existing depression of the British iron trade. I
know au ironworks in South Staffordshire which has just been
partially rebuilt. It is in the very heart of the principal
mineral field in England, and all the iron used was imported
from Belgium, and delivered at ICh. a ton less than it could
have been bought on the spot. Here is another fact con-
taining food for reflection both by English ironmasters and
English workmen. They have been building a new bridge at
Abingdon, and every bit of iron girder used, in all 800 tons,
was imported from Belgium, and conveyed from Loudon by
he Great Western Railway.— Mat/fair,

150

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FARMING IN BRINDISI,

The movement of the farmers which has taken place
within a recent period from North Italy to the district
of Brindisi does not appear to have been accompanied
with the success that was at first anticipated. Since
1867, thirty-four farms, extending over 24,000 acres of
land, had heen purchased for the aggregate sum of
£58,000. Attracted by the low price of land, which was
then in the market, the North Italians, without further
inquiry, eagerly bought up all the property they could
regardless of its being for the most part the refuse of the
district, under the illusion that they would be able to
make it yield as much as the highly-cultivated plains of
Lombardy. But tbey soon found themselves completely
out in their calculations, both in respect of the land
already under cultivation and of that which had to be
reclaimed. As to the latter, the expense was found to
be so great, owing to these properties not being within
easy reach of labour, that little or no margin was left
for future profits ; and as regards the former, a system
of farming was adopted which, not being suited to the
economic and natural conditions of the country, turned
out unprofitable.

The state of agriculture described by Consul Grant
presents features of considerable interest, so far as relates
to farming operations in countries different to our own.
The land is divided into small holdings and large farms.
The former, varying from two to thirty acres in extent,
lie round the towns and villages within a radius of from
one to two miles, and are highly cultivated. Beyond this
radius the aspect of the country suddenly changes, and
all signs of high cultivation disappear as one enters upon
he vast plains which are the peculiar characteristics of
this part of Italy. Sub-divided into farms of from 300
to 3,000 acres, they are entirely devoted to cereals and
pasture, and are totally uninhabited, except by the in-
mates of the farm-houses, which are few and far between.
The soil of this district is composed chiefly of flinty-
calcareous clay, with a subsoil of calcareous marl, at a
depth of from 15 to 30 inches. Bole, or ferruginous
clay, is likewise frequently met with under the arable
stratum, and the. is also a considerable extent of land
which has, betwefc^ the arable stratum and the marl
subsoil, a stratum of fistic clay, or potter's earth, upon
which the water settles ^o such an exteut during the
rainy season as to render it an fit for cultivation, drain-
ing being, as yet, but little known and practised in this
part of Italy. This kind of land is generally abandoned
to spontaneous vegetation and utilised for grazing.

The general system of farming is of a very primitive
nature, and attended with unsatisfactory results. Each
farm is provided with farm-buildings in proportion to its
size, consisting of one or two rooms for the tenant and
his family, two or three store-rooms for produce and
agricultural implements, a small Hour mill, an oven, a

barn, a stable for draught oxen, and three yards (one for
sheep, one for lambs, and one for oxen), each enclosed by
a high wall. The farms are stocked with draught oxen
and sheep. The former do all the ploughing and other
draught work, and the latter are kept for the purpose of
utilising as pasture the land which is lying fallow. A
pair of oxen are required for every twelve and a half
acres of plough, and four sheep for every two and a half
acres of pasture. Cows are hardly ever kept on these
farms, and goats only on such as are partly composed of
waste lands.

In Brindisi oxen are strong and well-bred animals of
the Apulian breed. Their average price is £24 the pair,
but as much as £40 are sometimes given for the very
best. The average yearly cost of a pair of oxen (includ-
ing keep, ploughman's salary, interest on capital, mor-
tality, &c.) is £27, of which £2 are recouped in manure.
They work 240 days in the year, so that the cost of a
day's work is 2s. 2d. per pair. The farms are generally
let for four, six, or nine years, at the rate of from 3s.
2d. to 5s. 9d. an acre, but they are also frequently worked
on the metayer system. Under this system the landlord
supplies the farm stock — viz., oxen, sheep, and seed
which are appraised and handed over to the tenant, all profit
and loss on the same being shared equally between him
and the landlord on the expiration of the contract. The
produce, after deducting a preliminary charge of three-
tenths in favour of the landlord, is divided equally between
them, leaving but three and a half-tenths of the whole
produce to the tenant, a miserable pittance which barely
suffices for the maintenance of himself and family. The
rotation of crops more generally followed in the district
extends over six years, in the order of fallow, wheat,
oats, flax, and two remaining years for pasture. The
e.itire profits of the six years give an annual average
profit of 8s. 4Jd. per acre, that of the crops being 9s.
Id., and that of the two years of pasture 6s. lid. The
wretched result attendant on the cultivation of corn
requires a word of comment. It is principally to be
attributed to superficial ploughing, insufficient manuriug,
and want of drainage.

The Brindisi plough i3 the most primitive instrument-
of husbaudry that can well be imagined. It is composed
of a small wooden head, a handle, a light beam to which
the oxen are yoked, and a pointed iron sock, fitting on to
tae end of the wooden head, which does not go deeper
than se7en inches into the soil. The North Italians have
nicknamed this plough " aratro chiodo" (nail-plough).
The one-horse plough, which is much used, is so slight
that the peasants, riding to and from their work, fasten
it, shafts and all, to their pack-saddles, and carry it so
for miles. Such an instrument requires no further com-
ment, and is in itself sufficient to account for the poverty
of the crops. Deep-ploughing, when not (as in the case

of the North Italian colonists quoted) divorced from th
customary rotation of crops, would at once double the
yield, and this is proved by the fact that whenever the
peasants rent a small piece of farm land, which they
prepare by digging to a depth of from 16 to 20 inches,
the produce is sufficient to enable them to pay a rent of
from 10s. to 20s. an acre. The scarcity and inferior
quality of manure is a difficulty less easily overcome,
being principally due to the want of cattle, whose num-
ber is necessarily limited, owing to there being but little
food for them in the summer, when the whole country is
dried up, as it hardly ever rains from the end of May to
the end of September, and there is no water available for
irrigation. 'With respect to drainage, so esseutial to
land upon which the water settles a3 it does in this
locality, there is no reason why it should not be more
attended to. It is only necessary to record the fact that
many a valuable crop is lost through the neglect of this
most important branch of agriculture.

The foregoing description of the system of farming in
the territory of Briudisi is meant to convey a general
idea of the state of agriculture as it is commonly met
with on large properties, but it would be doing injustice
to some of the landowners of the district were it not
mentioned that although what we should call high-farming
does not exist, there are properties which have been con-
siderably improved within the last few years, by draining
(open drainage), reclaiming waste lands, extending and
improving farm buildings, and by the introduction of
modern ploughs and other agricultural instruments,
among which may be mentioned two steam thrashing-
machines. This tendency to improvement which exists
among the landed proprietors will, without doubt, ia
time spread to the class of professional farmers, in spite
of their instinctive dislike to innovation.

The small holdings which, as already stated, lie around
the towns and villages, offer a remarkable contrast to the
large farms just described. The whole energy of the
population is devoted to them. Here we find a variety
of cultivations, among which that of the vine predomi-
nates. To this the wealthier proprietors devote them-
selves almost exclusively, but the poorer occupants
generally sow wheat, cotton, beans, and other crops be-
tween the vines, in order to make sure of a re-
tarn of some kind in the event of the vintage failing
them. The vine is the mainstay of the commune of
Brindisi, and from the profit which it yields it may well
be asked, why the whole district is not oue large vine-
yard. It is the scarcity of population that limits this
most remunerative culture, which requires more hand-
labour than any other, all the work being done w iththe
spade. If the vast plains by which Brindisi is sur-
rouuded were colonised the unprofitable cultivation of
cereals would soon disappear, and be replaced in great
measure by that of the vine, whereby the agricultural

wealth of the district would be incalculably increased .

for, owing to the growing demand for the article since

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 151

the opening up of railway and steamboat communica-
tions, there is no fear of the market being overstocked
with wine.

ON SLANDERING SAFELY.

From an amusing paper, entitled " Some Precepts for
Slandering Safely," in a recent number of Scribuer's
Magazine, we take the following extracts: —

" The deBire," say? the writer, Mr. C. H. Truax, " to know
exactly how much I could say against my neighbours without
making myself liable in an action for slander, induced me
3ome time ago to make a collec'ion of legal precedents. For
a long time I had felt the need of them— a need, I doubt not,
that has been felt by hundreds of others. It is hardly neces-
sary to say that I have found then useful They have not
only proved a very present help in time of trouble, but they
have imparted to the character a certain repose and confidence
which will prove of rare value in future emergencies.

" It is no slight recommendation of these precedents (com-
piled from adjudged cases in this country and England) that
they are applicable as well to cases of libel as of slander.
Slander is the malicious utteiing of false and defamatory
words, tending to the damage of another. It is the malicious
utterance that makes the slander ; so that, if words are
spoken in a friendly maimer, as by way of advice, admonition,
or concern, without any tincture of ill-will, they are not
slanderous. Of this character are communicttions in regard
to servants, advice as to dealing with tradesmen, and other
statements of a like nature, which are called privileged com-
munications. You will at once perceive, my dear reader,
what a field is here opened to the discreet.

" While it is actionable to call a man a thief, it is not
actionable if you add the words, ' Because he has stolen a cat,'
the stealing of a cat not being felony; and Judge Twisden
said (2 Keble, 377) that ' thieving rogue ' was actionable, but
< thievish rogue ' was not, because it implieth but a bare in-
clination. Stevenson said of Hig^ins that he was a ' kuave,
and a sitting knave, and had received stolen goods,' and the
court held the words not actionable, because it was not
averred that Higgins knew them to be stolen goods, and
Twisden said that even then the action would not lie (2 Keble,
338); it is not actionable to say, ' He is a drunken rogue '
A cheating knave' (2 Keble, 333) ; but it is actionable to
say a man cheats in his trade ; or to say, ' You are a thieving
rogue, and get your living by pilfering and stealing ; ' for
these words imply a habit and a trade of thieving, (2 Keble,
■ilO) ; you can say of your neighbour, ' lie seeks to take my
life,' and no action will lie, for he may seek your life lawfully
upon just cause ; and also the words are too general, and for
seekingjalone no punishment is inflicted by the law. (i Coke,
5.)

" No action lies for saying, ' He is in Warwick gaol for
stealing a horse and other beasts,' because it is not directly
affirmed that he had stolen them, but it is only a report of his
imprisonment and the supposed reason therefore. But the
words, ' He stole them and was in gaol for it,' are actionable.
(Hobart Rep., 239.)

" You can call a clergyman a dunce, blockhead, or fool, for
it does not injure him in his profession. The court held that
one can be a good parson and a great fool, but otherwise of

152

TILE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

an attorney. It has been adjudged that to call a justice of
the peace blockhead, ass, etc., is not a slander for which an
action will lie, because— note the distinction— he was not
accused of any corruption in his employment, or any ill-design
or principle ; ' And it was not his fault,' said the court, ' that
he was a blockhead, ass, etc. ; for he caunot be otherwise
than his Maker made him ; but, if he had been a wise man>
and wicked principles were charged upon him when he had
them not, an action would have lain ; for, though a man can-
not be wiser, he may be honester than he is.' (Holt, 653.)

" You can say of a lawyer, ' He has as much law as a
moukey,' because he hath as much, and more also. But i
you say, ' He hath no more law than a goose,' then are those
words actionable. You can say, ' He is a common barrator,
and deserves to be hanged,' for the words ' he deserves to be
hanged ' are too general and extravagant to found an action
on ; because it was not shown what act was done to deserve
hanging. (Yelverton, 90.) The words ' Honest lawyer,'
spoken ironically of an attorney, were held actionable.

" You cannot say of jour butcher, ' He has nothing but
rotten meat in his shop,' but you can say, ' He has rotten
meat in his shop,' for the reason that such words would not
tend to his prejudice in his trade, for he might well have rotten
meat in his shop and good meat also. (12 Mod., 4-20.)

"Generally, it is dangerous for a man to quarrel with his
physician, but such quarrels sometimes do happen, and it then
becomes necessary to consider what can be said of him with-
out being made to pay for the pleasure. Of course you under-
stand that you can call him a « bad man,' a ' rogue.,' a
■ scoundrel,' and many, if not all, of the names mentioned
above. I caution you not to say anything against his pro-
fessional skill, uuless, like Meddle in the play, you put by a
small weekly stipendium until you can afford it. You can say
to his brother doctors that he has met homceopathists in con-
sultation (9 Jurist N.S., 580), and that will injure him very
much, if he belongs to the regular school. You can also say,
' He was the cause of such a one's death,' because ' a physician
may be the cause of a man's death,' said Lord Mansfield, in
Peake vs. Oldham, Cowp. 275, ■ and very innocently,' and this
remark would in reality reflect upon his skill. But you can
not say, ' He hath small practice and is very unfortunate in
his way, and there are few sick but die under his hands.' (2
Keble, 489.) You can say of him, ' He is not a physician,
but a twopenny bleeder,' and can insinuate that he is not a
graduate of a regular medical school. (Foster vs. Small. 3
Wharton, 138-142.)

" Let me advise you, if you should be sued for slander, to
swear as a witness in your own behalf that you believed what
yon said to be true. If you have carefully avoided the
appearance of malice, as I advised you to do, this evidence, if
it does not succeed ^establishing a complete defence in your
behalf, will serve to reduce the amount of damages to such an
extent that you will feel you have had the full worth of your
money,

" It may seem at the first reading that I have endeavoured
to injure my profession by extending among the laity a
knowledge of the law of slander ; but a careful examination
of what I have written will convince any lawyer that such is
not the case— that in reality these rules, if acted upon, will
be the source of as much new litigation as any ' Every Man
his own Lawyer ' ever printed. I shall thus have made two
lawsuits grow where there was one before, and shall have
deserved well of the profession. For, my dear brothers, if we

can once get a hot-tempered man started on these non-
a;tionable words, ten to one he will forget himself and run
over into those that are actionable ; or he will so exasperate
his opponent that he will either commit an assault (and then
we shall have an action for assault and battery), or will use
words that are actionable, and so make himself liable to an
action for slander ; or, better yet, will both slander and
assault, and then there will be a multiplicity of actions.

EXPERIMENTS WITH POTATO SETS— A French
agricultural journal, the Basse-Ceur, describes the resut of some
experiments in potato-growing recently conducted bylscientific
men in Germany. The principal conclusion to which these
sages have come seem to be two in number. The fist of them
is, that the vigour of the potato plant is always in direct pro-
portion to the weight of the tuber used for sets— a theory
which certainly finds some support in common sense alone,
considering that the young shoots for some time draw their sole
nourishment from the mother potato. The second conclusion
is that there is a great variety in the productive power, not
only of different tubers, but also of different eyes in the same
potato. It is found that the eyes at the top of the potato
produce a much more vigorous offspring than those in the
lower part, and the consequence is that those agriculturists
who cut their potatoes in half before planting them are not
well advised in cutting vertically, but should always divide
them horizontally, planting the upper half and using the
other as food for cattle. But best plan of all is to plant the
tuber whole, cutting out, nevertheless, all the eyes except
those in the top part. Experiments were conducted in a
garden soil by Professor Gantz, the amount of crop produced
by several different settings of potatoes being accurately esti-
mated in statistical tables. It appeared that from tubers
divided vertically only 5 tons were produced per acre, and
from whole potatoes 7j tons. The third sort were potatoes
horizontally divided, which are set down as having produced
9; tons. In this particular, however, some of the other
Professors do not agree with Herr Gautz, but maintain that,
other things being equal, the whole potatoes will always
produce more than halves, however cut. On the fourth
result, however, all agree, and that is, that the whole potatoes
from which the lower eyes have been cut out produce 11^ tons
per acre, or more than double the result shown by the Sets first
mentioned. — Financial Opinion.

SHELL FISH IN 1675.— We have received from a cor
respondent a curious old oill rendered in the reign of Charles
II. to Mr. Walter Tucker, the Mayor of Lyme, in Dorset. It
was on the occasion of his entertaining the Judges on their
Assize visit. The items are : — Thirty lobsters, £1 10s. ; six
crabs, 6s. ; 100 scallops, 5s. ; 400 oysters, 4s. ; 50 oranges, 2s.
This seems rather an odd bill of fare. That the Judges were
supposed to be partial to shell fish seems evident, but why in
the name of all that is indigestible should oranges go with
crabs and lobsters ? It might be worthy of note if the sentences
could be found which the Judges passed on the culprits after
such a supper. — Meat and Provision Trades' Review.

FARM COMPETITION.— The entries of farms in compel
tition for the prizes, amounting' to £240, offered by the Bristo-
Local Committee in connection with the next show of the-
Royal Agricultural Society, are sixteen in number. Of these
thirteen are dairy or stock farms, and only three are arable o
The competition is limited to tenant-farmers in Gloucester-
shire, East Somersetshire, and North Wiltshire,

THE FARMER !3 MAGAZINE.

153

THE CATTLE DISEASES COMMITTEE AND THE CENTRAL CHAMBER.

When tlio Report of the Cattle Diseases Com-
mittee of the Central Chamber is read at the meet-
ingonTuesdayitwill porhaps occur to some member
of the Council to inquire, first, why an imperfect list
of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Com-
mittee has been circulated, under the auspices of
the Chamber ; and, secondly, whether it is advis-
able for the Chamber to give its support to all the
proposals of that Committee. The most important
of all the recommendations of the Select Com-
mittee, that of the slaughter of fat cattle at the
ports of debarkation, is not mentioned, or at any
rate not distinctly mentioned, in the list of thirteen
recommendations which have been sent out by the.
Central Chamber, and which farmers are advised
to pray may be made into law. No doubt it will
be replied that these thirteen recommendations
are supposed to summarise the advice of the Select
Committee, and that if they do not clearly effect
that object it is not the fault of the Central
Chamber, but of the drawer of the Report. This
is true ; and yet we are of opinion that when the
Chamber, or the members of its Cattle Diseases
Committee, undertook the responsibility of advising
the farmers of the whole country to petition in
favour of the recommendations of the Parlia-
mentary Committee, they might have made sure
that the most important of all these recommenda-
tions was clearly expressed in the summary that
was sent out. The only possible reference to
slaughter at the ports of debarkation contained in
the thirteen recommendations, which we copied
last week as that sent out by the Central Chamber,
is contained in the badly-expressed 1st recom-
mendation, which advises that all animals allowed
to be imported from Europe " should be subject
to the provisions of the same schedule." No
particular schedule is mentioned, and it is only by
a guess that one can jump to the conclusion that
the schedule intended is to insist on the slaughter
of all fat stock from Europe at the ports of
debarkation. People who have not a copy of the
entire Report will be astonished to find that there
is nothing said about slaughter at the ports iu the
supposed summary, and may think that they have
been mistaken in supposing that slaughter was
recommended. Indeed, it is a fact that many have
already expressed their astonishment at finding, as
they suppose, that the recommendations of
the Select Committee do not say a word about
this, the most important suggestion contained in

the Report. The Central Chamber Committee
might have noticed this important defect in the
summary, and have supplied the omission by
reprinting Clause 27 of the Report, which is as
follows : —

11 On the whole, after considering the various
alternatives, your Committee would recommend
that, as a statutory arrangement, the importatiou
of all animals from Russia, and all cattle from
Germany (with the exception of Schleswig-
Ilolstein) and Belgium, should be prohibited, and
these last two countries as to other animals, and
the rest of Europe as to all animals, should be
added to the list of scheduled countries, with
power to the Privy Council to forbid the importa-
tion of animals from other countries if they thiuk
fit. And all cattle imported therefrom should be
slaughtered at the port, such ports to be defined,
of debarkation ; and that all store or dairy cattle
should be quarantined for 14 days at certain
defined ports of landing. Such stock on removal
to be registered as to where sent, and there to be
under restraint and immovable for two months."
This is plain enough.

Then as to the petition. Farmers are a°ked, by
signing it, to pray that the House of Commons
" will be pleased to pas3 the recommendations of
the Select Committee on Cattle Plague and the
Importation of Live Stock into law." Now, it is
ivith the strongest reluctance that we incur even
the suspicion of causing a division in the agricul-
tural ranks upon this question ; but does the
Central Chamber really desire that all the recom-
mendations of the Select Committee should be
passed into law ? Of course we are all very grate-
ful to the members of the Committee for having
drawn a Report which is on the whole so valuable
and we are all ready to give it our general support.
But it is not infallible in all its details, and the
Agricultural Associations of the country may be
reasonably expected to point out any defects which
they observe. It is not necessary, nor does it
induce respect towards those bodies, that good and
bad suggestions should alike be swallowed in a fit
of effusive gratitude. It was all very well to re-
ceive the Report thankfully, and not to be in a hurry
to point out its defects ; but when it comes to be
a question of drawing up a Parliamentary Bill a
much more careful scrutiny is required. Then it
is desirable to point out which recommendations
we desire to have adopted, and which amended,.

154

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

This the Central Chamber has not attempted to do,
but, on the contrary, has advised the farmers and
graziers throughout the country to ask our legisla-
tors to embody the suggestions of the Select
Committee, good and bad alike, in an Act of
Parliament. Having done this, it is of course out
of the power of the Chamber to suggest any
alterations hereafter, if the Bill should be drawn
in accordance with the suggestions referred to.
We presume that the members of the Cattle
Diseases Committee of the Chamber are respon-
sible for having placed the Chamber in this
position, and we think they have acted unwisely. Is
it possible that they approve of all the recommenda-
tions of the Select Committee ? Do they approve of
the proposed admission of store and dairy animals
to the interior of the country after a fortnight's
quarantine ? Are they satisfied that Schleswig-
Holstein should be excepted from the prohibition
asainst importing cattle from the rest of Germany P
Do they think that it should be a fixed condition that
no stock exposed at Islington market should be
allowed to leave the Metropolitan district alive ?
The first of these questions is by far the most im-
portant, and we could forgive the Chamber for
overlooking the others. As to the last, indeed, we
should say the restriction mentioned in it is
necessary if the lax provision mentioned in the
first becomes law. With proper restrictions upon
the importation of foreign animals, there is no
reason why the Islington market should be more
dangerous than any other large market ; but if
Dutch cows are to come into London after only a
fortnight's quarantine at the port, then the Metro-
polis will always be a centre of disease. To
except Schleswig-Holstein from restrictions
applicable to the rest of Germany would be an
anomaly, a3 we have pointed out on a previous
occasion. This, however, is a point that we will
not dwell upon. But the proposed admis-
sion of store and dairy stock after an insufficient
period of quarantine we regard as detracting to a
very serious extent from the value of the Select
Committee's scheme, and upon that point, at least,'
we think the Central Chamber should have ut-
tered a protest.

The agricultural party will not gain, but lose,
through an undiscriminating adoption of the Re-
port af the Select Committee in all its details.
Parliament is certain to grant us something less
than we demand, if it grants us anything. If our
friends of th8 Opposition understand that we are
perfectly satisfied with the recommendations of
the Committee, they will insist on taking some-
thing off, just for the sake of driving as hard a

bargain as they can. Their policy all along has
been the blind and prejudiced ono of opposing
anything and everything that was asked for by
the farmers or their representatives, and they will
do their utmost to ensure that we do not at any
rate get all we demand. So, by a too amiable ex-
hibition of affected harmony with the Select Com-
mittee, the Central Chamber will weaken instead
of strengthening the chances of getting a good
measure passed, and at the same time will stand
in a weaker and less logical position as a repre-
sentative institution.

Cattle Disease Prevention, as a question between
Parliament and the agriculturists, stands thus :
The latter have, through their representatives,
agreed to put up with great inconvenience in the
form of stringent internal regulations for the
stamping out of disease, provided that fresh con-
tagium is kept out of the country, as it can only
certainly be by the complete exclusion of foreign
live stock. The Select Committee propose the
exclusion of live cattle from some foreign countries,
and slaughter at the ports of debarkation of those
allowed to come from other countries of Europe.
This proposal the agriculturists have accepted, and
in our opinion the concession is the utmost that
should be asked from them. By accepting it they
agree to the great inconvenience of stringent in-
ternal regulations, although it does not afford the
complete safeguard against the fresh importation
of foreign disease for which they bargained ; and
when it is further proposed to leave open such a
loophole for the entry of disease as will be pro-
vided if store stock are to be admitted with
utterly insufficient precautions, the arrangement
ceases to be in any respect a fair one.

WHY FARM LEASES NEED NO LONGER BE STRIN-
GENT.— la my early days, seventy years ago, farms had to baste
themselves, for there were then no guanos, bones, or artificial
manures, no cotton, linseed, or other cakes ; no importation
of foreign feeding stuffs, such as maize, &c. ; no means of
intercommunication by railways, steamships, telegraphs, or
penny post ; no mangels or kohl-rabi ; no farmers' clubs or
agricultural shows, no agricultural newspapers, no steara
thrashing machines, no steam ploughs, no reaping or mowing
machines, and scarcely any agricultural implement makers.
But now all this is changed, and British agriculture has be-
come almost a manufacture. These changes have rendered
necessary a great increase of tenant capital, but it can hardly
be expected to flow in sufficiently or abundantly unless duly
protected, and with the newly-required freedom of action. No
doubt landowners have considered all this, and have perceived
the necessity for concurrent changes and improvements ia
leases and homesteads, with drainage, enlargement of fields,
&c, so that the British farmer may be better enabled to sustain
the contest with foreign competitors.— -«7. /. Mechi.

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

155

LIVE STOCK N O T E S.

The " Man of Mark Line" is candid in his confession
thut his American friend, who has forwarded him an ex-
tract from a Cincinnati piper recounting the failure of l>.
Groome and Son, W. D. Sutherland, &(!., " is perhaps a
little prejudiced against ' fancy' Shorthorns," and is an
advocate of " the Ilerefords that are rapidly getting into
favour in the United States." One might, however, have
guessed his predilection, small blame to him the same. But
to the idea that the failure of Messrs. Groome and sundry
others can permanently affect the Shorthorn market, I
demur. There are plenty cf sound buyers left over the
water, let but good times come again. As the American
friend further states, " the supply of well-bred animals
for breeding purposes is much below the demand" across
the Atlantic. The public prints concur in endorsing the
statement, which long since I advocated in these very
columns, that the establishment of the dead meat trade
' between these parted shores would lead to an increased
demand for good stock, both male and female."
A writer in The American Live Stock Record,
of December 22nd states that Mr. S. Corbin
had recently " sold out (and got the money for
every animal) a number of fine cattle," and that too " in
a part of the country (Virginia and Maryland) where
it was impossible to sell Shorthorn cattle before the ex-
portation of beef and cattle to England commenced. The
English trade will not take any but the best cattle we can
raise, and it behoves us, then, to make every effort to im
prove our cattle. Let the farmers buy a few thorough-
bred cows each, at the low prices at which they aie now
selling, use nothing but thoroughbred bulls on their pre-
mises, and become breeders instead of speculating, and I
am certain that no investment they can make at the pre-
sent time will prove more lucrative." By all means, buy
as low as ever you can, but let it be of the best. Quite
lately I urged upon the breeder to thin out his weak-
lings, and to strengthen his hand, waiting with confidence
the return of market sunshine. " The importers and
breeders of improved stock in Kentucky have been p iblic
benefactors, and no clas3 of men in the State have done
more for it." Fair play, then, to the noblemen and wealthy
commoners who have of late years in this country been
engaged in an honourable rivalry to obtain and nurse in
their purity such cattle as were best commended by the
early improvers, such as the Messrs. Colling, &c. ! And
for the life of me I fail to see why, instead of the praise
they deserve, so much adverse criticism (to use a mild term)
is thrown upon those wealthy men, who choose to inves1
their surplus cash in pedigree cattle rather thau in the
rotten foreign bonds which have engulfed so many of our
apparently shrewdest people. There are not only the
wilds of savage countries, but our home parks to populate.
The nobleman finds that the ancestral fallow deer are dear
iudeed. He prefers, as other wise men, to make fair profit
out of his pastures, and it i» further satisfactory to him

that his tenantry, obtaining " slips of calves" from his
herd, have been enabled to work themselves gradually to
a better footing, in the possession of an improved collection
in their foldyards. Search the neighbourhood of anv one
of our leading Shorthorn breeders, and the difference o^
ordinary stock is at once eeen. The times are hopeful
for the earnest breeder. The youth of England every day is
leaving our crowded hive, and carrying his home tastes
and acquaintance to distant lands. Let those who doubt
the future of America alone study Mr. Thornton's interest-
ing papers in the early numbers of his circular. la
The American Agriculturist, January, 1878, 1 read, "The
production of meat is destined, without any doubt, to be
immensely extended as the great "Western plains become
covered with herds, and as the farms East of those become
feeding places for finishing off the grass-raised cattle into
mature fat beef, or into breeding farms for supplying pure-
bred bulls to the graziers ; and all these together become
purveyors to the needy people of Europe, as well as to our
own rapidly-increasing population. The present nucleus,
from which the greater part of our future beef, and much
of our milk, butter, and cheese, must come, exists in our
pure Shorthorn herds, and to these we must look for the
greater part of the means we shall use for the future
development of stock-growing. With such a future in
prospect the Shorthorn interest cannot long remain
depressed. Intending buyers could have no more favour-
able opportunity than the present."

"While the subject is fresh in my mind let me admonish
the beginner not to give his breeding cattle, bulls especially,
oilcake. It destroys, or r?ther mars, their usefulness. He
cannot keep his working herd on too plain food. Many
an otherwise unaccountable disappontraent has occurred
through the bulls' indulgence in this fattening stii"",
Mr. Bowly's Third Duke of Clarence, who recently suc-
cumbed to nature, quite suddenly fading, was at one lime
one of the best Shorihorn sires in England, and did ample
justice to the enterprise, not only of the famous Siddiim'.
ton breeder, but to his first owner, Colonel Kingscote.
lie will have a high niche in Shoi thorn history. It is
curious how in some points he ran back to Favourite, with
whose blood the veins of the Duchsss tribe quite overflow ;
and who is described in Bell's history (as from the lips of
Mr. Bales) thus: Favourite " was a large massive animal,
had remarkably good loks, and long-level hind-quarters ;
his shoulder-points stood wide, and were somewhat coarse."
There was little else to find fault with in the Third Duke,
as the grand old fellow used to be seen on parade before
the familiar barn door. His successor, and late aide-de-
camp, the Beau of Oxford 2nd, who was a very ordinary
youngster, has grown into an excellent animal. He is, un-
doubtedly, pinched behind the shoulders, but having said
that much, I have said all that is against him in shape.
He meets you well; he has a pleasant countenance, and yet
masculine air, good loin, long body, long quarters, and
M -2

156

capital thighs. His stock, too, is very promising. By
the way, I hope that in his April sale of dairy stock Mr
Bowly won't immure any of the Gazelles, as was intended.
There are few tribes to be seen exhibiting such uniformity
of character, with thoroughbred look, as this Siddington
sort, tracing to Rev. H. Derry's early discrimination, does-
Mr. Bowly should nurse them uutil he can sell a lot and
keep a lot— it is a mistake to run too dry — for if any
Shorthorns are worth anything, these assuredly are, con-
sidering their type, and the accumulation of rare old blood
in their veins.

The following excellent advice is given in The
American Agriculturist : " Grade pigs are preferable
to any pure-bred ones for the farmer. As a rule,
it will be found a mistake for a farmer to keep pure-
bred animals except males to produce grades. High-
bred animals are nearly always smaller and more finely
organised than their grade progeny. Their greatest value
consists in producing an improved progeny from our com-
mon stock. This is large in size, and in every way more
valuable for jthe market or for home use than the pure-
bred sire would have been. In no kind of stock is this
fact more manifest than with swine. No matter what
kind of breed of pigs is kept, thi3 rule will hold good."
How, then, are pure sires to be obtained, if some do not,
for the love of it, keep breeds pure ? Thers is no doubt
of old inherited virtues, whether deep milking properties
or aught else, working up to the surface sooner or later,
however overlaid temporarily with inferior stuff in the
" grade" conglomeration.

At this season of the year, especially where barley-
straw has been in use, lice are apt to infest the cattle,
young and old. Their locale is soon seen by the bare
spots, from which they sever the hair, so that you may
lift it in handfuls, as though clipped with a machine. An
innocent recipe, therefore superior to the dangerous mer-
curial ointment, given in one of this week's papers, is to
rub the part with a mixture consisting of sweet-oil aud
kerosene. Why not porpoise oil, if they are on pasture ?
That might keep out wet and cold, and save shedding.

I have just seen a neighbour's kitchen-garden folded
with sheep, and eating white turnips — rather a good
dea in some respects. Why did one never think of it
before ? It is the tups that are so confined, and there-
fore far from the flock, which is sometimes of advantage
on a mixed homestead, where the shepherd drill is not
thoroughly understood.

Where do the starlings come from? I have just
bzeu watching them arrive in endless detachments, as the
passenger pigeon of America, then wheel and dive in;
whole regiments at once, into a thicket of blackthorn,
where they soon jabber themselves to sleep.

Birds to the front again ! We desire the recovery of
our rooks, who left us en, masse a few years since. We
are recommended to hang up a piece of horseflesh in the
trees of their old haunt, and are assured that it will in.
duce their return to their deserted village. Can any one
advise a better remedy ? Vigil, Jan.. 18.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE FARMERS' CLUB.

The following subjects have been Used for discussion : —

February 4. — Traction Engines for Agricultural Pur-
poses.— By Mr. T. Aveling, Rochester.

March 4. — The Breeding, Hearing, and Management

of Cart Horses. — By Mr. F. Street, Somersham, St.

Ives, Hunts.
April 1. — Farm Work in Harvest. — By Mr. T. Rose,

Melton Magna, Wymondham.
May 6. — Local Government, with special reference to

Rural Districts.— By Mr. W. E. Little, Stag's Holt,

March.
November 4. — The Need of Greater Unity of Action in

the Agricultural Interest.— By Mr. J. G. Edwards,

Broughton, Stockbridge.
December 9. — The Paris Exhibition : its Agricultural

Teachings. — By Mr. J. K. Fowler, Prebendal Farm,

Aylesbury.

The discussions will commence at half-past 5 o'clock
p.m. There are no meetings in January, June, July>
August, September, or October.

MR. WALTER A. WOOD'S HARVESTER

AND BINDER IN AUSTRALIA.

A special correspondent of the The Queenslander, writing
from Melbourne, on October 20, an account of the Vic-
toria National Show, held at Stawell, a distance of 176
mile9 from Melbourne, states that — " The main attraction of
the showyard was the range of Wood's harvesters, with
Locke's self-binders. These were exhibited by several firms.
I saw an excellent illustration and read an interesting descrip-
tion of the wonderful machine a few weeks back in The Queens-
lander, so I assume that my readers are conversant with all
its details. There was a prize of £20 offered for the best
reaper and binder at Stawell, to have a field trial. The third
day of the show three of them, all of Walter A. Wood's make.,
were brought out about a mile from the tovvn, and tried en a
field of half-ripe barley. Mr. William Watson, a Victorian
farmer, who first imported this harvester to Victoria, had first
trial. He proved thoroughly up to his work, and with two
horses knocked down the barley very smoothly, and made his
machine bind speedily, well, and practically. There were
over live hundred farmers present, and I believe they all felt
satisfied before Watson had worked half-an-hour. There was
one fault found, and that was not with the machine, bat with
the manner the sheaves were thrown out. A few present
thought with ripe grain there might be a loss, but others Baid
no. It was a very pretty sight to observe two of these ma-
chines wading through the heavy barley, and throwing out
sheaves as boys would throw about a ball. From my expe-
rience of the trial, I can give the harvester an excellent cha-
racter. It cut as well as any reaper in the colony, and bound
evenly and tightly. Mr. Watson- has tried them in several
districts with ail kinds of crops. I was glad to see the
prize-ticket hung on his machine. The judges awarded it
more for the manner of work than for any other motive, for,
as I before remarked, the machines exhibited were all from the
same manufacturer."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

153T

FREE TRADE IN LAND.
No- II.

Before I attempt to explain what the actual ex /sting Laud
Laws are under which the condition of things which I des-
cribed iu my letter of the 2Cth December has been produced,
it is necessary to get rid of some fallacies which have laid
hold of the public mind upon this subject, And indeed it is
not surprising that strange misconceptions should exist, con-
sidering how we lawyers have surrounded and overlaid the
subject with technical terms, with innumerable finely-drawn
distinctions, with many thousands of decisions of the courts,
and with statutes heaped on statutes, many of which are ex-
pressed in the scarcely intelligible jargon of the middle-age
^egal language.

It is not, therefore, matter for surprise that many able
laymen, when discussing this subject upon the public platforms,
should use language whicli makes lawyers smile, and which is
0nly too sadly calculated to mislead their hearers, or at least to
divert their attention from the real points to which it ought to
be specially directed.

First and foremost, it is absolutely necessary to get rid of
the idea that the vast accumulation of the land, which I des-
cribed in my] former letter, has been caused by "Primogeniture."
Nothing can be more incorrect. " Primogeniture" only means
that when an owner of land dies without having made a deed
or a will settling and disposing of his land, the land in such
case shall all go to his legal " heir," without any other rela.
lions taking anything. No doubt this is very objectionable,
and no doubt it tends to some extent, where no deed or will
exists, to keep the great estates together, but only to a smal[
extent. For first, very few landowners are so foolish as not to
make a deed or will ; and secondly, even where such a case
occurs, the legal " heir" takes the land without any restric-
tions or limit to his full power to sell or give it away, just as
he pleases, and without anything to prevent his creditors, if
he Is in debt, seizing and selling it. I think the law of
" Primogeniture," as it is called, ought to be done away with,
but it is not this law is mainly to blame, but the
laws which enable the owners to . tie up the
land for so many years by deeds and wills, as I will presently
explain. Another fallacy which is sometimes anxiously in-
sisted on is that the law allows landowners to tie up their
land and keep it out of the market " iD perpetuity," as it
is said ; or in other words, for all future time. This is simply
a delution. The law, bad as it is in my opinion, is not so bad
as this. No person is allowed by the law to tie up his laud so
that it cannot be sold for a longer period than the lifetime of
any number of persons actually in existence at the time when
the deed or will was made, and until the unborn child of some
»ne of these persons attains the age of twenty-one. But as
landowner is allowed to let his land for very long terms of
years, which may in some cases have the effect of preventing
any one person having the entire control over it, or being the
perfect owner of it, or being able to sell it, for much more
than one hundred years. Another fallacy is to lay all the blame
upon the " entail " laws, as they are popularly called. It i
quite true that many entailed estates are really, by the deed
or will which created the " entail," prevented coming into the
market, or, to speak more correctly, put under such regula-
tions that no owner can sell for a great many years, but an

estate which is " entailed " is not always necessarily in such
a position. An owner of an estate which is entailed may, and
often is, in such a position that he can, if he will, give or sel*
the land to any one he chooses, though such a case is an ex-
ceptional one, inasmuch as before such a state of circumstances
occurs as to give him this power another deed is generall Y
made which takes away from the owner all powers of selling for
many, many years again.

It is also an absurd and totally unfounded fallacy to say, as
Sir Stafford Northcote did in his speech at Bournemouth on
Dec. 4th, 1877, that any of the intelligent leaders of public
opinion among the Liberal party want "a free system of the
distribution of land." I do uot know what Sir Stafford exactly
meant by these words, or indeed if they meant anything at all ;
but, if they did it is sufficient to say that no intelligent Liberal
wishes for any system " of the distribution of the land." All
that they desire is that the law should interfere to pre-
vent the sale and breaking up of the great estates, when
change of circumstances, or poverty, or misfortune, or bad
managem nt, or immorality, would otherwise bring them into
the market.

Neither is it true, in any sense, that really thoughtful men
wish to compel the sub-division of estates^ They only desire
that the law should not oppose such sub-division if circum-
stances would otherwise render it certain to happen. Neither
do they desire, as is constantly alleged, that all the land should
be divided into little estate ). That is not the case in France,
or in any other civilised country in the world. Even in-
France, whose laud laws we do not wish to copy, the land is
— spite of the law, which seeks to compel sub-division—,
divided into great estates, medium sized estates, small estates,
and gardens owned by their possessors. But the vast difference
between France and Great Britain is that if a great landowner
in France mismanages his estate, or gets ruinously into debt,
or does not care to keep it, or feels that he could employ his
capital to some better purpose in some other way, he is never
prevented by deed or by will from selling, nor is his land ever
protected by law^from being sold. Another extraordinary
doctrine is that which is advocated by Mr. Francis W. New-
man, in Frascr's Magaz'uie for December, 1877, viz.," to limit
by law the magnitude of estates," and he suggests " for dis-
cussion a thousand acres as the ideal maximum for rural land
and two acres for town land." Now, I hope it is not necessary
to say that all the thoughtful leaders of the Liberal party, and
as I believe, nearly all their followers, would oppose any such
proposition as much as the Conservatives. If such a scheme
were possible, it would be highly inexpedient, for many obvioui
reasons. And even if it were expedient, it is utterly impos-
sible. Such schemes frighten many of even the Liberal party
from any calm consideration of tho reform of the Land Laws*
Indeed, when one sees such a proposition in Fraser, where
only a few months since Mr. Froude's partisan and vehement
article against all change in the Land Laws appeared, one is
tempted to exclaim that surely " an enemy hath done this."
These are but a sample of the strange statements that one
hears from day to day in public and ,in private whenever the
subject of the Land Laws is discussed. I have "hearil
Mucatcd, liberal men asserting in good faith that they caanot

158

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

believe that it would be wise to divide all the land of
Great Britain and Ireland among peasant proprietors, as if such
a thing was possible, or ever contemplated, or if such a
thing had ever been accomplished or attempted in any civilised
country.

Another fallacy is one put forward by Mr.
Froude, who says: "People coraphin of the law of
entail (meaning thereby the Land Laws) as if it in-
terfered with the sub-di vision of landed property. . It rather
sustains such small estates as remain. Abolish entail if
you please, but accumulation will only proceed the more
rapidly."

But if this in true, if the accumulation of the great estates
will go on not oaly as rapidly as it does now, but " more
rapidly " still, " devouring the small estates adjoining," what
earthly reason can there be for retaining these laws ? It seems
strange to retain obnoxious laws, which invite cavil and
opposition, when the very objects for what they were framed
might be attained still more effectually without them. It is
useless to tell Mr. I'Youde, or men who, like him, will not
even rega'd what can be said on the other side, that England
is alone now in her support of these laws— that all other
civilised countries have either greatly modified them, or have
entirely got rid of them, or are getting rid of them ; and that
in every country in which these laws have been abolished the
great estates, instead of going on [increasing in size, as Mr.
Froude prophecies, have divided into smaller estates of an
sizes. " But," said Mr. Froude, " unless the area of Great
Britain could be made larger than it is, or until the British
people change their nature, a peasant proprietary is a dream,"
But he forgets, or pushes out of sight, the fact that the getting
rid of similar laws in Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and the
richest and most populous provinces of Germany and France,
caused the rapid creation of estates of all sizes, and of classes
of yeomen and peasant proprietors. He says, further, " France
s now divided into between five and six million freeholds. At
the death of a proprietor his land is shared among his chil.
dren, and the partition is only arrested at the point at which
the family of the cultivator can be fed." But does he not
know, or does he'.agaiu push out of sight, the obnoxious fact,
that throughout France there are many large estates, each
producing thousands of pounds a year, and estates of all sizes,
as well as the small estates, of which he writes so incorrectly ?
But he tells us that we are in our maturity, or past it, and that
we cannot afford to act as other countries do— that we are to
hold fast to other institutions. This is the old, old cry which
has been always raised when any great reform has been ad-
vocated, and which is always raised to defend abuses when all
else has failed. And then he tells us that if we do not respect
our past, i.e., our old institutions, we shall have no future to
respect.

The same powerful and well-worn argument was applied in
opposition to the Reform Bill, the Municipal Corporation
Bill, the Free Trade measure, the Repeal of the Navigation
Law's, and all the other vast measures of reform which have
been passed during the last 45 years, and which have served
to strengthen the foundations of our English Constitution, spite
of all the storm3 which during the same period have raged
around it. But putting aside these strange fallacies, many
of which have been insisted upon in ord*r to raise a prejudice
against those who wish to reform the Land Laws, it cannot
be too earnestly insisted upon, that no matter how these great
estates wore originally formed, the main causes which at tin-

present day keep them together and prevent many of thera
coming into the market are the laws, which allow the owners
to make deeds and wills which for many years, and often long
after the owners' deaths, prevent the land from being sold, or
the estate from being divided, no matter how expedient it may
be that it should be sold, or no matter how foolish or extrava-
gant the owner may be. Let me give an instauce of what I
mean. I was the trustee of a large and valuable estate in the
South of England. This estate, 50 or 60 years ago, came into
the possession of a young titled man, who was just 21 years
old, and whom I will call Lord A. He became the absolute
owner of it, unfettered by any deed, or will, or mortgage. The
whole income of the estate belonged to him. He married when
he was about 22 years of age. Upon his marriage deeds were
executed which gave him only a life interest in the estate, and
then settled the property on his children most strictly. That
was 50 or 60 years ago. He had one child, and as soon as
that child was 21, another deed was made giving that child
only a life interest in the estate, and settling it after his death
on the children he might leave in succession. The estate was
divided into large farms and very valuable woods. Lord A.
was an extravagant and reckless man. He hunted the country.
He kept open house. He lived as if his income was ten times
as great as it was. He gambled and lost heavily. He raised
money on his life interest. He finally fled from
England deeply in debt and lived abroad. The re-
mainer of his life interest, which was only worth the annual
thinning of the woods, was sold to a Jew, who knew he would
lose all as soon as Lord A. died. That state of things lasted
about forty years. The farmers had no leases and no security
for any expenditure. They were unwilling to expend on the
restoration or substantial maintenance of the farm buildings.
The Jew would uot spend, for he did not know, and could not
know, when Lord A. might die. The gentleman who took
the mansion would not expand upon it, because he could not
tell when he might be turned out. The Jev, in order to make
as much out of the estate as he could, raised the rents as much
as he could, ar 1 cut out of the beautiful park and woods far
more timber than any unembarrassed owner would .have done,
and so the estate was damaged more and more year by year .
the tenantry were prevented dealing fairly by the land or fairly
to themselves ; there was no one to support the schools or the
church, or to look after the large village of labourers upon
the property. All social progress and all social prosperity
upon the estate were put an end to. The farm
buildings fell into decay ; the land was not properly
drained or cultivated ; the plantations were iujured ; the
mansion became dilapidated ; and all this was caused by the
deeds which the law had allowed the lord and his heir to
execute.

If it had not been for these deed', the estate would have been
sold, either in one or in many lots, at least 40 years ago, and
would have gone uufettered and unburdened into the hands of
men who would have expended capital upon it and developed
all its resources.

In my next letter I shall try to show what power the
law confers upon the landowners, and how the exercise
of these powers prevents the sale or division of the large es-
tates.— Joseph K.vy in Manchester Examiner.

" Six feet in his boots ! " exclaimed Mrs. Partington.
" What will the impudence of this world come to, I wonder ?
Why, they might as well tell me that the man had six heads
in his hat."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

155

ROOKS AND WOOD-PIGEONS IN FIFE.

At the last meeting of the East of Fife Agricultural Society
(Sir It.. Anstruther, Bart., M.P., in the chair) Mr. Dun.
Kilconquhar Mains, read the following paper : — In a meeting
of practical men, such as we have here to-night, it would
be a waste of time for me to attempt to inform the meeting
that crows and "cushies" are numerous, mischievous, and
destructive. I would like simply to give a brief statement
of the farmers' cause of complaint, and to submit to the meet-
ing a resolution which, if agreed to, might be a satisfactory
cure of the evil. Taking in hand the crow first as being the
smallest sinner, I would give him credit for causing little an-
noyance for seven mouths of the year, but his enforced idle-
ness during winter is amply made up for by the vigour of his
workmanship from the time the first sack of corn is seen in the
field, and the first appear ince of a potato stem above ground,
till the time the last sheaf is in the barn-yard. The damage
caused by crows to the potato crop alone is not easily esti-
mated. The mere cost of herding them (not to think of Mr.
Lowe's 10s. gun license) is not less than 7s. an acre, and if
they are not well herded-off they will pick out the young
stems to such an extent as to leave the field ouly half-planted ;
in fact, let them alone, and the Colorado beetle has not
ghost of a chance with them. Bad as the effects of this work
are among potatoes, they are even worse among turnips, for
by this obnoxious habit of pulling up by the root the newly-
thinned plant, the crow makes a complete clearance in a short
time. Allowing him credit for his good intentions in trying
to get at some worm that may be lodging about, it must be
confessed that he takes an ugly mode of going to business, and
when we find that he plays this wicked game chiefly on Sun-
days during the hours of Divine service, we cm guess the
farmer's feelings and remarks when he takes his Sunday after-
noon's walk and discovers an acre or two gone. The wood,
pigeon, unlike the crow, can hardly have a single good word
said in favour of his habits, and, like many great men, he is
only appreciated after death. The wood-pigeon is an out-and.
out blackguard, possessing a lot of wonderful qualities, but
with every one of them misapplied. He is a very astute bird
—a regular Ishmaelite — recognising no law, no lease, and no
march fences. He pays no debts, and wheu wanted is ill to
apprehend, being a great believer in the maxim that " self-pro-
tection is the first law of nature." Does any one here cultivate
swedes? Those who do may be surprised to know that in
every swede field in the district the plants are attacked so
soon as they are fairly above ground, and the process goes on
the whole summer ; and let ,the pigeons be herded as well as
possible, they cause damage to the extent of not less than 20s.
an acre. Oats when green and in the pulpy state the pigeon
enjoys immensely, and he can dispose of any quantity, making
a clean sweep of chaff, husk, and kernel. Now and again, in
desperation, they may be reduced to eat aome seeds of the
maw-weed ; but when wheat and beans begin to ripen, then
comes their time of joy and gladness, and as the season wears
on, they return to the swedes and clover, and, in fact, are in
clover from October to April, Correctly speaking, the pigeon
is a bird of prey, and he preys on nothing under the sun but
what has caused trouble and expense to produce. Now, not-
withstanding all the changes of the quality of his feed, and the
quantity he bolts unchewed, who ever heard of a dyspeptic

wood-pigeon ? Nothing comes wrong to his digestive organs,
and it is never ill nor sleepy, and never dies if he can help it.
la time of plenty he lives up to his income, and in time of
scarcity he shows the farmer the good example of living on
what he can pick up, while the farmer finds he must live on
his prospects, j he only practical cure for the evil is to have
birds, nests, and eggs destroyed during the breeding season,
and it will give this meeting great pleasure, I have uo doubt,
if the chairman, our popular M.P. for the couuty, will mark
his year of office by promoting an energetic movement in the
direction of a general wood-pigeon dis-establishment, I do
not think of proposing that Sir It. Anstruther in his place in
the House of Commons Bhould introduce a Bill for the abo'ition
of the vermin, but, when in Westminster, if he could persuade
the House to abolish the 10s. gun license, and at Balcaskie in-
struct the keepers to pull down, destroy, and dis-establish, he
would earn the gratitude of the Society and every farmer in
the east of Fife. If this meeting respectfully agrees to request
the landlords to reduce the numbers by such means as I have
indicated, I would go the length of suggesting that the Society
— not probably for the first season, but say thereafter — bhould
be at part of the exp nse incurred, and as an inducement to
those employed, make an allowance for every
dozen of eggs or feet produced. This mode
is an annual practice in many parts of the country, and.
the ordinary mode of raising a fund for the purpose is that of
a voluntary assessment of, say, 2s. te 2s. 6d. per £100 rent.
The raising of the fund could easily be arranged afterwards,
audi conclude by moving "That this meeting urge the
Member of Parliament for the county to bring his influence
to bear, as far as possible, to have the 10s. gun tax abolished,
and that the landed proprietors of the district be respect-
fully requested to adopt measures in the spring and sum-
mer mouths for destroying crows and wood-pigeons, nest, eggs,
and birds."

Mr. Edie, Cornceres, agreed generally with what had b'en
said as to wood-pigeons, for so far as he was aware they did
little or no good to the farmer, and were certainly sometimes
very destructive to the crops. He, however, could hardly go
as far as Mr. Dun in regard to crows. No doubt in some
parts of the country they were too numerous, but he must say
that in his district they did very little damage, and he thought
what little they did was amply compensated for by their
services at other times. He should be very sorry indeed to see
the crow exterminated. He thought it would meet the case if
landlords were asked to grant, as many of them did at present,
permission to their tenants to shoot and destroy wood-pigeons
in the woods and to instruct their keepers to assist in keeping
them down.

Mr, Flocka.rt, Secretary, said he did not agTee with Mr.
Edie. His experience had been the reverse, and he knew
very well that during the last ten years the increase of
crows had been alarming, while the damage to clover and
turnips was so apparent that it was of no use discussing
that part of the subject. Unless something was done
speedily to reduce these birds, the whole time of a farmer
would be taken up in herding turnips. He was sorry to see
so few gentlemen inclined to express their opinions, because-

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the excess of crows and wood-pigeons was a very serious and
growing evil.

Mr. Fortune, Muir-Cambus, endorsed every word Mr>
Flockhart had said as to the injury done to the young grass
fields. In an open season such as this the birds had plenty
of green food, and were not so bad, but if a severe storm
came then was the time they would suffer. His proprietor
had made every exertion to keep down the rooks, and he
was credibly informed that 1,700 were killed at Lundin
lately. If every proprietor followed his example, they
would soon decrease, but he had great doubts if they did
not do good as well as ill, and therefore he would not exter
inmate them wholly. Wood-pigeons, however, should be ex-
terminated ; but one difficulty was that they came from foreign
countries in shoals.

Colonel Anstruther Thomson said they had heard
Mr. Dan's very clever remarks, and they now wanted to
come to some practical conclusion. He had not consulted
his brother proprietors, but speaking for Sir Robert, Sir
Coutts Lindsay, and himself, they would give ever y facility
for the destruction of crows and wood-pigeons, But any
one who had half-a-dozen trees could ncu tralise all they
ciuld do, and the remedy must have a wider application to
have any practical effect. He did not see they could do any-
t ing further in the meantime than ventilate the subject by
means of the press.

The Chairman said they were indebted to Mr. Dun for the
able way in which he had brought forward the subject. He
was glad to observe that the blackbird, for which he confessed
to have a little weakness, had been treated more leniently than
the coloured bird, but there can be no doubt serious damage
was done to the fields by wood-pigeons and probably also by
crows and rooks. Mr. Fortune, however, had started one
serious difficulty, and he believed although they destroyed
e ery wood-pigeon in Fife they would yet have in the spring
a vast number from foreign countries. That was no argu-
ment against destroying what they had, but they must not be
too sanguine of the result. He would give every facility and
all instructions to his servants to do all they could to destroy
all the eggs and nests, and he had no doubt coasiderable use
would be made of the fact of this subject having been brought
before them.

HEREFORD HERD BOOK SOCIETY.

A meeting of council was held in the Council Chamber,
Guildhall, Hereford, on Jan. 16th, under the presidency
of Mr. J. H. Arkwright, president of the Society.

The Right Hon. Earl Powis was elected a member of
council.

Mr. Rogers having resigned the secretaryship, Mr. S.
Urwick, of Leinthall, Ludlow, was elected secretary.

The following report of the editing, the finance, and
general purposes committees were read and approved : —

Your committees have pleasure iu reporting that Her
Majesty the Queen has graciously assented to be patron of the
Society.

The agreement for the purchase of the copyright and
volumes iu hand has been approved and signed by Mr. Duck-
ham as the vendor, and the Right Hon. the Earl of Coventry
and J. 11. Arkwright, Esq., on behalf of the Society.

The memorandum and articles of association, as approved,
are now iu the bauds of the council of the Board of Trade.

The rules, regulations, and bye-laws, as approved, are printed
and ready for circulation, as also the prospectus of the Society.

Forms of application, nomination notices of election, to-
gether with the books and papers necessary for the proper
working of the Society, have been considered, and are now
presented for your approval.

To the present date the Society consists of 79 life members
and 6] annual members.

The committee apply for power to have the requisite print-
ing done, to provide officers, and make the necessary arrange-
ments for office fittings ; also to procure a seal and box for the
Society, in accordance with the rules.
Wji. Stallard,

Chairman of the Joint Committees,

The following members were elected : — Mr. A. R.
Boughtou-Knight, Downton C»stle Ludlow; Mr. J. A.
Rolls, The Hendre, Monmouth ; Mr. J. W. James, Map-
powder Court, Blandford, Dorset ; and Mr. J. L. Barling,
Hereford, life members ; Mr. R. II. Lee- Warner, Tibber-
ton, Hereford ; Mr. J. D. Allen, Tisbury, Wilts ; Mr. C .
Williams, Red House, Ely, Cardiff; Mr. T. Powell,
Shenmore, Hereford; and Mr. T.Morgan, Cowbridge?
Glamorganshire, annual members.

PLEURO-PNEUMONIC BEEF.— Ai a meeting of the
Dublin Corporation on Jan. 17th, the following resolution,
proposed by Mr. J. P. Byrne and seconded by Alderman
Purdon, was adopted : " That, as a sanitary authority, the
Corporation concur in the suggestion of Professor Cameron ,
medical officer of health, that in view of the unsettled state
of scientific opinion as to the fitness of the flesh of animals
affected with pleuro-pneumonia for human food, the Govern-
ment be requested to issue a commission to inquire into the
whole subject, with a view to the more uniform administra-
tion of the law bearing upon this important question."

AMERICAN ROBINS.— Z%«? Philadelphia Ledger says
that a number of American robins are about to be shipped for
acclimzatiation in England. We hope the news is not true,
though no doubt the birds would do exceedingly well here.
Our own robins, however, are mischievous enough, but, at
least, they repay us with their song even in the depth of win-
ter, when " on the high naked tree the robin sings disconso-
late." But the American robin is nothing like our's. He is
nearly as big as a pigeon, quite as voracious as a raven, and
has only a harsh squeak as he rises when disturbed. We do
not want this distinguished visitor. — Meat and Provisions
Trades' Re iew.

A ROYAL VULPECIDE.— The late Victor Emmanuel
had one frightful failing — he shot foxes. The enormity of
this offence — which is enough to socially ostracise any
Englishman, if an Englishman could be found capable of com-
mitting it — is incomprehensible to all foreigners. On one
occasion, about three seasons ago, the King of Italy was out
shooting on the Campagnp., when a fine fox run past him, and
was duly potted by his Majesty. Presently up came the
hounds followed ty the Roman Hunt, the English members
of which were terribly tried by the conflict between their
respect for royalty and their horror of Vulpccidc.— World.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1C1

THE PHONOGRAPH.

Not many weeks have passed since we were startled by the
announcement that we could converse audibly with each other,
although hundreds of miles apart, by means of so many miles
of wire with a little electro maguet at each end ; yet we are
on the point of realising another of the many advantages pro-
mised by the telephone. Another wonder is now promised us
—an invention, purely mechanical in its nature, by means of
which words spoken by the human voice can be, so to speak,
stored and reproduced at will over and over again, hundreds,
it may be thousands, of times. What will be thought of a
piece of mechanism by means of which a message of any
length can be spoken on to a plate of metal, that plate sent by
post to any part of the world and the message absolutely re-
spoken in the very voice of the sender purely by mechauical
agency ? What, too, shall be said of a mere machine by
means of which the old fainilar voice of one who is no longer
with us on earth can be heard speaking to us in the very tones
and measure to which our ears were once accustomed ?

The highly ingenious apparatus by which this wonder is
effected is the invention of Mr. Thomas A. Edison, of Man-
lowe-park, New Jersey, U.S.A., the electrical adviser to the
Western Union Telegraph Company. Mr. Edison is well-
known in the States, and scarcely less so in England, for
several valuable practical applications of electrical science,
among Mr. Edison's other inventions being an exceedingly
well-arranged telephone. To the present invention Mr. Edison
has given the name of the Phonograph, and it depends for its
action upon certain well-known laws in acoustics.

The Phonograph is composed of three parts mainly —
namely, a receiving, a recording, and a transmitting appa-
ratus. The receiving apparatus consists of a curved tube,
one end of which is fitted with a mouthpiece for the con-
venience of speaking into it. The other end is about two
inches in diameter, and is closed in with a disc or diaphragm
of exceedingly thin metal, capable of being thrust slightly
outwards or vibrated upon gentle pressure being applied to
it from within the tube. To the centre of this diaphragm —
which forms a right angle with the horizon — is fixed a small
blunt steel pin, which, of course, partakes of the vibratory
motion of the diaphragm. This arrangement is carried on
a table, and is fitted with a set screw, by means of which it
can be adjusted relatively to the second part of the apparatus
—the recorder. This is a brass cylinder, about four inches
in length and four inches in diameter, cut with a continuous
V groove from one end to the other, so that it in effect re-
presents a large screw. Measuring along this cylinder from
one end to the other there are ten of these grooves to the
inch, or about 40 in the whole length. The total length of
this continuous groove, or screw-thread, is about 42 feet —
that is to say, that would be the length of the groove if it
were stretched out in a straight .hue. This cylinder is
mounted on a horizontal axis or shaft, carried in bearings at
either end, and having its circumferential face presented to
the steel point of the receiving apparatus. The shaft is
prolonged for four inches or so beyond the ends of the cylin-
der, and one of the prolongations is cut with a screw-thread
and works in a screwed bearing. This end terminates in a
handle, and as this is turned round the cylinder is not only
revolved, but by means of the screwed spindle is caused to

travel its whole length in front of the steel point, either
backwards or forwards.

We now see that if the pointer be set in the groove in the
cylinder at its commencement and the handle turned, the
groove would be traversed over the point from beginning to
end, or, conversely, the point would always be presented to the
groove. A voiee apeaking in the receiver would produce
waves of sound which would cause the point to enter to greater
or less depths into this groove, according to the degree of in-
tensity given to the pressure upon the diaphragm set up by
the vibrations of the sound produced. This, of course, of
itself would mean nothing ; but in order to arrest and preserve
these sound pressures, a sheet of tin-foil is interposed, the foil
being inelastic and well adapted for receiving impressions'
This sheet is placed around the cylinder and its edges lightly
fastened together by Mouth-glue, forming an endless band, and
held on the cylinder at the edges by the india-rubber rings.
If a person now speaks into the receiving tube and the handle
of the cylinder be turned, it w.ll be seen that the vibrations o
the pointer will be impressed upon that portion of the tin-foil
over the hollow groove and retained by it. These impressions
will be more or less deeply marked according to the modulation
and inflexions of the speaker's voice. We have now a message
verbally imprinted upon a strip of metal. Sound has, in fact,
been converted into visible form, and we have now to translate
that message by reconverting it into sound. We are about, in
effect, to hear your own voice speaking from a machine the
words which have j'ist fallen from our iips. To do this we
require the third portion of Mr. Edison's apparatus— the trans-
mitter.

This consists of what may be called a conical metal drum,
having its larger end open, the smaller end, which is about
Sin. in diameter, being covered with paper, which is stretched
taut as is the parchment of a drum-head. Just in front of
this paper diaphragm is a light flat steel spring, held in a ver-
tical position, and terminating in a blunt steel point projecting
from it, and corresponding with that on the diaphragm of the
receiver. The spring is connected with the paper diaphragm
of the transmittor by means of a silken thread, which is placed
just sufficiently in tension to cause the outer face of the
diaphragm to assume a slightly convex form. This apparatus
is placed on the opposite side of the cylinder to the receiver.
Having set the latter apparatus back from the cylinder, and
having, by turing the handle in a reverse direction, set the
cylinder back to what we may term the zero point, the trans-
mitting apparatus is advanced towards the cjliuder by means
of a set screw until the steel point rests without absolute
pressure in the first indentation made by the point of the
receiver. If now the handle be turned at the same speed as
it was when the message was being recorded, the steel point
will follow the line of impression and will vibrate in periods
corresponding to the impressions previously produced on the
foil by the point of the receiving apparatus. Vibrations of
the requisite number and depth being thus communicated to
the paper diaphragm, there will be produced precisely the same
sounds that in the first instance were required to produce the
impressions formed on the tin-foil. Thus the words of the
speaker will be heard issuing from the conical drum in his
own voice, tinged, however, with a slight metalic or mechani-
cal tone. If the cylinder he revolved more slowly than when

162

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the message was being recorded, the voice assumes a bass
tone ; if more quickly, the message is given with a childish
treble. These variations occur according as the vibrations
are more or less frequent.

Such is the apparatus, and it promises to be one of the
most remarVable of the recent marvels of science. The ma-
chine we have described is the first Mr. Edison has made,
but he is now constructing one to be set in motion by clock-
work, the cylinder being 1G inches long. In the present
machine, for recording a long message, as soon as one strip
of the tinfoil is filled, it is removed, and replaced by others
uutil the communication has been completed. In using the
machine for the purpose of correspondence the metal strips
are removed from the cylinder and sent to the person with
whom the speaker desires to correspond, and who must pos-
sess a machine similar to that used by the sender. The
person receiving the strips places them in turn on the cylin-
der of his apparatus, applies the transmittor, and puts the
cylinder in motion, when he hears his friend's voice speak-
ihg to him from the indented metal. And he can repeat the
contents of the missive as often as he pleases, until he has
worn the metal through. The sender can make an indefinite
number of copies of his communication by taking a plaster of
Paris cast of the original strip and rubbing off impressions
from it on a clean sheet of foil. It will thus be seen, as we
stated at the commencement of this article, that the voices
of those who have left us, either for ever or a season only*
can be heard talking with us if we so desire it.

The invention has been so recently and so quickly developed
into existence by Mr. Edison that he himself can hardly say
what its practical value is or will prove to be. Numerous
applications suggest themselves, but beyond those to which
we have alluded, it is difficult to say with precision how they
would work out in practice. In cases of depositions it might
be of the highest importance to have oral evidence mechani-
cally reproduced in a court of justice. Authors, too, may
perhaps be saved the trouble of writing their compositions.

We should add that we are indebted for our information
to Mr. Henry Edmunds, jun., of 57, Gracechurch-street, who
has lately returned from a tour of scientific inspection in
the United States, and is interesting himself in Mr. Edison's
inventions. — Times.

A MECHANICAL PIG — Mr. Macarty was a mechanic,
such a remarkably ingenious man that his neighbours said
that he could do anything from repairing a watch to makiDg a
Bteam-engine. They felt very sure that if Macarty would
make a clock, it would beat the old town clock on the church-
steeple several hours in the day. Mr. Macarty had a son, "and
he had great hopes that he would grow up to be a mechanic,
and be even a better workman than his father. He
called his son Archimedes — but the boy's playmates called
him Arky Macarty. Arky was a very ingenious boy, and
he was also full of fun. Once, when his father was absent
from home for a few days, having been called to do a job in the
next town, there appeared on the fence, where the people of
the village passed by, a board on which was printed :

" Meka?jikle piG — a. Grate kurIossity — this Ear pig
has jOints like ennY pi?, it moVes as naTTeral as EnnY piG
—k kan EveN ete & SKwEal— Ad raishin 3 pins. Arky
Makarty."

Some good-natured people, who knew that Arky would have
something funny to show, stopped to see the wonderful pig.

Arky was careful to get the proper numbpr of pins for the.
admittance fee, and then opened the pen and let out the
" mechanical pig." The young scamp had got hold of some
black paint, and having caaght one of his father's little white
pigs, had painted lines around the parts, so that at a little
distance the hind-legs, and ham, the shoulders, and even the
head looked as if they had been made in separate pieces, and
were fastened on. This deceit was helped by the painted
pivots at the proper places, so that the pig had really a very
1 ' mpkanikle" appeartnce. Ttiose who first saw tbe ammil
greatly enjoyed the joke, and told others, so that Arky was
busy for a day or two in taking ia " pins " and showing his
wonderful pig. But at last his father came home, and the
sign came down. We do uotjknow what arguments were used,
but one thing is certain, Arky never liked to hear the boy sat
school say anything about pig, and he always acted as if the
bench upon which he sat had suddenly become very warm.
American Agriculturist.

TOO UGLY TO LIVE.— " One day," said Mr, Lincoln.
" when I first came here, I erot into a fit of musing in my
room, and stood resting my elbows on the bureau. Looking
into the glass, it struck me what an awfully ugly man I was.
The fact grew on me, and I made up my mind that I must be
the ugliest man in the world. It so maddened me that I
resolved, should I ever see an uglier, I would shoot him at

sight. Not long after this Andy . ' (namiDg a lawyer

present) " came to town, and the first time 1 saw him I said
to myself, 'there's the man.' I went home, took down my
gun, aud prowled round the streets waiting for him. He
soon came along. ' Halt. Andy,' said I, pointing my gun at
him. .'Say your prayers, for I'm going to shoot you.'
' Why, Mr. Lincoln, what's the matter ? what have I done ? '
' Well, I made an oath that if ever I saw a man uglier than I
am, I'd shoot h'm «n the spot. You are uglier, sure ; so make
ready to die.' ' Mr. Lincoln, do you really think I'm
uglier than you are ? ' ' Yes.' ' Well, Mr. Lincoln,
replied Andy, deliberately, and looking me squarely in the
face, ' if I am any uglier, fire away ! '" — Harper's Magazine.

THE RATING ACT.— A return has been issued of the
woods and plantations (other than saleable underwoods)
rights of sporting, and mines (other than coal mines), which
by the Rating Act, 1874 (37 and 38 Vic, c. 54), were
rendered liable to Poor-rates and other lucal rafes leviable
upon property rateable to the relief of the poor. The Act did
not take effect until the 6th of Ap'il, 1875, and the returns
have been compiled from the Valuation Lists in force at the
commencement of the year 1877- The total area in statute
acres of England and Wales is 37,280,208. The estimated
extent of the woods is 815,172 acres, their gross estimated
rental is £307,308, and their rateable value £293,017. The
estimated extent of the rights of sporting is 14,436,405 acres,
the gross estimated rental £498,852, and the rateable value
£185,276. The estimated extent of the mines is 1,247 acres
their gross estimated rental is £754,520, and their rateable
value £654,611.— Times.

It was an Irish pilot who, being asked if he knew the rocks
in the harbour, replied, with confidence : " I do, yer honour
ivery won av them. That's won," he added calmly, as the
ship struck it, filled, and sank.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1G3

A THRILLING SNAKE STORY.

TOLD BY A. CONSCIENTIOUS YOUNG MA.N.

" Beware of pickpockets ! •' repeated a benevolent old gentle-
man, as he glanced at a placard posted in the car iu which he
was riding. " Dear me, how sad that such a warning should
be necessary in a Christian land 1 "

" Yes, sir," said a young man uext him ; " but it's best to be
careful, for there may be pickpockets in this very car. I know
all about that, sir. I've been rescued from the lowest depths.
I was a pickpocket once, sir."

" Dear me," said the old gentleman, starting.

" I'm a respectable person now. Yes, sir, I'm very
respectable. Ask anybody about Jim Tilks, and they'll tell
you that ; but I was brought up a thief. I was born among
thieves, and took to the trade naturally, and I used to pick
pockets when I was ten years old. You ueed'nt look at yours-
If you please, sir, I've been converted »ure, and go to meeting
there. You could trust me with untold sold now.

" But, as I said, I was a thief, aid I might have been one
yet if it hadn't been for what happened at llickady Station
where I was wiiting for any old lady's reticule, or any person's
forgotten parcel, or even an umbrella or a pocket hand,
kerchief that might be dropped by chance ; for folks that's
anxious about getting on the right trains at the right time,
and nobody to do anything but snub 'em, which is what the
officials are apparently paid to do, ain't as careful of their port-
able property as they would be otherwise. When I was a
wicked sinner I used to take advantage of that, yon know-
Yon couldn't bribe me to do it now — oh ! no.

" But, as I said, I was lounging about there, and in came
a gentleman with a long basket. It was the curiousest baske'
I ever saw. Had two handles and a padlock. Never saw
such a basket. There was a cord about it, too. He put r
down in a corner as he looked for his pocketbook, and h
spoke to a gentleman who was standing near, and seemed to
know him.

" * Got it ! ' he said, 'and it's cost me enough, I can tell you
But I wanted it for the collection — couldn't do without it.
So proud of it I brought it along myself. Whew ! five miuuteg
only, and I haven't any ticket,' and he pushed towards the
office.

" The other man looked at the basket a minnte and then
walked away, and that was my time. I crept up to the basket
and took it up and walked away in another direction.
Nobody noticed me. I didn't run, of course. I just went out-
of the station and down under the trees, and what I meant to
do was to take the valuables out of it and leave it there.

" I'd made up my mind that it was something very valuable
but what it could be I couldn't guess. I took on" the cor^'
first, and then I took the key that hung beside the padlock
and unlocked that, and lifted up the cover a little. Just then
there was a noise, and I turned my head.

" When I found it was nothing to be afraid of I turned back.
I opened the cover wider and peeped in, but there was nothing
here ; the basket was empty — not a thing in it.

" ' Why, gracious me ! ' said I ; only not in them words — I
was a wicked sinner then — ' what does this mean ? an empty
basket ! And what did he mean by talking of its being
valuable ? ' And there I was running a risk for nothing.

" A risk ! I was done for, for nothing ! for here were the
police after me ; at least a big arm went around my waist, all of
a sudden like, and when I, jerked it only held me closer ; and
was that — another arm ?

" Well, sir, what I thought I should give np that minute, for
then and there I knew that was twisting about was something
worse than even a policeman's arm to such as I was then.

" It was a snake — a great snake — the kind they have in
menageries. Boa constrictors — yes, sir, that was the kind — a
boa constrictor ; and now I remeu\ber the face of the gentle,
man who had the basket — he was a menagerie man. I'd stolen
a basket with a snake in it, and it slipped out when 1 opeut d,
the cover, and now it had me.

" Tight, sir, w:is the word for it. It was twisted around me
until I had but little breath left, but witli what I did have I set up
a yell. Would you believe it, sir, the person that heard it waa
that menagerie man ! He was loo king for his snake, I
suppose.

"' Bless my heart,' says he, when he saw me 'bhss my
heart. Well, the biter's bit, if it ever happened. You stole
the basket, ray friend, and out of it came the thief-catcher.
No keep, still ; don't move lor your life. There's just one
chance fur you.'

" Says I, ' Hurry, please, for I'm chokin.'

" He did hurry. He took a bottle out of his pocket, and
out of auo' her he took a kind of a folding cup aud opened it.
Then he poured something from the bottle into the cap.

" 'Milk,' says he ; 'it may tempt him away ; if not, say your
prayers, friend ;' and I tell you that was an anxious moment for
me.

" At first I thought he had done for me, for the snake only
seemed to twist tighter ; but in a minute the head poked out
toward the cup, and I felt him drop off, and saw him coiled
about the milk cup. I didn't want to see him fed. I went.

" But it was a lesson for me. It put an end to my course of
wickedness. This is my station, sir ; good afternoon. There
isn't a more respectable or more honest young man than
I am living now ; good afternoon."

" A very curious story," said the old gentleman ; " very
But he's evidently a very conscientious young man now."

He put his hand in his pocket for his handkerchief. It was
gone ; so was his purse. They had goue with the conscientious,
young man.

"AN ABBREVIATION."— The Cambrian News says that
at the Merionethshire Quarter Sessions the Rector he
Llanlairpwllgwyngyllgogertysiliogogogoch was charged by to
Dolgelly Local Board with obstructing the highway near that
town. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogertysiliogogogoch is a parish
in Anglesey, near the Menai Bridge, and, the News adds, it
may interest our readers to know that the name we have given
is an abbreviation of the full title of the village.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.— The first number for the
present year of Design and Work, "A Mechanic's Journal for
Working Men of all Trades," as it describes itself, has been
sent to us. It appears to be an excelleut paper for the promo-
tion of technical education, and contains a large amouqt of
reading aud numerous illustrations.

WELL NAMED.— There is nothing in a name, of
course, although Hood did find " a very great scope iu it.'»
Nevertheless, when we see it announced that a lecture is about
to be delivered on " The Wars of the Nations — are they of
Divine Appointment and subject to Divine Control? " we are
not by any means surprised to learn that the lecturer's name
is Thomas Bosher. — Illustrated Sporting and Dm malic Ncus.]

164

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

FROM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS
The actual amount of rainfall during the past
week has been insignificant, and, although the
■weather has been damp and dull at times we have
had some clear, bright days, with a mild and spring-
like temperature. Some slight improvement has
been noticeable in the condition of freshty-thrashed
grain, but the offerings continue light for the time
of year, both at Mark Lane and the provincial ex-
changes. The appearance of the winter-sown crops
is, in the main, satisfactory, although fears have
been expressed in some quarters that the Wheat-
plant has been growing rather too rapidly under
the forcing influence of the mild season. In Scot-
land the weather has been fine and frosty, and far-
mers have been enabled to make up much of the
arrears into which agricultural operations have
fallen, owing to the lateness of the harvest, while
stocks have also thriven well. The imports of
foreign Wheat into London have shown a marked
falling-off of late, and the bulk of last week's ar-
rivals was from America and Germany, which
countries furnished us with 2G,500 qrs., out of a
total return of about 80,000 qrs., the Indian sup-
plies being unimportant. Business has been almost
at a standstill, as buyers and sellers have been
waiting anxiously to see what course political
affairs will take, and until something definite is
known as to the probable action of the Government
with regard to affairs in the East, the trade will
doubtless remain in an inanimate condition. In
the meantime it may be borne in mind that our
stocks of Wheat are moderate and our prospective
supplies insufficient to exercise any great depressing
influence on the future course of prices. Millers,
too, are, as far as can be ascertained, holding very
light stocks, and should events turn out of a less
pacific nature than recent anticipations have led us
to suppose, a large demand may be safely predicted
both for Wheat and feeding stuffs. It must also
be remembered that the effect of peace upon prices
has been discounted to a considerable extent, and
there is little reason to suppose that the re-opening
of the Black Sea ports would produce a selling
panic on our market. Our supplies are also likely
to be restricted from nearly all sources for some
time to come, as the mild season in America is
preventing the free transport of grain to the sea-
board. Indian shipments have been almost sus-
pended, and Russia is blockaded by war and winter.

FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 21.

Again, even anticipating the reopening of the Black
Sea ports there are other nations whose require-
ments will have to be satisfied, and notably France
so that a large proportion of whatever accumula-
tion of grain there may happen to be in Odessa
will no doubt find its way to Marseilles. It is also
found by experience that the consumption of Wheat
in this country is larger during those times of de-
pression when the tide of business and commercial
enterprise is at a low ebb, as it is at present, owing
to the increased demand for breadstuffs amongst
the lower classes, so that we have two powerful
influences, restricted supplies and increased con-
sumption, to counteract the anticipated decline
which might follow on the proclamation of peace.
It was thought possible that the trade might have
been influenced, either one way or the other, by the
Queen's Speech, but no effect has been apparent up
to the moment of writing, as business was rendered
almost impracticable at Mark Lane on Friday,,
owing to the dense fog which lasted through-
out the day. The trade, therefore, remains
dull, and prices have suffered very little de-
cline either for Wheat or feeding stuffs. The
sales of English Wheat noted last week were
33,472 qrs., at 52s. Id., against 34,063 qrs., at 51s.
3d. in the previous year. The London averages
were 53s. 7d. on 1,119 qrs. The imports into the
kingdom for the week ending Jan. 12th were
828,782 cwts. Wheat, and 137,327 cwts. Flour.
The market opened very quietly on Monday last,
and a dull tone prevailed throughout the trade,
buyers holding aloof on account of the uncertainty
attendant on political affairs, which caused business
in all articles to move in very moderate limits.
The week's arrivals of English Wheat were only
1,912 qrs., and the supply fresh up on factors'
stands was again very small. Very few sales took
place, and a slight reduction was necessary to in-
duce buyers to operate. The imports of foreign
showed a decided falling off when compared with
those of the previous week, the total arrivals being
only 36,684 qrs., Germany being the largest con"
tributor with 16,039 qrs. The United States
furnished 10,508 qrs., and North Russia 7,800 qrs.,
the arrivals of Indian varieties being only 2,337
qrs. A slow sale was experienced for all descrip-
tions at the currencies of the previous Friday,
which showed a decline of Gd. to Is. per qr. on the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

16S

week. The market was moderately attended, and
the trade closed dull at the decline. The week's
exports were 6,429 qrs., showing a slight increase
on those of the previous week. The supply of
Barley consisted of 4,274 qrs. of home-grown, and
7,309 qrs. of foreign. Values underwent no altera-
tion, hut there was rather more inquiry for malting
descriptions. There was again a small arrival of
Maize, the return showing only 6,025 qrs., and sales
progressed slowly at a decline of 3d. to 6d. per qr.
The imports of Oats were liberal, in all 01,334 qrs.,
in face of which and the milder weather dealers
operated only in retail, and an all-round decline of
3d. to Gd. per qr. took place. On "Wednesday there
were 199 qrs. of English Wheat, and 26,300 qrs. of
foreign. There was a poor attendance of buyers,
and the trade ruled very dull for Wheat and feeding
corn at nominally Monday's prices. On Friday the
supply had increased to 310 qrs. of English Wheat,
and 36,120 qrs. of foreign. Business was quiet at
nominally Monday's prices for all articles, but
transactions were effected with difficulty, owing
to the prevalence of a dense fog throughout the
day. The imports of Flour into the United King-
dom for the week ending Jan. 12th were 137,327
cwt. against 241,113 cwt. in the previous week.
The receipts were 16,822 sack9 of English, and
5,914 sacks and 10,778 barrels of foreign. The
trade has been inanimate, owing to the dull tone
of the Wheat market, but where sales have been
made former prices have been obtained for both
sacks and barrels. The week's imports of Beans
were 7,590 cwts., and of Peas 34,907 cwts., show-
ing a decrease of 24,995 cwts. on the former, and
an increase of 16,666 cwts. on the latter. Both
articles have been in moderate request, and the
little business passing has been effected at previous
quotations. The deliveries of Malt were 19,456
qrs., and the exports 826 qrs. Prices remain
unchanged, and no alteration has taken place in
this branch of the trade since last week. Busi-
ness in agricultural Seeds has been rather more
active during the past week, and prices have been
well supported for nearly all articles. New
English red Clover is marketed very sparingly, and
in many instances the quality proves disappointing-
Both French and American advices report strong
markets for this article, and as holders offer no
concessions, prices here are firmly upheld. White
Clover and Alsike have shown a hardening ten-
dency, as stocks are light, but there has been very
little doing in Trefoil. White mustard and
Canary have sold slowly at somewhat irregular
values, while Rape has fully supported the recent
advance. The country markets continue to be
scantily supplied with Wheat from the farmers,

but provincial trade has ruled dull, and in a few
instances Is. per qr. less money has been accepted
to effect sales. Barley has been firmly held, and
malting descriptions have occasionally realised a
slight advance. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, the
market was quiet for Wheat at the quotations of
the previous Friday, showing a decline of Id. to 2d-
per cental on the week. Flour was in moderate
request at former currencies, while Maize met a
retail demand at 29s. 9d. per qr. for old mixed
American, and 28s. 6d. per qr. for new. The week's
imports included 35,000 qrs. of wheat, and 22,000
qrs. of Maize. At Newcastle the Wheat trade haa
been slow, and holders have had to accept rather
less money to effect sales. Flour and Maize also
favoured buyers, but other articles were without
alteration. At Gloucester the market has been
fairly supplied with English Wheat, and pricea
remain unchanged, but grinding Barley and Maize
have given way about 6d. per qr. At Peterborough
and Wisbech supplies of all grain have been light
for the season of the year, aud a moderate demand
has been experienced for Wheat and Spring corn
at last week's prices. At Edinburgh the market
has been sparingly supplied with Wheat from the
farmers, and the trade has ruled inactive at late
rates. Barley also sold slowly, but there was an
improved demand for Oats at an advance of 6d.
per qr. At Leith the weather has been fine during
the past week, with occasional showers. With
moderate arrivals of grain from abroad, business
has been quiet, aud prices have undergone very
very little alteration. At Wednesday's market
Scotch W^heat was in small supply, but last week's
prices could not be exceeded. Transactions in
foreign have been of an unimportant nature, and
values remain unchanged. Flour has not varied,
and Barley and Oats have been in better request at
6d. per qr. more money for fine samples. At
Glasgow on Wednesday the market was fairly
attended, and Wheat and Flour were in limited
demand at unaltered currencies. Maize sold slowly,
and the tendency of prices was against sellers.
The arrivals from abroad have been small of
Wheat but fair of Barley and sack Flour. At
Dublin the weather has been damp and unseason-
able mild. Dulness has prevailed through-
out the grain trade, and in the limited amount of
business passing, prices have favoured buyers,
both for Wheat and Maize. At Cork millers have
purchased sparingly, owing to the political un-
certainty, but holders have abstained from pressing
sales, and prices have only occasionaly given way
about 6d. to Is. per qr. Maize has been in fair re=
quest at barely late rates.

1GG

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The following are the Reports from Mark Line
during the past month :

Monday, Jan. 7. — The arrivals during the pa9t week
have been: English wheat, 1,948 qrs. ; foreign, 111,227
qrs. Exports, 6,077 qrs. There was only a small supply
of Eaglish wheat fresh up to market this morning, and
the trade ruled quiet at last Monday's prices. Of foreign
the arrivals were excessive, and the upward tendency of
value was checked thereby, a fair consumptive demand
being experienced at about late rates. Country flour,
19,779 sacks ; foreign, 4,012 sacks and 21,598 barrels.
There was very little business passing in either sacks
or barrels, and quotations remain unchanged. English
barley, 1,946 qrs.j; Scotch, 100 qrs. : foreign, 5,308 qrs.
Both malting and grinding descriptions met a slow sale
at former currencies. Malt, Eaglish, 14,507 qrs. >
Scotch, 140 qrs. Exports, 886 qrs. In quiet demand,
at about previous values. Maize, 25,304 qrs. The
i iquiry was scarcely so brisk as of late, but no quotable
change was observable in either round or flat corn. English
cats, 942 qrs. ; foreign, 47,120 qrs. Exports, 22 qrs.
A steady trade for all varieties, at last Monday's prices.
English beans, 553 qrs.; foreign, 4f ^rs. A dull
trde at unaltered values. Linseed, 58,914 qrs. Exports
1,168 qrs. Unchanged.

Monday, Jan. 14. — The arrivals during the past week
have been : English wheat, 1,912 qrs. ; foreign, 36,684
qrs. Exports, 6,429 qrs. There was a very small
supply of English wheat fresh up to market this morn-
ing, and the trade ruled dull at barely late rates. Of
foreign the arrivals were moderate, and, with a limited
attendance of millers, who did not evince much inclination
to purchase, a slow sale was experienced for all varieties
at a decline of 6d. to Is. per qr. on the week. Country
Flour, 16,822 sack3; foreign, 5,914 sacks and 10,778
barrels. In moderate request at last Monday's currencies.
English barley, 4,274 qrs. ; foreign, 7,309 qrs. Malting
descriptions were firmly held, but grinding sorts were
quiet and unaltered in value. Malt, English, 19,086
qrs.; Scotch, 370 qrs. Exports, 826 qrs, Higher
prices were asked, but buyers did not respond, and last
week's quotations could not be executed. Maize, 6,025
qrs. With less inquiry for spot corn values receded
3d. to 6d. per qr. on the week. English oats, 791 qrs. ;
Scotch, 90 qrs. ; foreign 61,334 qrs. Exports, 134 qrs.
There was not much inquiry, and an all round decline
of 3d. to 6d. per qr. took place. English beans, 998 qrs. ;
foreign, 94 qrs. A dull trade at former prices. Linseed,
10,867 qrs. : Exports, 1,072 qr. A slow sale at a decline
of Is. per qr.

Monday, Jan. 21. — The arrivals during the past week
have been — English wheat, 1,620 qrs. ; Irish 61 qrs.*;
foreign, 54,026 qrs. Exports, 5,087 qrs. There was a
small supply of English wheat at market this morning,
and many of the samples were iu poor condition. The
trade ruled slow at a decline of Is. to 2s per qr. on the
week. Of foreign the arrivals were fair, and with a
moderate attendance of millers, a quiet retail demand

was experienced at Is. per qr. less money than was
obtainable last Monday. Country flour, 15,557 sacks ;
foreign, 5,136 sacks and 6,070 brls. A dull trade at &
reduction of 6d. per brl. and Is. per sack. English barley
4 005 qrs. ; Scotch, 544 qrs. ; foreign, 14,128 qrs.
Malting varieties were firmly held and quite as dear, but
grinding sorts sold slowly at about late rates. Malt :
English, 21,645 qrs.; Scotch, 152 qrs. Exports, 967
qrs. In limited request at last week's prices. Maize,
44,154 qrs. Under the pressure of large arrivals,
both round and flat corn receded 6d- per qr., with a
sluggish demand. English oats, 902 qrs. ; Scotch, 28
qrs. ; foreign, 22,969 qrs. Exports 120 qrs. The trade
ruled slow at a decline of 3d. to 6d. on all varieties.
English beans, 824 qrs. ; foreign 4,207 qrs. Un-
altered in value, but with little enquiry. Linseed, 33,408
qrs. Exports, 1,901 qrs. A dull trade at former cur-
rencies.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR
IN MARK LANE.

Shillings per Quarter

WHEAT, Essex & Kent, white old — to — new 68 to 61

,, „ red old — — new 43 63

Norfolk, Linclnsh., and Yorksh. red old 49 new 60 62

BARLEY Chevalier new 42 66

Grinding 36 to 39 DistilliDg 34 37

MALT, pale new 68 to 73 old brown 62 66

RYE 36 38

OATS, English, feed 25 to 30 Potato — —

Scotch, feed — — Potato — —

Irish, feed, white27 28 Fine — —

Ditto, black 24 26 Potato — —

BEANS, Mazagan ...30 34 Ticks 35 48

Harrow — — Pigeon, old 43 48

PEAS, white boilers 41 45 Maple 38 to 40 Grey 35 36

FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., town';households 46 60

Best country households, 43 46

Norfolk and Suffolk 39 41

FOREIGN GRAIN.

Shillings per Quarter
WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 68 to 66 extra — to 70

Konigsberg 57 64 extra..

Rostock 55 62 old —

Silesian, red — — white —

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red 64

Ghirka 50 to 52 ..Russian, hard, 50 to 53,Saxonska 51
Danish and Holstein, red — — ...red American 63

Chilian, white 60...Californian 64 Australian 60

BARLEY, grinding 30 to 31 distilling 37

OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands 22 to 25 feed 24

Danish and Swedish, feed 22 to 23...Stralsund ... 21

Canada 24 to 26 Riga 18 to 19 Petersburg... 18

TARKS, Spring 35

BEANS, Friesland and Holstein —

Italian 34 to 35. ..Egyptian 35

PEAS, feeding and maple. ..38 40. fine boilers 39

MAIZE, white 34 36.. yellow , 30

FLOUR, per sack, French 40 46 ..Spanish, p. sack 45
American, per brl 26 27. ..extra and dble. 28

70

6]

53
67
66

4:i

25

27
23
40

36

41
31
46

29

BRITISH SEEDS.
Mustard, per bush., brown lis. to 15s., white... 10s. to 15s.

Canary, per qr new 48s. to 60s fine... 49s. 60s.

Cloverseed, fine red and dark purple 90s., com... 60s. 64b.

Coriander, per cwt 22s. 27s.

Tares, winter, new, per bushel 6s.6d. 6s. Od.

Trefoil, fine old 38s. 40a.

Ryegrass, per qr 38s. 40a.

Linseed, per qr. ...sowing 66s. to 68s., crushing 63s. 65s.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 10s. to £10 153.

Rapeseed, per qr new... 78s. 84s.

Rape Cake, per ton £6 to £6 0s.

FOREIGN SEEDS.

Coriander, per cwt 26s. to 28s.

Cloverseed, red 58s. to 64s white 63s. 80s.

Hempseed, small 36s. to 38s. per qr Dutch 42s. 44s.

Trefoil 36s. 38a.

Ryegrass, per cwt 40*. 42a,

Linseed, per qr Baltic 53s. to 64s. ... Bombay 66s. 66s.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £10 16s. to £10 17s 6d.

Rape Cake, per ton £5 10s. to £6 Os.

Rapeseed, Calcutta 62s. 66s.

Carraway , 46s. 48s.

Printed by Hazell, Watson, &Vinet, 265, Strand, London.

THE EAKMEE'S MAGAZINE,

CONTENTS.

FEBRUARY, 1878.

Plate. — PRIDE OF THORNDALE, 2nd.

Description of Plate.

Agricultural Societies

Chambers of Agriculture

Importation of Live Stock from the Continen'

The Year 1877

Agriculture in Japan — No. II.

Farmers' Clubs

Live Stock Notes

British and American Meteorology

The State of Trade in Hull, 1877

Samuel Downes and Co.'s Annual Circular

Annual Report on Foreign Rags

The Linseed and Oil Trades

Free Trade in Land

Dairy Farming in Scotland

Poultry Fattening Fairly Tested

The Importation of Live Stock into Australia

Meteorological Notes

Pedigree against Quality

The Evils of the Live Cattle Transit

Experiments at the Brown Institution

The Late Lord Kinnaird as an Agriculturist

The Seed-Bed and Steam-Plough

Recommendations of the Select Committee of the Housk

Cattle Plague and Importation of Live Stock
Farming in Brindisi ....

The Cattle Diseases Committee and the Central Chamber
Rooks and Wood Pigeons in Fife

The Phonograph .....

Review of the Corn Trade ....
Market Currencies, &c. &c.

of Comm

11

Page

81
81, 138

87, 102, 135
9?
9'»
98
108
155
116
113
122
15*3
124
5, 157
129
131
132
141
1*3
143
144
145
146

12

ONS ON

148
150
153
159
161
164
166

48, FENCHURCH STREET, LONDON.

PINE OLD MADEIRAS,

Sparkling Champagnes,

FINE OLD PORTS,
BURGUNDIES, RED AND WHITE,

Sparkling Burgundies, Red and White,

SHERRIES, IN EVERY VARIETY,
Moselles, Hocks, Sauternes and Clarets,

Sparkling Moselles and Hocks,

AUSTRIAN AND HUNGARIAN WINES,

And every other description of Wines of the finest
quality may always be had on the most reasonable terms

FROM

Messrs. Tuxford & Co.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

IFDR/ICIE! LISTS -AJSriD S^ZMZZPLIES
Of any of the above Wines may be had

ON APPLICATION.

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k CO.,

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 1846.
APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TRINITY HOUSE, &c, Ac.

ADVERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS.
TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE.

^^ This Manure, after six years' trial, is unapproached in its results by

X anll °tner Manure. It is suitable for all soils, and permanently
improves the fertility of even the poorest. It provides all the
necessary foods for plants, creates a vigorous growth without over-
stimulating, and increases the produce. It is a powerful insecticide.
It has been used with perfect success on

CEREALS, ROOTS, GRASS,
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HOPS.

Prepared in a Fiae, Dry, Inodorous Powder. Price £12 per ton, 15s. per cwt.
TRIAL ORDERS ARE INVITED TO BE USED IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER MANURES.
"Write foe Particulars—

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE CO., LIMITED,

79, MARK LANE, LONDON, E C.

THB

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

18 TI1B

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERT MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Bookseller*

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, prica 7cL, or £1 lOg. ■id. per annum.

I < 1 1

No. 3, Vot,. HI.] MARCH, 1878. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

©efcuatea

TO THJS

FARMERS O* THE UNITED KINGDOM,

LONDON t
PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXPORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

tri,K»i^ WAT***. * ?IMT. J [FBINTHRfl, MS, BTBAMD.

LONDON AND COUNTY BANKING COMPANY,

ESTABLISHED IN 1836, AND INCORPORATED IN 1871 UNDER "THE COMPANIES ACT, 186J."

SUBSCRIBED CAPITAL... £3,750,000, in 75,000 SHARES of £50 EACH.

PAID-UP CAPITAL £1,499,970 0

RESERVE FUND 699,985 0

SIR THOMAS TYRINGHAM BER

NARD, Bart
RORT. ALEX. BROOKS. Esq.
JOHN JAMES CATER, Esq..
THOMAS STOCK COWIE, Esq.

DIRECTORS.
FREDERICK FRANCIS, Esq.
FREDERICK HARRISON, Esq.
EDWARD HARBORD LUSHING-

TON, Esq.
JAMES MORLEY, Esq.

WILLIAM NICOL, E«Q.
ABRAHAM H. PHILLPOTTS, Fsq.
WILLIAM HEA'RY STONE, Esq.
JAMES D. THOMSON, Esq.

General Manager.— WTLLIAM McKEWAN, Esq..

CHIEF INSPECTOR.
W. J. NORFOLK, Esq.

CKTEF AC OUNTANT.
JAMES GRAY, Esq.

SECRETARY.
GEORGE GOUGH, Fsq.

HEAD OFFICE, 21, LOMBARD STREET.

Hbad Office Managers.— WILLIAM HOWARD Esq.; JOSEPH ALFRED SMITH, Esq.

THE LONDON AND COUNTY BANK opens—

DRAWING ACCOUNTS with Commercial Houses and Private Individuals, upon the plan usually adopted by other
Bankers.

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. — Deposit Receipts are issued for sums of Money placed upon these Accounts, and Interest »
allowed for such peri 'd-< and at such rates as may be agree 1 upon, reference being had to the state of the Money Market.

CIRCULAR NOTES AND LETTERS OP CREDIT are issued, payable in the principal Cities and Towns of the Con-
tinent, in Australia, Canada, India, and China, the United States, and elsewhere.

The Agency of Foreign and Country Banks is undertaken.

The Pubchasb and Sale of Government and other Stocks, of English or Foreign Sharos effected, and Dividbkds,
Ahnoitibs, 4c , received for Customers of the Bank.

Great facilities are also afforded to the Customers of the Bank fcr the receipt of Money from the Towns where the Com-
pany has Branches.

The Officers of the Bank are bound not to disclose the transactions of any of its Customers.

By Order of the Directors, WM. MoKEWAN, General Manager.

IMPORTANT TO FLGCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & 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 Boiling, and
may be used with Warcn or Cold Water, for effectually
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
the Flock, preventing the alarmmg attacks of Fly and Shab,
snd 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 : —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 30 „ „ ,, 0 3 0

8 1b. 40 ,, „ ,, 0 4 0

101b. 60 ,, ,, ,, 0 5 0

20 lb. 100 „ „ (Caiik and measure 0 10 0

301b. 150 „ „ included) 0 15 0

40 1b. 200 „ „ 10 0

50 1b. 250 „ ., ,, 13 6

601b. 300 ,, „ ,, 17 6

80 lb. 400 ,. „ 1 17 6

1001b. 600 ,, ,, „ 2 6 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE,
from Mr. Hebbpath, 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
tfhe mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions
Ifiren, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,
HfJH not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numsro*,
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbkapath, Sen., F.O.S., 4c, &C,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry,

'.•eicester House, Great Lover-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all description*
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',

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1865.

" 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 o<
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' Th«
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 oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to hare
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 Februai y 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 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. RENNET.

B3* Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions:" it ia 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 suoh
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 «'*, £6, £4, 4 6S.

^/n^ -ta,^

'///,-//,/ -v/ i 'U //'. '

-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

MARCH, 1878.

PLATE.

THE LATE MB, RICHARD HORN SET.

A little more than twenty years ago, in .Tan nary, 1858,
we published in this M igazine a portrait and biographical
sketch of the then Mr. Richard llornsby, sen., with an
account of the rise of the great business at Grautham. In
the concluding remarks of that article the following
passage occurred: — -"For the list few years declining
hea'.th lias prevented Mr. llornsby taking any very active
share in the business. He has, however, a worthy suc-
cessor in his eldest son, who with two younger brothers
now represent the firm. Under their good stewardship
the trade has been still increasing, while the name, even
iu this age of competition, more than sustaius its pristine
reputation." The eldest son mentioned in this quotation
was the late Mr. Richard llornsby, whose portrait, en-
graved fnm a photograph, appears on the opposite page.
Mr. Hornsby died after a very short illness on December
3rd, 1877, just when the Smithfield club Show was about
to be opened, and his loss, at the early age of fifty, cast
a shade over the visit of all those present who knew him.
We cannot do better than reproduce from The Grantham
Journal a brief sketch of Mr. Hornsby's life, written by
one who knew him well : —

" Of his life we need say but little ; it has been livej
amongst us, and by its integrity and uprightness has wou
for him the regard of all who knew him. He was born
at Spittlegate on the 17th day of July, 1827, and was
therefore only fifty years of age when so suddenly called
away. Of him it may be truly said, ' His sun is gone
down while it was yet day.' After his school and college
course he quickly manifested the utmost aptitude for
mechanical studies, and in his father he found a willing
and well-qualified instructor. He joined his father iu the
pursuits to which his life had been devoted, and was
gradually introduced into the business in which he was
thereafter to occupy so prominent a place. Several years
previous to his father's death in 1864 he had assumed the
chief management of the business, which even then was
showing signs of that rapid development and increase
which have in late years been so remarkable, and which
have identified the town of Grantham with the progress Or
scientific aids to agriculture in every part of the world#
His life has been so simple that there are few incidents of
which to speak. An enthusiast in everything which re-
lated to the perfection of mechanical appliauce9, he devoted
himself with untiring energy to raising his productions to

Old Series

the foremost place, never resting satisfied with mediocrity
but striving ever for pre-eminence. And yet he never
sought distinction for himself, but gloried more in the
success of an iuvcutiou to which his mind had given birth
than in any honour conferred upon himself. He recognised
the fact that iu the success of his inventions and produc-
tions many interests were involved, and nothing gave him
greater pleasure than when in times of commercial depres-
sion he was able to give employment to his full staff of
workmen, whilst to reduce their number even gave him
pain. It is but due to his memory to say that for me-
chanical ability and inventive genius he had few equals.
With a fertile mind, an indomitable perseverance, and a
memory which was the wonder of those who knew him
to him is mainly owing the success which has crowned the
efforts of the firm of which he was the head.

His life having been thus devoted to the development
of his ever*growing business, it was inevitable that he
could not be in any local sense a public man ; and yet the
service he has rendered to the public can hardly be over-
estimated. The thriving town of Spittlegate owes its
prosperity iu large measure to his inventive skill and
business ability, whilst Grantham and the whole neigh-
bourhood has also shared in its prosperity. Such honours
as were opeu to him to accept were those conferred bv
societies in whose objects he took so deep an interest, and
as a member of the Councils of the Royal Agricultural
Society of England, and for some time of the Smithfield
Club, vice-president of the Lincolnshire Agricultural
Society, and member of many others, he has done good
service to the cause or agriculture. His latest pnbli i
service was performed in the week before he died, when h ■
was one of a deputation from the Royal Agricultura'
Society to Earl Beaconsfield on the subject of the cattle
plague. The latest honour of his life was the conferring
on him of her Majesty's commission as a county magis-
trate— an honour all too quickly faded.

Though holding no local offices, he yet took a live'y
interest in every scheme for benevolent aud public objects.
His geuial smile, his happy manner, his genuine kindliues
of heart, and the evideut interest he always took in the
welfare of his employees, were strikiug features of his
character. He had a kiudly greeting for the poorest ol
his workmen, and was never too busy to hear their case if
they stood in need of counsel or help."

N Vol. LXXXUI.—Ko. 3,

.168

THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE.

FARMERS' CLUBS.

CENTRAL.

TRACTION ENGINES TOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

The first monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club for the
present} ear took place <m February 4th, at the Club
Rjoni'?, Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, the subject fixed for con-
sideration being " Traction Engines for'Agricultural Purposes,'
the proposer being Mr. T. Aveliag, of Rochester, who was
prevented by indisposition from reading it himseF. In the un-
avoidable absence, also, of the Chairman for the year — Mr.
John BrowD, of Ca nbridgeshire — owingto a similar cause, Mr.
Shearer presided.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, after express-
ing his regret that Mr. Brown was unable to be present,
observed that as the subject before them that evening had been
entrusted to such able hands he should say nothing upon it
himself, except that he was sure the paper would be received
with the gratest possible satisfaction.

Tne Secretary (Mr. S. B.L- Druce)thec read, en behalf
o" Mr. Aveling, as follows : —

The object of the present paper is to lay briefly before this
meeting some account of the disabilities under which the
Uiers f.ud manufacturers of agricultural locomotives are at pre-
s nt labouring.

The amplication of locomotive steam power to agriculture
has been a work of no ordinary cost and difficulty. It ha<
been necessary to contend against the usual prdjudices,
interests, and opposition which seem to be the fate of all in-
ventions important enough to make a noise at and after birth.
Tiiere are people, and there always will be — English people es-
pecially— who receive efforts meant to improve their soeid
welfare as they do the medicines prescribed for their mental
or bodily health. A disposition of this sort is inherited with
ether family traits, and it would therefore be as foolish to
wonder much at it as to ignore it. But besides this inevitable
difficulty, others proper to the question of steam power on
common roads have always been present. It has been
necessary to solve the mechanical problems of designing and
building an engine strong enough to stand the rough jolting
of our rougli roads, simple enough to be understood and
managed by a farm labourer of ordinary intelligence, and
practical enough to be encouraged as a most economical
assistant to or substitute for the always costly and increasing
costly horse, All these and other pressing condhims have
been fulfilled by the manufacturer and recognised by the far-
mer ; they have been acknowledged by the Royal and
leading Agricultural Societies of the country, who since the
year 1856 have awarded to the makers twenty-five gold medals,
thirty-two silver medals, and nine bronze medals ; and money
prizes amounting lo between £5,000 and £6,000, besides ex-
p mding upon trials of this «lass of maehinary a further sum
of at least £30,000. Of the above the Royal Agricultural
Siciety of England have contributed £23,813, exclusive of the
■e st of elaborate testing apparatus, designed by their eminent
consulting engineers. It is estimated that steam engines of
the agricultural locomotive class, representing 30,000 horse
power nominal, and with the maehinary they drive valued
at two millions sterling, are employed at present in agricul-
ural operation! ; yet notwithstanding this vast addition to

the available working power of the country, draught horse*
have risen in value during the p ;st twenty years at least 25 per
cent. Facts such as these need only to be better known to ob-
tain for the steam substitute for the horse the same degree of
popularity with the majority of the public iu general as it has
long ago won from the mvjority of Eiglish and Scotch
farmers. Acts of Parliament have from time to time been
passed for the purpose of better regulating the use of road
locomotives, in the inter.-st of the owners as well as of the
publie, and the opening words of one of them, " Whereas the
use of locomotives is likely to become common on turnpike
and other roads," shows that the Legislature as early at least
as 1861 saw the importance of the movement and designed to
encourage it. There obviously was no desire to Hiscourage it'
and the unreasoning persecution to be rererred to further oo
would assuredly have|theu met with no Parliamentary approval*
These Acts have done much to remove glaringly unjust or
absurb restrictions, but they have not done all they couhi h ve
done. Anomalies and absurdities still remaiu, some the effect
of timidity in presence of a little known and much-feared
power ; others the token of successful interested opposition •
To them we are indebted for the very energetic crusade just
now being made against all engines running on the highways
under their own steam instead of in charge of eight to
twenty horses or more. It is about this persecution
we wish to speak more fully. In the session of 1873 the
House of Commons appointed a Select Committee " to inquire
into the effects of the use of locomotive engines on turnpike and
other public roads, and as to the limitations and restrifions
which ought to be imposed by lawj on their use npou such
road3 for securing the public safety and protecting the ptfblic
interests." The members of the Committee were: — Mr#
Hibbert, Mr. Frederick Stanley, Mr. Biddulph Mr. Wilbraham
Egerton, Mr. James Howard, Mr. Hick, Lord George
Cavendish, Mr. Holt, Mr. Eurst, Mr. Assheton, Mr. William
Wells, Sir George Jenkinson, Mr. Fordyce, Mr. Greville-
Nugent, and Mr. Cawley. In this report the Committee state-
that they had endeavoured as far as possible to obtain witnesse s
who were representatives of various interests, and also to
procure the evidence of persons from all parts of the country
who were opposed to the use of steam on roads ; and they add
— " The large amount of capital invested shows the national
importance of the partial substitution of steam for horse-power
and the increasing cost of horses and of their maintenance
renders this question one of great moment to large emp'oyerg
of libour and to others." The report touches upon all the
moot clauses of the Locomotive Acts, and considers very fully
t'le criticisms brought against them, 'as well by those who wish
well to the engines as by those who would suppress them ; and
the recommendations attached to it by the Committee would,
if embodied in a new Act of Parliament, go fur to satisfy the
reasoning majority of both sides alike. Unfortunately, no
legislation has yet resulted from the Committee's labours, and
in the meanwhile the party inimical to the use of agriciltural
locomotive steam engines has become so active and merciless
that to move au engine from one part of a district to another
is to run the risk of a summons for some possible or inevitable
infringement of the Acts as interpreted by these opponents to
'■ their use. This is veritable persecution, and to this all owner*

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169

of Mich engines are liable bo long as the Acts of 18G1 and 1865
are in force, for under those /Lets it is impossible to construct
locomotives ft' for the work required of them vithnpt infringing
one or other of their clauses. Of the twenty agricultural loco-
motives exhibited at the late show of the Stuithfiield Club there
was uot one against which an enterprising county policeraim.
properly instructed, might not have produced a conviction.
The clauses of the Locomotive Acts of 1861 and 1865, which
Rre generally selected by their adversaries as affording ground
for persecution, are those concerned with the form of engine
wheels, the consumption'of smoke, the red flag man, tli('|crossing
of bridges' and the time-limit for travelling. First, as to the
shape of the wheels of an engine. The regulations affecting
their construction are the offspring of an Act of Parliament,
now no longer in fore, which was promoted by the party inter-
ested in the " Boydell Endless Railway System " and with the
view of reducing turnpike tolls at that time nearly prohibi-
tory in their effect upon road engines, A clause in this bill
forbade the employment of any engine on a public road unlcs
its driving-wheels were smooth-soled cylindrical or fitted
(as was the Boydell engine) with shoes of 9 inches or
more in width ; and, this clause was re-enacted in the
existing Acts of 1861 and 1865 in spite of the protest
of the promoters of the Acts. It follows that as ordinarily
well-formed roads are rounded on the face, in the proportion
of half an inch curve to one foot width of roadway or there-
abouts, a wheel constructed with a cyliandrical tyre would tak
its hearing on the road, more or less, only with the inner side
of the wheel ; and, therefore, without the cross-bars, with
which all these engines are illegally (according to the letter,
although not the spirit, of the Acts) fitted, the wheels wo 11
slip, and cause far greater damage to the roads than do
the cross-bars against which so much clamour is raised. In
estimating the comparative wear upon roads from wheeled
c images ond horses drawing them, General Moniu, the emi-
nent French engineer and director of the Conservatoire des
Arts at Meteirs of Paris, found that two-thirds of the wear is
due to the action of the horses' shoes ; and Mr. John Waite, a
well-known surveyor of roads in Scotland, gives it a s his
opinion that " one great cause of disturbauce of the road
metalling is the meth 'd, now so common, of shoeing draught-
horses with very long toe pieces and heels, which tear up the
metal, and render the roads rough and .dangerous, especially
iu dry seasons." Now, although in ordinary traffic the maxi-
mum injury is thus rightly attributed to the horses' tread and
not to friction or pressure of cart-wheels, yet constant passing
of vehicles in one tract does greatly cut up soft roads ;
especially in bid weather, as every knows ; and it cannot be
denied that considerable damage has been done to such weak j
roads by the frequent passage of heavy engines, hauling trains
of waggons fitted with wheels of insufficient width for the load
carried. But where engines not exceeding 8-horse power*
nominal, have been used for hauling work, and when the wag
gons hauled by them have had wheels 8 inehes in width
carrying loads not exceeding 6 tons on each waggon, the front
wheels travelling vi ithin the tract of the hind ones.it can be
proved tltat less injury is caused to well-constructed roads
than would result from the same amount of tonnage being
drawn by horses. It is hoped that some measure having for
its object the establishment of County Highway Boards will
be passed this session, and that these Boards will readjust the
burden of nsaiutaiying the public reads, so that no unfair
proportion shall, as at present (now that the Turnpike

Trusts have lapsed), fall upon the shoulders of any section
of the public. The smoke clause in the acts has been
fruitful of summonses, and convictions have been enforced
against the owners of agricultural locomotives for not doing
what iudeed the e Act3 enjoin them to do, but what it is at
present impossible for them to do — consume their own smoke.
As yet engineers luive been unable to construct either railway
or road locomotive engines that can burn coal without pro-
ducing some s'uoke, and it is scarcely honest to visit this
infraction of the la v upon the agricultural engine while the
railway locomotive can make smoke with impunity. Iu many
country districts smokeless fivl can be procured, and it was
the recollection of this that induced the Committee of 1873
to recommend a relaxation of this injunction in the case of
agricultural engines working habitually in the country. This
consideration apart, it cannot with justice be seriously main-
tained that injury is done or nuisance caused to any one in the
country by the smoke, which, for a few moments after stoking,
Lsues from the engine funnel. Any careful driver would take
care that these periods of smoke emisssion were kept at a
minimum, if only to show a good result in coal consumption,
and the employer has it in his power to check his driver iu
this respect. It would'seldom be necessary for a man to feed
his fire when passing through, or just about to pass through,
a village or by any houses on the roadside. The conditions
are different for town engines, and the circumstances, as we have
seen, was recognised by the Committee. Coke or smokeless
coal is generally proem able aid can always be obtained by fore-
thought ; and therefore excuses for emitting smoke in a town
might very reasonably be 1 eld valid only in respect of coun'.ry
engines making a chance passage through. Another clause
of the Locomotive Acts enacts that a person is to precede an
engine, when travelling on the public roads, a distance of G'J
yards, and is to carry a red flag, and the regulation has been
provocative of much annoyance and many prosecutions before
magistrates ; for let the flag carrier lag in his pace, and so bring
himself wilfully or accidentally into much better relation to
the engine in case his services are required to assist restive
horses, or to give confidence to timid riders, and straightway
some zealous guardian of the law (perhaps the timid horseman
himself who accepts of help but abuses the helper) obtains a
summons against the owner, and presses for the utmost penalty.
Now, obviously, the object aimed at in the clause is the pro-
tection of the driving and riding public, and as, owing to the
low speed ot the locomotive (two miles in town and four in the
country being the legal maxima), horses as frequently over-
take as meet them, the place where this person would be of
most assistance is near the engine, and not 60 yards away
from it in one or another direction. The danger to horses
pointed at by this provision is a good deal illusory or exagge-
rated, and is a subject for alarm chiefly to those who have
little acqiniutance with the locomotives ; it has no existence
in the minds of persons accustomed to meet or pass them
either riding or driving, provided their horses are so intelligen1
and manageable as they ought to be. For the
reassurance of the former class we may point to important
evidence heard, and conclusions diawn, by more than one
Parliamentary Committee who have considered this matter-
Anion-; others, Mr. John Macadam, the general surveyor of
turnpike roads in Euslaud some yean ago, said, in speaking
before the Select Committee sf the House of Commons in
1359 about a long journey he ra*de on the high roads with a
faster-speeded engine and train than are_now allowed to run.

N »

170

" We met several cart horses ; they noticed us a little but not
enough to require us to stop. Generally speaking, when we
came to the towns we were inconvenienced by the number Oi
people who were riding round us ; we had forty or fifty
people riding round us in oce of the towns. Some of the
horses made a great objection at first, but the gentlemen
coaxed them up to the engine, and the thin r ended by every one
of them following us." Eorses incapable of being taught to
meet an engine without alarm are a greater danger on other
occasions than the engine itself on any. They will shy at a
showman's van, a band of music, a wheelbarrow, and anything
but what exactly pleases their untaught natures. Mr. W. B.
Adams, the celebrated inventer and engineer, gave it as his
opinion before the same Committee : " The startli ug horse is
simply a wild beast, and no one has a right to bring a wild
beast into the streets or roads. .... What grooms call
' a fool of a horse, is not worth keeping, and every horse
worth keepiug is worth educating." To this I add the con-
clusion arrived at by the Committee of 1873, and given as
follows in their Report : —

" Danger, to Horses, &c "
" 9. Upon this point a considerable difference of opinion
exists among the various wicnesses who have given evidence
before your Committee. Several users of engines stated
their belief that with the majority of horses a very short
time suffices to accnstora thera completely to the sight
and sound of a road locomotive. Locomotive engines
(including steam rollers) are working by day, and in some
cases both by day and by night, in the streets of London,
Liverpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Aberdeen, Rochester, and other
large towns, and few complaints have arisen in consequence of
their use.

" 10. As snmll engines are now employed 'in all directions
for contractors' work, steam fire-engines, &c, passing daily
through streets and among horses, and as at most railway sta-
tions locomotives are habitually run within a few feet of horses
and carriages, and as few or no accidents are known to Tesult
from these practices, it seems reasonable to conclude that
horses in towns will not take much notice of the passage of
road locomotives.

" 11. A distinction was drawn by several of the witnesses
between the amount of difficulty likely to be experienced with
horses in towns and with those in the country. It appears to
your Committee that there is little doubt that in some rural
districts the introduction of locomotives upon the roads would
be attended with greater inconvenience than would be the case
in towns ; but the evidence is almost unanimous to the effect
that this inconvenience soon disappears, although there are,
and probably always will be, some few horses which will take
fright at an engine, as they will at many other objects.

" 13. Even some of the witnesses who are opposed to the
use of road locomotives admitted that horses soon get used to
the sight and sound of engines, and the increasing u<e of
machinery for farm purposes (to say nothing of ploughing
engines used on farms, and not habitually travelling upon
roads), must accustom them to the appearance and noise of
machinery."

The clauses touching upon the passage of roid engines over
bridges contain regulations needing much remodelling. At
present it is open to any road surveyor or bridge master, under
pretence of the bridges being too week to carry their weight,
4o prohibit by notice boards the use of any or all the bridges in
their district for the passage of agricultural locomotives, and in

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

several cases this arbitrary and impolitic course has been taken.
The last, though not least, of the defects in the Acts is found
in the clauses which empower local authorities to make orders
as to the hours during which road locomotive travelling is to
be limited. Regarding, as some of these authorities have
hitherto too often done, all steam traffic as a. nuisance to be
put down if possible — to be impeded when extinction is im-
practicable—the power here given by the Legislature, with fair,
well-meaning intent, has been unnecessarily and unfairly put
into operation, to the detriment, and sometimes to the ruin
of owners of such engines. Instances occur where the hours
for running are corfmed to eight out of the twenty-four, and
where these eight working hours have been chosen with the
avowed object of making it impossible to use the engines.
Again, no notices are affixed, as they might reasouab'y be, at
the entrance of such towns to apprise drivers of the local
regulations, and every accidental or trivial infraction of the
bye-law is punished rigorously, the maximum instead of the
minimum fine the law permits being inflicted. It is unnecessMy
to dilate upon the increased difficulties, dangers, and cost of
steam traffic through the dark hours of the night, the road
locomotive, unlike the railway engine, depending so greatly
upon the eye and skill of the steersman to enable it to work in
safety ; and it might have been anticipated that every ouej
whether engaged in agriculture or not, would have been
anxious to cheapen rather than augment the expense of
carriage. Every one is alike interested in its reduction, seeing
how large an item it is in the cost of commodities, from corn
to stones for road-mendiug ; but this is not understood by the
road and loc.il authorities referred to above. If any travelling
limit be necessary at all, any sixteen consecutive hours out of
the twenty-four would answer every end. It may be expected
that some suggestions for substitutive regulations in a new Act
should be made m this place, and, although more than one new
Locomotive Act has been draughted within recent years, ia
which the principal clauses liable to abuse in the okl ones are
more or less satisfactorily dealt with, yet the occasion is
opportune for a brief statement of the reforms to be sought
for by owners and employers of agricultural road
engines.

!. As to the shape of the wheels. It is proposed to leave
this a matter to be decided entirely by the manufacturer,
whose interests are undoubtedly identical with those of the
public, and who will best know how to give effect to them. A
wheel calculated to cause least wear and tear to the road is
likewise, by diminishing friction between wheel and road, cal-
culated to give the best results for the engine. In place of
defining the form of tyre to be made use of, let some definite
relation of width of the wheel-face to the carrying weight be
established and enforced. Makers would heartily support so
rational a regulation ; owners would find the advantage of the
adjustment ; and surveyors would acknowledge that, when
their roads are not in fault, the engines rather benefited than
injured them.

2. As to the emission smoke. Enough has been said above
to indicate the direction reform should take in this connection-
Let town working engines be restricted to smokeless fuels, and
let country locomotives be allowed reasonable time after
stoking for getting rid of their smoke.

3. The red flag should not be insisted upon, and the person
required for the public safety should be allowed to accompany
tne engine — not compelled to precede it.

4. Bridge-wardens or surveyors should be required to have
their bridges strengthened wherever through neglect they have

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171

become unable to bear the load they were originally calculated
to do ; and on all bridges too weak to carry 20 tons a notice
board should be aflixed at both approaches attesting the
maximum weight assumed to be compatible with safety. The
public, or the eugine-owners, might be empowered at any
time to have any bridge upon which such a notice-board had
been fixed examined and tested by a competent architect or
engineer, provided it were done at their own charge.

5. The hours during which an engine is allowed to work
should, unless good cause be shown for maintaining restric-
tions, be absolutely unlimited. Restrictions where imposed
should be reasonable, in no case curtailing the engine's free-
dom beyond eight consecutive hours out of the twenty-four;
and these cases of restrictions should be confined to towns of
30,000 inhabitants or upwards.

When the opposition encountered by the earliest promoters
of railways is remembered, aud the wild prophesies indulged in
about the consequences of allowiug engines and earriagas to
rush through the country at twelve miles an hour, no surprise
need be felt at the storm now breaking over the owners of
road locomotives and others ;- but there is reason for discontent,
and every motive for exertion in counteracting the doings of
the obstruc ives, in removing restrictions on freedom of work,
and in awakening in the public mind a better knowhdse of
the valuable agency they are permitting to be so hardly treated
The exertions should not be discontinued until a new Loco-
motive Act is obtained, suited to the more developed state of
the question than are those Acts drawn up fifteen years ago,
when the agricultural locomotive engine wa3 in its infancy,
more just to a vast and important interest — the most important
in the kingdom — the agricultural interest. The farmers, by
the removal of corn laws, and by the enhanced cost of labour,
have been made to part with no small share of their profits to
the public at large ; they ask from the public this, among
other things, in return : liberty to make freely the utmost
practicable use of a power offered to them, and which they
find is not only cheaper than their own horse power, but can
do work that their horses cannot do.

Mr. Alfred Croskill (Beverley) said, in listening to the
paper which had just been read, he was reminded very strongly
of the old proverb with which they were all familiar. " Out
of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The
writer had been so deeply impressed with the wrongs which he
himself and his fellow-manufacturers, and no doubt to a con-
siderable extent their customers also, had suffered, that a
great part of the paper was taken up in discussing the
difficulties under which they laboured in connection with the
use of excellent machines. But there was another aspect of
the question which appeared to him not to have sufficient
prominence in the paper, namely, how far it would be advan-
tageous to use engines which were self-moving, instead of
engines which were drawn by horses. In the few observations
he had to make he should address himself to that point, because
it appeared to him that in an assembly of farmers it was one
of the utmost importance. They all knew very well that
during the hst twenty years agriculturists had made a very
great advance in the use of steam engines. There was hardly
any farmer, however small might be his holding, who had not
used an engine for some years past, and it was a rather
extraordinary thing that nearly all the engines in use were alike
No one scarcely used a different form of engine adapted to the
purposes of farming except a few large landowners, who had
placed fixed engines in barns and other farm buildiugs. The

type, of an agricultural engine was one which was moveable
Irom place to place, being generally drawn by horses. It
seemed a most natural thing that after mechanical inventions
had, in the first iustance, produced an engine which would go
from one place to another to perform its work, horses being
employed to bring it where it was wanted — it seemed most
natural, he said, that attempts should be made to cause engines
to move cf themselves instead of horses having to be used in
taking thein from one place to another. That attempts should
have been made to establish a system of self-locomotion,
appeared almost a truism. That being the case, everyone
ought to know — it was, in fact, a ma'ter of notoriety — thrt tor
the last fifteen or twenty years efforts of various kinds to
secure that end had been made, and duriug the last five or six
years had assumed a practical shape ; aud that it had been
shown to farmers that instead of buying steam engines which
would have to be moved from place to place by horses, they
might have the advantage — and undoubtedly it was an advan-
tage— of obtaining engiues which would move themselves
about. Eugiues had been constructed which were capable of
doing all kinds of work — ploughing, and almost everything
else. He thought it right that the public should know that
a fair measure of success had beeu achieved in several years,
and that farmers who had sufficiently large holdings to justify
them in doing so, would like to buy engiues instead of hiri g,
if they could use them without having to employ horses to
fetch them to the place of work. One thing which had
affected that question pratically during the last few years was
the greatly increased cost of horse-power. (Hear, hear). Prac-
tical agriculturists who were brought face to face with that
question from day to day knew very well that oae of the
results of the great rise in the price of horses which had taken
place during the last few years had been to add greatly to the
cost of keeping them, and, therefore, they naturally looked
with special interest upon any improvement which promised
to do away with one of the uses to which horses ware now
put. The fact that the eugines had been so much improved
that, notwithstanding all the difficulties which had attended
their employment, they had achieved very useful results for
practical farmers, and that, at the same time, the cost of
horse-power had done so much to increase the burdens of
practical farmers — these two conaiderations combined to show
that it would be a very great advantage to those who used
steam-engines if they would readily move from place to place
instead of having to be drawn by horses. In making these
remarks he had no wish to reflect on the course pursued in
the paper by the introducer of the question ; but it had struck
him that this part of the subject did not obtain the prominence
which it deserved on account of its importance to farmers.
He now turned to the second part cf the question, which was
treated most ably and exhaustively in the paper. There could
be no doubt that the fellow-manufacturers %of the writer had:
felt the grievance complained of very much iudeed. It was,
indeed, prima facte a very hard thing that these gentlemen
should first of all have had to invent a machine, and to make
it practically useful to farmers, and then .have had to
get an Act of Parliament to enable farmers to use it (Hear,
hear). But he did not know that they felt it to be a great
hardship, for there was nothing scarcely more remarkable
than the tendency which had prevailed among agricultural
machine- makers to turn their attention to politics (laughter).
He might allude to the cases of the ex-membe? for Bedford
aud the cx-member for Maldou, to which lie would add

172

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

o' the hem. memher for Banbury (renewed laughter). Nearly
all the largest manufacturerers seemed to like dealing in
politics. When such gentlemen went to Parliament they had
a fair right to expect that on the question which he was
discussing they would be supported unanimously by the ogri-
calural interest (Hear, hear). No doubt the man who made
a traction-engine made it for his own profit, but seeing how
greatly farmers were interested in the lightening of the burden
of keeping horses, they were surely bound to do something to
assist in getting the law ot the land made such as to enable
tliem to carry on their own business economically. Without
potering at length into the hardships referred to in the paper,
he would remark that everyone who was familiar with the
subject must be aware that great obstructions had been placed
iu the way of the use of steam-engines. Some of the stories
that were told would make those obstructions appear ridiculous
were it not for the importance of the subject dealt wi h.
Perhaps he was addressing some gentlemen who attended a
public meeting on that subject that was held about two
months ago. Some of the anecdotes which were told on that
oicasion might very well have served for Punch. The absurd
kind of proseculion to which a man was subject because he
used nn engine that moved itself about instead of one that had
to be fetched by horses was discreditable to the country, and
legislation ought not to be used to place an agriculturist or a
m inufacturer under the disadvantage of needless restriction; •
lie thought that some new Act should be passed to meet that
evil. Any one who was acquainted with the subject must be
; ware that there was a provision in the existing Act to the
effect that any one who drove a traction-engine along a road
sliould employ a man to walk in front of it with a red flag.
Let him allude to a case which came before him while he was
Bitting as a justice. A person had two engines going along
at the same time, one following the other. He placed a man
in front of the first with a red fhg ; but it was contended ihat
he ought to have had such a precaution in front of each
engine. A penalty was pressed for (laughter). There was
another justice sitting" with him, and although techimally an
o.Tence had been committed, they inflicted only a very slight
penalty for what was practically no ofTence at all. That case
cawe before borough magistrates ; had it come before county
j istices the result might have been different (laughter). At
all evdits the man to whom the engines belonged rightly
thought that the law required amendment. As was pointed
°ut by the author of the paper, they were bound by a due
r gard for their own interest to assist in the efforts which
were being made to bring the law into harmony with the
proper use of the engines affected by it. If agriculturists
f und it to their advantage to use steam-engines, and to move
tnem about from place to place, the law ought to be such as
to enable the road to be used, so far as they could be without
danger, for the furtherance of agricultural objects. He per-
leclly agreed with Mr. Aveling that there was a great deal of
Prejudice on that subject to be overcome. There were many
people who looked upon the appearance of engines in a road
i <in improper intrusion, but that could hardly continue to be
tiie case when it was seen that the interests of all parties re-
su red it. He thought that when the matter was thoroughly
understood there would be no difficulty in getting the neces-
sary alterations made in the law, and that the paper just read
would prove a great step in advance. He hoped that the
discussion that evening would not be confined to farmers. He
was happy to see present the Secretary of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society— a very important Society, and one which

possessed the advantage of including a unmber of gentlemen
who had seats in Parliament. That Society ought to be opira'ed
upon in order that gentlemen who represent the agricultural
interest might advocate and support measures which would tend
to give landowners and farmers freedom in carrying on their
business (cheers).

Mr. A. Carey (Rochford, Essex) said, having been called
upon by several members to say a few words, he must first
observe that the 'subject had been so ably laid before the
meeting that he had very little to do except te repeat what
had been so well urged by Mr. Crosskill, that this was really
a very serious matter for agriculturists. Standing as he did
between the farmer and the manufacturer, being a contractor
for steam cultivation and hauling and other things connected
with locomotives on roads, he had felt the obstacles alluded to
very deeply, and he was sure it was the wish of agriculturists
enerally that manufacturers and persons occupying a similar
position to his own should be able to introduce steam-power
without being subject to such great disadvantages. He could
mention many cases in which agriculturists had been almost
afraid to hire an engine on account of the risk of the owner
or hirer being prosecuted, and of course the cost of steam
cultivation had risen in proportion to the difficulty. There
had been great trouble attending the moving of an engine
from one farm to another because magistrates and other dis-
ag eeable people (laughter) had interfered. Somebody must
pay for all that, and the contractors could not. As re-
garded bridges, it was no doubt necessary that they should be
of considerable strength to bear engines, but in Essex he had
seen notices affixed to bridges which were perfectly good.
What was the use of allowing people to go before magistrates to
ask for the infliction of a penalty when they thought the Act
was wrong and when agriculturists themselves were breaking
it almost daily P Agriculturists ought to support manufac-
ture s, the two bodies ought to go hand in hand, and he trusted
that they would unite with contractors to get the law amended
(Hear, hear).

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said he thought there was one sub-
ject which complicated the discussion, and which very much
prejudiced it, viz., the subject of the continuous traffic of
locomotive engines over roads utterly unsuitable for them
(Ileir, hear). There were very few roads indeed that would
take the slightest harm from the occasional traffic of a very
heavy engine with plough tackle or agricultural machinery ;
and he was astonished at the amount of unjustifiable prosecu-
tion of the owners and employers of agricultural locomotives
that had taken place in different parts of the kingdom (Hear,
hear). That was happily confined, he believed, to a very few
districts ; and generally speaking the prosecutions were con-
fined to really good sound cases, where the Act had been
flagvautly violated. With regard to the continuous traffic of
heavy locomotives drawing large loads of all sorts of prod- ce
and commodities, there was no doubt it was very injurious to
some roads. The other day he had a paper given to him by
Mr. Stanley Leighton, president of the Shropshire Chamber of
Agriculture and in that paper, signed by the president and
the hoa. secretary, there was given the different costs per
mile of the repair of the roads prior to these engines being
used, and afterwards ; and the difference was so astonishing
that he would read one or two cases. In the Oswestry High-
way District, over four miles of which the roads were tra-
versed every day by traction engines drawing two waggons,
the cost of repairs before the use of such engines was £26 per
mile, and the cost of repairs since JJ500 a mile. ("Mr. Ave-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1.

ling: Does the piper give t\e amount of tonnage carried in
each case before or since ?] No ; those particulars were not
given. In the Llangollen district the repairs before traction
engines were used cost £30 a mile, and since £180 a mile.
I'i the Llanfellen (?) district, Montgomeryshire, the coat was
£5 a mile before, and £70 after the use of the engines ; in the
Poole district (Salop) the cost was .£11 a mile before
the use of engines, and now it wua £150 a mile. There were
3-ime other minor cases quoted, but these seemed to him very
extraordinary. They rather bore on one part of the paper in
which it was said that a like amount of heavy traffic could
not b ! carried on over these roads without creating a greater
amount of damage to them. lie would say one word upon
that; A common agricultural road was -made for the purpose
of carrying horses and carriage", and though it might do for
that purpose very well, everybody would see that it could not
stand a very much heavier weightj if continuously driven
o^er it. In saying this he must not for a moment be
supposed to wish to restrict the passage of agri-
cultural traction engines in any shape or way. He
hiartily agreed with the author of that paper in
d siring that the legislation should be amended ; and
athough these heavy charges on the ratepayers had,
in his opinion, prejudiced the public mind very much against
tie use of any engine, he hoped that the two things would
not be confouuded together, because jhe would repeat that the
occasional transit of a locomotive from farm to farm with even
the heaviest implements they chose to put behind it did cotn-
paratlv ly little damage to the roads (Hear, hear). If they
were going to have a Highway Bill of some sort this sessions
he hoped that this large question of agricultural machines, and
a' so the still more serious one of the locomotive engines
constantly traversing the roads, woeld come nnderthe juris-
diction of some good county authority. It was utterly im-
possible that the damage done to the r ads, in cises he could
mention, could be allowed to continue, and that the owners
and the people who caused the damage should pay jnst nothing
towards the repair of those roads. It would be better
that there should be tramways laid along the sides of some old
turnpikes, for the roads were in many cases 60 feet wide, and
there was no necessity for continuing thena of that
width for the local traffic, since most of the through
traffic had been absorbed by the railroads. With rega-d
to the Act which had been found so much fault with
(it was passed, of course, before he went into Parliament, and
therefore he had nothing to do with it), he thought the res-
trictions about smoke were " all smoke " (laughter), and never
ought to have been there at all. In the country what was a
little puff of smoke ? Of coarse in towns there should b9
smokeless coals used. Then with regard to the man who was
to walk 60 yards in front of the engine with a red flag, in all
probability 60 yards was too far away ; but he ought to be in
front of the engine,- because if he was on the engine very
likely he would never see anything, and assuredly he would
never hear anything even if cries for assistance were raised.
The man should be in front ; but he (Mr. Read) did not sup-
pose the author of the paper wished to have a man behind
also, though he seemed to infer that he wonld he the more
serviceable of the two ; but that was a matter of detail. With
the other objections raised to the existiag legislation he quite
agreed. He did not know whether there would be a locomo-
tive Bill this year ; but the first thing to do was to provide
some good county authority which shoald have the power of
isensing those engines, and also of taking some of the main

roads of the counties under their jurisdiction (Hear, hear).
These were all the observations he would make, except that he
knew what perhaps would be said «f him, probably by Mr.
James Howard and others — " Why don't you make the roads
strong enough to bear these engines?" But that could not be
done where the roads were very narrow. He was, «f course,
talking now only of the continuous passage of engines over
the same road. He had himself seen narrow roads where the
sides had been actually lifted up by the continuons passages
of these engines. No amount of material on such a road
would, in his opinion, carry the weight. He knew it had
been argued that every bridge, however small, ought to be big
enongh and strong enough to carry those engines. In Bed-
fordshire he believed that they had strengthened all the bridges.
In Essex they had done something to improve them, although
engine drivers there broke the law apparently with impunity
(laughter). But a heavy engine was a machine that ought
to have a road made specially for it, if it was to pass continu-
ously over the same road. Once more, in making thete
observations against the continuous traffic of engines carrying
large loads, with the narrow-wheeled waggons behind them
which did the most harm, let it not be understood that he
was at all opposed to the unrestricted and universal use of
agricultural engines of any kind whatever (Hear, hear).

Mr. F. Sherborn (Bedfont, Hounslow) observed that the
only argument jet used was that of the manufacturers and
the contractors. Mr. E-ead had not spoken in the farmer's
sense of the question. He believed this question was of more
importance to the farmers than any one else, though the
manufacturer might be the sufferer in the first place. If they
were not allowed to use the engines for ploughing and thrash- -
ing in the county of Middlesex they could not get on with
agriculture, for he had now no men to thrash, and was obliged
to arrange that the engines brought a gang of mpn with ther.i.
He objected to the shameful and abominable restrictions that
were plaoed in the way of using these steam engines for agri-
cultural purposes. The farmers had a great difficulty in making
both ends meet already; and if they were debarred from
economising labour in every possible way they would have to
give up farming. He did not see how they could get on with
such restrictions placed in the way.

Mr. James Howard (Bedford) said he should not take the
line which Mr. Read had referred to. He did not
deem it right. Mr. Aveling, in addressing a body of
practical farmers, had purposely omitted the question of
traction engines employed in commerce; mining, and
manufactures. That was a question to be debated more
properly before the Institution of Civil Engineers ; the paper
was therfore confined, accordingly, to locomotives u<ed for
agricultural purposes. No doubt the statements quoted by
Mr. Read from the paper by Mr. Stanley Leighton were
perfectly true ; but the cases which had been given were ail
of engines used in mineral districts. No doubt in those ■
cases the engines had been employed in hauling material
from a quarry or a mine ; and though the roads may have
cost so little per mile to repair before the traction engines
w re put upon them, yet no comparison could be drawn be-
tween the present and past cost of the roads unless they had the
relative amounts of tonnage earned by steam power against
that carried previously by horse-power, ft might be that such
mine or quarry was not worked at all until the engines were
put upon the -oads. Mr. Aveling had put the case so fully
and fairly i his paper, and Mr. Crosekill had also gone so
exhaustive i I the subject, that little craathing was left to

174

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Le said. To his mind, the question seemed very simple. It
was monstrous that after all the efforts of the inventors to
produce an engine suitable for agricultural purposes —
a'ter all the money expended by the Royal Agricul-
tural Society in trials to bring these engines into a con-
dition for the farmer to buy — after a capital of something
like £2,000,000 had been invested in machinery of this
character — after it had been proved before a Select Com-
mittee of the House of Commons that these engines could with
proper precautions be used without danger to the public, and
without damage to the roads — it was, he repeated, monstrous
that the farmers of England should not be allowed to use
the engines they had found to be most advantageous for their
purpose. So long as the present law was maintained which
prohibited the use of one of these engines by a farmer without
breaking the law, this question, which was of enormous in-
terest to the country — must be pressed home upon the House
of Commons. All that they asked was a law based on the re-
port of the Select Committee, and having been a member he
could affirm that a more painstaking Committee never sat in
that House. We examined witnesses from all parts of Eng-
land and Scotland — both those opposed to the use of the
engines and those in favour of them — and the Report was
unanimously approved by the members of the Committee
Their recommendations too were reasonable and practicable.
It was quite true, as alluded to by Mr. Read, that Bedfordshire
had put all its bridges in a coudition to carry these locomotive,
engines (both the highway and county bridges and even the
culverts), and he was proud of his county (Hear, hear) that
it had thus set an example to the rest of England, that it had
recognised the great advantage that had been conferred on
agriculture by the use of ploughing engines, and that it was
the first to put their bridges in order, so that the agricul-
turists of the county might reap the fullest benefit from the
11 'W power in tillage (Hear, hear).

Mr. W. Nevitt (Yorton Villa, Shrewsbury) said he hap-
pened to be one of the parties who had signed the paper quoted
by Mr. Read. He did not think any agriculturist could wish
to put any hindrance in the way of the makers of agricultural
machinery. He had not heard of any of these vexatious ques.
tions among the owners of these agricultural engines in
Shropshire. But he could bear testimony to the fact that at
the top end of Shropshire there was a turnpike road about
fourteen miles long, the cost of repairing which was now about
£150 a mile. Upon five miles of the same the minerals were
drawn over the road by two locomotives,and the consequence
was that a gig could not now be safely driven over
a portion of it, though thirty years ago it was a fair
turnpike road. The great reason why the farmers objected
to that kind of engine was because of the heavier burdens
o i the rates. In the south-western part of Shropshire,
he knew that the farmers would like the question brought
before the House of Commons as to how these roads were to
be kept up so long as these engines were allowed to draw such
immense loads, which were often from 10 to 20 tons, in mode-
rately narrow-wheeled waggons. The minerals drawn in wag-
gons from the same mine by horse-power did nothing like the
same damage to the roads forty years ago. It was against the
damage done in this way that the farmers protested, and not
from any wish to damage the agricultural implement manu-
facturers ; on the contrary, the farmers ot Shropshire would
hold up their hands to encourage the manufacturer. He had
used steam power for thrashing and cultivating for several
years, and he for one protested against the opinion going forth

from that Club that the farmers were antagonistic to the use
of steam power in agriculture or any other industry so long as
there was no excessive damage done to the road:).

Mr. D. Greig (Steam Plough Worirs, Leeds) thought some
of the speeches had deviated from the point of the paper,
which, in his opinion, had reference only to engines used in
agriculture, whether for thrashing, or ploughing, or carrying
wheat to market. He thought the farmers were the people
at fault for allowing the present legislation to exist. If the
engines engaged in the carriage of minerals damaged the road»
and the owners paid nothing towards the repair of the roads,
the Legislature was at fault, and the farmers were the people
of all others who should seek to improve the legislation on the
subject. The manufacturers of the engines could only mak:
them if they got a profit by doing so ; and they could only
get a profit by supplying the article which the farmers would
buy. As to the question of the cost of £500 a mile for the
repair of the roads mentioned by Mr. Read, the point was
what tonnage was carried over the road. Mr. Read, he
thought, was speaking of the cost of making the road and not
of r*pairing it, because when the locomotive engine started
there was no road. [Mr. Read : " Yes, a good turnpike"}.
The road, of coirse, should be in accordance with the traffic to
pass over it. If he had an engine passing over a eommon
road which did damage to the road, the farmers were the per-
sons to make the Legislature say that he ought to pay towards
keeping that road in repair. The point he desired to enforce
was that the manufacturers wanted the assistance of the far-
mers in getiing the Legislature to protect both the farmers
and the manufacturers of agricultural implements. He could
instance a case in which his firm had been fined £115 in regard
to the smoke and the wheels in a season. It was an utter
impossibility, with their preseut knowledge, to deal with the
smoke question. He could tell them of cases in courts where
policemen swore that the engines did not smoke for more than
three seconds, and of others where it was admitted that police-
men had been set to watch the traction engines, and if they
smoked to bring the case before the magistrates. The farmers
did not want their business hampered by such legislation as
that (Hear, heai). What they wanted was proper legislation,
so that those who used and damaged the roads should pay for
it. In regard to the wheels, it was a fact that wheels which
some magistrates would pass other magistrates would not-
Surely they wanted redress in such an instance as that. He
looked upon the question as purely a want of legislation
which, while it would protect the farmer, would facilitate him
in getting his work done by the aid of machinery.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said the road to which he had
referred as costing £20 a mile to maintain was made years ago,
and that snra was a fair expenditure to keep it up. He knew
a road in his own district which used to cost £10 a mile but
now cost. £i0 a mile to repair, because an engine, carrying
petroleum, passed over it twice or three times a week.

Mr. C. M. Caldecott (Holbrook Grange, Rugby) thought
Mr. Aveling had done injustice to the bulk of the authorities
by the way in which he had spoken of traction engines being
persecuted. No doubt they had been persecuted unreasonably
in certain localities, but it did not apply to the Midland coun-
ties, unless it might be Nottinghamshire. He agreed with Mr_
Read that there was not the slightest use in the restriction
about smoke. He would, however, much rather face a traction
engine in his vehicle than a Cheap John's cart, provided the
engine men did not make the engine "puff" just as he got
near it. If the engine men would use that discretion it would

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

175

be better than having a man sixty yards iu advance. In justice
to liia own county he desired to state that on the passing of
the Act th* county surveyor examined all the bridges, and only
about five were reported unfit to carry traction engines, and on
those notices were put. In the county of Warwick lie did not
think there was any instance of any one being troubled for
moving an engine from one farm to another.

Mr. II. M. Jknkins (Secretary, Uoyal Agricultural Society)
said as Mr. Crosskill had alluded so pointedly to him, probably
lie should be expected to make one or two remarks. Everybody
must admit that Mr. Aveling had doue good service by putting
forward so clearly and tersely all the points in connection with
this question. For himself, he shoold go away knowing a great
deal more than he did before, and probably there would be
others in pretty much the same position. He did not know
before that there was such a solid foundation for the dissati^"
faction they had heard expressed recently by the manufacturers
and users of these locomotive engiues in consequence of the
restrictions which existed in the Act of Parliament now in
force. Mr. Howard had mentioned incidentally that the Iloyaj
Agricultural Society hnd offered prizes for these engines, which
they seemed to think were now as nearly as possible perfect. He
(Mr. Jenkins) did not believe that the Royal Agricultural
Society was quite of that opinion, because it had recently been
under discussion whether another trial of agricultural locomo-
tives and steam ploughing engines should not take place in the
course of a year or two. But he was startled the other day
by an implement-maker asking him whether he considered
it a proper thing for the Royal Agricultural Society to offer
prizes for illegal implements? That was putting the matter
in a very startling light, and he asked what was meant. The
explanation came very much to what Mr. Aveling had already
stated with regard to the engines exhibited at the Smithfield
Club — that all of them were in point of fact illegal, because
their wheels were in contravention of the words of the
Act of Parliament. This, of course, was a very seriou3
matter, and, he had no doubt, would be very care-
fully considered by gentlemen interested in agriculture who
were in Parliament, when they read Mr. Aveliug's paper in
print ; and it must also be a matter for the careful consideration
of the Council of the Ptoyal Agricultural Society before they
again offered prizes for agricultural engines. This point, he took
it, embraced the objections that had been put forward with
reference to the restrictions in the Act as to the construction
of the machines. The other restrictions seemed to refer to
the use of the machines when they were made. Of course these
were matters which a body like the Society, as a Society, could
not interfere with ; but he looked upon it as a very serious
thing indeed that there should be such a clause in the Act
which compelled the manufacturers to make wheels of a shape
which the highest authorities were of opinion was not the best.
He would not trouble the Club further than by repeating that
Mr. Aveling had done great service by bringing this matter
forward.

Mr. T. Rose (Melton Magna, Norfolk) desired only to say
that he had been a member of the Club for some years, and
could not remember so animated a discussion. There appeared
%o be other interests than those of farmers in this matter, and
if the implement makers would assist the farmers in getting
such points of legislation as the agricultural interest required
they might rest assured that the farmers would help them in
this locomotive question, because it was most injurious to the
farmers to have to pay more money for the work done to cover
the chance of the owners of the engine being fined.

The Chairman took occasion to- remark, before calling on
Mr. Aveling to reply, that it would be pleasing to the members
to know that there was some hope of accommodation being
found in the future for the Club which would be more con-
venient for the raembers*

Mr. Aveling, in his reply, said he was careful in his
paper to keep to the question of the use of these engines for
agriculture, and for agriculture alone (Hear, hear). He re-
ferred only to agricultural engines, and not to- those engines
which had frequently been put to a purpose for which they
were not intended, and for which they were not at all suitable
He thought that when Mr. Read referred to the cost of re.
pairing the roads, and quoted the figures he gave, he should
have been prepared to give the increased tonnage carried over
the roads ; otherwise the statement was calculated to prejudice
the use of these engines in the public mind. (Cries of " No,
no.") It was his opinion that it would have that effect, unless
the increased tonnage was given together with the description
of both engines and waggons employed, though, of course, he
knew Mr. Read did not intend that that should be the effect
of his statement. It was quite possible that the increased cost
of the repairs of the road referred to might have exceeded
£500 per mile if the haulage of the increased tonnage
had been performed by horses instead of steam power.
There were districts where there were large tracts of
arable land fifteen and twenty miles from a railway, where
the roads twenty or thirty years ago were in excellent order,
and cost little to repair, because the farmers never used at that
time a siagle ton of artificial manure, and never carried the
whole of the produce to the market town or railway station; but
now the farmers carried twenty times the tonnage over the same
roads Was he to be told that engines were not to be used fertile
purpose of carrying that produce, simply because the increased
traffic brought more wear and tear on the roads ? He was
of the opinion that if the police had been instructed to see
that the clauses of the Road Locomotive Acts relating to the
loads to be carried upon waggons hauled by steam engines were
carried out, no complaints of the damage to roads would have
been heard of. The Act states it shall not be lawful for any
waggon with wheels 4 inches in breadth to carry a greater
weight than 3 tons, or with wheels 6 inches in breadth to
carry a greater weight than 4 tons, or with wheels 8 inches
in breadth to carry a greater weight than 6 tons.
He maintained that front wheels should also run inside
the track made by the hind wheels, so as to increase
the bearing surface. It has been said, " If engines are to haul
this material over the roads, why not make them pay some-
thing for it ?" But why was not that course adopted also when
a contractor was drawing materials to build a large house or a
railway P (A Voice : " We made them pay.") He had seen
many cases in which the roads had been cut up from that
cause, and very little notice had been taken of if. He could
hire twenty waggons and work them by horses over the roads
and yet pay nothing additional to the rates. If they were'
going in for legislation to put extra burdens on engines hauling
an extra amount of material they must also be prepared at the
same time to charge the persons who used horses for hauling in-
creased traffic for special purposes, which damaged the roads
also. As to the man being in front of the engine or upon it
he had had a good deal of experience, which led him to say
that the most frequent cause of accident was through the
attempts made to pass the engine, when the driver had not
heard the vehicles coming. He thought the man in charge
hould not be either before or behind the engine, but should

176

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

" accompany" it, so as to command' tlie traffic corning both
before and behind. As to the strengthening of the smaller
bridges, that was supposed to be a- hardship, but they might
hearx>f frequent cases where' engines were obliged to be sent
ten or twenty miles round to avoid a small bridge that might
be sufficiently strengthened for £100. He congratulated the
gentleman whs lived in the county where there were no prose,
cutions of the engines. He supposed the people must be of a
different class to those of other counties (laughter )' In
conclusion he reminded the Club that these engines cou'd'
carry material on the roads at from 25 to 50 per
cent, less cost than horses could do it, and there-
fore it was a great question for the agriculturists to turn their
attention to an alteration of the law which was now pressing
most unjustifiably on the owners and users of these engines.

On the motion of Mr. Caldecott, seconded by Mr;
Hodges, a vote of thanks- was awarded to Mr. Aveling for his
paper.

In replying, Mr. Aveltns remarked that the firm of Messrs.
John Fowler and Co. had spent £100,000 in bringing the
invention of these engines to a success ; and his own firm
had also expended Earge sums with the same object in view.

A vo'e of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr.
Crosskill, seconded by Mr. C. Howard, brought the pro-
ceedings to a close.

TTJNBRIDGE WELLS.

On February 8 a special meeting of the above Club was
held at the Great Hall Restaurant, for the purpose of considering
and discussing the proposed Bill for the fusion of the Sou'h-
Eastern and London, Chatham, and Dover Railways, and also
the Bill to amend the law relating to the administration of
county government proposed by Mr. Sclater-Booth, Mr. Secre-
tary Cross, and the Chancelbr of the Exchequer. Mr. B.
Bass presided.

Mr. T. Williams, in introducing the proposed Fusion Bill
of the two Companies, said that, looking at it from an agricul-
tural point of view, it coutained several most objecti mable
clauses which would affect the farming interests of the two
counties. He wished to call their particular attention to
Clause 38, under which, if the Bill passed into law, the joint
Companies might charge for passengers any distance under six
miles as six miles. Then, under Clause 41, they might increase
the charge for parcels conveyed for a less distance than 25
miles as much as 25 per cent., which he characterised ag
monstrous. Then, under Clause 41, which he read as follows :
" Nothing herein contained shall render it compulsory on the
joint Board or the Company to carry on the railway any night-
soil, dung, manure, compost, or other offensive matters," they
reserved to themselves the right to carry any manure, so that
it would be left entirely discretionary on them whether they
conveyed any manure for farmers or not. There were also
other objectionable clauses, and he would move the following
resolution on the subject : — " Resolved, that having considered
the Bill now in Parliament for the proposed fusion of the
South-Eastern and Loudon, Chatham, and Dover Railway
Companies, this meeting is of opinion that the Bill would take
away the benefit of the competition hitherto enjoyed by the
people of Kent and Sussex, and would tend by the existen of
an undue and injurious monopoly to increase passengers'rates

and the charges for goods traffic, already exceptionally high,
and further, seeing that the Bill contains clauses and provisiou»
prejudicial to the interests of th& agriculturists of the district
by the two Companies, this meeting, therefore, trusts that the
Bill may not be permitted to pass through Parliament." Mr,
B.-Wick.ii am seconded this, and it was unanimously carried.
Mr. Williams next proposed, Mr. B. B'jss seconded, and it
was resolved that' the resolution should be published, and also
that a copy of it should be sent to the members of Parliament
representing Kent aud-Eist Sussex,

Ma*. Williams next introduced the subject of the Bill to
amend the law relating to the administration of county business,
and in doing so said that he was sorry to say that he had ne>
time tostudy the various clauses, and suggested whether it
would not be be ter to postpone the discussion. Mr. Roper
said that he had only had an opportunity this evening of look-
ing into the Bill, but it' did not appear to him to be of much
importance, except that it was a step in the direction of taxa-
tion and' representation, and, as a tenant farmer, he had taken
very little interest in the matter. He said that there was a
proposition that the old turnpike roads should be administered
by the County Boards, who would pay half the expense, and
the other moiety would be paid by the Lacal Authori y — the
Highway Boards — as at present. He, however, was in favour
of the principle for some years adopted in South Wales, which
was the removal of the turnpikes by the Legislature, and
d viding the cost of the repair of the roads between the land-
lords and tenants. He thought that would be a better plan
than County Boards, for it was impossible to get on them
better and more careful business men than at present. Could
they expect, he asked, to get better men on the County Board
in East Sussex than Mr. Dodson, the Speaker, Mr. G. C.
Courthorpe, Mr. Hussey, and others. Mr Willis could not
agree with Mr. Roper in all respects, because he (Mr. Roper),
as a member of a Highway Board, knew that the cost of re-
pairiug aud maintaining roads had very much increased, com-
pared with what the cost used to be. Of course, it was to the
landlord's benefit to have good roads made to his estates at the
cost of the tenants. Mr. Pain said that if any one took the
trouble to go into the subject of the Bill they would see that
it was a very important one. In addition to bearing part < f
the expense of maintaining main roads, County Boards would
have the power of preventing the pollution of rivers. The
latter was a very important matter, if not for the people in
this immediate neighbourhood it was to others, for many
farmers lost sheep through their drinking water which had
been fouled by manufacturers turning noxious refuse into
rivers. Then again, the County Boards would have the power
to form schemes fer asylums and schools for imbecile poor and
p- uper children — an unfortunate but most important subject.
The Act also gave the Boards power to elect coroners and
borrow money and other things. He therefore thought that
the proposed Bill was a subject which should be discussed by
the Club. The discussion was then adjourned.

"NOT QUITE THE CHEESE. "—British Farmer:
" What sort 'o cheese do you call this ? Full of holes."
Waiter : " Grew-yere, Sir." British Farmer (suspiciously) :
"Then just bring me some that grew somewhere else 1" —
Punch

THE FARMER S MAGAZINE.

177

LIVE

STOCK

NOTES.

" I say, young man, are you a tidy beggar?" "Cer-
taiuly (with an air of astonishment at being thus uncere-
moniously addressed) I am." " Ah ! well, I am glad of
that, because I am not, more's the pity, but there's one
thing still I can heap up upon your neatness. Of course
nbout this time the fecens conju.t will be requiring her
kitchen aud hen-roosts to be whitewashed. And she's
right too, for how are you to look for eggs unless the
hens can lay in comfort ? Who on earth is going to sit for
twenty minutes, however ardent its purpose, with some
scores of ' F sharps' lancing hard its — well not its head ?
It were worse than the ' sweating-rooms' at the Bank !
It were as bad as a Home-rule debate! ' Howjve-, the
lime has arrived, quick and knobby. Of these lumps
take a selection, and plunge them straight into a bucket
of cold water. They'll warm it soon enough. Then
wait till the sweating is done, and in an hour's time, of
the fine liquor atop, which the phiz has left well saturated,
the coarser particles having sunk to the bottom, draw off
with a syphon of gaspipe into empty champagne bottles,
filling them about three-parts full. For the remaining
part pour linseed oil, and then shake it up into a delicious
yellow-looking cream. Of all nostrums I know no one
more generally useful than this. Plastered with a feather
over a burnt surface it takes away the pain at once- I
have seen, T have dressed in fact, a little screaming child,
who in its mother's absence had pulled a kettle of boiling
water over it, and in five minutes it was soothed and
comfortable. Cook keeps it always in her cupboard, for
she has found how well it draws the sting of casual burns.
I wish it were better tested, for I should then keep a
pretty bottle of Bohemian glass full of it on the missus's
dressing-table, being thankful that a suck could quench
fire so quick. But that's out of the question, and so one
stores it rather to soothe the surface of blister, to rub
into surfeit scalds, to apply on any hot inflamed surface,
where the hair of horse or cow has peeled. It imme-
diately relieves of heat, and moreover keeps the cold air
off, if the bare surface be considerable, as I saw upon an
old cow yesterday.

Reverting to the breeder's power of controlling sex in
offspring, I see in Bell's book (pa^e 751) that it was a
" characteristic " of " all the Kirklevington tribes " to
" have bull calves far in excess of heifers." And yet Mr.
Bates had his specific upon the point, which was that '' a
cow once served will produce a heifer calf, but if twice a
bull calf" — a theory to which Lord Althorp, enthusiastic
breeder that he was, in correspondence with him, de-
murred. It seems that as yet we are reduced down to
three matters of influence — first, it is beyond doubt that
some seasons the one sex will predominate ; secondly, some
parents have an aptitude to produce the one sex ; and
thirdly, that weakness in the male, whether from long
exercise or age, tends to the production of female off-
spring. Hereon we strand.

One hears of considerable and vexatious mortality
amongst young pigs and yeaning ewes. Cold strikes to
the vitals of juvenile pcrker* at once, and they unfor-
tunately are no more prudent than the human youngster.
If they can't wet their feet in making mud pies, they
are sure to do it in their breakfast trough, and t iea
they just go and fall fast asleep with their toes out of the
straw, and over against the draughty doorway ; and so a
twinge of pain comes and they double up at once, leaving
only a red stain on skin and bowel to record the cause of
the disastrous fact. Then the ewes, owing to the mild
season, it is considered by the veterinary profession, have
got inwardly so fat that they cannot hold up the weight
of the living burden within, aud so take in shepherds'
language, to " heaving out the withers " — that is, to
inversion of the womb. After lambing, this is an occur-
rence of no great danger. Two men grasping the animal
by either thigh and holding her so that she rests upon
shoulders on the ground, the womb will slip back to its
place at once. It should first have been washed with warm
milk and water. A few stitches will then confine it home.
Or a ligature may be tied as tight as possible, and as close
to the body around the protruded part, which will cause
it to slough off in a few days. There will be no bleeding
or inconvenience, and the ewe can be fattened as soou as
she has reared her lamb. But when inversion of thu
womb occurs before parturitun the ewe can seldom be
saved. It is a case in which prevention is better than
cure. The short-wool breeds seem to suffer most in this
respect, possibly because their aptitude to fatten is greater
— just as in milk fever the Guernsey and Alderney cow
falls soonest, inasmuch as their tendency to lay on internal
fat is more than that of other breeds which are less dis-
tinguished for cream. In fact, a stall-fed Channel Island
heifer is " nuts " to the butcher. They die so well inter-
nally. So it is the deep-milking Southdown feels hardest
the consequence of ranging good pasture before lambing.
In accordance with this theory the district Vet. has pre-
scribed a shortening of keep, a bare bite, and plenty of
walking exercise to find it. And so far as I have heard
the discipline answers. One farmer got sadly frightened.
His three first yeaning ewes all died at once, aud six
lambs lost with them !

The post is just in, and brings letters which remind
that early next month the farmer will have his chance of
selecting for a few guineas a noble bull calf for the im-
provement of bis herd, which, but to go back to the days
of Towneley, would have cost him a hatful of coin. The
able essays in the last Journal of the Royal Agricultural
Society, being reporis ou competing farms, mention espe-
cially the benefit which has accrued to the tenant farmer
through the more venturesome breeder's choice cultivation
of the best strains. Ou a hill-side only yesterday I met
i n full occupation of the path at the very top a most

178

TIIE FARMER'S

shapely white porker, who at once tinned tail at view of
my horse, and weut larking and capering in holiday enjoy-
ment qnite as fast as I could trot, until we met liia
agonised owner, a small cottager, in search of the truant.
How different both to keep and to consume will this fat
be from the fibrous, stringy meat of the old lank native,
and who consumed three sacks of meal for a bushel that
our playful friend would take ! Thanks for this ultimately
to the ingenious Chinese, but more immediately to the
purse and pluck of the enthusiastic improver. If he be a
benefactor to his country who makes two ears of wheat
grow where one did before, assuredly he is no less such
who quickens the production of butchers' meat. The
facility with which the ordinary tenant-farmer can
now-a-days obtaio the means of improving his stock
is a far surer road to success in these trying
times than the having his rent lowered. Let the rich
landlords keep sires of the best sort, and not only allow
the free use of them to their tenantry, but even oblige it,
aud pecuniary means will flow into the pocket in a highly
iucreased degree. "-Make more of your area" is the
advice one would give to the agriculturist. Keep more
stock, home-bred, of better sort. You have only to
persevere iu the use of the bulls and stallions at the Hall.
An easy holding has not been found to conduce to energy
and its fruit prosperity 1 There is better sense in the other
plan.

On the eveuing preceding one of the most important
Shorthoru sales last year there was great horror at the
pertinacity with which a well-known and well-read breeder
stuck to the indictment that the American Red Roses
have much in them of that plague the Grandson of
Boliugbroke ? Suppose we were to find this blot in
some of the most fashionable. States' tribes? Would any
be surprised to hear of it? It does occur therein, however,
as I shall shortly show. But, in the next place, why is
it that certain schools decry "the alloy" so much? The
"Warlaby herd has it considerable in its veius, and we
don't hear often there " of the dreaded black nose — a
stain in pure Shorthorns as foul as an African characteristic
would be in the white human race." (Bell.) What did
the alloy blood do except smioth down the hugsins,
shorten the leg, aud improve the handling of the old-
fashioned Teeswater sort ? What was th°- alloy in Short-
h*rns any more than the infusion of Eastern blood into
the English horse through the " Royal mares?" What
has been the making of our racehorse, now that the
elements of relative excellence have, under judicious
care in the course of years, been thoroughly commingled ?
And when men talk of " pure blood," is not Foljambe
rather to be feared, and Mr. Richard Barker's bull ? I
throw these remarks out in hopes of a discussion on a
subject which sometimes gets quite puzzling to your
humble servant.

But I suppose all men don't think alike, for the follow-
ing comparison of prices made has been just sent me by
a breeder :

MAGAZINE.

" Bates' and other bulls (except Duchess and Oxford's)'*,
from spring of 1S75 to autumu 1S77 (from Thornton's
Circular).

17 Birringtons ...... 1,169- guineas. ... 68- guineas each.

6 Red Roses 6 U do. ... 107 do.

1 Cambridge Rose — ... 40' lio.

6 Fuchsias 379 do. ... 63 do.

7 Dirlingtons 434 db. ... 62 do.

13 Knightleys 377 do. ... 29 do.

11 Waterloo* 611 do; ... 55 do..

3 Cherries 215 do. ... 71 do.

3 Princesses 183 do. ... 60 do.

6 Kirklevin^tons- 365 do, ... 60 do.

13 Gwynnes 417 do. ... 33 do.

20 Wild Eyes 1,555 do. ... 77 do."

In another note I read that at Kimbolton 3rd Duke of
Underley is coining up with a wet sail, and has a large lot
of visitors, including five Grand Duchesses and four
Cambridge Roses.

The Berkeley herd is doing well, and will reward the
inspection it will doubtless attract during the Bristol
Royal Show week. How glad every one will be that the
&th Duchess of Oneida is considered now safe in calf
again ; and how sorry that the plucky tenant-farmer, Mr-
Thompson of Badminton, has an immense proportion of
bull calves amongst his choice Darlington herd. We hope
it will be a'l the other way next time. He has the pluck
to persevere. I hear of some awkward customers at
Bristol, but Col. Kingscote's Honey heifer will be hard to
beat. And so Mr. Bowly has determined to sell a
Gazelle at his April sale ! From personal inspection I can
state that this tribe, as au eminent breeder has them now,
is very sorty, very deep milking, and full of the best;
possible character and quality. Vigil. Eeb. 16.

THE DOG NUISANCE IN THE COUNTRY.— A cor-
respondent, who signs himself " A Suffering Farmer," writes
to The Standard stating that he is the occupier of a farm be-
tween a manufacturing town and a manufacturing village, the
same being intersected by footpaths in all directions. On
week-days, but chiefly on Sundays, these footpaths are used by
a set of roughs, accompanied by troops of terriers, lurchers,
and other mongrels, who are allowed to range for fields wide'
to the damage of growing crops and stock grazing.. The con-
sequence is that at this time of the year the farmers are
obliged to bring the in-lamb ewes into safe quarters, A few
Sundays back a lot of ewes grazing in a field adjoining another
in which were two footpaths were chased by the dogs, and one
ewe, having got separated, was rolled over and bitten in two-
places. Since then she brought forth three dead lambs, and
has died herself. The " Suffering Farmer " asks, Is it not time
that farmers had some protection agaiust this, not only by
increasing the dog tax to 20s., but also by making it a punish-
able offence to take dogs on footpaths through fields without
being led in a chain ? It is also a known fact that a good many
men keep these poaching dogs in towns and villages, to the-
starvation of their families.

THE FARMER' 8 MAGAZINE.

170

THE WOESLEY

Tt was well known that the Earl of Ellesmere had got j
together at Worsley Hall Stud Farm such a, lot of j
carthorses, taking both number and quality into con- I
sideration, as con'.d be found nowhere else in tke world, (
and when it was announced that about half of them were I
to be sold by auction the sale was recognised as the most
important of its kind. The great success which Lord
Ellesmere had attained in the prize ring at the Royal and I
cither shows, had given hiin a world-wide fame, and from j
all parts of England, from Scotland, and from some I
foreign countries, visitors trooped to Manchester to
purchase, or to see what was to be seen. It is a long
journey even f-om London to Manchester, and as comfort
in travelling is by no means to be despised, the Midland
Railway, with its luxurious Pullman cars, proved most
attractive to the knowing ones who went down on Tuesday
— the day before the sale — in order to have a preliminary
look at ;he horses, or at least to be ready for an early
start to Worsley on Weduesday morning. Passengers
from the Southern and Eastern counties were surprised
to see snow lying under the hedges and stone walls on the
hills and in some of the valleys beyond Matloek. It had
lain there for a fortnight, which as the weather was by no
means cold seemed rather strange, though not so strange
as to find a little snow left in the enclosed yards at Worsley.
On the night before the sale the Queen's Hotel was filled
np to its lofty roof with visitors, a large proportion of
whom were bound for Worsley. The conversation in the
dining and smoking rooms alone told this, and a glance over
the visitors' book in the Hall showed the names of well-
known breeders and farmers from nearly every county in
England. The attractiveness of the sale was obvious.

Wednesday at Manchester was a very nasty day. A
thick fog made the great city look more gloomy than
usual, and rain fell at intervals. But the people who went
to Worsley were not of the sort to melt in a shower, and
there was such a great gathering there that the large stand
and the rather small sale yard obviously afforded
insufficient space for the accommodation of all. Many who
did not intend to buy, however, wisely contented
themselves witb lining the entrance to the sale-yard,
where they could see the horses come up to better
advantage than in the yard itself. Before the sale com-
menced there was time to look around, not only at the
horses, but at the famous pigs, iu their comfortable
wooden styes. To a few privileged ones there was also
a view of the stud animals, kept for future triumphs ; but
the mass of the visitors had to be contented with the
prospect of seeing these paraded after the sale
was over. A large barn was set out with lun'heon,
but tickets were so liberally issued that it was necessary to
have three relays of guests before all the hungry could be
filled. The Earl of Ellesmere. presided at the principal
table, and after the first contingent had made the best
use of their time, his lordship proposed the health of her

HALL

SALE.

Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family, which was
drunk standing, with cheers. Mr. James Howard, of
Bedford, then proposed the health of the Earl of Ellesmere.
lie said that many noblemec and other landed proprietors
spent large sums of money in horse-racing. He had
nothing to say against racing, for he liked a thoroughbred
horse as well as anyone ; but he thought that the im-
provement of our cart-horses was of greater importance
than any end subserved by breeding racehorses. No one
who thought at all on the subject would fail to observe in
our large towns what a great number of under-bred cart-
horses they met at every turn. He thought, therefore,
that Lord Ellesmere was doing a public service by turn-
ing his attention to the improved breeding of cart-horses,
and he heartily hoped his lordship might live to see the
good results of his laudable enterprise. The toast having
been honoured standing, with cheers, Lord Ellesmere
briefly returned thanks. Mr. Street proposed the health
of Captain Heaton, of whose management he said he need
not speak, as the results of his careful selection and train-
ing of the horses there that day were patent to all. Mr.
Street also complimented M'Kenna, the manager under
Captain Heaton, upon his attention and skill. Captain
Heaton, being absent, could not respond, and the visitors
proceeded to take theirplaces on the stand and around the
sale-yard.

The arrangements reflected great credit on the auc-
tioneers, Messrs. Sexton and Grimwade, of Ipswich and
Colchester, and the Earl had certainly no reason to regret
his choice of agents for the disposal of his valuable stock.
To begin with, some of the most spirited bidders and
purchasers were gentlemen from the Eastern Counties,
and it is only fair to attribute the presence of many of
them to the extensive local influence of the auctioneers.
Then the unadorned eloquence of Mr. Sexton and the
business-like promptness and precision of his partner, Mr.
Grimwade, told favourably upon the bidders. Mr. Sexton
spoke as a good judge of horses to good judges, going
straight to the point in describing the merits of the
animals he had to dispose of, without any of the excessive
and inappropriate "bunkum" that only causes distrust, and
imposes on no one. He took his place on the rostrum
at about half-past one, and showed that he meant business
by knocking down the first mare, No.
2 in the catalogue, quickly to Mr. Ellis,
who got her cheap at 75gs. This was Jet, by Heart of
Oak, out of a famous mare. Number one, Countess, by
Cloot, dam by England's Glory, was brought on after-
wards, and sold for 45gs , after the frank annouueement
that she was lsme from fever in the feet had been made.
Lord Egerton purchased the third mare, Rose, by Wise-
man's Wonder, a good, wide mare, supposed to be in
foal to Young Sampson, for 170gs. Blossom, a roan mare,
six years old, sire Honest Tom, dam by Young Captain

ISO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

i:i foal to YoungWaggoner, Fell to Mr. Ellis's bid of 160gs.
She is a mare of good fra'ne and substance, and, like all
Honest Tom's stock, a good mover. Beauty, a nine year-
old bay, by Wiseman's Wonder, dam by Plough'boy, a
mare that has won many prizes, was bought by the Koq.
B. Coke for llOgs. She was stinted to Yofcng Waggoner,
but is apparently not in foal. The skth mare, Princess,
nam of Young Waggoner, a very useful mare, with plenty
of bone, was bought by Lord Spencer for ll^gs. Lorl
Spencer also bought Black Dinah, a handsome six-yar-
old mare by Farmer's Glory, and very cheap she was at
1 30gs. On tbe nest lot a reserve of 400gs. had been put,
the only reserve in the sale. This was Dainty, a well
known prize-taker, formerly the property of Mr. Black,
of Chatterays. She was not sold. The famous Mrs
Muir came next, and, after some spirited bidding, was
knocked down to Mr. Wilson, Gxenho'lrae, Kendal, for
165gs. Mrs. Muir, we must say, in spite of her great
reputation, has a little too much daylight nnder her, a
f mlt that seems to fee exaggerated in her offspring. She
has, however, won five Royal prize, besides numerous
others. Another well-known mare, Diamond, formerly
Mr. Tomlinson's, and the winner of a long list of
prizes, was bought by Lord Spencer for lOOgs., not being
la foal. She is twelve years old, and so past her prime,
but a beauty still, aud a mare that will well repay her
purchaser if she can be got to breed. The last mare?
Bonny by Honest Tom, dam by England's Glory, third
at Liverpool, fell to Col. Williams, of Perthshire, for
i40gs. after some brisk bidding.

The fillies came next, and Dora, a good, thick, short-
iegged one, by Young England's Glory, dam by Samson,
was bought for Shropshire by Mr. Darby, at the price of
190gs. She is rising 4 years, and in foal to Way man's
Excelsior. Polly, a stylish but rather leggy filly, rising
3, by Wiseman's Wonder, was bought by Lord
Macclesfield for lOQgs. Next came Maggie, a promising
hay, by Batteock's Drayman, dam by England's Glory.
She was knocked down to Mr. Garrod Taylor, who was
present for Mr. Coleman, of Norwieh, far lQOgs. Mr-
Wilson bought Empress, a rather plain filly, and noae too
big, but a good mover, well feathered, for 85gs. Poppet,
the last of the fillies rising 3, by Heart of Oak, dam
by Young Matchless, fell to Lord Egerton for 95gs. She
has plenty of quality, but lacks rotundity. There was a
brisk competition for Dolly, a bay filly, rising two, by
Welsher's Honest Tom, dam by Columbus, and
she fell to Mr, Statter's bid ef i25gs. She is a
nice growing filly, and will improve immensely when
filled out, and she is a good mover, but her colour is
against her. She has already won several prizes
Topsey, a black, by Heart of Oak, dam by Nonpareil, was
bought by Mr. Sadler for 80 gs. Bonnie, a good big
brown filly, by Samson, dam by Honest Tom, was bought
well worth the money, by Mr. James Howard, of Bedford.
The grey Daisy, sire England's Wonder, dam Mr.
Vipan's prize mare, was run up to 115 gs. by the competi-
tion of two or three resolute bidders, and ultimately fel*

to the Duke of Westmiuster, for 115 s.a. Sal'y, a bay, by
Excelsior, went to Mr. Williams, of Ormskirk, for 70 gs. ;
and Gip3y by the same sire, a well-shaped fil'y, went into
Staffordshire, bought by Mr. C. E. Lyon, for 100 gs.
Of th« fillies risiBg 1 year, Nan, by Young Waggoner,
was sold to the Duke of Westminster for 45 gs. ; Miss
Muir Second fell to Mr. Statter's bid of 70 gs. ; Flower,
for the same price, was bought by Mr. Hood, of Kirkcud-
bright ; Violet brought 55 gs. from Mr. T. Benton ;
D msel was bought by Mr. Garrod Taylor, for M'.
Coleman, for 45gs. ; Belle went to Barrow, Bury St.
Fdms ids, bought by Mr. Johnson for 43gs. ; Deborah,
a great growing filly, rather hollow in the back, was sold
for 80gs. 5 and Diana, by Columbus, was knoeked down
to Mr. Fullard, of Thorney Fen, for 41gs. A coaching
colt and a carriage horse were sold next to Mr. B nto l
for 8$gs. and SOgs. respectively.

Next came the stallions, and when Columbus, by The
Admiral, dam by Brown's England's Glory, g. s.
Matchless, and going back to the Honest Tim and
Bingham's England's Glory, came into the ring and
began to show himself off as if he knew his I usiness,
a mnrmnr of admiration went around the assembly
The bidding was more spirited than any before,
and the price quickly ran up to 229gs., when there
was a panse ; but another walk past accompanied with
some further graceful performance on the part of the
artful Columbu9, quickly ran him up to 250 gs., and
ultimately he was knocked down to Mr. James Howard
for 290 gs. He is a magnificent horse, eompaet, power,
ful, with good bone and hair, and a fine mover. He
stands 16 hands 2 in., and therefore is not a giant; but
it is rare to find so many merits in one animal as he
possesses. He is the sire of many noted prize-winners,
and is said to be a remarkably good stock-getter. We
congratulate the farmers of Bedfordshire upon their
acquisition. Next came Royal Oak, a brown horse of
great substance, by Thaeker's Heart of Oak, dam by Old
Waxwork, g.g.sj. Glory, g.g.g.s. England's Glory. He was
bought by Mr. Scratton for the Devonshire Association,
to whom he is likely to give good satisfaction. He is now
only rising five, and he was first at the Cambridgeshire
Show in 1876. Lot 34 was Young .Waggoner, a well-
known prize-winner, first at Birmingham, Yorkshire, and
Doncaster, a massive horse, rising four year* old. His
sire was Shepperson's Waggoner, dam Princess, g.s.
Black Prince, and his pedigree goes back to Thumper and
Honest Tom stock. He was quickly run up to 300 gs. ,
at which price there was a rest. Then some one advanced
10 gs., whereupon Captain Betts, of Diss, immediately put
a stopper on by a spirited bid of 350 gs., which
apparently startled Young Waggoner himself, as he
instantly began to throw up his hind feet in a somewhat
alarming manner, as if to say that he would go to wait
upon the Norfolk mares, or some one would suffer.
Roving Boy, rising three, a bright bay, sire King Errick,
dam by William the Conqueror, and with Honest Tom
aud England's Glory blood in his veins, was bought by

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

131

Colonel "Williams for 2"40 gs. 'Mr. 'Harvey, of Boxted
secured for Essex a grand, compact horse, rising three, in
Duke of Cambridge, by Heart of (Dak, dam by Young
England's Glory, knocked down at 230 gs. This horse
was first at the Pomona International Horse Show.
Honest Tom Third, by Morton's Honest Tom, a hand-
some bay, rising three, with not quite boue enough below
the knee, but a beauty for all that, and a fine movur, was
the occasion of some spirited biddiug. He was knocked
down to Mr. Wilson, of Boppart, Dumfries-shire, for
310 gs. Tcm Muir, by Statter'9 King Tom, dam Mrs..
Muir, was bought tor 135 gs. by Mr. Everitt, of Hadleigh,
Suffolk. He is a tall giant and no mistake — too much so
for most people's liking.

The entire colts rising two years old caused a good deal
of competition. The first, Cambridge Tom, by Bultitaft's
Honest Tom, a noble colt and a capital mover, was taken
into Essex by Mr. Sewell, of Beaumout Hall, for 290 gs.
Good for Essex again. Thumper, sire Remedy, was
bought by Mr. Benton for 50 gs. Samson, by Young
Samson, dam by Thacker's Heart of Oak, a very promis-
ing colt, with good legs and feet, and plenty of" bone and
feather," was evidently much in request. Lord Spencer
secured him for 280 gs. The colt which made the highest
price of any horse in the sale, and the dearest we think,
was Peeping Tom, by Statter's King Tom, which Lord
Macclesfield bought for 3.70 gs. This colt was put in the
place of Emperor, withdrawn on account of lameness,
and the competition for him was probably enhanced by
the idea that he was intended to be kept for stock at

Warsley until it wns found necessary to put him in to
take Lmperor'a place. A gentleman who was biddiug for
Mr. Micklethwaite was Lord Macclesfield's cliief com-
petitor for this colt, aud the latter part of the bidding
was a brisk duel between the two. Of the colts rising
one year we need not say much. Prince Victor sold for
•115 gs. to Mr. Bell, of Dorsetshire ; Ton's Glory for G5
.gs., to Mr. Ellis, of Norfolk ; Sultan for 43 gs., to Mr.
■Sailer, of Horseley, ncir Colchester ; British Oak for 85
gs., to Mr. Lyon ; aud the Shah for 43 gs., to Mr. Ellis.

After the sale the stud stock kept by Lord Ellesmere
for his own use and for service in the dis-
trict were paraded, and occasioned great admiration. The
-stallions, Youug Samson, Pride of the Shires, British
Wonder, andjlleart oLGak (Thacker), made a grand show,
while the mares were a magnificent lot, especially one
four-year-old, whieh many good judges declared was the
bust they had ever seen. It was obvious that Lord Elles-
mere had not kept the culls.

The following is the summary of prices in pounds sterling
instead of guineas, excluding the reserved mare : —

10 mares averaged.

19 fillies „

7 stallions „
9 colts „

45 horses .,

126 10

87 16

248 5

155 9

total

£ 8.

d.

1,265 5

0

l,6o8 9

0

1,737 15

0

1,408 1

0

135 2 0

6,079 10 0

The two coaching horses realised £80, thus making the
o'.al amount £6,159 10s.

A SEED WAREHOUSE IN COTTONOPOLIS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE

Sir, — Christmas time and its pantomimes, the visiting
V friends, and a general consciousness of hdliday-time
being on, often induce country folks at this season of the
year to visit the bu9y haunts of commerce — our large
(ities and towns. A few days ago I found myself guided
by this principle, and was strolling about in the neigh-
bourhood of the Manchester Exchange. Passing along
Corporation-street, which is on the opposite side of
Market-street, I came to the agricultural and horticul -
tural seed warehouse of the well-known northern seeds-
men, Messrs. Dickson, Brown, and Tait. All things
agricultural naturally have an attraction for me, and I
stepped inside the warehouse, just to have a look at varie-
ties and stocks, and to refresh my memory on certain
details relating to the seed trade in its bearing on agricul-
ture. A member of the firm, Mr. Tait, very kindly placed
himself at my disposal for an hour or two, and this was
no slight kindness, considering that this is the busy
sea>on in the seed trade ; and we went carefully through
the various departments of the business.

Not being a gardener, and having but an inferior talent
for horticultural pursuits, I naturally was most interested
in the agricultural seed department, and this was not
only interesting, but in a sense wonde ful. Few farmers
kive any correct ideas about the great establishments

MARK LANE EXPRESS.

wiich are sustained by and necessary to agriculture — to
the advanced agriculture of the present age. Of course,
our grandfathers had little or uo need for carefully
selected and cultivated seeds — seeds of families in which
" pedigree " is thought almost as mach of by those who
make agricultural botany a practical speciality as pedigree
is valued by our Shorthorn breeders ; and thus careful
breeding is reduced to a science, not in the animal world
only, but also in the vegetable, and the care and exact-
ness which are necessary to procure a desired result in
the one department are equally necessary to success ia th«
other. It can pay no farmer nowadays to seed down his
hnd, either into temporary or permanent pasture, with
the grass seeds too many manage to scrape together
in their own barns and sheds ; but our forefathers used
nothiog else — in fact, there was then no seed trade as it
exists at present. Like many other wonderful industries
— the artificial manure trade, for example — the seed trade
is a production of modern times, and is indispensable to
the agriculture of the present day. Just look back for a
moment on the old times, when our farmers either seeded
down their land with seeds collected on their owu pre-
mises, or allowed the land to seed itself down as best it
could. Then all the inferior grasses, including couch-
grass, triiicum repent, and many other weeds, were of

182

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

course perpetuated. The farmer thought the kinds of
grasses which grew in his meadows were the best possible
to seed down his arable land with, though the meadows in
many cases were low-lying, undr&incd marshes, growing
■very few if any of the snperior grasses, drowned with
water, and overrun with rushes and various aquatic plants.
TYom seeds selected from such sources no good result
■could possibly follow. But now all is changed : the
exigencies of an improved system of agriedtare, increasing
rents, taxes, and labour bills have made it simply neces-
sary to the farmer that he should sow only those seeds on
his high-farmed land which will yield the best return. It
-would be an unpardonable piece of agricdtnral heterodoxy
for a man to farm highly, so far as cleaning, cultivating,
■sub-soiling, and mauuring the land are concerned, getting
his land into the best condition, and then to sow upon
it inferior and ill-bred seeds, which in the botanical
world are legarded quite as much as vermin as rats and
Tabbits are so regarded in the animal. But to go on with
what I saw :

In the warehouse, the agricdtnral department — the
mixing establishment that is — is very interesting. Here are
huge piles of sacks full of speds, iu some iustances con-
taining hundreds and even thousauds of bushels, the
various kinds, clovers, rye grasses, and ether valuable
forage plauts being piled up iu separate divisions as they
•come in from the growers, and preparatory to mixing.
The mixing of these seeds is an important, a most impor-
tant, part of the busiuess. The peculiarities of different
soils and districts are well known beforehand, and only
those grasses which will flourish best on a giveu soil are
made up into mixtures which are specially designed for
that particular soil and climate. Some grasses flourish
luxuriantly on a limestone soil, which will quickly die, or
not even germinate, on a clay soil ; and certain forage
Plants (for instance, trifolium incarnatum, which is
valuable in the southern counties, but is found unsuited
to the northern) are suited to a given climate, and will
not be found profitable in any other ; these, of course,
are seut only into those districts where they are known
to answer well. It is wonderful at first sight where all
these seeds are sent to ; but when we are informed that
the trade of this firm extends— like that of other great
seed houses — to nearly all the eoanties iu England and
■Scotland the wonder vanishes. And yet the figures
are startling. Makiug a calculation of the stocks of grasses
and clovers at present on hand, I compute that at a fair
calculation there is enough to cover 20,000 acres. The
Italian rye grasses are imported direct from the best
growers in Italy aud France, in which countries better
seed is produced than in England ; and the perennial rye
grasses are grown in the county of Ayr, Scotland, which
is noted for this particular production.

In the case of all seeds, it is an obvious gain to the
farmer to have them from the best districtst — healthy and
full of vigour. On this the crop to a great extent depends
As in the animal, so in the vegetable world — it is necessary
to breed from a good stock, or all is vanity aud vexation

of spirit. Well, these seeds are all produced in the ■dis-
tricts best adapted to each of them, and thus a result is
secured which gives satisfaction to the farm and the
seedsmen alike.

Turnip seeds form a very important branch of this
firm's business, and special care is bestowed in this pro-
curing of reliable stocks, grown from transplanted bulbs ;
aud as each slock comes into the warehouse its germinat-
iug powers are thoroughly tested and registered, and this
safeguard is carried out every season. They personally
test the stocks sent out to their customers by sowing
samples of the different varieties on a piece of land several
acres iu extent in the neighbourhood, and from these
experiments are carefully noted in the course of the
growing season the results as to form, correctness of cha-
racter, &c- ; aud this information is registered in a steck
book kept for the purpose. I give as an example the
record of their improved Swedish turnip : " Sown May
5th, 1877 ; examiued September 27th, 1877. Report-
Splendid stock, shape good, dark purple, good crop."
This was done in the case of all stocks of turnips and
mangel seeds sent out last season.

It is also worthy of notice the care that is taken to pre-
vent the possibility of a mistake in sending out rape seed
instead of turnip seed. A part of the warehouse is
boarded off for rape seed alone, and there is a separate
entrance into this portion, so that no erder for rape seed
is executed where turnip seed is stored, thereby preventing
the possibility of a mistake. Rape and turnip seeds, as
every farmer well knows, are so similar in appearance
that no one but an expert could at sight tell one from
the other, and even an expert might fail in deciding be-
tween them sometimes, and as it is a matter of consider-
able importance to a farmer not to have the mistake com-
mitted it is commendable on the part of this firm to take
such precautions against the occurrence of an error, aud
to place it almost beyond the bounds of possibility.

The firm give equal attention to the other departments
of their business — the vegetable and flower seeds, bulbs,
&c. — in each of which a considerable trade is done. The
entire establishment, in fact, is full of interest to the
farmer, and well repays a visit ; and to speak from the
manner of my own reception, I can assure my agricultural
friends that they will meet with every courtesy at the
hands of one or other of the members of the firm, and
that they will come away not only satisfied and interested
with what they have seen, but where these large quantities
of seeds are produced, and where they are sent to. If
every firm took equal pains to produce the best stock*
from the best districts, and of the purest blood, so to
speak, and also free from weeds and all other foreign
matter, I may venture to say there would be fewer
instances of disappointment, annoyance, aud vexation
among the farmers who purchase all the seeds of dealers,
trusting to them for supplying a pure, authentic, and
genuine article. I am, sir, &c,

J. P. Sheldon.

Sheen, Ashbourne, January 22.

tllE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.
The annual meeting of the Highland and Agricultural

Society was held on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the Society's
rooms, George IV. Bridge. Mr. Hutchison, of Carlo wrie,

senior director present, was called to the chair.

Deceased Members. — The Chairman said: Before pro-
ceeding with the usual routine of the business of this mc iting
it is my painful duty to advert to the very sad and unexpected
intelligence received to-day of the death at Venice of our
honorary secretary, Sir William Stirling Maxwell. This is
not the time, before the illustrious dead is conveyed to his last
resting-place, to move any formal resolution. That is a
mattpr which mast remain over till the next general meeting
of the Society ; but it is impossible to piss over the sad intel-
ligence in silence, and I am certain the meeting unanimously
mourn the loss the Highland Society and the country has
sustained by the death at such an early age of one of the
brightest ornaments of our nation. Sir William Stirling
Maxwell was the honorary secretary, and was elected to that
ollice exactly ten years ago. It is further ray melancholy duty
ou this occasion to record the names of some of the more
prominent members who have been taken from us by death
during the past year. Amongst those I shall mention the
name qf Lord Kinnaird, who in former years held with much
acceptance the offices of extraordinary director and vice-
president, and was often a prominent exhibitor and successful
prize-taker at the Society'* general shows. The next name I
hive to record is that of Lird Midlleton, who, though princi-
pally resident in England, took a lively interest in the welfare
of the Society, and was also au exhibitor at the general show3.
Another well-known member who has been taken away is the
Right Hon. R. C. Nisbet II imilton, who held the offices of
extraordinary director and vice-president.

A long list of other members who luve died daring the
past year was also given.

Progress of the Society. — Tin Chairman then said :
Although we have to mourn the loss of many well-known
agricultural gentlemen who have been useful members of our
Society, we have made acquisitions in the shape of new blood,
and I would only, for the sake of showing progress, call atten-
tion to certain figures extending over the twelve years in
which our excellent secretary has had the management of
affairs : — Membership— Januuy 1873,1,609; January 1867,
3,921— increase, 676. Incom.* from invested capital, 1876-77,
£2,631 9s. 9d.; 1866-67, £3,105 lis. 111.— incogs-, £3-25
17s. lOd. Annual and life subscriptions — 1876-77, £1,921
18s. 6d.; 1863-67, £1,871 17*.— increase, £50 Is. 6d.
Premiums at general shows — Dumfries 1878, £2,763 16s. ;
Glasgow 1867, £1,600— increase, £1,163 L6s. The atten-
dance at shows Bnd interest taken in the exhibitions have also
largely increased.

The names of 121 new members were read.
New OirrcE-BEAKEus. — The ,iob!f mm and

gentlemen^were elected office-bearers to fill vacancies : —
Presidents— Eirl of Dalkeith, K.T., M.P. ; Earl of Galloway;
Eirlof Stairs, K.T. ; Lord iierries. Ordinary Directors —
Lo d Polwiirth, John 11- Dixon, of Corstorphine ; James
Uaitone Graham, of Redgorton ; James Hope, Dudii lgston >

James Kennedy, of Sundaywell, Brandleys, Sanquhar; Charles
Seott Pluramer, of Sunderland Hall; Audrew Ralston »
Glamis. Extraordinary Directors — Robsrt V.ms-Agncw, M.P.,
of Barnbarroch ; W. E. Carruthers, of Dormont ; John
Gilcliri3t-Clark, of Speddoch; Patrick Dudgeon, of Cargen ;
Robert Jardine, of Castlemilk ; Christopher Johnstone,
Dimvoodie Lodge ; Well wood II. Maxwell, of Munches;
M:rk John Stewart, M,P„ of Blairdeny j Lt.-Col, George G.
Walker, of Crawfordton.

Accounis for 1370-77. — Mr. Murray, of Dollerie,
laid the accounts for 1S76-77 on tha table, and moved their
approval.

Mr. Oswald, of Dunnikier, seconded the motion, which was
adopted.

Edinburgh Snow, 1877.— Colonel GiLLON.of Wallhouse,
said ; I have, on the part of the directors, to congratulate the
Society on the suoCess which attended the great meeting held
at Edinburgh on July last. The result cannot fail to be
regarded as in a high degree satisfactory, and affords the
earnest of the progressive improvement of this important part
of Scotland. The interest excited among all classes
was perhaps without precedent in Scotland ; th
show-ground was crowded with highly respectable visitor
The days of the show being remarkably fine added greatly to
the effect of the whole proceedings. I have further, on the
part of the board, to recommend that the acknowledgment.;
of the Society be conveyed to the local committee for the zeal-
ous and able discharge of the arduous duties devolving upon
ihem, and to the Lord Provost, and magistrates, and Town
Council, who afforded every facility in forwarding the object
of the meeting. The resolutions I have to move are in
the following terms:— 1. That the thanks of the Society be
tendered to the most noble the Marquis of Lothian for his
attendance as president atjthe general show at Edinburgh, and
'or the interest manifested by his Lordship upon that occasion
in promoting the objects of the Society, and for the zeal and
success with which he occupied thechair at the President's din-
ner. 2. That the thanks of the Society be tendered to the Right
Hon. the Earl of Dalkeith, Vice-president of the Society, for the
t flicieut services rendered by his Lordship, particularly iu
discharging the duties of croupier at the President's dinner
3. That the thanks of the Society be teudered to the Com-
missioners of Supply for the counties of Edinburgh,
Qadclington, and Linlithgow for the liberality with which the
auxiliary fund was provided. 4. That the thanks of the
he tendered to the Right Hon. the Lord Provost of
igh, and the other civic authorities, for the zealou9
and effective co-operation afforded by them, and particularly
for the use of the West Meadows for the purpose
of the show. 5. That tho thanks of the Society be ten-
dered to Robert Dundas, Esq., of Arniston, convener of
the Local Committee elected by the counties of Edin-
burgh, Haddington, and Linlithgow, and to the
individual members of that committee, for their exertions in
carrying into effect the various arrangements connected with
the meeting.

The report was adop'ed.

O

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

Dumfries Show, 1878. — Colonel Gillon, continuing, said:
Although the past show at Edinburgh may have exceeded all
the preceding ones, I have mod- pleasure in reporting that
from the liberal support the Sc^ety has experienced from the
counties connected with the district of the show to be held
at Dumfries on the 30th and 31st July and 1st and 2nd
August next, the premiums will surpass any heretofore offered.
The amount of the whole premiums will not be less than
£2,763, apportioned as follows : Cattle £986, horses £703,
sheep £424, wool £20, pigs £93, poultry £138, dairy pro-
duce £115, implements, say £80 ; Tweeddale gold medal, £20 ;
two silver cups, £50 ; medium gold medals to former prize
animals, say £90; six silver medals to breeders of best aged
bulls and best stallion, £4 16s.; extra stock, say £40 — totah
£2,763 16s. Among the changes which have taken place in
the arrangements I may advert to the following : — 1st, Strong
loose boxes will be provided for stallions and three and two
years old entire colts, in which they can remain all night ;
2nd, That instead of requiring all new inventions and im-
provements to be placed in the yard by themselves these
articles are to be inserted in the catalogue at the head of
each exhibitor's entry, and must be arranged by him at the
beginning of his stand according to the numbers in the cata-
logue. Mr. Maxwell, of Munches, has been named convener
of the Local Committee, and I believe he has accepted the
office. Messrs. Wilken, Tinwald Downs, Clark, of Culmain,
Biggar, Chapeltown, and Matthews, Whitehills, have been
appointed a committee to arrange the day for the competition
of thoroughbred stallions, and to take the management of the
horse after he gets the prize. A site for the showyard has
been selected on the estate of Rotchell as the inoet conven-ent.
The fields are level, and water can easily be obtained. It is
fully believed, takiug everything into consideration, that a
more suitable site could not be found in the neighbourhood.

The Hon. G. Waldegrave Leslie said he understood
that an application had been made by the Dumfries Tempe-
rance Company to have a temperance stall in the show. He
wished to know if the directors were to comply with the re-
quest. It was not a matter of the Permissive Billites, but of
doing good in the way of reducing the amount of drinking.

The Secretary (Mr. F. N. Menzies) said that the subj ect
was before the directors. A site for a stall had been
granted, and he had no doubt the conditions would be
agreed to The report was then adopted.

Proposed Show at Perth in 1879.— Colonel Gillon fur-
ther said : I have, lastly, to report the proceedings taken npon
an application for a general show at Perth in 1879, for the dis-
trict comprising the eastern division in Perthshire, western
division in Forfarshire, Fifeshire, and Kinross-shire. The
• subject was brought under the consideration of the directors
in November last by requisitions numerously signed, when
feelings very favourable to entertaining the application were
manifested by the Board of Directors, who remitted to the
■General Show Committee to suggest the classes of stock. The
list so prepared was subsequently considered by the directors,
and was laid before a meeting'of members held at Perth on
the 28th December last, when various suggestions were made,
which were afterwards considered by the directors. I have
now to submit the list as finally adjusted, and to move that the
meeting approve of the show being held at Perth in 1879, and
that the directors be authorised to enter into the necessary
ar-rangeraeuts.

The report was adopted.

Cattle Disease.— Captain Tod, of Howden, moved thai
the petition circulated by the Central Chamber be adopted.

Mr. Thomas PvUipeel, of Meuslaws, moved : — " That this
Society memoraiise the Government to give effect to the cattle
diseases report, and to the recommendations founded thereon>
with this exception, that instead of the recommendations
that all cattle imported into this country shall be si lightered
at the port of debarkation, it shall be limited to cattle coming
from countries where disease is known to esist, and that all
cattle coming from countries where no disease is known to
exist shall enjoy the same advantages as healthy home-bred
stock."

Mr. G. S. Douglas, Edinburgh, seconded the amendment.

After some conversation, the motion was agreed to, two
only voting for the amendment.

Cottage Competitions. — Mr. Campbell Swinton said :
In the absence of Mr. Maxwell Inglis, of Loganbank, I
have to report that during last year the Society's money pre-
miums or medals have been in operation in seventeen districts,
and that competition took place in the whole. The sum
awarded ia money and medals was £38 3s. 6d. The details of
the different awards will be given in the nest volume of the
Society's Transactions. For the present year the directors pro-
pose twelve parishes at £3 and four medals each, and ten dis-
tricts at two medium Bilver medals each ; the gold medal to
the proprietor in Scotland who shall repott the improvement
of the greatest number of existing cottages during the years
1S75, 1876, and 1877 ; the gold medal to the proprietor in
Scotland who shall report the erection of the greatest nftmber
of approved cottages during the years 1875, 1876, and 1877
—making the total sum offered under this head £80 13s.

The report was adopted

Chemical Department — Experimental Stations.—
Mr. Mackenzie, of Portmore, said : I have much satisfaction
in reporting that during the last six months considerable pro-
gress has been made in regard to the experimental stations.
The two plots of ground at Longniddry and Pumpherston, which
have been selected for the stations, are no w in the possession c f th e
Society, and are being prepared for cropping ; and the scheme
of experiments has been carefully revised, and in some respect*
altered ; and in its revised form it will presently be laid before
this meeting by Dr. Aitken for approval. With reference t®
the conditions under which the land for the stations has been
obtained by the Society, I may mention that a minute of
agreement between Lord Wemyss and Mr. M'Lagan, M P.,
respectively, on the one part, and the Society on the other
part, has been prepared and approved of by the directors. It
is generally in terms of the resolution of the general meeting
in January last, but upon one point the following difference
occurs, viz., that whereas it was then arranged that proprietors
who might give land for experimental stations rent free were
to receive gratis the portion of the crop not required for the
purposes of the experiments, it has been now arranged that a
money rent shall be paid, and the proprietor of the land shall
have the first offer of the surplus crop at market prices. This
was considered a more business-like arrangement, and Lord
Wemyss and Mr. M'Lagan have cordially agreed to it. The
sanction of the Society to the alteration is now requested. The
two stations have been surveyed and measured and laid off into
plots of equal size. At last general meeting reference was
made to the wish of the Marquis of Tweeddale to have a third
station established at Yester. In accordance with his Lord-
ship's desire, a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Melvin,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

185

Bonnington ; Smith, Whittinghame ; Smith, Stevenson Maim ;
«nd Swinton, Holyn Bank, and accompanied by Dr. A ;i ken,
visited Yester, and inspected several fields. They reported of
one of them that it was well suited for au experimental station ;
but, having regard to the fact that practical experience of the
expense of these stations is wanting, the committee do not
feel justified in recommeuding the establishment of this third
station in the meantime. They will, however, bear the matter
n mind, and they are much indebted to the Marquis of Tweed,
dale for his kindness. The question of expense has, however,
been carefully considered, and itwill be satisfactory to the Society
to know that, in the opinion of the committee, which consists
largely of practical agriculturists, the total cost of the. stations
will be well covered by the amount placed at our disposal.
They hope to be able to report at this time next year that
it has been so. I now beg to move the adoption of this
report.

Dr. Aitken, chemist to the Society, gave a detailed account
of the experimental stations, and the work proposed to be done
at them. Our report of it is held over.

The Hon. G. Wat.degra.ve Leslie asked whether the
Society intended to ask their chemist to analyse sr eds, and theu
to publish the names of those who sold spurious seeds, as had
been done by the lloyal Agricultural Society of England.

The Chairman said that the subject had been before the
directo' b, but no decided course of action had been adopted.
The matter would not, however, be lost sight of.

Transactions tor 1873. — Mr. Irvine, of Drum, said: I
have to report that the forthcoming volume of the Society's
Transactions will contain as many of this year's prize reports
as will make the volume the usual size, with the proceedings
at board and general meetings, and the Premium Book for the
current year.

Agricultural Education— Bye-laws and Bursaries.
—Professor Wilson moved the approval of certain alterations
in the bye-laws, which had been notified at two meetings of
the Board of Directors, and were unanimously approved of at
last general meeting (Approved). On the subjett of bursaries
he reported that the examination of candidates for the. Society's
bursaries was held on the 31st October, when John E Nounen,
Edinburgh, and George Wilson, Edinburgh, pissed for bursa-
ries of £20 each, and George Harold, Caithness ; James Mil.
ler, Caithness ; and John Geddes Mackintosh, Edinburgh, for
bursaries of £10 each.

Veterinary Department. — Captain Tod, of Howden,
said he had to report that the preliminary examination for
students for the Society's veterinary certiiioate was held on the
10th and 11th of July, when 21 students entered their names
for examination, and 13 passed.

Agricultural Reports— Premiums Awarded in 1877.
— Mr. Mackenzie, of Portmore, reported that the following
premiums had been awarded in 1877 : £30 to Duncan Clerk,
writer, Oban, for a report on the agriculture of the county of
Argyll ; £10 to the Rev. John Gillespie, Mouswald Manse,
Dumfries, for a report on the Galloway breed of cattle; £10
to George Armatage, M.R.C.V.S., Hertford, for a report on
hoose or husk in calves and lambs; £10 to George Arma-
tage, M.R.C.V.S., Hertford, for report on strangles ; £10 to
J. B. Smyth (forester), Duff House, Banff, for a comparative
return from capital invested in cropping, grazing, or plant-
ing land upon hill or moorland ; the minor gold medal to
James M' Donald, Scotsman reporter, Aberdeen, for a report
on American agricultural college*.

Premiums Offered in 187$.— Mr. Mackenzie furthe
reported that the, following premiums would be offered in.
1878 :— On the agricu'ture of the coun'ies of Clackmannan
and Kinross, £20 ; on the agriculture of the county of Suther-
land, £30 ; on the agriculture of Bute and Arraa £30 ; on
the history of leases of lands aud farms from the earliest times,
£25 ; on the physiohgical distinctions in the condition of
the Scottish peasantry, £30 ; on the system that best provides
a sullicieut supply of hbour during press of agricultural work,
£10; on the results of experiments for fixing and retaining
the volatile aud soluble ingredients in farmyard manure, £20 ;
on the advantage of ploughing-iu manure at once on being
spread, £5 ; on manures produced by different kinds of feeding,
£20 ; on manure made with and without cover, ,£20 ; on
improved varieties of agricultural plants, £ 30 ; on the culti-
vation of cabbage as a field crop, £10 ; on the insects which
prey upon agricultural plants, £20 ; on the vegetable produc-
tions of ludia, China, and America, £10 ; on the adultera.
tion of agricultural seeds, £10 ; on the wet season of 1877 and
its effects on vegetation and crops generally, £10 ; on the
best modes of housing fattening cattle, £20 ; on the compara-
tive advantages of grazing cattle and sheep together or
separately, £10; on different descriptions of food for stock,
£20; on the Cheviot breed of sheep, £10 ; on the breeding
of horses for road or field, £10 ; on the adaptability of the
various soils to the rearing breeding and rearing of horses,
£10; on the effect of sewage upon the animal system, £10;
on a description of any scheme whereby town sewage has been
successfully utilised for irrigation in agriculture, £20 ; on
animal parasites, £20 ; on rural economy abroad susceptible
of being introduced into Scotland, £10. Estate Improvements.
— On the general improvement of estates by proprietors, £10 ;
on the most approved farm buildings by proprietors, <£10;
on the reclamation of waste land by tillage by proprietors or
teuauts, £10, £10, and £5 ; on the improvement of natural
pasture, without tillage, by proprietors or tenants, £10 and
minor gold medal. Machinery. — On the invention or im-
provement of implements of husbandry, £50 ; on the best and
most approved cattle truck for feeding and watering the
animals in transit, £20.

Forestry Department — Premiums Awarded in
1877. — Professor Balfour reported that the following pre-
miums had been awarded in 1S77 : — The gold medal to Sir
Simon Macdouald Lockhart, of Lee and Carnwath, Bart., for
planting on the estate of Carnwath. The medium gold medal
to Robert Hutchinson of Carlowrie, Kirkliston, for a report
on the Abies Menziesii,and its value for planting in Scotland.
The minor gold medal to James Duff, forester, Bayham Abbey,
Kent, for a report on the utilisation of waste forest produce.

Premiums Oeiered in 1878. — Professor Balfour re-
ported that the following would be offered in 1878: — On
extensive planting by proprietors in Scotland, £10 ; ou plant-
ing on peat bogs, £5 ; on forest trees of recent introduction
£5; on the picea nobilis and its value for planting in Scot-
land, £5 ; on the varieties of trees best adapted for planting
as shelter in the islands of Scotland, £5 ; on the growth and
cultivation of willows in Scotland, £5 ; on the old and re-
markable Spanish Chesnuts in Scotland, £10 ; on the cutting
and transport of firewood, £5 ; on the cultivation in Scotland
of charcoal-producing plants, £5 ; on the cause of ring-shaking
in trees, £5 ; on the woods, forests, and forestry of Perthshire,
£10 ; on the woods, forests, and forestry of Ross-shire
£10 ; ou the woods, forests, and forestry of Inverness-shire,

O 2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

£10; on the comparative advantages of high forest and j On the motion of Admiral Sir Willum Horj&'.JoHNs'iotfE
coppice, or coppice with standard trees, £5 ; oil the utilisation a vote 0f thanks was given to the chairman ; and the pro-
of waste produce of forests and woodlands for making an i ceedings terminated,
artificial fuel, £10; on insects most injmiousto forest trees, £20 |

FARMERS5 CLUBS,

IX WORTH.

At a meeting of this Club, held on Monday, Jan. 14,
the President. Mr. Edward Greene, M.P., occupying the
chair,

Mr. J. Fison, Barcingham, who was too unwell to be present
sent a short paper on the subject of "The Best Mode of Cul-
tivating Barley," which was read by Mr. W. Manfield, Ixworth
Thorpe.

The paper pointed out that, for the purposes of barley
growing, one good deep ploughing should sufiice. Too much
was frequently done to the land for that crop. The action of
frost in the winter months upon heavy land was commented
upon, and was spoken of as having a very vi»i'ying effect. A
second ploughing he thought a mistake, but recommended the
use of a Colman's cultivator, which, he said, left the land in
a fit state to receive the crop. Great care should be exercised
in selecting good plump seed.

The discussion which followed the reading of the paper was
opened by Mr. Manfield, who pointed out, with regard to the
observation that too much was often done to the land for the
barley crop, that there was a great difference between light and
heavy land. With respect to the latter, if turnips were fed off
early, and the land was not in a very good state, he considered
a second ploughing beneficial. But one ploughing early in the
season was undoubtedly much better than two or three later
on. Feeding sheep ou th» land, especially with cake, often
did more good than a second ploughing. All the seed sown
should be as good as possible. He last year sowed barley
which he purchased at 24s., and was perfectly satisfied with
the result. Other speakers characterised a second ploughing
as frequently throwing sway the labour of men and horses ;
and as to the quality of the seed, it was said that it could not
be too well dressed, especially if there was a tendency to
growing. Mr. A. Hensby said he did not care so much about
the seed being thin if the stock was right. Mr. Barrett
Said he had noticed the -results of the finest seed, more par-
ticularly in potatoes and horticultural seeds ; and in the case
of potatoes he had observed that the medium quality often
produced the best crop. He mentioned the desirability of
farmers using the utmost cautiou as to the seed they used next
year, as much of the corn was got up in such a damp state that
the stacks heated, and a good deal of tint kind of corn would
not grow at all. Mr. Blaydon recommended ploughiug after
Christmas as the best, as there was then the probability of the
frost having a beneficial action. Several gentlemen alluded
to the question of tying the barley in sheaves. Mr. Birrett
remarked that he had tried tying oats, but his experience was
that it was extremely difficult to secure a thorough drying if
the sheaves were once exposed to the wet, and he apprehended
the same result would follow the tying of barley. Mr. Blay-
don, on the other hand, said he had 40 acres tied up, and he
found it answered well. He should certainly recommend his
brother farmers to make a trial, firmly believing that they
would be in favour of the practice. The President observed

that the practice was general ' in Lincolnshire. He asked
whether it was cossible to obtain as good a layer by ploughing
once as by ploughing twice. He could not obtain a good
layer without ploughing twice.

Mr. Mantield, in replying to the whole discussion, ob-
served that there was no doubt considerable advantage to the
layer in ploughing a second time. As to the question of sowing
seed, there was no doubt that two or three pecks of seed per
acre would produce as good a crop as three bushels. He
found that barley, thinly planted, branched a good deal. He
had his wheat-stubble steam-cultivated, and then broken up
with the plough minus the breast, and on that he planted
barley. After the barley he should sow beaus, getting a five-
acrs shift instead of four.

The President then summed up the discussion, and he
remarked that there was not the attention paid to the season.,
andto the juncture, when the land was in the best order, that
there should be. There was, perhaps, no question about
which there was so much difference of opinion as to the seed,
some men only planting a peck an acre. In selecting seed
it was important to select that which was fully developed. It
was also highly desirable to change the seed from one part of
the country to another. For instance, seed from the fen
country, because of the entire change, would at first produce
a good crop. Another important matter was the changing
of the seed from a cold to a warmer climate, the effect being
to develop it. With regard to the time of sowing, the early,
on most land, was undoubtedly the best, because there was
more vitality in the early spring and the following three
months than late in the year.

The meeting then proceeded to consider the recommenda-
tions of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on
the questions of the prevention ef the cattle plague and the
restrictions on the importation of live stock. In the course
of the conversation which ensued it was generally admitted
that something ought fo be done both in the interest of the
home-breeder and the consumer, and on the proposition of
Mr. Manfield the form of petition sent by the Central Cham-
ber of Agriculture was signed by the Chairman on behalf of
the meeting. The prayer of the petition was to the effect
that the recommendations of the Select Committee of the
House of Commons might be embodied in an Act of
Parliament.

STOWMARKET.

The usual monthly meeting of this Club was held at
Stowmarket, on Thursday, Jan. 17th, under the presi-
dency of Mr. Hervey A. Oakes. Mr. T. Rose, of Melton
Magna, Norfolk, read a paper entitled " A Medley of
Agricultural Subjects." After making a brief reference to
his recent experience in harvesting corn crops, Mr. Rose
went on to say :

We will now briefly glance at an important subject to
which public attention begins at last to be directed, viz., &

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

is/

Provision for the education of the middle classes. Au educa-
tion which very well served a farmer some 50 years ago would
in the>.e days of scientific and progressive agriculture be well
nigh UNeless. The children of farmer*, however, are mostly
resident at such a distance from towns- that it is impossible to
educate them as many parents would wish, unless they are
seut to a boarding-school, and this, especially in the present
day, is a heavy drain on the resources of a man with a large
'atnily, who has to win his livelihood from 300 or 400 acres
of land. Middle-class parents residing in towns have au in-
calculable advantage over their couutry cousins as regards the
education of their children. Take Norwich, for instance,
where there is a high school established for girls, which is, no
doubt, a step in the right directiou. It is a day school, and
to those residing in the city it is indeed a boon ; but if farmers
living at a distance wis.lv their daughters to share in its bene-
fits they must first find a suitable home for them, and this,
besides being au anxious matter, with very often unsatisfactory
results, makes it equally as expensive to parents as any of the
b-st private schools. The same objection seems to me appli-
cable to the case of endowed grammar schools for boys.
Farmers' sons live too far off to benefit by them. So far as
Norfolk is concerned, there is a good county school, but it is
not every farmer who can afford 40 guineas per annum for the
•ducation o' his sons, particularly if he has many of them. A
small town tradesman can undoubtedly educate his children to
greater advantage than can the large farmer. The children
of the poor can receive a sound, nay, even an elaborate educa-
tion at a merely nominal cost. The farmer has to pay a heavy
s'-hnol rate for the education of liw labourers' children, while,
as I have shown, he experiences the greatest difficulty in edu-
cating his own children to meet the requirements of the day,
and to give them a fair start with their compeers in the great
battle of life. Why should there not be some suitable pro-
vision made by Government to meet this pressing need ?
Some enthusiasts in the House of Commons agitated until
they provided ample means to educate the lower classes, and
in common fairness to the middle classes they should be equally
zealous in making provision for the educational wants of this
other important sectionof the rising generation. This can
only be met by the establishment of good day schools on a
large scale, under Government supervision, at various centres
in our different counties, so as to be within possible reach of
our children day by day. It may be objected that there are
already Board Schools established in most of our villnges,
where a good education is provided under Government inspec-
tion. Granted ; but, I would ask, are the surroundings of these
schools suitable for carefully-brought-up children of the upper
middle classes ? As Lord Carlington said the other day,
"Tenant farmers, if they have any self-respect or ambition,
must not allow themselves to be left behind in the race of
education ; they must neither fall too much behind those who
are above them in worldly advantages nor allow the labouring
classes, whose fair and proper education we all desire, to tread
too closely on their heels." I cannot conceive why the im-
portance of a provision for a suitable education of such an
important class of the community has been so completely
neglected, I may say ignored. It must, however, I think, be
attributable in a great measure to the lack of unanimity
amongst ourselves, and it cannot be disputed that we have but
few friends and advocates in the Houses of Parliament. True,
we have never as a united body agitated for the supply of our
need ; but if we in our time would win a hearing, mark me,
we must d'j as other?, and cla.rn.uur for attention. Have m been

too long patient with an unintelligent patience, and have we
quietly^borne burdens until it comes to be a natural assumption
that we can bear any amount of pressure, however unjust that
pressure may be? I have frequently heard farmers say, "I
shall send my boys to school for a year or two, and then have
them on the farm to work as I did at their age : that's my
idea of practical knowledge. To learn to draw a straight
furrow will do them more good than all the ' ologies.' " But
con»ider a moment. Will this purely practical knowledge fit
them to cope with the ever and fast advancing intelligence of
the age ? Why the labourers' children will, by means of the
compulsory Education Act, be provided with a better educa-
tion, and with the scientific knowledge they will be able to
bring to bear on subjects of every-day importance, they will
undoubtedly head the sons of the middle-class men in the great
race. True, it is not altogether the amount of learning
achieved by children during their early school days. The
important thing is that the mind should be trained that it may
be able to grasp and retain knowledge. To take a boy from
school at the age of fourteen must be a mistake, and in i.iost
cases his mind is only then beginning to open for the intel-
ligent leceptiou and digestion of knowledge ; and the, so to
say, sudden check to intellectual vegetation is apt to cause
the good seed to decay in the ground, instead of bringing
forth a vigorous and fruitful plant, and even should it suc-
ceed in struggling into any sort of existence, what can
it be, without proper care and culture, but a weakly barren
plant P It seems to me important that the rising generation
of intending farmers should devote much attention to
the acquirement of a practical knowledge of agricultural
science, and especially chemistry as applicable to agriculture,
Liebig, in a preface to his work on " Chemistry of Agricul-
ture aud Physiology," says : — " Perfect agriculture is the true
foundation of all trade and industry ; it is the foundation of
the riches of States ; but a rational system of agriculture
cannot be formed without the application of scientific prinoi-
pies, for such a system must be based on an exact acquaintance
with the means of nutrition of vegetables, and with the in-
fluence of soils, aud action of manure upon them." This
knowledge we must seek from chemistry, which teaches the
mode of investigating the composition, and of studying the
character, of the different substances from which plants derive
their nourishment. A knowledge of agricultural chemtstry is
a requisite to the present-day farmer, in order to enable hiin
to apply proper artificial manures to his different soils and
crops. It is really astonishing what trash men will buy under
the cognomen of artificial manure, and how easily they are
deceived into its purchase by men whose business it is to sell.
It is no less surprisiug that many farmers continue to purchase
their manures of little local manufacturers — men who know
nothing of raising chemical constituents suitable for various
soils, but who itave in some way become possessed of a receipt
for manufacturing a manure. Buy only of those who will
give a guaranteed analysis. You then get the constituents
you require and value for money.

After quoting the recommendations of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society with respect to the purchase of cakes and
manures, Mr. Rose concluded this portion of the subject with
a few further remarks, and then proceeded to the subject of
Cattle Disease, as follows.

Let us now turn our attention for awhile to the meat ques-
tion, which is of great moment to us in these days of waning
agricultural prosperity. It is believed that the question of
importation of foreign sheep and cattle will occupy the atten>

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tion of the members of the House of Commons early iu the
present session ; therefore, I do not think it will be out of
place to discuss it. It is an astounding fact there are people
adverse to the prohibition of foreign live sto;k imports, and
as a necessary consequence to the exclusion of imported con-
tagious disease. They accuse farmers of trying to revive the
dayg of Protection. Now for my part I conscientiously be-
lieve agriculturists to be the most thorough free-traders on
the face of the earth. All that we require is protection
against imported foreign preventible diseases. We do not
care how much dead meat is sent to our English markets. It
the foreigner be compelled tj slaughter his sheep and cattle
at place of pasturage or embarkation Eagland will doubtless
be free from the diseases which have so decimated her home
herds and flock9. The primary cause of the diminished
numbers of our sheep and cattle is plain — viz., imported
cattle plague, foot-and-mouth, pleuro-pneuraonia, aud other
contagious diseases. The present system of inspecting cattle
t ) prevent disease is useless. Foot-and-mouth disease, is now
raging in Norfolk. We must not shut our eyes to the fact
that home stock are steadily and surely decreasing in numbers,
notwithstanding that more of our land is being convert ;d into
permanent and other grass. As a proof o f this, take ths
following facts : — In the year 1870 we had 18,335,000 acres
of arable, in 1874- we had 18,890,000 acres, and in 1877 we
bad 17,983,000 acres. There were in 1870, 12,073 acres of
pasture ; but in 1871* there were 13,178,000 acres ; and in
1877 we had 13,728,000. In 1870 we had in Great Britain
4,505,000 acres of clover or artificial grasses ; in 1874 we had
4,34.1,000 acres ; and in 1877 we had 4,493,000 acres. Iu
1870 we had 3,587,000 acres of green crops ; in 1877 we had
3,584,000 acres, so that there is but a trifling falling off in
both these items. Summing these together, we had in Great
Britain in 1870 a total of 20,165,000 acres of grass, clover
and seeds, and root and green crops ; in 1877 we had
21,805,000 acres. Thus, with a greater extent of land under
grass or crops for feeding animals, we have now fewer animals
than in 1874.

Year. Cattle. Shepp.

1868 5,423 951 30,711,369

1871 5,337,759 27,119,569

1872 5,624,994 27,921,507

1874 6,125,491 30,313,911

1875 6,012,824 29,167,438

1876 5,844,711 28,182,951

1877 5,697,933 28,161,164

While there was a slight increase in the area of grass and
green crops from 1870 to 1874, there was also a slight in-
crease in the number of cattle and sheep, and a continued ex-
tension of pasture, root, and fooder crops. Since 1874 there
has been a marked and steady decline. It is, therefore, an
unassailable fact that the agriculture of Great Britain of the
present day, in spite of stimulating prices realised for meat
during the period in question, has failed completely to pro-
duce the same number of cattle and sheep that it could show
three years ago. England is reputed to be the richest land
ou earth, and yet thousands of human beings are forced to
die of sheer hunger every year in the streets of our wealthiest
cities ; but still in the face of this undeniable fact, one of our
leading daily papers busies itself in circulating the slander
that farmers desire to return to the days of Protection, and
tries to make capital out of a matter it evidently does not or
-••"W4and. This jourun' "r«f*ssea to write in the

consumer's interest, and fiuding that the Duke of Kichiiiirmi
is at length yielding in a measure to the pressure put upon
him, so far as to promise, at least, that the report of the Cattle
Plague Committee shall receive the attention of Parliament
this session, it now writes bitterly of the legislation possibly
to be enacted, and says, " The great outbreak of cattle plague
from 1865 to 1867 revealed the necessity for changes in our
legislation both as regards foreign importations and home
precautions. In the summer of 1872 another outbreak took
place, and a Select Committee was appointed in 1873 to rr«
view the legislation of 1809, in the light of the experience
gained in stamping out the second iuvasion of this disease.
The verdict arrived at was this : — ' No change in the law
respecting foreign importations was requisite.' Early in the
year 1877 the disease again broke out, and in July of the same
year there was a slight renewal of it, which, however, yielded
to the prompt measures adopted for its repression." The
journal in question would have us rest satisfied with previous
legislation as being fully sufficient to repress cattle p!agu0
whenever it chances to appear, totally ignoring the palpable
fact that where cattle plague " slays its thousands," foot-and-
mouth disease aud pleuro-pueumonia " slay their tens of thou=
sands," and it tries to impress on its readers that it cannot
signify how often dread disease visits us, simply because it
can in time be stamped out, never heeding that in the mean-
time our farmers are being ruined by the decimation of their
herds aud flocks, simply because the advocates of this view of
the question want to make political capital out of it, and to
use it as a popular party cry. Wiiat, in the name of fortune,
can it signify to the consumer whether we get live or dead
meat to our markets, provided only it is wholesome and suffi-
ciently plentiful ? Liberals and Conservatives will agree on
one point — viz., " they must eat to live." Neither party
can subsist on politics alone ; therefore it is not, it
cannot be, a question to argue on political grounds. Neither
is it consumer versus producer, or town against country, for
their interests are evidently identical. The facts seem to me
to amount to this : — That should we succeed in getting a
measure passed prohibiting live imports, and compelling
slaughter at place of pasturage or port of embarkation, meat
for the million will undoubtedly be cheaper instead of dearer,
because our foreign friends and American cousins may ship us
as much carcass meat as they please. At the same time our
home live stock, ceasing to be decimated by imported diseases,
will rapidly multiply, and, as a natural consequence, become
more remunerative to the producer, as well as more plentiful
for the consuming public. It has been said that the Ameri-
can meat trade is in too uncertain and experimental a condi-
tion to justify reliance on it ; but when we read of the quan-
tities of meat brought in month by month to our markets I
think there can be no doubt in any of our minds that the
trade in dead meat is being gradually established. During
the past year the experiment of bringing fresh (unfrozen)
American killed meat into England was first successfully tried*
aud resulted in an importation of considerable extent into the
market, a portion of which arrived in excellent condition
during the exceptionally hot weather of August, thus pr jving
its perfect practicability. The quantities of meat brought in
during the year were : — January, 125 tons ; February, 90
tons ; March, 240 tons ; April, 405 to ns , May, 400 tons ;
June, 245 tons ; July, 200 tons ; August, 352 tons ; Septem-
ber, 550 tons ; October, 733 tons ; November, 1,034 tons ;
aud December, 1,134 tons ; consisting mostly of beef, but

TLTE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1S9

with gome mutton and pork. Much of the meat was of
superior quality, and would doubtless prove of great advantage
to the couotry as affording an almost iuexhausi bre food
supply. The Superintendent of the Loudon Market, who has
the best means of judging, expresses his conviction that in a
short time it will h ive assumed its proper position amou i the
daily deliveries, and then the full extent of the boon will be
appreciated, not only m London*, but in- the provinces. The
number of loads weighed during the year was 9">,5(!1 ; the
average uutntity of produce brought into the market weekly
was 3,32 1 tons, of which 1,G10 tons were foreign and town-
killed meat, and 1,7 1 i of country meat ; and the average daily
delivery was 500 tons, the minimum in any one day having
been 188 tons, and the maximum l,22t tons. And when we
consider that the importatious from America for one week
only, from December 29th, 1877, to January 5th, 1878,
anounted to 9,112 quarters of beef, and l,+6 1 carcases of
mutton, and 50 dead pigs, even the most prejudiced must
admit that it has passed its experiment il stage, and has become
a fact. The Americans will not allow auy of our stock to be
lauded on their shores, because we can never show a clean I
of health ; therefore our trade in pure-bred sire3, and in p
bred breeding sheep and cattle, generally, is much ii :
Neither Australia nor New Z aland will accept our caltle or
sheep on account of the contagious diseases so frequen
valeut amongst our herds and flocks. We can but feel they
aTe right in taking this course, although their custom is a
serious loss to the breeders of pure-bred stock in th;s cot
To the question, What has pure-bred English stock done for
other countries? I would answer, Rams have for years past
been exporied by us to our Australian aud other colonies,
thereby improving the merinos, and now many of them wou d
be very hard to beat in our Euglish showy irds, and their
cattle are equally improved by theu3e of pure Shorthorn bu'ls
from our celebrated English herds. Early in the century
Major Simpson bought a son of Comet of Mrs. Colling, and
a year or two after sold two of his heifers to an American
gentleman for about 300 guineas. Since that time we have
been constantly sending pure-bred bulls and heifers
across the Atlantic, and now we are reaping the
benefit in the prime quality of the meat we are con-
stantly receiving from that country. Take Irelaud for
another proof. No class of men have done more to improve
cattle than have the Irish. For many years they have
made a practice of hiring bulls from the grand Warlaby herd
and anyone who is old enough to remember the old Irish ox
cannot but bear testimony to the vast improvement which has
taken place in those anything but " symmetrical " animals.
Mr. T. C. Rooth has lately affirmed that we have at this time
orders in England for pure-bred stock to the amount of
£100,000, which we cannot execute on account of the country
being so constantly infected with some contagious disease or
other; therefore our foreign and colonial customers dare not
take them until we can show a clean bill of health, and this
I am sure we shall not be able to do until we compel the
foreign importers of stock to slaughter, not at the ports of
debarkation, but of embarkation. When this shall be en-
forced we shall in a short time be free trom disease ; and
having increased numbers from which to breed, and decreased
chances of loss by disease, we shall, as a natural consequence,
have more home-bred meat, and at a cheaper rate, for the
rapidly-increasing population. I believe I am right in assert-
ing that all contagious diseases are of a foreign origin, and
that the importation of live cattle is a heavy tax on the

food of the people ; and, if so, can this be called free trade ?
Let us have dead meat free from impost, we don't care how
much ; but do not let us have free trade in disease, which the
foreigner now sends us at his pleasure. A short time since I
received a letter from one of the most influential London meat
salesmen. He says : " I quite endorse the resolution of the
Cattle Plague Committee, and consider the interests of the
consumers are identical with those of the roducers of stock
in this country, and that disease should be prevented by all
possible means." He then goes on to say : " You must not
lose sight of the fact that every head of cattle which dies from
disease is a loss to the consumer as well as the producer ;
therefore we all suffer." It is now a generally admitted fact
that none of these contagious diseases are indigenous to this
country. We have Professor Fleming's authority for stating
that foot-and-mouth disease has its origin in hot countries
wheie cattle are worked. Certain it is we knew nothing of
it in England until the year 1839, when it was said to be
imported from Holland by Dutch cows, which, although it was
illegal at that time to import cattle from abroad, had been
brought over for ships' supply, and on arrival were disposed
of as surplus ship stores. From Stratford, by the water-
side, it gradually spread to different parts of the country, but
we did not experience any very serious losses from it until
after the year 1863, since which date it has appeared periodi-
cally, and has, since its first introduction to this country, as-
sumed a much more malignant form. It is computed by
the highest authorities that although more silent in its
ravages, our losses exceed that by rinderpest. Mr. Duck-
ham, when giving evidence before the Parliamentary Com-
mittee in 1873, also handed in a paper and returns showing
the direct money loss sustained in the year 1872 by the stock-
owners of Herefordshire from foot-and-mouth disease, from
which it was estimated that if the loss was as great in other-
parts of the Doited Kingdom, it would amount to the astound-
ing sum of £20,000,000— a sum four times exceeding the
total value of our live stock importations, The well-known
veterinary inspector for Norwich Hill and myself entered
into a calculation about a year ago of the I033 to this country
in the years 1873 and 1874 from this disease alone; taking
into calculation cattle, sheep, and pigs it amounted to upwards
of £27,000,000. And when we see that the value of im-
ported cattle aud sheep amounts only to about five millions
sterling I do not hesitate to say that we should have more
meat and cheaper, and the breeder and grazier would have
been remunerated, had we never received a single head of
live stock from the Continent. In May, 1875, I wrote to The
Times and some of the priucipal agricultural papers, in order
to draw attention to the disastrous consequences of this fell
disease, which was then raging in England, and then advo-
cated slaughter at the port of embarkation, which was, how-
ever, at that time declared to be impracticable. Some few
people hold the belief that pleuro- pneumonia is not altogether
a contagious disease, but that there are cases where it gene-
rates in the system ; but a conviction — I may say a knowledge
— to the contrary is now obtaining. All I would ask is that
any still cleaving to the opinion that it is non-contagious
should allow a beast affected with pleuro to be turned amongsi
his cattle — the result would be a most conclusive teat. I see no
reason to alter the opinion 1 formed some time since — viz.5
that if we wish to protect our herds and Hocks from conta-
gious diseases, we mu3t compel the foreigner to slaughter hi8
cattle, &c, at the port of embarkation, and until this is done
we shall most surely be subject at intervals to these diseases.

190

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The subject is becoming one of extreme importance, both to
producer and consumer. We must loudly and emphatically
deprecate the absurd cry of country against town, or producer
versus consumer — their interests are identical. The present
dispute seems a strange one ; it is not, it cannot be, a question
of free-trade at all. It is Birnply one of security from disease
and its accruing loss. I was one of the first, if not the first,
to advocate slaughter at port of embarkation, and now many
of the leading agricultural papers are advocating the same
views as being best for both Continental producer and English
consumer. The former would sustain no loss from disease or
accident, as is so often the case during the transit of live
stock ; there would be no cost for attendance or food and
freightage, and insurance would be much less. While the
lat'er, i.e., the consumer, would have no cause of complaint,
for undoubtedly meat would be more plentiful, more whole-
some, and cheaper, and butchers' bills would cease to be the
bugbear they now are. When we find that the United States
of America possess 27,220,200 head of cattle, and 33,783,600
head of sheep-just 21,273,89S more cattle and 5,610,649
more sheep than we have in Great Britain — we can but believe
they will continue to send us ever- increasing quantities both
of their surplus beef and mutton; for with their vast rolling
prairie land, on which it is possible to breed and graze un-
limited numbers, the meat supplies are more likely to increase
than to diminish. I have until lately always held the
opinion that mutton resembled a tallow candle too nearly to
be a paying speculation across the Atlantic ; but it seems it is
not so, for we are now receiving it regularly in addition to
beef, and both beef and mutton in increasing quantities. This
being the case, it is high time for us to consider how we can
most profitably breed, rear, and feed our own stock so as best
to be enabled to compete on favourable terms with our enter-
prising neighbours. Assuming that we are fortunate enough
to succeed in getting protection from imported contagious
diseases, and that our flocks and herds speedily multiply, as
doubtless they would do, the question naturally arises— How
ean we best meet a great want which then, even more press-
ingly than now, would enforce its claims for consideration ?
We must of necessity have proper means and conveniences
provided, such as covered yards, boxes, and other suitable
agricultural buildings in which to rear and fatten our cattle.
We want to keep them clean and comfortably housed, as well
a» warm and dry, for under these conditions cattle fatten
quicker and with less outlay, and arrive at maturity at an
earlier age. Warmth is as essential as food to the young
growing animal ; also to breeding and grazing animals ; and
if it cannot be induced in another way it is naturally ob-
tained by extra food, alias extra expense. In the summer
months covered yards are invaluable to the farmer as a shelter
for his stock from the heat of the sun and the torment of the
flies. In the hot months cattle make faster progress under
cover than when allowed to wander at will over open fields.
Besides these benefits agriculturists would derive another and
not less important advantage from the erection of covered
stock-yards and boxes. Manure made under cover is vastly
superior to that made in wet open yards. It stands to reason
that it should be so, and is never in any case disputed. The
better quality of farm-yard manure we can apply the better
heart will our land be in, and the heavier crops we shall
obtain. Another advantage I would mention is the fact that
more stock could be kept with less straw and food on a given
quantity of land, as beasts, either young or old, if kept in a
proper state of warmth, do not consume so large a proportion

of food as those which are exposed to the variations of incle-
ment winter weather, iu the early spring of 1877 a straw
stack was a rarity, and during the wet winter of that year I
suppose a clean, comfortable stock-yard was never to be seen.
Mr. C. S. Read, M.P.,has estimated (and I have never heard
it contradicted) the loss to the county of Norfolk in the
one item of manure alone to be ,£100,000 for that wet season.
The loss in beef no one, I venture to say, dares to reckon up.
It cannot be honestly asserted that the generality of our Eng-
lish firm homesteads by any means meet the requirements of
the day. Besides, I consider the erectiou of covered yards
would be equally beneficial to the laudlord as to the tenant,
because his property would be greatly improved. The manure
made under cover beiu^ of much greater value, would im-
prove the laud to which it should be applied, thereby enhan-
cing the value of the hire. Many of us would, I doubt not,
gladly pay a fair percentage for the erection of such necessary-
buildings. Of course the laudowner cannot be expected iu
all cases to lay fast large sums of money without its paying
him a fair profit. We have peed to breed and graze to a
profit which has been an impossibility duriugj the last few
years — at least in the Eistern counties; and all are agreed
that (except in very few instances) corn-growing does not
pay. So far as the foreign wheat trade is concerned, I can but
repeat what I wrote on the subject more than a year ago. I
said that war would not materially affect our prices. Nor has
it done so to any great extent. A merely temporary advauce
in the price of wheat is calculated to injure rather than
benefit the British farmer. In these days of quick transit, if
supplies fail iu one quarter, they are sure to come from
another. Notwithstanding the vast requirements of her
armies in the field, Russia has found time to send us large
quantities of wheat ; and India has contributed largely to our
necessities, and with facilitated means of irrigation and water
transit, her hundreds of millions of acres of fertile land, tilled
by her patient, frugal, industrious, rice-eating people will year
by year send us ever-increasing supplies. It may be inte-
resting to note that Russia, notwithstanding the war, last year
sent us 10,838,000 cwt. of wheat, the value being £6,6»0,616.
The main support of this country, however, was the United
States, which from the Atlantic and Pacific ports shipped
21,308,667 cwt., the cost of which to the British consumer
was £13,535,201. British India, in spite of the famine,
exported 6,104,910 cwt., for which the United Kingdom
returned in money £3,571,106. The next largest contributor
to our wants was Germany, which sent 5.455,763 cwt., valued
at £3,593,467. Egypt forwarded 2,447,708 cwt., valued at
£1,322,917, and Turkey (including Moldavia and Wallachia),
strange to say, exported more than she did in 1876 — viz.,
F253,018 cwt., as against 1,23S,851 cwt., receiving from us
this year £705,043. British North America sent 2,912,178
cwt., at a cost of £1,899,451. France, Denmark, Chili, and
"other'' countries supplied the remainder, to make up the
£'^3,820,084 which was our expenditure upon wheat alone.
From France we imported the largest quantity of wheat-mea
—1,900,213 cwt., the price of which was £1,737,876 ; the
United States sent 1,771,588 cwt., valued at £1,549,281 ;
Germany 1,239,437 cwt., at a cost of £1,155,562; British
North America, which did not contribute so abundantly as in
preceding years, 254,695 cwt., value £226,457; "other
countries " forwarded 2,203,626 cwt., valued at £2,134,151.
We find on calculation that foreign wheat last year cost 12s.
6d. per cwt., while in 1876 it was but 10s. 5d. per cwt.
Foreign oxen per head last year averaged £21 16s. Gd. ; in

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1PI

•AS7,,J £"21 7s. Cowe, although only half the number of thos
imported in 1876, made only £17 l'ls. per head to compax
with £18 1 Is. Sheep per head last year made £2 8s. 2d. ; in
the preceding year £2 2s. I feel that I have already tres-
passed on your patience ; neither would time all w of my
bringing any more subjects under your notice, or dilating
further upon those I have already brought before you. It
now, therefore, only remains for me to commend those
already mentioned to your consideration, and to thank you,
gentlemen, for the kind and patient hearing you have
given me.

The Chairman, in opening the discussion, said in intro-
ducing Mr. Rose he expressed a hope that no new trouble had
been found for farmers, but it seemed that as time wore on
their troubles increased. The Chairman then touched upon
various matters dealt with by the lecturer. As to drainage.
he remarked that all his neighbours round about him were
getting on to the broad stetch, and there were no water
furrows, as far as he knew. As to the labour question, he
trusted that after the recent little disputes they had had with
their men that they would get from them a fair day's work for
a fair day's pay. With reference to the education questiou, he
was of opinion that they would find that not only the present
Government, but the Governments which might come after it,
would iDsist upon the poorer classes being educated; and if
they could not pay for it themselves it would have to be paid
for by the class above them. Whether this class above the
labourers was able to pay would hardly come into considera-
tion, lie thought the middle classes had a much better
education than the higher classes, and the expenses in the oue
case were not half so great as in the other. The expenses in
the higher class schools were increasing, and to such an
extent that the higher classes could hardly afford to send their
sons to these schools. The consequence of this would be that
the higher class schools would fall off until they came down to
the level of the middle class schools. They were all probably
aware that if a school was not founded by voluntary aid the
Government would provide one. lie had had some little
experience with Board Schools, aud he would advise them to
do without having a Board School if they could. It had been
said that farmers sent their boys to school, and then when
they came home they were taught to draw a furrow ; but this
he thought was a good thing. He spoke in favour of giving a
good education to farmers' sons, expressing a hope that the
day would come when all farmers would know what sort of
manure to put on their land, and the right sort of crop to grow
when on the four-course system. As to having the manure
examined, he 6hould hope to have a crop growing by the time
this was done. Mr. Rose had said that American farmers
would not take our stock into their country for fear of the
disease ; but he thought another good reason was that they had
a great deal to send to us, and we a very little to send to
them.

Mr. Woodward thought the lecturer deserved their thanks
for his very able paper. The education of the middle classes
—to them as middle-class men — was as much deserving of
their consideration as any subject which could be introduced
for discussion at any time. It was quite certain that their
labourers' children received a much better education than the
middle-class man could afford to give his own. They could
not send their children to a school under ±0 guineas per annum.
There were very few schools in the county, and he did not
know of one, excepting the Albert College, where they could
send their sous for less money. They were perhaps favoured

] in having a middle-class school' in the county. lie hope,!
I this would flourish because it was a great boon to middlr-clas-a
, men to get their children educated for 25 or 30 guineas a year.
As to the dead meat question, he thought that the consumption
of meat had much lucieasui of late years by reason ol the
increase in the price of wages, lie quite agreed with the
lecturer that the importation of dead meat had not brought
do^n the prices anything like what they expected, for they
were still getting the same prices for their own meat. He
spoke in favour of some check being put upon the importation
of live cattle, remarking that the question was worth the con-
sideration of the consumer as well as their own. If they were
of opinion that the greatest amount of disease amongst
cattle in this country wasciused by the importation of foreign
stock, the sooner they united for the purpose of preventing its
importation the better for all classes of the community, lie
alluded to the present method of feeling stock, which tie
thought might be improved on, and observed that if the
country could produce a sufficient amount of live stock for its
own consumption, it would be much better than encouraging
the importation of live stock into the couutry to spread disease
amongst our herds and flocks. He had a few sheep
on his farm, which was a heavy-land farm, and these he
managed to struggle through with, aud he should not feel at
home unless he had a few hoggets.

Mr. S, Page thought that the thatchiug bill put in by Mr.
Rose was hardly big enough. £4 17s. for thatchiug 272 acres
of corn, 16 of which were thrashed out, seemed hardly enough
lie (Mr. Page) did not know what sort of laud Mr. Rose
farmed, but he thought it must have been a very poor crop,
and if his thatching bill had been three times as much he
would have been the better off because his crop would have
been better. As to the Education Act, he could not see the
force of having to put his hand into his pockets to educate
other people's children when he could not educate his own»
His motto was, " Let every man educate his own child." A
man who paid a penny a week could get a better education
for his child than he as a farmer could give his children. He
questioned the truth of the statistics which were put forward
as to the dead meat which had been imported, aud asked what
had become of the meat which had been slaughtered in our
own country previous to Christmas.

Mr. Henry Crosse said in 1839 he lost a great number
of sheep through the foot-and-mouth disease, and he then
wrote to Professor Simmons asking what was good for the
disease. Professor Simmons told him to take care of the
animals as well as he could, and to use nothing but salt for
their tongues, and he also told him to keep them clean. He
followed these instructions and with good results. He spoke
in favour of the slaughtering of foreign cattle at the point of
embarkation instead of debarkation.

After some further discussion the meeting concluded.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

On Friday, January 18th, the annual dinner in connection
with the Tunbridge Wells Farmers' Club took place, and was
attended by a large and influential number of farmers and
others. Mr. B. S. Wilmot one of the Vice-presidents
occupied the chair, in the absence (through illness) of Mr. T-
Batchellor, the President.

Mr. J. J. Barrow, in proposing the health of the Marquess
of Abergavenny and the landowners of the county, said the
noble marquess was in London no doubt influencing for good

192

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

others upon the most momentous question that had ever
affected this country. He believed Lord Abergavenny to be
one of the soundest men he had ever met, and lie hoped lie
would show his soundness in the House of Ljrds, where he
was engaged that evening on the momentous difficulty now
sought t3 be solved in the Eastern Question. He coupled
with the toast the name of Sir Edmund Filraer, who was a
good landlord, and he hoped he would continue to occupy the
high position he held.

Sir Edmund Filmek, who was most cordially received,
said no one regretted more than he did the absence of the
Marquess of Abergavenny. Mr. Barrow had made use of a
very happy expression when he said that his lordship was a
sound man. His lordship was a sound man. He was a man
with an opinion of his own, and was not ashamed to show it.
As a landlord of the county of Kent, he (Sir Edmund) tried
to do his duty. As a landlord he had been very much in
terested in reading the Queen's Speech, and finding that
the present Government were going to bring forward a
measure on what were called County Boards. Tuis was no
political question at all, for he believed it to be agreed on
both sides that County Boards were a necessity. Although
the magistrates of the county worked the finances of the
county, and did them as well and as cheaply as possible, still
at the same time they had a large class of men who were
particularly able and capable of dealing with these matters.
These men could be brought in to help the magistrates in the
financial work of the county. Theoreticlly and practically the
system must be sound, because as we saw year after year such
a large amount of money spent, taken out of the ratepayers'
pockets, it was only right and proper that gentlemen should
be elected by those ratepayers to spend that money. At the
same time the magistrates would not be at all jealous, because
they felt sure they would be supported. Next he referred to
the labour question. He said that he and his tenants, many
of whom were far-seeing men, had joined in endeavouring to
meet this great difficulty. The only way was to keep the
labourer contented at home. If the landlord and tenant
could pull together and get a better class of houses for their
men, making them feel they were men and not dogs, they
would go a long way towards solving the difficulty.

Mr. W. Delves proposed " Success to the Farmers' Club
and the health of the President," and Sir Edmund Eilmer
proposed " The Tenant Farmers," and in the course of his
speech he said it behoved the landlord and teuant to pul
together, bo that the land should be worked in the bes
possible manner. In the rating, for instance, for the con
venience of landowners, they contracted that their tenants
should pay the rates. It was the duty therefore of those
tenants to look after the rates to keep them down as far as
they could. On that question alone landlord and tenant
must be one. The tenant farmer should be encouraged in
every possible way, and if a landlord found a man who had
capital and energy he should encourage him, and give him one
of the few things most desired, a lease. He should leave the
tenant unrestricted except on certain occasions. Changes
might take place either by death or adversity, and a tenant
should have a farm a certain number of years to enable him
to work it. He wanted to see this come, and in the county of
Kent particularly it must come. He could not see how any
one could take a farm, if he had any energy or capital, with,
out putting on his own shoulder the weight of the burden.
Having adverted to the causes of changes in holdings, the use
of artificial manure, the influence of ag«nts or land stewards

| as between landlord and tenant, and other topics, he coupled'
with the toast the name of Mr. T. Williams, of Bayham, whe
responded.
A number of ether toasts followed.

GALASHIELS.
At the last meeting of the Galashiels Farmers' Club a paper
was read by Mr. Thomas S^an, cattle salesman, Edinburgh,
en " The Cattle Supply of Great Britain."

Mr. Swan said it was a matter of surprise that the prices of
beef and mutton continued so high in view of the general
commercial depression. In 1877 beef had rarely beeu lower
than 9s. 9d. and often higher than 10s. 6d. per stone of 14.1b. ;-
and mutton had 3old at about lOd. per lb. From statistics
recen'ly gathered the consumption in Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Liverpool, and Manchester was in the aggregate — in 1866,
:1-t5.587 head, and iu 1876, 520,695, or showing an
increase by more than double in ten years ; while
prices in couseq'ience of an annual increase in the
population were fully higher at the latter than at the
former perio.l. The restrictions placed on their importation
by Government might fairly lie reckoned as accounting to some
extent for the deficiency in the supply of foreign cattle; but
from the operation of trade-unions, strikes, &c, which had
driven our capitalists out of the market, and discouraged
labour, and with it the consumption of meat, this country
could not under preseut circums'auces expect to receive, even
with open ports, an approach to previous importations. He
wished to draw their attention to the rapidly decreasing num-
ber of our home- stock of cattle. From the agricultural
returns from the period from June 25th, 1876, to Jane -Atl:,
1877, it appeared that in England there were 96,760 ; in
Wales, 20,435 ; in Scotland, 29,013 ; and in Ireland, 117,666
— in all, 263,874 fewer cattle at the latter than at the former
date. Again, the foreign importation showed a remarkable
decrease. For the nine months ending September 30, 1876,
the numbers were 175,639, and in the same period in 1877,
138,792 — deficit, 36,847. We were driven to the conclusion
that this couutry was short of cattle by 263,874 in June last,
compared with the same month in 1S76. The question then
followed, Is Great Britain independent of all other countries in
regard to its meat supply? Same of the witnesses before the
Committee went too far, and some not far enough. It had been
stated that the risk of disease had checked the breeding of
cattle in this couutry, aud that the total prohibition of live-
stock importations would stimulate and revive this system, and
render us independent of foreign stock. He remembered when
the markets of Falkirk and Trinity Muir were supplied in a
great measure from Morayshire, Inverness-shire, and the other
rearing and breeding districts of the North. Shorthorn and
cross breeds from England or Ireland were, as store cattle,
scarcely known twenty years ago, long before cattle plague
was heard of in the country. But there had been a gradual
suostitution of a feeding for a breeding stock. This new
system was gradually extending itself, as each year store
cattle buyers were finding out. 1877 had been one of the
worst farmers' years on record — there being a bad aid late
harvest, increase in the price of labour, and a nearly total
failure of the potato crop — and buyers of store stock last
autumn determined to make amends for other shortcomings by
the purchases of feeding and wintering cattle. Everything
appeared to favour them in this respect. With one of the most
miserable turnip crops ever known, and a large proportion of
the straw of middliug quality, the farmers naturally expected

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

r.3

that store cuttle would be had at their own prices. There was
R time at the early part of the season when p ices were com-
paratively low, but as the great autumn markets ca ne on, thev
found that the numbers were not equal to the denand, aad
latterly, perhaps the larger proportion of the farmers of Scot-

A discussion followed the reading of the paper.

Mr. LYALIi ((Jaddonlee) gave as one reason why cattle were
becoming fewer in the country, that fat cattle wee k.iled and
sent into the market younger man formerly, and said that the
question of feeuing as against breeding would right itself.

land had found themselves laid in with their winter cattle at ; Farmers wonld breed as soon as it paid better than to feed, and

higher prices than last year. Now if this took place in such R I if farmers were protected against the importation of disease,

season as last, it was not easy to imagine what the value of they needed no favour.

store cattle would have been, or where the supply would have I Mr. Elliot (Blackball) contended that the importation of

come from to meet the demand, had the turnip crop been good foreign disease lay at the root of the present state of things,

and the harvest favourable. He believed that were the returns ; It was not only cattle plague but foot-and-mouth disease that

now taken, the numbers of cattle throughout the country cut off the cattle, and the latter malady did more evil than

would be foundto be still decreasing. Mr. Swan concluded by the former. No serious malady was indigenous to 'his

some remarks on the importance of providing a sufficient i country, fie asked that farmers should be protected asaiust

supply of butcher's meat for the people of Great Britain. the importation of disease.

A

PARABLE.

By a Man of Mark Lane.

In a beautiful and fertile island lived a pros-
perous people, whose agriculture, commerce, and
system of government were the envy of the world.
Their fields were highly cultivated, and the pro-
duce of the land had been improved during many
generations by judicious selection. But at a not
very remote period of their history the crops in
several parts of the island were observed to be in
an unhealthy condition, which was ascertained to
be due to the impregnation of the land in the dis-
tricts with salt water. For a long time the origin
of this source of mischief was a disputed question,
some of the learned men of the island contending
that the salt was " in the air," and fell on the land
by means of the condensation of salt vapour,
whilst others argued that as the salt water was
first noticed near the coast, and only spread ir-
regularly through the country by gravitation and
contact, it must have come from the sea. At last
it was remembered that, on the occasion of a high
tide, the sea water had flooded the land in the
neighbourhood of a channel running into the
island, and left unguarded after having previously
been carefully closed for a long period. This ex-
planation was accepted by all qualified students of
the subject, though the ignorant masses still be-
lieved in the " in-the-air " theory ; and the question
arose, How should the evil be prevented ? There
was much discussion on this matter throughout the
island, and in the Houses of Legislature, and
various schemes were propounded for stopping the
spread of the salt water, which was seriously di-
minishing the produce of the land, and rendering
it a question amongst the farmers whether it was
worth while to grow the crops affected by the
evil.

A few wise men suggested that the island should
be carefully guarded against the encroachment of
the sea ; but they were only scoffed at by the
majority of the people, who were almost unani-
mously in favour of what was called a Free Ocean.
These were led by a powerful body of men, chiefly
engaged in commerce, known as the Free Ocean
Party, whose arguments were generally thought to
be conclusive, although in the case at issue there
was more rhetoric than logic in their utterances.
" Who shall presume to limit the free, the ever-
bounding sea? " they indignantly asked. "Does
it not carry our commercial products all over the
! world, and thus conduce to the prosperity of the
j island ? Do not our ships and the ships of foreign
I countries bring us by its means an abundance o
goods at cheaper rates than we can produce these
goods at here P " These and the like questions
were asked with an air of triumph which imposed
upon the ignorant multitude, and even the most
sagacious of the statesmen feared to oppose popular
clamour in favour of a Free Ocean.

The few wise and bold men who dared to raise
their voices at all during this early stage of the
controversy, pointed out that nobody wanted to
interfere with the freedom of the ocean in its own
bed, but only to keep it from killing and injuring
the crops of the island. They showed that there
were mauy channels into the island through which
the salt water flowed at every unusually high tide,
and that it was gradually spreading itself over all
parts of the island ; but their words were of no
avail.

After a time the farmers began to get used to the
evil of the salt water, and to put up with it as one
of th* insci'utablo inflictions of Providence, Some-

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

times for a1 period" there was very little salt water
in the country, and they would hope it would sub-
side entirely ; but soon there would come a fresh
high tide, and the mischief would again be great
and wide-spread. At List it was found that the
salt water was encroaching on the island, and it
was generally admitted that something must be
done. None dared to outrage the feelings of the
Free Ocean Party,, so it was agreed to dig small
ditches, large dykes, and reservoirs, in all parts of
the island, in which to confine the salt water. The
mischief was checked a little by these means, and
the Free Oceanists were jubilant. But presently
there came a great tide, which not only filled all
the dykes and reservoirs, but overflowed the- whole
island, greatly diminishing the supply of food for
the people. Then the farmers began to cry out in
earnest, and even the consumers began to fear that
the salt water, although coming from' the Free
Ocean which they loved so well, might do them
harm. Once more the wise men raised their voices
and implored the rulers of the island to keep the
sea water out of the island, and this time a portion
of the farmers joined with them. But the Free
Oceanists would not hear of any interference with
the Free Ocean. They taunted the farmers with
desiring to create for themselves a monopoly in the
produce of the land, to the prejudice of consumers
and showed that they cared little for what injury
was done to home produce, as the ships of all coun-
tries were bringing foreign produce to the
island.

But there came a time when it was acknow-
ledged generally that the encroachment of the
salt water was a national calamity, and then
it was admitted that effectual measures must be
taken to keep it out, at least during periods
when high tides prevailed. After much discussion
it was agreed to place temporary flood-gates across
all the channels of the island through which the
sea water flowed. Then arose the question as to the
height of the flood-gates. Those who knew how
high previous great tides had risen proved that
the gates should be twenty feet high. But the Free
Oceanists would not hear of such a monstrous in
terference with the freedom of the ocean as this'
and, as the legislators were men of compromise, it
was agreed to make the gates ten feet high, al-
though the wise men of this island pointed out
that such gates would be quite useless, and the ex-
pense of making and taking charge of thena would
go for nothing.

The first high tide that came swept over the low
gates, and deluged the land with salt water, There
was again an outcry, and once more the wise men

said : " You must make your gates twenty fee*,
high if they are to-be of any use." Again the
Free Oceanists were up in arms, and the voices of
the wise men were drowned in clamour. After a
great deal of investigation, the rulers of the island
decided to have gates fifteen feet high placed some
distance up the channels, so as to allow the Free
Ocean to come in, and for a time only a little
water rose above them, and this was kept from
doing much mischief by means of the internal
dykes and reservoirs. But again there came a
period of high tides, and once more the country
was flooded witli salt water.

This time the farmers were united, and they
strongly protested against the destruction of their'
crops, and the waste of the national food supply.
They showed conclusively that the destruc--
tion of crops- by salt water,- and the diminished
cultivation of the laud owing to the fear of it,-
taken together, caused food to be more scarce, in
spite of importation, than it would have been if no-
foreign food had ever been brought into the island.
Still the Free Oceanists were not convinced. In-
deed, they could not be convinced, as they rarely
listened to argument, but strove to drown reason-
able speech, with shouts of " Free Ocean*! "

A committee of the rulers of the island sat to
consider what should be done, and the evidence in
favour of twenty-feet flood-gates was soconclusive
that a large majority recommended a fresh and
more stringent Flood-gate Act. The great pre-
ponderance of the evidence brought before them
was in favour of the erection of twenty-feet flood-
gates at the mouth of every channel into the
island. This, they said, would be too extreme a
measure, and one that the Free Oceanists would'
never allow to pass. So they advised that some
flood-gates should be made twenty feet high, and
placed at the mouths of certain channels, and that
other gates should be only fifteen feet high, and
placed in the channels some distance inland. Now
the wise men of the island had shown that neither
fifteen-feet gates nor inland gates were completely
effectual ; but they were not listened to, so fearful
were the legislators of appearing to show a lack of
reverence to the Free Ocean, which had been mads
into a fetich since the death of its chief prophet^
and was worshipped by the people. Herein was
shown how true it is that " the letter killeth,'r
for the people began to reverence the Free Ocean
for itself instead of for what it brought to them,
and to make it their lord instead of their servant.
Under the influence of this blind superstition were-
the people still labouring when the last intelligenc
from the island was obtained.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1-9S

THE CORK BUTTER MARKET.

The following article has been sent to us. It relates to a
matter of considerable importance, exposing as it Joes a
System of trade tyranny and protection perfectly .astonishing
In the present age : —

There are a number of old Acts of Parliament relating to
the Cork butter trade, from the 4th Anne to 40 Geo. 8,c. 100
(Irish Parliament), which last Act practically superseded the
others. It appoints a weigh-mas'er, aud gives very minute
regulations for weighing, branding, &c, butter and casks ;
directs how the butter is to be packed ; and authorises all
butter not brought to the weigh-house to be seized, with heavy
penalties, for non-compliance with its regulations. 63 Geo. 5,
c. 70, a private Act, makes tbe previous Act perpetual, and
adds more regulations. 3 Gee. 4, c. 185, a local Act, adds still
more stringent regulations as to the size of casks, and how the
butter is to be packed and dealt with. Then came a change : —
9 Geo. 4, c. 88, repeals many of the sections of 40 G<so. 3, c.
100, as to casks, etc. ; and 10 Geo. 4, c. 41, repeals all pre-
vious Acts, so far as obligatory enactments are concerned, but
gives a power of voluntarily acting under the regulations of the
previous Acts to any one who likes to do so.

The substance of the foregoing is, that the early Acts had
established a compulsory system, regulating how butter was to
be packed, inspected, and weighed. 10 Geo. 4, [c. 41, meant
to repeal the compulsory part of the system, but so far to pre-
serve the system, as that any maker ef butter who thought it
advantageous might get his butter inspected and branded as
to its quality and weight. The Act, however, was unluck'ly
worded, and, in fact, it was held that any one voluntarily acting
under the system must do so in its entirety, and conform to all
the minute regulations of the old Acts, as kT size of casks and
every other particular, it was the number of these minute
regulations that was a chief cause of the repeal of the compul-
sory powers of the old Acta, and plainly, no one would volun-
tarily undertake the same burden again. Then the Committee
of Merchants, as it was called, i.e., butter merchants, who had
managed the compulsory system under the old Acts, formed
rules of their own, leaving producers practically no choice
but either to accept their rules or act voluntarily under 10
Geo. 4, c. 41, with all the previous restrictions, which were
worse than the new system. Thus the present system gtew up
of which we complain.

The market stands partly on the site of the old Corporation
weigh-house (we believe the Corporation still holds the lease)
partly on adjoining land taken by the Committee of Merchants
or some one on their behalf ; but it is believed all buildings,
&c., were paid for out of the fees and tolls levied on the pro-
ducers. It was and is wholly in their hands — ie., the hands
ot the buyers, and is managed accordingly, so as to give them
a safe profit and an advantage in every small detail, and strictly
to limit competition. No one is allowed to buy in the market
who does not promise in writing to conform to the rules ; but
the rules have never been published, nor, so far as is known,
are they even in existence in a collected form. Some, of
course, are known, and the original rules are known, but the
whole body of them exists only in the minute book of the Com-
mittee, among its ordinary business, and new rules are occasion-
ally made. Yet the Committee have power to expel and fine
traders for breaking the rules. No one is allowed to buy in the

market except a trader who has signed the rules. A producer cin„
not send in lm'ter to the market, haveits weight and quality
branded, and export or expose it for sale afterwards, if lie does
not like the price. A trader may not sell either within or
outside the market in Cork to another trader who has not signed
the rules, and a regular staff of men is kept at the quays to
watch wh ) is exporting butter, and report if it is done by a mer-
chant who has not signed the rules.

The traders in the market are divided into two classes
calied " butler buyers "and export merchants. The "butter
buyers" are supposed to act as brokers for the farmers; but
as they buy from farmers in the first instance all the butter
that goes iuto the market, it i» plain they are not disinterested,
or in the true position of brokers at all. Some butter buyers
export en their own account. It is a common practice for
the buyers, at certain seasons of the year, to overbold the
butter, and speculate for a rise thereon. Both classes, butter
buyers and expirters, meet every morning, and between them
fix the prices of each quality of butter fur the day, the pro-
ducers being allowed no voice. All sales must be at those
prices, but a deduction is besides made from the producer of
3s. per cwt., which is divided between the butter buyer and the
export merchant. This is only 3 per cent, on first quality at
100s., but it is 6 per cent, on sixth quality at 50s. Thus the
trader's profit is more on bad quality than on good, and he
has no motive to urge the farmer to improve his quality, or
to obtain the highest available prices for the butter consigned
to him Every other regulation of the market is contrived in
the same way to give a certain profit to the buyer. There is
a regular system of buyers lending money to farmers who have
dairies. The money is very freely lent, much more freely than
banks lend, because the butter buyer is, in fact, himself pay
master. If the farmer wished to wrong him he could hardly
do it. He sees at once if the week's butter does not come iD
and can take steps accordingly.

The market is thus wholly under the control of the buyers.
The officers of it are their servants, appointed by them, and
obliged to follow their orders. They pay them, and fine them
and dismiss them, and pension them at their pleasure, and all
salaries being paid out of the fees charged, amouuting to many
thousands a year. This is the case, too, as to the inspectors.
There is a general impression amongst farmers that the
standard of quality is often regulated according to the direc-
tions the inspectors receive from their masters, the buyers, to
be strict or easy. It is certain that equally good butter gets
quite different qualities, one year from another, and even at
different times of the same year ; and as by the system of
fixing prices the buyers are able to vary the relative prices of
the different qualities also, it is plain how all sorts of
manoeuvres can be carried on which it is very hard to detect ;
e.g., the usual prices of second quality are from 10s. to 15s.
per cwt. below first, and often more ; but a few years ago
seconds were, on some days, the same price as firsts, and
seldom more than 4s. per cwt. less. This year, however
seconds have been from 12s. to 16s. per cwt. below firsts, and
sometimes more.

There is generally a rise in the price of butter of 20s. per
cwt. between summer and winter, and one great source of profit
to Cork dealers is buying cheap in summer and autumn, and

l9fi

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

holding till winter. But it is only heavily salted butter that
will so keep. It is inspected when bought, and the quality
branded, and when it is exported out of the store six months
after, is sent as being of the same qu llity, though necessarily
much deterioated by keeping ; so that, if then inspected, their
own inspectors could not help giving it a much lower quality.
This, of course, brings the brand into utter disrepute.

Formerly Cork butter went to many foreign markets , and
the brand was perhaps of some use in that trade. Now
nearly every one of these markets is lost, and England is
almost the only market, and the brand is comparatively use-
less. The foreign butter has nearly driven Cork heavily-
salted butter out of the London market within the last few
years.

The great evils of the whole system are : — 1. The competi-
tion in the Cork market, the largest in Ireland, is not open to
the public. 2. The Cork dealers have, by their own plan of
deductions, a safe profit from quantity aloue, so that their
motive to exertion in improving the trade and the quality of
the bu'teris weakened. It can at once be s^en that the profit
on near 500,009 firkins a year, at 3s. per cwt., amounts to a
large sum divided amongst 60 or 70 dealers, and this is only
one of their sources of profit. 3. The great effort of the
dealers is to keep the trade in the old groove, encouraging
this heavily-salted butter, which only they can store till
winter. They thus get extra profit by working their system
of fixing prices, keeping them as low as they can in summer
and autumn, when they are buying, and as high as possible in
winter, when they are selling, and when farmers have very
little butter to send in. The Cork butter market is so impor-
tant that a rise or fall of prices in it will affect the prices of
the kingdom.

Formerly Cork butter was in the highest repute of any
made in Ireland. Now other open markets take the lead%
Yet it is believed the best butters, from the light soils of this
county, in consequence of the constant damp, mild climate
causing a fresh spring grass, are equal to any in the world
The system of the market spoils them by inducing high salt-
ing, so that they do not bring their true value. In 1859 the
Cork butter dealers promoted a private Bill to legalise their
Bystem. It was opposed by the County of Cork Agricultural
Society, who claimed that the producers of butter should name
half the governing body. The committee of the House of
Commons decided accordingly ; the dealers then at once with-
drew their Bill. There have been several actions of late
years tried against the market, in hopes of opening it. In
every single case the jury has disagreed, and there has been no
verdict. The juries have agreed upon the first issue, viz.,
that it is a public market, but not a step further. There is
no doubt the Act of 1829, 10 Geo. 4>, c. 41 (which was one of
Mr. Huskisson's Acts), meant to allow any one to send his.
butter to the market, have it weighed, the quality inspected
and branded, and then leave him to sell it as he pleased,
making it an open market, like all others. If the right of using
the market by both buyers and sellers freely could be enforced
bona fide it would break up the present system. Our object
is simply to get a free and open market, without restrictions,
and with fair competition. The trade in butter is probably
the most important in the South of Ireland. There is no
reason whatever why the trade should not be as free as the
trade in corn or in cattle. But the system of the Cork butter
market is caused by the greater power of combination which a
number of traders living in the same town, and with like

interests, have over producers, who are mostly small farmers
scattered about the country districts.

There cannot be a clearer proof of the outcome of the
system than the fact that in December, 1877, butter of good
quality was selling in the local markets, which supply the
Cork market, at lOd. per lb., whilst as good butter could not
be booght retail in London and other English markets nnder
20d. per lb. The evils are just such as in theory would be
looked for from such a system, which counteracts all the re-
cognised principles of free-trade, lhere are besides other
evils arising from the practice of the traders lending money
to the farmers, which are very injurious and wrong in principle,
and bad in results. The whole is probably the most curious
survival of a byegone system such as formerly was common
in many trades that can be found in the kingdom. At the
present moment great efforts are being made in all the dairy
countries of the North of E irope to improve the
quality of their butter, and with good success. It is believed
that by opening the Cork market, and putting it on a sound
system, competition would be increased, which would improve
the quality of much of the butter made in this county, and in
every respect tend to the good of the farmers and the country,
as well as yield a much higher price to producers.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN " TERRITORY."— The squatters
have their eyes on the territory along the telegraph line from
Adelaide to Port Darwin. It is reported that Dr. Browne has
taken up over 2,000 square miles of land at Newcastle Waters,
1,500 miles from Adelaide ; and about 6,500 square miles on
the Katherine and Fitzmaarice Rivers, 1,770 miles distant,
for pastoral purposes. A party starts short'y to take charge.
They take 7,500 sheep, 2,200 cattle, 80 horses, and twelve
months' provisions. The Newcastle country is to be first
settled, and more cattle from Queensland and sheep from
South Australia will be obtained for the Katherine and
Flfzmaurice Rivers. It is also intended to establish a horse
station, to breed horses for India, and eventually to combine
agricultural with pastoral pursuits, and if necessary to import
labour from the Madras coast. From Port Darwin comes news
that Mr. Sergison and party have returned. They report
having discovered splendid country on the Daly, Fitzmaurice,
and Victoria Rivers. The climate is stated to be cool, and
there are running creeks in all directions. — Sydney Morning
Herald.

ANECDOTE OF VICTOR EMMANUEL.— Speaking of
the late king, I may quote an interesting anecdote. His
Majesty was very fond of shooting, and on these occasions pre-
ferred preserving his incognito, going about with his gun over
his shoulder, with his dog as his only companion. One day,
in the Savoyian Alps, a peasant, who had seen a master shot
of his Majesty, went up to him and asked if he would shoot a
marten which had done much mischief among the chickens of
the peasants. Of course the peasant had no idea of the rank
of the sportsman, and promised to pay him two small silver
coins if the order were punctually executed. Before daybreak
next morning the king was on the peasant's land, and had soon
killed the marten. The countryman paid the price agreed
upon, and asked him who he was. " This," said Victor Emma-
nuel, " is the first money I have ever honestly earned, my son ;
I am thy king." — May/air.

1I3E FABMEK:S MACAZ1NE.

197

DISEASED MEAT.

There should be no difficulty ia determining whether ot not
the fl^sli oi animals which have been the subjects of disease
is injurious toother animals when partaken of as food.
Reasoning on the point is practically a waste of time, however
ingenious it may be ; and whenever the circumstances are op-
posed toon experimental investigation the question must be
Bettled arbitrarily or it niu t be left undecided. Direct ex-
periments cannot as a matter of course be conducted in re-
ference to the effects of diseased meat on the human consti-
tution. Prejudice is so strong among men that very few of
those to whom meat is a luxury rarely enjoyed would consent
to subsist on the flesh of diseased animals ; and if they did,
the experiment would be vitiated by the disturbing influence
of sentiment. Indeed, if two sets of experiments were to be
tried, in oue of which a certain number of individuals were to
be fed on diseased meat which they were led to believe wae
quite healthy, and another set on healthy fesh which they
believed to be from diseased animals, we should expect to see
the most distinct indications of the food disagreeing with the
latter. The traveller in China who partook freely of a dish
which he took to be representel by " quack, quack," suddenly
retired from the feast when the attendant described it as
" bow wow." Something of this sort would happen if all
the diseased meat which is now sold and eaten apparently
with impunity were to figure on our table3 as pleuro-pneu-
monia beef, foot-and-mouth disease mutton, or typhoid pork ;
but set these before the guests without any comment, and as
far as can be seen no harm results from their consumption,
always presuming that the meat is what a meat-inspector
would describe as of good quality ; and most certainly the
flesh of diseased animals may be thus described in the ma-
jority of cases.

Mr. Simon some years ago stated his opinion that the flesh
of animals in the febrile state is unit for food, and it must be
admitted that this is the correct view for scientific men to
adopt. Iu the absence of satisfactory evidence of the effects
of the flesh of diseased animals on human beings any positive
statement must be based on the general principle that the
healthy sustenance of the body demands healthy pabulum,
which clearly cannot be furnished by diseased animals.

With the question of how much impurity in food is consis
tent with the maintenance of an ordinary state of health the
scientific adviser is not concerned, and in answer to the inquiry
which is often put to us respecting the fitness for food of the
flesh of animals affected with pleuro-pneumonia, foot-and-
mouth disease, and other affections of a febrile character, we
do not scruple to suggest that the members of the veterinary
profession are bound to oppose the idea that the consumption
of diseased meat is sanctioned by sanitary laws. They are
not called upon to usurp the functions of the meat-inspector,
as we repeatedly contended, but as physiologists and patho-
logists they are pledged to the advocacy of right principles.
They are well aware that the flesh of animals which have
suffered from some forms of disease — anthrax, for example —
is actively poisonous, and they will act consistently if they
decline to sanction the use of diseased meat of any kind under
any circumstances. — Veterinarian.

A VISIT TO A TURKISH BATH.
The writer of a column of Chitchat in the Crewe and
Non'wich Chronicle recently gave the following laughable ex-
periences of a Turkish bath :—

One whose name shall be " Nameless " (and a very nice
name, too) sends me 1he following: — " I went to the Turkish
bath the other day. It wa* iu this wise. I was feeling a
good deal like a bundle of frowzy second-hand clothes, with a
limp, flabby man inside of them- The fact was I had been
up late the night before slogging at the desk and consuming
the miduight gas jet. I did not feel to be worth more than
about three ha'iiorth cf copper, and seriously thought of going
' on tramp.' Not only had I gone to bed late, bat I had
got up earlier than usual. I was fevered, debilitated,
unstrung. Mental and physical fibre were relax»d, and though
the moral fibre still retained sufficient strength to deter me
from Ritively going about to steal anything, it is possible that
my utter laziness was my only safeguard in that direction.
I might have committed suicide, indeed, if it had not been too
much trouble but, a happy thought striking me, I strolled
into the Turkish. You know where it is — by the California.
* Tke Captain,' who looked as comfortable as ever, was ready
for me, and ushered me into the little dressing- room.
Retiring behind the curtains, I soon reappeared clothe! in all
the m-'jesty of the human form divine. The reception
chamber, by the way, is not very Oriental in its character, but
there is a divan round two sides, with clean linen-covered
mattrasses, upon which they put' the remains ' to cool when
they have done with you. The Captain now called me into
his hot shop, and I passed through into the next place, where
he was standiug on the tiles, also in his pristine vigour and
beauty. ' Phew ! Captain, it's rather warm to-day, isn't it ;
what have you got it up to?' 'Oh, it's only 154, sir;
you'll soon get used to it ; would you like a newspaper to read
while you are waiting ? ' Here he put me on a kiud of sofa
with a long reclining back. I said I wonlda't mind, and
though at the same time that I wasn't so much uulike a large
Christmas turkey in the oven. ' Don't get against the wall,
sir ; it's rather hot, So it seemed when I touched the bricks,
so I kept off it, and reclining with my back against the Jclean
towelling on the mattrass, I was soon cooking very comfortably,
and at the same time reading the war news. Presently the
gravy — I mean the perspiration — stood out like dew in little
clear drops, dotted at regular intervals over my skin, and "the
Captain said I was doing very nicely. By that I suppose he
meant I should soon be ready for serving up. Then he went
into the far corner, where there was a long slate slab and a
block, and a complete apparatus of pumps and pipes and taps
and spouts, and while he was adjusting these lie set the shower
going. I felt the heat drop a few degrees instantaneously.
I was enjoying the cooking, too, and after the Captain had
thrown .a little more water on the tiles to cool them a little
for my feet, I walked into the hot closet, which is a little hotter
still, where they finish you off nicely and brown you all round.
I didn't venture to sit down on anything here, and said I
didn't mind standing, if he'd excuse me. I was careful, how-
ever, to step on a mat. The Captain thought I would do now,
He is a famous hand at roasts, and if they didn't have him to
baste Mr. Knott's barou of beef, it was because they didu't
know of him. He now brought me back to the slab, and
invited me to recline on it. The tableau here was something
like those old fashioned prints of the Patriarch Abraham
offering up his son as a saciifice. When he had got me down
he carefully extracted my liver and kidneys, which were sent
upstair* to the man who cleans the cook-house tins, to be
rubbed up with sand and properly scoured out. It was done
very adroitly, aud I didn't notice it. [Moral fibre still

I ;:

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

slightly affected, if I miy judge by the fibs.— C. in ML] He
next peeled off ray skiu much quicker than a slavey would
that of a new potato, and, rolling it up in a little parcel, threw
it into a corner, slipping on a fresh new skiu in the twinkling
of an eye. You see the Captain has studied under Herr Dobler,
and other great wizards, and kuowa hjw to 'palm' you
properly. He now put me under the falls of Niagara for a
moment, just to freshen me up a little, and then, placing
roy feet in warm water and my body cu the slab again
he unscrewed my head, and with a vigorous application
of a flesh brush and lather ad. lib. he polished it off under
his arm in a manner that would have done credit to Tom
Sayers or the Benicia Boy. With a rapid movement of his
dexter hand he screwed on my top-kuot again, sending it
home with a click which was reassuring. Then came
shampooing all down the back and legs. Talk abone
agricultural ' cultivators,' they are not in it alongside that
flesh brush of the Captain's 1 My liver and kidneys replaced,
I had another turn under the taps. Taps hot and taps cold,
taps round and taps flat, little taps and big taps, taps above
and taps below ; in fact, taps of all sorts all round one. In
fact, this part of the baths may be described as hand with
tap-estry. Here the Captain put me in.a fresh spine, n aftereu
he had run me up and down the thermometer sufficiently, he
finished me off with a shower of little pins and needles, which
made me feel as sharp as a steel trap. Then he let me out —
repaired equal to new — into the dressing-room, where I was
to cool off before I should be re idy for use. He just polished
me off with a dry towel, aud then he

Wrapped me up in a nice clane shate
An' laid me out upon the bed,

like the celebrated Mr. Timothy Finnegan, and a very iilegant
corpse I med, so he towld me. I proved, however, like Mr.
Finnegau, to be rather a lively corpse, and when I was
thoroughly cool and could be handled without spoiling, I got
up and pulled my garments on with considerable vigour, while
the Captain chatted with me about the virtues of the batli and
the splendid effects it had in some cases of rheumatisn (though
he said it was poison for rheumatic gout or heart disease), aud
the capital thing it was for the liver and kidneys."

THE JAPANESE RIP VAN WINKLE —The Japanese
have the story of Pup Van Winkle in another form. A young
man fishing in his boat on the ocean was invited by the
goddess of the sea to her home beneath the waves. After
three days he desired to see his old father and mother. On
parting she gave him a golden casket and a key, but begged
him never to open it. At the village where he lived all was
changed, and he could get no trace of his parents until an
aged woman recollected having heard of their names. He
found their graves a hundred years old. Thinking that three
days could not have made such a change, and that he was
under some extraordinary spell, he opened the box. A white
vapour rose, '\nd under its infiu?nce the young man fell to the
ground. His hair turned gray, his form lost its youth, aud in
a few months he died of old age.

It was an Irish pilot who, being asked if he knew the rock
in the harbour, replied wiih confidence: "I do, your honour,
ivery won av them. That's won," he added calmly, as the
ship struck it, filled, and sank.

THE FARM BOY.

Charles Dudley Warner, in his inimitable book, "Being ft
Boy," recently published, says : There are so many bright spots
in the life of a farm boy that I sometimes think I should like
to live life over again ; I should almost be willing to bo a
girl if it were not for the chores. There is a great comfort
to a boy in the amount of work he cau get rid of doing. It
is sometimes astonishing how slow he can go on an errand —
he who leads the school in a race. The world is new and
interesting to him, and there is so much to take his attention
off when he is sent to do anything. Perhaps he couldn't ex-
plain, himself, why, when he is tent to the neighbours after
yeast, he stops to stone the frogs ; he is not exactly cruel, but
he wants to see if he can hit 'em. No othfr living thing can
go so slowly as a boy sent on an errand. His legs seem to be
lead, unless he happeus to espy a woodchuck in an adjoining
lot, when he gives chase like a deer ; and it is a curious fact
about boys, that two will be a great deal slower in doing any-
thing than one, and that the more you have to help on a piece
of work the less is accomplished. Boys have a great po»er of
helping each other to do nothing ; and they are so innocent
about it, aud ungonscions. " I weut as quick as ever I could"
says the boy ; hit father asks him why he did not stay all night,
when he has been absent three hours on a ten minutes errand.
The sarcasm has no effect on the boy. Going after the cows
was a serious thing in my day. I had to climb a hill which
was covered with wild strawberries in the seasou. Could any
boy pass by those ripe berrries P And then, in the fragrant
hill pasture there were beds of wintergreen with red berries,
tufts of columbine, roots of sassafras to be dug, aud dozens of
things good to eat or smell, that I could not resist. It some-
times even lay in my way to cli nb a tree to look for a crow's
nest, or to swing in the top, and to try if I could see the steeple
of the village church. It became very important sometimes
for me to see that steeple, and in the midst of my investiga-
tions the tin horn would blow a great blast from the farmhouse
which would send a cold chill down my back in the hottest
days. I knew what it meant. It had a frightfully impatient
quaver in it, not at all like the sweet note that called us to
dinner from the field. It said, " Wiiy on earth doesn't that
boy come home ; it is almost dark, and the cows aiu't milked P."
And that was the time the cows had to start into a brisk pace
and make up for lost time. I wonder if any boy ever drove
the cows home late who did not say that the cows were at the
farther end of the pasture, and that " Old Br indie " was hidden
in the woods and that he couldn't find her for ever so long J
The brindle cow is the boy's scapegoat many a time. No
other boy knows how to appreciate a holiday as a farm boy
does, and his best ones are of a peculiar kind. Going fishing
is, of course, one sort. The excitement of rigging up the
tackle, digging the bait and the anticipation of great luck — ■
these are pure pleasures, enjoyed because they are rare. Boys
who can go a.fishing any time care little for it. Tramping all
day through bush and brier, fighting flies and mosquitos aud
branches that tangle the lines and snags that break the hook,
and returning home late and hungry with wet feet, and a
string of speckled trout on a willow twig, having the family
crowd out at the kitchen door to look at 'era and say, " Pretty
well done for you, bub ; did you catch that big one yourself ? "
— this is also pure happiness, the like of which the boy will
never have again, not if he comes to be seleot man and deacoi
and to " keep store." — Pacific Rural Press.

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

199

FARMERS' CLUBS.

B 0 T L E V .

A meeting of this Club took place at Pulley, on Mon-
day, January 21st, the President, Mr. W. Warner, in the
chair. The object of the meeting was — "To take into
consideration the Report of the Select Committee of the
House of Commons on the Importation of Foreign
Citth-," and it was introduce 1 by Mr. J. D. Harford.
Mr. Jackson, of Durley, was elected a member of the
Club. The Chairman having briefly introduced the
subject,

Mi-. Harford then said he had great pleasure in comply-
ing w tli a request of the Chairman and some members of the
Club to fill up a gap on the present occasion, aud he felt that
the interests of the Club woald not be sacrificed in ventilat-
ing a m'.tter which he had long been of opinion could not be
too much ventilated. It was a matter fraught with national
in'erest, aud he hoped the members would discuss it in no
part/ or meau sprrit — the interests of the producer as well as
those of the consumer were include I, and therefore it should
he dealt with in an impartial and not a narrow manner. He
would venture to lay before the membsrs a retrospective
glance of the causes which called for the appointment of the
Select Committee of the House of Commons to inquire into
the importation of fireigu animals and infectious diseases,
and which body had arrived at a certain codfi of regulations
in order to prevent so serious a disas'er in the future. He
would first notice the cause that gave rise to the formation of
this Committee, which was, no doubt, the outbreik of cattle
plague iu London in the early part of last year, and in order
to connect the two circumstances he would give a brief
outline of the outbreak. Oa the 17th or 18th of January,
1877, the ship Castor landed at Deptford a small cargo of 38
or 40 beasts, from Hamburg. Here he sbnuhl not omit to
briug to their notice that the disease was quite distinct from
pletiro-pneumonia and foot-and-mouth disease. Well, the
cattle disease, after its first appearance, was h eird of at various
times, and there were several different outbreaks, and in every
single case could that outbreak be traced, not to the infection
from diseased animals, but to what was known as " mediate"
contagion, and wherever the plague was most nfs there was
it found that mediate contagion had been carried in some
shape or the other, in men's clothes, shoes, or anything they
wore. Thus it was spread last year, arid he need not tell thpm
that the outbreaks lasted for some months, anl that the
attention of the Privy Council was rep -ateily called to the
matter. Hitherto the magistrates, corporation', the Metro-
politan Hoard of Works, and the police had been entrusted
with the carrying out of the orders of the Privy Council, re
commended from time to time, and thus left in the hands of
the local authorities, they had beeu, he did not hesitate to say.
most imperfectly and carelessly carried out. A large a
of the cattle d sease from which the country suC red n
attributed to this laxity iu carrying out the regulations. Tiie
Dake of Richmond and others at the Privy Council then de-
ter mined to take the matter out of the hands of thi
authorities, and from that time — from that (lay — they <
trace the stamping out of the disease. In consequence of the

unsatisfactory way in which the regul itions had been carried
out nearly every Chamber of Agriculture in England includ-
ing the Royal and other leading Societies, met and discussed
the que ti in. The result of their deliberations was that they
all j ined together, went to the Dake of Richmond, the Presi-
dent of the Privy Council, and represented the matter to him,
stating their opinion that the process of carrying out the
regulati ras bad failed, lie (Mr. Barf >rd) thought they had
acted wisely, and the result of their action was that a Select
Committee of the House of Commons was appointed to
inquire in*o the matter, and it was an abstract of their de-
liberations and the proposals they made that those around him
had now met to calmly aud dispassionately discuss. It had
been said that it was a question whether the agricultural in-
terest were sufficiently represented on that Committee. How-
ever, he felt otherwise. The chairman was Sir H. S dwyn
Ibbetson. He (Mr, Barford) had read a great deal of the
evidence given before the Committee, and he must say that he
felt that the questions put from the chair evidenced a masterly
dealing with the subject. Colonel Kiugsco'e, again, the
President of the Royal Society for this year, had shown an
excellent knowledge in the matter ; besides whom there Wf rj
Sir R. Knightley, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Torr, brother of the
eminent Shorthorn breeder, and Sir G Jenkinson, the latter,
also, being a most practical man. With these names he might
surely say that every member of that Committee, before the
report was issued, was possessed of sufficiant firmness not to
have sigued it if he had not bpen perfectly satisfied with the
result arrived at after its deliberations. Then, also, was it
interesting to notice the names of those summoned to give
evidence before the Committee aud examined by it. They
were men capable of giving useful and good information.
First among them was Mr. Clare Sewell Read, one of the first
practical agriculturists iu the country. Then there were
Messrs. J. Howard, W. Strattoa, of Wiltshire, J. Wilson, of
Northumberland, J. Prince Shellon, C. Booth, aud the head
of the Government Veterinary Department — Professor
Simonds, besides other eminent meu and three or four
foreigners. These men were all well capab'e of giving evi-
dence to the Committee, and they gave it of a mixed character,
from which different ideas might bs gathered, and from whic' ,
when the whole was weighed and put together, much truth
could be elicited. He would now briefly call the attention of
those present to the conclusions at which the Comniittea arri-
ve). They might be stated as three separate propositions : —
First, the entire cessation of the importation of foreign cattle j;
second, the slaughter of all animals at the port of embarka-
tion ; and, third, the slaughter of all animals at the port of
Jeharka'inn. With regard to the first of these, the question
natnVally arose — Are we able to do without the foreign supply ?
b'or himself, he thought not, and he considered that no one
else would have the temerity to say so. As to the second
proposition, there was much to be said both for and against it.
With regard to beasts coming from German ports, they were
told by official authority that if that system were adopted the
supply would be diverted to Berlin and Paris. Then, as to
the slaughter of animals at the port of dsbarkatiun, he
thought that if the regulations of the Committee were carried

200

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

«nt that the risk of importing diseased cattle would be re-
duced to a minimum without having recourse to the slaughter
of the animals at the place at which they were landed. At
all events, the Committee had come to the conclusion not to
recommend it to Parliament to be enacted for the present.
He might say that Germany had generally given the earnest
information as to the presence of disease in that country, but
the instance above referred to had occttrred in which a cargo
«f beasts was landed in London some hours before any notifi-
cation was received as to their state. Therefore, no depend-
ence could be placed on that system. Russia, with its
■iin nense tracts of swampy country, was the hotbed of the dis-
ea«e, was the oulv ouutry in which it wis indigenous, and it
*was quite right that it should b^ regarded as an infected coun-
try, as was, and ought to be Germany, for Russian animals
would find their way to this country through German
ports. Oil some accouut Belgium should also be included as
some thousands of animals, chiefly sheep, came from that
country.

The CnxiRSAN : That includes dead meat, slaughtered
there ?

Mr. Bakford: Yes. The Speaker then reviewed the
regulations proposed by the Select Committee. He thought
the appointment of officers by the Privy Council to supervise
the actiou of the local authorities would be attended with
advantage. With regard to the slaughter of animals in
premises adjoining those actually infected, he considered such
a course extremely desirable. There were so many ways of
carrying the contatrion that it was necessary that complete
•itolation should be ob'ainod, and it was laid down that a
cirdon enclosing a circle ot* a mile should be drawn. He was
glad to find that no alteration had been made with respect to
compensation allowed for infected animals ordered to be killed
— the amounts remaining at one-half for infected animals, and
full value for non-infected animals. Tiiis would have a
beneficial effect, because it would encourage persons in ttie
else of disease to give uolice of the same, and thereby enable
the authorities to take earlier measures to prevent the spread
of the outbreak. In the absenee of these conditions the
authorities had great difficulties to contend with in the out-
break in 1865 and 1868, when information was oftentimes
withheld. The suggestion for the payment of compensation
-for slaughtered animals fro n the Imperial funds was, he
thought, wise, and he might cite the case of Cheshire, in
1865-66, when the loss of cattle was great, and the demands
on the local ra'es extremely heavy, in support of his opinion.
The proposal that there should be a uniform code of ruies for
England, Ireland, aud Sotlaud was most important, and it
■was rendered necessary bpcause many different regulations had
been carried out by the various local authorities. It was
possible that a farm might extend into two or three counties,
and, if so, the different regulations would bring about much
complication in some places. Tliey would never make satis-
factory progress in the matter till uniform regulations were
established throughout the kingdom. He did not quite see the
reason for deciding, but supposed there were good grounds for
it, that compensation for pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-
mouth disease should be taken out of local funds. Another
important resolve was that no stock exposed in Islington Market
should be allowed to leave London alive. He felt that this
was a poiut that could not too strongly be impressed on the
loeal authorities, as he had no doubt that nine-tenths of the
disease in the country had arisen from animals removed
mid different district* after importation into the London

market. He was much in favour of the removal of all dairy
establishments from the Metropolis, as he felt they were one
of the greatest sources of disease in the country. He came
to this conclusion even after reading the evidence of several
of the witnesses examined by the Committee, because he be-
lieved that some of them were interested in the matter, and
misrepresented circumstances. As to the restrictions, he did
not think it was necessary to impose those laid down for
Great Britain and Ireland on the Chaunel Islands, as evrry
animal landed from the islands was no v examined. As to the
restrictions in cases of pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-mouth
disease, he thought it important that the movements of cattle
so infected should be prohibited, as 'aid down, the former for
28 days and the latter for two minths, and unless owners and
occupiers observed these conditions thoy would not be able to
reduce the amount of those outbreaks to the extent they de-
sired. He had grave donbts as to the dead meat trade as a
commercial success. Evidence was given by men from Lon-
don, Manchester, and from Scotland. It showed that in Man-
chester, from the large influx of American meat, eighteen
depots were established for its sale. There was a considerable
trade done in February, March, April, anl May, and after that
it declined, and one or two of the largest then stopped busi-
ness. It was proved beyond demonstration that the meat to
be disposed of at a profit must fetch 6d. per lb. By far the
larger amount of that imported last year did not fetch 6d.
Therefore he did not think that the speculation would prove
sufficiently remunerative to eventually provide a certain
supply. Last year, in his official capacity, he inspected 6,300
American sheep and 3,600 beasts from ths same country,
landed at Southampton, and out of the 3,600 not 150 suffered
from the voyage. He wou'd not, however, wish to be under-
stood to say that the animals did not lose condition whilst on
hoard ship. Out of a total of 10.C00 animals tiiat had passed
through his hands he had not to reject one. Then, again, he
had passed 6,820 Spanish animals. Of the total of 31,000
animals he passed last year, excepting some poor description
of sheep from the River Plate, not a single animal showed
any signs of disease. Tiiose figures gave a fair inference that
with the restrictions of the Privy Council, the importation of
animals from those countries was not dangerous. With regard
to Russia, Germany, and also B-lgium, it was different, and
Frauce and Denmark were scheduled countries, that was — the
animals imported fiom them were not allowed to land with-
out being slaughtered at ouce. With the proposed re-
strictions he thought the risk of infection from foreign
animals was reduced to the extreme minimum. With these
few remarks he would leave the matter in the hands of the
meeting.

The President said he had received a letter from Mr. W.
C. Spooner, who was unable to be present, but had sent the
following observations upon the topic of discussion : — " In
the report of the Select Committee of the House |of Com-
mons on the questions relating to the importation of cattle
and the prevention of disease there are a few points which
stand out with unusual prominence and are worthy of dis-
cussion. 1st — It is recommended that almost all matter*
relating to the rinderpest itself should be dealt with by the
Privy Council, and that such expenses as the destruction of
affected and suspected cases should be provided by Imperial
scuces, aad also that the amount paid for affected animals
should be as at present one-half the valne, but for others sus-
pected the full value, not exceeding £A0 .each, should be

THE FAKMER'R MAdAZlNE.

201

(il'owed. This appears to be very fair. '2nd. — As regards
pleuro-pueumonia and foot-aud. mouth disease, these are re-
commended to be placed under loc il management regulations
which, in case of outbreak, are very stringen . This i«, cer-
tainly, as i' should be. 3rd. — Importation of live animals is
to be prohibited from certain countries, and it is rather, but
not stroHgly, recommended that all fat auimals should be
slaughtered at the port of debarkation.

[The President : That is not the case is it ?
Mr. Harford : No.]

If this be the case the ruls must be universal, for it will
never do to ins'st on the slaughter of cittle coming from
Spain and Portugal, where there has never been any divas',
and to allow them to come alive from America, an 1 be dis-
tributed throughout the country. ' Silica for the gooss mu»t
be sauce for the gander.' The Committee recommend that long
notice should be given before this port-slaughter is carried
out. If it be done vessels with cattle should be certainty
allowed to discharge at more than one port, which would
relieve, in a measure, the stringency of the rule, and which
may be urged as a new point not taken up or alluded to by
the committee. 4th. — Careful legislation is required as to
the movement of cattle in this country, and particularly the
export from Ireland, which has no doubt been the fertile
source of the perpetuation of the foot-and-mouth disease
throughout England. There are so many anomalies connected
with this disease that after 40 years' experieuce we are s'ill at
fault as to its origin and its fresh outbreak from time to time.
One thing, however, stands out clear — that the less animals
are moved about the less there is of this disease, and, there-
fore, without recurring to the absnrl and ridiculous, and, I
may add, the cruel regulation that used to prevail In aff-cted
districts of not allowing ani nals to be moved from one ft Id
to another, or from ft*'d to shed, it is still necessary to forbid
the movement of cattle from affected farms for a proper length
of time, and it appears equally necessary that store catt'e
coming from Ireland should undergo a quarantine as well as
those coming from abroad. I do not think any exception can
betaken to the proposed greater strinjencyas regards the
movement of cattle in districts affected with pleurc-pneumouia
or with foot-and-mouth disease. Wtiilst the probable inunda-
tion of cattle, alive and dead, from America may seriuusly
interfere with the prospects of future grazing in this
country, the public may, I think, safely dismiss from its mind
any fear of the dearth or dearness of meat to arise from
the prohibition of cattle importation from tainted or 6nspec'.ed
countries."

Mr. Blundell expressed himself gratiied with Mr. Ba' -
ford's treatment of the subject. He felt that up to the
appointment of the Select Committee the matter was in a
complicated state, but he hoped they had now arrived at a
more satisfactory settlement, though it would be necessary to
make further regulations in the fu'ure. The farmers had been
cilled upon to submit to restrictions in order to prevent the
spread of the disease. They did so, and they would be willing
to submit to further restrictions if it were necessary, after,
perhaps, a li" tie grumbling. He had read the evidence given
before the committee, and he thought they should throw asid ''
all party feelings and not deal with the question alone as
affecting farmers, cattle breeders, or cattle dealers. Ho thought
they should adopt all the regulations proposed by the co n-
mit'ee. Mr. Barford had sho+n with extreme clearness how
the disease was propagate 1 when once it 'ud made itself felt
in the country. Were those regulations 8u!hcient, even if the

animals were killed at the port of debarkation, to prevent the
spread of disease? If not, everything tended to show that
thry must have recourse to the dead meat trade. The con-
sumer sail — " Give us meat ;" the fanner said — "Protect u»
agaiust disease." But which was the safest way to prevent
disease? Th.y would reduce this danger to an atom if they
imported nothing but dead meat, and then they would do away
with the wonderfully complicated regulations as to live cattle.
Tney would also do away with the services of the hundreds
aid thousands of men employed in the supervision of cattle,
lie thought, with Mr B irt'ord, that all large towns were the
centres ol di-case ; and also that the whole of England, Ire-
land, and Scotland should be under the same rules, and that
the restrictions should be enforced to prevent animals leaving
thi large markets alive. Whenever the London markets were
closed they were comparatively frre from disease, and it was
just the. same as to animals sent from other large towns. Of
those wh'ch left Elinburgh 58^ per cent., and of those which
left Dublin 54 per cent., were diseased. There should, cer-
tainly, he a cordon around large towns, and then they would be
in a measure free rroiu disease. Statistics showed that in the
last two years the stock of sheep in the country had decrease!
by three millions, and there was a reduction of three-quarters
of a million in the number of cattle. This meant a loss in
value of more than nine millions of pounds sterling. What
was the reason of it ? No doubt many were slaughtered oa
account of the disease, which had a deterrent effect, and men
were afraid to buy cattle. Irrespective of pleuro-pneumcnii
and foot-and-mouth disease, the importation of live cattle di-l
not check the high price of meat, bu\ perhaps, one of the in-
di ect effects of such importation was that the aaima's brought
disease with them, thus retarding what it was hoped they
would alleviate. During the period from 1801 to 1811 the
population was nearly doubled, rising from ten millions to
nineteen millions, and during those years there was a com-
parative immunity from disease, yet the price of meat wa3 in
1801 os. 4d. per stone, and in 1841 it was 4s. per stone. Why
was this? Simply bee use there was no cattle disease, and
farmers were not interfered with, but showed that they were
equal to the cccasion and to any emergency that was likely to
arise. For the consurarr he would say, give him the dead
meat instead of the live meat, and that was his opinion whiht
approving ofthe recommendations of the Committee.

Mr. Stubus was willing to endorse Mr. B'undell's opinion
as to the supply — let it be dead meat rather than alive,

Mr. Withers also supported that opinion, and feared that
it would be impossible to get rid of the disease till only dead
meat was imported.

Mr. Harris differed from M-. Barford as to the desira-
bility of removing a'l dairies from the metropolis. At present
they luid not too much mlk in the couutry, without being
obliged to forward lUrther quantities to London. He thought
it wcu'd be advantageous to iirport dead meat only, which
would do away wi.h disease now existing, and bring meat down.
in price, perhaps to 4d. or 6d. per lb.

Mr. GaTEB said Mr. Barford had so well laid the reconc-
mendatious of the Committee before the meeting that he
would not go over them again. What they had to do was to
make op tlitir minds whether they were right and proper, aud,
if so, kiii port them. The Committee was composed of able
men, and they had taken the evidence of men in dioVrent
positions in society, and well qualified to give useful informa-
tion, both sid^s of the question being fairly represented. Tha
question naturally arose in eousidering the matter — How wa.a

p a

202

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

this disease propagated? Was there a something that might ]
be detected bv the aid of a microscope — 3ome germ which re- !
produced itself when it found congenial soil in which to breed
— a germ which, if destroyed, would be powerless to bring
disease? This would be a great result, if ascertained. A
pretty quarrel might be got up between the agriculturist and
the consumer by those who were endeavouring to show that
the agriculturist wished tc go back to the old protective sys-
tem, if people could be got to believe that such was the far-
mer's object. Such could not be done, however, as it would
prove cf little advantage to any one. The prevention of the im-
portation of foreign stock would not remove the system of free-
trade. They did not mind free-trade, nor did he, as he was
an old free-trader, but they objected to a free-trade in noxious
germs. If they could not get corn imported into this country
without a germ that would destroy the next crop they would
come to the conclusion that it would be better to be without
it. So, uuder like circumstances, would they stop the im-
portation of the ^potato. If it were necessary to import live
animal?, and with each one a live wolf w^re introduced, they
would soon stop such an importation. They must get the
advantages without the drawbacks of the importation of live
animals, but at the sam? Urns there was a sincere desire
not to reintroduce the policy of protection into the country.

Mr. T. Warner thought it would be impossible to stop
disease as long as live cattle were imported, but the danger
might be lessened if the animals were slaughtered at the pirt
of debarkation. Dsad meat could not at all seasons be brought
with advantage, especially in warm weather. Ke thought
that when auimals were disembarked they should undergo a
quarantine, and when moved from a market each beast should
have a ticket attached to it, by which it should be enabled to
be taken only a certain distance in one day. He suggested
this because he felt that much disease was caused by animals
being over-driven. These tickets might be supervised by the
police. He thought the metropolitan dairies might be en-
tirely dene away with, as the grains, &c, could easily be con-
veyed into the country, and the animals would be much better
provided for.

Mr. Bell said, being no farmer, he should not presume to
speak before a purely agricultural meeting but that he felt the
question was one of national importance, and he therefore
ventured to take a little interest in it. It was right for the
committee to decide to exclude cattle from countries where
disease was known to exist and where it was possible for it to
exist. There was an increasing population and a
decreasing emigration, and last year the importation of
food cost the country twelve millions more than in the pre-
ceding yearj; therefore the supply of meat was an important
question. The restrictions imposed had no doubt acted as a
deterrent in the purchase of cattle. It might be a trifle, but
it was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He trusted
that they would not become too dependent ou tbe foreign
supply of meat.

The Chairman said the subject had been well ventila-
ted by the meeting. The previous regulations had not been
'found sufficient to prevent the disease, and therefore it was
sonsidered desirable to have a Select Committee of the House
af Commons to enquire into the matter, and they had taken
into consideration the best means of imposing such regula-
Oaa* with regard to the importation of cattle as would entail

the least chances of disease. They had arrived at certain con-
clusions which h&d been brought before the meeting, and he
liuped that all present would join in signinj a petition in sup-
port of the Committees' recommendations in loto, without any
alteration or objection whatever. The recommendations might
be fairly tried, and, if they did not succeed, then other means
might be resorted to. Mr. Giter had sail that he would
not stop the importation of live meat unless it
brought disease with it, and he agreed with him that
if it did so it would be necessary to "stop it, and have dead
meat instead. He quite agreed that the ruh-s should be uniform
throughout the country, not one rule for one division and
another for a different one. He thought the compensation
laid down would induce owners to give early information o*
cases of outbreak.

Mr. Bariord, in answer to Mr. Gater, said he did not be-
lieve that any animal had been known to recover from the
rinderpest, and then briefly rem irked on the different opinions
expressed by various speakers.

Ou the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Sutton, it
was unanimously agreed to sign the petition in support of the
recommendations of the Committee of the House of Commons,
and the business terminated with a cordial vote of thanks to
Mr. Barford for the able manner in which he had introduced
the interesting discussion.

A. NOTE FOR BEER DRINKERS.— A general impres-
sion prevails that " ignorance is bliss." This mauifestlj de-
pends on the nature of the ignorance and the nature of the
bliss ; for example, it surely cannot be a blissful state to be ac-
quainted with the following preparations that are advertised,
and, we presume, used by town and country brewers :—
" Bavarian bitter, lib. equals 641b. of hops. For adding to
copper, or when racked." " Bisulphite of lime, for the pre-
vention of acetous fermentation of beer." " Double Huraulin
(aroma), for flavouring mild like-pale ales, lib. equal to 321b.
cf hops." " Burton water crystals, especially recommended to
brewers|for rendering ales more preservative, improving attenu-
ation, dropping clearer, paler in colour, more sparkling."
The quotations we have given are from the advertisement
sheet of a well-known and officially published class journal, and
clearly show that ignorance produces at any rate in the beer-
drinker, headache and stomach-ache, rather than the bliss
that poets write of. Now, if we could but restore the brewers
of England to that condition of ignorance when they could only
brew beer with malt and hops, we might fairly regard it as a
case of ignorance being bliss. As it is, however, this age of
science has produced brewers that are chemists and wine mer-
chants that are perfect masters in that mysterious department
of knowledge which is euphemistically called " blending." We
can Bcarcely complain of the danger that has arisen from a
little knowledge ; our trouble has clearly come from our drink
makers knowing too much. — Medical Examiner.

CLOTH FROM FEATHERS.— A new industry is said to
be extending rapidly in Paris: it consists in the manufacture
of a cloth five times lighter and three times warmer than wool
from the feathers of domestic and other birds. The material is
waterproof, and takes dye readily. — Journal or Applied
Sc'unee.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

SUE

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.

The annual general meeting of this Chamber was held
°t Buckingham, on Wednesday, .January 16th. Mr. C.
S. Cantrell, of Datchet, occupied the chair. After the
Report and Balance-sheet had been adopted, the Rev. J.
II. Pretty man read a paper on " Sick.Pauper Relief,"
as follows : —

The great increase of pauperism which has occurred in
England during the last fifteen years renders it imperative to
take measures for obviating its causes, unless we are prepared
to return to the disastrous state of things which existed before
the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 183 A. The
miuds of the wage-receiving part of the population are
deeply infected with the spirit of pauperism. " The Parish "
is looked to for the supply of almost every human want. Re.
lief is used as an instrument for extracting an increase of
wages, and the rates are thus turned into a " strike fund."
Habits of reckless improvidence in the expenditure of wages
are generated by it ; drunkenness and immorality are en-
ceu aged by it ; and the quality of labour is much deteriorated.
Now, in theopinim of many authorities and experts on the
su'-ject, one of the chief causes of this prevalence of pauperism
is the manner in which sick pauper relief has been adminis-
tered. " It will be generally granted," says Mr. Heinsted,
the medic d-officer of the Whitchurch Union, speaking at the
Poor law Conference for the South-Eastern District, held at
Basingstoke, in 1875, " It will be generally granted that in
the majority of instances the first step towards pauperism has
been, and is, the obtaining of medical relief; or, in other
words, applying to the parish doctor, which leads to the fact of
getting the name upon the parish book or medical relief list of
the doctor." Another gentleman, versed in the subject,
pointedly describes sick pauper relief as "the back door of
pauperism." Another gentleman, Mr. W. Portall, of Hamp-
shire, varying the figure of speech, but in the same sense,
observed, at the same Conference, thus : — " I think we all agree
that the first step down the ladder of pauperism is that first
doctor's order of two pounds of mutton."

Probably most of you gentlemen here present are of the
opinion now stated, and could confirm it by your own
observation. A man, we will say, who has hitherto maintained
himself by the wages of work, falls ill ; he has never calculated
upon sickness as one of the adverse contingencies of human
life, against which a mm should make provision for himself ;
he shares "the popular idea that the parish is bound to find a
doctor for the poor ; " hence he Applies to the parish for
medical relief, without respect to wages or family. This is the
first step in the downward path from honest self-dependence
to abject and contented pauperism, and in this, as in other
matters, we know it is but the first step which leads often to
the worst consequences. Having once broken the ties of sel -
respect which would restrain him from throwing himself upo11
his neighbours when he might have taken care of himself'
he feels no difficulty afterwards in resorting to the patish
when, either from circumstances out of his control, or through
his own act, he is out of employment, or when failing
strength in age compels him to leave off work.

Another typical case is that of persons who are not exactlj
sick, but in weak health — not quite up to their work. They
think that a diet of meat and port wiue, or a'e, or brandy,
which they see prescribed for others, would do them good,
and they have recourse directly to the parish doctor. This
gentleman thiuks so too, pronounces them suffering from
weakness or "debility ;" and influenced by a benevolence
exercised at others' expense or (for doctors are not exempt from
the moral weakness or debility of humanity) under pressure of
the applicant's solicitation, or even from a desire to court the
popularity expressed iu the phrase " that good doctor," orders
so much beef or mutton, with or without spirituous liquors, t0
be administered to the patients. Having thus tasted parish
relief in an agreeable form, the " patients " are but too apt to
hunger for it afterwards, and with little or no sense of shame,
to look to the parish for aid or support under any pecuniary
exigency which may befal them from whatever cause. In
such, and in many other cases which will readily occur to
your memory, sick pauper relief contributes to the pauperisa-
tion of wage-earners, and to the increase of pauperism.

I will mention two or three other cases in which this kind
of relief, as now too commonly administered, contributes to
the same effect. You will all admit that the demoralisation of
the wages-earning population leads to their pauperisation. If,
therefore, I show that this sick relief system tends to their
demoralisation, I shall show that it leads to their pauperisation
as well, for a demoralised man of that class is likely some day
or other to be a pauper, if he is not a pauper already.

One way then in which sick poor relief, as at present ad-
ministered, leads to demoralisation is by encouraging a great
amount of fraud. There is no little of what is termed
" malingering," or what at school used to be called "sham-
ming " sickness, in the receipt of sick relief. This relief, for
example, is often continued to be received for a longer or
shorter time after the sickness, the origiual reason for it,
has ceased. In proof of this I will quote an instance given
0y a Poor-law Iuspector, Mr. Sendal, in his report for 1873-4 :
— " The relieving-officer found a man who had been twenty
years in receipt of relief (given iu the first instance oa account
of some bodily infirmity), and who eked out his parish allow-
ance by keeping a mangle, to work which he employed two
grown women." The Inspector adds that " a hint to present
himself at the Board had the immediate effect of severing the
long connection between the parish aud this enterprising
pauper." Another form of fraud to which medical sick
relief, as at present given, leads is mentioned by the same
Inspector in the following words : — " The tickets, which are
convertible into meat, wine, &c, are convertible also (can it be
doubted ?) into other things besides them ; while the only
assurance the relieving-officer can have that the wine and meat,
when procured, are employed, as directed by the doctor, for
the benefit of the patient, is derived from enquiry and obser-
vation, in which he may easily be deceived. In town districts
especially abuses arising from this source are of frequent
occurrence, the week's supply of meat for the sick child or
the grandparent's beef-tea often furnishing the Sunday diuuer
for the hale members of the family." In confirmation of his-
statement Mr. Sendal, whose words I have just quoted, ref*»

20* THE FARMER1

his re dere to the following testimony of a relieving-officer : —
".Nobody knows if the patient gets the meat ordered in case
of s ckneas. Believes t'.iat iu most instances the meat is
cooked for the family, aud states the following case— A
woman, whose husband was djing, received two pounds of
meat for beef tea, ordered by the doctor for the husband. The
relieving-officer happened to visit the house two hours after,
hud found all the meat in the trying-pan." Such are the
rauds which sick relief, as it is at present given, favours and
encourage*, to the great demo;alisation and pauperisation °f
the parties concerned.

In another way this form of relief operates to the demorali-
sation of the wage-earning classes and the poor. It exempts
relatives who are better off from their duty of aidins their
tick kinsfolk, and thus weakens the obligations of the family
tie. We know well that in thousands of cases relatives who
might provide improved diet for persons in a weak condition,
and medical care for the sick, leave all this to be done by the
parish, i.e., at the expense of the ratepayers, and so long as
the parish is willing to take all this upon its shoulJers, the
relatives of ailing or sick persons will contentedly leave it to
be borne by the parish.

Such, then, as I have briefly reminded you, is the operation
of our method of sick relief in promoting pauperism. It is
often the beginning of lite-long habits of dependence on the
parish ; it gives occasion for a great amount of fraud in various
ways ; it weakens the family tie by exempting relatives who
might succour their sick from the discharge of that obvious
duty of kinship. The question now comes — Are there any
remedies in the present state of the law for these ill effects of
sick pauper relief? aud also the question — Is any amendment
of the law desirable in a remedial point of view ? To these
questions I will briefly answer that, as it now stands, much
may be done to improve the administration of sick pauper
relief. As to any amendment of the law ou this point, I
will only suggest that a full and complete discretion might
advantageously be left to Boards of Guardians with regard to
the granting, the mode of granting, the refusal of sick pauper
relief, aud indeed of all kinds of relief. The Guardians, with
the help of their relieving officer, must know more than any
other authority can know of the circumstances, habits, and
characters of applicants who come before them. In Hollaud
according to the " Report on Foreign Poor Law«," the Dis-
trict Board, which answer to our Boards of Guardians, is en-
tirely left to its own unfettered discretion in granting n-lief ;
aud there is much less pauperism there thau here. Are not
our Boards o( Guardians equally fit to be entrusted with a
similar discretion ?

But to come to the more practical matter of possible
amelioration of sick pauper relief, under the law as it stands.
I would suggest — first, a considerably reduction in the granting
of stimulants in the shape of malt liquors, wine, and, above
all, spirits, under medical orders. I hold in my hand a return
of the amount of these liquors distributed in the way of sick
relief during the year ending Michaelmas, 1876, for the coun-
ties of Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, and Rutland. From
this ret-irn it appears that in that year 227,595 pints of malt
liquor, 7,079 pints of wine, and 12,360 pints of spirits were
given as relief to the sick. Now the number of paupers in
this district, sick and in good health, men, women, and chil-
dren included, is 35,424. The proportion of adult sick paupers
who drank all this spirituous liquor must be small. We may
therefore imagine how large a quantity each of them, oa an
■ferngc, must have consumed. It may be presumed that this

S MAGAZINE.

return for the coun'ies in qnes'ion is a fair represen'atiou of
the consumption of spirituous liquors by sick paupers which
goes on in other districts of the same amount of population.
Now, without advocating the principle of total abstinence
either for thoB-; who are iu good or in ill health, one may safely
assert on tlie authority of many medical men of high repute,
and, indeed, on the evidence of common sense, that Buch a
consumption of malt liquors, wine, and, above all, spirits by
persons really or ostensibly sick is excessive, and ought to be
diminished. It certaiuly offers a great temptation to persons
to get themselves placed on the sick list, or to continue unduly
on that list, especially when that temptation is reinforced by
the prospect of the usual ration of" two pounds of mutton."

The next practical suggestion which I would offer to your
consideration is that some further check be placed on the well
nigh arbitrary power of medical-officers to graut orders at the
expense of the heavily-burdened ratepayers. Surely these
orders ought severally to have the express sanction of the
Board before they are carried into effect. The sick list itself
might also advantageously be overhauled occasionally by a
committee of the Board in order to prevent the too frequent
continuance thereupon of persons whose cases no longer
require parish aid iu the form of nourishment and stimu-
lants.

The last suggestion which shall be offered for the better
administration of sick relief is that, except in irremovable cases,
as of serious accident, violent seizure, or infectious
disorder, sick out - relief be, gradually at least,
and as opportunity offers itself, discontinued. In
the House, patients would receive more careful
treatment aud better appliances ; the meat, wine, spirits,
malt liquor, which may be thought necessary for their recovery
would not be intercepted on the way to them ; while the
exclusive offer of the House will often induce relations in
competent circumstances from very shame to come forward
and uudertake the expense of the medical treatment and dieting
of sick persons.

A great improvement in present practice of sick pauper
relief seems on all hands to be admitted as desirable. Such
improvement would not only be for the interests of ratepayers,
but also, and much more, for the benefit of wage-earners, in
teaching them the lesson of a true, self-respecting, and manly
self-dependence, and in strengthening the bonds of family
affection by stimulating relations to help each other in case of
sickness.

I shall conclude with appealing, in support of these views, to
no other authority than that of the Chairman of the Conference
of the Agricultural Labourers' Union, held May, 1377, in
London, who, in his address to the assembled thousands, thus
expressed himself : — " One of the subjects which would come
before the Conference would be the formation of a benefit
society in sickness, and he advised them to support the society,
aud to keep themselves from the operation of the Poor-laws ;
and he poiuted out that a man was as much a pauper when h*
received an order for medicine and medical advice as when he
received pauper food. He urged the labourers to adopt an
honourable system of self-help, and so get rid of Poor-law
relief." [Times, May 16th, 1877-]

It is usual at meetings like this, after reading a paper, to
propose a resolution founded upon it, which may give a hinge
ou which the discussion may turn. With your permission,
then, I would propose the following resolution : — " That in
he opinion of this Chamber sick pauper relief requires amend-
ment, and that its amendment wvmld be promoted by retrench-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

205*

iug the amount of spirituous liquors administered, by a frequent
revision of the list of sick paupers, by the requirement that
medical orders for food and liquors shall be carried out only
when they have received the sanction of the tfoard, excepting
in certain cases of sudden seizure, aud by the gradual but
effective abolition of out-door sick relief, except in- cases of
irremovable sickness."

Tne Chairman said he was very much pleased with th
remarks contained in Ml. Prelty.uan's able paper, it being a
subject in which they were all interested. His oniy regret
was that another engagement compelled him to vacate the
chair to catch an eaily train, and be would therefore not have
an opportunity of hearing the discussion which was sure to
follow. Before leaving he would, however, propose that the
thanks of the Chamber be presented to Mr. Piettyman.

Mr. Fowler said he was sorry their Chairman was ob-
liged to leave, as his practical experience of one of the best
conducted Unions in Eaglaud would have been of great ser-
vice in the discussion.

The Chairman remarked that he cou-ld heartily endorse
all Mr. Prettyman had said, having had frequent opportunities
of testing the truth of his observations while sitting as a
member of the Slough Board. Mr. Cantrell theo retired, and
Mr. Fowler took the Chair.

Mr. Fowler, in seconding the vote of thanks, said it not
unfrequently happened that papers of that description were
too lengthy and oftentimes tedious, but sueh could not be said
of the one in question, their only regret being that the paper
was not longer. He agreed with the rev. reader that the first
step to pauperism was an application for medical relief, in-
variably for a midwife, and although the circumstances and
necessities of the family must have been known for months
no effort on the part of the applicant would appear to have
been made to meet tliese necessities. At the Aylesbury Union
they had come to the conclusion of giving relief by way of
loan. With reference to paupers becoming permanent charges
on the ratepayers, he would mention one case to show the
necessity of extreme caution being exenised in granting out-
relief. A man had become ill six or seven years ago from
spinal disease, and had continued to receive relief not only
for himself, but for his family during that period. The case
was investigated before the Board last week, and the wife
stated to the guardians that her youngest child was only one
year old. That state of things on?ht not to exist, and the
ratepayers were justly beginning to ask themselves why they
should be called upon to rear families in a state of pauperism.
The proper course, he believed, would have been to have
ordered the man into the House, and thus prevented the rate-
payers being saddled with additional burdens. The Boird of
Guardians had been frequently asked to give a money surety
when paupers were admitted to the infirmary, but lately they
had refused to do so, believing that it had a tendency to en-
courage pauperism. A series of resolutions had las' week
been passed at the Aylesbury Board of Guardians on the sub-
ject of out-relief, and amongst them was the loan system,
which he believed would be productive of very great good.
Benefit societies was another source of assistance. He con-
gratulated the labourers on their increased wag-s, and hoped
they would put them to a proper use by becoming members of
benefit societies, and making whatever provision they could
against a rainy day. He could not disguise the fact that a
deal of the poor-rates went towards something which the
poor had nothing to do with. He had noticed that when a
fresh Act of Parliament was passed, and provision wrb re-

quired to be made for some officials, the salaries were invari-
ably ordered to be paid out of the poor-rates, so that the poor
themselves did not receive more than hall, la conclusion, he
thought the basis laid down by Mr. Prettyman was a very-
good one, and he had great pleasure in seconding a cordial
vote of thanks.

The vote was then put and carried unanimously, Mr. Pretty-
man briefly acknowledging it.

Mr. Coai.es said in the Newport Union, of which he was
guardian, they did not grant medical relief for more than h
fortnight at a time, and they found that to to be much better
than going on for an indefinite period. In a few cases, if the
paupers did not get better, they ordered them into the House,
For the last few years their rates had much declined. He
thought the greatest kindness to the sick poor people was to-
order them into the House, where they received better atten-
tion than they could at their own homes. They frequently
did so, and found it answer very well. Their paupers had been-
reduced from 1 in 13 to 1 in 30.

Mr. Griffin said he had one remark to make with refer-
ence to giving paupers medical orders. It appeared to him,,
from his knowledge of the labouring classes, that they
thought they had a right to have a inedicul order even if
their little finger achtd. Every medical order should ba
revised by the Board, and in the majority of cases they ought
to be consulted before they are given. They could rot be-
too careful in granting medical relief, as amongst a certaiu
class there was great improvidence, and even then it ought to
be given by way of loan. He was pleased to hear that the
labourers were forming benefit clubs of their owd, for in Ins
parish there appeared to be a prejudice against them. He
thought the guardians ought to give poor men every facility
for forming such clubs, as they could not encourage them too
much. In the Wycombe Union, when they found an appli-
cant belonged to a club, they assisted him liberally. He con-
cluded by proposing the resolution referred to by Mr. Pretty--
man at the end of his paper.

Mr. Coales said in their Union they always gave Is. extra
to persons belonging to a club.

Mr. Shaksiiait seconded the resolution. He thought that
the granting of medical orders should be left to the discretion,
of the guardians, and the medical-oiticers were best able t»
judge whether spirits of wines were necessary. Where poor
men belonged to a club, he thought Boards of Guardians
ought to encourage them in every possible way. The Board
should also use its discretion in granting out-relief to labourers
sixty years of age and upwards. He made that statement on
the ground that the old labourers had not the same oppor-
tunities of making provision for old age as the labourers
of the present day enjoyed. The men in their employ at tho
present time were earning much higher wages thau they did
jears ago, when the labourers were inadequately paid and'
scarcely able to live.

Mr. Treadwei.l (who entered the room some time after
the business commenced) expressed his regret at not hearing
the paper read, but said he would make a few remarks on the-
resolution. He had been engaged all the morning in trying
to carry out the provisions of the Poor law. With reference
to clubs, he did not quite endorse the observations made on.
them. Clubs were institut <ms supported by people to help
them in time of illness. If they were in a good position they
would not require assistance from the ratepayers. To en-
courage clubs was a very good thing, but he reprobated

20(5

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

supplementing them by relief. If a person had sufficient in-
come from a club he did riot want to he assisted by the rate?.
If, however, a person was destitute, give him the House; and
that would be a means of their joining clubs. lie was not
aware but that sick clubs existed in every district, where, by
the payment of a small sum, they were entitled to its benefits,
and did not require any assistance whatever from the Board of
Guardians. Where orders were made for particular things to
be supplied to a pauper, the guardians called upon the doctor
for a special report with reference to the medical extras. Old
people should have every consideration, as they had not had
the same opportunities of saving as the labourers had now.
Mr. Hemsted truly said that medical relief was the beginning
of pauperism ; and he (Mr. Treadwell) thought there could
be but one opinion on the subject. At the Board of Guard-
ians that day they had struck out a great many names on the
out-relief list without increasing the in-dcor eases. He might
also add, that during the last ten years nearly £4,000 had
been saved to the Aylesbury Union, the greater part having
been effected within the last two years, by a thorough investi-
gation of every case on the books of the Union. They had
taken a leaf out of the Newport Pagnell Guardians' book
a ad found it had answered remarkably well. In conclusion,
h^ cordially approved the resolution, which was then pot and
cirried unanimously.

The Central Chamber petition on Cattle Disease was read
aid laid on the table for signature, and the Clerk was in-
s rutecd to transmit the same to the Home Secretary.

SOUTH DURHAM AND NORTH YORKSHIRE.
On Saturday week the annual dinner of this Chamber
took place at the King's Head, Darlington. The Presi-
dent, Mr. Edmund Pease, M.P. for Darlington, occupied
the chair. After dinner,

Mr. Jos. Whitwell Pease, M.P., read a paper on the
" Meat Supply of Great Britain." He said ; — The nnmber of
cattle in this country (Great Britain) in 1876 was 5,844,141 ;
in 1877, 6,697,933. In forming an estimate of our meat
supply the first question we must ask ourselves is, What is our
annual home-growth of butchers' animals ? The late Sir
Harry Meysey-Thoropson went caiefully into this question in
a paper he contributed to the Royal Agricultural Socisty's
Journal in 1872. Taking the whole country as one large,
self-sustaining farm, he calculated that 25 per cent, of its
entire stock came annually to the butcher. This would give
1,101,035 head for 1876,and 1,424,483 head for 1877. These
he calculated, on well-considered data, would weigh 600 lb. per
head, equal to 7,826,973 cwt. for 1876, and 7,629,552 cwt-
for 1877. The total foreign imports during 1876 were
209,798 head. These, Sir II. Meysey-Thompson calculated,
would average 520 lb. per head, or 1,252,633 cwt. The
foreign imports for 1877 were 204,195 head, giving on the
sime calculation 948,048 cwt. In addition to this we had
from Ireland in 1876, 322,181 fat animals, which, at the
same weight as the foreigners, would give us 1,495,375 cwt.

This gives a home supply from the United cwt.

Kingdom in 1876 of 9,322,348

And a foreign one in live meat 1,252,633

10,574,981
In that year we also received in dead
meat (of which 144,336 cwt. came
from the United States) 172,268

Or atotal supply of 10,749,219

of which 87 percent, were home grown and 13 percent/
foreign. We must not overlook the fact that the dead meat
trade set in with much greater rapidity in 1877. Duting
January, February, and March of that year we received no less
than 477,598 cwt. Of this 363,685 cwt. came from the
Uuited States and 6,025 cwt. from Canada. I formed au
opinion, at the time of our inquiry, that this trade was likely
to be a fluctuating one, from reasons which I shall shortly
touch upon. The detail statistics of 1877 are not yet before
us, but I find that at Liverpool there was landed, during the
first three months of 1877, 198,283 cwt., more than half the
quantity received by this country ; and during the last nine
months only 248,460 cwt. This trade, which began the year
at 66,000 cwt. per month, dropped to 27,500 cwt. per mouth.
In 1876 we only received from non-European countries 2,955
head of cattle, whilst 16,647 head have been landed from
America at Liverpool alone during the last nine months of
1877. The Board of Trade returns of the supply of meat
alive and dead for the year 1877, which are just issued, will,
I think, excite some surprise. We have been constantly
hearing throughout the year of the large and increased quanti-
ties of dead meat from America and other producing districts
arriving in this couutry ; but this comparatively large supply
has not equalled the falling-off in the importation of live stock
for meat. We have, therefore, actually been less dependent
on the foreigner during 1877 than we were during 1876.
The actual figures stand as follows :—

1875. 1876. 1877.

Head. Head. Head.

263,698 271,576 204,195

These, according to Sir H. S. Meysey -Thompson's calcula»
tions, would produce in meat —

1875. 1876. 1877.

cwt. cwt. cwt.

1,224,312 1,260,888 948,048

The dead meat imported during the same periods were —
1875. 1876. 1877.

cwt. cwt. cwt.

35,012 170,711 465,319

or a total supply of foreign meat, alive and dead, of —
1875. 1876. 1877.

cwt. cwt. cwt.

1,259,324 1,431,599 1,413,367

or, in 1877 we received 18,232 cwt. short of the previous
year. At the same time the home supply had gone down
197,421 cwt., or we hud less meat, home and foreign, in 1877
than in 1876 by 215,653 cwt. With regard to the diseases
with which we have pineipally to contend, I think we rhay
summarise them as follows : — By far the most to be dreaded
for its infection and fatality is cattle plague. Whilst there is
some evidence of this disease being iudigenous, it is of so
distant a date that we may now fairly look upon it as a disease
coming to us solely by importation from abroad. We have
dealt with it so strongly and so effectually that I may aver it
is now the least important 'factor in a consideration of the
diseases which prey upon our meat supply. A.nd yit, from
this imported disease it is estimated that—

In 1S65-67 we lost £5,000,000 sterling.
In 1872 „ 5,000

In 1877 „ 22,000

f
the last two items being reducible by one-half for the value o

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Carcases sold, la 1877 herd* containing 1,081' animals were

attacked. Of these —

Died 31

Sickened and wore killed 214

Killed as precaution 835

Not accounted for 1

1,084
The evidence is conclusive that the dairy.sheds of London
and other large towns have frequently proved to be the hiding
plsce of this formidable disease, and that from these sheds it
has often burst out afresh, when the authorities had thought
it " stamped out." Iu the case we investigated, the evidences
of the disease having come from abroad within a recent
ppriod amouuted almost to a matter of demonstration. As
regards pleuro pneumonia, it may be classed as the most in-
sidious of these diseases. Iu 1876 Great Britain slaughtered
4,073 animals, and paid compensation £31,991. But by far
the worst (nemy of the meat supply of Great Britain is that
which is known as foot-and-mouth disease. Constantly at
work, breaking out here and there, not generally fatal in its
immediate action, but constant and widespread iu its effect,
the extent of its damage to the farmer and to the consumer
Js not likely to be so accurately ascertained as is the injury
due to the ravages of the cattle plague and pleuro-pneumonia,
whose deadly effects at once call into action stringent regula-
tions for their arrest. Iu a paper in the Royal Agricultura
Society's Journal, in 1873, Mr. Jenkins, Secretary to the Rjyal
Agricultural Society, stated that, from the passing of the
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, in 1 369, to the end of
1S71, no less than 1,344,025 animals were attacked ; or one -
fTth of our entire stock. I do not believe that the case of
my friend, Mr. Thomas C. Booth, is an exaggerated one. He
stated in his evidence that between 1809 and 1872 he lost
more than half his herd by foot-and-mouth disease ; that this
disease, as he believed, was conveyed to his cattle by animals
travelling along the high roads adjacent to his farm ; that,
out of 17 cows in one field, was produced iu 1872 only one
living calf. Mr. Stratton stated that in Wiltshire, in 1872,
out of 79,350 head in the county, 37,444 had had foot and-
mouth dispase; and in 1875, 24,000 had this complaint.
Multiply Mr. Booth's experience by the farms each of us has
known similarly affected — by the experience of gentlemen
around this table — and then cast an eye over broad England,
and over the 6,000,000 head of stock she possesses, and the
loss in breeding stock, in fat cattle deteriorated, and in store
stock thrown back, if it could be put into pounds, shillings,
and pence, before our eyes, would be an amount so formidable
as to rouse into action both producer and consumer of meat.
I now come to the manner iu which diseasK is imported from
abroad. As regards cattle plague, we only know it as a foreign
disease, and that it has come to us through Germany and
Belgium, from Russia, its great hotbed. By a return moved
for by Mr. Elliot it appears that in the three years ending
31st March, 1877, 13,380 cargoes of animals were landed in
Great Britain. Of these cargoes,
1 cargo had cattle plague.
13 cargoes had pleuro-pneumonia.
1,381 cargoes had foot-and-mouth disease.

1,395, or nearly 11 per cent., = 1 in 9 of all the cargoes
received during these three years, couveyed
disease.

Professor Brown says that in 1875 and lt>76 about 30,00
animals affected with foot-and mouth disease were lauded at
various ports. Still, he says, in 1870 it was common to hear
the remark, " foot-aud-uioutii disease has left us. There are
no cases in this country." How he reconciles tliis with the
report of his ov\u Department, to which I have already alluded,
I cannot imagine, lie also says : — <■" The introduction of dis-
ease into the country is, therefore irregular and occasional."
The fact is that it entire y depends on the vigilance, or other-
wise, of inspectors at the ports, astute of things which cannot be
satisfactory to the producer or consumer of animal food. As to
the transmission of disease at home, there is ample evidence
ot the same character as Mr. Booth's — that cattle travelling
convey it from farm to farm as they pass along. In 1862 ifc
spread through the country from the Breton cattle at the
Royal Agricultural Show at Battersea. In fact, we all know
too well how easily the infection is spread. I dot come to
the more practical part of my subject, the evidence in favour
of a plan for arresting these diseases at home. I think the
evidence of Count Danneskiold Sarasoe, who represented the
Agricultural Society of Denmark, proves satisfactorily that
internal regulations will, if properly applied, stamp out these
diseases. They have had no cattle plague in Denmark since
1772 ; in the Duchy of Holstein since 1S13 and 1814. They
have had no pleuro-pneumonia since 1861 — "none of late
years,' — one instance in 1848, one in 1881, confined iu each
case to one farm. As regards foot-and-mouth disease: —

In 1S72, 19 cases on 4 farms with 60 head of cattle.

„ 1873, 4 „ 1 80

„ 1874, 8 „ 2 „ 40

„ 1S75, 130 „ 13 „ 117

Iu 1875 they made the laws on foot-and-mouth disease assimi-
late to those on cattle plague and pleuro-pnemonia, and iu
1876 they had but one case of foot aud-mouth disease on one
farm. Here we have a most instructive instance of the benefit
arising from strict internal regulations. Whenever any of
these three diseases break out, the place or district is localised ;
no communication with it is allowed ; each place is under
police surveillance. The result is freedom from disease. No
cattle are allowed to come in from Germauy, no cattle-truck
is allowed to return from Germauy. Barrels, boxes, packing-
cases containing straw and hay are prohibited, unless the
merchant agrees to burn the contents. Horned cuttle, sheep,
goats, undressed parts, such as hides and skins, wool and hair
not smoked, and tallow not melted, are all prohibited articles
from Germany or other countries. Professor Brown endorses
the views held by Mr. B)Oth and others that similar regula-
tions at home would reduce these diseases to a minimum ; and
whenever a district has been under the cattle plague regulations
we have the fact that foot-and-mouth disease has almost dis-
appeared. Consequently, both our own experience and that
of Denmark is conclusive on the point that proper home
regulations would keep our herds almost clear of these dis-
eases. Such regulations might produce some inconvenience at
first, but I think it is beyond doubt that the result would soon
be one of great general benefit. Having come, therefore, to
the conclusion that it is possible to keep our herds almost
free from these diseases by home regulations, my next head is
a very important one, viz., the manner in which disease can
be kept out from abroad. I have already indicated how for
midable is the risk we ruu from imported disease. But, as our
great object is a cheap supply, it is obvious that in regulating
the import trade wc must have the maximum of safety with

203

the minimum of regulation

THE FAiaiEK'S MAGAZ1KE.

. Sir Henry Selwin Ibbetson, in
his dralt report, suggested : — That in respect of foot-aud-moufh
disease and pleuro-pneumonia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark,
Spain, Portugal, and America should only be placed on the
list of scheduled countries on the breaking out in any of them
of contagious disease. But the committee reported, by a
considerable majority, not only in favour of the prohibition of
ail animals from Russia, and of cattle from Germany (except
Schleswi^-Holsteiu) and Belgium (as suggested by Sir H. S.
Ibbetson), but they also advised that other auimals thin cattle
from Germany and Belgium, and all animals from the rest of
Europe, should be slaughtered at the port of debarkation. An
exception was made for store cattle— which should remain 14
days in quarantine and then be two months under inspection
—a regulation which almost amounts to prohibition. This
appears to me to be the reverse of my proposition — it is the
maximum of regulation, and it is not required by the safety of
the home stock. The countries supplying us may be fairly
c'assed into — the dangerous, the semi-dangerous, the safe.
Germany, Russia, and Belgium are admittedly dangerous ; we
cut them off at once by entire prohibition as regards cattle—
by this we lose about 26,000 head of supply. The total of
those countries for 187(5 was 77,000 head, but the largest pro-
portion of this number came from German Schleswig-Hol-
stein. Of the 26,000 we cut off there were in 1876 no less
than 3,828 diseased animals. This operation is a necessity, as
here we have a minimum of supply with a maximum of danger.
The semi-dangerous countries are those where regulations
such as I have described as existing in Denmark are not in
existence, or not enforced, and from whence pleuro-pneumonia
and foot and-mouth disease may be feared. It is not a safe
tiling to continue to run the risk of cargoes coming in in a
diseased condition ; let these animals be slaughtered on arrival.
As regards the safe countries (so long as they are safe) I see
no reason why we should do more than be vigilant abroad and
closely inspect at home. Count Sarasoe's evidence is am »ly
borne out by the fact that in 1876, out of 57,914 Danish
animals arriving, not one case of disease was found. At New-
castle, out of 101,305 from Denmark, and 5,566 f. om Schles wig-
Holstein, 1875, 1876, 1877, there was not one diseased
animal. Out of 21,000 from Spain only 14 cases of disease.
In 388 animals from America not one case of disease. It,
therefore, appears to me that, so long as these countries show
such clean bills, we have nothing to gain, but all to lose, by
making regulations which may be, an I will be, attended with
inconvenience to the consumers, and really afford no protection
to the producer. I now come to the meat supply of the
United Kingdom. I- is quite plain that the quantity required ,
even at the present market prices, is an increasing quantity.
The numbers of heads of cattle exhibited for sale in the under-
mentioned places — comparing 1866 and 1876 — shows this
most plainly. Exhibited for sale in —

1866.

Edinburgh 18,494

Glasgow 48,294

Liverpool 112,980

Newcastle 45,109

Manchester 100,610

1876.

39,2§4

73,717

126,074

103,794

167,846

325,587 510,695

An increase of 57 per cent, in 10 years in these five towns.
But, with this increase of consumption, the last returns be-
ore n? »how « decrease in our home stocki. It is to bo par-

icularly noticed that our stock has gone down belween 18fi
na 1876 by 279,000 head ; and between 1874 and 1877 by
427,558 head, or by an amount far more than equal to our
whole foreigu supply of live meat. No doubt the decrease
may be in part attributable to the laying down larger areas
of land to permanent grass — an operation which the increased
value of labour has much promoted. The permanent pasture
of this country has increased from 12,072,000 acres in 1870
to 13,313,000 acres in 1875, to 13,515,944 in 1876, and
to 13,728,355 in 1877 — the acreage jof cultivated and grass
land in this country being about 31,500,000 acres. It is a
great fallacy to suppose that permanent pasture will carry as
large a stock of cattle as the same area under cultivation.
Still, we cannot look at this fact without realising its gravity.
It is notorious that the price of meat ought to have paid the
farmer for breeding cattle ; but it is obvious that for two
years past our herds have steadily decreased, whilst it is the
common interest of producer and consumer that they should
have increased. The operating causes must be — the fear ol
loss from disease attacking the herd ; hesitation to move
cattle from fear of infection, thu3 limiting the available feed-
ing grounds ; the avoidance of adding strange stock to healthy
herds, from fear of infection ; and the enormous loss occa-
sioned by the outbreak of disease in large herd's. These are
reasoni which, when distributed over a large area, one can-
not doubt, have conduced to the results exhibited in the re-
turns— viz., diminution in breeding animals and consequent
diminution in young stock. I have already endeavoured to
show how small a proportion of our live meat supply comes
from abroad. But if we take my figures of 13 per cent, as
approximately correct, we have a figure of great importance
in determining the price of meat in the market, aud a factor
which, in the consumers' interest, we cannot for a moment de-
sire to curtail. It would be well if the statistics of our meat
supply were definite, and not depeudent, as at present, ou indi-
vidual estimate. Some fault has been found with the recom-
mendations of the Committee on the question of compensation.
Their recommendations were : — In the case of cattle plague
full compensation should be given for all animals slaughtered
on suspicion, and the present rate of compensation (two-thirds
value) for those slaughtered in the complaint, and that this
should be paid from Imperial funds. Incise of pleuro-pneu-
monia that compensation should be given at the same rate as
in the case of those killed for cattle plague, but paid out of
local funds. In the first case the Privy Council would have
power to deal with every case, and also with animals on ad-
joining premises. In the case of pleuro-pneumonia the disease
was less formidable, and consequently less national in its
immediate effects. It would be left under the care of local
authority, and local funds would be used, and local authority
is always supposed to be careful in the use of its funds. The
reason for the payment in full was not so much in order to
compensate the unfortunate owner, but in order to secure the
early knowledge of the existence of such cases. There is little
or no doubt that animals already smitten with cattle plague,
or coming from sheds in which it had broken out, were at once
dispersed and sold, in .order that the owner might obtain
their full value, rather than only two-thirds; and in this way
disease had been spread. It other cases the animals had
been killed and sold, no doubt realising more than their
two-thirds value- It was, therefore, in order to procure
an early discovery of disease, and to prevent the
spread of infection, that the Committee came unanimously to
this recommendation, and I believe the policy is a wi6e one

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

}09

In conclusion, whatever may be the result of slaughtering all,
or only the semi-dangerous portion of, our supply at the port
of debarkation, I believe that the labours of our Committee
will bear good fruit. Our consuming population must look
at this questioa in no narrow light. It must be obvious to
them Iroiu the figures they have before them that the risks
Rtteuding the holding of cattle have had a great tendency to
reduce the numbers raised at home and prepared for the
market. They must be aware that their great supply is not
from abroad ; it is from home. The supply from abroad is
but an auxiliary — a most important auxiliary, no doubt, and
one not to be neglected ; but, so far as this country is con-
cerned, it is handicapped in competition by the Btate of the
markets nearer the source of supply, by iuland transi's to the
coast, and by expensive sea voyages. It is ray humble opinion
that hitherto, in uur haste to bring these auxiliaries into the
field, we have received a very doubtful benefit. We have
feared that any regulations would be a protection (in the sense
of a virtual import duH) in favour of the farmer at the con
(timer's expense — a point on which we are all rightly jealous.
All regulations must not be restrictions on the importation of
cattle, but restrictions on the importation of disease. The
effort to obtain a good meat supply must be in all senses a
united effort. It must be a unitea effort in the sense that
regulatious as to the purity of our foreign supplies must go
haud-iu-hand vtith stringent internal regulations to prevent
the spread and secure the extinction of disease. It must be a
united effort on the part of the consumer and producer to
obtain the largest supply of meat at the lowest possible cost.
The producer must be relieved from much of the risk and loss
of imported and home-grown disease, which have in the pas
formed so lar^e an item in his cost of production. The
receiver will obtain the benefit of a continued supply from
abroad. If it is even a little curtailed by the inconveniences
of regulations, he will, in all probability, be more than repaid
by an increased supply at his own door. The cost will be
held in check by the fact that the dead meat trade will always
thrive at a price. The national wealth will be increased, not
only by the peiple hiviogan article of most necessary diet at
the lowest possible price, but the tendency will be to deduct
a portion from one of those items which at present make the
" balance of exchanges " so much against us, as our money
would be sent for home instead of for foreign supplies. If
the efforts of the Committee of 1877 tend in these directions,
which I venture to believe will be the case, their investiga-
tions will not have been in vain.

Mr. T. C Booth (Northallerton) said he had hardly and
criticisms to offer upon the question with which Mr. Pease
had dealt. However, he did not quite agree with Mr. Pease in
lome of his figures. Of course, in calulating the consumption of
food in this country on the same basis as Sir II. Meysey-Thomp-
son, he (Mr. Booth) had included the whole of the importa-
tions of animals from Ireland ; while Mr. Pease had only taken
the fat stock. But the whole of the importations of stock
from Ireland in the course of a year goes into consumption,
they were not kept here for breeding purposes. He made out
that in the year 1876, instead of the number of animals from
Ireland amounting to 322,181, as Mr. Pease biought out, the
number was 606,000; and that, according to Mr. Phase's
calculations, rather exceeded the quantity of the total supply
of meat during 1876 as compared with the previous year. He
(Mr. Booth) took it in the following way. Taking the consump-
tion of England, Scotland, and Ireland as one-fourth of the

9,731,000, it gave 2,433,000 ; and taking the average weight of
these upon the basis of Sir H.Meyiey-Thompeon'a calculation
at 41 stones for each fat beast, and taking his own calculation
of 8s. 3d. a stone or about 7d. per lb., which he believed to be
the averai$e price, the total value of the food cousu nptio i in
the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud Ireland amouut'-d
to £44,000,0J0. Tiie hupjrts from foreign countries in 1577
amounted to 201,000 head, and taking the same basis — hat
was 6201b. per animal or close upon 37 stoues of 8<. 3j. per
stone, that amouuted to £3,311,000, or not quite 7» per cent,
of the whole production of this couutry. At the same time,
the declared value for imported beet increased from £462,917
in 1876 to £1,266,280 in 1877, or more than two-fifths of the
value of the livestock. He thout(ht also they ought to take
into consideration the immense increase that had been going
on in imports during the present ye ir. In the first fortnight
for this >ear we have hid 16,000 quarters of beef landed at
Liverpool, representing 4,000 head of stock from America
alone. If that supply went on at the same rate we would see
in the preseut year an immense excess over anything we have
ever had before. Now, taking one-lourth of the cattle of Eng-
land—on Mr. Pease's calculation 1,425,000 — aud to that add
666,000 which come from Ireland, we have a total supply of
2,091,000. Taking the consumption of England and Scotland
alone, and putting these at the same value as before, we read a
total of £38,000,000, and taking the imports at £3,111,000, t't
gives a tnfie over 8 per cent, of imports of live foreign stock fi
against the production of home food. Adding the imports to
dead meat we have a total value of imported food of
£1,377,000, or about 10 per cent, of the whole value for the
kingdom. Mr. Pease made it to be 13 per cent., but nov it
would appear that ir, 1876 the total imports from all foreign
countries were 274,585, and the imports in 1877 were only
204,195. Thus there was a falling off of 70,000 head. This
exactly agreed with Mr. Pease's calculation, but it was rather
singular that this falling off was almoit entirely due to the
outbreak of the cattle plague in this country. Tne German
supplies ceased owinj to this cause. It was stated before the
committee by Mr. Gebhardt, and other foreign salesmen, that
if the foreign cattle were stopped there would be a
famine in London during the last autumn. They forgot
that during the time they were giving their evidence these
German cattle were actually prohibited, and still there had
been no outcry of famine. We have seen beef during this
last autumn at a lower price than we have had it for very many
years. This, he thought, was one reason why foreign animals
were not co-ning. Mr. Pease had alluded to the falling off in
the American meat supply, and he (Mr. Booth) thought that
the fact that beef in this country went down something like
2d. a pound was enough to satisfy any man. This reduction
in price was snfiicieut to debar the foreigner from sending, and
he had no doubt it had had a very great influence on supplies
du-ing the autumn. But why had the price of meat gone down P
Why, it was the old story— supply and demand. If there was
too much of a thing in the market — as very many gentlemen
in that neighbourhood had known to their sorrow lately — it
was almost impossible to keep up the price. So it was with
beef. There had been an excessive supply, and down went the
prices. Consequently the foreigner was shut out. He did
not think that any man in the room would suppose for a mo-
ment that the foreigner would not send his animals to the best
market he could find. It was stated the other day by a depu-
tation of foreign salesmen to the Duke of Richmond and Gor-
don—the same gentlemen who gave their evidence before the

il'O

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

committee, namely, Mr. Gebhardt, Mr. Lyons, Mr. Hall, and
others— that the stoppage of this trade was going to ruin the
country. But it was stopped at the time, and they never
thought about it. The fact was th it it was the prices that
would rule the trade. If prices went down the fo-eigner
could not afford to send. But depend upon it no foreign
nation would ever think of giving up produciug beef. They
knew too well that it paid them, and they would seek the best
market. Tiie other day, when in London, Professor Simonds
said to him, " You are diverting the supply ; it is going to
fore;gners." But why was it going to foreigners ? Simply
because there was a better market One point upon which lie
aad' Mr. Pease differed was this— What were they to do with
these foreign cattle when they were landed here ? What he
had been urging as to the question of prices held good with
regard to the stopping at the port of lauding. The foreigner
would still send the cattle to the best market, and what did it
matter whether these animals were slaughtered at one end of
a railway journey or the other, so long as the consumer got
them at a cheap rate ? Why were we to care for the foreigner ?
Newcastle was one of the largest importing towns ot the North
of England, and there they had ample preparation made. He
hid been told by Professor Brown, the very clever veterinary
inspector for the Privy Council, that Newcastle had one'of the
bast appliances for a dead meat market to be found in the ports
of the kingdom. Why should not these cattle on being Ian led
at Newcastle he slaughtered and sent to the different mar-
kets, and thus go to the people in the cheapest form pos-
sible? No argument which he had ever heard by the men
most interested in this trade — these were the meat salesmen
aid butchers— have everii the slightest degree couvinced him
that there was any impossibility in bringing the trade to a
successful issue. One of the gre'.it faults of this trade had
been that we had scheduled certain foreign countries. These
countries never knew whether their c ittle .would be
slaughtered or whether they would be allowed to go free ; but
according to the priuciple which he advocated — that was the
slaughtering of all animals at the port of debarkation— there
would be a regular trade, and wherever that was the case
there would always be a regular demand. Butchers and meat
salesmen would go where they could buy, and animah being
slaughtered.at the port of debarkation would tend to the deli-
very of this foreign meat to the consumers in this country
at a cheaper rate than by having it sent by rail to the diffe-
rent slaughter-houses and private butchers' shops. No one
had raised a great outcry against this except the butchers,
and it was a novel idea for the butcher to become the advocate
of the consumer. He could not help smiling the other day
when he read a report of a large meeting of butchers at Hud-
darsfield. They stated that they numbered 6,000 in York-
shire, and that they were the representatives of so many
millions of consumers. Why, the only thing was that there
was a new trade springing up, and the butchers' profits would
be reduced. The West Riding butchers cried "famine "
about|the German cattle not coming to Hull; but Hull had been
closed for months, and not a foreign animal had been landed
there. Where was the famine ? Why, we had lower prices
than ever we had before. He repeated that it was simply a
question of supply and demand. He wished to impress upon
the Legislature that if they did not carry out the recommenda-
tion of the Committee as to the slaughter of animals at the
port of debarkation they need do nothing whatever as
regards the stoppage of cattle in this country. He was
astonished when he saw that return abuut Newcastle, be-

cause he knew that in 18/6 there were five animals condemned
for foot-and-mouth disease in Newcastle, and these animals
were from Denmark ; and he also knew that last autumn, in
a cargo which came into London from Denmark, two were
found with foot-and-mouth disease, and the cargo was con-
demned. Telegrams were sent to the authorities in Denmark,
and through the whole of the country they could not fiud a
case of foot-and-mouth disease. This sinply showed the/
insecurity of this country. Had these animals been allowed to
go into the country they would have spread the disease; and
he felt most strongly that if the Legislature did not accept
the regulation as to slaughter at the port of debarkation, it
would be no use askiug the meat producers of this country to-
accept the regulations proposed for them. Witness after wit-
ness stated this before the Committee, and it was the feeling of
the country ; and Lord Beaconsfield was aware of it when lie
told the deputation it must be understood that if cattle were
slaughtered at the port of debarkation, the English farmer
must bear without a murmur the restrictions which would he
put npou them. The same feeling of insecurity would per-
meate the whole of the country if live cattle were allowed to
come in, because they would never know when they were
free. He thought it would not be tolerated for a moment
that certain nations should be allowed to send their animals
here unless there was some outbreak of disease in this coun-
try ; and the fact that eighteen out of twenty members of the
Committee, ten representing the largest towns, supported Mr.
Norwood's proposal to slaughter at the port of lauding must
have a great influence in deciding the question. After that he
might say that half the battle was won ; and considering also
that Mr. Elliot's clause, prohibiting entirely all arrivals from
Russia and Germany, and requiring that all animals from the
rest of Europe should be slaughtered at the port of landing,
was carried by 15 to 8, he hoped that that would settle the
question. The dead meat trade in this country was largely
increasing, and he thought the best thing which could happen
to this country would be to have no live stock markets, but
that the whole should be a dead meat trade. He hoped his
remarks would convince his friend Mr. Pease that he
ought to vote in favour of the slaughter of all animals at the
port of debarkation.

An interesting discussion followed, and a vote of thanks
was given to Mr. Pease and to Mr. Booth for their addresses.

EAST SUFFOLK.

The annual meetiug of the East Suffolk Chamber of Agri-
culture was held at Ipswich, on Tuesday, January 22nd
The proceedings commeuced with a public tea. Colonel St.
John Barue, M.P., the President of the Chamber, occupied
the chair-
Mr. C. H. Bekners said he felt that in accepting the office
of President of the Chamber for the ensuing year he placed
himself in a some.-vhat anomalous position. He had been
requested to preside over gentlemen who had been brought up
to agriculture from their youth. He was glad to see present
this evening those whom he knew by reputation and personally
as thorough good farmers ; and he felt the position which he
had accepted in compliance with the request that had been
made to him was an anomalous one, because he himself knew
comparatively nothing about farming. He felt it a very great
honour to be asked to become the President of a Chamber in
one of the most essentially agricultural counties in England,
With rfgard to the matters which were to be brought forward

THE FATIMKK S

In the ensnir^ Session of Parliament the Rev Mr. Hervey had
illuded to - hment of County Fiuaacial Boards,

which was a very important question. No tlet.ii'.s o[ that
measure promised were as yet forthcoming, but he (Mr.
Berners) though! — and in this lie felt he should have the
concurrence of every gentleman present — that it was in every
way desirable that County Financial Boards should be es-
tablished. He said this because he considered it right that
ratepayers, or those who had to pay the money, should be
directly represented, and not because he thought there would be
an actual saving to the ratepayers, because he felt convinced
that the magistrates conducted the affairs of the county with
the greatest possible economy.
The report having been read by Mr. Everett, the secretary
Lord John Hervey moved that the report just read shoull
be received, adopted, and printed. He said he ought, perhaps
to apologise to the Chamber for taking so prominent a posi-
tion as to move the adoption of the report, because, like one
of the preceding speakers, his knowledge of agriculture was
more than limited. Before he came to this meeting one of
his friends said to him, " At all events you have considerable
► nneotion with the land." He (Lord Johu Hervey) could
not help thinking that though his connection with the Iind
was considerable it was slight in its character, lie was not
an owner nor an occupier of land. A connection of some sort
he m'ght have, but it was of archssological character rather
than pecuniary. However, it seemed to him that the report, th°
adoption of which he had just proposed, did not deal so much
with agricultural as it did with political topics. The last
thing he should wish to do at a meeting of this kind, composed
as it was of members of different parties, would be to make a
party political speech. Therefore he trusted that it would be
understood that by any reference he made to the various
topics alluded to in the report he had no party motives what-
ever. He rejoiced that the Government accepted Mr. Clare
Sewell Read's proposal last year and determined to bring in
a measure for the purpose of establishing the representative
principle in County Government. He (Lord John) had
always been one of those who thought, that in dealing with
this question of Local Government, Chambers of Agriculture
had been inclined to attach too much importance to the ques-
tion of Local Taxation and too little importance to the ques-
tion of Local Government. However, he was exceedingly
glad that the Government had determine! to deal with this
question of Local Government, and that they determined to in-
troduce .the representative principle. But that was not the
only thing they had to do, because the state of thines still
remained as described in a valuible report on this subject corn-
piled by Mr. Goschen when president of the Locul G >vern-
ment Board, viz., that Local Government in the counties with
its confusion of area and jurisdiction and offices and rights was
quite in a chaotic state. So lie (Lord John Hervey) thought
the Government in the measure they were about to introduce
would have to turn their attention not only to the introduction
of the representative principle, but would have to bring some
kind of order out of the chaos ac present existing in our local
government. With respect to the representative principle
itself he thought there was l:ke!y to be something of a rub
when .he question came to be discussed in Parliament. The
question probably would be as to whether the representation
of th° ra epayer was to be direct or whether it was to be in-
direct. Everyone hid, of cou r \ a right to hold his own
opiui sonal opinion was strongly in favour,

MAGAZINE.

211

though it had not aiTay* Ven, of direct representation of the
ratepayers. What he lelt about it was that if he were himself
a ratepayer — which he happened not to be and in that reipect
was more fortunate than most gentlemen present — if he were
B ratepayer he should want to have his share in settling what
was to b:> done in respect to matters of local g ivernment 11 ;
fancied that other people of his own class would have the same
feelings. If he were a clergy nan, a lawyer, a professional
man, he should certainly want to have, his share in m in 'gmg
the local affairs of the coantv, and lie therefore wished clergy-
men, lawyers, and professional men should have that share. If
he were a teuant farmer occupying land an I paying rates he
should wish to have his share in m muring 'he local affiirs of
the county, and he therefore wished that tenant farmers
should exercise, that control. And if also he were an agricul-
tural labourer he should wish to be able to take his share in
managing local affairs in which he should have an interest.
Therefore it was his wish that agricultural labourers shoull
also have their share in the management of local affiirs.
With regard to other i easures affecting; the local rate, he
thought the Government uad aeted properly in taking over ti'e
prisons. He considered that the management of prisons was
more of a national than of a local business. He held that
the prisons could be worked, nut only more economically, but
also more efficiently when they were all manage 1 under one
system and one administration. With regard to the contribu-
tions made under the head of the maintenance of luna'ics, he
did not agree with what had been done by the Government.
He, doubted whether these contributions were at all politic ones
to make. He dil not approve of one set of people being able to
dip their hands into money which came, from other people, and
he did not believe it was politic to allow Boards of Guardians
to determine who were to be the lunatics to bs maintained at
the public expense, when the money for maintaining them
came, in great part, from the Imperitl exchequer. He took
great interest in the Bjard of Guardians, and one day in the
summer when in the Shires he attended a meeting of a Board
of Guardians there, and an application was made hv a man to
have his wife treated as a pauper lunatic. The man up to that
time had himself paid for the support o.' his lunat'c wife. But
now that there wa3 the contribution to be given out of the
national Exchequer the Board of Guardians allowed the man
to treat his wife as a pauper lunatic on condi'ion that he repaid
to them the differeac? between the sura which was required for
the cost of he? Maintenance and the sum contributed by the
Government, t was easy to see that if any system of that kind
arose bos') who were taxpayers as well as ratepayers might
suffer.

Mr. BuRC-n seconded the adoption of the report.
The Oit\irma.N said there was a gen'leman amongst them
that evening— Mr. Waller— who had great knowledge on the
subject of cattle disease, and had come especially to say a few
words to them

Mr. Bipdell, as one who knew Mr. Waller and what
he had done, gave him a hearty introduction to the Chamber.
Mr. Waller said the subject of cattle disease, to which
allusion had been made, and abm.t which they lud been kind
enough to say he had some practical experience, he reminded
them was not one of party politics, and never ought to be made
such. The question of catMe disease was not one of class in-
terest, of town against country, or e inntry against town Tl e
con.um rs were as much in - I in the question as the
producers, and any legislate lettlefllent of the question must

212

THE FARMER'S MAGAZfNE.

be made on the basis of national benefit and public good.
His experience of contagious cattle disease was that it was not
spontaneous in its origin, but that it was derived from impor-
tation abroad. In the second place he held that the disease
was controllable, and he would only aRk them to reflect on the
experience of the past year. When the cattle plagui regula-
tions were put in force some few months since, diseases of other
kinds disappeared, and for months he had not known where to
find a single case of foot and mouth disease. This fact showed
that there was a connection between sanitary regulations and
the existence of disease. After alludine to cases of disease in
cattle from America and Portugal. Mr. Waller said he heartily
joined in the c including portion of the report, in which a hope
wasexpressed that thequestion of cattle disease might he satis-
factorily settled this Session. He advised them not to commit
themselves to any expression of opinion until they knew what
the provisions of the Bill were. If the Government — as he had
every rea on to believe they were — -were disoosed to take an
agricultural view of the case, then he should like to strengthen
their hands as much as possible. The honourable aud gallant
gentleman who presided over them knew that there was a
great difference between a Bill w'len it went into Parliament
and when it emerges as an Act, and it would [be their duty to
act as Parliamentary agents in the matter, and endeavour to
get as good a measure as possible, fairly protecting owners of
stock in the country from preventible diseases, and freeing their
heme trade from the exeessive restrictions to which it had
hitherto been subjected.

Air. Everett said he had received a petition from the Cen-
tral Chamber on the subject of cattle disease, and he asked
Mr. Waller whether he thought it would be advisable to join
in the prayer of this petition or wait until thsy were acquainted
with the provision of the new Bill.

Mr. Waller said he would rerai'id the meeting that there
was some misunderstanding as to what were the recommenda-
tions of the Committee. It seemed that there was some
incongruity between the summary of the recommendations, and
the paragraphs which appeared in the report. What the Com-
mittee intended was that the entire report should be taken, aud
not that parts should be picked out. It was necessary that
they should go to Parliament a united party, and if they com-
mitted themselves prematurely they could not do this. He,
therefore, thought that they had better wait until they had
made themselves acquainted with the provisions of the Act
before they joined in the petition.

Mr. BirtDELL said he believed that when the petition
came before the Central Chamber to approve there was a large
attendance of members, and as they all knew at a large meeting
there was no chance of a thing of this kind being gone through
properly.

Mr. Everett said he should like to ask Mr. Waller
what was the proportion of imported cattle to the home
supply.

The Chairman asked Mr. Waller what his opinion was
with regard to the slaughter of cattle at the port of embarka-
tion.

Mr. Waller said he had not been favoured with the name
of the disease. He merely repeated the opinion of scientific
man when he said that the disease was imported. Scientific
men denied in loto the doctrine of spontaneous disease. He
knew that the idea was prevalent in many quarters that it was
spontaneous, but they never heard of the spontaneous repro-
duction of rabies for instance. He had had the small-pox, but

he did not believe it came down from the clouds, or spruni tip
from the ground. He believed he must have caught it. They
had evidence before the Parliamentary Committees on this
point. Where the disease was epidemic, and existed on all
sides, then cases occur where it seemed impossible to trace
any connection. The first case of foot and mouth disease which
occurred this year he had no doubt came from the Loudon
market. In many cases he had been able to trace disease, and
he thought that the scientific evidence could not be dKputed
As to the Chairmau's question as to slaughter at the port of
embarkation he would advise them not to ask of any Goveru-
mentno matter of what party, things which were imp'acticable.
Governments were very properly chary of interfering with the
food supplies in the country. Vessels were not yet, adapted to
the conveyance of dead meat, but he believed it was only a
matter of time. The inorease in the amouut of dead meat im-
ported since the restrictions had been put on were something
enormous, and heshou'd think that where there were 6>J boxes
of mutton imported some few years ago ther* were now 600
boxes, each containing 20 carcases. He believed that the dead
meat trade would increase. He was of opinion that the
experiments which had been rnad-i within the last twelve
months in the importation of Americ»u meat would lead to
much larger importations. He. urged upou the Chamber
the necessity of not making an unreason ible demand
upon the Government, and concluded by expressing an
opinion that they were now making a very favourable im-
pression upon those who had previously not concurred in their
views.

Colonel Barne, M.P., the Chairman, said farmers were
suffering greatly from foreign competition, as were
other cla^sei of the community ; and from the distress now
prevailing in South Wales aud the causes from which
it arose, it was clear that dear labour simply meaut ruin to
the country. He thought the time was coming when working
men would see the folly of making themselves the slaves of
Unions.

Mr. Herman Biddell was glad to say that he was not
well up in the cattle disease question. Since he first began
business eighteen years ago he had been successful in keeping
the disease from his animals, all of which he bred on the pre-
mises. To his mind nothing was more vexatious to a man who
was trying to do his best as a breeder and grazier thau to have
disease introduced amongst his animals. He had not yet
made up his mind as to what were the proper precautions to
ake to prevent disease, but he was glad that Cittle Defence
Associations and Chambers of Agriculture had taken the
matter up. He could not help thinking that they would do
much better, if they could arrive at the way of keeping out
disease, by limiting the supply, or at any rate curt tiling the
importation of live cattle in some form or another. He was
perfectly willing to leave the question to those who were
working it out. When the Chairman was reading the results
of Mr. Lawe's experiments he could not he'p thinking that
Mr. Lawes had made a fortune out of artificial manures. Ha
(Mr. Biddell) had had an invitation to go to Mr. Lawes's farm,
but had been unable to go. Those who had been, however,
and were best able to judge, came back wiii the most exalted
idea of the practical knowledge of agricul'ure which Mr. Lawei
manifested. Thpy could not get over the fact that Mr. Ltwes
had grown only one kind of grain on the land for thirty years,
and this was a fact they had to deal with. He had read over
and over again Mr. Lawes'is lecture, and the more one read it

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the more astonishing it seemed \i to the sale of straw and

215

green crops, it might be very well near a town ; but iu the
country the means of stile would soon be exhausted. At the
eame time he thought there were cUuses in le»ses which had
been handed down from generation to generation which ought
not to be there. When straw was £3 and more per ton he
thought there was no earthly reason why they should not sell
it. Mr. Lawes had proved to demonstration that straw was
worthless as manure, and was only valuable as a vehicle for
carrying manure. He believed that its actual manurbl value
was only lis. per ton, and therefore it was absurd to put this
upon the laud when its value was £3 per ton in towns. As to
Mr. Cowell's advice as to barley, he had no doubt that the
better the quality of the barley the more readily it could be
sold on Ipswich market ; but when good barley was grows
the crop was not nearly so large as when barley of a poorer
quality was grown. If they grew a small crop, and cultivated
it well, they would frequently get a good crop ; and if they
set to growing high pric. d barhy, then they must sink the
idea of getting a large crop. He was glad to have met their
Chairmau that evening, for he liked to exchange ideas with
those above him. He was ghd to hear their Chairman—
who cirae from one of their old Suffolk families — speak so
practicilly and so uuselfislily about agricultural matters. He
was sure they would all congratulate themselves that there
were proprietors of the soil rising amongst them who at least
saw that they had an interest in those who became their
tenants. He had farmed 600 acres of land in that county for
years, and had cousiderable experience in covered yards. He
thought there were very few farmers who would not pay a fair
building interest to have their yards covered.

Mr. R. L. Everett remarked that the discussion that
evening had taken a very practical turn. In alluding to the
smallness of the meeting, he said that whilst there were a
great number of people who watched public matters with a
great deal of interest, and criticised what was done and that
whieh failed to be done, yet the actual carrying on of public

work was left to very few people. H« was sorry that the
members of that Chamber did not meet their Parliamentary
representatives iu larger numbers to acknowledge their kind-
ness in Aacrifieing their own time by coming down to be preseut
on these occasions. They all looked forward to the opening
of Parliament with profound feelings of interest, and when
they opened their papers the next morning to see whether the
issue was to he pe;ice or wir there was a feeling of joy
throughout the country to find that they were not committed
to a warlike policy at present at all events. Although war
was the finest thing out for farmers, yet he was sure there was
no farmer present who would wish for war. There were two
matters which they all trusted Her Majesty's Government
would earnestly take into consideration — one was the
question of Cattle Disease, and the other of County Boards.
As to the former question, for his own part he viewed legisla-
latioa with great indifference, for he firmly believed that con-
sumers were very much more interested in the question than
producers. It made him angry to see ttie efforts which agri-
cultural communities had made to bring in wise restrictions for
the purpose of keeping out disease set down as an attempt to
revive the protection of British interests, which, as they all
knew, was one of the esploded theories of the past. Tiio cattle
imported into the country was a very small percentage, he
believed, of the cattle reared in the country, and he had heard
stated again and again that disease imported into the country
had swept off more than the total amount of animals im-
ported. It therefore struck him that the consumer would be
quite as much benefited as the producer would by adopting
more stringent measures to keep out disease. As to County
Government, this was a question which had long and urgently
pressed for settlement. As to the question of representation
on these proposed County Boards, he trusted that if the mem-
bers of the Board were elected by the ratepayers that they
would have none of that party spirit which uuhappily had been
introduced into municipal contests.

THE PAUSE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STEAM CULTIVATION.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — It is a well-acknowledged fact that the pro gress
which was being made a few years since by farmers in the
adaptation of steam power to the cultivation of the soil has
been very seriously arrested. It being a primary law of
Nature that causes precede effects, we naturally ask our
selves the quest ioD, " What can be the reason or reasons
why the progressive adoption of steam power to the cul-
tivation of the land has been seriously checked ?"

There are two reasons which present themselves to my
mind just now, but there may be others. Oue cause I
believe to be the indisposition on the part of farmers to
invest more capital in an undertaking which ha3 been for
6orne time past the reverse of remunerative, and which
certaiuly does not hold out any immediate prospect of
improvement ; and such will continue to be the case,
especially so long as freedom of cultivation of the soil and
the sale of its produce is interfered with by autique and
frivolous clauses in leases — clauses which are utterly in-
operative in the preseut day, however conscientiously a

tenant may desire to conform to the requirements of his
lease. As affecting my first reason may be added the
rapid and serious depreciation in the value of steam
machinery after only a few months' use, if for any reason
it has to be disposed of, cases having come to my know-
ledge in which the purchasers of steam cultivating appa-
ratus have sold their sets after very little use, and to all
intents and purposes equal to new, for less than half cost
price.

Such I believe to be one chief reason why there
exists this sharp check in the outlay on steam power for
the cultivation of the soil.

•The other chief reason I believe to be the uncertainty
as to the good results which have accrued from the use of
the &team plough, digger, and cultivator. Many employers
of steam have admitted that they have sustained more
harm than benefit-by its adoption, aud many more would
be added to the already long list of admissions if men had
the candour and moral courage to speak out, as that

514

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

hitherto valiant champion of the application of steam
to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Mechi, has done. I
refer readers of these remarks to Mr. Mechi's paper,
" The Seed-bed and Steam Plough," which appeared in
The Mark Lane Express of Jan. 14th. However good a
thins* or a system may be, it is subject to abuses, and I
am disposed to think that nothing relating to agriculture
— nothing intended to promote the development of the
resources of the soil — has been so misused as steam cul-
tivation. I have always noticed that as soon as a far-
mer has become possessed of steam tackle he is proue to
use the power to excess, the consequence being that the
implements are driven to a depth far below what could be
expected of the horse teams, and far below that which is
profitable to the growth and perfection of cereals. I
fell into the same error when I first began steam culti-
vation, the ill effects being visible for two or three years
after the operation. My first experience was sufficient
to cause me to use power more cautiously, and since that
time I have been content to turn the soil at a depth not
exceeding G to 7 inches, relying upon the subsoiler to stir
the soil to auy greater depth that may be considered
advisable.

Far more mischief has been done by cultivating too
deeply than by too shallow ploughing. Two principal
prejudicial effects are produced by turning and loosening
the soil too deeply, viz., impoverishing the surface soil
— that which contains the elements of nutriment for the
plant — and contributing to the disposition of the crops
to become root-fallen. My own opinion is that the
actual depth of ploughing should not exceed that if the
horse-team were used, and to accomplish the disturbance
of the subsoil in a very gradual manner by the use of a
subsoiler. Three years since I ordered of Messrs.
Howard a set of their steam-tackle, at the same time
expressing a wish that a method of subsoiling should be
attached to the plough— a method which I had, after
considerable thought, worked out. The Bedford firm at
once acceded to the suggestion, and placed their shops
and a set of men at my disposal for a few days, the result
being a very efficient method of subsoiling, which can be
adjusted to the greatest nicety, and which works in a
very satisfactory manner. I am told by the geutle-
mau who controls that department of the firm that their
customers thiuk very highly of the plan, and request to
be supplied with the addition. No doubt a great deal of
the mischief which has arisen in the use of steam-tackle
could have been avoided if farmers could have increased
gradually the depth of soil instead of rushing into the
extreme.

In the paper I have referred to, Mr. Mechi writes : —
" I want to kuow whether others as well as myself have
tested their crops by comparison in the same field. A
great many of my agricultural friends have been steam-
ploughing for some years, and I should be glad to hear
from them if they have made any comparisons."
I think Mr. Mechi may take it as answered in the
negative. Very few, if aDy, take the trouble either to ]

adopt the two systems of, horse and steam-ploughing ia
the same field or to follow up and note the results by the
bushel. My experience has taught me that nothing is
more deceptive than to estimate the results of deep steam
cultivation by the appearance of the crops in their earlier
stages, as upon land so treated they usually look better
thau upon the shallow-ploughed land.

Now I believe that steam power is destined to become
very much more in favour on the farm, but it will have to
be supplied to us in a much cheaper form, the present price
of steam tackle being out of all proportion to the price
of iron and labour ; and when we possess it we must ex-
ercise a little more home-bred judgment in its use, not
being led away by the stock advice to cultivate deeply,
thus gaining a greater dep'h of soil at the expense of im-
poverishment, to be made good by a general application of
solid manures, which advice means to adopt a course which
shall ruin the present race of tenants for the benefit of
those who succeel them.

Mr. Mechi navely tells U3 that a neighbour of his
parted with his tackle some years ago because he found
his crops so much smaller than the Tiptree Hall crop?,
and less than he formerly grew under horse culture. lie
further adds : "I have cross-examined several members of
our ( 'entral Farmers' Club, and they have confessed, rather
reluctantly, that they parted with their steam-tackle
because they found that their crops diminished." Tell
it not in Bedford ; publish it not in Leeds and Peter-
borough 1

If further evidence were needed of farmers having
put aside their steam-tackle in disgust I can furnish it.

The object I have in view is not to discourage the
use of steam — quite the reverse — yet I have attempted
to show why the onward march of this system has been
arrested. Only let manufacturers awake to the fact, and
act upon it — that their present prices are out of all reason-
able proportion to the means of production ; let landlords
be more reasonable and commercially progressive in the
terms of their agreements ; and let farmers not be too exi"
geant of the iron horse, but use with proper discretion the
power at their command — then, and then only, will steam
cultivation resume those strides which have been so
abruptly cut short. I am, &c, W. D.

TOO STRONG A TEMPTATION.— The following
anecdote is told of Sir Pliilip Francis, who was a great gour-
mand. Once at a city feast he enviously watched his next
neighbour, who was busy eating a bowl of turtle soup, and
keeping a piece of green fat for the bonne louche. Sir Philip
unable at last to resist it, seized the delicate morsel with his
fork, and transferred it to his mouth and then giving the
stranger his card, sa.d, ''Sir, I ara ready to make you the most
ample apology, or give you the satistaction of a gentleman ,
but I must say you had no right to throw such temptation in
my way." — Sussex Express.

THE FARMER'S MAG AZ IN ft.

215

TRACTION ENGINES FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

The economic value of traction-engines to

agriculturists lias long bsen so universally and so
• practically admitted that it is of great importance
that the objections to its use should be carefully
considered and removed. It is a somewhat
curious fact that side by side with the improve-
ments which have been made in these machines
year by year there has grown up an increasing
dislike of them by a certain small but powerful
section of the public. The number of engines
employed has during the same time enormously
increased in spite of the effects of this dislike.
There are, therefore, two co-existent and opposed
parties, whose interests direct their attention to
the road-engine. But as the one party cannot be
supposed to buy and work traction-engines for
amusement and as the objections by the other
party cannot all be explained on sentimental
p rounds, or ascribed to thoroughly useful and
unreasoning obstructiveness, it becomes important,
in view of the large interests concerned, that the
reason for the wide difference, not only of opinion
but of action, should be ascertained, in order that
the cause of that which is so detrimental to the
interests of agriculturists should be removed.
Inasmuch as the absolute necessity for these en-
gines, under the modern conditions of agriculture,
is universally admitted and proved by the fact of
their common employment, it can hardly be neces-
sary to say anything in their support ; but it is
necessary to examine the arguments of those who,
sometimes with reason, but most often with
evidence of the want of it, oppose their working.

The most fruitful cause of this opposition is the
destructive effect with which the use of the
heavier classes of these engines is attended on the
more inferior roads in agricultural districts. The
assertion, however, that all this wear is attribut-
able to these engines is untruthful. On good roads
it is well known that improvement rather than
destruction is a result of their use, and even on
the very inferior roads the wear is more generally
attributable to the wheels of insufficient width
with which the heavily loaded waggons and other
vehicles drawn by traction-engines are fitted. The
load per unit of area of the broad tires of the
engine wheels in contact with the road is gene-
rally much less than it is with the wagtron wheels.
Moreover, the fore aud hind-wheels of the engines
are generally set at a different gauge, so that they
do not run in the same track, while most waggon

wheels, being all on the same gauge, follow in one
track, and thus on some roads soon form and
deepen grooves, which destroy the road. Much
has been said of the destruction caused by the
engine wheels fitted with cross-bars; but though
some of the wheels thus fitted, and with bars too
narrow aud too far apart, did undoubtedly cause
considerable damage, it can be proved that the
wheels with wider bars placed closer together, as
is the case with many now in use, and as shown
at Islington last December, do less damage than
smooth wheels of a cylindrical form, which cannot
possibly get a good bearing across their whole
width, and which, in attempting to find that bear-
ing, slip, and then cause the damage of which
complaint is made. In a paper read before the
London Farmers' Club on the 4th Feb., which
we print elsewhere, Mr. Thomas Aveling has in "a
very fair manner criticised the present law and
its operation with reference to this subject. His
recommendation, that the form of the wheels
should be left to the manufacturer, subject to
certain regulations defining the relation between
their width and the weight carried, is one that
should be supported, for the interests of the manu-
facturer are, as he says, identical with those of their
customers. The objections raised on the ground of
emission of smoke are, as a rule, of the most
absurdly frivolous character, and were it not that
the infringement of the rule relating to it often
forms a pretext for the most vexatious prosecu-
tions, the objections would be too silly to attract
notice. As the law at present stands, traction-
engine owners may be and are constantly being fined
for allowing smoke to issue for a few minutes
from the funnel, while on the other hand railway-
engines running through towns, in some places on
the street level, aud sometimes for miles parallel
with country roads, do so with as much impunity
and as little fear of actions-at-law as the vagrant
owner of a travelling house traverses the country
with a smoking fire. Again, the restrictions as to
hours of working are not only extremelv detri-
mental to the interests of the farmer, but are,
especially as regards the country, extremely un-
satisfactory, and powerless to afford the protection
supposed to be required. But this is another
direction in which magistrates abuse the power
entrusted to them, and many desire to reduce the
working hours to from two to eight hours after
ten o'clock at night. Every one who has travelled

Q

216

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

in the country much at night will acknowledge
that he would rather meet a dozen engines in
the day than one in the darkness of midnight.
Horses are less easily managed, more easily
alarmed, and assistance if wanted cannot be had.
These restrictions should, as Mr. Aveling has
pointed out, be removed, as also should, as our
correspondent " G. A. H." suggests, the rule relating
to the red flag ahead of the engine, which, by-the-
way, is worse than useless as regards a vehicle
approaching from behind, for it takes the man
from his most useful position on or near the
engine, and puts him where he cannot be com-
municated with. The regulations as to speed are
disgracefully anomalous, andin some cases impose
the performance of impossibilities on engine-
owners. For instance, an engine requiring to pass
through London must travel twenty miles in eight
hours at a speed of two miles per hour, and the
owner will be fined for not accomplishing it if
.he is caught within the Metropolis after G p.m.
The restrictions as to bridges and culverts im-
pose upon the owner of an engine the costs of any
damage done by a ten-ton engine, while a timber or
stone merchant doing greater damage with a
twenty-ton load will pay nothing. Such are the
anomalies and unjust restrictions of a law which
places a much-abused power in the hands of pre-
judiced magistrates. It must, however, be pointed
.eut that the destruction to roads is the real cause
of most of the prosecutions, though the smoke
find other restrictions are appealed to as pretexts
.for persecutions, which have their origin in the
• desire expressed by m^ny magistrates that the en-
gines should be abolished. As many are working
,£or this end, it behoves owners to exercise care in
keeping the loads on waggons as low as possible
and otherwise in working to give no opportunity
for reasonable offence. There are many districts
where roads are badly constructed and badly main-
tained, because the rates are insufficient to supply
;a fund for their repair or reconstruction by
really competent men and good materials.
Traction-engines are, however, indispensable, and
opposition to them is only a repetition of that of
fifty years ago to railways. The roade must be made
good, and for this purpose it is necessary that
funds should be forthcoming by a readjustment of
the rates providing them, by County Highway
Boards, and, if necessary, by Government assist-
ance where the traffic is great on roads between
great centres and passing through districts not
benefited by it. On February 7 the first general
meeting of the National Association of Owners of
Agricultural Locomotive Steam-engines was held

ciationwere unanimously approved. The principal
object of the Association is to secure reform in the
Road Locomotives Act, based upon the Re-
port of the Select Committee of 1873. Though
nearly five years have elapsed since this Report
was published, its recommendations have been un-
heeded ■■; but it is to be hoped that the objects of
the Association will be furthered by all representa-
tives of the interests of the agriculturist, which
demand that the baneful Acts of 1861 and 1865
shall be repealed in favour of an Act embodying
the wise recommendations of the 1873 Report.
Mr. Thomas Aveling presided at the meeting, and
in his remarks advised owners of engines and trains
of waggons to exercise their judgment in regulating
the load on the latter in accordance with the nature
of the road over which they were travelling. It is
very well known that in soma districts, though
engine-owners are sometimes cautioned as to in-
fractions of the regulations which the present law
imposes, the magistrates show their wisdom by
recognising the necessity for steam-power on high
roads, and consequently no actions of the frivolous
character complained of in other districts take
place. At the meeting alluded to Mr. David
Greig, of the firm of Fowler and Co., stated that he
sometimes received six summonses per day, and
generally his firm paid £30 per week in fines ;
while a traction-engine owner living at Cranbrook
stated that he paid about £60 per year in fines. The
necessity for the traction-engine is shown by thefact
that in spite of the persecution which these figures
represent, the numbers employed increase so rapidly
that several English manufacturers turn out from
two to four per week, and the number of manu-
facturers is increasing. On the one hand we have
the English Society for the Promotion of Scien-
tific Agriculture, namely the Royal Agricultural
Society, offering prizes for the best traction engine,
and which has already awarded £6,000 in prizes
and seventy gold and silver medals for improve-
ment in this class ; and en the other we have these
obstructive magistrates imposing an almost pro-
hibitive tax on some of those who have bought
the engines. This is a state of things which is
highly discreditable to our country, and one which
fully warrants the combination of all agriculturists
in their endeavours to remove it. The cause of the
mischievous action of, and abuse of power by,
country magistrates is the inefficient state of the
roads under their charge. Many need widening,
and others reconstructing, and those who have
charge of them will do better by seeking the funds
for accomplishing this work than by wasting their
energies in opposing1 the irresistible general
" «

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

217

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

ROYAL.

Monthly Council, Weduesday, February 6lh, 1878.
Present — Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., president, in
the chair ; the Duke of Bedford, Earl Cathcart, the Earl
of Feversham, Lord Chesham, Lord Skelmersdale, Lord

Vernon, the Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., Sir T. Dyke

Ackland, Bart., M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., Sir

E. Welby-Gregory, Bart., M.P., Sir Watkin W. Wynn,

Bart., M.P., Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Aylmer,

Mr. Booth, Mr. Cantrell, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr.

Dent, Mr. Druce, Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Evans, Mr. Brand-

reth Glbbs, Mr. Herasley, Mr. Howard, Mr. Bowen

Jones, Mr. Leeds, Mr. Mcintosh, Mr. Martin, Mr. Pain,

Mr. Randell, Mr. Ransome, Mr. Rawleuce, Mr. Russell,

Mr. Sanday, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Stratton, Mr. To<-r,

M.P., Lieut.-Col. Turbervill, Mr. Jabez Turner, Mr.

Wilson, Professor Siraonds, and Dr. Voelcker.
The following new members were elected : —

B-nnett, Joseph Richard, of Clax Hill House, Gloucester.

Blenkinsopp, G. J. L., of Hoppyland Park, Bishop Auckland.

Broderip. Edmund, of Cossington, Bridgwater.

Brooke, John Arthur, of Fenay Hall, Huddersfield.

Busfield, Walker, of Charlton, lladstock, Bath.

Carver, W. Rees, of Coin Cottage, Colnbrook, Bucks.

Chalk, Thomas, of Linton, Cambs.

Clark, Henry, of Efford Manor, Plymouth.

Cole, Joseph, of Bengeworth, Evesham.

Cottinghain, R. M. J., of The Elms, Great Chesterford, Saf-
fron Walden.

Crossman, Alexander, of Barton-under-Needwood, Bur on-on-
Trent.

Dain, Benjamin James, of Park View, Whitchurch, Salop.

Davies, John, of Alleston, Pembroke.

Dowle, Thomas, of Ifton, Chepstow, Mon.

Dudleston, William, of New Lodge, Donnington, Newport'
Salop.

Dungey, Walter, of Pattenden Farm, Gjudhurst, Kent.

Dunning, Rev. W. B., of Mickfield Rectory, Stonham,
Suffolk.

Egmoat, Earl of, of Cowdray Park, Midhurst.

Forrest, Robert, of St. Fagaus, Cardiff.

Graham, William, of Hawksdale, Carlisle.

Hague, John, of Cranbrook, Kent.

Hallifield, William, of Misterton, Gainsborough.

Hancock, Thomas, ot Pricaston, Pembroke.

Harris, Henry, of Long Parish House, Whitchurch, Hants.

Harvey, J. J. S., of 7, The Mall, Armagh, Ireland.

Hatchett, John, of Preswylfa, Neath.

Hickman, Thomas Poole, of The Grange, Quarndon, Derby.

Highmoor, J. R., of Aiuderby, Queeuhow, Thirsk.

HodJinott, James, of Lipyeat, Bath.

Rollings, John, of The Watchetts, Farnborough, Hants.

Hunt, John, of Manor Farm, Colon, Cambridge.

Lammiog, W. D., of Binderton, Chichester.

Leycester, Rafe Oswald, of Toft Hall, Kuutsford.

L'oyd, Francis, of Plassey Farm, Wrexham.

M«ade-KiDg, Herbert, of Ellinthorpe, Stoke Bishop, Bristol,

Morris, Thilip 1I> nry, of Whitchurch, Salop.

Moulin, Jules Nicholas, of Rue de Chartrep, Illier1, Eure et
L'.irP.

Mullock, Richard, of Pits Cuddington, Malpas.

Nunnerley, Joseph, of Hanmer, Whitchurch, Salop.

Owen, Daniel Howell, of Great Ness, Salop.

Owen, Francis Browne, of Detlield.Ellesmere, Salop.

Owen, John Dorsett, of Dcefield, Ellesmere, Salop.

Falethorpe, Thomas, of Sanstliorpe, Spilsby.

Parlctt, William Ireland, of West Dean Farm, Chichester.

Pinkett, Thorn <s B., of Bell iiotel, Worcester.

Phillips, Sidney II., of Bower Chalke, Salisbury.

Portman, Edward W. B., of Knighton House, Durffeston,
Blaiulford.

Povey, Henry, of Ellesrncre, Salop.

"owell, Joseph, of Pembroke.

Randies, Thomas Jordan, of Jockleton, Shrewsbury.

Reilly, Owen, of 1, Abbey Green, Chester.

Reynolds, W., jun., of Coton, Cambridge.

Robinson, Alfred Roberts, of Bathurst Wharf, Bristol.

Rogers, Thomas, of Rosehill, Caversham, Reading.

Rope, Arthur M., of Lower Abbey, Leiston, Saxmundham.

Sampson, Geo., jun., of Beanchieff Abbey, Sheffield.

Sanders, John Williams, of Upton Houss, Teddington.

Sharpe, Charles, of Sleaford.

Slocock, Benjamin, of Upton Court Farm, Slough.

Smith, William, of Fladbury, Fersbore.

Spske, William, jun., of Jordans, Ilminster.

Stinton, William, of Forthampton, Tewkesbury.

Straker, John O, of Stagshaw House, Corbridge, Northumber-
land.

Suffolk, Earl of, of Charlton Park, Malmesbury.

Tajlor, Francis Oddin, of Thuxton, Attleborough.

Tebb, Robert Palmer, of "Belalp," Crystal Palace Park
Sydenham.

Thornton, Richard, of Primrose Hill, Nateby, Garitang.

Waring, Henry, of Beenham House, Reading.

Warner, Robert Charles, of Oaksey, Cirencester.

Wea!l, William, of Pmkney's Farm, Maidenhead.

Wilkes, Mar*in, of Chverley, Bridgnorth.

Williams, William Watts, of Hendre, St. David's, Pembroke.

Woodcock, Samuel, of Clar on House, Pulverbatch, Salop.
Finances.— Mr. Randell (Chairman) presented the

report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's re-
ceipts duriug the past two months had been examined by

the Committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., the

Society's accountants, and were found correct. TLe

balance in the hands of the bankers on January 31 was

£1,224 17a. 2d., and £3,000 at deposit. The balance-
sheet for the quarter ended December 31, 1877, and the

statement of subscriptions and arrears, were laid upon

the table; the amount of arrears theu due being £706. —

This report was adopted.

Journal. — Mr. Dent reported that he had been

elected chairman for the current year. He further re -
ported the progress of the " Memoir on British Agri-
culture" for the Agricultural Congresi to beheld ia

Q 8

.-218

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Paris next June in connection with the International
Exhibition ; and the Committee recommended that it be
published and distributed to members of the Society in
place of the autumn number of the Journal. — This report
was adopted.

General— Bristol. — Lord Skelmeesdale (Chair-
man) reported that the Committee recommended, with
the sanction of the representatives of the Bristol Local
Committee, that the terms of the prizes offered for dairy
cattle be amended by substituting the words " milking
properties to be specially considered " for "other than
pedigree." They also recommended that members of the
Glouces' ershire Agricultural Society may enter for local
prizes on the same terms as members of the Eoyal Agri-
cultural Society of England. — This report was adopted.

Veterinary. — Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., (chairman),
reported that he had been elected chairman for the cur-
rent year. Mr. Harpley had presented to the Committee
a report of the examiners at the recent examination of
students from the Royal Vetetinary College, in which it
was stated that originally there were seven candidates,
hut three failed to come up on account of impaired health.
The report showed that the technical part of the examin-
ation was not so satisfactory as could be wished, A letter
had also been read from the President of the Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons, drawing special atteution
to the above, and expressing his opinion that the term or
period of study was formerly too short, but this is now
remedied. The Committee recommended that a copy
of the report and letter be sent to the Governors of the
Royal Veterinary College. Br. Burdon Sanderson had
recommended that the cattle hitherto experimented upon
for pleuro-pueumonia be kept for other experiments, and
that fresh ones be procured for further experiments in
pleuro-pneumonia : that it is desirable that the improved
method of inoculation for pleuro-pneumonia should, with
reference to its preventive efficacy, be tried on a larger
scale than had hitherto been possible in districts in which
disease actually prevailed, and that with this view owners
of stock should be requested to co-operate with the com-
mittee by allowing their uninfected animals to be inocu-
lated, it being understood that compensation would be
made by the Society for any losses arising directly from
the inoculation. — This report was adopted.

Chemical. — Mr Bent reported that Mr. Wells had
been elected chairman for the current year. He presented
the following report on the management of the experi-
mental field and Crawley Farm, at Woburn : —

The Chemical Committee being responsible to the Council
for the management of the Experimental Field and of Crawley
Farm at Woburn, have drawn up the following scheme for
their supervision. This scheme recognises that the Experi-
mental Field is of the first importance, and that the Crawley
Farm is to be looked upon as an adjunct thereto. The farm
is to be managed with a view to supply such buildiDgs,
materials, and labour as may be from time to time requpred for
the proper conduct of the investigations now being carried out
on the Experimental Field.

The Committee therefore recommend —

(1). That the supervision of the Experimental "Field be
placed in the hands of Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker, to ; ct
in concert, and to jointly report in writing to the Chemical
Committee at their meetings in February, April, July, and
November.

(2). That Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker be requested to
report to the Chemical Committee at each February Meeting
their probable requirements for the ensuing year.

(3). That Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker be further re-
quested to purchase, analyse, &c, all artificial manures and
feeding stnffs required for experimental purposes, and to
instruct in writing the manager of the Crawley Farm as to
their use on the Experimental Field or for the experimental
animals.

(4). That the manager of the Crawley Farm be appointed
on a monthly notice by the Council on the recommendation of
the Chemical Committee, and that he be directly responsible to
the Committee for the due discharge of the duties entrusted
to him.

(5). That the management of the Crawley Farm be ar-
ranged by the Chemical Committee, having due regard (1)
to the probable requirements of the Experimental Field, and
(2) to the proper cultivation of the Farm and disposal of its
produce.

(0). That the manager of the Crawley Farm report monthly
to the Chemical Committee the agricultural operations carried
out on and in connection with the farm itself, as well as the
work done by order of Mr. Lawes and Dr. Voelcker on the
Experimental Field.

(7). That the manager of the Crawley Farm be instructed
to keep the accounts of the farm entirely separate from his
account against the Experimental Field, and to make up the
arm balance-sheet, in such form as the Chemical Committee
may hereafter decide upon, up to March 31st in each year.

(8). That Mr. Lawes be requested by the Council to in-
form Mr. Cathcart that his services will not be required after
1st June.

The Committee recommend the re-appointment of the
Woburn Farm sub-committee, with full power to carry
out the recommendations of the committee, and all
questions arising out of them. They also presented the
report of the Woburn Farm experiments made during the
past year, and recommended that it be published in the
next number of the Society's Journal.

The following quarterly report from Dr. Voelcker was
presented by the Committee, and recommended for pub-
lication, as usual, in the agricultural journals : —

1. A sample of linseed-cake of a lot of ten tons bought in
October by Mr. William Holland, Market Deeping, at £10
lis. 3d., on analysis yielded the following results: —

Moisture 9-75

Oil 1115

*Albuminoua compounds (flesh - forming

matters) 23-94

Mucilage, starch, and digestible fibre 3322

Woody fibre (cellulose) 13-90

■[Mineral matter (ash) 8'04

100-00

♦Containing nitrogen 3-83

-(-Including sand , , 335

THE FARMER'

This analysis shows that the case was rather deficient in
albuminous compounds, and contained 3^ per cent, of sand.
The microscopical examination proved that the cake was made
from badly -screened linseed, and contained au undue proportion
of sand, in addition to a number of small weed-seeds, which
ought to have been removed by screening from the seed before
it is pressed into pure linseed cake.

This cake was bought and invoiced as Pure Linseed Cake
(with warranty).

The dealers when ordering it of its presumed makers (and
who had advertised it as Pure Linseed Cake of their own
brand and presumably therefore as of their own make, with
warranty) expressly told the latter " not to send it unless they
were quite sure it would bear the test of Dr. Voelcker's analy-
sis ;" and on being informed by their customer of the result
ef that analysis] immediately sent him cake of other make in
exchange which did stand that test.

The presumed makers on complaint from the dealers, bound
as they were by their own warranty to the latter, could not
do otherwise than take back the cake, though thf y said they
knew it was pure and unadulterated,aud should not have been
likely to have sent it in face of the dealer's specific order had
it been otherwise. At the same time, however, as they ad-
mitted that it was not made at their own mill, how they could
possibly know it was pure is difficult to understand.

Dealers acting carefully and honestly by their customer, as
these did, would not care to have their names mixed up in a
ease of this kind, and on this account the name3 of both
dealers and makers are purposely omitted.

The case however shows the necessity of buymg with war-
ranty, and particularly testing by anal} sis (the warranty in
this case protected the innocent dealer as well as his customer),
and of getting supplies from the actual makers.

2. Another sample of cak» bought as pure linseed-cake at
£10 5s. (for a large lot in summer to be delivered in October),
was sent by Mr. Fred. Lister, Babworth, Retford, Notts
and, on analysis, was found to .have the following compo-
sition : —

Moisture 1T32

Oil 11-70

*Albuminous compounds^ (flesh-forming

matters) 23-03

Mucilage, starch, and digestible fibre 31*10

Woody fibre (cellulose) 8-40

-{•Mineral matter (ash) 8.85

100-00

■•■Containing nitrogen 4-5S

flncluding sand 3-55

Like the preceding cakes it was made from unscreened
linseed, containing besides sand numerous small weed-seeds,
and was not a pure linseed-cake.

No further information was obtained in answer to the usu al
nquiries.

3. A sample, bought as nitrate of soda by a member of the
Royal Agricultural Society, was found on examination to con-
tain only -003 of a per cent, of nitric acid. It thus contained
merely faint traces of nitrate of soda, and on further analysis
was found to be a mixture of chloride of sodium (common
salt) and sulphate of soda (Glauber salt).

This so-called nitrate of soda having been bought at a low
price without a guarantee, the purchaser did not feel justified
iu furnishing the vendor's name and address.

S MAGAZINE. 210

4. The following is- an analysis of a sample of a manure'
a cwt. of which had been sent for trial to Mr. George Neve,
Sissinghurst, Staplehurst, Kent. The manure was sold at £12
a ton, but without any guaranteed analysis.

Moisture .• 11T2

Organic matter 1274

Bone-phosphate of lime 37'17

Sulphate of lime 1005

Crystallised sulphate of iron (green vitriol) 2*78
Basic sulphate of iron, containing 7'28 of

sulphuric acid 25.49

Insoluble siliceous matter '65

100 00

This manure, it will be seen, contained in round numbers
37 per cent, of phosphate of lime, some sulphate of lime,
and a considerable proportion of sulphate of iron. It con-
tained no appreciable quantity of ammonia, and appeared
to be mainly a mixture of animal charcoal and sulphate o"
iron. Such a mixture can be produced at less than half the
price at which the sample of manure sent by Mr. Neve was
sold.

This report wa9 adopted.

Show-Yard Contracts. — Mr. Jacob Wilson re-
ported that he had been elected Chairman for the year.
The Committee had modified and approved of a plan of
the Bristol show-yard, having the entrances parallel with
an existing road as originally agreed between the Inspec-
tion and Local Committee, and they recommended that
the Secretary be authorised to make the usual arrange-
ments for letting the refreshment sheds, subject to the
approval of the Committee.

This report was adopted.

Metropolitan Show Sites. — Professor Sijionds-
reported that the Committee had inspected two sites avail-
able for the show-yard next year, in the neighbourhood of
Kilburn, and were in correspondence with the tenants.
They had also communicated with the London and North
Western Railway Company, who were willing to provide
the necessary accommodation for the arrival and departure
of stock, implements, and passengers. The Lord Mayor
had consented to preside at a public meeting, to be held
at the Mansion House on Wednesday, March 13th, at 3
o'clock, to promote the holding of the Society's meeting in
London next year ; and the Committee recommended that
the Council, at its rising, adjourn until March 13th at
noon, to enable members of Council to attend the Mansion
House meeting, and in consequence of March 6th being
Ash Wednesday.

This report was adopted.

Implement. — Mr. Hemsley reported that he had been
elected Chairman for the year. The Committee had con-
sidered the regulations and conditions necessary for carry-
ing out the trials of Dairy Machinery and utensils at the
Bristol meeting, and will submit them to the Council at
their next meeting ; and they recommended that the
Steward of general arrangements and the Secretary
should undertake to cany out as far as practicable the
suggestions of the Agricultural Engineers' Association as.

220

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

to the separation of articles not strictly agricultural from
the agricultural exhibits at the Society's country meetings.

This report was adopted.

Stock Prizes. — Mr. Booth reported that Mr. Mil-
ward had been elected Chairman for the year 1878. The
Committee and the Veterinary Inspectors had considered
the question of the dentition of pigs, and they recom-
mended that no alteration be made in the existing rules.

This report was adopted.

The President reported the deaths of two members
of the Council, viz : Mr. Richard Hornsby, of Spittle-
gate, Grantham, and Mr. T. Horley, jun., of The Fosse,
near Leamington.

Selection. — Earl Cathcabt reported that he had been
elected Chairman for the current year, and that the Com-
mittee recommended the election of Lieut.-Col. Picton
Turbervill as steward of stock, Mr, Prankish as steward
of implements, and Mr. Richard Stratton as steward of
butter and cheese, for the Bristol meeting. They also
nominated two members of Council to fill the existing
vacancies, and gave notice that they would move their
election at the next monthly Council.

This report was adopted, after notice of another nomina-
tion had been given by Mr. Martin.

The question of nominating representatives of the Society
at the Agricultural Congress to be held in Paris next June
was referred to the Journal Committee.

The following suggestion made by Mr. Bowick at the
General Meeting in December was referred to the Seeds
and Plant-Diseases Committee : — " That the Council be
respectfully requested to take steps for securing the im-
provement of the varieties and produce of our cereal crops,
and that they take into consideration the offering of sub-
stantial prizes to secure that object."

A letter was read in reference to the " Locomotive Steam
Power Protection Society."

A letter was read from Mr. James Porrester respecting
the calculation of the ages of animals entered for exhibi-
tion, and the Council decided not to alter their present
practice as regards this subject.

The Council then adjourned until Wednesday, March 13.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's rooms, 12, Hanover-square, on Tuesday, the
5th ult. Present: Lord Skelmersdale, President of the
Society (in the chair), the Earl of Dunmore, the Earl of
Feversham, Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., Mr. B. St.
John Ackeis, Mr. Hngh Ajlrner, Mr. T. C Booth, Mr.
H. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. D.
Mcintosh, Rev. T. Stainforth, Mr. R. Stratton, G. Mur-
ton Tracy, and Mr. Jacob Wilson.

The following new members were elected : —
Arymtage. Sir George, Bart., Kirklees Park, Bnghouse, York-
shire.
Britten, George, Overstone Farm, Northampton.
Bruce, David C, Broadland, Huntly, N.B.
Budds, William Frederick, CourtBtown, Frcshl'ord, Co. Kil-
kenny.

Catclipole, Nathaniel, Braraford, Ipswich.

Cooper, John, East Haddeu, Northampton.

Crisp, Arthur W., Orford, Wickham Market, Suffolk.

Dickinson, George Thompson, Wheelbirks, Newcastle-upon.

Tyne.
Edwards, John, Jun., Holly Lodge, Buck worth, Huntingdon.
Freeman, Edwin, Chilton, Thame, Oxon.
Garbutt, Isaac, Manor House, Sinniugton, Pickering.
Gordon, John, Culraven, Kirkcudbright.
Graham, Thomas, 20, Chiswick Street, Carlisle.
Heinemann, E., llattou Park, Willingdon, Sussex.
Hunt, Henry, The Elms, Hunningham, Leamington.
Hutton, G. Moorland, Gate Burton, Gainsborough.
McKinnon Lauchlan, Jun., 239, Union Stieet, Aberdeen.
Ogle, Elwin, Heck HalJ, Selby, Yorkshire.
Parnel, John, Rugby.

Reed, Matthew, Ludwell, East Gate, Co. Durham.
Sergison, Captain Warden, Cuckfield Park, Hay ward's Heath,

Sussex.
Waring, Henry, Beenham House, Reading.
Wilkes, Richard Hammond, Showbill Farm, Wolverhampton.
Wilson, John, Fleetham House Farm, St. Bees, Cumber-
laud.
Woodroffe, W. S., Beaumont Grange, Halton, Lancaster.
Editing Committee. — Colonel Kingscote reported that
he Committee had examined the account for printing
Volume 23 of the Herd Book, and they recommended the pay-
ment of the same.

The Committee also recommended that the entry of a
bull bred in this country and exported to America be ac-
cepted.

The committee also reported that they had examined the
pedigrees of several bulls, but as the certificates were incom-
plete, they recommended that they be not accepted.

This report was adopted.

General Purposes Committee.— Lord Skelmersdale
reported that the accounts for the months of December and
January had been examined by Messrs. Qailter, Ball, and Co.,
and the Committee, and were found to be correct.

The Committee also reported that the secretary's petty cash
account had been examined and passed, and showed an expen-
diture of £20 19s. 3d. during the past two months ; that the
receipts for the same period had been £346 5s. 10J. ; the
balance of the Society's current account at the bankers being
£1,151 Is. lOd.

The Committee recommended that cheques be drawn for
various accounts amounting to £605 Ss. 6d.

The Committee also reported that the three members who
were in arrears of subscriptions, not having replied to the com-
munication addressed to them within the specified time, their
names had been removed from the list of members of the
Society accordingly.

This report was adopted.

The President announced, with feelings of the deepest
regret, the death of Sir W. Stirling-Maxwell, Bart., M.P.,
a member of the Council ; and gave notice that the vacancy
caused thereby would be filled up at the next meeting of the
Council.

Letters of thanks from the Royal Agricultural Society of
England and the Farmers' Club for the gift of the 23rd Volume
of Coates's " Herd Book " were read.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday, the
12th of March, at 3 p.m.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

:sr

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

CENTRAL.

A Council Meeting of the Central and Associated
Chambers of Agriculture was held ou February 5, in the
Large Room of the Society of Arts, Adeluhi, Strand, where,
as announced in December, all meetings are in future to
be held. The chair was taken at 11 o'clock by the Presi-
dent for the year, Sir George Jenkinson, M.P.

The Chairman said, in taking the chair at the commence-
ment of a new year of business they would, he trusted, allow
him to make a few remarks, and they should be very few,
because he knew that there was a great deal on the Agenda
paper. The chief thing he had to do was to congratulate the
Central Chamber and its Council upon the vast amount of
good which had accrued from its working in the agricultural
districts of the country since it was established (cheers). It
was, he believed, only about twelve years since it was formed,
and that was not a very long time in the life of a man. He
had known the Council from the beginning, and he must say
he was perfectly astouiihed at the way it had made, the
immense importance which was attached to its proceedings, and
the good which it had done to the iuterests of agriculture
(cheers). There could be no doubt that the farmers of Eng-
land had great power if they chose to use it ; but, unfor-
tunately, they were not always as united as the commercial
interests. He believed that if the farmers of England were
always to unite in supporting the various Charnbirs of Agri-
culture throughout^ the country, the power which they
wield would be enormous, and almost irresistible (hear,
would hear). There were 49 Chambers associated with
the Central Chamber* There were, it appeared, only
three counties without a Chamber — viz., Derbyshire,
Oxfordshire, and Sussex. No doubt the farmers in these
counties had what appeared to their own minds good and
sufficient reasons for withholding themselves from the move-
ment ; but he said, advisedly, that no county ought to be
without a Chamber of Agriculture, and that all the local
Chambers should be associated with the Central one (cheers).
The counties which were chiefly working on the associated
»ystem were Lincolnshire, Shropshire, aud Staffordshire, and he
thought he might add his own county and two or three others.
There could be no question that the system of Associated
Chambers acting in concert with the Central Chamber in
London had created a vast power, and that a vast amount of
influence had thus been brought to bear on the number of Rills
and measures introduced in Parliament since the Central
Chamber was established. He thought that those who observed
the rise and progress of those Chambers mutt feel that they
had done an immense amount of good. He would not detain
the meeting with any further remarks. He thanked the
Council for the honour they had done him in selecting him
first as vice-chairman for last year and then as chairman for
the present year. He should do his utmost to promote the
cause of the Chamber, aud he felt quite sure that he would
receive the same kind of assistance as was extended last year
to his predecessor, Lord Fortescue, whom he was glad to see
on his right hand ; and he only hoped that his year of office
would be as successful and as fraught with good as that of his
predecessor (cheers).

The minutes having been read,

On the motion of Mr.T. Willson, seconded by Mr. Calde-
cott, the Marquis of Huutley was elected Vice-Chairman, pre-
paratory to his becoming the Chairman of the Council in the
ensuing year.

On the motion of Earl Fortescue, seconded by Mr. D'
Long, Mr. J-. Algernon Clarke was re-elected Secretary.

The election of a Staudiug Committee for general business
was then proceeded with, the result being as follows : Capt,
Craigie, 30 votes; Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., 20; Mr. Jabez
Turner, 25 ; Mr. Treadwell, 23 ; Mr. Albert Pell, M.P, 21
Mr. W. Stratton, 21 ; Mr. B. Jones, 19.

Mr. Stratton said he had to report that the Cattle
Diseases Committee had received a letter from the Secretary
the Farmers' Club, in which he said, " In view of the antici-
pated legislation on cattle diseases my committee have ap-
pointed a small sub-committee to-day to proceed to the
consideration of the Bill when it is introduced, and generally,
to watch the course of events connected with the proposed -
legislation, and have authorised them, if they should think
proper, to act in unison with the sub-committee of the Central
Chamber formed for a similar purpose."

In accordance with this invitation a sub-committee w?.s
appointed for the purpose mentioned, consisting of the Chair-
man and the Vice-Chairman, Mr. James Odams, Mr. Fiulay
Dun, and Mr. Storer, M P.

The Cattle D'seases Committee were then re-elected.

On the question of the reception of the report of the Edu-
cation Committee,

Mr. P. Piuprs, M.P.,!stated, that in consequence of Professor
Tanner having been out of town, the Committee had beerv
unable to arrange for a raeeting with him, adding that they
hoped to be able to make a report t» the next meeting.

The Education Committee was also re-appointed.

The next business on the Agenda being " to consider
deductions from gross value in the assessment of agricultural
land as compared wiih rateable property."

Captain Clarke, who had undertaken to introduce the sub-
ject, said, as a small landowner, he had had personal experience
in relation to that question, and he felt that there was a sub-
stantial grievance. In the 6 and 7 Will. IV. as it was provided,
" That several hereditaments to be rated may be assessed
npon the net annual value, that is to say, the rent at which the
same might reasonably be expected to let, taking one yeir
with another," and that there might be deducted therefrom the
probable annual cost of repairs, insurance, and other expenses,
necessary to enable the owner to keep the land in such a state
that he would be enabled to maintain the rent. In connection
with that there was the definition in the late Valuation Bill
that the expression " gross annual value" meant the annual
rent a tenant ought reasonably be expected, taking one year
with another, to pay for the hereditament if he undertook to
pay the usual rates and taxes, and the tithe commutation rent
charge, if any, and if the landlord undertook to bear the cost of
any repairs, &c, which might be necessary to enable him to
command the same rent. It was very probable that the clause
which he had quoted would be considered a governing clause in
elercLce to any new Valuation Bill which might be passed b

222

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Parliament, unless just cause could be shown against that,
and in his opinion it involved a great hardship to the
owners and occupiers of land as compared with those of
other descriptions of property, The principle that the
occupier had an interest in the land as well as the
owner was recognised in the Agricultural Holdings Act, and
the same view was taken by Mr. Lawes and by Mr. Caird, the
former of whom 6poke of the tenant's investment in the form
of live stock, implements, manure, and wages. In Schedule
3 of the Valuation Act rateable property was divided into dif-
ferent classes, and a scale of deductions was given for each.
In the case of houses and buildings, with land other tlun
gardens, the gross value of which was under £20, the allow-
ance was 25 per cent., or one-fourth, this class of property
consisting chiefly of workmen's dwellings, small shops, and
o'her minor buildings. For £1,000 of gross annual value
£.150 was deducted, or one year's rent for every four years.
Such property was estimated to pay 6 per cent, on the amount
]nvested. In the case of houses and buildings without land
other than gardens, with a gross annual value of <£4?0 and
upwards, the deductions amounted to one year's rent for every
si i jeai s, and this kind of property was, like the last, supposed
to pay 6 per ceut. In the case of mills and manufactories,
including glass and smelting-furnaces — this class embracing
irany of the chief industries of the country — the deductions
amounted to 33-J per cent. Against the large returns in the
c ise of different kinds of property which he had mentioned
was to be set the fact that land let for agricultural purposes
yielded only about 2;} per cent., and he maintained that the
present system operates most unfairly in reference to such
land. As regarded what was to be understood as necessary
repairs and expenses, he would remark that, as in other cases'
there was the cost of bricks, timber, and iron ; in that of
agriculture there was a process of exhaustion continually
going on which necessitated renewals. Land in the hands of
farmers might be regarded as a kind of machinery whereby
they raised crops, just as mills and furnaces were a kiud of
machinery whereby manufactories produced various articles.
The farmer ploughed, cleared, and sowed the land, and in
due season obtained crops, but, unlike the manufacturer, he
■was very dependent on the varying character of seasons ; he
raised crops under the most trying circumstances, and every three
years the soil must lie fallow, so that he had for that period
to pay a dead rent. Nothing was easier than to exhaust the
soil and make it worthless, and to keep it fertile required an
annual investment in some shape or other : it required re-
newing quite as much as factories and furnaces, and from a
similar cause. Hence he contended that the present system of
rating was most unfair to agriculturists. He concluded by
moving, "That in the opinion of this Council the deductions
from gross estimated rental to rateable value on agricultural
land are not in proportion to the deductions allowed on
buildings and manufactures, and the evil calls for immediate
alteration."

Mr. Arkell (Wilts), in seconding the motion, said he
thought the facts mentioned by Captain Clarke had thrown
a little light on that subject. In the Union of Highworth
and Swindon, with which he was connected, the deductions
varied from 2\ per cent, on land to 25 per cent, on mills, fac-
tories, and other kinds of property, though agricultural land
required renewing quite as much as any other kind of property.
In the early part of his life he was a miller and maltster, and
on a rental of £120 a-ycar his expenses were under 7 per cent.

It might be thought that with an improvement he got an
ncrease of rent ; but not so, for what wa3 the fact ? — why, that
last Michaelmas he was obliged to reduce the rent to secure a
tenant. He happened to farm under a beneficial lease from a
college. All his neighbours looked upon him as the owner,
and kept stitching him up, uutil 1876. In the year 1838 or
183!) he left milling and took to farming, and at that time a
shilling rate produced about £14 ; but in 1853, whether through
the Surveyor of Taxe3, the overseers, or his envious neighbours,
3i per cent, was tacked on to his rate at a blow. He thereupon
appealed to Quarter Sessions, which quashed the rate and
decided that an increase of 18 per cent, was sufficient. In
1873 came another " surge," and some of the valuations were
raised above the rent. Other cases of the same kind were also
mentioned by Mr. Arkell, who went on to say that, though
the farmer had the greatest difficulty in getting a farm that
would pay its expenses, no sooner did he begin to invest his
capital in the soil than the Surveyor of Taxes or the overseer
at ouce put up his assessment. Was not this a proof, he
asked, that his personal property was rated, whilst other per-
sonal property went free ? In his opinion, the present rating
system was fraught with injustice, aud one of the principal
checks to agricultural progress. It was only a few spirited
men who could farm profitably under such a system ; and, as
to the rest, they were really living hand-to-mouth. He hoped
that Members of Parliament would carefully watch the new
Valuation Bill, and do something at least to arrest the further
decline of agriculture (Hear, hear).

Mr: Jabez Turner, in supporting the resolution, said they
were rather fortunate in having that day had some new ligh
thrown upon the important subject of deductions from gross
estimated rental to the rateable value. The question had been
duly considered in the schedule of the different valuation Bills
which had appeared during the last 10 or 12 years. One
reason why he was particularly in favour of the resolution wa
that in the last of these Bills a difference was made in the
deduction previously allowed for mills and manufactories, which
was 25 per cent., or one quarter, and 33^ per cent., or one
third. That showed, in his opinion, the very great necessity
for carefully watching any valuation Bill that might be pro-
posed (Hear, hear). Although tenant farmers and agricul-
turists were to be left with the miserable deduction of 5 per
ceut., which, he contended, was totally inadequate to the
repairs upon landed occupations, the mill owner, who was the
greatest proprietor of wealth in the kingdom, was allowed
under a late Bill, a deduction of 33 J per cent, or one year's
rent of his factory for every 3 years of his occupation. They
were also fortunate in laving such a man amoogst them as
Mr. Arkell to second the resolution, inasmuch as he was a
living instance of an extraordinary contradiction, for he had
begun life as a miller and trader, and of his own choice was
concluding life as a farmer ! (Hear, hear, and laughter). He
presumed that Mr. Arkell had been so successful as a miller
that he bad turned to farming as a means of getting rid of hi8
money.

Mr. Treadwell wished to know why they should have
these deductions at all? (Hear, hear). If the value of all
property was put at its annual value there need not be these
deductions ; and it would be as fair for one as another.

The Chairman : Then you would recommend that the
deductions upon machinery, for example, should no longer be
aMowed.

Mr, Knight, M.P., remarked that in the well-known

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Barnstaple Uuion they had adopted Schedule A for the gross
valuation, with certain deductions, which were deemed satis-
factory by the agriculturists there, and everything appeared to
be simplicity itself.

Mr. Caldecott : According to the Government Bill,
Schedule A would practically be the basis of the gross value,
because the Government Surveyor was to be brought in to see
that there was nothing lower than the ordinary rental, and
the ordinary rental would be put down as the gross value.
Thus there would be a uuiforra system of taxation. But the
question raised by Mr. Treadwell was very important : Why
have any deductions at all? (Hear, hear). Why not have
Schedule A as the rateable value, and have no deductions for
one property more than for another? That would be the
f direst (Hear, hear). The difficulty had hitherto been this.
Iu 18i3 in his Uuion each parish paid its own expenses, and
supposing it to be rated equally inter se, it was found prefer-
able for people to pay Is. in the £1 on ,£500 to 6d. in the£l
on £1,000. The reason was obvious. In his own parish there
had been no alteration in the rated value, except when the rail-
way came, from l80i to 1866. It was equal among them-
selves, and that did not signify, for nobody desired to have the
county rate raised (Hear, hear). But now, if the new Bill
were passed, and there was a uniform basis for Imperial and
Local taxation, the Government officer would come in. Then
there would be no object in concealment (Hear, hear, and a
LiUgh). He should say, then, that the simple plan would be
to do away with all deductions, and have Schedule A as the
basis on which to make the rates.

Mr. D. Long did not see how Schedule A could be adopted,
for the simple reason that they would, in that case, be almost
entirely at the mercy of the Surveyor of Taxes. Neither did
he think that they could improve on the words of the old Act
as to what the property might be expected to rent at from year
to year, free of all outgoings for the landlord. Much had
been said about manures, the renovation of the land, and
machinery. He thought that there ought to be no deduction
on account of the machinery of mills and factories — he meant
on account of repairs — because, if motive power was to be a
deduction ia the case of mills and factories then there ought to
be a deduction for the motive power on a farm, the wear and
tear of horsos (Hear, hear). In his Uuion they had adopted
a scale of deduction of 15 per cent, for land and buildings, 7i
per cimt. for land only, aud 25 per cent, for all house property.
It was felt, however, that there was a little unfairness as to the
latter proportion sometimes, because of the difference between
a new and an old house. In the case of a new house 3 per
cent, might be enough to repair it, whereas in the case of an
old one it might require 30 per cent. In his opinion they
could not adopt a uniform system of deduction. How, for
example, could they adopt Schedule A for the rateable value
in the case of a railway ? Let it be left to the Assessment
Committee, then, to introduce the Surveyor ot Taxes to a
certain extent, but he should be sorry to see him clothed with
too much control. As to the resolution, he did not object to
it, for he felt that the deductions on account of land were in-
adequate, but they could neither adopt Schedule A nor any
thing else specifically and always in fairness.

Lord Foktescue agreed that the Valuation Bill was a piece
of legislation that ought to be very carefully watched, and
Mr. Caldecott had " let the cat out of the bag " when he in-
timated that parishes had no interest in keeping the valuation
low, and that it came to the same thing whether they paid a
ihilling rate ou £500 or a sixpenny rate on £1,000. But

the fact was that parishes kept it down in order to con'ri-
bute as little as possible to the county rates (Hear, hear), it
was. important that there should be a fair dednciion, because
the expenses attaching to different properties were exceedingly
disproportioned ; and as long as a very large proportion of
the expense of making and repairing buildings was borne
habitually, not by the occupier, but by the landlord, the more
reasonable way was to estimate the rates on that principle.
In this country there had been for many years a partnership in
the business of agriculture — two different parties who found
capital for two different purposes. Now, he did not think
that in the time of William IV. the ignoring of anything
except the repairs of buildings, gates, and fences was to be
wondered at, because it was considered unfair. In those
days, although there was a great difference between the re-
sults of good and bad agriculture, the absolute necessity of
restoring to the soil those elements of fertility which were
removed by the produce taken out of it, whether in the shape
of vegetable, cereal, animal, or dairy produce, was not much
recognised. For years people went on grazing on the pasture
lands, and carrying off bone earth and phosphates in the form
of live animals and cheese; yet nobody thought much about
it. It was supposed that the innate fertility of the land
would supply all that was requisite. In the course of time, how-
ever, some one discovered that in Cheshire the pastures were be-
coming gradually deteriorated and impoverished, and the
value of bone manure then cam? to be acknowledged. He did
not think that there was a great deal in the view which had
been set forth, that the land was in one sense a part of the
machinery with which the agriculturist made returns of the
animal and vegetable produce' out of the profits on which he
made his living. Viewed in that sense, even grass laud, which
was generally considered liable for the expense and main-
tenance of fences, the renovation of gates, and shedding, he
thought that a further renovation and replacement in due
proportion of the elements of fertility that were carried off
by each successive crop, animal or vegetable, from the land
ought in fairness to be taken into account. Some of these
had to be replaced rapidly and in a visible form. On the other
hand, some experiments had shown that there were latent
in almost every soil some elements of fertility which required
time and exposure to render them available, and that there
was such a thing as laud recovering to a certain extent by
mere fallowiug, that was otherwise dormant and unavailable
as nourishment for plants, and becoming available by lapse of
time and exposure to the weather. There were other out-
goings on the land which were requisite for keeping it in a
state of fertility and availability besides fences, gates, and
buildings ; and, on the whole, he thought the resolution waa
one which, being generally worded and not setting out any
precise claim or overstating a claim, might well be adopted by
the Chamber.

Proressor Bund was convinced that they could not lay
down any hard-and-fast line applicable to all cases. All they
wanted was a maximum — in other words, a deduction should
not be made above a certain point. If, therefore, a clause was
inserted in the Bill giving full discretionary power to the
Assessment Committee to deal with each case as it came before
them, providing they did not exceed a certain rate of deduc-
tion, the difficulty would be met. Let there be no difference
between houses, lands, and manufactories, but let the Com-
mittee treat every case upon its merits. If the Committee
were to be trusted, trust them fully, and if they did wrong
there was the Court of Appeal to correct them.

22i

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

most
had

tfortescue that any Valuation Bill, sl.our'd be
carefully watched, and if the resolution
been confined to that no one would have given it a more
hearty support than he. But in considering; its language it
teemed to rerer to both the present law and the future possible
law in a manner that was very perplexing to this mind. The
existing law was one thing ; that which was to succeed it was
altogether different. The former left the rating authorities
to fix the gross annual value, and from that to ma/ke certain
deductions in order to obtain the rateable value.

Mr. Arkell said they were tied up to a particular point in
the case of land.

Mr. Hicks was not aware of the existence of such a point"
The words of the statute wsre full and clear. The Assessment
Committee might have laid down for themselves, and had laid
down in the case of money properties, certain lines for the
guidance of their judgment ; but, on reference to the list, it
would be found that the words were clear and full, without
any limitation whatever, and that it was open to the Com-
mittee to make any deductions they chose at this time. When ,
however, they came to the Bill to which reference was made,
that system wasjaltered, and they found tables of deductions
which would require to be very carefully watched. It was-
desirable that the scale should be so constructed that every
fair and reasonable deduction should be allowed to the agricul-
tural interest, and that their net or rateable value should not
be higher in proportion than the rateable value of houses and
manufactories. Entertaining these views lie begged to move
as an amendment : " That any valuation Bill which may be
brought in should be carefully watched, and that those clauses
which relate to gross and net value for assessment should be
most carefully examined, so that full justice may be secured
for the agricultural interest. Such a proposition as that
would, he though, more fully meet the intention of the mover
of the resolution."

Mr. Dunn pointed out that the object of introducing the
principle of deductions into the new Bill was to establish an
equality of assessment throughout the country. At present
some Unions deducted 3 per cent, and some 5 per cent, for land,
and it was this very inequality which had necessitated the intro-
duction of a schedule for a regular, uniform, and general deduc
tion. He did not see that they had any strong argument in
favour of claiming deductions ; but they had no other ground
to go upon, and that was the enormous difference between
mills, and factories, and land. If, then, they were to have
deduc ions at all they must have equality of deduction, that
was so far as different properties were concerned, and they
would beget and perpetuate inequality.

Captain Craigie hoped that they would not pass a resolu-
tion for prescribiug limits in a Bill which was not yet before
them, and recommended that the Chamber should defer the
expression of any opinion until they had the measure in their
hands.

There being no seconder for the amendment of Mr. Hick?,
Mr. Bell moved " That the present system of deduction from
the gross value being so anomalous and complicated, this
Chamber is of opinion that what a hereditament may reason-
ably let at from year to year is a proper basis." He proposed
that there should be no deduction from the gross value if that
value were taken as the basis. If they weut on the principle

Mr. Hicks quite concurred in the opei;iig remarks of Lord of taking the actual annual value; they would doawsy wi't'ff

the system of deduction, and, that done, the poor-law wculd;
be worked much more satisfactorily than at present.

Mr. B-. Conchieye seconded this amendment. In every
Union that he was acquainted with the deductions varied ; the
Assessment Committees took their own line, and the result
was an unfair and grossly unequal rating. The fairest prin-
ciple would be to have no deduction.

Mr. W. Browne, who supported the amendment of Mr„
Bell, said that in his county (E-ssex) the county rate was in
one column, and took the rateable value of different parishes
and Schedules A, put them together, and then cut them in
two. In that way they arrived at the value of different
parishes in Essex. He thought it would simplify matters
greatly to have one column. As to mills, be understood that
the moveable machinery was not rated at all, and that it was
only the fixed machinery that was chargeable to the rates.-
For this the deduction allowed was already 33- percent., which1
he considered a gross inequality.

Mr. Paget, MP., held that if the system of deductions was-
to be maintained the deductions ought to be fixed, for different
Assessment Committees would take different views, and unless
the deductions were fixed by statute they would never get at
an equality of deduction. There was a " sweet simplicity" in-
dispensing with deductions, and the adoption of gross value
would go to get rid of that inequality of which they com-
plained. They could only support that " sweet simplicity" by
showing that they were dissatisfied with the principle on which
property was now rated, and that they were in favour of taking-
the step which had the advantage of simplicity, and aceeptiog
a Bill that went in for levying the rate on the gross value »
The tiling that was rated, however, was undoubtedly the land-
lord's property, and not that of the tenant. True, the rate
was collected through the machinery of the occupier, but the
thing that was rated belonged to the landlord, and there was-
no intention at present to levy a rate on what belonged to the
occupier. But those who went in for an entire change, and'
to briDg in all classes of property to contribute for rating pur-
poses, must expect a separate rating of the tenant's interest^
which at present did not exist.

At the suggestion of the Chairman the resolution proposed
by Captain Clarke was altered so as to read as follows : —
" That in the opinion of this Council the deductions from the
gross estimated rental and rateable value of agricultural land
are not in many cases adequately apportioned, and require to
be equitably adjusted in any new valuation Bill." In this
shape, Sir G. Jenkinton said, the resolution simply recorded
an injustice, and left it open to the Council to deal with any
valuation Bill hereafter as they might think satisfactory ;
whereas the amendment did not record the injustice, and
pointed out some assumed remedy before the Bill had an
existence.

Mr. Bell then withdrew his amendment, and the origiuaj
resolution, altered as above, was agreed to unanimously.
the agricultural holdings act.

The next subject put down on the paper for discussion wa»
" The Operation of the Agricultural Holdings Act."

Mr. James Howard observed that the Act was divided into
two distinct portions. One of them comprised what was called
the Compensation ^lauss, and about that they had abundant
evidence before them ; the other gave power to the limited
owner to charge upon an estate the money he might borrow for
an improvement of the estate. Tlut was a very important part

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of the. Act, and a considerable boon to a large number of land-
owners ; but at present he thought they had not had time to
nee what the operation of that portion of the Act was likely to
be. When, therefore, he saw the question placed on the
agenda, it struck him as being somewhat premature to raise
a discussion respecting it. They had abundant evidence,
collected by the Farmers' Club and by other means, as to the
inoperativeness of that portion of the Act which consisted of
the Compensation Clauses ; but they had no information as to
the operation of the Act on the other important matters to
which 1m lud called attention. Before the Conncil proceeded to
consider the operation of the Agricultural Iloldiugs Act, Its
wished to impress upon it the necessity of allowing the measure
time to develope itself, and of collecting information as to
the second and more important portion of the Act.

Mr. D. Long concurred with Mr. Howard, and recom-
mended that consideration of the subject should for the present
be postponed. He urged, however, that it ought to be dis-
cussed soon, because it was totally useless as between landlord
aud tenant, for nineteen landlords out of twenty contracted
themselves out of its provisions (Hear, hear). At the same
t iase he admitted that they had not yet had sufficient experience
of its action on certain tenures, though they had had enough
to show that the great majority of landlords had contracted
themselves out of it. That being so, the conclusion he came
to was that the Act, instead of being permissive, should be
made compulsory (Hear, hear).

Professor Bund was of opinion that it was even too soon to
discuss the Compensation Clauses, not to say the general
operation of the Act ; for although, had been in operation two
years, there were very few instances in which the Compensa-
tion Clauses had come into effect. Indeed they could not
usefully discuss the Act until they had seen what judicial
interpretations were put upon those clauses by the courts of
law.

Mr. Mansfield, on the contrary, felt that discussion would
not be premature. The Act, he insisted, had fallen short of its
intention and ought to be made compulsory. He was
acquainted with an estate in West Suffolk which had been
held bya gentleman who represented that division of the county
in Parliament for many years. It was now in Chancery, and
the Receiver and Manager was the Hon. Herbert Herbert_
The mansion, with the right of sporting over the estate was let
to a rich stockbroker in London, for £1,000 a year, and the
result was that the tenants of the farm were compl etely eaten
up by game. On one farm, indeed, in 1876, the damage done
by game exceeded the amount of the rent, and a number of
other farms were similar sufferers.

Mr. R. Stratton rose to order.

The Chairman ruled that Mr. Mansfield was not oat o
order, but said it was a question of poliey whether the discus-
sion should be proceeded with.

Mr. Mansfield was entirely in the hands "of the meeting
but he could not conceive a more important subject lor con,
sideration by the Council than the Agricultural Holdings Act.
As it appeared to be the wish of the meeting, however, he
would postpone his remarks to a future occasion.

Mr. Lipscombe denied that all landlords had contracted
themselves out of the Act, and contended that it would be
premature to pass an opinion at that moment either on the
first or the second portion of the measure. Further, he was
prepared to dispute the assertion that the fact of a landlord
contracting himself out necessarily showed that the Act had
bf€n inoperative.

It was then agreed to postpor.e discussion, and after the
County Boards Bill, aud the Cattle Diseases Bill of the
Government had been chosen as the first and secoud su j«cU
for consideration at the meeting in March, the Council
resolved itself into a Special General Meeting of the Chamber,
at which the two fullowiug new Rules were added to the
existing Code. —

On the motion of Mr. Jabez Turner : — " 32nd, Every
Associated Chamber shall be entitled to vote until its subscrip-
tion for the current year is in arrears, and no subscription from
such Chamber shall be deemed to be in arrears until the 31st
day of March in each year."

On the motion of Mr. James Howard. — " That Law 24,
relating to payment of railway fares of elected members of ll.o
Council be rescinded."

Subsequently Mr. Thomas Briggs read a paper on tl.e
operation of the Malt Tax. He argued that this impost we »
extremely detrimental to agricultural produce and disastrous
to the interests of the farmer, and he recommended the for-
mation of a Committee empowered to co-operate with the
Farmers' Club in drawing up a plan of united action for
securing repeal aud putting malt on the same footing as
sugar, which he observed is now extensively used with malt
in brewing.

SMITHFIELD CLUB.

A Council Meeting was held at the Agricultural Hall
on Tuesday, Feb. 5th, at 12 o'clock.

Present : His Grace the Duke of Bedford, President, in
the chair ; Messrs. H. Aylmer, Edmund Beck, J09.
Druce, W. Farthing, Jno. Ford, Hugh Gorringe, R. Garue,
Chas. Howard, Jas. Howard, F. M. Jonas, R. Leeds, R.
J. Newton, Edwd. Paddison, J. E. Rawlence, C. Sewell
Read, M.P., F. Street, R. Stratton, Wm. Sanday, J.
Thompson, T. Garrett Taylor, H. Trethewy, H. Webb,
and Hon. Sec.

The minutes of the last Council meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Veterinary Professor's report on the health, of
animals at the late show was read.

Mr. Thomas Pope of Horningshsra, Warminster, and
Mr. John Hemsley of Shelton, Newark, were elected
stewards of live stock for the next three years.

Mr. Joseph Druce and Mr. Robert Leeds were re-elected
stewards of implements for the present year.

The death of Mr. Thomas Horley.jun., a member of the
Council, was announced, and, in accordance with the Bye
Laws, the vacancy will be filled up at the neit Council
meeting.

The Council revised the prize list for the next show, and
having considered the special rules which prohibit animals
coming to the show which have been exhibited elsewhere
after the 1st November, it was resolved :

That the Council being desirous to throw the show open,
and to abolish the special restrictions Nos. 1 and 2, provided
the stock of the country have a clean bill of health,

Resolved : — That the same be rescinded, subject to the con-
firmation of a special Council, to be held on the first TaestUy
'n October next— viz., October 1st.

22G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

It was resolved that Special Regulations Nos. 3 and 4
be agiin in force, viz. : —

3. Tliat the exhibitor shall send with each animal a certifi-
cate that it has not been, for 14 days previous to its leaving
home for the Smithfield Club's show, in contact with any
animal suffering from contagions or infectious disease. No
animal will be admitted without ihis certificate.

4. That all animals undergo a veterinary examination
previous to being admitted at the doors of the Agricultural
Hall, and that suitable covering be constructed over the outer
yard to enable this to be properly carried out.

It was resolved that three judges for the champion plate
and the £50 cups be selected by the judges of selection-
committee out of those who have acted for cattle ; ani
also three judges for the champion plate for sheep out of
those who have acted for sheep.

In Classes 2, 7, 12, and 17 the ages of steers of the
Devon, Hereford, Shorthorn, and Sussex breeds are to be
" not exceeding 3 years and 6 months " instead of 3 years
and 3 months; and in Classes 3, 8, 13, and 18 of the
same breeds the ages of steers are to be " above 3 years
and 6 months " instead of 3 years and 3 months, and not
exceeding 4 years and 6 months. The prizes for Sussex
cattle are to be increased to the same amounts as offered in
the classes for Devons, Herefords, and Shorthorns.

The prizes in all the lamb classes are to be increased
to £10 for the first prize and £5 for second prize, instead
of£S and £4. It was decided to give a separate breed
cup of £10 for Cheviot and other mountain sheep.

Memorials were read from breeders of Kentish and
Mountain sheep.

In the rules, after the words " The ages of all animals
to be calculated up to the 1st December in the year of the
show," it was decided to add the word " inclusive " after
the word December.

The Council having had its attention called to the bad
state of the Club's dies, from which the medals are
struck, the lion. Secretary was authorised to look to the
same, and order what is necessary.

The Implement Committee was re-appointed as before,
with the addition of the name of Mr. Richard Garrett, in.
the place of Mr. Richard Hornsby, deceased.

It was decided that in consequence of the Council being
compelled to alter some of the special rule? made for the
late show, that the fines for non-exhibition be not
enforced on this occasion ; but for the future the fine for
non-exhibition will be £1 for each beast or pen of sheep,
or pigs, instead of 10s. as heretofore.

The following new members were elected : —
Algernon Hack, Buckmiuster, Grantham.
Charles Clay, the Stennard Works, Wakefield.
Edwin Nearae, [larefield, Selling, Faversham.
Thos. A. Vickress, Hill, Sliufold, Horsham.
Jno. Howard Howard, Britannia Works, Bedford.
Henry Humphrey, Ashington, Pulborough.
Herbert Senior, Tarrant Rushton, Blandford.

Letters were read, and replies ordered to be forwarded.

After a vote of thanks to his Grace the President, the
meeting adjourned to the 1st October, unless summoned
earlier by order of the President.

FREE

TRADE

IN

LAND.

No. III.

I shall now proceed to try to explain what the Land Laws
are under which the condition of things described in my letter
No. 1, published in Ths Examiner and Times of the 20th
of December, 1877 (F. M , p. 126) has been produced.

The laws of which we are going to treat emanated from
and are the offspring, so to speak, of the feudal system esta-
blished In this country by the Conqueror and his successors
in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Since those days a
continued struggle has gone on — the people, assisted by the
lawyers, seeking to modify them or to find out means of
evading them ; the great nobles and sovereigns, who were
interested in them, seeking to maintain or re-establish their
stringency. Sometimes one party gained ground in the strug-
gle and sometimes another ; but as time went on the growing
necessities of the nation and the increasing power of the
middle classes effected many modifications. Then broke out
the great French Revolution of 17S9. It found the feudal
system existing in much greater stringency abroad than in
Great Britain and Ireland, and causing infinitely more misery
among the middle and lower classes in foreign countries than
our modified laws were doing in Great Britain and Ireland.
It swept away the feudal laws, first in France, Belgium and
Holland, and then in Germany and the Northern part of
Italy, but it did not^ affect ^ the modified feudal land laws

which still existed in Great Britain and Ireland. The greaty
estates broke up on one side of the British Channel, but^
thanks to the modifications which had been submitted to
upon the other side, they not only continued to exist, but
they also continued greatly to increase in size and greatly
to diminish in numbers. It is no part of the object of these
letters to trace out thsse gradual and very limited modifications.
All I propose to show is what these laws are which at the/
present time oppose free trade in land and prevent many of
the great estates coming into the market, when, if it were
not for these laws, they would undoubtedly do so. To state
this in the shortest possible manner, they are : —

1. The laws which allow a landowner, by his deed, or by
his will, to prevent his land being sold, or seized, or lessened
in size, either during his life, or for many years after his
death.

2. The law which, if the landowner does not avail himself
of his power to make such a deed or will, gives all his land,
without diminution or charge, and in one undivided estate, to
the landowner's next "heir." This is the law of "Primo-
geniture."

3. The laws which allow the landowner, without selling
any portion of his estate, to let portions for long terms of
years, from 99 to 999 years, and to subject them to all kinds of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

l7

covenants, which affect these portions for generations after
the death of the landowner, and after a change of all the cir-
cumstances under which the leases were made.

1. I will attempt to explain the first allegation. Let me
suppose that Lord D has an estate in the North of England
of 50,000 acres. This is a moderate supposition, when we
remember the sizes of some of the English and Scotch estates.
And yet how difficult it is to realise the meaning of these
figures. A public park of 100 acres is considered a large and
noble pleasure ground for even such a city as Manchester.
But it would require 500 such parks to make an estate of
50,000 acres, and it would require 27 estates of 50,000 acres
each, or 12,500 such public parks of 100 acres each, to form
an estate equal to that which is now, in these days, owned by
the greatest Scotch landowner. Let us suppose Lord D to be
22 years of age and unmarried, and to be the legal owner of
these 50,000 acres, without being fettered by
deed, or will, or mortgage. In such case he
would be able to give, or sell, or divide his
estate just as he pleased. Let us suppose he marries at 22
years of age. In such case the law enables him upon his
marriage to make a deed giving his land to trustees, with
directions to pay a certain sura per annum to his wife during
her life, and the rest of the rental of the estate to himself
during his life, and after his death to pay the rental to persons
specified, to whom I will refer further afterwards. If after
this deed has been made Lord D turns out utterly reckless and
extravagant, gambles, or goes ou to the turf and falls hope-
lessly into debt, as Lord A did in the case mentioned in letter
No. 2, his land cannot be sold, however expedient it may be
that it should pass into the possession and management of
better men. The income of the estate would go to pay the
creditors. There would be no one during Lord D's life to
perform the duties of a landlord ; no one to give leases to the
farmers, which would enable them to safely lay out money in
improvements ; there would be no landlord who could keep up
the farm buildings or mansion, and the estate would fall into
ruin, just in the same way as Lord A's actually did. Many
an estate has been left for many years in such a position,
owing to such a deed. In Lord A's case, the estate continued
in that state for about fifty years. But, further, besides allow-
ing Lord D upon his marriage to tie up his laud by the deed
for his own lifetime, the law allows him to do much more.
Supposing that A, B, and C are his children, or nephews, or
friends, and that C is an infant, one year old, when Lord D
dies. The law enables Lord D, by deed or will, to direct that
as soon as he (Lord D) is dead, A shall have the estate for A's
lifetime ; that after A's death, B shall have it for his lifetime ;
aud that after B's death. C, the infant, shall have it for his life-
time ; and that after C's death the first son of C who attains
21 years of age shall take the estate entailed upon him and
his children. Under such a deed, A, B, and C have, if they
live and succeed to the estate one after another, only limited
interests in the property. Each would only take at the most
a right to possess and enjoy the estate for the remainder of his
own lifetime. Beyond that neither would have any interest in
or power over the estate. Under such a deed, or will, it is im-
possible to sell the estate out and out until some son of C has
attained 21 years of age. This may not happen for 50, 60,
or 80 years after the death of Lord D, and even then the
estate cannot be sold out and out unless C and his son agree to
do so. Thus it often happens that such a deed or will has the
effect of preventing anyone selling the estate, or any part of

it, for 80 or 100 years. During all this time Lord D's esta'e
is kept together, and is prevented being sold, by a dead man's
deed or will. But more than this, Lord D is allowed by law,
by such a deed or will, to lay down all kinds of regulations for
the management of the hind, for paying annuities out of it U
relations aud dependents, for the management of the woods
and mines, and for the investment in other land of the pro-
ceeds and rental of the estate. And however much cirenm-
tances may change during all this period of time after his
death, Lord D's deed or will still ties up the estate, still
regulates its management, still keeps it unsold and un-
divided. Well may it be said that " the dead man's hand "
keeps its grip npon the estate for generations. Very
often, too, an owner like Lord D directs by his
peed or will that A, B, and C shall only have a
right to receive rents, or part of the rents, of the
estate, and that the land shall belong to trustees, who shall
devote the other part of the rents to buying mo'e land, or to
planting more timber, or to carrying out specified improve-
ments, or to rebuilding the mansion, or to some other purpose.
Close to where I am writing, a large estate has been given to
trustees in this way. They are ordered by the will to let the
mansion for a certain number of years, not to allow the heir
to come into possession until he has attained a certain age,
and even after that time to exercise considerable powers over
the property. In this case it is possible that no one may be
able to sell the land for 50 or 100 years. But let us suppose
that C, the infant, has attained the age of 65 years, and that
he has a son who is twenty years of age ; under such a state of
things Lord D's estate would be still bound by his deed or
will, and could not be sold even by C and his son together
while his son was under age. What generally then happens
is this : the father, C, says to his son, " Now, I will make you
an immediate allowance of so many hundreds or thousands
a year for your life if you will join me when you are 21 years
of age in making another deed like Lord D's, and tying up the
estate again as he did." C's son, fearing that if he does not
assent he will only get a very small annual allowance from his
father, C, and being tempted by the prospect of a handsome
immediate income, and perhaps himself understanding how
important it is to prevent the estate from dividing, generally
assents, and then, as soon as C's son is of age, another deed
is made by father and son, tying up the property again,
making it impossible to sell any portion of it, and pro-
viding for its future management for another 60, 70,
or 100 years. By such a process as is here shortly and
popularly described the majority of the great estates of Great
Britain and Ireland are kept out of the market and tied up by
deed or will from one long period of time to another and fcr
successive generations, the new fetter upon the power of sale
being generally added just before the time when the land
would become saleable or liable to be seized in satisfaction of
debts. Mr. Cliffe Leslie says very truly of these arrangements
between father and son : " It is commonly supposed that the
son acts with his eyes open, and with a special contingency of
the future and of family life. But what are the real facts of
the case ? Before the future owner of the land has come into
possession ; before he has any experience of his property, or
what is best to do, er what he can do in regard to it ; before
the exigencies of the future or his own real position are known
to him ; before the character, number, and wants of his chil-
dren are learned, or the claims of parental affection or duty
c an make themselves felt, and while still very much at the

22«

THE FARMER'S MAGAZTNK.

mercy of a predece ssor desirous of posthumous greatness and
power, he enters into an irrevocable disposition, by which he
parts with the rights of a proprietor over his future property
for ever, and settles its devolution, burthened with chargesd
upon an unborn heir." It is quite right to say " burthened
with charges," because when the father and son make these
deeds together, it is usual to provide in the deed for a settle-
ment of monpy out of the rents on the son's future wife, and
for other settle Dents upon any yonnger sons and upon any
daughters the sod may have. I hardly need say, what must
be so well known, that estates are so often burdened with
charges for wives and children, and relations and retainers,
that many a landowner, the extent of whose land makes his
acquaintance believe him to be very rich and able to keep up
a great style and a great hospitality, is in reality a poor man,
who cannot find money for the proper maintainance of his
estate or performance of his duties. As these deeds and wills
are purposely made to hind the estate for many many years
after the death of the landowner who makes them, it becomes
necessary to insert great numbers of directions to the trustees
or to the successive life owners, as to what they may do under
contigencies which may possibly occur in the long series of
years. These directions are called " Powers." Thus
" Powers" are inserted to enable the trustees or the succes-
sive life owners to grant building leases, or mining
leases ; to cut timber und?r certain circum-
stances ; to carry out specified improvements ;
to increase the estate by the purchase of more land ; to raise
money for future wives ; to charge the estate for possible
future children; to raise marriage portioas for daughters;
to raise money to buy commissions, or for the education or
advancement of children ; to mortgage for many purposes ;
to raise money for charitable purposes, &c. &c. &c. The
condition of the titles of mauy of these estates become in this
way complicated in the most extraordinary way, until even the
ablest lawyer finds it difficult, and often quite impossible, r0
ascertain the exact state of the legal ownership of such an
estate. Vast numbers of these estates are, owing to these
deeds and wills, burthened with charges for wives and widows,
charges for sons and daughters, marriage portions, mortgages,
covenants to other owners, building leases, mining leases,
farming leases (each containing scores of provisions), rent
charges to various persons, payments of insurance policies,
payments of annuities, equitable mortgages, equitable claims,
&c. &e. I need not say that in vast numbers of these cases
the actual possessor of one of these estates has not the faintest
idea of what his own legal position is. lie is told by his
family lawyer and by his agent that under the circumstances
he has only so many thousands a year to receive. Beyond
that the state of his title is an insoluble mystery. But I am
far from having given any complete idea of the powers which
our law confers upon the landowner. It not only permits
him to leave the surface of his land to one set of persons, so
tied up that it cannot be sold, but it allows hira to leave the
minerals under the surface to another set of persons, and the
timber on the estate to a third. So, he may give the legal
ownership and management of the land to one set of persons,
without any right to use for themselves any portion of the
rents, and he may give the rent to another set. So, he may
give the legal ownership of the estate to one set of persons,
and give them a right to pay the rents to any person or per-
sons they may select. So, he may direct that the land shall
go to one set of persons after hit death, and that if some indi-

cated event happens it shall go away to another set of persons.
So, if he finds his son has got into the hands of the money-
lenders he may, if the land is not already settled by one of these
deeds or wills, settle the land upon that son's child, so as to
enable the child of the unworthy sou to come into the owner
ship freed from every embarrassment. All these and hundreds
of other strange powers are given to the owner of land by our
law, although such privileges and powers would not be endured
by the law of any other civilised country.

2. The evils which are caused by these deeds and wills are
still further aggravated by the law of " primogeniture." By
this law, if a landowner dies without having made one of these
deeds or wills, and free from debt, the law, peeking under all
circumstances to prevent the great estate from being lessenfd
or divided, instead of giving each of the children a fair and
reasonable portion of his dead father or relation's property,
gives it undivided, uncharged, and undiminished, to the person
whom the law defines under the circumstances of the family
to be the " heir" of the deceased. If such " heir" happen?,
according to the law, to be several females, then the estate

oes undivided to those females. In the case of the owner of
money dying without making a will, the law acts equitably
and without being influenced by the desire to promote the
creation of great estates, and divides the money in the defined
shares amongst the nearest relations, whether they be male or
female. But in the case of land all such considerations are set
aside and made subservient to the one paramount idea of sup-
porting and keeping together the great estates.

3. As if to make confusion worse confounded, the law per-
mits the landowner to bind his land in various cases by leases
for terms of years extending over terms varying from 21 to
999 years. All this has come about in this way : when one
of the deeds or wills which I have tried to describe has been
made, no person who becomes owner of the estate has any in-
terest in the land beyond the term of his own life. Therefore,
unless he were specially empowered in some way or other, he
could not let any portion of his land beyond the term of his
own life, and as the term of his life might terminate any day
or hour, he could not grant a lease upon or under which any-
one could act or expend money with any security whatever. It
became necessary, therefore, either to insert powers of leasing
for long terms in these deeds or wills, or to give the courts
powers to authorise such leases for special purposes, such as
farming, building, mining, repairing, &c. An Act of Parlia.
ment was accordingly passed, giving the Court of Chancery
authority to allow owners under these deeds or wills to make
these leases for these long terms. This really increases the
powers of the landowners to tie up their land, and to
keep the ultimate ownership in their own families, while
they get capitalists to develop their estates and work the
mines, quarries, &c, upon them, to do which the landowner
himself has generally neither the capital, nor the energy, nor
the intelligence, nor the business qualities which are necessary.
But all this is only a palliative for a great evil. The man of
capital under one of these leases has not the full control over
the land. His hands are more or less tied by the many pro-
visions of the lease, while he is often interfered with in his
enterprise in a hundred ways by the provisions of the lease
and by the iu'erests and caprices of the landowner. Besides
all this, it is unnecessary for me to explain how these long
leases, entered into, it may be, more than a 100 years ago,
complicate the state of the title to the estate, and increase the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

229

■difficulties and coit of investigating its title and otherwise
■dealing with it.

I have now endeavoured as plainly as I could to explain
how the law enables the landowner, hy means of these deeds,
wills, and leases, to tie up his estate for long periods of time,
often extending by a succession of these deeds over many
generations. Do not let it be supposed, however, that I would
deprive the landowner of the power of making a will and of
leaving his land to any child, or children, or person that he
chose. I would leave him such a power. I believe, however,
that it would be better for the land, for his family, and for
the country, that the landowner should have no power what-
ever of rendering his land unsaleable, or of withdrawing it
frem the market, or of regulating its management in any way
after his own death. The interests of an infant to whom he
left any land might be satisfactorily gaarded during his in-
fancy by giving the necessary powers either to a guardian
appointed by the will or to one of the courts. Until the
powers of the landowner are thus limited, there is no hope of
seeing anything approaching " free trade in land," or any
reduction in the sizes of the great estates, or any creation of
a class of yeomen proprietors. — JosEPn Kay, in Manchester
Examiner.

COVERED YARDS are taking a strong hold on the agri-
cultural mind ; and I do not wonder at it, while straw sells at
£4 per ton, and while dung-heaps inflict such a heavy cost of
horse and manual labour, and waste of manure elements. 1
am so frequently asked about covered yards, and the means of
adapting them to the shedded yards, that 1 asked the follow
ing question of an eminent Arm at Windsor Ironworks, Liver-
pool, Messrs, Isaac Dixon aud Co. (Limited), and received the
annexed reply, which will enable my brother-agriculturists to
form some estimates according to circumstances. My question
was, "How much would a covered yard cost, 60 feet by 00 feet,
or to cover a space of 3,600 superficial feet," which, accord-
ing to my experience, would comfortably accommodate
30 young beasts, and their feeding troughs, at 120 superficial
feet to eaeh animal, or 25 full-grown cattle at 144 feet each,
which is admitted to be a most ample space. Of course the
following estimate does not include side or end walls or
woodwork ; but in many farmyards these and the sheds already
exist, and it is only the middle open space that requires
covering. According to the annexed calculation, the annual
cost of covering for each bullock would only be about 7s. for
a young beast aud 8s. for a full-grown one. Care must be
had to have ample ventilation in the roof, which is much too
generally neglected, even in new buildings. On this ventila-
tion depends, in a great degree, the health of our animals. I
have a strong conviction that, now that we have elevators to
carry up high our hay and corn stacks, we shall use iron roofs
for our stacks, because, in a space equil to 60 feet square an
immense quantity of corn or hay can be stacked, especially
the former, carried to a height of 25 to 30 feet. Many a
stack of barley becomes injured by rain to a greater amount
than the entire yearly interest on such a covering. If I were
a younger man I should certainly adopt this plan as a source
of profit. The difficulty of obtaining thatchers during the
Larvest at the proper time is the cause of much loss, even in
our dry eastern counties. Dutch barns have been found very
convenient. The time will come when our farmeries will have
the appearance and form of miniature railway stations. I also
annex the cost of such a covered yard as mine, as estimated by

my bricklayer in 1863, and as detailed at p. 487 of my first
volume, How to burnt Profitably. That covered yard of mine
has been approved by almost every farmer who has seen it.
" E<timated cost of the largest of Mr. Mechi's cattle sheds.
Length from out to out 57 feet 6 inches, by 35 feet. Height
of brickwork from floor, 8 feet : —

Bricklayer.

3 rods of brickwork, at £11 £33 0 0

Digging foundation, all materials ... .. 4 17 0

Slating, 2-H square, at £1 8s 33 19 0

7,000 bricks for paving floor, at £1 5s. ... 8 15 0

116 yards paving, at 4d 1 18 8

8 load sand, and carting do., at 3s. 6d. ... 18 0

100 feet patent roll ridge, at 9d 3 15 0

Screws, putting and setting ... ... ... 0 12 10

Carpenter.

Roof, 24£ square, at £1 8s 33 19 0

Iron rods, plates, nuts, &c. ... ... ... 5 0 0

Sliding doors, iron, &c., complete ... ... 2 10 0

Pair folding doors end of shed ... ... 1 10 0

2 doors and frames to side of ditto ... ... 10 0

30 feet of-plate glass at Is .,. 1 10 0

£133 14 6
In my opinion it is of the first importance to have on every
heavy-land farm such sheds, and most particularly the means
of cooking and mixing the cut straw, cakes, bran, malt, combs,
&c. ; a few cast iron coppers of ample size could be cheaply
and advantageously fixed.

The following is an extract from Messrs. Dixon & Co.'s
letter : — " We do not know the exact cost of slated or tiled
roofs, but from what we have been told from time to time, we
believe that in most situations our iron roofs do not cost more
than about two-thirds of either of these two forms. A' though
iron is a conductor of heat, still in practice it is very rare to
have any complaint of iron roofs in that respect, and as they
admit of ready and ample ventilation, they can be used for all
such coverings with satisfaction. We have pleasure to send
you by this post another of our catalogues. Our prices for
covering an area of 60 feet by 60 in two spans with our gal-
vanised corrugated curved iron roofing, including galvanised
iron eaves, 'gutters, cast iron down spouts, galvanised iron
valley gutter between the two roofs, would be £118. The
timber work required could be readily and economically
supplied by local contractors, or by proprietors' own carpen-
ters. We feel sure that in most situations our galvanised
corrugated.curved iron roofs can be erected very much cheaper
than any other roofing except perishable boarded and felt
roof." — /. /. Mechi.

GOLDEN LEAVES.— She was searching over the golden
leaves which the frosts of October had detached from the
stiffened twigs. Her auburn hair took on the gliut of gold
as the bright Bun streamed down over chimney and roof and
tree-top, and the tender lines around her mouth deepened
as she whispered, "O golden leaves, your life is typical of

" At that moment her mother cane down to the gate,

sleeves rolled up, and her big red hands hiding the view of
the bick-yard. " Pawing over them leaves again, ar' ye P"
she excl limed, as she caught sight of the sentimental maiden.
'• Well, now. you trot in here, and wash out the rest of them
coloured clothes, or I'll paw you, I will !" " Yes, mother

dear ; but these golden " " Trot, I say ! Good bar-soap

is the goldenest thing in the market, and a washboard costs
more money than all the yaller leaves on the street." And
he gentle maiden trotted.— American Paper,

230 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CHEESE FACTORIES.

It is generally, and, I believe, correctly, understood that of
the various cheese factories in England few, if any, are doing
as well as they were two years ago. To the milk suppliers
this is a very serious matter, and it is a source of deep regret
to those who, though not milk suppliers, still take a warm
interest in the welfare of the factory system, believing it to
be, all things considered, the best method of cheese-making
yet introduced or discovered. It is a matter of surprise to
many, and of vexation to some, that the factory cheese-making
should have fallen away from the high position it so quickly
attained at first. That it is under a cloud at present none can
deny, but that the cloud will pass away after a time I person-
ally have very little doubt.

But the cloud will not of itself pass away — it will require
helping away.

Various conjectures have been made as to the cause or
Causes of the decline in the reputation of English factory
cheese. Probably some of these are correct, but as no one at
present is sure which of them are right, they might as well
all be wrong for any practical good they have done as yet.
Yet inquiry into the cause is the first step to be tasen toward
the removal of an evil, and conjecture is the first step in
inquiry. Hence, we may venture to hope that the case will
be investigated and a remedy applied.

During my vacation I have inquired of several of our more
active-minded farmers who are interested in the matter what
they consider to be the chief causes of the present unsatis-
factory state of things. The two chief causes, so considered,
are the following : first, the factory managers, having become
familiar with their work, are also become less careful and
particular, and far more hurried and irregular, in the perform-
ance of it than they forncerly were ; it is thought that, being
no longer a new thing, the factory system has ceased to impress
on the managers the important truth that to succeed in it
unremitting care and the most particular and regular attention
are constantly and imperatively necessary. Second, in the
past year or two many farmers have begun to use consider-
able quantities of cotton-cake, in order to force as large a
quantity as possible of milk throughout the summer ; and it
is also feared that many of them do not take the pains they
ought to do in keeping the cans clean, and in cooling and
otherwise taking due care of the milk, in hot weather more
particularly, before sending it off to the factory.

With respect to the first of these causes I am inclined to
think the suspicion is correct in some cases, though not in all ;
in fact, I know it to have been correct in or two cases. But
none of the managers seem at present to take that amount of
interest in their duties which would induce them to meet
together at times to discuss and explain various points relating
to those duties. Who ever heard yet of English dairymen
holding meetings to discuss the pros and cons of, to inquire
into the causes of disappointment and disaster in, and to freely
explain what are considered the soundest systems of practical
cheesemaking— as the American dairymen regularly hold
them? I contend, and have for years contended, that much
good would result if our factory-managers, and others who
are interested in cheesemaking of whatever kind, would meet
during the winter and talk these matters over amongst them-
selves and there is plenty to talk about and think about —

but they never do so. Each man seems content to follow his
own plan,just as if he had nothing to learn himself and nothing-

to communicate to others. This is not the way to improve ;
it is not the way the Americans have in the past ten or tweut.y
years so wonderfully improved their method of cheeiemaking.

Wiih respect to the second cause, I am inclined to think
there is a good deal of truth in it. But, of course, the farmers
who have used large quantities of cotton-cake are perfectly
innocent of any intention to do harm thereby to thimselves and
to others j still, as Hood says :—

Evil is wrought by want of thought,
As well as by want of heart.

And it is quite possible, and more than possible, that one of
the chief causes of the decline in quality of some factory cheese,
may be laid to the door of cotton-cake used injudiciously. I
will give au instance to illustrate this : —

Last year friends of mine were milking two cows, and
gathering butter from the milk. Later in the summer they
began giving cotton-cake to the cows. Mark the result :
there was an increase of milk and butter, but the butter was
very queer, and sold in the market for one-half the market
rates. This went on for several weeks, and my friends were
at a loss to unders'and the cause of this, and they were
naturally very much troubled about it. At length another
friend inquired what the cows were eating beside grass ?
" Cotton-cake " was the answer. " Let me see your butter,'
said the friend. The butter was brought and examined.
JJon't you perceive the odour of the cotton-cake ?" said he
who examined the butter ; " leave off using it, and see what
the result will be." The cows got no more cotton-cake, and
though the milk decreased in quantity, the butter was right
from that day forwards.

Now, as cotton-cake, if used to a considerable extent, wil'
injure butter, will it not injure cheese also? At all events,
whether it does injure it or not is worth proving, and I appeal
to those of our farmers who have used a large quantity of it
in order to force a maximum quantity of milk for the fac-
tories, to discontinue the use of it for one season. At the
same time I would implore the factory managers to be as
diligent, as watchful, as careful, and as regular and anxious,
as if the coming one was their first season. No blame can
then by any possibility rest on them. These things done, and
the farmers taking every care they can to keep the milk sweet
and the utensils clean, my opinion is that we shall see an
instant and a great improvement.

A scientific friend of mine in Bavaria writes me to say that
he has been recently carrying out a series of experiments con-
nected with the irregular ripening of cheese; and he has so
far determined that the cause of this irregularity lies in the
milk itself, further investigations are now being made with
a view to finding a remedy.

Now, if factory managers must be expected to make good
cheese, they must have sound and sweet and clean milk to
make it from. The onus of failure does not rest wholly with
them : on the farmers too must be placed some of the respon-
sibility. But if each and all do what they ought in their own
iuterests to do I am quite sure the result will be satisfactory
to all parties. I fail to see any benefit in any one losing his
temper aoout the matter — this will improve nothing. The
better plan is to set about discovering the cause, and when
it is discovered to apply the obvious remedy.

J. P. Sheldon.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2.; i

T HE HIGH W AYS BILL.

The Bill is entitled " A Uill to Amend the Law relating
to Highways in England and the Acts relating to Loco-
motives ou Roads, and tor other purposes," and the pre-
amble sets out that it is expedient to amend the law
relating to highways in England, and to amend the
Locomotive Acts, 18(31 and 1865. The principal clauses
are as follows : —

1. This Act may be cited as " The Highways and Locomo-
tives (Amendment) Act, IS7S."

~. This Act shall not apply to Scotland or Ireland ; and
Tart I. of this Act shall not apply to the Isle of Wight ; uor
to any part of the metropolis ; nor to auy part of a connty to
whicli the Act passed in the session of the twenty-third and
twenty-fourth years of the reign of her present Majesty"
chapter sixty-eight, intituled " An Act for the better maunge-
raent and control of the highways in South Wales," extends.
PART I.

AMMTDMBNT 01' HIGHWAY LAW. — HIGHWAY DISTRICTS.

3. A requisition to the clerk of the peace under section live
of the Highway Act, 18G2, may be made by any member of a
county board ; and a provisional order made under the High-
ways Act, 1862 and 1864?, by a county board may be taken
into consideration and confirmed or otherwise dealt with at a
general meeting of the board held not less than six weeks and
not more than three months after the making of such pro-
visional order; and notice in the form (B.) in the schedule to
the Highway Act, 1S62, shall not be required to be given.

4. In forming any highway districts, or in altering the
boundaries of any highway districts, the county board shall
have regard to the boundaries of the rural sanitary districts in
their county, and shall, so far as may be found practicable,
form highway districts so as to be coincident in area with
rural sanitary districts, or wholly contained within rural
sanitary districts.

5. Where a highway district, whether formed before or
after the passing of this Act, is or becomes coincident in area
with a rural sanitary district, the rural sanitary authority of
such district may apply to the county board, stating that they
are detirous to exercise the powers of a highway board under
the Highways Act within their district. On such application
the county board may, if they see fit, by order declare that
from and after a day to be named in the order (in this Act
called the commencement of the order) such rural sanitary
authority shall exercise all the powers of a highway board
under the Highway Acts ; and as from the commencement of
the order the existing highway board (if any) for the dis-
trict shall be dissolved, and waywardens or surveyors shall not
hold office or be elected for any parish in the district. An order
made under this section may be amended, altered, or rescinded
by a subse uent order of the county board. Where a high-
way district, being coincident in area with a rural sanitary
district, is situate in more than one county, an order umUrthis
section may be made by the county board of any county in
which any part of such district is situate, but such order and
any order amending, altering, or rescinding the same shall
not be of any force or effect until it has been approved by the
county board or boards of the other connty or comities in
which any part of snch district is situate,

(i. From and after the commencement of the order declaring
'led to exercise the powers Off a
highway board within their district, the following consequences
shall ensue: — All Buch property, real or personal, including
all in! its, and rights into and out of

y real and personal and including things in action,
as belongs to or is vested ui, or would but for this
Act it to or been vested in, the highway board,

or any surveyor! or surveyors of any parish forming part
lie district, shall pass to and vest in the rural
sanitary authority for all the estate and interest of the high-
way hoard, or of such surveyor or surveyors, but subject to all
debts and liabilities affecting the same. All debts and
liabilities incurred in respect of any property transferred to the
rural sanitary authority may be enforced against that autho-
rity to the extent of the property transferred ; all sueh
powers, rights, duties, liabilities, capacities, and incapacities
(except the power of obtaining payment of their expenses by
the issue of precepts in manner provided by the Highway
Acts, or the power of making, assessing, and levying highway
rates) as are vested in or attached to or would but for this Act
have become vested in or attached to the highway board, or
any surveyor or surveyors of any parish forming part of the
district, shall vest in and attach to the rural sanitary autho-
rity ; all property by this Act transferred to the rural sanitary
authority shall be held by them on trust for the several
parishes for the benefit of which it was held previously to such
transfer.

7. If at any time after a rural sanitary authority has become
invested with the powers of a highway board in pursuance of
this Act the boundaries of the district of such authority are
altered, the powers and jurisdiction of such authority in their
capacity of highway hoard shall be exercised within such
altered district ; and on the application of any authority or
person interested the Local Government Board may by order
provide for .the adjustment of any accounts or the settlement
of any doubt or difference so far as relates to highways con-
sequent on the alteration of the boundaries of sueh rural
sanitary district.

8. All expenses incurred by a rural sanitary authority in
the performance of their duties as a highway board shall be
deemed to be general expenses of such authority within the
meaning of the Public Health Act, 1S75.

9. Any two or more highway boards may unite in appoint-
ing and paying the salary of a district surveyor, who shall in
relation to the district of each of the boards by whom he is
appointed have all the powers and duties of a district surveyor
under the Highway Acts.

10. Ail expenses iucurred by any highway board in main-
taining and keeping in repair the highways of each parish
within their district, and all other expenses legally incurred
by such board, shall on and after the first day of April, one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, be deemed to have
been incurred for the common use or benefit of the severa'
parishes within their district, and shall be charged on the
district fund : provided, that if a highway board think it just,
by reason of natural differences of soil or locality, that any
parish or parishes within their district should bear the ex.
peuses of maintaining its or their own highways, they may

R

282

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

(with the approval of the county board or boards of
the counties within which their district, or any part thereof, is
situate) divide their district into two or more parts, and charge
exclusively on each of such parts the expenses payable by such
highway board in respect of maintaining and keeping in repair
the highways situate in each such part ; so, nevertheless, that
eaoh such part shall consist of one or more highway parish or
highway parishes.

11. The accounts of every highway board shall be made up
and balanced to the twenty-fifth day of March in each year,
and as soon as conveniently may be after such day the said
accounts shall be audited and examined by the auditor of
accounts relating to the relief of the poor for the audit district
in which the highway district or the greater part thereof in
rateable value is situate. Every such auditor shall (as nearly as
may be) have in relation to the accounts of a highway board
the same powers and duties as he has in the case of accounts
relating to the relief of the poor ; and any person aggrieved
by the decision of the auditor shall have the same rights and
remedies as in the case of such last-mentioned audit.

12. Notwithstanding anything in the Highway Acts way-
wardens shall continue in office till the thirtieth day of April
in the year following the year in which they were elected, and
on that day their successors shall come into office.

13. So much of section seven ot the Highway Act, 1SG2, a
prohibits the inclusion in a highway district of any parish or
place the highways of which were, at the time of the passing
of that Act, or within six months afterwards, uuder the super-
intendence of a board established in pursuance of section
eighteen of the principal Act, unless with the consent of such
board, is hereby repealed.

EXTRAORDINARY TRAFFIC,

14. Where by a certificate of their surveyor it appears to
the authority which is liable or has undertaken to repair any
highway whether a main road or not that extraordinary ex-
penses have been incurred by such authority in repairing such
highway by reason of the damage caused by extraordinary
traffic thereon arising from building operations, construction of
works, or other exceptional cause, such authority may recover
in a summary manner from any person by whose order such
traffic has been conducted the amount of such extraordinary
expenses as may be proved to the satisfaction of the court
having cognizance of the case to have been incurred
by such authority by reason of the damage arising from such
trallic as aforesaid. Provided, that any person against whom
expenses in respect of extraordinary traffic are or may be re-
coverable under this section may enter into an agreement with
such authority as is mentioned in this section for the payment
to them of a composition in respect of such traffic, and there-
upon the persons so paying the same shall not be subject to
»ny proceedings under this section.

DISCONTINUANCE OF UNNECESSARY HIGHWAYS.

15. If any authority liable to keep any highway'in repair is
of opinion that so much of such highway as lies within any
parish situate in a petty sessional division is unnecessary for
public use, and therefore ought not to be maintained at the
public expense, such authority (in this section referred to as
" the applicant authority ") may apply to the court of summary
jurisdiction of such petty sessional division to view, by two or
more justices being members of the court, the highway to
which such application relates, and on such view being had, if
the court of summary jurisdiction is of opinion that the appli-
cation ought to be proceeded with, it shall by public notice

appoint a time and place, not earlier than one month from t'u,,
date of such notice, at which it will be prepared to hear all
persons objecting to such highway being declared unnecessary
for public use, and not repairable at the expense of the public.
On the day and at the place appointed the court shall hear
any persons objecting to an order being made by the court that
such highway is unnecessary for public use and ought not to
be repairable at the public expense, and shall make an order
either dismissing the application or declaring such highway
unnecessary for public use, and that it ought not to be re-
paired at the public expense. If the court make such last-
mentioned order as aforesaid the expenses of repairing such
highway shall cease, to be defrayed out of any public rate.
Public notice of the time and place appointed for hearing a
case under this section shall be given by the applicant
authority as follows ; that is to say, (1.) 13y advertising a
notice of the time and place appointed for the
heuring and the object of the hearing, with a
description of the highway to which it refers in some
local newspaper circulating in the district in which
such highway is situate once at least in each of the four weeks
preceding the hearing ; and (2.) By causing a copy of such
notice to be affixed to the principal doors of every church and
chapel in the parish in which such highway is situate to which
doors notices are usually affixed. And the application shall
not be entertained by the court until the fact of such public
notice having been given is proved to its satisfaction. If at
any time after an order has been made by a court of summary
jurisdiction under this section, upon application of auy person
interested in the maintenance of the highway in respect of
which such order has been made, after one month's previous
notice in writing thereof to the applicant authority, it appears
to any court of quarter sessions that from any change of cir-
cumstances since the time of the making of any such order as
aforesaid such highway has become of public use, and ought
to be maintained at the public expense, the court of quarter
sesiionsjmay direct thatjthe liability of such highway to be main,
tained at the public expense shall revive from and after such
day as they may name in their order, and such highway shall
thenceforth be maintained out of the rate applicable to pay-
ment of the expenses of repairing other highways repairable
by the applicant authority ; and the said court of quarter ses-
sions may by their order direct the expenses of and incident to
such application to be paid as they may see fit. Any order of
a court of summary jurisdiction under this section shall be
deemed to be an order from which an appeal lies to a court of
quarter sessions.

BYELAWS BY COUNTY BOARD.

16. A' county board may from time to time make, with
respect to all or any main roads or other highways]within their
jurisdiction, and when made alter or repeal byelaws for all or
any of the purposes following ; that is to say, (1.) For prohi-
biting the use of any waggon, wain, cart, or carriage drawn by
animal power and having wheels of which the fellies or tires
are not of such width in proportion to the weight carried by,
or to the size of, or to the number of wheels of such waggon,
wain, cart, or carriage as may be specified in such byelaws ;
and (2.) For prohibiting the use of any waggon, wain,
cart, or other carriage drawn by animal power not
having the nails on its wheels countersunk in such manner
as may be specified in such byelaws, or having on its wheels bars
or other projections forbidden by such byelaws ; and
(3) For prohibiting the locking of the wheel of any waggon,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

233

wain, cart, or carriage drawn by animal power when descend-
ing a hill, unless there is placed at the bottom of such wheel
during the whole time of it being so locked a skidpan slipper
or shoe in such manner as to prevent the road from being de-
stroyed or injured by the locking ot such wheel ; and (4)
For prohibiting the erection of gates across high-
ways and prohibiting gates opening outwards on
highways. Fines, to be recovered summarily, may
he imposed by any such bye-laws on persons break-
ing any bye-law made under this section, provided that
no fine exceeds for any one offence the sum of two pounds, and
that the bye-laws are so framed as to allow of the recovery of
any sum less than the full amount of the line
TART II.

Amendment oi Locomotive Acts, 1S61 and 1865.

17. Section 3 of the Locomotive Act? 1861, and Section 5
of the Locomotive Act, 1865, are hereby repealed, so far as
relates to England, and in lieu thereof be it enacted that it
shall not be lawful to use on any turnpike road or highway a
locomotive constructed otherwise than in accordance with the
following provisions (that is to say):— (1) A locomotive not
drawing any carriage, aud not exceeding in weight three tons,
shall have the tires of the wheels thereof not
less than three inches in width, with an additional inch
for every ton or fraction of a ton above the first three tons ;
and (2) A locomotive drawing any waggon or carriage shall
have the tires of the driving wheels thereof not less than two
inches in width for every ton in weight of the locomotive ;
and (3) A locomotive shall not exceed nine feet in width or
fourteen tons in weight, except as hereinafter provided ; and
(4) The wheels of a locomotive shall be cylindrical and
smooth-soled, or shod with cross-bars of not less than three
inches in width nor more than three-quarters of an inch in
thickness. The owner of any-locomotive used contrary to the
foregoing provisions shall for every such offence be liable to
a fine not exceeding five pounds : Provided, that the Commis-
sioners in the City of London and the Metropolitan Board of
Works in the metropolis exclusive of the City of London,
and the council of any borough which has a separate court of
quarter sessions, and the county board of any county may, on
the application of the owner of any locomotive exceeding
nine feet in width or fourteen tons in weight, authorise such
locomotive to be used on any turnpike road or highway within
the areas respectively above mentioned, or part of any such
road or highway, under such conditions (if any) as to them
may appear desirable.

-•3, The paragraph numbered " secondly " of section three of
the Locomotive Act, 1865, is hereby repealed, so far as relates
to England, and in lieu thereof the following paragraph is
hereby substituted ; namely, " Secondly, one of such persons,
while the locomotive is in motion, shall accompany the loco-
motive on foot, aud shall in case of need assist horses, and
carriages drawn by horses, passing the same."

10. Section eight of the Locomotive Act, 1861, is hereby
repealed, so far as relates to England, and in lieu thereof, be
it enacted that every locomotive used on any turnpike road or
highway shall be constructed on the principle of consuming its
own smoke ; and any person using any locomotive not so con-
Btrncted shall be liable to a line uot exceeding 15 for every day
during which such locomotive is used on any such turnpike
road or highway.

-i). Section eigkt of the Locomotive Act, 1865, is hereby
repealed, so far as relates to England, and in lieu thereof be
it enacted, that the Coi iers ol Sewers in the City of

London, and the Metropolitan Board of Works in the metro-
polis exclusive of the City of London, and the council of any
borough which has a separate court of quarter sessions, and
the county board of any county, may make byelaws as to the
hours during which locomotives are not to pass over the turn-
pike roads or highways situate within the areas respectively
above-mentioned, the hours being in all cases consecutive hour
and no more than eight out of the twenty-four ; and any
person in charge, of a locomotive acting contrary to such bye-
laws shall be liable, to a fine not exceeding £5.

21. A county board may from time to time make, alter, and
repeal byelaws for granting annual licences to locomotives used
within their county, aud the fee (not exceeding £10) to be
paid in respect of each license ; and the owner of any loco-
motive for which a liceuse is required under any byelaw so made
who uses or permits the same to be used in contravention of
any such byelaw, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding forty
shillings for every day on which the same is so used. All
fees received under this section shall be carried to and applied
as part of the county rate.

22. This part of this Act shall remain in force so long only
as the Locomotive Act, 1865, continues in force.

PART III.

PROCEDURE AND DEFINITIONS.

23. A byelaw made under this Act, and any alteration made
therein and any repeal of a byelaw, shall not be of any validity
uutil it has been submitted to aud confirmed by the Local
Government Board. A byelaw made under this Act shall
not nor shall any alteration therein or addition thereto or
repeal thereof be confirmed until the expiration of one
month after notice of the intention to apply for confirmation
of the same has been given by the authority making the same
in one or more local newspapers circulating in their county or
district.

24. All offences, fines, and expenses under this Act, or
any byelaw made in pursuance of this Act, may be prose-
cuted, enforced, and recovered before a court of summary
jurisdiction in manner provided by the Summary Jurisdiction
Acts.

The rest of the Bill consists of definitions and the details of
procedure.

"WONDER WHO THEY'RE FQRP"

My ma's been working very hard,

And alse very sly,
Aud keeps her sewing out of sight

Whenever I am nigh.
I asked her once what made her stop

Her work when 1 came in ;
She said she only stopped to get

A needle, thread, or pin.

The bureau drawer next to mine

Is locked both night and day,
And when ma wants to open it

She sends me off to play.
I stole a peep one afternoon,

Although it was not right ;
But oh ! the little things I saw

Were such a pretty sight.

The cutest, nicest little clothes —

Just big enough for doll ;
But then I know they're not for he) —

She needs them not at all.
I know they're not for ma uor pa,

Nor me nor brother " Uor.,"
For we can't wear such little clothes —

I wonder who they're for ?

—Sydney Mail,

23 !

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE IRISH LAND LAW.

In connection with Mr. Butt's Land Tenure (Ireland)
Bill, we give from The Times a summary of an address
sent or to be sent to the teuauts of Ireland : —

A Committee, with Mr. Butt, M.P., as its leading;
m&rober, was appointed by a Conference of Bepresentatives
of Tenant Defence Associations and Farmers' Clu'is, held
in Dublin on the 17th ultimo, Mr. Butt being pre-
sent; and he, having explained his views, was requested to
draw up an address to the tenant-farmers of Ireland on the
present condition and the future conduct of the question. The
address has just been agreed ou by the Committee, and is to
be immediately circulated among the electors of Irish coun-
ties and the members of the Tenant Farmers' Organisations
Addressing the farmers as " Brother Tenants," the document
alludes to " the uncertainty which exists as to the moment a
general election may be held," and recommends the tenant-
farmers to prepare at once for such a contingency. When-
ever (it adds) such an election shall occur it will be of the
greatest importance that the great question of Tenant-Right
should be sabmitted to every constituency iu Ireland. It pro-
ceeds:— " It is a question which, strictly speaking, is not a
political one. Its nature is eminently social, and for this
reason, one on which all creeds and classes can unite. It is a
demand that the Irish people shall be permitted to cultivate
thsir native soil in peace, to amass property thereon, and to
have the saeredness of that property recognised by law."
Having regard to this statement of principle, the tenants are
informed that their " imperative duty at the next election will
be to vote for that candidate only who will beyond doubt-
pledge himself to contend in Parliament and out for the
Tenant-Right that will give the security in question. Agri-
culture is the ouly Irish industry ; by it all classes hang ; when
it prospers, the community prospers ; when it fails or is
oppressed and disheartened, every class and interest feel the
effects. When, therefore, you demand fixity of tenure
immunity from rack-rent, and the right to hold, to bequeath,
or to sell your interest or propsrty iu your farm improvements
in the open market, you demand the concession of a Tenant-
Right you are entitled to not merely in your own, but in the
national interest and for the national benefit." Proceeding to
analyse the present condition of the Irish farming classes, the
address says : — " Every one conversant with the subject knows
that under existing land laws the industry of the tenant is
possible ou the sufferance of landlords only : that the security
necessary to make the industry of farming prosperous is denied
to it ; that the required capital to make it flourish can only
be sunk at the risk of its seizure and confiscation ; that when
property is created on the land it has no recognition by law
and that, finally, when occupations are improved by the efforts
»f their holders to make two blades of grass and two ears of
eorn grow where only one of each grew before, they find
themselves rented up or taxed upon their own improvements
treated, in fact, as if they had been guilty of a crime. The
•onsequence of this state of things Mr. Butt and the Com-
mittee allege to be " to check all farming enterprise beyond a
hand-to-mouth system ; to narrow the employment of that
labour which constitutes a nation's wealth to a minimum ; 1o
half cultivate the land ; to produce therefrom half the food

and riches it is capable of under a better and juster order of
things ; to bring decay upon the towns and villages of the
community ; to paralyse internal trade and commerce, and to
produce general dissatisfaction and discontent." The Mitchels-
town libel cae, the details of which the document sets forth,
" shows a state of things unparalleled in any other civilised
country on the globe," and " every trial of landlord and ten-
ant in a couit of law" is adduced as containing evidence of
this statement of the condition of the Irish tenant. The
tenant-farmers are then reminded that by the possession of
the franchise and the ballot-box they have the power to alter
their condition, for they, in fact, " hold the Parliamentary
representation of their race in the hollow of their hands," and
'' all creeds and all classes stand on one platform for fixity of
tenure, valuation of rent, and the right of free sale." Worth
and South should unite on the subject to utilise their power,
and the address advises " a common understanding and a com-
mon resolution at the polling booth, to return no candidate
there who does not in the most unmistakable manner pledge
himself to neglect no opportunity of procuring them the
Tenant-Right they are entitled to," and in this way obtain
c' the freedom of the people ou their native soil, which ia their
inalienable right." The document admonishes the farmers by
constitutional means to overthrow " absolute Landlordism,"
and asks, "Are 19,000 landlords for ever to stand in the way
of peace and plenty o'er a smiling land ? Are the millions to
be lor ever under their heel? You do not grudge them a fair
rent. Why permit them to rack-rent you with one hand and
to hold up the threat of eviction to the man who is over-
rented with the other ?" The " rack-rent," it is explained, is
not merely on the landlords' land, " but also on the tenan's
property and improvements," and the tenants are informed
they have as much " property and capital invested" as the
landlords. All the " buildings, fences, and surface improve"
ments" are claimed as the tenants, and all the " highways,
bridges, gaols, county-courthouses, aud other adjuncts which
go to render the landlords' property secure and enhance its
value" are also "claimed as the tenants' property " if the ex-
penditure of their money thereon constitutes a right of pro-
perty. " The lengthy address to the tenantry of Ireland thus
concludes; —

" Are the emigrant ship and the workhouse to be for ever
alternatives to you ? Perish the thought ! You are entitled
to a very different prospect. More than that, you have it in
your power by constitutional means to overthrow a system
which has nothing but ' landlord-made law' to gild its exist-
ence. Once more we remind you that you have in your
possession the weapon of the ballot whereby to cut and carve
out your emancipation from that landlordism which enthrals
you, which debases you, and which oppresses and plunders
you. We adjure you to use that weapon unsparingly at the
polling-booth. Enact the laws you want therp, and they must
before long be enacted elsewhere. Again, we impress yon to
unite as one man for security to your homes. A pull, a strong
pull, and a pull together, and Tenant- Right is won, victory
assured, liberty yours, and your freedom from serfdom and
grinding* tyranny accomplished,"

TITK FARMER'S MAGAZINE

FAR M E RS' CL U B S.

C A R M A RT II E N.
At the last quarterly meeting Df the Club, Mr. Arthur
Rees, president, in the chair, Mr. C. Bishop, juu., read
a paper on "Tenant Farmers Economy," of which the fol-
lowing is tlie principal portion : —

I have selected for my subject that of ': Tenant Farmers'
couomy," and in the few remarks I shall have to make under
this head I wish it to be distinctly understood that when
alluding to the waste — the lamentable waste — that often takes
place in the everyday life of the tenant fanner; I do no
refer to the well-to-do farmer, of easy circumstances, who com-
paratively may be said to live on the fat of our valleys, ami
who can well afford to do much as they like, but I espi
allude to such as rank as smaller agriculturists or upland far-
mers, often employing little or no paid labour in their opera-
tions. I have said my subject is " Economy " — a text that
of necessity implies in itself waste of [some kind — a loss of
means or po-ver to the end each has in view ; but then to
accuse a proverbially tight-fisted farmer of want of economy
sounds no doubt very much like a parados, for we all know
how closely he looks, thinks over, and looks again at both
sides of a hard-earned shilling ibefore spending it, and then,
when he does spend it, how keenly he Isees he gets his full
change back ! But it is uot of money alone we can
be prodigal, nor is it of that money itself that the farmer
could be said to be wasteful— of this he is, has been, and
always will be a " Cybydd," but it is of other things— of time
more especially — that true measure of human existence and
human exertion, aud of everything that human exertion pro-
duces— that the farmer is a hereditary spendthrift of the most
reckless kiud. Now, it is a well acknowledged axiom iu the
civilised world, in all muudane pursuits, where man's industry
is the staple article, that time is considered as a term synony-
mous with money, but to this general proposition of the one
being equivalent to the other there appears one anomalous
exception to the rule (perhaps just to prove it), and that
exceptiou is our well-known friend the old fashioned farmer
himself, who follows the footsteps of his great-grandfattter, and
whom we should regard as quite an antiquated anomaly of our
modem money-making population. f Having stated broadly, that
the tenant farmer is prodigal of his tune, and consequently of
that'article vulgarly called " tin "too (tior led as

synonymous with money), to prove my proposition I must hive
recourse to figures and facts, for propositions without :.
or facts are like clocks without dials, plates, or hands — things
that have no meaning, and are unintelligible to our under-
standing without something to measure by. Any common
almanack tells us plainly that each year (except leap year,
an exception I have to ladies to account for) comprises 365
days, and that these 305 days include 52 called Sundays, that
are set apart for rest and religion'; so in J fact the number of
real working days in the, year (after takiug Christmas Day
into account) are reduced to 3 13. Of these 313 days available
for the business of life, let us see how many the farmer actually
works upon his farm : First, he gives up at least one in every
week for the purpose of attending his neighbouring market
but whether he does so necessarily or no 3eems more than
questionable, whenever \\r is blessed with a "better half," who
might well he trusted to transact all tho bartering anil ma

in.; of I old then again occur periodically our dis-

trict fairs, whither of necessity he goes, if not to buy or sell
firm product, at Least to .show himself, to meet his friends, and
With all the^e claims upon
his time, still rther calls, for the landlord would look

indeed were his ten it himself from the lialf-

ludit, and probably so would the lithe-owner, yet
my deductions have far from come to an end; for are there
ions and funerals, "crwrdds" and preach-
ings, weddings and biddings, county courts and tax-meetings,
petty sessions and quarter sessions, assizes and elections, with
school boards, and an occasional coroners' inquest or court
leet, all laying claim to a share of the farmer's time, and
which the farmer has been taught to think they have a perfect
right to tax. Occasionally also comes eisteddfods, club meetings,
ploughing matches, and agricultural shows, and on great
gatherings of this kind the farmer (generally gregarious in his
recreations) is certainly expected to attend, for he would be
thought sadly wanting in social feeling were he to absent him
self. So that putting all these numerous deductions down at
the very lowest calculation, and subtracting the sum total
from the figures I originally started with, we arrive at a balance
of something like two hundred days in the year as the real
working days the farmer devotes honestly to the cultivation of
his laud, subject of course to;some further small subtraction, sueh
as blacksmith shops,corn mills, and the like naturally suggests.
If my deductions arc correct (and if challenged I could give them
in more arithmetical form) then I am not far wrong in saying
the tenant farmer does not actually labour upon his farm more
than something very like six or eight months out of every
twelve. How far he is a willing offender, and personally
responsible for this wasteful expenditure of time, I leave for
others, who know him and his long-tongued race better than
do, to say; but I will add this much, that no other calling
in this country, be he merchant, manufacturer, or mechanic,
where so much depends upon labour, upon industry and upon
perseverance, could possibly prosper under similar circum-
stances. Secondly, to the waste of time comes that of natural
heat ; the waste in farmyard manure ; and the waste of
mechanical power ; and in respect ,to these again the small
extent to which farmers make themselves amenable to what
I may term the most simple and elementary principles of
nature, of chemistry, and of science is truly deplorable. The
nscessity of clipping the lively growth of our hedges, so as to
admit freely the rays of the sun, the folly of allowing rain to
wash manure heaps, and the unwillingness to purchase even
the simplest machinery — these and other faults of manage-
ment, it must be confessed (with our hill-farmers at least), is
the rule aud not the exception ; and to remedy such defects,
where capital is not so much required as a proper expenditure
of time and labour, should be the effort of every well-wisher
of the farming interest in the country. Now, as to natural
heat, I will veutnre a few remarks. Those who are most
conversant with the farming features of this neighbourhood
must know full well that in many parts the average size of
our enclosures does not exceed two or three acres in extent ,
so that the amount of land covered by hedge rows becomes
very considerable when compared with the laud itself; and
then, again, when the growth of this network of hedges with
their ditches are allowed often for years to run riot, no ray of

236

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

sun during winter and early spring can possibly touch the
soil. Doubtless small holdings necessitates small fields, and
equally necessary against our " Sou-'westers" is proper shelter
for cattle, commonly called ," cysgod ; " but that miles npon
miles of wild hedges should thus he allowed to rob our pas-
tures and our crops of that natural heat of which they are at
such seasons in so much need is a practice that cannot be too
strongly condemned. We all know our subsoils are mostly
cold aud clayey, and our climate wet ; therefore nothing can be
more suicidal than to exclude the invigorating influence of the
great luminary's rays in the way we do. Besides the heat of
the sun, to which I have alluded, we possess another almost
equally powerful agent, acting as a caloric, and which is to be
found in our much abused rainfall— but here again the farmer
generally omits to reap the full benefit of those gifts of nature,
gratuitously brought to his very threshold. Many know, but
some may not, that the raindrops which descend in such abun-
dance on our western coast (and which in Wales the steepness
of our hills requires) are produced by a process of sea evapora-
tion, caused by the warm waters of the rapid Gulf Stream coming
either into contact with the icebergs floating from the North
or else with the cold waters of the great Atlantic. These
tepid and cold waters, meeting on the western, side of Ireland?
produce large masses of vapour, which assume the form of
clouds ; and these (naturally partaking of the warmth of that
gulf-stream from whence they rise) are, when westerly winds
prevail, driven to our shores, and descend in those downpours
(of which we have recently had such experience! ), and if
allowed to percolate freely through our soils and pass away,
our land would be continually watered with a kind of tepid mois-
ture. Instead of this, now, what do we find ? Why, ditches
choked up, weeds unchecked, rushes green, and water cold and
stagnant, so that everything is chilled and soured, and that
invaluable rainwater— one of nature's greatest [gifts— ceasing
to perform the proper functions to aid the agriculturist, for
which by a wise Providence it was designed. A few words
next as to the waste of mafwre. The waste of the farmyard
manure heap (not so [great as formerly) is still much more
common than many would suppose. It is not an unusual thing
to find the manure heap placed on the very edge of some steep
declivity, with a rapid stream of water just below, into which
its drainage falls ; and still more common to find the manure
itself spread about without form or shape. Seldom is any
attempt at a cesspool made, where the manure might be sub-
merged in its own fluid,and allowed to rot in as compact a mass
as possible, avoiding evaporation. To expose manure to atmos-
pheric influences is one of the most certain ways of destroying
its fertilizing properties, for nothing is more volatile than th e
ammonia or nitrogen generated by decomposition, and nothing
so feeding to vegetation (as chemists now tell us) as these very
gases, which the farmer thoughtlessly allows to fly away into
empty space. Would any man in his senses treat guano, super-
phosphate of lime, or any artificial manure in the same way
he does his home-made article '? If he did, rest assured he
would soon find out they brought back but a poor return for
his money. By all means, I say, let the common manure
heap, if kept above ground, be as little exposed to wind and
rain as possibly so that no evaporation takes place until
actually required for use ; and when used, get it into
the ground as quick as possible, Batter than this, sink it in
tanks of the rudest description, and it will rot well and take
care of itself. The waste of power was the fourth and last
head under which I divided my remarks, and by waste of
power! mean that mechanical power which, modern invention

has so bountifully given us ; and here I may observe that,
differing from the other waste to which I have referred, no-
thing can be done under this head towards improvement and
enlisting the aid of this great agent to ameliorate the farmer
without some small expenditure of capital on the part of the
farmer himself. It may be that mowing and thrashing
machines are extravagancies far beyond the means of the hill-
side man, in this county at least ; but then there are many
other appliances of a more simple and inexpensive kind that
surely come within his means ! How many of those small
farmers are there who possess such things as turnip cutters,
gorse-pulpers, haymakers, chaffcutters, or water-wheels? If
he has them not, it is, I expect, more from ignorance and
indifference than from lack of capital that he neglect* the
assistance of such needful machinery as I refer to ; and with
his want of enterprise and courage, and with his disbelief in
indirect gains, it is to be supposed that if he fails to get as
much out of the land as he ought, and finds the times hard, he
thinks the fault is everybody's but his own ; and rails against
his landlord and his rent, as if they had robbed him of his
savings for his old age. Such a starving system as this is a
penny wise and pound foolish one, and jyet it ought to be
manifest, and is manifest to all save him, that witli paid labour
so dear, and with the help of these modern contrivances so
numerous, yet so neglected (economising labour and cheapen-
ing farm produce as they should), any farmer must be left be-
hind in the great race for wealth who neglects to make use of
this mechanical power to whatever extent his limited means
will permit. Such, then, gentlemen, is but an imperfect out-
line of what was announced for discussion here this evening.
Regretting as I do that the duty of doing so has not fallen into
more able hands, I have endeavoured, in the limited time
allotted to us, o n which I fear I have trespassed, to give a
rough though honest sketch of what seems to be some serious
defects in the every day life of the tenant farmer. Probably
by some my remarks may be thought too severe, but if over-
drawn the will must be taken for the deed, and should I err
in this respect. I try, at least, to err on the safe side, for rest
assured that hard words rather than flattery is the cure where
long-rooted evils have to be eradicated. I leave to others who
follow me to enlarge on, or to detract from, my criticisms as
they think proper ; for to add now more to what I have already
said would expose me to the charge of myself offending against
one of those very principles of economy I so urge upon the
tenant-farmer to take to heart. If my subject be not a brilliant
one, it may perhaps still commend itself as being asimple, prac-
tical and useful one to study ; and certainly one of its greatest
merits would be established should its discussion but prove
in any way to by the means of at least attracting the attention
of our district agriculturist to the full appreciation of these
great gifts of nature and science he seems so lightly to value,
and, I grieve to say, so often heedlessly wastes, and by utilising
which he might not only add to his own individual prosperity,
but at the same time contribute in the aggregate to the general
amelioration of his class and to the productive wealth of his
own country.

Mr. Pugii said that for his own part he really thought
the farmers were doing much what they ought to do, but of
course there was room for a little improvement. With regard
to the waste of manure the reader of the paper was undoubtedly
right. Certainly, in some places the dang heap was placed
in the wrong spot, and much of the liquid ran into the river.
It was plain that that was wrong, and should be avoided. At
meetings of these societies he had heard many complaint*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

2 .",7

regarding the ^uulity ot the artificial manures that were sold.
Well, if it did not turn out to be what they wanted and ex-
pected, it was obviously their business to make the most of the
manure of their own cattle. It might be difficult for many
to get those buildings, sheds, or whatever was necessary for
preserving it, but at any rate they could do a great deal to the
purpose without incurring great extra expenses, which those
who had not leases or other security could not be expected to
incur. Some years ago it used to be said that the farmers
were greatly to blame for not making most of their cattle all
the year round, especially in winter. It was said that at the
beginning of spring they were very different from what they
were at the end of autumn. All this had been remedied of
late years. They were now quite aliveUo the necessity of
keeping their cattle up at all seasons, and not letting them
lose ilesh. A good deal would be done likewise. in the saving
of manure when they were brought to consider the subject
seriously. He did not know how they wasted much time. They
were immensely indebted to the tenant-farmer for rising so
early, going to bed late, and eating the "bread of cheerfulness.
Their motto would be given as " Early in the morning before
the bread of day." In harvest and other busy times if there was
work to be done^ they did not leave off at the same hour as
toilers of other classes, but went on with their work singing,
" We won't go home till morning, till daylight does appear.'

Mr. Thomas, of Moreb, being called upon, said he agreed
with most of the remarks made by the reader of the paper.
lie showed that there was 312 working days in the year, bnt
that the farmer spent very many of these days at fairs and
similar places. But it usually happened that the .farmer had
a son, a servant or some other person besides himself who kept
the work going on when he was at the fair, so that the time
was not spent in idleness. As to putting the manure in a pit,
he (Mr. Thomas) remembered hearing at one of their meet-
ings a good remark — from Mr, Gwyn, he thought it was — to the
effect that the manure might be" put in a dry place, but well
covered, so^that the ammonia could not escape. That plan would
keep it in a better state than the proposed method forjkeeping
it underground.

Mr. Davis, Typicca, said he would only say jusl a word, and
that was with regard to putting the ;; manure in heaps. He
supposed they were all against putting the man n re in places
where any of the ammonia might be lost, and so was he, bu*
what was to be done with it. They could not carry it ent to
the fields which were too wet these damp seasons. They could
not take it from their farmyards. He was afraid to put it in
heaps, or else he would not have come from home that day.
He should be most happy to receive any instructions that
might be offered on the subject.

Mr. Morgan, of Llwyn, thought Mr. Bishop had been too
hard on the tenant farmers. He had given them an account
of the number of days in the year, the number of Sundays iu
the year, and the number of days in the week the farmers were
likely to attend at market, at the same time expressing his
opinion that the market work could be as well done by the
farmer's " better half." Now, he (Mr. Morgan) should be
sorry to find, even if the " better half " could do the workt
that the hard workad farmer was to be debarred from going
out for recreation, even if it was not necessary for him to go
out for information. Some of them saw their daily papers and
read the market accounts and the prices quoted ; but if they
did not go frequently to their own market how were they to
know which was the highest or lowest market ? He did
not object to their "better halves" doing certain kinds of work

but the "wui . Iiould mind their own occupations.

The former could attend to the domestic affairs, but if the lar-
mers did not attend the fairs thcy'would not know what to ask
for a beast if they brought one out to sell. A man, to be a
farmer, must be as well coached in that as a lawyer or any pro-
fessional man must be in the routine of his particular business,
lie did not think fault should be found with the farmer for
attending fairs ; and as to attending shows, unless he went
round the best shows of stock and saw the bloom of them, he
was apt to become vain, and think his unimproved stock at
home unsurpassed. Then, when he brought such stock to the
market he was naturally disappointed to find how small was the
price he could get for them. A farmer going to the showyard
was iu much the same position as a child examining a copy
his master had set him.

Mr. Etahs, Cilsane, said there was nothing to be made by
farming, especially during the last few years. When the
seasons were more uniform and more favourable than at pre .
sent a little profit was made ; but now it was hazardous, so
wet, and so irregular that you could not even clean your ditches
because of the incessant rains. As to corn-growing, no man
could now do it, and it was getting worse every year. How was
a man to make profit where everything was against him ?
Rates, rents, and taxes, insteadjof lowering according to their
other circumstances, were getting higher every day. There
was no allowance for the farmer, and therefoie his must he a
very losing game indeed. He defied any man to make the two
ends meet properly unless he had the lease of a cheap farm*
As to saving the manure, there was certainly a great waste
often ; but who was to blame ? Such was the position of the
homesteads that they were frequently in the most convenient
place to lose the whole of it— on the margin of rivers or rivu-
lets. How was the tenant to remedy that ? He had no lease,
no other house convenient but that which stood in an improper
position from time immemorial. How was the man to get a
livelihood ? With regard to the employment of more machinery
he had not the meaii3 for that either in the majority of in-
stances.

The paper was further criticised by Mr. Lewis, Mr. Lewis
Bishop, Dr. Hopkins, Mr. Prosser, and the President, and

Mr. C. Bisnor in the coarse of his reply, said :—
He did not cry down the use of time or deny the farmer's
right to go to fairs. But take the hill-farmer
for instance. Had he 52 beasts to bring to fairs in a year ?
All farmers needed to be well up in the prices of the day, and
to attend markets and fairs when they had any actual occasion
to do so. As to the landlords building sheds for the hill
farmers, he feared that idea was not practical. He was sure
that when such matters were brought under the notice of our
large laudords, they_were never backward in coming forward
to do what was just under the circumstances of the case. He
would like to find any farmer of those who complained that
had asked his landlord to build these sheds. As for our up-
land farmers these sheds were entirely unnecessary to their
system.

ST A IND ROP.
The annual meeting of thi3 Club was held on Friday,
Feb. 8th, in the Club-room at the Scarth Memorial
Hall. The business being of a formal character, it is
needless to say more than that the r tnds increase. The
dinner was held at the Queen's Head Inn, Staindrop, and
was attended by a goodly number of members and

238

THE FARMER'S MAUA21NE.

friends to agrici irth occupied the

chair. After the usual loyal ti

Mr. Metcale gave "Tbe Du land," and re-

marked that as his Grace was bo perfectly well known to those
present, it was unnecessary for him to use any nnral
words on this occasion. They all knew he was a most gene-
rous landlord, and would do everything in his power for thp
benefit of his tenants.

Mr. Scartii (Chairman), in responding, said, on behalf of
the Duke of Cleveland, he begged to thank them for the com-
pliments paid to his Grace. He felt certain his Grace was
well known in this part of the country to almost every one, and
if ever there was any question of real interest to bs brought
before his Grace he was only too glad to meet it in a fair and
proper manner. The speaker said it now fell to his duty to
open a discussion on " Subjects connected with Agricultural
Interests," in doing which he would only allude to a few
questions that were interesting at the present time. On the
occasion of the last anniversary he said there was some fear
entertained with reference to the importation of dead meat.
They had another year's experience of the imported dead meat
from the American continent, and it seemed to him they might
dismiss the apprehensions entertained of that trade injuring
the farmers of England. It was apparent from the various
channels of information that first-class beef could be sent in
excellent condition to England, but only at such a cost that it
did not interfere with a fair profit being obtained by the
English producers of beef for what they sent into market, and
he did not think, from the information that had come to their
knowledge, the inhabitants of the United Kingdom had the
least cause to regret the importation from the American con-
tinent or elsewhere. With regard to the importation of live
stock, thai was quite a different question, and what they
naturally dreaded, for it seemed to be the opinion of those
well versed in the question, that with live stock came those
terrible consequences, rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, &c.
The Select Committee appointed to inquire into this subject,
as they all knew, had very recently considered the question,
and had recommended certain wise restrictions which he
hoped would be carried out this year. They as farmers ought
to give all the support they were able in carrying out those
recommendations- It seemed to him a most outrageous thing
that our flocks and herds should be subjected to attack by an
imported disease — for such it was denominated by the most
learned of the veterinary departments. Petitions were being
prepared at several of the Chambers of Agriculture for pre-
sentation, and he hoped this Club would be no exception, but
unite with others in signing and forwarding a petition to the
Government to carry out the recommendations of that Se lect
Committee. It was monstrous to think onr herds had to run
the risk of a foreign disease which had done more harm to the
farmer than anything that had happened for years, entirely
brought about by the importation of live stock. He was an
advocate for free trade, but if free tr de brings destruction to
our herds and flocks we should unite to prevent it. He said
there were many present who had suffered in this district to a
serious extent. They had learnt by the supply of dead meat
that distance was no object. Then why, as farmers, did they
not imitate this system ? It seemed to him they did not pur-
sue a wise plan in sending fat live stock to market. They had
evidence that dead meat was carried safely without loss, and
the loss by the carriage of live animals must fall indirectly
upon the farmer. He thought if the animals were slaugh-
tered at home and sent to the great centres of consumption it

would be :i considerable gain to all parties, lie could not
see. any difficulty from the example they had of good fresh
meat from the American continent, and he thought it would
not be many years before they slaughtered at home, i.e., upon
homesteads, for it was a great advantage where the
fanner vras in a position to do so ; and they must not ignore
the fact that live cattle lost weight in a long journey. With
regard to straw lie was astonished, and would like an explana-
tion from some of the practical men, why it was such an
enormous price at present, for it seemed to him to be nearly
on a par with hay. Doubtless the farmer had lost by wheat,
but In, was a gainer in straw. Straw had been gradually
creeping up in price, which he thought was a proof the
demand was much greater than formerly. The badness of the
root crop may have had some little influence. But that
should be no reason, but rather the reverse, because if a man
economises his roots, i.e., does not waste them, he will require
all the more straw and hay to make them really useful in
feeding cattle ; and this year, through the failure of that crop)
they had no doubt been taught a lesson — economy in the use
of roots. The snpply of straw was a question of much im-
portance in this district, and he believed they had paid too
little attention to the top-dressing of corn and cereal crops.
He. believed they gained a considerable return for what waa
judiciously expended in top-dressing grain crops. It improves
the yield and increases the bulk of straw. Nitrate of soda and
superphosphate guano, applied as a top-dressing, would repay
the outlay. They could see, by the experiments of Mr.
Lawes, who had read an excelleut paper at tbe London
Farmers' Club about a month ago, what land would do,
without being deteriorated, when properly mauured ; and if
they followed the advice of Mr. Lawes they would have great
increase of straw. This is the time of year they should take
into consideration what manure was most desirable, as dif-
ferent soils require different manures; and he should very
much like to hear his neighbours' experience of the particular
manures they have found to answer best-
Mr. Ralph Peverell thought top-dressing an excellent
thing, especially for corn, and they who tried it would be well
repaid by bulk in straw, and he considered nitrate of soda the
best for corn. As regarded the supply of imported dead meat,
he thought they need not be afraid so long as they could
realise 10s. a stone for their own beef.

Mr. Thomas Awde remarked if he began to recommend
top-dressing they would all conclude he was speaking inte"
restedly, but on the whole he considered it an excellent thing.
He thought the present deficiency of straw was owing to
farmers being somewhat restricted in the sale. He argued
that farmers ought not to be tied down to a hard and fast
line not to sell it, because if they applied the proceeds of such
a sale in the purchase of a top-dressing the benefit would be
apparent. He quite agreed with the Chairman that a great
deal of the root crop was really wasted. With regard to arti-
ficial manures, he considered nitrate of soda a first-class top-
dressing, but the high pTice prevented more being used. He
thought it would not be sold for much less than £17 a ton
this year, and there might probably be an increase of 10s.
a ton in the price of guano, more particularly because of the
stones being taken out of it. He mentioned a case which
occurred in the neighbourhood of Auckland last year, where
there was a quarter of a hundred weight of stones in each
bag of manure.
Mr, Francis Hodgson thought they had not much to

iply of foreign meat. At one time it was
very much spoken about, and every one was beginning to
tremble. \ regarded foreign diseases, be instanced the
troubles of a farmer now-a-daya to a woman who brings np

a family to the best of her means, and perhaps prepares one
for a parson, one for a chemist, another for a doctor, and
perhaps one for a lawyer, and, just as bet hopes are about
being realised, a fearful pestilence sweeps tlu-m off and her
hopes are dashed to the ground. Now, it was the same with a
farmer: he had a good deal of trouble to raise up his stock
and put everything into good order, and then the Americans
and others send the diseases over and blight all their hopes.
He considered it would be a great benefit if they killed all
their own meat. They had very good markets at present, but
they would be better if the stock was slaughtered at home
With regard to straw, lie thought the tenantry ought to have
more liberty.

Mr. GEOttGB AMOS (Woodland) could say very little on
ing either straw or oils. Be thought he was something
like the people in llolwiek, who expected corn to he grown in
pokes. However, he found in his experience that lime was the
best top-dressing that could be applied. With reference to
the meat question, it was thought by some last year that the
importation would do a deal of harm, but as things had turned
out a great deal of good had been done, for many poor,
families have thereby been fed who otherwise would not

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 239

have been. lie was very much averse to live-stock impor-
tation.

Mr. Arr.s (West Holme) thought they had little to fear
f'runi the importation of foreign cattle— they were such poor
little insignificant things. And as to the American meat
question that would all fall through. With regard to straw
he thought the deficiency was owing to barley and oats being
more extensively cultivated than wheat, and for manures he
considered Peruvian the best if it could be obtained good. He
also recommended a less supply of roots in feeding eat He.

Mr. Samuel Poweli agreed with the Chairman— they
had nothing lo fear from the dead-meat trade, hut considered
they had a great deal to tear from the importation of foreign
cattle, and ought to support tha recommendations of tlie Select
Committee. With reference to straw, he was glad the
Chairman had opened that subject, because he thought there
was too much restriction at present. If the landlords would
allow them tosell straw they could get more good by applying
the proceeds to a top-dressing as recommended by Mr. Awde.
He was at a loss to know what they could do with the offal in
the event of slaughtering cattle at home. With reference to
the root crop, he mentioned that the best turnips he had seen
this year were grown with seven hundredweight of manure,
which was very rich in ammonia.

Other toists were proposed, and the discission of the above
and kindred subjects continued.

THE CONTAGIOUS DIS

The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, " An
Act for making- better provision respecting Con-
tagious and Infectious Diseases of Cattle and other
Animal.*," is now in the hands of the public, and
we trust it will receive their most careful atten-
tion. The Bill provides for the slaughter of all
foreign animals intended for food at the ports of
landing : for the quarantine, and subsequent super-
vision, of all foreign animals intended for dairy,
breeding, or exhibition purposes ; and for restriction
on the movement of animals, diseased or suspected
according to the meaning of the Bill, within the
United Kingdom.

The distinctive features enumerated above are
its broad principles, and on them we shall en-
deavour to base our examination of the Bill itself,
and of its details. The slaughter of all imported
fat stock at the ports of debarkation, us provided
by the third regulation of the first division of the
Fourth Schedule appended to Clause 30, is the
kernel of the Bill — its most important enactment.
As we have repeatedly pointed out, this must be
a sine qud rum in any measure introduced for the
purpose of dealing with the cattle disease question
(if the day, and upon it will depend the fate of
the present Bill. Whilst maintaining the position
we have all along assumed, in respect to the
laughter of foreign fat Btocli at the ports of eni-

EASES (ANIMALS) BILL.

i barkation, as being the only one which can be
j strictly defended as providing the utmost possible
| security from foreign contagious diseases, we are
perfectly ready and willing to accept this basis of
the measure, as being the furthest practical step
which can be taken at present in that direction.
Nothing in the Bill itself is so reassuring as the
frank admission on the part of theDukeof Richmond
that nothing short of prohibition, and a consequent
complete development of the dead meat trade, can
give us absolute immunity from foreign contagious
cattle diseases ; this is the principle we have
sought to establish, and the recognition in high
places of its correctness augurs well fur the future.
His Grace also declares, very distinctly, that he is
satisfied, from the evidence supplied, that port
inspection is useless to prevent the spread of dis,
eases inland, because of the impossibility of
detecting the diseases in question when in their
incubatory stages : and, above all, that the so-called
minor diseases — Pleuro-pneuruonia and Foot.
and-Mouth Disease— occasion greater losses to the
community than the more dreaded Rinderpest. In
taking up such a position the Duke will, without
doubt, secure the hearty and material support of
the entire agricultural interest in the United
Kingdom, and we trust of the community aa
well, in support of this one main feature and
vital principle of the- measure lie has introduced

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The only objection we have to urge in respect of
this enactment is, that it is not intended to become
law until January 1st, 1879. We should have
preferred it to have come into operation directly
on the passing of the Bill. We do not see that
days of grace are necessary in this case, as they
would be if the proposal was to slaughter on the
other side of the Channel. If any valid reason can
be shown for the delay, well and good ; if not)
we think British stock-breeders have a* greater
claim to the consideration of the Legislature than
the graziers of Schleswig-Holstein. Our readers
will, perhaps, regard it as a significant fact that
the Tunning trade commences on the 23rd of June
and ends on the 7th of December, and that five-
sixths of the imports of cattle from Germany
come to us during that time, and from that par-
ticular port.

The second feature of the Bill— quarantine— is
one we condemn in toto. We have from the first
protested, and we shall continue to protest, against
quarantine forming any part of cattle disease re-
pression measures. We recognise the necessity of
providing for the introduction of breeding stock,
and of course we admit that quarantine will have
to play an important part in such an arrangement ;
but the quarantine provided by the Bill is insti-
tuted on behalf of the foreign dairy cows which
bring with them Pleuro-pneumonia, and which con-
stitute the sheet anchor of the town dairy system.
Therefore, both to the quarantine and to the im-
portation of dairy cows we shall continue to offer
the strongest opposition in our power. A quaran-
tine of 14 days for a disease whose incubatory
stage is admitted to extend over a period of three
months is, to us, utterly inadequate and absurd.
The fifty-six days' subsequent supervision does not
in any way lessen the danger ; if the disease breaks
out it will have to be dealt with according to the
provisions of the Act, but there is nothing to pre-
vent it breaking out. The animals are not even to
be isolated during these fifty-six days ; in fact
isolation would be practically impossible. We
contend that these Dutch and other foreign cows
are not in any way necessary to the public, nor in
any way conducive to public benefit ; and we con-
tend further that the trade in the interest of which
these cows are to be admitted is a source of danger
to the country and to the health of the people
who reside in large towns. The importation
of foreign dairy cows amounts to about 10,000
yearly, and Professor Brown, in his evidence
before the Cattle Plague Committee, gave his
opinion that it would be beneficial to the country
to do without them. Th: quarantine is useless

because it will not prevent pleuro-pneumonia
entering ; aud the fifty-six days' supervision
will serve no purpose, that we can see, beyond
enabling the inspectors to find it readily. We want
to prevent this disease coming here, but the Bill
simply provides for it being watched when it gets
here. Whilst, therefore, the first division of the
Fourth Schedule, appended to Clause 30, by pro-
viding for the slaughter of all foreign fat stock at
the ports of landing contains the greatest good
afforded by the Bill, the second division of the
same schedule, by providing quarantine for foreign
dairy cows, contains the greatest evil, amounting
to something more than a drop of bitter in the cup
of plenty, or we would not take exception to it.
We trust this will be remedied in Committee.

The next aspect in which we view the Bill is in
respect of its provisions for dealing with the con-
tagious diseases of animals which now exist in our
midst. We are happy to find that the nature of
the restrictions and regulations is not such as will
be likely to meet with opposition from the parties
concerned, nor to warrant the imputation of causing
the maximum of obstruction whilst effecting the
minimum of benefit. The proposed scheme is based
on the recommendations given by Professor Brown
to the Cattle Plague Committee, and may be
described as simply an isolation of diseased centres
by means of a cordon drawn around the place or
district, inside which no movement of animals will
be allowed during a specified time. This is really
all ; and it would be difficult, we think, to improve
upon the plan, or under the circumstances, to pro-
pose another equally good. To attempt^more would
be unreasonable so long as foreign diseases are to
be landed on our shores ; and to do less would be
leaving matters much as they now are, which we
stand pledged not to do. If a market or fair be
interfered with under the new regime it will be
because it is dangerous to hold it ; and if it is not
interfered with it will be presumably safe. We
do not, therefore, hesitate to advise the acceptation
of the basis on which this part of the Bill is drawn.
Thus far we have dealt with the fcroad principles
only which are the distinguishing features of the
proposed measure, and we have now to do with
matters of detail, as far as our space will permit.

The Bill, by its second clause, provides for the
repeal of all previous legislation on the question.
The internal regulations apply uniformly to the
whole of the United Kingdom, although England,
Scotland, and Ireland, are separately specified on
account of local technicalities. With regard to
Cattle Plague, the Privy Council will take it in
hand should it make its appearance; compensa-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

2.1

tion for compulsory slaughter will be paid out of
the Imperial Exchequer, at the rate of one-half the

value of an affected animal, not to exceed twenty
pounds,and in every other case the full value of the
auimal, not to exceed forty pounds. With regard
to Pleuro-pneumonia and Foot-and-Mouth Disease
the Privy Council rules and regulations are to be
carried out by the local authorities, who are to re-
port what they have doiae to the Privy Council.
Compensation for compulsory slaughter will be
paid out of the local rates, at] the rate of three-
fourths the value of an affected animal, not to
exceed thirty pounds, and in every other case the
full value of the animal, not to exceed forty
pounds. Each local authority must " keep ap-
pointed at all times at least one veterinary
inspector " — see paragraph 2 in Clause '■>7 — and the
term " veterinary inspector " is defined by the Bill
to moan a member of the Royal College of Veteri-
nary Surgeons. In Scotland the inspector must be
appointed by the Privy Council — see Clause GO —
and in Ireland, according to our reading of Clause 70,
an inspector is not necessarily a M.R.C.V.S., and
may be appointed by either the local oi the central
authority. See paragraphs 11 and 12 of Clause 5
for definition of the term " inspector," and to
elucidate this poiut. The duties of the inspector
are in all cases alike, so far as we can see ; he has
first to ascertain whether Pleuro-pneumonia or
Foot-and-Mouth Disease exists, or has existed
within twenty-eight days in case of the former or
seven days in case of the latter, and then he has
to call the attention of the local authorities to the
matter. If they are satisfied with the representa-
tion of the inspector they have power to declare
Hm place or the district an infected one, it being
within the power of the local authority to prescribe
the limits of such district, and within this infected
district, or from this infected place, animals cannot
bo moved for a specified time after the cessation of
the disease, the time being fifty-six days in the case
of Pleuro-pneumonia and twenty-eight days in the
case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. An inspector
may enter any premises whereon he has reason to
suspect the existence of disease, but he may be
called upon to state his reasons, in writing, for
entering such premises — see Clause 45, paragraph,,
2 and 4. The police will be empowered to arrest any
one found to be impeding the operations of the
Act ; and Clause 48 provides thai any one " owning
or having charge of animals in a place or district
declared to be infected " may forbid, by a notice
affixed to the premises, any other person from
entering such premises. This is a most excellent
regulation. The local authorities have power to

appoint as many inspect i> and other offici ra as
they think necessary, and also to revoke
appointments— see Clause •']". The constitution of
local authorities is defined in the Fifth Schedule ;

and their various powers of purchase, borrowing,
(fee, will be found from Clauses .32 to 4o inclusive.
The Privy Council reserves to itself power to
exercise complete supervision over the action of the
local authorities, to counteract or supplement as
they may think proper; also to remove any incom-
petent inspector, or one who does not do his duty —
see paragraph :',, Clause .37. Clause 22 provides
for the Privy Council making "such further or
other provision" as they may think expedient in
case of animals being found diseased with Pleuro-
pneumonia or Foot-and-Mouth Disease, during
transit by land or water, while exposed for sale in
a market, fair, sale-yard, place of exhibition, lair,
slaughter-house, common or unenclosed land, and
"generally, while being in a place other than a
place in the possession of the owner of the
animals, and any such order rnay, notwithstanding
anything in this Act, make such provision as the
Privy Council think fit for the consequences of
animals being so found, as well with regard to the
animals as with regard to the place where they
are found." The Privy Council has power to
cancel any order made in error by the local autho-
rities ; and, generally, to make from time to time
such orders in Council as may be found necessary
for the working of the Act, or to meet any con-
tingency which may arise under it. These powers
we believe to be in good hands, and have no mis-
trust as to the way in which they may be used.
Independently of general powers the Privy Council
are enabled, by Clause 24, to deal writh other diseases
than those specified, and by Clause 25 is permitted
to " reserve for observation and treatment "
any animal liable to be slaughtered by the pro-
visions of the Act, by paying the value specified
by its terms ; and the second paragraph of the
same clause enacts that " Where an animal is
slaughtered by order in any disease, its carcase
shall belong to the authority ordering the
slaughter," a most useful regulation, which will
prevent the jobbery which has been practised under
the former Act. The authorities, whether local
or central, may also use for the burial of a diseased
carcase "any ground in the possession of the owner
of the animals.'' Insurance companies are entitled
to deduct from the sum payable by them to the
owner of an animal which has been slaughtered
by order the sum which is payable by the authori-
ties to the owner of such animal. Clause 20 con-
tains -'!1 paragraphs specifying the specific powers

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242

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of the Privy Council with regard to making orders
for preventing or chocking disease, and, generally,
on the movements of animals. Clause 27 contains
provision for the Privy Cuuucilcompelliug railway
companies to supply water or food, or both, to
animals " carried, or about to be, or having been
carried," on their respective lines. As regards
water, the consignor and the person in charge will
be guilty of an offence against the Act if they do
not apply to the railway company for water to be
supplied to the stock once within thirty consecu-
tive hours ; but the Privy Council may " prescribe
any other period not less than twelve hours," and
the charges for the same are to be approved by
the Privy Council. This is good news, as also is
that contained in Clause 28, which enables the
Privy Council to regulate the ventilation, drainage,
cleanliness, and water supply, of town dairies, to
compel the cleanliness of milk-shops, and to prescribe
precautions to be taken for protecting milk against
infection and contamination. The Privy Council
have also discretionary powers to specify the ports,
or parts of ports, at which foreign stock are to be
landed, and for regulating the movements of per-
sons and things into, or out of, such ports or de-
fined parts of ports. Offences against the Act are
to be attended with penalties, which in respect to
single animals are not exceeding twenty pounds, or,
if in respect of more than four animals, a penalty
not exceeding five pounds for each animal. In
respect of carcases, fodder, litter, dung, &c,
" a penalty not exceeding ten pounds in respect of
every half-ton in weight thereof after one half ton,
in addition to the first penalty of twenty pounds."
And in respect of tampering with diseases, digging
up carcases, etc. — see Clause' -57 — the offender is
liable "to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding
three months, with or without hard labour, in lieu
of the pecuniary penalty to which he is liable under
this Act." This looks like business, and we think
it none too strict. There is to be a General Cattle
Disease Fund for Ireland.

Reviewing the details enumerated above, and the
general scope and intent of the restrictions and
regulations on home industry, we do not see that
the proposed measures are likely to prove
oppressive to farmers ; practically the difference
between the new system and the old one is — so far
as the direct effect on traffic is concerned — that
which is expressed by the term " district " instead
of the term "place " ; that is to say, the traffic will
be effected only by that difference in the ordinary
way. But in reality there is a vast difference
between the new Bill and the old one, inasmuch
as it confers on the Privy Council the power —

which it did not before possess— to do whatevc
may be deemed necessary.

To sum up the impressions we have received
from a careful consideration of the Bill, both as a
whole and in detail, we are disposed to think that
it will afford the maximum of safety with the
minimum of restriction attainable under the condi-
tions on which the Bill itself is drawn, namely, the
slaughter of foreign fat stock at the ports of land-
ing conditionally on preventive measures being
instituted in connection with home diseases.
Taking these two bases together we are quite pre-
pared to accept the Bill as a tentative one, and pro-
visional to something more complete in time to
come. To quarantine, as provided for in the Bil
we are unconditionally opposed ; and wo must
confess to some misgivings as to the two most im-
portant diseases, Pleuro-pneumonia and Foot-and-
mouth Disease, being relegated to the control of the
local authorities. In closing our review we take the
opportunity of remarking that the thanks of the
entire community are due to his Grace the Duke of
Richmond and Gordon for the careful and com-
prehensive measure which he has prepared in tho
interests of tho producers and consumers of
meat.

The Bill is entitled " Au Act for making better pro-
vision respecting Contagious and Infections Diseases of
Cattle and other Animals," and we here give it, with the
exception of definitions, references as to legal proceedings,
and other details that our readers will not care to trouble
themselves with at present : —

PART I.— General.

1. This Act may be cited as the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Act, 1878.

2. The enactments described in the First Schedule are hereby
repealed, with and subject to the qualifications and excep-
tions in this Act mentioned.

3. This Act shall commence and have effect from and im-
mediately after the thirty-first day of December, one thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.

4. This Act is divided into Parts, as follows: — Part I.,
General; Part II., England; Part III, Scotland; Part IV.,
Ireland.

5. — (1.) In this Act — (i.) "Cattle" means bulls, cows
oxen, heifers, and calves ; (ii ) " Animals '' means, except where
it is otherwise expressed, cattle, sheep, and goats, and all other
ruminating animals, and swine ; (iii.) " Disease " means cattle
plague (that is to say, rinderpest or the disease commonly
called cattle plague), contagious pleuro-pneumonia of cattle
(in this Act called pleuro-pneumonia), foot-and-mouth disease,
sheep-pox, sheep-scab, glanders, or farcy.

[Further defiuiiious follow.]

PART II.— England.

Clauses 6, 7, 8, and 9 consist of definition •

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243

iO. (1.) Where it appears to an inspector that cattle plague

exists, or has within seven days existed, in a cow-shed or other
place, he shall forthwith make and sign B declaration thereof
in writing. (2.) lie shall deliver a notice, signed hy him, of
the declaration to the occupier of that cow-shed or other place .
(3.) lie shall deliver a like notice, signed by him, unless, in
the circumstances, this appears to him not to he expedient, to
the occupiers of lauds and buildings any part whereof lies
within one mile in any direction from that cow-shed or other
place, (t.) Thereupon, that cow-shed or other place, and all
the lands and buildings aforesaid, to the occupiers whereof the
inspector delivers such a notice, shall become and be a place
infected with cattle plague, subject to the determination and
declaration of the Privy Council. (5.) The inspector shall,
with all practicable speed, iuform the Privy Council and the
local authority of his declaration and notices, and shall send
to the Privy Council and the declaration a copy of the secondly,
mentioned notice (if any). (G.) The Privy Council shall
forthwith on receipt of the information inquire into the comet-
ness of the declaration. (7.) If the Privy Council arc satisfied
of the correctness of the declaration as regards the existence
0r past, existence of cattle plague, they shall determine and by
order declare accordingly, and shall by order prescribe the
limits of the place inflected with cattle plague. (S.) If the
Privy Council arc not satisfied of the correctness of the declara-
tion as regards the existence or past existence of cattle plague,
they shall determine and by order declare accordingly ; and
thereupon the place comprised in the declaration and notice
shall cease to be a place infected with cattle plague.

11. The Privy Council may at any time, if the.y think lit, ou
any evidence satisfactory to them, by ord r declare any cow.
shed or other place, with or without any lauds or buildings
adjoining or near thereto, to be a place infected with cattle
plague.

12. The Privy Council may from time to time, if they think
fit, by order declare any district, wherein a place infected with
cattle plague is situate, to be a district infected with cattle
plague.

13. The Privy Council may from time to time, if they think
fit, by order extend, contractor otherwise alter the limits of a
place or district infected with cattle plague. .

11. The Privy Council may at any true,, if they think fit,
by order declare a place or district infected with cattle plague;
or part thereof, to be free from cattle plague.

15. — (1.) The Privy Council shall cause, to be slaughtered —
(i ) All animals affected with cattle plague, (ii.) Ail animals
being or having been in contact with an animal affected with
cattle plague. (-2.) The Privy Council may, if the.y think tP, in
any case cause to be slaughtered — (iii-) All animals suspected of
cattle plague, (iv.) All animals being in a place or district
infected with cattle plague (but in this case subject to such
regulations as the Treasury from time to time thi'ik fit to make).
(3.) The Privy Council shall pay compensation as follows,
out of money provided by Parliament. (a.) Where the ani-
mal slaughtered was affected with cattle plague the compen-
sation shall be one-half of its value immediately before it
became so affsctid, but so that the compensation d) not in
any such ca«e exceed twenty pounds; (J/.) In every other
case the compensation shall he the value of the animal imme-
diately before it was slaughtered, but so that tin: compen lation
do not. in any case exceed forty pounds.

Pleuro-vneumonta and Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

1G. — (I.) Where it appears to an inspector of a local

authority that plruro-pncumouia or foot-and-mouth disease
exist, or has within twenty-eight days in case of pleuro-pneu-
monia, or seven days in case of foot-and-mouth disease,
existed, in a cow-shed or other place, he shall forthwith make
*ud sign a declaration thereof in writing. (2.) He shall
deliver a notice, signed by him, of the declaration to the
occupier of that cow-shed or other place. (3.) Thereupon
that cow-shed or other place shall become and be a place
infected with pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease (as
the case may be), subject to the determination and declaration
of the local authority. (I.) The iuspector shall, with all
practicable speed, inform the local authority of his declaration
and notice, and shall seud the declaration and a copy of the
notice to the local authority. (5.) The local authority shall
forthwith on receipt of the information inquire into the
correctness of the declaration, with the assistance and advice
of a veterinary inspector, or of a person qualified to be such#
(6.) If the local authority are satisfied of the correctness of
the declaration as regards the existence or past existence of
disease, they shall determine and declare accordingly, and
shall prescribe the limits of the place infected with pleuro-
pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease. (7.) They may
include a place infected with pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-
mouth disease any adjoining part of the district of another
local authority, wi:h the previous consent in writing of that
authority, but not otherwise. (S.) If the local authority are
not satisfied of the correctness of the declaration as regards
the existence or past existence of disease, they shall determine
and declare accordingly ;. and thereupon the place comprised
in the declaration or affected thereby shall cease to be a place
infected with pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease
(9.) The local authority shall forthwith report to the Privy
Council the, declaration of the inspector, aud the proceedings
of the local authority thereon.

17. The Privy Council may at any time, if they think fit,
on any evidence satisfactory to them, hy order declare any
cow-shed or other place, with or without any lands or build-
ings, adjoining or near thereto, to be a place infected witli
pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease, and may from
time to time, if they think fir, by order extend the limits of a
place so infected.

IS. The Privy Council may at any time, if they think tit,
on auy evidence satisfactory to them, by order declare any
district wherein a place infected with pleuro-pneumouia or
foot-aud-mouth disease is situate to be a district infected with
pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease, and may from
time to time, if they think lit, hy order expend the limits of
such a d i .trie*.

19. The rules set forth in the Third Schedule shall have
effect in relation to a place or district infected with pleuro.
pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease.

20. — (I.) Where a local authority have declared a place to
be infected with pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease,
they may, if they think fit, at auy time after the expiration,
in the case of pleuro-pneumonia of fifty-six days, and in the
case of foot-and-mouth disease of twenty-eight days, from the
date of the cessation therein of the disease, but not sooner,
declare the place to be free from pleuro-pneumonia or foot-
and-mo (2.) Where the Privy Council or a local

authority have declared a place to be infected with pleuro-
pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease the Privy Council may,
if they think lit, at any lime after the expiration, in the case
of pleuro-pneumonia of fifty. six days, and in the case of foot-

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

and-mouth disease of twenty-eight days, from the date of the
cessation therein of the disease, but not sooner, declare the
place to be free from pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth
disease. (3.) Where the Privy Council have declared a dis-
trict to be infected with pleuropneumonia or foot-and-mouth
disease they may, if they think fit, at any time when there is
not within the district any place infected with pleuro-pneu-
mouia or foot-and-mouth disease, declare the district to be
free from pleuro-pneumonia or foot-and-mouth disease.

21, — (].) A local authority shall cause all cattle affected
witli pleuro-pneumonia to be slaughtered. (2.) A looal
authority may, if they thiuk fit, cause any cattle being or
haling been ki contact with cattle affected with pleuro-pneu-
monia to be slaughtered. (3.) The local authority shall out
of the local rate pay compensation as follows : — (i.) Where
the animal slaughtered was affected wilh pleuro-pneumonia
the compensation shall be three-fourths of its value imme-
diately before it became so affected, but so that the compensa-
tion do not in any such case exceed thirty pouud. (ii.) In
every other case the compensation shall be the value of the
animal immediately before it was slaughtered, but so that the
compsnsation do not in any case exceed forty pounds.

22. Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the Privy
Council may from time to time by order make such further or
other provision as they think expedient respecting the case of
animals found to be affected with pleuro-pneumonia or foot-
and-mouth disease — (1.) While in transit or in course of being
moved by land or by water ; or (ii.) While in a foreign animals'
wharf or foreign animals' quarantine station; or (iii.) While
exposed for sale or exhibited in a market, fair, sale-yard, place
of exhibition, or other place ; or (iv.) While placed in a lair
or other place before exposure for sale ; or (v.) While being
in a slaughterhouse or place where animals are slaughtered
or kept with a view to slaughter ; or (vi.) While being on
common or unenclosed land; or (vii.) Generally, while being
in a place other than a place in the possession of the owner
of the animals ; and any such order may, notwithstanding
auylhing in this Act, make such provision as the Privy Council
think fit for the consequences of animals be;ng so found, ?s
well with regard to the aaimils as with regird to the place
wh re they are so found.

Injected Places and Districts Generally.

23. — (1 ) The Privy Council may, from time to time, make
such orders as they thiuk fit, subject and according to the
provisions of this Act, for prescribing the cases in which
places and districts are to be declared to be infected with dis-
ease other than cattle plague, pleuro-pneumonia, or foot-and-
mouth disease, and the authority, mode, aud conditions by, is,
and on which declarations in that behalf are to be made, and
the effect and consequences thereof, and the duration and dis-
continuance thereof, and other matters connected therewith.
(2.) Every place or district so declared infected, as well as a
place or district declared infected with cattle plagup, pleuro-pneu-
monia, or foot-and.mouth disease, shall be an infected place
or district within this Act, (3.) Notwithstanding anything
in this Act, where the Privy Council, on inquiry, and after
communication with the local authority, but without prejudice
to the powers of the Privy Council as regards cattle plague,
are satisfied that a declaration of a placs being au infected
place has been made in error respecting the existence or | ast
existence of disease, or respecti-ig the li nits of a p'ace, or
respecting any other matter of fact whereon the declaration
proceeded, the Privy Council may, by order, cancel the
declaration as regards the infected place, or as regards any

part thereof, as they think fit. (4.) Where, in accordance
witli the provisions of this Act, a place or district is declared
free from disease, or a declaration of a place being an infected
place is cancelled, as regards the place or as regards any part
thereof, then the place or district, or that part thereof, shall
cease to be, or to he part of, an infected place or district. (5.)
An order of the Privy Council or of a local authority declaring
a place or district to be an infected place or district, or to be
free from disease, or cancelling a declaration, shall be con-
clusive evidence to all intents of the existence or past existence
or cessation of the disease, or of the error ; and of any other
matter whereon the order proceeds.
Slaughter in Disease, and Compensation Generally.

24. The Privy Council may from time to time make such
orders as they think fit, subject and according to the provisions
of this Act, for directing or authorising in any disease other
than cattle plague or pleuro-pneumonia slaughter of animals
by local authorities, either generally or in particular iustances,
and payment of compensation for the same by local authorities
out of the local rate.

25. — (1.) The Privy Council may, notwithstanding anything
in this Act, but subject to compensation as in case of actual
slaughter, reserve for observation and treatment an animal
liable to be slaughtered. (2.) Where an animal is slaughtered
by order in any disease its carcase shall belong to the
authority ordering the slaughter. (3.) Where an animal is
slaughtered by order in any disease]th? Privy Council or local
authority, as the oase may be, may use for the burial of the
carcase any ground in the possession of the owner of the
animal. (1.) If the osvuer of an animal slaughtered by order
in any disease has an insurance on the animal the amount of
the compensation awarded to him under this Act may be
deducted by the insurers from the amount of the money
payable under the insurance before payment thereof.
(5.) A local authority shall keep, as the Privy Council direct,
a record relative to slaughter, which record shall be admitted
in evidence. (6). Notwithstanding anything in this Act, the
Privy Council or a local authority (as the case may be) may,
if they think fit, withholl compensation in respect of an animal
slaughtered by order, where the o vner or the person having
charge thereof has, in their judgment, been guilty, in relation
to the animal, of an offence agaiust this Act. (7.) But in
case of a ludul authority so withholding compensation the
Privy Council may, on the appliea'ion of the owner, and after
communication with the local authority, if they think it just,
declare the owner to be entitled to compensation, and fix the
amount thereof, subject to the provisions of this Act ; and
thereupon the local authority shall pay to him that amount
out of the local rate, and the same shall be recoverable by him
from them summarily.

Disease and Movement Generally.

26. The Privy Council may from time to time make such
orders as they think fit, subject and according to the provisions
of this Act, for the following purposes, or any of them:—
(i.) For prescribing and regulating the notice of disease, or
of the illness of an animal, to be given to or by any person or
authority, (ii.) For prohibiting or regulating the movement
of animals and persons into, in, or out of au infected place or
district, (iii.) For prohibiting or regulating the removal of
carcases, fodder, litter, utensils, dung, or other things into, in,
or out of an infected place or district, (iv.) For prescribing
and regulating the destruction, burial, disposal, or treatment
of carcasses, fodder, litter, utensils, dung, or other things, being
in an infected place or district, or removed thereout, (v.) For

THE FARMER'S MAUAZINK

245

prescribing and regulating tlie cleansing and disinfectiug of
infected places aud districts, or parts thereof, (vi.) For pro-
scribing and regulating the disinfecting of the clothes of per.
sous coming in contact witli diseased or suspected animals, and
the uss of precautions against the spreading of disease by such
persous. (vh.) For prohibiting or regulating the digging up
of carcasses buried, (viii.) For prohibiting or regulating the
exposure of diseased or suspected animals in markets or fairs
or sale yards, or other public or private places, where animals
are commonly exposed for sale, aud the placing thereof in lairs
or other places adjaccut to or connected with markets or fairs;
or where animals are commonly placed before exposure for
sale, (ix.) For prohibiting or regulating the sending or
carrying of diseased or suspected animals, or the causing them
to be sent or carried on railways, canals, rivers, or inland
navigations, or in coasting vessels or otherwise, (x.) For pro-
hibiting or regulating the carrying,, leading, or driving of
diseased or suspected animals, or the causing them to be
carried, led, or driveu on highways or thoroughfares or else-
whore, (xi.) For prohibiting or regulating the placing or
keeping of diseased or suspected animals on commons or un-
lnclosed lands, or in fields or other places insufficiently fenced,
(xii.) For prescribing and regulating the seizure, detention,
and disposal of a diseased or suspected animal exposed, carried,
kept, or otherwise dealt with in contravention of an Order of
Council ; and for prescribing and regulating the liability of
the owner or consignor or consignee of the animal to the ex-
penses connected with the seizure, detention, and disposal
thereof, (xiii.) For prescribing the mode of ascertainment of
the value of an animal slaughtered in disease by order of the
Privy Council or of a local authority, (xiv.) For regulating
applications for, and the mode of payment of, compensation to
be paid out of money provided by Parliament, (xv.) For pre-
scribing and regulating the destruction, burial, disposal, or
treatment of carcasses of animals slaughtered by order of the
Privy Council or of a local authority, or dying while diseased
or suspected, (xvi.) For prohibiting or regulating movement
of animals, and the removal of carcasses, fodder, litter, dung,
and other things, (xvii.) For prescribing and regulating the
issuing and production of licences respecting movement and
removal of animals and things, (xviii.) For prohibiting or
regulating the holding of markets, fairs, exhibitions, and sales
of animals, (six.) For prescribing and regulating the cleansing
and disinfecting of places used for the holding of markets, fairs,
exhibitions, and sales of animals, or for lairage of animals, and
yards, sheds, stables and other places used for animals-
(xx ) For prescribing aud regulating the cleansing and disin-
fecting of vessels, vehicles, pens, and other places used for the
carrying of animals for hire or purposes connected therewith,
(xxi.) For prescribing modes of cleansing and disinfecting.
(xxii.) For insuring for animals carried by sea a proper supply
of food and water during the passage and on lauding,
(xxiii.) For protecting them from unnecessary suffering during
the passage and on landing, (xxiv.) For protecting animals
from unnecessary suffering during inland transit, (xxv.) For
securing a proper supply of water and food to animals during
any detention thereof, (xsvi.) For prohibiting, absolutely or
conditionally, the use, for the carrying of animals or for any
purpose connected therewith, of a vessel, vehicle, or place in
respect whereof, or of the use whereof, a penalty has been
recovered from any person lor an offence against this Act.
(xxvii.) F'or prescribing aud regulating the payment and sum-
mary recovery of expenses in respect of animals, (xxviii.) For
authorising a local authority to make regulations for purposes

olthia Act or of an Order of Council subject to such condition*

if any, as the Privy Council prescribe, (xxix.) Par extending
for all or any of the purposes of this Act, the definition of
auimals in this Act, so that the same shall for those purposes
comprise any animals, in addition to those mentioned in this
Act. (xxx.) For extending, for all or any of the purposes of
this Act, the definition of disease in this Act, so that the same
shall for those purposes comprise any disease of animals, as
defined either by this Act or by Order of Council, in addition
to the diseases mentioned in this Act. (xxxi.) Generally, for
the better execution of this Act, or lor the purpose of iu any
manner preventing the introduction or spreading of disease
(whether any such order is of the same kind as any kind
specified or enumerated in this Act or not).

27. 1. Every railway company shall make a provision, to

the satisfaction of the Privy Council, of water and food, or
either of them, at such stations as the Privy Council from
time to time, by general specific description, direct, for animals
carried, or about to be or having been carried, on the railway
of the company. (2.) The water and food so provided, or
either of them, shall be supplied to any such animal by the
company carrying it, on the request of the consignor or any
other person in charge thereof. (3.) As regards water, if, in
the case of any animal, such a request is not made, so that the
animal remains without a supply of water for thirty consecutive
hours, the consignor and the person in charge of the animal
shall each be guilty of an offence against this Act ; and it shall
lie on the person charged to prove the time within which the
animal had a supply of water. (4.) But the Privy Council
may from time to time, if they think fit, by order prescribe any
other period, not less than twelve hours, instead of the thirty
hours aforesaid. (5.) The company supplying water or food
under this section may make in respect thereof such reasonable
charges (if any) as the Privy Council by order approve, in
addition to such charges as they are for the time being autho-
rised to make in respect of the carriage of animals. The
amount of those additional charges accrued due in respect o
any animal shall be a debt from the consignor and from tha
consignee thereof to the company, and shall be recoverable by
the company from either of them by proceedings in any court
of competent jurisdiction. The company shall have a lien for
the amount thereof on the animal in respect whereof the same
accrued due, and on any other animal at any time consigned
by the same person to be carried by the company.
Dairies and Cow-sheds.

28. The Privy Council may from time to time make such
orders as they think fit, subject and according to the provisions
of this Act, for the following purposes, or any of them :—
(i.) For prescribing and regulating the ventilation, drainage,
and water supply of dairies and cow-sheds in the occupation of
cowkeepcrs or dairymen, (ii.) For securing the cleanliness of
milk-shops and of milk-vessels used for containing milk for
sale, (iii.) For prescribing precautions to be taken for pro-
tecting milk against infection or contamination, (iv.) For
authorising a local authority to make regulations for the pur-
poses aforesaid, or any of them, subject to such conditions, if
any, as the Privy Council prescribe.

Foreign Animals.

29. Where it appears to the Trivy Council that cattle plague
exists in a foreign country, or that the existence of cattle
plague in a foreign country is lo he apprehended, they may
from time to time make such orders as they think fit for pro-
hibiting the landing of animals, carcasses, fodder, litter, dung,
or other thing brought from that country.

246

THE FAIIMtiR'S MAlJA/.iNW.

30. The provisions set forth in the Fourth Schedule shall
apply to foreign animals the landing whereof is not prohibited.

81. — (1.) The Privy Council may from time to time
make such orders as they think fit, subject and accord-
ing to the provisions of this Ad, for the following
purposes, or any of them : — (i.) For prescribing the
ports at which alone foreign animals may be lauded.
(ii.) For defining the limits of ports for purposes of this Act.
(iii.) For defining parts of ports, (iv.) For prohibiting or
regulating the movement of animals into, in, or out of a defined
part of a port, (v.) For prescribing and regulating the in-
spection and examination, and the mode, time, and conditions
of slaughter, of animals in a defined part of a port, (vi.) For
prescribing and regulating the disposal of animals, not being
foreign animals, and being in a defined part of a port, (vii.)
For prohibiting or regulating the removal of carcasses, fodder,
litter, utensils, dung, or other tilings into, in, or out of a de-
fined part of a port, (viii.) For prescribing and regulating
the cleansing and disiufecting of a defined part of a port or of
parts thereof, (ix.) For prescribing and regulating the disin-
fecting or destruction of tilings being in a defined part of a
port or removed thereout, (x.) For prohibiting or regulating
the movement of persons into, in, or out of a defined part of a
port, (xi.) For prescribing and regulating the disinfecting of
the clothes of persons employed or being in a defined part of a
pirt, and the use of precautions against the introduction or
spreading by them of disease. (2.) Notwithstanding anything
in this Act, a defined part of a port, or any part thereof, shall
not be declared to be an infected place or be made part of an
infected place, otherwise than by the Privy Council.
Powers and Duties or Local Authorities.

32. A local authority, not being a body corporate, may sue
and be sued, and take and hold land, and otherwise act and be
dealt with for all purposes of this Act, by the name or title of
the local authority under this Act for their district, as if they
were incorporated.

33. The piuvisions in the Fifth Schedule shall have effect
with respect to committees of local authorities.

34. — (I.) A local authority may provide, erect, and fit up
wharves, stations, lairs, sheds, and other places for the landing,
reception, keeping, sale, and slaughter or disposal of foreign
animals. (2.) There shall be incorporated with this Act the
Markets and Fairs Clauses Act, 1847. (3.) A wharf or other
place provided by a local authority under this section shall be
a market withiu that Act ; and this Act shall be the special
Act; and the prescribed limits shall be the limits of lands
acquired or appropriated for purposes of this section; and
byelaws shall be approved by the Privy Council, which
approval shall be sufficient without any other approval or
allowance, notice of application for approval being aiveu, and
proposed byelaws being published before application, as re-
quired by the Markets aud Fairs Clauses Act, 18-17. (4.) A
local authority may charge for the use at a wharf or other
place provided by them under this section such sums as bye-
laws from time to time appoint. (5.) All sum3 so received
by the local authority shall be carried to a separate account,
and shall be applied in payment of in!erest on money borrowed
by them for purposes of this section, and in repayment of the
principal thereof, and, subject thereto, towards discharge of
their expenses under this Act.

35. — (1.) A local authority may purchase, or may by agree-
ment, take on lease or al a n nt, land for burial of carcasses, or
for wharves or other places, or for any other purpose of this
A' t. (2.) They may (subject to any agreement) dispose of

lands so acquired, but not required for this Act, carrying the
money produced thereby to the credit of the local rate. (3.)
The regulations contained in section one hundred and seventy-
six of- the Public Health Act, 1875, shall be observed with
respect to the purchase of land by a local authority for pur-
poses of this Act, as if the local authority were a local board,
aud purposes of this Act were purposes of that Act ; save that
the requisite advertisements and notices may be published and
served in any two consecutive months, and that the local rate
be substituted for the rates therein mentioned. (4.) The
powers conferred by this section may be exercised by a local
authority with respect to laud withiu or without their dis-
trict.

3G. — (1.) Every local authority shall execute and enforce
this Act and every Order of Council. (2.) Where a local
authority, in the opinion of the Privy Council, fail to execute
or enforce any of the provisions of this'Act, or of au Order of
Council, the Privy Council may by order empower an inspector
of the Privy Council to execute and enforce the same, or to
procure the execution and enforcement thereof. (3.) The
expeuses incurred thereby shall be expenses of the local
authority. (4.) If the local authority fail for fourteen days
after demand to pay those expenses, with the costs of any pro-
ceedings caused by their failure, which costs shall also be
expenses of the local authority, the Privy Council may by
order direct a person therein named to levy by means of the
local rate a sum therein specified as in their opiuiou sufficient
to pay those expenses and costs. (5.) That person shall have
the like powers of levying the local rate, and of requiring
officers of the local authority and others to pay over money
in their hands, as the local authority would have as regards
their other expenses. (6.) After paying the expenses and
costs comprised in the Order of Council, he shall pay the
residue, as ascertained by the Privy Council, to the loca
authority.

37 — (1.) Every local authority shall from time to time
appoint so many inspectors aud other ofiicers as they think
necessary for the execution and enforcement of this Act, and
shall assign to those inspectors and officers such duties, and
salaries, or allowances, and may delegate to any of them sucli
authorities and discretion, as to the local authority seem fit i
and may at any time revoke any appointment so made. (2.)
But every local authority shall keep appointed at all times at
least one veterinary inspector. (3.) The Privy Council, on
being satisfied on inquiry that an inspector of a local authority
is incompetent, or has been guilty of misconduct or neglect
may, if they think fit, direct his removal, and thereupon he
shall cease to be an inspector.

38. Every local authority and their inspectors and ofiicers
shall send and give to the Privy Council such notices, reports,
returns, and information as the Privy Council from time to
time require.

39. — (1.) A regulation of a local authority may be proved—
(i.) By the production of a newspaper purporting to contain
the regulation as an advertisement ; or, (ii.) By the produc-
tion of a printed copy of the regulation purporting to be cer-
tified by the clerk of the local authority as a true copy. (2.)
A regulation so proved shall be presumed to have been duly
made.

40. The provisions of this Act conferring powprs on, or
otherwise relating to, a local authority, or their inspectors or
ofiicers, shall, unless otherwise expressed, be read as having
reference to the district of the local authority ; and powers

TL1K KARM Klt'S MACJAZ1NK.

thereby conferred shall be exercisable and shall operate.
withifi and in relation to that district only.

Expenses ax Local Author]

41. The expenses of a local authority shall be defrayed out
of the local rate.

■12. The local authority of a borough assessed to the county
rate of a county shall be paid back by the local authority of
the county the proportionate amount paid by the borough
towards the expenses under this Act of the local authority of
the county.

[Clause 13 is a long one, giving borrowing powers to local
authorities.]

Police.

11. — (1.) The police of each county, borough, town, and
place shall execute and enforce this Act.

[Here follow some particulars as to dealing with offenders.]
General.

4? — (I.) An inspector shall have all powers which a con-
stable has uuier this Act or otherwise in the place where the
inspector is acting. (2.) An inspector may at any time
enter any land, building, or place wherein he has reasonable
grounds for supposing — (<r.) That disease exists or has within
seven days existed ; or {0.) That the carcase of a diseased or
suspected animal is or has been kept, or has been buried,
destroyed, or otherwise disposed of ; or (<;.) That this Act or
an Order of Council or a regulation of a local authority has
not been or is not being complied with; or (</.) That a pen»
vehicle, milk-vessel, or thing in respect whereof there has
been or is such non-compliance is to be found. (3.) An
inspector may at any time enter any vessel or boat in respect
whereof he has reasonable grounds for supposing that this Act
or an Order of Council or a regulation of a local authority
has not been or is not being complied with. (1.) An
inspector entering, as in this section authorised, shall, if re-
quired, state in writing his reasons for entering. (5.) A cer.
tiftcate of a veterinary inspector to the effect that an animal is
or was affected with a disease therein fpecili-d shall be con-
clusive to all intents. (6.) An inspector of the Privy Council
shall have all the powers of an inspector throughout England
or that part thereof for which he is appointed.

46. — (1.) Where an inspector of the Privy Council is satis-
fied that this (Vet or an Order of Council or a regnla'ion of a
local authority has not been or is not bring complied with on
hoard a vessel in a port, the chief officer of customs there may,
on the representation iu writing to that effect of the inspector
stating particulars of non-compliance, detain the vessel until
the Privy Council otherwise direct. (-2.) The chief officer of
customs shall forthwith deliver to the mister of the vessel a
copy of the representation.

47. Where a carcase washed stsliore is buried or destroyed
under the direction o f a receiver of wreck, witli authority
from the Board of Trade, the expenses thereof shall Lethe
expenses of the local authority, and shall be paid by them to
the receiver on demand, and in default of payment shall be
recoverable summarily from them by the receiver.

48. A person owning or having charge of animals in a place
or district declared infected with any disease may atlix, at or
near the cli' ranee to a building or inclosure in which the
animals are, a notice forbidding persons to enter therein with-
out the permission mentioned in the. notice, and thereupon it
shall not be lawful for any person, not having a right of entry
therein, to enter therein without thai permission.

he provisions set forth in the Sixth Schedule shall
have effect with respect to any action prosecution or pro-

247

ceeding against any person acting or intending to act under
this Act or under an Order of Council or under a regulation
of a local authority made thereunder, or acting or intending to
act under the direction or authority of the Privy Council or
ol a local authority, for any alleged irregularity or trespass
or other act or thing done or omitted.

60. No stamp duty shall be payable on, and no fee or other
charge shall be demanded or made for, any appointment, cer-
tificate, declaration, licence, or thing uuder this Act or an
Order of Council or a regulation of a local authority, or for
any inspection or other act precedent to the granting, making,
or doing of a cdrtilicate, declaration, licence, or other
thing.

51. — (1.) In any proceeding under this Act no proof shall
be required of the appointment or handwriting of an inspector
or other officer of the 1'rivy Council or of a local authority, or
of the clerk of a local authority. (2.) Every instrument
under this Act or under an Order of Council or regulation of
a local authority may be iu writing or print, or partly iu writ-
ing and partly in print.

52.— (1.) The Privy Council may from time to time alter or
revoke any Order of Council. (2.) Every Order of Council
shall have effect as if it had bceu enacted by thi3 Act.

[Here follow some regulations as to the publication of
Orders.]

53. A return shall be made and laid before both Houses of
Parliament not later than the thirty-first day of March in each
year, setting forth every Order of Council required to be
published iu The London Gazette and in force ; and stating
the. proceedings and expenditure under this Act of the Privy
Council, and, as far as reasonably may be, of local authorities,
in the year ending the thirty-first day of December then last;
and showing the number of foreign animals landed aud found
diseased in that year, specifying the disease and the ports
of exportation and landing, aud the mode of disposal of the
animals ; and containing such o'.her information respecting the
execution of this Act as the Privy Council think fit.

[Clauses 51-59 define offences and regulate proceedings.]

60.— (1.) If any person lands or attempts to land an animal
or thing in contravention of this Act or of an Order of
Council, he shall be liable, under and according to the Cus-
toms Acts, to the penalties imposed on persons importing or
attempting to import goods the importation whereof is pro-
hibited by the Customs Acts, without prejudice to any pro-
ceeding against him under this Act for an offence against this
Act or the order, but so that he be not punished twice for the
same offence. (2.) The animal or tiling in respect whereof
the offence is committed shall be forfeited, as goods the impor-
tation whereof is prohibited by the Customs Acts are liable to
be forfeited.

[Clauses 61 and 62 relate to repealed enactments, and arc

of a formal character.]

PART III.— SCOTLAND.

63.— (1.) Part III applies to Scotlaud only. (2.) Part
II. shall, by virtue of this section, also extend to Scotland,
subject to Part III., whica shall have effect in substitution
for Part II., when so expressed or implied, and otherwise shall
have effect in addition to Part II..

Loi ai, Authorities.

64. For ,the purposes ol this part the respective districts

authorities, rates, and officers described in the Seventh

Schedule shall be the district, the local authority, the local

rate, and the clerk of the local authority.

248

THE U'AKMjSK'S MAGAZINE.

65— (1.) The commissioners of supply in every county
shall meet and nominate nut fewer than four nor more than
fifteen of thr.r number to act on the county board for the pur-
poses of this Act, and shall intimate to the lord lieutenant ol
the county and the convener of the county the number and
names of the persons so appointed.

[Here follow some directions as to the nomination of local
authorities.]

66.— (1.) The local authority in a county shall from time to
time give notice to the commissioners of supply of the sums
necessary to be provided under the provisions of this Act by
means of the local rate ; and the amount so intimated shall
be assessed and collected by the commissioners of supply
according to the real rent of lands and heritages as appearing
on the valuation roll in force for the year, who shall pay over
the same to the local authority. (2.) The local authority ina
burgh shall in like manner assess and collect the amount
required to be raised by local rate within such burgh. (3.)
All such assessments shall be payable one-half by the pro-
prietor and one-half by the tenant, but may be collected wholly
from the tenant, who shall in that case be entitled to deduct
one-half thereof from the rent payable by him to the proprietor,
or wholly from the proprietor, who shall in that case be entitled
to relief against the tenant for one-half of the assessment.
(L) All the provisions in regard to the recovery of assessments
in the Act of'the session of the twentieth and twenty-first years
of Her Majesty (chapter seventy-two), "to render more
effectual the police in counties and burghs in Scotland," are
hereby incorporated in this Part so far as the same are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Part.

67. The Provisions in Part II. relating to proceedings
consequent on failure by a local authority to pay the expenses
incurred on the appointment of an inspector to act as therein
provided on the default of a local authority, with costs as
therein mentioned, shall not apply to Scotland ; and payment
of those expenses, with expenses of process, may be recovered
summarily in theshenlt' court at the instance of the proeurator-
fiscal ; and all such expenses and costs shall be expenses of the
local authority.

LAND.

68. The provisions of Part II. relating to the purchase of
land shall have effect as if section ninety of the Public Health
(Scotland) Act, 1867, were thereby applied, instead of section
one hundred and seventy-sixth of the Public Health Act,
1S75 ; and in the said section ninety the local authority and
local rate under this Part shall be substituted for the loca
authority and the assessment therein mentioned.

Inspectors.

69. An inspector of the Privy Council shall have all the
powers of an inspector throughout Scotland or that part
thereof for which he is appointed.

[Clause 70 relates to legal proceedings.]

PART IV.— IRELAND.
[Clauses 71 and 72 consist of definitions.]
Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council.
73 _(1.) The powers by Part II. conferred on the Privy
Council shall be vested in the Lord Lieutenant acting by the
advice of Her Majesty's Privy Council in Ireland, in thi Act
referred to as the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council, except
the power of removal ol an. inspector, which shall be vested
in the Lord Lieutenant. (2.) An order of the Lord Lieu-
tenant and Privy Council under this Tart is referred to
therein as an Order in-Counoil.

74. With a view to uniformity of actiou respecting prohibi-
tion in case of cattle plague — (i.) If at any time by reason of
it appearing to the Lord Lieutenant and Council that cattle
plaguejexists in a foreign country, or that the existence of cattle
plague in a foreign country is to b3 apprehended, an Order in
Council is made under this Part for prohibiting the landing in
Ireland of animals and other things brought from that foreign
country ; and (ii.) If at any time by reason of it appearing to

he Privy Council that cattle plague exists in a
foreign country, or that the existence of cattle
plague in a foretgs country is to be apprehended, an
Order of Council is made under Part It. for prohibiting the
landing in England and Scotlaud of animals and other things
brought from that foreign county : Then and in every such
case the Order in Couucil or the Order of Council, as the case
may be, shall, with all practicable spe«d, be communicated to
the Privy Council, or to the Lord Lieuteuaut and Privy Couucil,
as the case may be.

Local Authorities.

75. — (1.) The local authorities shall be the boards of
guardians of the several Poor-law unions. (2.) The pro-
visions of Part II. requiring a local authority to keep appointed
a veterinary inspector shall not extend to Ireland. (3.) The
Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council may from time to time
make such Orders in Council as to them seem fit — (i.) For re-
quiring each local authority, or an order of the Lord Lieu-
tenant in that behalf, to appoint from time to time inspectors
and valuers for the purposes of this Act : (ii.) Eor defining
their qualifications and powers and regulating their duties :
(iii.) For fixing the periods for which they shall be appointed
and their remuneration and allowances.

INSTECTQRS.

76. The powers and duties by Part II. conferred aud im-
posed on a veterinary inspector shall in Ireland be vested in and
discharged by an inspector.

Exi-enses or Local Authorities.

77. The remuneration and allowances of an inspector or
valuer of a local authority, and all money payable as compen-
sation for animals slaughtered by direction of a local authority,
or of their inspector, shall when due be paid by the treasurer of
the union out of union funds.

General Cattle Diseases Pund.
78. — (1.) There shall be a General Cattle Diseases Fund for
purposes of this Part.

[Here follow particulars as to its collection.]
79. — (1.) The treasurer of a union, on proof to the Chief
Secretary of the payment of any money for remuneration,
allowances, or compensation, in accordance with this Part, shall
be entitled to a certificate to that effect, and to an order by the
Chief Secretary for payment from the general cattle disease
fund of one half of the money so proved to have been paid ;
and the amount so ordered shall bepaid to the treasurer accord-
ingly for the union. (2.). If in any case it is proved to the
Chief Secretary that an animal in respect whereof compensa-
tion was paid by the treasurer of a union was, within seven
days immediately before its slaughter, brought into the union
solely for the purpose of being shipped out of Ireland, or sold
at a fair, and that neither the owner, nor the person in
charge thereof, had been guilty, iu relation to it, of any offence
against this Act, then the Chief Secretary shall order payment
to the treasurer in manner aforesaid of the whole of the money
paid in compensation in respect of that animal.

THE! FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

249

t.l.M.K IX.

80. The provisions of Part II. relating to the police
aud to constables should apply to the members of the
ltoyal Irish Constabulary Force or of the Dublin Metropolitan
Police Force.

81. — (1.) Proceedings for recovery of penalties for offences
against this Act (other than penalties recoverable under the
Customs Acts), and proceedings for recovery of expense by
this Act or an Order of Council directed to be recoverable
summarily, and proceedings for obtaining summary orders
under this Act or an Order in Council, may be taken in a sum-
mary manner. (2.) Penalties so recovered shall be applied as
follows, that is to say, a part thereof not exceeding one-third
may be awarded to the informer, and the rest shall be awarded
to the Crown, to be applied in aid of the general cattle disea
fund.

82. — (1.) Every Order in Council shall be published in The
Dublin Gazelle. (2.) A copy of The Dublin Gazelle purport-
ing to be printed by the Queen's authority shall be conclusive
evidence in all courts and legal proceedings of the due making
and publication of any order appearingHherein, and purporting
to be an Order in Council.

83. The Lord Lieutenant, with the approval of the Treasury,
may fix the salaries and allowances of the officers and persons
acting in execution of this Act in the Veterinary Department
of Her Majesty's Privy Council Office ; and the same, aud all
charges and expenses iucurred iu the maintenance and manage-
ment of that department, shall be paid out of the money pro-
vided by Parliament.

[As the Bill cannot be properly understood without the
Schedules we give these, with the exception of one consisting of
techinical legal details.]

THE FIRST SCHEDULE.— Enactments Repealed.

(Clause. 2).

I. — England and Scotland.

The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 186'j : — Except —
(i.) Paragraphs 2, 3, and 1 of section 28 (local), relating to
the markets of the mayor, aldermen, aud commons of the City
of London, with the Fifth Schedule, referred to in that sec-
tion (ii.) Section 100 aud 101 (transitory), relating to
money borrowed by local authorities before the passing of
that Act.

II. — Scotland.

An Act to amend, the Contagious Diseases (Anima's) Act
1S60.

III. — Ireland.

An Act to prohibit the importation of sheep, cattle, or other
animals, for the purpose of preventing the introduction of
contagious or infectious disorders (11 & 12 Vict. c. 105). An
Act to prevent, until the first day of September, one thousand
eight hundred aud fifty, and to the end of the then session of
Parliament, the spreading of contagious or infectious dis,. rders
among sheep, cattle, and other animals (11 & 12 Vict. c. 107).
An Act to extend aud continue an Act of the twelfth year of
her present Majesty, to prevent the spreading of contagious
or infectious disorder among sheep, cattle, and other animals
(10 & 17 Vict. c. 62). The Cattle Disease Act (Ireland),
18G<> ■ the Cattle Disease (Ireland) Amendment Act, I
the Cattle Disease (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1872; the
Cattle Disease (Ireland) Acts Amendment Act, 1874; the
Cattle Disease (Ireland) Act, 1876,

THE SECOND SCHEDULE.— Locax Authorities
England.

(Clause 9).

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1. The City of London and the liberties thereof (as part
of the Metropolis) are rated and contribute for purposes of
this Act to the local rate of fche Metropolis. 2. The mayor,
aldermen, and commons of the City of London are alone
(notwithstanding anything in this Act) the local authority in
and for the Metropolis, for purposes of the provisions of this
Act relating to. foreign animals.

THE THIRD SCHEDULE.-Pleuro-Pneu.monia and
Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

(Clause 19.)
L — Pleuco-Pneu.monia.

1. Cattle are not to be moved into or out of a place
infected with pleuropneumonia, except in such cases as the
Privy Council think fit from time to time by order to except
and in the cases so excepted are to be moved into or out of the'
infected place on conditions prescribed by Order of Council
and not otherwise. 2. Cattle may be moved into, in, or out
of such parts of a district infected with pleuro-pneumonia as
are not comprised in a place infected with pleuro-pneumonia,
by licence of the local authority, granted on conditions pre-
served by Order of Council, and not otherwise. S. No market,
fair, exhibition, or sale of cattle is to be held in a district
infected with pleuro-pneamonia, except by licence of the Privy
Council.

230

THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE.

II,— FOOT-AND-MOUTH I llSEA.SE.

1. Animals are not to bo moved into or out of a place
infected with foot-and-mouth disease, except in such cases as
the Privy Council think fit, from time to time by order to
except, and in the cases so excepted are to be moved into or
out of the infested place ou conditions prescribed by Order of
Council and not otherwise. 2. Animals may be moved into,
in, or out of such parts of a district infected with foot-and-
mouth disease as are not comprised in a place infected with
foot-and-mouth disease, by licence of the local authority, to be
granted on conditions prescribed by Order of Council, and not
otherwise. 3. No market, fair, or exhibition, or sale of
animals is to be held in a district infected with foot-and-mouth
disease, except by licence of the Privy Council.

THE FOURTH SCHEDULE.— Foreign Animals.

(Clause 30.)

I.— Slaughter at Fort of Landing.

1. Foreign animals are. to be landed only at a part of a port
denned for that purpose by Order of Council, to be called a
foreign animals' wharf. 2. They are to be landed in such
manner, at such times, and subject to such supervision and
control as the Commissioners of Customs from time to time
direct. 3. They are not to be moved alive oat of the wharf.
]L— Quarantine.

1. The foregoing provisions of this Schedule (under the head
of Slaughter at Tort of Landing) do not apply to animals
intended for dairy or breeding purposes, or for exhibition : and
in lieu thereof the subsequent provisions (under the head of
Quarantine) are applied to those animals. 2. Those animals
are to be lauded only at a part of a port defined for that pur-
pose by Order of Council, to hi called a foreign animals'
quarantine station. 3. They are to belauded in such manner,
at such times, and subject to such supervision and control as
the Commissioners of Customs from time to time direct, and
subject to such conditions in respect of the animals, or of the
vessel from which they are landed, as the Privy Council from
time to time prescribe, i. When lauded they are to be placed
iu sheds or other receptacles in the quarantine station, prepared
by the consignees or others, and approved by the Privy Council.
5. Any such animal is not to be moved out of the quarantine
station before the expiration of such period not being less than
fourteen days after its landing as the Privy Council from time
to time by order prescribe. 6. When moved out of the
quarantine station it is to be accompanied by— (a.) A certificate
of a veterinary inspector of the Privy Council certifying that
it is free from disease. (5.) A licence of that inspector
specifying the place to which and the person to whom it is to
he taken. 7. It is not to be taken to or received at any other
place or person. 8. The veterinary inspector isto send a copy
of his licence to the local authority for the place specified in
the licence. 9. The animal is not to be moved out of the
district of that local authority for fifty-six days from the date
or the licence of the veterinary inspector. 10. The animal is
hot to be moved in that district for those fifty-six days, except
with a licence of the local authority , granted on conditions
prescribed by Order of Council. 11. In case of an animal
intended for breeding purposes or exhibition only, the Privy
Council may, if they think fit, by licence, modify the foregoing
provisions relative to movement out of the tation

and t [H '' I if "eon.

III.— Qhannel i ■ i ■■

In relation to animals brought from the Channel Islands or
the Isle of Man, the Privy Council may from time to time, if
they think fit, by order or by licence, modify the provisions of

this Schedule relating to slaughter or to quarantine, as the

ca^c may require.

THE FIFTH SCHEDULE.— Committees oi Lo u

Authorities.

(Clause 33.)

1. Each local authority shall form and keep up a committee
or committees, and may appoint the number of members by
whom the powers of a committee may be exercised, and may
at any time add to or diminish the number of the members of
a committee, or otherwise alter the constitution thereof, and
fill up or provide for the filling up of vacancies therein, or
revoke the appointment thereof and appoint another committee
or committees, and lay down rules for the guidance of a com-
mittee, who shall act accordingly. 2, Each committee may
consist wholly of members of the local authority, or partly
thereof, and partly of other persons, being rated occupiers in
the district of the local authority, and otherwise qualified as
the local authority think fit. 3. A local authority may delegate
all or any of their powers, except the power to make a rate,
to a committee, with or without conditions or restrictions.
i A local authority may revoke or alter any power given by
them to a committee. 5. A local authority may, if they think
fit, appoint and designate one committee as their executive
committee. G. An executive committee shall have all the
powers of the local authority, except the power to make a rate
and may, if they think fit, appoint a sub-committee or sub-
committees, and delegate to them all or any of the powers
of the executive committee, with or without conditions or
restrictions, and from time to time revoke or alter any such
delegation, and appoint the number of members by whom the
powers of a sub-committee may be exercised, and add to or
diminish the number of the members of a sub-committee, or
otherwise alter the constitution thereof and fill up or provide
tor the filling up of vacancies therein, or revoke the ap-
pointment thereof and appoint another sub-committee or
other sub-committees, and lay down rules for the guidance of
a sub committee, who shall act accordingly. 7- Proceedings
of a committee or sub-committee shall not he invalidated by any
vacancy in the committee or sub-committee, or, in the case of a
committee appointed by the local authority for a county, by the
termination of the session at which they were appointed. 8. In
case of the formation of two or more committees they shall act
according to rules laid down for their guidance by the local
authority. 9. A committee, and a sub-committee of an
executive committee, may elect a chairman of their meetings.
10. If no chairman is elected, or if the chairr.?an so elected is
not present at the time appointed for meeting, the members
then present shall choose a chairman for that meeting. 11. A
committee or sub-committee may meet and adjourn as they
think proper. 12. Every question at a meeting of a com-
mittee or sub-committee shall be determined by a majority of
the votes of the members, including the chairman, present and
voting on the question; and in case of equal division, the
chairman shall have a second vote.

THE SIXTH SCHEDULE.— Protection of Persons

i ie 19.)
i This relates to the protection of persons acting under the
proposed Act.

TITE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

251

TUB S E V E N T II S C II E D U L E .

UOltll lis | (
(Clausu 64.)

District.

Local Authority.

I. — Counties, inclnding'Thc person appointed as

any town or place which provided in Part ILL.

Joes nni return, or

contribute to return, a

member to Parliament.
11. — Burghs wliicli re- The magistrates and Town

return, or contribute to Council.

return, a member to
[ament.

Local '

Rate appointed to
)■ be levied in Part-^

III.

Clerk of Local Authority.

f The ' lerk of Supply.

The Town Clerk.

1. Ta and for purposes of this Schedule and Part, [II, I of the Parliamentary burgh ol Dumfries, but of tl
"county" does noi include county of a cily. 2. For pur- 1 o
poses of Part III. the burgh of Maxwelltown is part, not |

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

PROM THE MARK JANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK ENDING ItEBKUAl

A mild ami equable temperature has prevailed daring
the past week, and the weather has been seasonable for
the time of year. There was at the beginning of the week,
however, some increase in the amount of rainfall, which
retarded farming operations on the heavy lands and pre-
vented barley-sowing, while some portions of the low-
lying districts in the Ecus have been under water.
Farmers have been pretty busy planting beans and peas,
of both of which crops a fair acreage has been sown. It
seems probable that a good breadth of land will be
devoted to the cultivation of barley this year, especially
if wc have a dry and favourable spring, as this cereal has,
during the past few seasons, proved more jemunerative to
the farmer than wheat. It is gratifying to note thai
the weather has bseu very favourable for agricultural
operations iu Scotland, so that farm work is in an ad-
advanced state, and the planting of potatoes ha3 com-
menced. The autumn-sown crops continue to present a
sufficiently healthy appearance, and vegetation generally
is forward, but this can hardly he regarded with un-
alloyed satisfaction at so early a stage of the season, as it
not unfrequently happens that in our capricious cli
spriug and winter seem, as it were, to change places ; and
when frosts occur during that period of the year when
the functions of vitality are strongest, the injury to
vegetable growth is far more severe than when the genu
of life is less developed. It is by no means unlikely that
a cold aud unseasonable spring may be experienced this
year, as we have had little if any real winter weather.
The failure of last year's wheat crop was largely attri-
butable to the action of the late frosts after continued
rain, which starved the plant, although it must be con-
fessed that, as far as the ram ia concerned, we are far
'"H' '' off now : ban >( 111 ■ on pondin I L877,

when large tracts of low-lying land had been submerged
for weeks. The offerings of English wheat, both at
Mark Lane and the provincial markets, continue scanty,
neither has there been much inducement to farmers to
thrash, as prices have suffered a decided relapse during
the past week, by reason of the less agitated state of
political affairs, to whoso influence alone the late advance
was attributable. Foreign wheat has also reached our
shores in greater quantity, owing to the action of
America aud Germany, whose united contribution to
last Monday's arrivals amounted to nearly 35,000 qrs.,
while the imports iuto Liverpool have also been on a
decidedly larger scale. Appearances at the moment
wculd indicate that by judicious diplomacy the Eastern
difficulty may be overcome without farther appeal to
the sword, but all remains conjectectural until the Con-
ference shall have ventilated the proposed terms of peace.
The quieter state of the political atmosphere has, how-
ever, robbed our market of ail animation, and last week's
trade has shown a decided relapse. The temporary en-
hancement of values has been lost, and with it apparently
nearly all the demand, as business has moved within the
narrowest limits, and sales have only been practicable in
the merest retail. A decline of Is. per qr. on the week
must be noted on wheat, and feeding stuffs have also been
about 6d. per qr. lower ; but it cannot be denied that
there has been very little pressure to sell, and holders
appear to be perfectly content to abide the issue of
political affairs, which can scarcely reduce values much
below their present moderate level for some time to come,
if the difficult Eastern question, which has troubled
Europe so lung, finds its ultimate Bojution in a pacific
manner. With large arrivals at ports of call during the

Wbeal has been

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

very dull, and prices have given way fully Is. per qr.
Maize also, with large arrivals, has declined 6d. per qr. ;
whilst barley has ruled dull aud cheaper to sell. The
sales of English wheat uoted last week were 40,096 qrs.,
at 50s. lid., against 41,440 qrs., at 51s. in the previous
year. The London averages were 56s. 6d. on 1,375 qrs.
The imports into the kingdom for the week ending
February ] 6 th were 813,948 cwts. wheat, and 232,750
ewts. flour. There was an average attendance of millers
and country buyers at market on Monday last, and the
grain trade generally relapsed into a state of comparative
inactivity, as the arrivals of foreign corn were more
liberal, and the ^aspect of political aifairs was of a less
threatening character. The trade was consequently free
from excitement, and the advance of the previous Friday
was lost, there being, however, very little pressure to
sell, as holders were content to accept the reduction for
the time being, and await the ultimate issue of the poli-
tical influence. The week's supply of home-grown wheat
amounted to 2,953 qrs., and for the small offering fresh
up to market factors asked the full prices of the previous
week, but sales were difficult to effect thereat, and rather
lower rates were necessary to move all but the choicest
parcels. Of foreign the arrivals were more liberal, the
week's imports amounting to 55,419 qrs., of which
quantity 22,009 qrs. were from American Atlantic ports,
11,797 qrs. from Germany, and 9,673 from the East
Indies. Russia supplied 4,720 qrs., and the remainder of
the imports consisted of Australian and New Zealand de-
scriptions. The quieter state of the trade rendered buyers
cautious, and factors found it impossible to sustain
the advance of the preceding Friday ; but altogether a
fair consumptive demand was experienced at the quota-
tions of the previous Monday, with a dull tone at the
close of the market. The exports were 4,902 qrs.,
against 3,922 in the previous week. The supply of bar-
ley consisted of 3,623 qrs. of home-grown and 11,464
qrs. of foreign. Malting sorts were occasionally Is. per
qr. cheaper, and grinding qualities ruled slow at about
former prices. There were 25,121 qrs. of American
maize reported, and sales progresssed slowly at the cur-
rencies of the preceding Monday, the advance of Friday
having been lost. The imports of oats were 36,287 qrs.,
and no material alteration was quoted in the value of fine
qualities, but the more common sorts, which have recently
been unusually depressed, showed a recovery of 3d. to 6d.
per qr. on the week. On Wednesday the return gave
110 qrs. of English wheat and 15,390 qrs. of foreign.
The market was most meagrely attended., and great dul-
ness prevailed. Lower prices would have been necessary
to effect sales of wheat in any quantity, but in the ex-
tremely limited business passing Monday's prices were
obtainable for retail quantities. Feeding stuffs were
equally dull, and quotations were nominally unaltered.
On Friday the supply had increased to 140 qrs. of
English wheat and 32,5S0 qrs. of foreign. The trade
ruled dull throughout the day at nominally Monday's
prices, and there was very little business done in feeding

corn. The imports of Hour into the United Kingdom
for the week ending February 16th were 232,756 cwt.,
against 224,084 cwt. in the previous week. The receipts
were 20,191 sacks of English, and 9,031 sacks aud
18,437 barrels of foreign. A very quiet trade has been
experienced during the past week, and prices have favoured
buyers for both sacks and barrels. The week's imports
of beans were 58,2S1 cwts., and of peas 5,347 cwts.,
showing a decrease of 39,162 cwts. on the former, and
13,356 cwts. on the latter. There has been but little
demand for either of these articles, but in the few sal s
made prices have shown no quotable change. The
deliveries of malt were 17,621 qrs., and the exports 596
qrs. No improvement can be noted in this article, fi r
which the trade has been extremely dull, and rather lowir
prices have been necessary to iuduce buyers to ope-
rate. A fair business has been passing in agricultural
seeds during the week, and for all the principal varieties
former prices have been well sustained. Fine red clover
is scarce, and it is most probable that an upward move-
ment will take place in prices as soon as the spring de-
mand begins to be felt. Alsike and white clover remain
steady, and there has been some little inquiry for sowing
rape, but no quotable change has occurred in hemp,
canary, or mustard. The supplies of grain at the pro-
vincial markets have again been very moderate, but the
trade has followed the course of prices at Mark Lane, and
the advance quoted at the end of last week has beeu
lost. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, an extremely dull tone
prevailed in the market, which was thinly attended, and
the wheat trade closed weak at the lowest quotations of
the previous week. There was very little done in flour,
but beans were more inquired for, and commanded full
prices. Maize shared in the general depression, and
quotations were about 6d. per qr. lower, new mixed
American closing at 27s. 3d. and old at 28s. 6d. per qr.
The week's imports consisted of 87,000 qrs. of wheat,
and 37,500 qrs. of maize. At Newcastle wheat has de-
clined 6d. per qr. on the week, and flour has also favoured
buyers. Maize has ruled Arm, and feeding corn gene-
rally has not declined in value. At Peterborough the
offerings of wheat have been very light, aud farmers have
succeeded in obtaining Is. per qr. more money, while
barley, oats, and beans have commanded fully late rates.
At Edinburgh the market has been well supplied with
grain from the farmers, and a slow sale has been expe-
rienced for wheat at a decline of Is. per qr., while barley
and oats have been in fair request at previous currencies.
At Leith the weather has been changeable, but agricul-
tural operations have not been delayed thereby. The
arrivals from abroad have been limited of all articles, and
prices have relapsed to their old level, under the influence
of more peaceful news. At Wednesday's market Scotch
wheat was quoted Is. per qr. lower, and the few sales of
foreign were at about former rates. Barley also receded
Is. per qr., but other spring corn was unaltered in value.
At Glasgow the imports have been small of wheat and
maize, and the trade has ruled dull for all articles at
barely last week's prices. At Cork there has been a
general depression in the trade, and wheat aud maize
have declined 6d. per qr. At Dublin the weather has
been dull and cold, and the grain trade has been inactive.
Tuesday's market was poorly attended, and both wheat
and maize were the turn lower to sell.

Printed by Hazelx, Watson, & Viney, 205, Strand, London.

T H E FA RM BR'S M AG AZ LNE,

CON T E N T S.

MARCH, 1878.

Plate. — THE LATE [ME, RICHARD HORNS BY.

Description of Plate. . . . .

Farmers' Clubs ....

Live Stock Notes ....

The Worsley Hall Sale

A Seed Warehouse in Cottonpolis

Agricultural Societies .

A Parable .....

The Cork Butter Market

Diseased Meat ....

Chambers of Agriculture .

The Pause in the Development of Steam Cultivation

Traction Engines for Agricultural Purposes .

Smithfield Club

Free Trade in Land — No. Ill

Cheese Factories

The Highways Bill

The Irish Land Law .

The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill

Review of the Corn Trade

Page

. 167

168, 186, 169, 235

. 177

. 179

. 181

1«3, 2l7

. 193

. 1&6

. 197

203, 221

. 213

. 2l5

. 225

. 126

. 230

. 231

. 234

. 239

. 251

TTJXFORD AND CO.

WINE IMPORTERS,
48, FENGHURGH STREET, EG.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

PORT

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

per dozen and

I upwards,

SHERRY

18s.,

243.

i

30s,

36s.

n

>j

MADEIRA ...

30s.,

36s.,

42s.,

48s.

j>

jj

MARSALA

20s.,

24s.,

28s.,

32s.

j»

}>

CHAMPAGiNE

30s.,

36s..

42s.,

50s.

)}

j)

CLAHET

12s.,

15s.,

lbs.

24s.

5J

i)

BURGUNDY

24s,

30s.,

36s,

42s.

>>

Ditto (Sparkling)

36s.,

42s,

48s.,

54s.

>)

>>

MOSELLE

24s.,

30s,

36s,

42s.

>)

>s

Ditto (Sparkling)

32s.,

38s,

44s,

50s.

>}

})

HOCK

20s.,

24s,

30s,

36s,

>>

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HOCK (Sparkling)

32s.,

38s.,

44s.,

5Qs.

>>

>}

SAUTERNE

18s.,

24s,

30s,

36s.

})

»J

BRANDY

38s.,

42s,

48s.

>?

}J

WHISKY

38s.,

42s.

>>

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RUM

40s.,

42s,

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CtIN

30s.,

32s.

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»

SHERRY in Quarter Casks of 27 gallons

, from £10 10s

!.

PORT in Quarter Casks of 2£

! gallons, from £14 14s.

Sole -Agent for Rousseau and Cie Reims Champagne,
Rivaz and Cie Cognac Brandies.

TUXFORD AND CO,

WINE IMPORTERS,
48, FENCHURCH STREET, EC,

ESTABLISHED 1847.

SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

ALL GOODS FORWARDED CARRIAGE PAID,

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

0. H. MAY & CO..

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 1846.
APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TRINITY HOUSE, Ac, Ac.

ADVERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS.
TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE.

This Manure, after six years' trial, is unapproaehed in its results by
any other Manure. It is suitable for all soils, and permanently
improves the fertility of even the poorest. It provides all the
v\ neeessary foods for plants, creates a vigorous growth without over-
stimulating, and increases the produce. It is a powerful insecticide.
It has been used with perfect success on

CEREALS, ROOTS, GRASS,
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HOPS.

Prepared in a Fine, Dry, Inodorous Powder. Price £12 per ton, 15s. per cwt.
TRIAL ORDERS ARE INVITED TO BE USED IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER MANURES.
'Wkitb for Particulars—

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE CO., LIMITED,

79, MARK LANE, LONDON, EC.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

K HUB

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIERS NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of ail Bookseller*

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7<L, or £1 10g. 4d. per annum.

No. 4, Vol. HI.] APRIL, 1878. [Third SiBiBS.

the

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

DrturateU

TO THB

FARMERS OE THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BY RQGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PBIC* TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZKIX, V.'ATfiON, A V1NET. [PRIN'TBILS. l-es, STRAND.

X.ONSON AND COUNTY BANKING COMPANY.

.ESTABLISHED IN 1836, AND INCORPORATED IN 1871 UNUER " THK COMPANIES ACT, ISO*."

SUBfinRTBET) CAPITAL... £3,750,000, in 75,000 SHAKES of £50 EACH".

PAID-UP CAPITAL £1,499,070 0

RESERVE FUND 609,1*85 0

PI* THOMAS TYRINGHAM BER-
NARD, Bart.
ROBT. ALEX. BROOKS, Esq.
JOHN JAMES CATER. Esq.
THOMAS STOCK COWIE, Esq.

DIRECTORS.
FREDERICK FEANCTS. E<Q.
FREDERICK HARRISON, Esq.
EDWARD HARBORD LUSHING -

TON, Kso.
JAMES MORLEY, Esq.

I WILLIAM NICOL. f.*Q.

ABRAMAM H. 1'HILI, POTTS. Fsq>.
WILLIAM HENRY STONE, Esq.
JAMES D,. THOMSON, Esq.

Ghneral Managkr.— WILLIAM McKEWAN, Esq.

CHIEF INSPECTOR.
W. J. NORFOLK, Esq.

CHIEF ACCOUNTANT.
JAMES GRAY, Esq.

SECRETARY.
GEORGE GOUGH, Esq.

HEAD OFFICE, 21, LOMBARD STREET.

Head Office Managers.— WILLIAM HOWARD Esq.; JOSEPH ALFRED SMITH, Etq.

THE- LONDON AND COUNTY BANK opens—

DRAWING ACCOUNTS with Commercial Houses and Private Individuals, upon the plan usually adopted by othe?
Bankers.

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. — Deposit Receipts are issued for sums of Money placed upon these Accounts, and luterowtta
aHowed for such peri ids and at such rates a< may be a ?rae i anon reference being Had to the state of the llonev Market..

CIRCULAR NOTKS AND LETTERS OF' CRSDIT are issued, payable it) the principal Cities and Towns of thu Cob*
tinent, in Australia, Canada, India, and China, the United States, and elsewhere.

The Agency of Foreign and Country Banks is undertaken.

The I'urchasm and Salh of Government and other Stocks, of English or Foreign Shares effected, and Dividbsds,
AfrxriTiBS, Ac , received for Customers of the Bank.

i .rent facilities arc also afforded to the Customers of the Bank for the receipt of Money from the Towns where the Com*
patty has Branches..

The Officers of the Bank are bound not to disclose the transitions of any of its Customers.

By Order of the Directors, WM. MoKEWAN, General Manager.

THOMAS BIGG-,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE. GREAT DOVER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

~£>1'.GS to. call the attention of Farmer?

_!') and Graziers to his valuable SHEF.P arid LAMB
(TIPPING COMPOSITION, which require:: no Boiling, and
!• ay be used with Worm or Cold Water, for effectually
I'tilioj ing the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
,- ■ Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shah,
cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly hn-
nr iving 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 hia Mann-
i.. • ■ .-v hs above, and sold as tollcwa, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

i lb. for 20 shoep, price, Jar included £0 2 0

B lb. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

s lb, 40 ,, „ ,. 0 4 0

10 lb. 60 ,, ,, „ 0 6 0

2" lb. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
soib. 150 ,, ,, included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 ,, „ , 1 O 0

6b lb. 250 „ ., ,, 1 3 6

60 lb. 300 „ „ , 17 6

P0 lb. 400 ,. ,, , 1 17 6

inoib. 600 ,, „ 2 6 0

I Id any Floekmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
• equally efiectivs.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
t emi Mr. Heup.path, the celebrated Analytical Chemiat :—
Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.
Sir, I have snbruittod your Sheep Dipping Composition to
a-v'j-i?.. and find that the ingredients ave well blended, and
^■- mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions
u, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,
Kill not injure the hair roots lcr"yolk;') in the skin, the

leeeo, or the carcase. I think it deserves the nnmerott,
Testimonials published. I am. Sir, your* respectfully,

William Hkbapath, Sen., F.C.S., Ac, Ac.,
To Air. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry,

'^eicester House, Great i/over-street Borough London.

He would also especially- call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will bo found
a certain remedy for eradicating that'loathsumeand ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all description*
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.
" Sconltou, near Bingham. Norfolk, April 11th, 1855,

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ol the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had 1 been at home, I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cureol Seabin Sheep." The
iiOO sheep were all dressed in August last with 81 gallons of
the ' NoN-poisojoi's Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dreswer, the.
be^t attention being paid.tothe flock oy my shepherd aftor
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 Februai y during the dressing,
your PPBCipic proved it.->elf an invaluable reruody, 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, Est).,

'• To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " Pv. RENN ST.

Its?" Flockmasters mould be well to beware of such pre-,
parations as " Non-pi lsr.noiis Compositions:" it is only
necessary to appeal to their gocc common sense and judg-
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no " Non-pois»noua ";
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such.
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacious
ol life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly uwVoee,
or they are not what they are represented to bo.

DIPPING API ARATU8 *,4. £6, f\ 463,

fb^T. _^ C-l^^C^^

•254 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

to need, in perfect disregard, in utter recklessness,
indeed, of opinion outside, whether of the many
or the few.

'• We add some dates and notes, which will
serve as the skeleton record of an honourable
agricultural career. — Born on the last day of 1820,
educated at the Grammar School, Bedford, and
prpeared for the University, Mr. Corbet became
eventually resident in London, where, in 1846, he
was unanimously elected secretary of the Farmers
Club againt a large number of competitors. The
Club, then in the fourth year of its existence, was
u anything but a flourishing condition ; but there
were better times in store. The Tenant-Right
question was taken up by it, and its young
secretary wrote the prize essay on the subjec,
during the first year of his office — the judges
being Lord Port man, the late Mr. Phillip Pusey,
and the late Mr. William Shaw. The essay was
published in the spring of 1848, and in the follow
year, at the request of Mr. Pusey, Mr. Corbet-
undertook, in conjunction with Mr. Shaw, the
digest of the evidence on the Agricultural Customs
of England and Wales — a work of immense labour
which, however, has still its uses, being, indeed
as good an authority now as when it was first
published 28 years ago. Mr. Corbet's other pub-
lications directly associated with the proceeding8
of the Club are papers on 'The Over-preservation
of Game,' read in 1860— on ' County Expenditure
and County Rates,' read in 1862— on the Operation
of the Mait-tax,' read in 1863— on ' The Cattle
Plague and the Government Measures,' in 1866 —
on • Foxes versus Rabbits,' in 1869 ; and a history
and exposition of ' English Tenant-Right' in 1870
He was also on the card last year for a paper on
'The use and Abuse of Fashion in Bre edingStock;
but gave way for one on the 'Government Agncul
tural Holdings' Bill.'

"After 29 years' service, Mr. Corbet resigned
the oilice of secretary to the Farmers' Club, we
regret to say from ill-health, at Christmas last
and the Committee have since made him an
honorary life member of the Club.— In 1853, he
had been invited by the proprietors of The Marl:
Lane Express to write leaders and reports of agri-
cultural meetings for that paper, and this gra-
dually led to his undertaking the editorship, which
he has now held for nearly 20 years. In addition
IP this, Mr. Corbet has occasionally read papers at
some of the local clubs, and contributed to the
journals of agricultural societies; the more pro
miuent of these papers being one ou the 'Breeding
of Hunters and Hacks,' and another on 'Heads,'
in the Bath and West of England Journal, and the

1 Live Stock Report of _the Cardiff Show,' ifi the
Royal Agricultural Society's Journal. He has
also been a frequent contributor to the columns of
The Field, Belts Life, the sporting magazines.
All the Year Hound, and other periodicals. His
subjects here jhave been chiefly on the horse, or
of a more directly sporting character. For many
years he has acted as a judge of riding horses at
shows held in different parts of the country, at
some societies for three or four years in
succession, and occasionally single-handed.
Mr. Corbet was for some years au auditor
to the Royal Agricultural Society, a member of
the Council of the Royal Agricultural Bene-
volent Institution, and one of the committee of
the French Farmers' Relief Fund, so ably presided
over by Lord Vernon. He was for some time secre-
tary to, and afterwards on the committee of, the
Total Repeal Malt-tax Association. As a member
of the Smithfield Club, he proposed, at a general
meeting of that Society, shortly before its removal
to the Agricultural Hall, two resolutions, to the
effect that the general members should have more
voice, and the opportunity of taking more interest
in the preceedings. Previously the business had
been almost altogether iu the hands of the stewards
and judges, who rang the changes on each other's
appointments. To the surprise of many hi3 resolu-
tions were both carried, and they led to the ap-
pointment of a council, a numerous body elected by
the members, iu whose hands the whole business
now is. At the request of the directors he drew
the prize list of the first horse show held at Isling-
ton ; and, in conjunction with his brother Edward
he established the horse show at the Alexandra
Park, which has been generally allowed to be one
of the most perfectly planned and conducted exhi-
bitions of the kind."

To this we need only add that Mr. Corbet was
compelled to retire from active work at the end of
1875 on account of ill health, from which he still
suffers. Ou his retirement from the secretaryship
of the Farmers' Club, a present of a hundred
guineas was sent as au acknowledgment of services
rendered, accompanied with an expression of re-
gret at the necessity for his resignation. Since
then it has been thought desirable to present Mr.
Corbet with a testimonial of a more public kind,
and subscriptions have be en collected for that pur-
pose by Mr. Bruce, the present Secretary of the
Farmers' Club. The presentation will probably be
made during the present month.

PRINTERS AND WOMEN.— "Good morning, Mr. Hen"
peck," said a Yankee printer in search of female compositors>
••have you got any daughters that would make good type-
setters '?" " No, but I have got a wife that would make a
very fine devil."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

•J.->5

PLEUROPNEUMONIA IN AMERICA.

Oa several recent occasions we have pointed out
the error of a statement that is continually being
repeated, to the effect that there are no contagious
diseases in America that we need fear may be
brought here with live cattle. The danger of
importing Texas Fever is one of those vague
probabilities which can hardly be expected to
alarm the British authorities, who, as a rule, do
not guard against any mischief until the couutry
has suffered by it. Every one must admit that if
we should once get Texas Fever amongst our
herds — and we know of no peculiar obstacle to
its coming here with live American cattle — it will
probably cost us thousands of pounds to get rid
of it, besides the loss which it will directly cause ;
but, as we know nothing from experience about
the terrible disease, people here have no fear of it.
With Pleuro-pneumonia the case is quite different.
The Government are now fully alive to the desir-
ability of stamping it out of the country, and of
taking precautions against its re-introduction,
although, unfortunately, they lack the courage
requisite for carrying out an effectual system of
prevention, as the proposal to admit breeding and
dairy stock to the interior of the country after an
insufficient quarantine shows. Still, there is a
general desire to keep out this disease, and a plea
for admitting animals freely from any country in
which that disease is prevalent would be felt to be
an unreasonable one.

The Duke of Richmond is being pressed to
amend his Cattle Diseases Bill so as to allow live
cattle from the United States and Canada to come
to this country without being slaughtered at the
ports of debarkation, and he has shown some
disposition to yield on this point. It is, therefore
of importance that the danger of yielding should
be more fully understood than it appears to be.
Those who ask that American and Canadian cattle
may come freely into the country declare that
neither in America nor Canada does any conta-
gious cattle disease exist. Now, the Duke of
course knows that this statement, at least as far
as America is concerned, is untrue ; but, as far as
we have seen, he has never made that knowledge
public in any reply which he has given to those
who are endeavouring to induce him to spoil his
Bill. Consequently, the public, the writers in
some of the daily papers, Radical members of
Parliament, and other people who are not well
informed on the subject, may be imposed on by

the constantly repeated error. As before remarked,
the mistake has been several times pointed out in
these columns, but, as an English agricultural
journal may be suspected of exaggerating the
dinger to which we allude, we will call an
American witness to our aid. We will leave
Texas Fever entirely out of the question, and
content ourselves with letting an American agri-
cultural paper tell an English reader how exten-
sively Pleuro-pneumonia prevails in the United
States.

The American National Liec-Sfock Journal for
the present mouth contains an article entitled "The
Greatest Danger to our Live Stock," which is ex-
plained by the sub-heading, "The Lung Fever —
Contagious Fleuro-pneunionia." The article, which
is a very able one, urges the necessity for repres-
sive measures in the United States. It states : —
"The Lung Fever of cattle, imported into Brooklyn,
L. I. for the first time in 1S43, in a Dutch
cow, has never since been at any time entirely ab-
sent from our soil. From this centre it has slowly
and irregularly extended over a portiou of New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Dela-
ware, and Virginia, besides having repeatedly in-
vaded Connecticut. The slowness of its extension
has begotten a false sense of security, and no real
apprehensions of serious consequences remain from
an animal poison which has been for over a third
of a century hidden away in the near vicinity of
the Atlantic coast." The article goes on to show
how it is that, having had Pleuro-pneumonia only
One year less than England, America has suffered
much less than this country. Iu America " tho
disease was for a long time confined to the dairies
of Brooklyn and New York, where the cows were
kept until they died, or were fattened for the
butcher. A few doubtless found their way to this
country, and by these the disease was carried to
different farms, which were thus constituted cen-
tres of contagion from which the adjacent country
became infected. But any such movement from
the city dairies wis necessarily of the most re"
stricted kind, and it never took place to any great
distance. It would have been folly to move a
common'milch cow, worth 40 dols. to 70dols. to tho
West, where she could be bought for one-half or
one-third of that sum." In short, as the current of
the cattle traffic in the United States has been con-
stantly from the cheap breedingand rearing grounds
of the West to the profitable markets of the East,

T 2

25G

the disease lias had hardly any chance of spreading
to those districts where it would have caused the
greatest devastation. Still, the writer urges, the
fact that the disease has maintained a foothold in
the United States for thirty-four years, and " in
spite of all obstacles has made a slow but constant
extension," is " sufficient ground for the gravest
apprehension." A recent outbreak in Clinton,
N. J., is then referred to as an example of
what may be expected if the disease is. not
stamped out before its slow progress westward
renders it a source of even more imminent danger
than it is at present to the great cattle-producing
States.

For Great Britain the danger referred to is already
very great, although it would undoubtedly become
greater still if the Western States, from which our
supply of American cattle comes, were generally
infected with the disease. It should surely be
enough to show that pleuro-pneumonia has a per-
manent home in six of the Eastern States, seeing
that it is through Eastern ports that the cattle of
the West are sent to us.

In the face of this testimony from an American
witness we hope we shall hear no more of the alleged
immunity of America from the contagious diseases
of cattle. If, in spite of warning, we continue
to import live cattle from the United States, the
larger the traffic becomes the greater will be our
danger. New York is the great shipping port for
American cattle, and in New York State Pleuro-
pneumonia is admitted to exist. Should we con-
tinue to import live cattle from America, then it will
be strange indeed if some of the stock sent here does
not come into contact with infected cattle, or be
put into rail trucks in which such cattle have been,
in the course of its transit to the Atlantic seaboard.
In Great Britain, our American critic says, " the
Lung Fever is accepted as a necessary evil between
which and her large importations of Continental
cattle she must make a deliberate choice." Quite
true ; only to " Continental cattle " we must add,
on our critic' own showing, "and American cattle
also."

The writer adds some particulars which it would
be well for those to read who ignorantly declare
that it is useless for us to endeavour to get rid of
Pleuropneumonia, lie tells his readers how
several European countries have stamped out the
disease by rigid restrictive measures, some of them,
unhappily, to import it again from foreign coun-
tries. In Massachusetts and Connecticut, too,
Lung Fever — a better because a more distinctive
name than Pleuro-pneumonia — has been eradicated.
What these States and countries have done Great

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Britain and Ireland, with the advantage of being
islands,"can asssuredly accomplish.

The subject is one of such great importance at
the present juncture that we appeal to the press
generally to circulate the testimony of an American
witness, which we have above quoted. He, at
least, cannot be suspected of any bias against the
continuance of our traffic in live cattle from his own
country without the partial safeguard of slaughter
at the port of debarkation.

THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.— Professor Dewar, in
one of his course of lectures on the chemistry of the organic
world, commenced by giving an account of the latest
important observations on the transpiration and movements
of water in plants. Marie Davy, two years ago, worked
out the calculations of experiment which show that for the
production of 1 6 grains of corn as much as three and a
half pounds of water are transpired. M. Risler has found
that a field of growing wheat transpires between April
and July as much water as would cover the surface of the
ground to a depth of 9in. These experiments have obviously
direct practical bearings on agriculture. The influence of
sunlight on transpiration has been investigated by Professor
M'Nab. Experimenting with the leaves of the bay laurel, he
found that in sunlight there was but little difference between
the amount of water transpired in an atmosphere saturated
with moisture and in a dry atmosphere. The amount per
hour in the first 3ase was 25-96 per cent., and 20-52 in the
second. In the shade, however, the transpiration in a
saturated atmosphere was nil, and in a dry atmosphere only
1-69 per cent, showing in a marked degree the great influence
of sunlight, and the small influence of dryness or moisture of
air. The rate of the ascent of fluids in plants, ascertained by
the employment of spectroscopic examination of the diffusion
of lithium citrate, as adopted by Bence Jones in studying the
fluids of animals, gave a maximum result of 21in per hour.
Mr. J. B. Lawes has published the result of lengthy experi-
ments, which show that 200 times the weight of organic
matter elaborated by a plant passes through it iu the form of
water during its growth. With regard to the comparative
amounts of carbon assimilated by plants and evolved by
animals Professor Dewar has elaborated tables which jpresen1
the subject in a clear form. An acre of the best cultivated
land fixes annually about 22cwt of carbon, and a healthy man
evolves about 2 cwt of carbon annually in the form of carbonic
acid, so that 11 such persons supply as much as can be
economized by an acre of land. Referring to the past
vegetation of the carboniferous period Professor Dewar said
he has calculated that if the coal vegetation grew as it was
generally admitted it did, on the a^eas approximately the same
as our coal fields, it would require at least 20,000 years for the
accumulation of the carbon. This is a calculation of time
quite independent of the calculations of geologists, and ha
therefore a peculiar value. Throughout the lecture the
methods employed by the different investigators wer« experi-
mentally shown,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

IRISH CATTLE TRADE ^ASSOCIATION

Recently, a special meeting of the Council of the
Association was held, to take into consideration the course
that should be pursued with reference to evidence to be sub-
mitted to the Duke of Richmond's Committee on the Cattle
Diseases Bill. After maturely considering the Bill, the fol-
lowing resolutions were submitted : —

That this Council is unanimously of opiuion that stoppage
of movement of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease
for 28 days and pleuro-pneumonia for 56 days would prove
most injurious, if not destructive, to the interests of stock-
owners in Ireland.

That in the opinion of this Couucil great doubts exist
amongst a very large section of the most practical and expe.
rienced men engaged in the cattle trade of the possibility of
extirpating foot-and-mou th disease by restrictions such as from
time to time have been proposed ; but having regard to the
very general expression of opinion to the contrary, and the
desire of the Government to legislate in favour of restrictions,
the Council is of opiuion that 14 days should be the extreme
limit for which such restrictions ought to be tried.

Passed.

That looking to the fact that power is taken in the Bill to
slaughter all animals affected with pleuro-pneumonia so soon
as the existence of the disease shall have been discovered, it
appears to this Council that 28 days after the last case would
be, in justice to the stockowuers of Ireland, the outside limit
of time during which the restrictions on a place declared to be
infected with this disease should be maintained.

Passed unanimously.

That in the opinion of this Council the power of slaugh-
teriug cattle " being or having been in contact with cattle
affected with pleuro-pneumonia" ought not to be conferred on
the local or any other authority by the Bill.

Rejected on a division.

That for the convenience of those engaged in the cattle
trade it is desirable that the Privy Council should make pub-
lic the granting of a liceuce to hold a fair or market within
each infecteJ district a reasonable time before that at which
it is proposed to hold such fair or market.

Passed.

The meeting then adjourned.

FATTENING CATTLE IN WINTER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Some few weeks ago you asked for a statement
of particulars ou fattening beasts in stalls iu wiuter.
Haviug 20 tied up in a shed, and having sold the last ou
Tuesday, I enclose items :

1877

15 heifers at £17

5 do. 13 10s

4 heifers, S.j weeks at 10s.

per week each

6 heifers, 13£ weeks at 10s.
per week each

5 heifers, 15 1 weeks ...

5 heifers, 18 weeks

Attendance

Balance in favour of fattening ..

£481 10 O

Nov. 17

Jan. 15

Feb. 19

March 3

March 19

£

s.

d.

55

0

0

67

10

0

17 0 0

37 10

0

38 15

0

45 0

0

9 0

O

11 15

0

1878.
Jau. 15
Feb. 19
March 5

March 19

sold at
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.

£
24
20
21
23
25

22 10

d.

0
0
0
0
0
0

£
97
150
42
69
50

67 10

257

3. d

0
0
0
0
0
0

£481 10 0
for food is made out in this
s. d.

The cost per week at 10s,
way :—

1 cwt. cut hay and straw, at £4 10s. per ton
l^bus. per week of pulped maugels
28 lb. Marseilles cotton-cake, at £6 per ton
28 lb- do. linseed cake, at £10 per ton
Charge for cutting chaff, &c ... ...

10 0

Quantity of straw used for litter : — 51b. per head per day
Steers would require much more than heifers.

I do not publish my name, hut at the same time I
should be willing to answer any inquiries privately. I
generally fatten from 80 to 100 bullocks or heifers on
three farms, and, having a man on one I can depend on
I have selected his heifers for my example-
account aud feel satisfied I am correct. The man
in question is a working foreman, at 20s. per week,
house vent and firing free. He has a strong lad at 12s.
per week, and besides the 20 in the shed has about 15 other
beasts iu open yards, and about 70 sheep (which have
turnips and cake, on grass laud) to attend to. I purchased
the beasts myself, and sold them to the butchers myself.
I am, Sir, &c.,

A. Kent Farmer.

IMPORTATION OP LIVE STOCK IN AUSTRALIA

— The Melbourne Argus recently received, contains the fol-
lowing:— Correspondence is now taking place between the
Governments of the various Australian Colonies on the sub-
ject of the prohibition of tha import of livestock. In the
eastern colonies there is a desire that the rule should be re-
pealed. South Australia, ho.vever, his forwarded a despatch
to this Government protesting agiinst any such course, and
stating the good results which have followed the prohibitive
policy. It is mentioned that the foot-and-mouth disease has
cost England seventy millions of money since 18G9, and the
belief is expressed that the ravages of the disease in Australia
would be proportionately severe. Mr. Berry has replied to
the despatch, and has expressed a strong opinion that no one
colony ought to take action on its own account, and that tth
prohibition rule should be maintained by all until a general
agreement is effected in favour of a modification. For any
one colony to take upon itsnlf to virtually render nugatory
the precautions of the other is, in Mr. Berry's opinion, unfair.
This is the attitude the Government of Victoria takes on the
question, aud its views are to be nude known to the other
Governments interested.

258

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION IN LONDON.

On March 20th a meeting of the Committee recently
appointed to promote the holdiug of a great Agricultural
Exhibition ia London next year, under the auspices of the
lloyai Agricultural Society of Eugland, was held a*; the
Mansion House for the despatch of business. Aiders an Sir
Charles Whetham presided, and there were present the Duke
of Bedford, Lird Moretoa, Coloael Kingseote, M. P., Presi-
deut of the Royal Agricultural S)cie'y, Sir Joha Heron
Maxwell, Alderman Sir Thomas Dakin, Mr. William Wells,
Mr. T. C. Seotr, Mr. Charles Gassiot, Mr, James Howard,
High Sheriff of "Bedfordshire, aid others. Letters were read
from the Dukes of Westminster and Buccleuch, consentiag ti
join the committee, and one from Mr. John Holms, M.P.,
who stated that he had made some inquiry as to extending
the Exhibition of 1879 so as to include food generally, and
had found that the co.uaii!te3 might expect very considerable
support from, thoie iuterested, and he believed also that some
of the great City Companies would be inclined to give them a
grant of money. The names of Lord Chesham, Lord Re ay >
Sir C. Russell, M.P., and others were added to the committee.
It will be remembered that at the recent public meeting i^
was said to be desirable that the Exhibition should, if possi-
ble, be held in Hyde-park.

Coloael Kingscote, M.P., now reported that in bis
capacity as President of the Royal Agricultural Society he
had waited upon his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
the Ranger of Hyde-park, and the Duk? had quite convinced
him of the utter impracticability of holding the show in
Hyde-park, even if the park could afford the necessary
accommodation, which was very doubtful. The idsa, which
was nevei vciy seriously entertained, would therefore have to
be given up.

Mr. H. M. Jenkins, the Secretary of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society, reported that he had visited various suggested
sites, some of which were appropriate and others not, and
that he had more still to visit. About eighty acre3 of land
would be necessary for the exhibition, and it must be easily
accessible from all parts of London.

Oa the motion of Mr. James Howakd (High Sheriff of
Bedfordshire), seconded hy Mr. W. Gilbey, it was resolved
that the question of the site be left to the decision of the
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society.

It was then arranged that the various Livery Companies of
the City, the members of the Com, Hop, Stock, and other
Exchanges, and others interested iu British agriculture,
should be invited to co operate with the Mansion Houss
Committee in raising the funds needed to meet the incidental
expenses of the exhibition. For that purpose no definite
sum could yet be fixed, but about £10,000 was casually
mentioned. The Lord Mayor was appointed treasurer of the
fund, and it was intimated that he would gladly receive sub-
scriptions at the Mansion House in aid of that object. The
Duke of Bedford expressed his willingness to subscribe £100,
and Colonel Kingseote said the Duke of Westminster would
contribute a similar sura.

Sir Charles Whetham undertook to bring the matter
before the Corporation of London at the proper time.

The Lord Mayor has published the following letter iu
the daily papers, under date " Mansion House, March 21" :

A.t a public meeting held here on March 13 it was resolved
to promote the holdiug of a great Agricultural Exhibition
in Loudon next year, under the auspices of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society of Eugland, and a highly influential com-
mittee was appointed to carry out that object, to collect
subscriptions, and generally to co-operate with the Council o
the Royal Agricultural Society.

The food supply of the people is continually acquiring an
increasing importance in the large centres of population,
and the holdiDg of an exhibition having for its object the
improvement of all the means which cau be adopted for
simulating the home supply cannot fail to be of great
interest and use to the consumer as well as the producer.
The committee, however, trust that the support which they
will receive may be sufficient to enable them to induce the
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society to enlarge the
scope of the exhibition, and to give it an international cha-
racter.

The Prince of Wales has intimated that, under such favour-
able and distinctive circumstances his Royal Highness
will accept the Presidency of the Society for the year of the
exhibition.

It was the opinion of the meeting held on the 13th iust.
that it was desirable, if possible, to hold the exhibition in
Hyde Park ; but the committee have already ascertained
that it is impracticable to carry oat this suggestion, however
convenient such a site would be to the many thousands who
would visit an exhibition iu so central a situation. It will,
therefore, be necessary to obtain the use of a suitable site at
doubtless, a considerable cost.

The committee are also desirous of assisting the Royal,
Agricultural Society in defraying a portion of the cost of some
other expensive items in the organisation of so large and im-
portant an exhibition, and more particularly by offering
special prizes for stock and agricultural produce adapted to the
wants of large centres of population.

It may he added that the total cost of the exhibition has
been estimated at not leas than £30,000, of which the
Royal Agricultural Society will bear a considerable propor-
tion.

I beg therefore, on behalf of the committee, to solicit the
co operation and support of all those iuterested in agricul-
ture and of the public at large ; and I shall be glad to receive
at the Mansion House any sums which may be entrusted to
me for the objects to which, by your courtesy, I have drawn
attention.

SHEEP SHEARING.— The Surrey and Sussex flockmasters
have resolved not to shear their sheep until the end of May
this year, and the local wool fairs will be held later ihan usua'
in consequence.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2-50

THE IRISH LAND ACT.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed
to inquire iuto the operation of the Bright clause of the Irish
Land Act of 1S70 resumed its sitting on Monday last, Mr.
Shaw Lefevre in the chair.

Mr. W. D. Henderson, the actiug President of the Antrim
Tenant-Right Association, continued his evidence, he being
under examination when the Committee adjourned on Thurs-
day week. He said it had been supposed that the tenaut-
right was higher in large towns than in counties. He rather
thought tint was not so. The tenant-right was probably no
so high in large tonus as in counties. There was a desire on
behalf of the Ulster tenant-right to give a fair price for the
laud.

The Chairman : Do you think in those parts of Ulster,
where the tenant-right is exercised as you describe, there is
still an anxiety on the part of the tenants to become owners?
— Witness : I think so. There is a strong desire to deal with
the land as if it were practically their own.

Mr. Plunket : Is it not a fact that people who have made
their fortunes in towns come out in the country to iavest their
capital? — Witness : Yes, and that tendency has helped to raise
the price of tenantry. Iu the soutli and west of Ireland the
tenant-right, if it were established, would sell high, and for
the reason that a large number of persons returning from
America and Australia are anxious to acquire property near
their own home.

What is the exceptional sort of wealth that enables the
tenants to give so much for property and to give such a con-
siderable sum towards buying the fee? — The farmers have had
for msny years — for a century and a half — the opportunity of
purchasing the tenaut-right, and that has been an inducement
to saving. They have accumulated large sums of money iu
the bank, and the existence of tenant-right Ins been the ma,n
occasion of the savings of the farmers in Ulster.

You say the tenants thiuk they have a right to pre-ea>ption
when the property on which their holdings are situated be-
comes to be sold ? — I say there is an impression that the right
to pre-emption should be reciprocal. They think that if the
landowner has the right to buy the tenant-right they ought
to have the power to buy the fee. They are willing to give a
fair price for it, and every safeguard being taken that the
landowners should get a fair price, they consider tliey ought
to have the first offer.

Would you carry that so far as to say that if the landowner
would suffer a loss by breaking up his property he should
nevertheless be compelled to break up his property ? — I would
carry it to the length that he should break up his property,
but suffer no loss iu doing so. I should say that the land-
owner should obtain a fair price, aud he should have a right
lo ascertain that price by an auction or bona fide sale. I
would not make any restrictions as to the money the State
should be allowed to advance, which might be advanced from
two-thirds to three-fourths of the value in the case even of the
smallest holdings.

Is it true or not that the smallest tenants would very likely
be unable to meet their obligations to the State ? — I should
certainly say not in two years.

Major Nolan : Da you think this right to pre-emption
could be given to the tenant without iu auy way interfering
with the pecuniary interest of the landowner?— I think so.
The tenants have every wish to see that the landowners'
interests are well protected. I do not thiuk there would be
any unpopularity attaching to tiie State advances.

Mr. O'Hagan, Q.C., of the Irish Bar, and formerly Chair-
man of Quarter Session of the County Clare, said tint, looking
at the state of the law in regard to the trausfereuce of laud
and the existing settlements, he coald not think that there
could be a creation of small holdings without the assistance
of the State. He anticipated tint Clause 2 of the Act, which
contemplates agreements between landlord and tenant for the
transference of land, and for which facilities are given, was
likely to be a dead letter, and he did not expect that Clause
4-G, which dealt with the case of property sold by the Lauded
Estate Court, would be attended by any good result.

The Cha.ikm.yn : Do you agree with Mr. Vernou that that
clause throws on the Landed Eftate Court a duty which is
somewhat abnormal to its proper functions?—! entirely agree
with him, because the Landed Estate Court has been and it is
primarily and essentially a court of justice, aud we look to it.
for the discharge of its primary functions, and if secondary
functions were cast upon it those functions would becomes
necessarily disregarded.

The Committee again adjourned.

WEATHER STATISTICS OF THE UNITED

KINGDOM, for AGRICULTURAL and SANITARY
purposes ; i'or tho Week ending- 19th March, 1873.

(issued bt the meteorological orncs.)

TEMPERATURE.

RAINFALL.

DISTRICTS.

So

v >

■z fa

*5

■0

5} 6
".a

56
Gl
56
56

57

61
53
57
51
53

t >
0 %

*8
0 .

h3
m 3

29
29
21
24
21

27
23
28
31
23

0

w ?
3 0
>A
<~

to

gij

u ~

41
41
39
41

40

42
42
43
42
45

1 Above or be-
low the
x«u, . *Mean i'or
1 the week.

in

y

0

2
0
1

a, s

5.3 &

More or Less

than the
*Mean i'or
the Week.

Principal Wheat-
producing Dis-
tricts.

cat!
1-1 «« a

1. Scotland, E....

2. England, N.E.

3. England, E....

4. Mid. Counties.
6. England, S....

1 above

0 aver.
3 below

1 below
3 below

1

1

less
than 3

3 less

3 less
S les3

4 less
3 less

PrincipalGrazing,
&c, Districts.

6. Scotland, W.

7. England, N.W

8. England, S.W

9. Ireland, N. ...
10. Ireland, S. ...

1 above
1 below
1 below
) aver.
i above

1

0
0
2

1

0

less
than J

1

5 less

5 less

6 less

5 less

6 les3

* Tho data for tho mean temperatures in the corresponding
week of previous years are derived from tho thirteen years'
observations 1857-69 j (as determined by Mr. Buchan). Those
for mean rainfall have been obtained from the ton years' ob-
servations 1866-75.

GENERAL REMARKS.
Weather. — Much colder than iu either of the two preceding
weeks except in the East of SeotlanJ, where the average values

2 10

Tllfc FAltivljai'S iuAGAZl.NE.

for the previous ami present weeks were identical. Frosts I
occurred, even iu the shade, ou five nights over the extreme
southern and south-eastern counties, on four nights over the
inland counties of England and in some parts of Scotland, and
less frequently elsewhere. The inland parts of Ireland had
frosts on three nights, hut the coast stations escaped.

.Rainfall was very much below the mein for previous years,
especially in ^the western and inland parts of England. The
rainfall along our eastern and south-eastern ooasts was very
remarkable, stations so situated repotting rain on from three
o five days, the amounts collected varying from 3-tenths
o 5-tenths. Iu the meantime the stations situated a few
miies inward had hardly any falls large enough to measure.
The prevailing winds have been north-westerly and light, and
the air very dry.

Note. — The observations upon which this summary is based
are made at the following stations: — Scotland, E. — Nairn,
Aberdeen, Glenalmond, Leith. England, N.E. — Shields,
Durham, Scarborough, York, Kelstern (Lincolnshire).
England, E.— Yarmouth, Cambridge, Audley End (Saffron
Waldeu), Rothamstead. Midland Counties. — Nottingham,
Leicester, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Cirencester, Oxford. Eng-
land, S. — London, Marlborough, Strathfield Turgis, Dover,
Hastings, Hurst Castle. Scotland, W. — Landale (Loch
Sunart), Glasgow, Ardrossan, Silloth, Douglas (Isle of Man),
England, N.W.— Stonyhurst, Manchester, Liverpool, Obsy
(Bidston), Holyhead. England, S.W. — Pembroke, Portishead,
Ealmouth. Plymouth. Ireland, N. — Greencastle, Armagh,
Donaghadee. Ireland, S, — Parsonstown, Kingstown, Roches
Point Valentia.

ME. ARCH ON TENANT-RIGHT.

In the course of a speech on the proposed extension of the
County Franchise, delivered at Northampton recently, Mr.
Joseph Arch said he was pleased that a farmer had risen to
second the resolution, because he believed that the extension
of the franchise was not merely a rural labourers' or a rural
artisans' question, but one which had more to do with the
farmers than with any other class in the country. Now, he
thought that no one would deny that the land of England to-
day wa3 capable of very great improvement, or that the
population of this country required that the land should be
improved. Farmers were continually saying theirs was a very
bad trade, and they were ascribing it to the seasons and he
knew not what ; but, unfortunately, they had never gone to
the root of the evil, and so when the labourers had political
power they meant to do it for them. Just look for a moment
at the food produced iu this country. He did not suppose
that there was one shoe manufacturer iu this town who would
say that trade was bad if he had fifty more orders on his book
than he could execute. Now let them look upon the farmer,
not as under the tutelage of the landlord, but as a business man
and what was the fact ? Why, that there were 60 out of
every 100 people in this country for whom the farmer did not
grow food, and therefore the consumer had to go to another
country for it. No man should make him believe that the
farmer's trade could be very bad while that was the case, and
when, as he maintained, the food could be supplied at their
own doors. It was not the demand which made the trade
bad; there must be something radically wrong somewhere,
and they were determined to find it out and to alter it.
In looking over the Board of Trade returns, he thought
they "would find that the average investment upon. ^he.

soil throughout England was £5 10s. per acre. Now Mr.
Stops, as a practical farmer, knew very well that no farmer
taking arable and pasture land together could cultivate it so
as lo make it productive for less than £10 per acre. That
£5 10s. per acre amounted in the aggregate to about 258£
millions of pound sterling ; and if £10 per acre were
invested it would come to 211 millions more. Why was it
not invested in the soil instead of in Turkish Bonds ?
They had a right to put that question. Was it not a serious
matter for the farm labourers of England that year by
year 211 millions of money was being invested elsewhere
instead of in the soil to make it more productive ? It was a
question which the agricultural labourer had more to do with
than anybody. The clergyman would tell them that these
were questions they ought not to meddle with. Well, if
they found out that the State was going to draw 211
millions annually from the fund for the payment of their
salaries there would be a terrible row. And let
it be understood that the non-investment of that 211
millions in the soil was abstracting a large sum from the
salaries of the agricultural labourers. If it were not so they
would scarcely know of pauperism at all in the rural districts.
The larger the amount of money invested by the farmer the
larger would be the amount of labour required, and instead of
pulling cottages down and driving working men into the large-
owns it would be necessary to bring 50,000 more men out
of the densely-packed towns on to the soil of England,
which would well repay it in a rich and bountiful harvest.
That was a question they ought to consider when
they got their political rights. They meant to say to the
Government of the country, whether Liberal or Conservative,
" You shall give the tenant farmer a compulsory Tenant Right
Bill. You shall give him security if he invests tl at 211
millions in the soil, upon which it was hardly and honestly
earned, instead of in Turkish ironclads." Would
any gentleman tell him that they did not want the food? He
knew they did. What did that £5 10s. per acre produce P
Why, a miserable £1S8,000,000; or the £5 10s. per acre in-
vested produced £4 per acre, taking the average. Any
reasonable farmer knew that agriculture was widely different
from the shoe trade. If they spent a few shillings iu buying
better tools it brought a quick return ; but the farmer was
compelled, through want of proper security, to invest only £1
where he ought to invest £5, and that was an evil which would
have to be removed when they got their vote.
Supposing that the additional 211 millions he had spoken of
of were invested in the soil, the value of the produce would be
increased by £282,000,000. Were not these questions for
shoemakers and artisans to consider ?

THE COLORADO BEETLE.— This minute stranger,
after creating so much alarm for fear of what would become
of our potatoes, having been driven off by the Destructive
Insects Bill, is now arousing the apprehensions of the Ger-
mans. A committee has been sitting at the Ministry of
Agriculture at Berlin to discuss the measures to be taken
to prevent the insect from devastating the potato fields. The
cost of closely watching all the potato grounds in the empire
during the summer would amount to several million marks;
therefore it has been determined to confine official super,
vision to the districts in which the beetle appeared last year-
If the area affected proves not to be very large all plants and
foliage on it are to be burned, the ground to be covered with
benzine, and this latter set on fire,— Western Time?.

THE FARMER'S MAUAZINE

26 1

THE HARVEST IN AUSTRALIA.

The Adelaide Observer of Jan. 20th, which came by the
last mail, says : — The weather for the past week lias been dry
and seasonable, but the heat has been far less oppressive than
during the previous ten days. Reaping is now rapidly ap-
proaching completion, and the glut on the railways has begun
Hundreds of thousands of bushels have already found their wa

y

to Port Adelaide, Port Pine, and other shipping-places alou
the coast. Complaints as to the yield have not been genera
but there is too much reason to fear that the average will be
lighter than any formal estimate that has yet been given.
Until the returns from onr farming correspondents, which are
rapidly coming in, are all to hand, we shall not venture on
naming a figure to represent the yield for the whole of th
colony. From Victoria, New South Wales, aud Queensland
the reports still speak of the prevalance of drought. In
Victoria the harvest has been hastened forward through the
hot weather, and the prospects of the wheat yield arc not bright.

Speaking of the harvest in South Australia the Northern
Argus says : — In the old agricultural districts the blight and
rust appear to have done more damage than in the areas.
There is a very large quantity of wheat in the North, but the
general average will not be very high. Many of the hundreds
have been but slightly affected by rust. Towards Miunanarie,
Blackrock, and Tongala the yield may reach lu bushels to the
acre. There are other hundreds where the crops are good
especially the early-sown. Some farmers in the neighbour
hood of Redhill have reaped over 20 bushels to the acre in
some fields, while other paddocks have been a partial failure.
The Blyth District will not exceed 4 bushels per acre, and
Clare district will be exceptionally low compared with previous
years; the average will be from 4£ to 5 bushels.
The Wakefield will not exceed that, and from reports that
reach us from the South and South-east we think we can
venture to estimate the average of the colony at G bushels to
the acre, which is nearly as low as it has ever been. The
worst harvest wa9 in 1867-8, when the average was only 4
bushels 401b. In 1871-2, the next lightest, it was 5 bushels
441b. and in 1869-70 it was only lib. above the last-
mentioned.

In Victoria the harvest in the early districts has closed. A
special reporter of The Leader has visited the chief wheat-
growing districts; and, according to his report, it is estimated
that, although the average in nearly all districts will be below
that of last year, the additional area under crops will produce
an increase on last year's total return. The harvest is late in
South Australia. The Northern areas will yield well, but some
districts will fall short of last year.

The Sydney Mai! of January 5th says: — The crops in the
western part of the county of Cumberland, which are now
nearly all harvested, have on the whole been good. From
appearances at present it does not seem likely that the stone-
fruit crops will yield more than a moderate average ; the vine-
yards, however, still hold out the prospect of an abundant
supply of grapes.

In the neighbourhood of Bombala occasional showers fell
at the beginning of last week, sufficient for the wheat crop,
but not enough to benefit the grass. In the neighbourhood of
Albury a like change in temperature took place during the week
and little or no rain fell, but the feed is growing and the supplies of
water are sufficient. Everywhere in the vicinity the orops are
fine. It is now found that the late hailstorms in the district
did considerable damage in one or two localities. In the

county of Argyle harvesting operations are being pushed for-
ward ; the wheat crops will be good. The light showers which
fell at Mudgee have not resulted in much benefit to pastures.
Farmers have been busy thrashing wheat, trie yield of which
has proved to be pretty good. Dry, hot weather has been ex.
perienced at Molong and Orange. About Carcoar, too, the
heat ami drought have been very parching, so that there is
little natural feed. Harvesting and haymaking are going on
there, and the produce is satisfactory. Some change in tem-
perature took place in the Hunter district ; but no rain fell
apd the heat is again as great as before. The harvest wor^.'
engages the attention of farmers about Glen Innes, where
the heat is very oppressive. The crops on the Manning
River and throughout the district look very well, but want a
steady rainfall.

The same journal for Jau. 12th says : — The harvesting
around Armidale has been finished with fine weather, and so
fir .the district has been fortunate, but in other respects
moisture is much needed. In the district of Inverell the
wheat crops are under shelter ; they did not in average reach
the anticipations formed a few months ago. In some locali-
ties it will not be more than eight or twelve bushels per acre,
though the general average might reach sixteen or seventeen
bushels. The wheat crops iu the extreme south-west parts o
the colony have been prolific ; a good deal of the produce
finds its way into Victoria.

FOREIGN CATTLE AND THE MEAT
SUPPLY.

" A Staunch Free-Trader" writes to The Echo : In a leadiug
article which appeared in your columns on Friday last you
express the opinion that the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Bill, now before Parliament, will, if passed, make meat
dearer than it is. Now, I have given a great deal of study to
the subject — I am a consumer and not a producer of meat —
aud I have come to precisely the opposite conclusion. In
proportion as the Bill is stringent enough to check disease, it
is clear to m^. that it will cheapen meat. Let ms state on
what grounds I base my conclusion :

1. Pleuro-pneumonia aud foot-and-mouth disease, the
chief agents in destroying and preventing the increased pro-
duction of meat in this country, have been distinctly provej
to be of foreign extraction, and, as one has been stamped out
in America and the other in Australia, there_ is every reason
to believe that both may be got rid of here.

2. Our live meat supply is only about 5 per cent, of our
annual consumption of meat; and considerably more than that
proportion is lost to us every year by disease that might be
stamped out if we ceased to import them.

3. As the transit of dead meat is cheaper than that of live
animals, it is almost certain that our supply of foreign meat
would be increased rather than diminished by a measure which
would induce foreigners to turn their atteution to the dead
meal trade exclusively in supplying us.

4. Our superior breeds of cattle and sheep are greatly
needed in the United States, Canada, and Australia, to enable
those great meat-producing countries to improve their stocks,
and thus be able to supply us extensively with meat of the best
quality; aud they will not buy freely of us until we can show
a clean bill of health for our live stock.

Thus the effects of the Bill now before Parliament will, if
it is stringent enough (my only doubt), be to give a great
impetus to the home production of meat, and ultimately, if
not immediately, to increase the foreign supply also.

262

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

SALE OF MR, HORLEY'S FLOCK AND
HERD.

The fame of the late Mr. Tom Horley, jun., attracted a
large num! er of those interested in the breeding and feeding
of stock to the Fosse Farm, Radford, on Monday. Visitors
were rewarded by seeing what a pitch of perfection can be
reached by a skilful agriculturist in the rearing of cattle and
tilling of the soil. The farm, comprising 800 acres, is the
property of Mr. Williams, and had been between twenty and
thirty years in the occupation of the deceased, who spared
neither pa:ns nor expense to make it a model farm. The
buildings are convenient and commodious, and the laud is in
the highest state of cultivation, the portion under corn looks
iug particularly clean and promising. The implements are
nearly all modern. Practical men from all parts of the country
visiled the Fosse Farm on Monday, not so much to see how
Mr. Thomas Horley usea to farm his laud or the implements
which h ive marked the new era in agriculture, but " to take
notes" of the celebrated Fosse flock, which, started by Mr.
Horley from the Norton Caiaes llock twenty-seven
years ago, has made the uame of that gentleman a household
word by the admirers of " Shropshires." For same years
Mr. Horley held an annual sale, which was patronised by the
most noted breeders of that class of sheep. In 1371 Mr.
Horley disposed of the greater portion of his flock, reserving
only some forty ewes, from which the sheep sold on Monday
were bred, no expense having been spared in obtaining noted
sires, and resort was, therefore, hal to such fashionable
strains as " The Foe r," from Lord Chesham ; "Commander-
in-Chief :' and " No. 10," 1376, from Mr. Coxon ; " The
Gem" and " Carbineer " from Mr. Masfen's Fendeford flock ;
and "Lord Aston," first prize at the Royal Society's Show at
Birmingham. The flock was accordingly of great merit, and
there was a kecu desire to obtain such pure- bred sheep
Among the company were Lord Ernest Seymour, the R».v. T.
B. Whitehurst (vicar of Radford), the Rev. G. Claik,
(Vicarof Upton), Messrs. T. Horley, seD., J. Bryan (South
Leigh, Oxfordshire), R. H. Masfen (Pendefoid), Keeling,
Ryland (Birmingham), J. B. bythall (Birmingham), E.
Lythall (Radford), E. Seriven, J. Staite, Hutton (agent to
Lord "Willoughby de Broke), D. Tough (manager of Lord
Warwick's irrigation farm), H. Hunt, George C. Gieenway,
Spe:cer, McNicoll, R. Jacks, &c After luucheou the sale
commenced with the implements. The sheep— which were in
a very healthy state— were then submitted by Messrs. John
Margetts and Son, the ewes with lambs taking precedence.
The ewes (including the lambs) made from £4 5s. to £G 10s.
each. The in lamb ewes fetched from £2 15s. to £4 18s.
each. A grand show of ewe tegs was next sold ; the highest
given was £8 each for a pen of five. The rams commanded
good prices, the highest figures realised being 17 guineas. The
well-bred herd of Short-horned cow stock — numbering about
100 animals — were next brought into the ring, and excited a
pirited competition. The in-milch barrens fetched from
£18 10s. to £26 10s. ; the in-calf cows from £19 10s.
to £26 10s. ; the down-calving cows from £24 to
£30 10s. ; the down-calving heifers from £13 10s. to £30;
the two-year-old heifers from £28 to £34; the yearling
steers from £17 to £30. Good prices were also given for
rearing calves. In the course of the sale the auctioneer paid
a high compliment to the judgment and experience of the
founder of the flock, Mr. T. Horley, who was well known in

Bir.nirgham as one of the warmest supporters of the exhi"
bitions of cattle in Bingley Hall. The sale was continued
oa Tuesday, when the interest principally centred in the
horses, all of which were of the agricultural class. The colts
fetched from £30 to £70 each, and the horse3 from £50 to
£S0 each. — Banbury Guardian.

CATTLE FEEDING.

Mr. Peter Love has sent us the following interesting
accouut of certain results which he obtained by forcing calves
into flesh from birth to slaughter : —

" Four years ago my engagement called upon me to provide
by the most economical means farmyard manure for the re-
quirement of a hundred-acre growth of hops.

" Having a dairy of 15 good cross-bred cows aud a good
pedigree Shorthorn bull, I determined to rear and fatten for
sale to the butcher, at the most profitable age, 50 head per
annum.

" The extra calves were bought in Aylesbury market, of the
best Shorthorn type (after they had had their dams' milk for
a fortnight), at 50s. per head, and I allowed our own dairy
credit for the same amount, and 4d. a gallon for skim milk, of
which each calf had an average of a gallon per day for 108
days. With this they had an average of 5-Sth3 of a lb. of
equal paits pure linseed, rape, and decorticated cotton cake
meal, boiled and blended with the milk ; also an average Of
41b. of roots, green tares, or clover, aud a pound of hay per
day.

" After four months old they had a daily allowance of com-
pound composed of one part bran, one malt dust, two rapecake,
two pure linseed, and four decorticated cotton cake. The
cakes were all broken fine, and the compound thoroughly
mixed. Of this each calf had ljlb. per day, and at the begin-
ning of each subsequent month Ojlb. was added to the daily
allowance. The allowance of roots, green tares, or clover was
7Jlb., and 21b. of chaff, equal weight meadow hay or pea straw
for each lb. of the compound given.

" The compound at that lime cost 7-8ths of a penny a lb.'
or £8 5s. per ton ; roots, &c, I charged at 12s. 6d., and the
chaff at £3 15s., making the rations cost 2 l-6th pence per lb.
of compound consumed. This gave data easily to calculate
the cost of each animal on the day of slaughter. All were
sold by weight, and I saw each weighed. The average price
was 9d. per lb.

" I had an average calf sold at four mouths old, to find how
far its carcase would meet the cost (£5). Its weight was
1281b., at 9d., equal to £1 16s. (it made 9£d.) Thi3 proved
so far satisfactory as to their paying their way up to what I
term the advent of their manure manufacturing career.

" The labour was 2s. 6d. per head per month, and the
manurial value (according to Lawes) is 4-5ths of a penny
per lb. of compound consumed ; but as there was loss from
imperfect shelter, &c, I deducted above twenty per cent., and
only take credit for 5-8ths of a penny for each lb. of com-
pound. The following table gives the results from twelve
head slaughtered from IS to 25 months old. Of these there

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

2C,r

were two Sussex, and oue Welsh ; the rest were very good
omniOD Shorthorns : —

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o 5.'

x o a
> £

2. ° £

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" These result?, as far as the feeding, are very satisfactory,
and when viewed from a farmer's general stand point, price
made, and value of manure per head, the longer the animal is
kept the more profitable. But when treated financially all i3
reversed, aud it is found that during the time of most active
growth more meat is produced from the food consumed ; but
when the bodj gets large a large percentage of the food con-
sumed is taken up to keep up the heat aud meet the tear aud
wear, and the time comes when this is greater than that
assimilated into flesh and fat ; therefore, after this age gra-
dually increasing daily loss bpgins. These circumstances are
very different to those where stock are reared with healthy
rough pasture, to graze inexpensively till they are at the best
stage of growth to put up to fatten either on feeding pasture
or artificially." — Irish Farmers'' Gazelle.

BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.— Mr •
Henry F. Moore, the hon secretary of this Association, lias
forwarded us a copy of the design for the medal of the Associa-
tiois, which has been kindly given by Mr. Harrhon Weir.
He informs us that the delay in their preparation has been
caused through waiting for the design, but the medal now

in hand, and it is hoped will in the course of a few weeks be
sent to those to whom they were awarded at the last dairy
show. It will be remembered that the gold medal was
awarded to Mr. Nuttall, of Beehy, for hiswonderful collection
of Stiltons. The name of the recipient will he engraved on
the white space represented by the large Parmesan cheese.

HULL AND THE FOREIGN CATTLE TRADE.— At
a meeting of the Cattle Plague Committee of the Hull Corpo-
ration on Monday, a letter wa3 read from Mr. Feel, l'rivy
Council Office, stating that lie had received the Chairman's
(Mr. Leak) report on the Contagious Diseases (Auimals) Bill,
and he was directed to state in reply that the Lord President
would give his best consideration to any amendment suggested
on behalf of the Corporation of Hull on any point ; but that
His Grace could not hold out any hope that he would be able
to agree to any provision that would fetter the discretion
of the Privy Council in their consideration of the places
to be used for the landing aud slaughtering of foreign animals
in the iuteaded Act, or that would compel the Privy Council
to continue to sanction under the Act the use of places ap-
proved for this purpose under the existing law, the require-
ments of which were much less stringent than those of the Act
would be. — The Chairman stated that whilst the deputation t0
the Charily Commissioners on the subject of Feme's Charity
were in London last week they paid an informal visit to the
Privy Council Offices, with a view to obtain some opinion with
respect to the rejection of the Albert Dock site for the tempo-
rary accommodation of foreign cattle. Professor Brown said
the Council would not consent to licence any temporary place,
and this wasnot approved of, because they could not thoroughly
isolate it. The conversation then turned upon the suitability
of Edward's-plaee, and Professor Brown stated that if they got
that as a foreign cattle depot it might be a bad thing for Hull,
because if rinderpest broke out, or there was aslrong outbreak
of pleuro-pneumouia or foot-and-mouth disease, the Privy
Council would be compelled to make an order that every person
and every thing that went into the defined district should be
disinfected before they came out. This was substantially what
took place. — Mr Elam expressed himself to the effect that as
this was not an official interview, no notice should he taken of
the opinions expressed.

DAMAGE TO CROPS BY CHEMICAL WORKS.— At
the Dewsbury County Court recently, an action was
brought by Rufus Mann, farmer and maltster, Thornhill, to
recover from Messrs. Brown aud Co., manufacturing chemists,
of the same place, the sum of £7 10s. for damage done to a
crop of beans belonging to the plaintiff, who was represented
by Mr. J. Ibberson, defendants having the services o*
Mr. T. L. Chadwick. It appeared that in July last a fire took
place in a pitch tank belonging to the defendants, from which
dense black smoke was conveyed across a corner of the plain-
tiff's field of beans, and in a week or two afterwards about
three roods of the crop began to appear sickly and withered
away. Several withesses deposed to these facts. For the de-
fence it was contended that the damage was caused by the beans
being grown in damp soil, and from damp caused by mildew .
Amongst the witnesses for the defence were Mr. B. Crowther>
chemist, Goniersal, and Mr. George Jarmain, analytical
chemist, Huddersficld. His Honour was of opiuion that the
weight of evidence was in favour of the plaintiff, aud he gave
a verdict for the full amount claimed with costs.

264 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

MIDDLE CLASS AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Much has been done, and is being done, for the
improved education of the children of our labouring
classes, and this is beyond doubt a work which is entitled
to our sympathy and co-operation.

On the other hand, the wealthy classes connected with
agriculture are already provided for, for the possession of
the means of payment is tolerably sure to induce a supply
of that which is desired. The Royal Agricultural College
has done a very great work during thirty-two years of
active operations in providing for these a high-clas3
education in the sciences connected with agriculture.
This institution is, however, only available for persons
who are willing to expend for such a purpose about £150
a year for two or three years. Hence the sphere o its
action is pretty clearly defined, and within that sphere
it has gained a just repute.

But between these extreme classes we have the great
bulk of the farmers of this country, who have hitherto
had but little opportunity of giving their sons that
education in science which they justly value. These
constitute a vast and most important interest in the
country, and as agricultural prosperity has been by no
means general for some years past comparatively few
farmers have been able to give their sons a college edu-
cation, neither would they let them be educated with the
children of their labourers. In fact, between the two
stools they have gone to the ground. It must be admitted
that of late years the establishment of the county schools
ha9 done much to remedy the difficulty, but the great
bulk of the work has yet to be provided for.

The Central Chamber of Agriculture has most wisely
undertaken the duty of informing the agricultural public
as to the great advantages which the Council of Educa-
tion has placed within the reach of the sons of the
smaller farmers. At a cost not exceeding one or two
pounds a year good instruction in science may be ob-
tained by making use of the assistance recently provided
by the Council of Education. I need not comment
further upon this portion of the work, as I feel satisfied
that the advantages offered by the Government Depart-
ment of Science will now be made known, and, being
known, will be largely made use of by the class who need
this assistance.

A very large clas3 of farmers who can well afford a
larger expenditure for their sons have long felt the
necessity for a Middle Class Agricultural College, in which
their sons may receive a really high-class education in
science at a cost of about £50 a year — a college to which
boys from the county schools may be advanced — and in
which scholarships may be held. It affords me great
pleasure to inform you that this has at last been secured
under circumstances which will command an early success
The Council of the University College at Aberystwith —
under the presidency of the Right Hon. Lord Aberdare —

have cordially approved of a scheme which I have sub-
mitted to them for the establishment of a thoroughly
good system of science instruction, suitable for persons
about to enter upon agricultural pursuits. The system
will not contemplate teaching farming, but it will ma e
the pupils intelligent observers, and thereby better pre-
pared for learning the practical duties of the farm. The
College is one of the noblest buildings of its kind in the
kingdom, and well worthy of the good cause it will be
called upon to serve. The arrangements will be in every
way satisfactory for the object in view, and are adapted
for fully 100 resident students and a large number of
out-students. The details of the course of instruction are
now under preparation, and will shortly be placed before
the agricultural public.

We may congratulate ourselves that the two missing
links in agricultural education have now been provided.
Many an anxious mind will be set at rest by seeing that
in the race of life, which is becoming swifter and swifter
day by day, every farmer will be able to secure for his sons
their proper share of scientific education, and that they will
be able to hold their position in society. The education
of the labourer may then be looked upon with satisfaction,
because the advancement by education will be equally
within the command of employer and employed. The
advance will be general, and in that advance all may take
art. I am, Sir, &c,

March 19. Henry Tanner,

WONDERS OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT.— The
American Enquirer thus catalogues a few of the wonders of
the American continent : The greatest cataract in the world
is the Falls of Niagara, where the water from the great upper
lakes forms a river of three-fourths of a mile in width, and then,
being suddenly contracted, plunges over the rocks in two
columns to the depth of 175 feet. The greatest cave in the
world is the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, where any one can
make a voyage on the waters of a subterranean river, and
catch fish without eyes. The greatest river in the known
world is the Mississippi, 4,000 miles long. The largest valley
in the world is the valley of the Mississippi. It contains
5,000,000 square niile3, and is one of the most fertile regions
of the globe. The greatest city park in the world is in Phila-
delphia. It contains over 2,700 acres. The greatest grain
port iu the world is Chicago. The largest lake in the world
is Lake Superior, which is truly an inland sea, beingiSO miles
long and 1,000 feet deep. The longest railroad at present is
the Pacific railroad, over 3,000 miles in length. The greatest
mass of solid iron in the world is the Pilot Knob of Missouri.
It is 350 feet high and two miles in circuit. The best speci-
men of Grecian architecture in the world is the Girard
College for orphans, Philadelphia. The largest aqueduct in the
world is the Croton Aqueduct, New York ; its length is 40^
miles, and it cost 12,500,000 dollars. The largest deposits
of anthracite coal in the world are in Pennsylvania, the
mines of which supply the market with millious of tons
annually, and appear to be inexhaustible. — Chicago Factory
and Farm.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

26!

MR. J. B. LA.WES ON THE ACTION OF
NITROGENOUS MANURES.

Mr. J. B. Lawes has writteu the following letter to The
North British Agriculturist -. —

My attention has been directed to some remarks made by
Mr. Falconer King at a discussion with the farmers of Mid-
lothian, and published in your journal of the 27th of last
month. Mr. King differs from me in thinking that nitrogen
is not so valuable in nitrate of soda as it is in salts of am-
monia, because it is more readily washed away. lie also pro-
poses to test the drainage water from various farms, to
ascertain how much nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia
have escaped from each. As parts of my land have been
growing wheat, manured with different proportions of salts of
ammonia and of nitrate of soda, for the last 20 or 30 years, they
present unusual facilities for such an investigation, of which
Professor Voelcker and Dr. Frankland have availed themselves.
The latter has determined the ammonia and nitric acid in more
than 100 samples of drainage water from my land, and all
these analyses agree in showing that whether salts of am-
monia or nitrate of soda are applied to the soil, nitric acid,
and practically no ammonia, appears in tthe drainage water.
The proportion of nitric acid in the water was always larger
where the most salts of ammonia had been applied. As large
quantities of water pass into the subsoil, and beyond the reach
of plants, besides what passes through the drains, it would be
impossible to measure with any accuracy the relative loss of
nitric acid by drainage when equal amounts of nitro-
gen are applied to the land in salts of ammonia or nitrate of
soda. If such a measurement could be effected there would
be a better chance of a successful result on my land than else-
where, as the two substances are always applied to it in such
quantities as shall give an equal amount of nitrogen ; and
no other nitrogenous manures have been used for a very long
period.

It has recently been discovered by Schloesing that the con-
version of ammonia into nitric acid is due to some low form
of vegetable life ; and these results have been confirmed in my
laboratory. Whatever these organisms may be, they abound
in all soils, and consequently the conversion of ammonia into
nitric acid is sure to take place. The distinction between
salts of ammonia and nitrate of soda consists in the ammonia
entering into some fixed combination in the soil and being
afterwards converted into nitric acid, and so passing into the
drain ; while nitrate of soda passes down at once. Mr.
Falconer King considers that the superiority which he assigns
to ammonia over nitric acid is due to this fixation of the for-
mer; and he says if we could find out some method ol fixing
the nitrate of soda, it would doubtless enhauce the value of this
manure. Is he quite sure that such would be the case ? May
it not be that the great activity which we prize so much in
nitrate of soda is due to its solubility ? [and that salts of am-
monia do not become active until the nitrogeu is converted
into nitric acid P

The four great elements of plant food — ammonia, potash,
phosphoric acid, and nitric acid — are perfectly soluble in water.
Let us endeavour to trace what happens when a diluted
solution of these substances is poured upon the soil. Unless
used in too large quantities, the three former substances enter
into very insoluble compounds with the soil ; nitrate of soda
remains in solution, passing downwards andj upwards with

every shower and every bree zc of wind. The ammonia, potaslu
and phosphoric acid remain fixed very near the surface of the
soil, and are only taken up by plants by direct contact of their
roots. It appears probable that as long as ammonia remains
in this fixed form it possesses no more ac'.ivity than the other
two substances. The organised germs, however, in a short
time convert the fixed ammonia into soluble nitric acid, which'
uniting with some base in the soil (generally lime), remains in
solution until it is either taken up by plants or escapes into
the drains or river. Schloesing found that in 20 days the
ammonia in sewage, even filtered through sand, was entirely
converted into nitric acid. If, therefore, the solubility of
nitric acid is the cause of its activity we should, in endeavour-
ing to fix this nitric acid, be reverting to the idea that the
vdue of a manure depended upon its durability rather than
upon its activity. The great practical question for the farmer
is, how he shall convert into growth the largest amount of
this soluble nitrogen. As his knowledge advances
the importance of this question will force itself
more and more upon his attention. Between 1 and 2
lb. of nitrogen is equivalent to that contained in a
bushel of wheat and 100 lb. of straw. In our most care-
ful experiments there is a wide difference between the nitro-
geu wc apply to the soil and that which we recover in the
crop.

The general result of the experiments here, where equivalent
quantities of nitrogen in salts of ammonia and nitrate of soda
have been tried for many years upon all the usual agricul-
tural crops, has been in favour of nitrate of soda j but this
may be partly due to the soda in the nitrate — for although
potash is indispensable for the growth of plants, and where
both these alkalies are abundant they take up but little soda>
still in their growing state many plants possess the power of
usiog soda where potash is scarce. In our pasture experi-
ments the weight of soda taken up in the hay has in some
cases exceeded that of potash. Where produce such as grass
or hay is sold there appears to be a certain economy in
using nitrate of soda rather than salts of ammonia ; the selec-
tion, however, must in all cases be regulated by price and
experience.

CHEESE FROM POTATOES.— A foreign journal thus
describes the process of making a sort of cheese from potatoes
in Thuringia and Saxony : After having collected a quantity
of potatoes of good quality, giving the preference to a large,
white kind, they are boiled in a caldron, and after becoming
cool they are peeled and reduced to a pulp, either by means
of a grater or mortar. To five pounds of this pulp, which
ought to he as equal as possible, is added one pound of sour
milk and the necessary quantity of salt. The whole is kneaded
together, and the mixture covered up and allowed to lie for
three or four days, according to the season. At the end of
this time it is kneaded anew, and the cheeses are placed in
little baskets, when the superfluous moisture escapes. They
are then allowed to dry in the shade, and placed in layers in
large vessels, where they must remain for fifteen days. The
older these cheeses are the more their quality improves •
Three kinds are made — the first and most common is made
as detailed above ; the second, with four parts of potatoes
and two parts of curdled milk ; the third, with two parts of
potatoes and four parts of cow or ewe milk. These cheeses
have this advantage over other kinds, that they do not engender
worms, and keep fresh for a number of years, provided they
are placed in a dry situation and in well-closed vessels .

266

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

i'he indifference of the mass of the people, and especially
the inhabitants of our towns and cities, to that group of
problems commonly referred to under the generic term the
"Land Question," is marvellous to those who duly appreciate
the vastness of the interests involved therein. Subjects of
comparative insignificauce, such as a proposed addition of a
penny to the Income-tax, excite i nterest enough to turn a
general election, when questions relating to whit is, after all,
the most important of our national industries, do not de-
cisively affect a score of elections. Or, to take another
illustration, if we compare the feeling excited by the Burials
Question with that which exists iu relation to Land Tenure,
we might almost come to the conclusion that people care more
how they are buried than how they live. Yet there have not
been wanting utterances by men or note which are well calcu-
lated to strike public attention, and which, ind-ed, have been
quoted repeatedly until from their very triteness they have
ceased to attract notice. Such was the [declaration of one of
our most cautious Conservative statesmen, to the effect that
the land of this country might be made to yield double its
present produce in food ; and such is Mr. Meehi's oft-repeated
estimate, that if all the farmed laud of the country produced
as much human food as his 'naturally poor farm does the
present quantity would be multiplied by three. Lord Derby's
statement I fully endorse, and I am by no means prepared to
say that Mr. Meehi's estimate is exaggerated. But a greater
than Lord Derby or Mr. Mechi— one of the most sagacious
politicians that England ever produced— has left on record
words of eloquence and power expressive of the vast import-
ance attached by him to the question of land tenure which
are well calculated to stir up puhlic attention upon the subject.
In a speech delivered by Mr. Cobden at Rochdale, on the
23rd of November, 18(54-, the following passage, which
has been often referred to, hut seldom quoted in full, occurs :—

" If I were five-and-twenty or thirty, instesd of, unhappily,
twice that number of years, I would take Adam Smith in
hand— I would not go beyond him, I would have no politics
in it — I would take Adam Smith in hand, and I would have a
League for Free Trade in Land just as we have had a League
for Free Trade iu Corn. You will find the same authority in
Adam Smith for the one as the other ; and if it only were
taken up as it must be taken up to succeed, and as a political
revolutionary, Radical, Chartist notion, but taken up on
politico-economic grounds, the agitation would be certain to
succeed ; and if you can apply Free Trade to land and labour
too— that is, by getting rid of those abominable restrictions
in your parish settlements and the like— then, I say, the men
who do that will have done for England probably more than
we have been able to do by making Free Trade in Corn."

This is only one of the very many passages of like purport
that are to be found amongst the collected speeches of Mr.
Cohden in that valuable volume, published by Macmillau ,
which it is, in these times, more desirable than ever, perhaps,
that his countrymen should read.

Having thus referred to Mr. Cabden and his strong
opinions on questions of laud tenure, it will at first appear
strange when I assert that, had it not been for him and his
co-workers, that collection of 'abominations known as the
Land Laws must have been dealt with in a very drastic

manner long ago. If the Corn Laws had not been repealed a
starving nation would have risen in overwhelming indignation
to sweep away those legal restrictions which keep the land of
the country in the hands of a few, who have neither the
capital to develop its resources themselves, nor the grace to
grant their tenants such security as would induce the latter to
do what they themselves cannot do. Through the repeal of
the Corn Laws the people have cheap bread, and this keeps
them quiet, and, unhappily, render them indifferent to the
euormous waste of national wealth involved in paying
aunually to foreign countries upwards £125,000,000 for
agricultural produce that might be produced at home — to say
nothing of such estimates as that of Mr. Mechi, to the effect
that if the United Kingdom were one vast Tiptree Hall Farm
;he produce would be increased to the enormous extent of
£421,000,000.

But if bread is cheap, meat is not, and there is no kind of
agricultural produce i\ve increase of which depends so materi-
ally upon the amount of capital invested in farming as that o'
meat. Just now much public interest is excited in relation to
a Bill which proposes to ene.ct restrictions which it is supposed
will reduce our supply of foreign cattle. I will not go into
that question — upon which I am entirely witli the Govern-
ment, as far as they go — and I only allude to it in order to
remark that our meat supply would be increased to an im-
mensely greater extent by such reforms of our system of land
tenure as would attract capital to the land, than it would if our
ports were opened to the unrestricted importation of cattle
and sheep from all countries, even if these foreign animals
did not — as I am convinced they do now — in effect, destroy
and prevent the production of more meat than they bring.

Why are not such considerations as these more frequently
brought before the public by our Liberal leaders ? I am very
much afraid that in too many iustauces it is self-interest —
imaginary self-interest, that is — that stops their mouths. A
majority of our legislators, even Liberals, are laid owners, and
most of those who are not are related to, or friendly with,
those who are, aud who have influence over them. Thus even
he professed followers of Cobden hung back from the crusade
to which, in the eloquent words above quoted, he incited them.
After a visit to Lord Broadlands, on whose estate they found
more game than corn or stock, they do not like to suggest
that it would bebeiter if their noble friend had fewer acres,
and that the laws which render it directly contrary to his own
interests to improve what he kept should be done away with.
Still less, as they have probably been shootiug, can they point
out the evils of game preservation. Depend upon it, until a
very different set of men from those who are there now are
sent to the House of Commous we shall not have an effectual
reform of our abominable Land Laws.

How, then, are the people to be roused to a due apprecia-
tion of the great importance of land iennre reform P If their
leaders in Parliament will not lead them on this question, who
shall ? I say that the Press might, could, and ought to lead
them. But, apart from a few journals which can almost be
counted on one's fingers, what has the Press of this country
done to promote land tenure reform? "Present company
excepted," what have the great London dailies done ? I say
that this great question has been disgracefully neglected by the
Liberal Press,

THE FARMER'S MAUAZLNE.

267

la relation to the greatest of ail reforms now needed in the
interest of this country, then, we are in this quandary — the
Conservatives are traditionally against it ; the hulk of the
recognised Liberal leaders are averse from, or fearful of, touch-
ing it ; the Tress, as a rule, neglecto it ; the farmers, many of
whom are strongly in favour of it, ;are afraid to meddle with
it; and the peop'e of the towns c ire nothing about it. Un-
less the Press wakes to a sense of its duty in relatiou to the
question, the townspeople are not likely to be moved from
their indifference, and the only hope will be in the acquisition
of the franchise by the (arm labourers. Not that I think —
for I wish to be frank and honest in all ray arguments — that
the majority of the labourers know or care much about the
Land Question. They do not care because they do not know.
But their leaders both know and care, anl they have no ex-
pectations from Lord Broadlands

Since I wrote the article which appeared in these columns
on Thursday last a copy of that excellent piper, The
Finincial Reformer, has been sent to me , and I am pleased
to see that, iu earnest and permasive language, it points out
to the Liberal party the necessity of engaging iu that work
which I complained of it for neglecting. In an article en-
titled " Work for English Liberals," after urging the revival
of the earnestness and energy of former times throughout the
ti»ld of politics at large, the writer proceeds thus : — " It is,
however, towards the counties that it is our desire to direct
the attention of the Liberal party. The Tories have long
claimed to be the farmers' friends, but their advent to power
has been the signal for their abandonment of every promise
by means of which their support had been obtained. The
Malt Tax is no grievance soMong as the Tories are in power;
the premised relief in the matter of local taxation turns out
to be the veriest delusion that was ever palmed elf upon con-
fiding supporters ; the great evils of local administration are
yet untouched ; and a mockery of security has been given for
cipital invested in the pursuit ot agriculture, while not the
slighted attempt is made to check the destruction of tenants'
crops by landlords' game. ... If English Liberals have
the courage to take np these questions in a manner worthy of
the, historic fame of the Party to which they are proud to
belong we are convinced that a great future is before them,
and that they may recover their lost ascendancy in the Eng-
lish constituencies." In another article, in reply to a critic
who has questioned the possibility of doubling our agricul-
tural production, the same journal says: — "The statement
that the produce of the laud might be doubled has not been
made haphazard, but iu the deliberate conviction of compe-
tent authorities upon the question, and has been endorsed by
no less a person than the present Earl of Derby. Has
' J. J. K.' never heard of extensive waste lands yet needing
reclamation in England, Scotland, and Ireland ; of tenants'
crops nearly wholly destroyed by landlords' game ; of encum-
bered estates, the owners of which cannot effect improvements
themselves, and will not enable their tenants to do so ; and
of vast districts in Scotland that have been cleared of an in-
dustrious peasantry in order to make room for deer and
grouse? . . . That the application of capital to the cul-
tivation of the soil is discouraged by the present monopoly
cannot for a moment be doubted, for who will freely embark
his capital in any pursuit if the chief benefit of the invest-
ment is to be enjojed by another? Millions have been in-
vested in foreign loans, a very great portion of which is lost,
while the capabilities of our own soil are imperfectly de-

veloped, the number of people employed in its cultivation
diminished, and the growth of a steady and remunerative
home market for our manufactures is prevented. In the com-
plete reform ol our Land Laws the manufacturing, mercan-
tile, and industrial community have an object of vast import
ance, far more deserving of attention than the pursuit of a
specious phan'om (Reciprocity), which will only land them in
mortification, disappointment, and regret."

This is the kind of propagandism that should be general,
instead of so exceptional as to call for remark and quotation,
in the L'beral Press. There is not the slightest exaggeration
in the estimate that* our land might — and would, if capital
were liberally and judiciously |expended on it — produce at least
double the amount of its present yield of food for the people,
and that without any recourse to the waste lands of the
country. I have known the annual returns of a farm held on
lease to be more than double for several years in the middle
of the term what they were iu the tirst few years ; and then
dwindle down to the low amount again as the lease approached
its conclusion, without any prospect of renewal. I know of
adjoining farms on one of which I am certain quite twice as
much corn and meat is produced as there is on the other-
My attention has been called to game-farms on which not
more than half the produce is obtained that would be secured
through the absence of the game alone. There are even
farms on which the production of meat alone is equal to the
gross returu per acre of other farms equal in natural
fertility. No doubt I shall be asked why, if such great
results cau be attained, in exceptional instances, under our
existing system of land tenure, they cannot be secured in all
cases — excepting on game farms, which every one must allow
to be incapable of such large produce — without any alteration
in the Land Laws? To that question I will reply presently-
Just now I am concerned in showing that it is no mere
enthusiast's dream that the farmed land of the country could
produce double its present amount of food, and in urging
that, therefore, it is of the most vital interest to our non-
agriculiural classes that their attention should be turned to
the development of the resources of the soil. What is the
chief cause of the commercial depression that prevails in
nearly every branch of our manufacturing and commercial
industries? Some say it is over-production ; others, that it is
trade-unionism ; a third party, that it is the war ; a fourth,
that it is the extravagance of the people generally ; and others,
that it is want of confidence in a Conservative Government.
For some of these alleged reasons for the general depression
there is probably much to be said, while the rest are on the
face of them absurd. In my opinion, the whole of those of
them which may be accepted a3 partial causes of the present
distress, taken together, have not produced a tenth part of the
effect that may be attributed to three bad harvests in succes-
sion. The bad effect of one bad harvest is almost incalculable,
and « hen three come together it is impossible to form any-
thing approaching to a trustworthy estimate of the loss to
the nation. All the people lose by the extra outlay of many
millions of pounds for foreign food, and there is conse-
quently less money to be spent by the home customers of our
manufacturers and tradesmen. The farmers have to economise
in all branches of their expenditure, and the thousands of
tradesmen, manufacturers, and others who depend wholly or
partially upon the custom of farmers have to follow suit. But
the farmers not only keep from spending ; they cannot pay
their debts. The tradesmen, in their turn, require prolonged

268

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

credit from the manufactu; ers and merchants, and rerri'n
from ordering fresh goods in their usual quantities. The
manufacturers next get short of money, find their goods un-
saleable, and have to discharge some of their hands, or put
the whole on half-time, sometimes reducing wages as well.
Then the men have less to spend, and the tradesmen they deal
with also, in turn; and so the beggar-my-neighbour process
goes on, till all classes of the nation are more or less seriously
affected by the result of a series of bad harvests. I need not
stop to point out how the mischief caused by deficient crops
has been increased by the diminution of our meat produce,
caused almost entirely, I believe, by the losses and the fear of
loss attributable to the prevalence of cattle disease. It is
enough to declare the conviction that the general depression
of our industries and commerce is chiefly due to bad harvests
of corn and meat together.

But how does all this bear upon the question discussed
in these articles ? Obviously thus: comparatively speaking,
bad harvests of corn and meat are perpetual, and not merely
exceptional, with us, because of our impoverishing system of
land tenure.

Here an objector will probably ask me, in addition to the
question before referred to, why I attribute a permanently
comparative short supply of home. grown meat to a bad system
of land tenure, when I have just before charged the diminution
of our live stock to the loss and fear of loss caused by cattle
disease. The reply is simple enough. As our land system has
certainly not changed for the worse during the last few years
it would be unreasonable to charge against it the recent falling-
off in the numbers of our live stock. Apart from the effects of
cattle disease I know of no reason why those numbers should
not have kept up to their former level, unless it is the loss of
the farmers' capital through bad crops ; and that is insufficient
to account for the deficiency, because our breeders, as a rule,
depend to a small extent only on cereal produce. But when
we come to consider the smalluess of our meat production
compared with what it might be, and apart from what may
be termed the accident of cattle disease, we are brought face
to face with that lamentable divorce of capital from the soil to
which all sound and honest thinkers who understand the ques-
tion attribute what I have called our perpetual bad harvests
of com and meat. My reply to the question why, if on certain
farms a unsatisfactory amount of produce is forthcoming under
our existing system of land tenure, it cannot be expected on all
without a chnge in our Land Laws, must be reserved for my
next article. A Free Farmer.

ANOTHER INDUSTRY FOR INDIA.— Not very many
years ago the idea of any large proportion of our tea supplies
ever coming from India was ridiculed as chimerical. As for
the chinchona plantations they were generally regarded by
Anglo-Indians as experiments foredoomed to failure. In spite
of these pessimist predictions England is now receiving about
25,000,000 pounds of tea annually from her great dependency }
while chinchona cultivation is recognised as a perfect success.
Looking at these antecedents, it would be rash to say that The
Examiner may not prove right when prophesying equally good
results from the growth of tobacco in India. As regards soil
and climate, little seems needed to make the industry succeed
in carefully-selected districts. Already, some finely-flavoured
sorts are grown in Madras and Burmah from Virginia seed
The " Lunka" is a very fair cheroot, so far as the mere materia)

goes, and the same nny be asserted of some special brands
from Trichinopoly. Of course, a grest deal depends upon the
care bestowed upon the growth and manufacture. As a general
rule, the object of the cultivators seems to be to produce a
large quantity at a low price, irrespective of quality. But here
and there a wiser system prevails, and cheroots are turned out
which would sell readily in England at a fair price but for the
roughness of their manufacture. The chances generally are
that at least half of every bundle of " Lunkas," or " Trichies,
will have to be thrown away, owing to the impossibility o
making them " draw." Instead of rolling the leaf tenderly
and carefully after the manner of the Manilla manipulator, the
Burmese and Hindostan workpeople squeeze the material into
some sort of shape by main force. The consequence is, of
course, the formation of lumps inside, which prevent the free
passage of smoke. Our contemporary acknowledges the exist-
ence of this evil, but believes it might be 'surmounted by the
importation of skilled hands from America and the Manillas, to
act as teachers and superintendents. Perhaps this might effect
a partial cure in time, but we doubt whether much will be done
towards inducing the world to consume Indian tobacco until
the industry be taken in hand by British enterprise. As it
seems to present a very promising opening for the employment
of some of our superfluous capital, we expect to witness a con
siderable improvement in the methods of cultivation and of
manufacture before many years elapse. — Globe.

LANDED ESTATES COURT. — A return has been
issued of all fee simple land, subject only to quit and tithe
rent-charge, exposed for sale or sold in the Landed Estates
Court, Ireland, in the years ending the 31st of October,
1875 and 187^- The return gives, in the case of each
estate, the county, the name of the estate, the acreage
of each lot, the net rental or annual Value of each lot,
tfie date or dates on which exposed for sale, the date of sale,
and the amount of purchase money. It also shows to what
portion of each lot the purchaser would be entitled to imme-
diate possession. The following is a summary of the return :
In the province of Ulster the gross annual profit rent for the
years 1875-6 was £9,455 15s. Gd., and the gross purchase
money £219,719 13s. 4d. For Munster the annual profit rent
for the two years was £9,693 10s. 5d., and the purchase money
£201,800 13s. 4d. The profit rent for the same period in the
province of Leinster was £21,532 14s. Id., and the purchase
money £488,746 16s. ; while in Connaught the gross annua *
profit rent was £11,962 9s. 7d., and gross purchase money
£262,874 7s. Id. The average number of years' purchase in
the four provinces is as follows: Ulster, 23-23; Munster
20.82; Leinster, 22'69 ; Connaught. 2L97.

AVERAGE PERIOD OF GESTATION.— The American
National Live Stock Journal publishes the following table,
showing the average period of gestation of the various kinds
of farm stock, which will be found very convenient for refer-
ence. Mares vary considerably from the average period, and
the same is true, but in a less degree, with cows ; but as we
approach the smaller animals and shorter periods the varia-
tion constantly grows less : —

Gestation.

Incubation

Days.

Days.

Mare

336

Goose

30

Cow

280

Turkey

28

Ewe

154

Peafowl

28

Goat

153

Duck

28

Sow

112

Chicken

21

Bitch

60

Pigeon

18

Rabbit

30

Canary

13

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

209

FARMERS' CLUBS.

NE WCASTLE.

At the last meeting of this Club Mr. Hall read a
paper ou "The Use of Artificial Food," in which he re-
commended its use as profitable to the grazier. To the
majority of our readers such an argument hardly needs
repeating, and wc can only find space for the following
remarks, chiefly relating to the manurial value of certain
feeding stuffs : —

Iu order lo ascertain as nearly as possible the relative values
of these manures, I had specimens of each analysed by the
excellent analyst to this Club, BIr. Pattiuson. This gentle-
man seat me a very exact and, I should say, very accurate
analysis. lie found that the dung of cattle fed on grass alone
contained — water, 89T5 per cent. ; organic matter, 8 61 ;
ash, 2-24 ; whilst the dung of cattle fed on grass, and supple-
mented with about 51b. of linseed cake, cotton cake, and pea-
meal mixed, contained -water, 87"31< per cent.; organic
matter, 942; ash, 3 2t ; or l'Sl per cent, less water, 81 per
cent, more organic matter, 1 per cent, more ash than the dung
of the wholly grass fed ones. The organic matter in the dung
of the unsupplemented ones contained— nitrogen, 0"30 per
cent., equal to ammonia 036; while in the dung of the
supplemented one3 it contained — nitrogen, 037, equal to
ammonia 045. The ash in the dung of the unsupplemented
ones contained— potash, 0T5 ; phosphoric acid, 0'28. In the
dung of the supplemented ones it contained — potash, 0T2, or
rather less than the other ; phosphoric acid, 040, or nearly
doub'e the other ; equal to tribasic phosphate of lime in each
respectively 061 and 087 ; whilst the siliceous matter in
each amounted respectively to 1T4 and 2 per cent. It is
clear from this analysis that the fertilising agents, ammonia
and phosphate of lime, are much more strongly represented
in the dung of cake-fed cattle than in that of purely grass-fed
ones. Phosphate of lime is especially present in greater
qaantity. Auy one who ha3 noticed the effects of artificial
feeding on grass must have observed that the pasture bears a
marked change ; in fact, no one seems to doubt this. I am
convinced that after caking cattle upon land for several years
consecutively the manurial value becomes barely appreciable.
Having noticed this for some time, I this year caused a very
small quantity of nitrate of soda to be sown on a place where
the cake troughs had been standing. I assure you, gentlemen,
that the effect of this was marvellous. The grass grew up
with such freshness and vigour as I have never seen equalled
by any top-dressing. The droppings of cake-fed cattle cause
a great change on the grasses of our pastures, having much
the same effect as a top-dressing with bones ; although I
observe this difference : that whereas bones cause clover to
grow in great abundance, the droppings of artificially-fed
cattle have a tendency to develop other grasses, such as
cocksfoot. I firmly believe, also, that cattle and sheep fatten
much more quickly en pastures where cake has been con-
sumed, or which have been top-dressed with boues or nitrate,
as their food by that means is much more highly ni'rogenised.
To say that the use of artificial feeding stuffs is at all times
remunerative would be simply absurd, for there can be no
doubt that there are very many cases in which they do not
pay. In fact, to make them pay much care and calculation

must be exercised. I believe that it is not profitable to begin
to give cake to very lean cattle on grass, nor almost under any
circumstances to continue its use for a lengthened period ;
^or we must ever keep the fact before us that it is a very
expensive business. I fancy that artificial feeding pays best
when a farmer has a lot of cattle in very good condition, and
wishes to have them fat as quickly as possible. It not un-
frequently happen*, also, that certain fields will make cattle
nearly fat, but not of sufficient quality to command the best
price. In a ca*c of this kind a little cake for about eight
weeks, to finish them, as it is called, will almost invariably
pay extremely well. I think it is a good plan to use cake in
certain fields, always having in these fields cattle in good
condition ; and, as they become fat and get disposed of, to put
in their places cattle from other fields where cake has not
been used. These again arc finished, and their places taken a
before. Thus the farmer works his cattle away, always brin
ing them forward to better keep.

PENRITH.

A meeting of the members of the Penrith Farmers
Club was held iu the club-room on Tuesday, Feb.
19th, Mr. William Hesk.ett, of Plumpton Hall, in the i
chair.

Dr. Montgomery delivered a lecture ou "The Adultera-
tion of Feeding Stuffs and Manures," which he said was one
of the most important questions the farmer lnd to consider,
because he believed that the adulteration of botli these articles
had been very extensively practised in this country and also
in all other countries in which farming is in so advanced a
state that they are largely used. By frauds ol*this kind th
farmer who suffers by them at all suffers very grievously. He
pays for what he purchases far more than it is worth ; an
when he has expended £100 he has received what is not wortli
probably more than £50, perhaps only £30, or it may be
much less — in some cases next to nothing at all — for snch
cases have come to light, and even cases of the purchase of
feeding-stuffs that had better have been thrown on the dung-
hill immediately on their being brought home, as when given
to anima's thfy hive produc d injurious effects, and death
have occurred among stock previously healthy and thriving.
It is pleasant to know that many of the farmers of England
and Scotland arc now pretty thoroughly alive to the dangers of
heavy loss through having adulterated manures and feeding-
stuffs palmed upon them by scoundrelly manufacturers and
merhants. This is no doubt owing to the praiseworthy exertions
of some of the agricultural Societies and the exposures which
they have made — the Royal Society being most active in
this respect. Even where there has been no adulteration it
is quite possible for an article to be far from pure; and it
concerns the farmer to see to the actual purity of the article
which he purchases. In going into the details, the lecturer said
that he had seen a statement where it was sail that in some of
the Peruvian Islands rocks are actually quarried to furnish sand
for mixing with guano, so that a farmer ought to sec when he
buys what he calls guano he does not pay for sand. It has
also been found that there is as much as 21 to 26 per cent, of
water in the guano from the Guanape and Macabi Islands,

U

270

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

from which most of the Peruvian guano now imported comes.
After dwelling at some length on this sahject, the lecturer
dealt with the question of artificial manures made from phos-
phate minerals. Of phosphatic minerals Dr. Voelcker says, in
the Journal of the Royal Society of England for 1875 : " The
percentage of phosphate of lime alone is not the sole measure
of their commercial value ; and it not unfrequently happens
that a phosphate having a lower percentage of lime never-
theless is worth more, weight by weight, than another kind
richer in phosphate of lime, for whilst some impurities, for
insfauce, quartz, rock, and insoluble silicious matter, do not
consume any sulphuric acid, others, like carbonate of lime,
neutralise and render ineffectual a portion of the acid which is
employed in the manufacture of superphosphates for render-
ing the phosphates soluble." The best superphosphate of
l'me is guaranteed to contaiu 28 per cent, of phosphates, but
the article sold under this name, and with this guarantee, has
been found to contain only 19^ per cent, of soluble phos-
phates, which alone are of any value, and merely a trace of
ammonia. He warned farmers against buying a dark-brown
colourad sulphate of ammonia obtained in the purification of
coal-gas, which soon finds its way into the market. Bone-dust
and bone-meal are deservedly held in high esteem as manures.
Dissolved bones ought to consist entirely of bone-dust treated
with sulphuric acid ; but owing to the insufficient supply of
bones this excellent manure cannot be manufactured in quan-
tity sufflciently adequate to the demand for it; and much
that is sold under the name of dissolved bones is made from
mixtures of miueral superphosphates wiih small quantities of
bone-dust. What is sold as dissolved bones rarely contains
more than 20 per cent, of bone-dust, and often as little as 10
or 12 per cent. There was no manure safer to buy without
an analysis than bone-dust, but it was sometimes too damp,
and this adds to its price. Raw bones were mixed with boiled
bones, and the mixture was less valuable than bone-dust
made wholly fom raw bones. The bone-dust made from
boiled bones is more energetic in its immediate effects on
vegetation than that made from raw bones, but its effects were
not so lasting. It is very suitable for grass-lauds, but not for
most of the purposes for which a farmer buys bone-dust.
Boiled bones yield only \\ to 2 per cent, of ammonia, whilst
fresh bones yield fully 4| per cent. The lecturer, in a com-
prehensive and interesting address, dealt with the whole
subject, and concluded with the following remarks : — Too
great care canuot be taken to buy no cake of any kind that is
not quite fresh. Cake that has become heated, although it
may not yet have become mouldy, is certainly unwholesome .
Dr. Voelcker speaks of having two samples of linseed and
other cakes sent to him as having caused sickness and death
among animals fed by them, in which he could detect nothing
wrong except that. But that was enough, even though the
cake may have been but slightly heated.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

At a meeting of the Tunbridge Wells Farmers' Club, held at
the Great Hall Restaurant, on Friday, Feb. 15th, Mr. T.
Batcheler, President, in the chair, Mr. D. H. Hutchence, of
Well Place Farm, Penshurst, read a very interesting paper on
the " Breeding aud Rearing of Stock."

In the first instance the lecturer said his topic would be
cattle, and as there were many varieties, Shorthorns, Here-
fords, De\ ons, Sussex, Alderneys, &c>> ne should confine him-

self more particularly to Shorthorns— were they generally
considered equally profitable for dairy purposes and the
butcher? Judging from, his own experience, both in York-
shire and Kent, he should say they were. He did not infer
that pedigree cows answered so well for dairy purposes. On
the contrary they would not. Still he found that one cross
did not tend to lessen the quantity of milk which a cow would
give ; yet he felt convinced it very much enhanced the value of
stock — he meant by] adding weight and symmetry to an
animal. During the last four years he had adopted the
method of keeping a pure-bred bull, and he had proved the
importance of using means to improve the blood. His
object was simply that by having two or three crosses he
could procure a largerjbeast, and it would fatten at much less
cost than a cross-bred inferior animal. He believed there
were many agriculturists who strongly objected to dairy farm-
ing, because in the first place it entailed a greater amount of
labour and an increased risk of infections diseases ; also that it
was impossible for a cow to produce both milk and beef. His
idea was that a good Shorthorn, crossed with pure blood, was
not only suited for milk but also for beef. The principal
features to be noticed in a good milch cow were a compact
frame, thin neck, fine chap and cheekbones. She should also
possess an amount of secreting powers that would enable her
to supply continually for any length of time a large quantity
of milk. What was wanted was a beast that would give
a large amount of milk and beef from a relative supply of
food.

In the last report of the American ^Dairymen's Association
comparisons were made, the deduction being that the same
amount of food produced twice the result wheu fed to a milch
cow as when given to a steer for beef. At present he had
some heifers 15 months old, bred from pure blood on the sire
side, and compared with some others he had bought, though
kept on the same food, the former were quite 25 per cent,
superior to the others.

Iu the present day farmers had many difficulties to contend
with, the rinderpest, the foot-and-mouth disease, and especi-
ally the importation of live and dead stock from America and
the colonies. This was both interesting and important to
home producers, and needed some little consideration. He
noticed that the cost to bring dead meat across the Atlantic
was but a fraction over one penny per pound, and the charge
for a living animal rather more than three pence per pound.
The importations last week to Liverpool were about 390 ton3
and 300 carcasses ; yet to make any material alteratiou in our
markets there must be larger imports. Supposing the
Americans could place their meat in our markets at two
pence per pound below our English prices, the supply and
demand would cause an actual falling in price of only one
halfpenny per pound if one-fourth of the total was forthcom-
ing from that source. The Duke of Richmond, in the Cattle
Plague Bill, had asserted that in order to make home restric-
tions bearable he thought it absolutely necessary to decree
that all foreign cattle should be slaughtered at the port of
debarkation, and accordingly provisions to that end had been
inserted in the Bill. Should the Bill become law farmers
should not be afraid to increase their stock by using the best
means known to procure an animal that would be certain to
oommand a buyer in any market. He was glad that many of
his neighbours in adjoining parishes had taken a deep interest
in breeding from a pedigree sire of late years, and had
turned out at two years old beasts ready for the butcher
which were a credit tto themselves, and in some measure at

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

271

remunerative prices, even with stall fatting, which was not
geucrally considered the most profitable way to produce beef.

Next he referred to breediug of horses. In the first place
he would ask, Was it profitable for tenant farmers to breed ?
and if so, What class of horse was likely to prove to him a
financial success ? On this point he thought all would agree
that it was a good draught horse. He remembered the ad'
vice of an experienced farmer iu reference to breeding. No-
thing pays so well as a good cart horse, and as a rule nothing
would lose so much money as a nag. He should recommend
the Clydesdale in preference to any breed for agricultural
purposes. For instance, in the North the farmers generally
bred from the best blood that could possibly be found, and as
an inducement to horse propiietors valuable prizes were
offered on condition that the winuer should travel in the dis-
trict the following season, at a given price, foal or no foal.
Of late years the pure Clydesdale had been the first favourite,
and a decided improvement had been made in ths stock of
agricultural horses, which had realised high prices. During
the last season he knew of 60 guineas being refused for a
sucking colt, aud £120 for one eighteen months old, both by
the same horse, who earned in one season £300 and was after-

wards sold for £600. He was no advocate for extremely large
or heavy horses for farm work. On the contrary he considered
they had many disadvantages ; they were generally not so active
and would not answer so well on the land in ajwet season. Again
in cultivating breeding they must not only aim at pleasing
themselves, but study to produce an animal that would com-
mand a customer at any time. In the latter case they must
have size and strength for town work. Another point he
wished to impress upon his hearers was the great necessity o f
allowing young horses plenty ofroom in a good yard, thus to
enable them to have an ample supply of fresh air and exercise .
lie had known several instances of serious loss to those who
had kept yearling colts in small confined boxes. In this
particular department of the rarming business it required the
greatestcare aud sound practical judgment, which if judiciously
applied would amply repay the breeder. Their motto should
be to produce the best possible animal in the least possible
time.

A discussion followed, in which Mr. Hoper, Mr. Pain,
Mr. Tobitt, Mr. J. Noakes, and Mr. Williams took part,
all agreeing generally with Mr. Hutchence, to whom a vote of
thanks was passed.

THE ANALYSIS OF MILK, BUTTER, AND ARTIFICIAL MANURES.

At a meeting of the Botley and South Hants Farmers'
Club, on Monday, February 18, the President, Mr. W.
Warner, in the chair,

Mr. Arthur Angell, the county analyst, introduced the
above subject for discussion.

The question which naturally crosses the mind of every
man who is practically acquainted with the management of
cows and dairy produce is how can it be possible for the
chemist or any one else to declare a standard for natural milk ?
How can there be anything like uniformity in any part of the
composition of a fluid which is sometimes naturally rich and
at other times naturally poor; and when the surrounding cir-
cumstances, such as breed, kind and quantity of food, time
before or after calving, have such a marked influence upon the
quality and quantity of the milk of the cow, I say that this
question naturally, and in my opiniju very reasonably, enters
into the minds of many who from long familiarity with all to
do with the production of milk feel themselves justified in pos-
sessing and holding very tenaciously to the opinion that the
■ composition of cows' milk must be so variable as to render it
a seriously hazardous and uncertain matter for the analyst to
fix a standard of strength for natural milk, and to declare all
milk falling below that standard to be adulterated. It is
with no feeling of combativeness that I venture to lay before
the members of this Club to-day the arguments and reasons;
both theoretical and practical, why the analyst declares that it
is an easy and certain matter, within known limits, to state
whether to a given sample of milk water has or has not been
added. The one great aim of Nature amongst both animals
and vegetables appears to be made to insure their multiplica-
tion and to maintain the integrity of the various species. She
endows every one of her creatures, from the highest form of
animals to the lowest of vegetables, with natural instincts and
desires, the only aim of which appears to be the production
and preservation of healthy offspring like unto its parents,
and this law, under favourable circumstances, and unmolested
by, as it were, outside influences, never fails to continne the

race in all its beauty and perfection. If we admit this law,
and recognise its absolute wisdom, we must also see that any
infringement of it must be met with dire calamity. Let us
reason this out by regarding one or two instances of the slow
but certain degeneratien brought about by the artificial culture
of our most valuable natural production. Take, for example,
the potato and the sheep. I think that none of you will deny
that the former is more difficult to grow without being attacked
by disease, and the latter much more difficult to breed without
loss of both ewes and lambs than used.to be the case. Looking
at both these instances of degeneration from the standpoint
we have now taken up, namely, a contemplation of the working
of specific integrity, to be logical we must arrive at the con.
elusion that some foreign and disturbing cause is at work to
produce such a result. Man, when he first found out that the
tubers of the potato were good to eat, naturally enough se-
lected those plants for further cultivation which yielded the
largest crop of those tubers. This has been, of course, the
tendency with all those who have since grown potatoes. This
artificial selection has always been governed by the same desire
— that is the production of the best, the largest, and the most
tubers. But see how cruelly, and with what a rough hand,
we have all the while been breaking the fundamental law
which governs, guides, and controls the reproduction of species.
The potato plant, as you know, bears flowers, and these flowers
are marvellous arrangements wherein the pollen of the male
organ is made to impregnate the ovary of the female, and by
this natural and beautiful means the plant is mat'e to produce
fruit after its kind. This legitimate fruit, or true seed, has,
however, been entirely neglected, and in this country for some
250 years potatoes have been reproduced from tubers, without
even an occasional revivification by the use of the sexual facul-
ties of the plant. Thus the law is broken ; a penalty must be
paid ; the naturally weakened plant is on its way to ruin ;
Nature's great scavenger— the fungi— have it iu their posses-
sion, and sooner or later, if the present course be pursued, it
will be completely destroyed, and man will have to go back to
its native woods to find a true and natural potato plant, con-

U2

272

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

stitutionally strong, possessing and using all its faculties, and
'therefore able to withstand the attacks of disease. Amongst
sheep we have been breeding mutton and wool — butcher's
sheep, not Nature's sheep. Too much pains has been taken to
get flesh and wool at the cost of constitutional strength and
breeding properties. What man calls high breeding Nature
calls low breeding, and if we will have sheep with fat fleshy
limbs and small bones we shall have Nature to fight against,
and she, good as a friend, is very dangerous as an opponent. I
give these two instances of the effects resulting from the in-
fringement in order to prove the existence of this law, and
when we admit that Nature's supreme effort, her most glorious
triumph, is the reproduction of species, and the multiplication
of animals and vegetables upon the face of the earth, we
should reasonably expect that that secretion, that typical food
—milk — with which she nourishes the young of the most
delicately organised animals, should be constant in its nutritive
properties, and unliable to such fluctuations in its chemical
composition as would cause the offspring to suffer. If we had
no practical experience, and knew nothing by experiments, we
should by theory alone arrive at the conclusion that milk
is or ought to be of constant composition. We will now see
how far these reasonings, rendered potent by analogy, and by
their agreement witli the general tendencies of the laws of
Nature, arc borne out by the chemical composition of milk as
demonstrated by actual analysis.

Milk is a watery solu'iou of a nitrogenous substance called
casein, or curd, of sugar, and mineral matter, including salt
and phosphates. Ttiis solution holds a certain quantity of
fat in suspension, in the form of minute globules. Now, if
the casein was to fall short the calf would cease to derive true
nutritiou from the milk, that which breeds up muscle and
nerve. The milk sugar is important as a carbon by water, from
which heat and power are obtained. The butter is easily
assimilated as fat, and the salts, or mineral matters, are all
important as bone produceis. Now the fat or butter is the
substance which may vary most with the least effect upon the
young animal, and this is actually the most variable constituent
of cow's milk. When the fat is removed from milk we get a
watery solution of curd, sugar, and saline matter. Now, if
the water be evaporated off we get left the dry solids of the
milk, minus the fat, in fact, all the dry matter nhich has
been in solution, for the fat is not now in solution, and there,
fore does not intimately form a part of the milk. In practice
it is found easier to first evaporate the whole milk with its
cream, and then to remove the fat from the dry residue with
suitable solvents. We then get the solids, not fat, left behind.
Now, these solids, not fat, are found to vary only within very
narrow limits in all cow's milk, whether from t'.:e small wild
creatures of the hymalagons or from the highly-fed stall-kept
animals of the London dairies. This is chosen as the datum
upon which the present method of milk analysis is based, and
forms the factor from which adulteration with water is calcu-
lated. It would be exceedingly wearisome to wade through
the results of all those who have been of late years working
upon milk analyses, but it is well that you should know that
many hundreds of analyses of milk, from all kinds of cows, and
under varying circumstances of feeding, climate, &c, were
made, both in this and other countries, before the Society of
Public Analysts ventured to fix a standard for genuine milk,
and that since that time thousands of samples purchased under
the provisions of the Food Act have been submitted to the
same test and, perhaps, the most satisfactory proof of the

correctness and fairness of the standard is given in the gradual
but pretty general, and in some instances very marked, im-
provement in the quality of milk supplied to the British public.
If any mistake has been made it is that over-anxiety to do
injustice to no man has caused the standard to be placed too
low, and I think it is likely that shortly it wiil be found
expedient to raise it a little. The standard at present in use
is tlrat milk shall contain not less than 9 per cent, by weight
of milk solids, not fat, and not less than 25 per cent, of
butter far. In short terms, all wholesome cow's milk is
chemically alike, or varies only within narrow limits, and the
only difference between rich and poor milk is that the one
holds more fat in suspension than the other. It is because
the fat is not in solution that it rises to the top as cream, and
that is why the strippings are so rich, and why the calf keeps
continually butting its head agaiust the udder so as to keep
the milk within in a state of agitation, and to prevent the
cream from rising.

Now, gentlemen, I have endeavoured, as well as I could in
such limited time, to show that the milk inquiry has been
carefully and exhaustively worked out, and that the members
of the Society of Public Analysts, being masters of the facts,
were safe and justified in fixing a standard below which milk
shall not be exposed for sale. The public analyst has had to
wade through this question, and to fight battles, not bloody,
but milky, not as partisans, but as all honest scientists should
— namely, to arrive at the truth, and in this case they believe
that they have succeeded in doing so. Soon after the Adul-
teration Acts were put into operation it was fouud that a
method for the detection of foreigu fats when mixed with
butter was badly wanted. At the time I refer to, about five
year3 ago, even prepared fats containing no butter could not
be chemically distinguished from genuine butter. In conse-
quence of this want great difference of opinion arose, and a
pretty geueral confusion followed. Butter was fought shy of
by the analytical chemists, and an enormous quantity of
cleansed fat from bone-boilers and marine store dealers found
its way into the market, and was sold to the consumer as
butter. Now, these mixtures are generally so thoroughly
cleaused and so carefully prepared that as articles of diet they
are certainly less injurious than bad raueid butter, even if it be
the produce of the dairy and not of the marine stores. These
factitious butters, therefore, should be recognised as fit for fool
but must not be sold at the price of and as butter. Besides the
admixture of foreigu fats butter is sometimes loaded with
water to an incredible extent, and forms a very important part
of the weight of the sample. I hav^e frequently met with 15
to 20 per cent, of water, and once found a butter with 42 per
cent. Now, water at Is. 6d. per pound is rather dear. Mr.
Otto Hehner and myself, whilst working in Dr. Hassall's
laboratory in 1S72, frequently felt the want of a method of
butter analysis, and soon we determined tlrat it was a subject
worthy of consideration. We commenced a series of experi-
ments for the purpose, if possible, of finding out some feature
in the chemical composition of butter which was different
from that of any other fat. After many failures our labours
were rewarded, and we found tlrat in butter there was a larger
percentage of certain volatile or soluble acids than in any
other known fat. Perhaps no analytical process has met wiih
more opposition on the one hand, and such cordial favour on the
other, as has this. The opposition came at first from certain
witnesses, who having expressed their opinion before the
House of Commons' Committee that it was impossible to

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273

distinguish by chemical or any other means foreign fat when
mixed with butter, have since considered it dignified, if neither
graceful nor truthful, to adhere to their first statement. In
spite, and, perhaps, partly in consequence, of this spirit of
opposition which was thrown into the controversy, no subject
has of late been so thoroughly canvassed, sifted, and examined
amongst aualysts, botli in this country and abroad as butter
analysis. Fortunately for the public aud the producers of
houest butter, and unfortunately for those who manufacture
and trade in " bosh," it is now placed upon a firm basis, and
when the Leipsic University awarded us a prize which was
competed for by chemists of various nations all opposition
may have said to have been overruled. In the early part of
the year 1S/6 I examined officially 84. samples of butter, and
found -21 or 25 per cent, to be adulterated witli foreign fat, or
excess of water, or both, and I now find it quite exceptional to
meet with a single sample of adulterated butter. Mo doubt
much less of it is sold in the parts of Hampshire protected by
the " Sale of Food and Drugs Act."

Mr. Angell then quoted from his " Butter Book " in order to
show the constituents, &c, of butter, and proceeded as fol-
lows : — The remaining part of my paper relates to another set
of articles in which the cultivators of land are deeply interes-
ted. I refer to artificial manures, and more particularly to
the so-called superphosphates and to guanos. Manures are,
of course, plant foods, and just as with animals, that is the
most valuable food which contains the largest quantity of the
substances of which their bodies are built, and those in a
condition most easily assimilated by the creature which eats
them. So amongst manures, the most valuable is that which
contains the largest percentage of certain nutritive principles
in a soluble and easily-accumulated form. Theoretically a
perfect manure should contain every constituent of the plaut
it is meant to feed. So it would be practically if the plant wa8
to be grown upon a soil containing nothing which it could take
up. There is, however, in cultivated soils a certain quantity
of silica, soda, potash, and lime, so that we need not gener-
ally put them into onr manures. It has been found out by
experience that the food wliich plants most need, a»d which
in the most part can be returned to them only through the
agency of animals either directly or indirectly, are nitrogen
and phosphoric acid, and these are found in all animals and
excrementitious matter, and eminently in guano, which is
principally the partially fossilized dung of sea fowls, and in
bones. It was Liebig who first suggested that bones would
be rendered much more valuable if made more soluble, and
consequently more easily assimilated by plants. This sugges.
tion has since been carried out in all c vilised nations where
the land needs artificial cultivation, and now forms the centre
of the enormous seat of industry — the cultivation of artificia'
manures.

Bones are rich in phosphates and so are coprolites, and phos.
phatic limestones, which probably at one time derived their
phosphoric acid from the fossilised remains of animals, so that
whether we take the bones of recent animals, or the earth
which contains the fossilized remains, it matters little, and
caterit paribus the phosphoric acid is equally valuable as Ja
manure. The phosphoric acid of bones, coprolites, and other
phosphatic material is now rendered speedily available for
plant growth, by rendering it soluble. This is done by treat-
ment with sulphuric acid ; the phosphate of lime is altered in
its composition, and is then called superphosphate of lime.
The value of a superphosphate is dependent mainly upon its per-

centage of soluble phosphoric acid, and this depends upon the
quality and kind of material used and the skill of the manu.
facturer. There is no other means of testing but by cheraica^
analysis, and therefore all phosphates and superphosphates are
bought and sold by analysis, at least it is so amongst manu.
facturers and merchants. It is remarkable, however, to what
a small extent the farmer, the final purchaser, who has no
manner of means of testingjthe quality of his purchased articles
has recourse to the analytical chemist. Matters, however, I
have no doubt will soon change, and as the needs for the culti-
vator of the soil to produce the most in the shortest time, aud
to economise iu all directions become greater, chemical analy-
sis will be resorted to more frequently, in order to certify the
manorial value of every parcel of artificial mauure purchased.
Next to those who get their living by analytical work no set of
persons would rejoice so much as bona fide manufacturers of
genuine goods, and no one would profit so much as the men
who now frequently suffer by purchasing manures at prices far
beyond their true value as food for plants. The manurial pro-
perties of guano are nitrogen as ammonia and phosphoric acid
There is a vast deal of difference in quality even amongst
genuine guanos, and there always are to be found samples of
so-called guanos which contain very little indeed of the true
articles, but are made up of mixtures possessing limited manurial
properties, but differing very little in appearance from genuine
guanos of a good quality. The best Peruvian guano contains
from 10 to 15 per cent, of ammonia, whilst some other genuine
guanos have only 1 to 2 per cent. Even guanos from the same
deposit may differ much in quality ; those wliich have been
most exposed will be found to be les3 valuable than those
which have been covered up and not subjected to atmospheric
influences. Furthermore, guano deteriorates by keeping, and
thereforejeannot safely be purchased on the.lcrms of an analysis
of old date. As illustrating the risk of loss to the purchaser
of guano of improved composition, I would mention that
speaking approximately the value of ammonia is £60 per ton
— in other words, that a loss of ,1 per cent, of ammonia re-
duces the value of the manure 12s. per ton. Another import,
ant artificial manure is sulphate of ammonium, which is now
obtained chiefly from coal. The ammoniacal liquor is distilled
with quick lime, and the ammonia is saturated with sulphuric
acid, forming the sulphate of commerce. Thousands of tons
of this salt are annually placed upon the land, so that the
remains of the gigantic ferns and conifers of the grand old coal
forests — those magnificent plants wliich at that time were
truly ths monarchs of the vegetable world — are now scooped
out from the bowels of the earth, and are made to yield up
their nitrogen ; the nitrogen which they in their turn had
obtained from the samians and gigantic lizards of the period
is now given to help to nourish a new generation of plants.
Again, in the superphosphates we have an instance of
economy. The bones of the huge uncouth animals of geological
ages are made to yield up phosphoric acids for the benefit of
the plants of to-day, and these in their turn give their phos-
phoric acids towards building up the bones of a new race of
animals. Thus all things in nature are- used and re-used, and
than this I know of no more striking instance of the triumph
of man's ingenuity, who thus makes the mighty machinery of
Nature's economical process to move faster for his own special
benefit. As much for his common sense cannot, however, be
said with respect to the economising of manurial matters to be
derived from the sewage of cities and towns. What dreadful
waste there is, to say nothing of the effect upon his own

274

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

health and longevity, in the mad manner in which he throws
away millions of tons of manure, rich in ammonia and phos-
phates ! That this will not be so much longer I am perfectly
persuaded. Something is being done to economise in our near
neighbourhood— in that admirable little establishment at
Portswood, where the whole of the drainage of the township
is allowed to deposit its solid matter, and it, with the liquid, is
used upon the land, which so purifies it as to cause it to flow
out into the river Itchen as an effluent coutaiuing less organic
matter than some samples of drinking water submitted to me
for analysis.

The only sort of cattle foods I need refer to here are those
called cakes, which are what remains of certain oleaginous seeds,
after the oil has been expressed. It is found by the manufac-
turer to be impossible to press out all the oil from such seeds
as linseed and cottonseed, so that some is left behind in the
refuse or cake. This cake, mainly in consequence of the oil
present, possesses eminently fattening properties, besides
which it contains a considerable quantity of albuminous or
nitrogenous matter, and is therefore truly nutritious^
Consequently the feeding value of a cake can be declared
in percentage of oil and of [nitrogjii. The microscopic
examination of an oil cake is of some importance, as

often foreign and useless materials are worked into so-called
oil cakes — materials which, iu some instances, have not
the least claim to nutritive or fattening properties, such as
refuse cocoa fibre and the extreme silicious tips of the oat.
These two forms of meless rubbish are in my own knowledge
of sufficient value for the purpose of adulteration to pay for
their shipment from abroad, although they are in themselves
utterly valueless.

I have mentioned cattle condiments in my sylla-
bus, but I find that I know very little about them.
All I can say is that, like condiments in the food of man
I look upon them as artificial resources for which to obtain
a fillip for a pampered stomach, and that the need or
taste for condiments indicates a disordered indigestion, so that
their use is at least questionable amongst cattle, for the lower
animals, left to themselves, will select the simplest and plainesf
of food.

Mr. Angell concluded by saying that he thanked them for
the courteous manner iu which they had listened to him, and
he assured them they had done him a great honour in allowing
him to be there that day. He should be happy to answer any
questions that might be put to him.

STRAW,

At a mteting of the Framliughaui Farmers' Club, held
on Monday, February 25, Mr. A. Pulhaui read the above
paper.

Mr. A. PuLHiM said : First there is its value, which of
course will vary according to the district — that is, whether far
from or near a town or mansions where probably a good stud
of hunters is kept ; but as a basis for this year I would say that
wheat straw may fairly be put at £4 per ton, barley straw at
£2 10s., pea straw at about ilie same value; bean stalks are
no doubt of more value than the two latter, but less than wheat
straw. Mr. Mechi tells us that bean stalks when cut into
chaff and scalded is of more value than chaff cut irom any kind
of straw, but assuming this to be the case it would only apply
to large occupations where steam can otherwise be used to
advantage, as I found that his method of scalding and keeping
up the heat is by means of waste steam. I would say nothing
about the value of oat or rye straw, as 1 don't grow either,
hut rjerhaps there are gentlemen present who will kindly give
me their opinions and experience. Now our usual method of
treading down straw into muck is in open yard?, when I believe
a ton of wheat straw wilt make about five three-quarter load
carts, barley and pea straw about four three-quarter load carts.
Beau stalks will no doubt make more owing to their requiring
a longer time lo tread down, say six three-quarter loads.
If you have given this subject a little thought, I feel
sure that you will agreo with me this looks like great
waste, as each load of manure iu it goes from the yard is worth
about 2s. 6d., or an average of 12s. 6J. for each ton of straw.
This leads me to a part of my subject that I wish more par-
ticularly to draw your attention to — that is. covered yardi and
greater freedom in the sale of our farm produce. Where the
system of covered yards has been adopted it is found that
straw goes very much further, and each load of manure is o^
50 per cent, greater value, and may frequently be taken direct
to the land and ploughed in, saving that rather heavy item in
our expenses of turning over and refilling. Besides, it is well

ITS VALUE AND WASTE.

known that cattle, when kept warm and clean, thrive faster
and require less food. And now that we have the foreigner
to compete with in our meat supply it behoves us to adopt the
best method of doing so, and the last three harvests should
alone, I think, prove how necessary it is for all who are
interested iu agriculture to pay great attention to rearing and
feeding stock, for although our fureigu friends have something
to do with keeping down the price of wheat, they have not yet
sent us much more beef than we require, or we should see that
old English fare at a lower figure than 10s. per stone, and as
we have about the best climate in the world for producing
beef, we should be able to hold our own. When speaking of
covered yards, I don't mean to say that all should be entirely
closed in. Probably our horses would be more hardy and
healthy with a small open yard, in addition to a good wide
shed. Pea straw, when well harvested, ought never to be used
for littering our yards, but cut with hay or second crop of
clover into chaff for sheep or young stock. If used for horses,
it should be used very sparingly. Bean stalks should, of course >
always be first picked over by colts or horses when not at
regular work before being used for litter. Barley straw, when
mixed with hay, makes a good chaff, and may be used tolerably
freely without danger ; but wheat straw cut into chaff I have
no faith in, owing to the hard and indegestible knots it con-
tains ; and I am pursuaded that were it not for the old-
fashioned covenants by which we are debarred selling straw,
very little of it would be used for that purpose. No doubt
these restrictions were necessary and proper some 30 years
ago, when guano, rape cake, dissolved bones, and the numerous
kinds of artificial manures were almost unknown. Greater
freedom in the sale of our farm produce would immediately be
followed by a larger capital being employed in agriculture,
which means a national benefit, inasmuch as our home supply
would be larger. I find that according to our trade returns
for the past year, we imported just fifteen millions of qrs. of
wheat and flour. This looks like fetchiug our British corn

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

27;

with a vengeauce,"as our export trade in manufactured articles
has fallen olT. Dr. Taylor, curator to the Ipswich Museum,
tells us that straw has no material properties. If such is the
case, how injudicious must be the custom of carting from our
yards straw simply wetted with coloured water; yet this is
going on every day, owing to large open yards and buildings
untroughed. Naturally you will ask who is to remedy this ?
I can only say if you are fairly rented, and have a tolerably
safe tenure, go to your landlord's agent, who is generally a
gentleman of experience and practical knowledge, if not he
ought to be, aud make the best bargian you can. If, on the
other baud, you are highly reutcd and heavily taxed, and the
agent can do nothing for you, I must say you are iu that un-
fortunate aud unenviable position of having a tight-laced
landlord. I am told that on some estates a tenant can have
almost any number of buildings erected provided he is willing
to pay a percentage on the cost, and ptrhaps it may be wise to
accept those terms rather than be stin'ed in shed room, although
this looks like being a nice method of employing surplus
capital. Where a tenant farms highly by a liberal purchase
of cake, maize, aud artificial manures, may he not reasonably
expect something as au equivalent in the form of better ac-
commodation and greater freedom in the sale of his farm pro-
duce P I venture to hope that our landlords will meet this
question iu accordance with the spirit of the age. Although
straw may have no manurial properties, it is the best vehicle
at our command for absorbing and csnveying to the soil the
excretal matter from our soil bins, &c Therefore, as an act
of economy it should be used as sparingly as possible, with
the view of keeping down our heavy labour costs, and by so
doing, probably at the end of the year a few tons of straw
could be sold, aud some other commodity brought to the farm
which has also manurial properties — say hay, for instance,
which can frequently be bought at about the same price
per ton. Now, it is the farmer alone who has to suffer
iu consfquence of these restrictions P Our friends in
town who keep horses are frequently put to great iucon-
venience through not being able to buy straw, some being
obliged to use sawdust in their stables. Straw is wasted in a
variety of ways, but I believe that one in which we feel it more
particularly is in the thatching of cottages, and no doubt there
are gentlemeu present who have such cottages attached to
their farms. If so, I feel sure ttiey will bear me out in the
assertion that it does not need to be a large one to require three
or four loads of straw to thatch it. Now, if this straw could
be sold, it would frequently realise more than sufficient to
purchase tiles for the purpose. Perhaps some gentlemen will
say that thatched cottages have their advantages. If they
have, I still think they have numerous disadvantages ; for, in
the first place, they are a great harbour for rats, mice, and
sparrows, and I may add another familiar little fellow known
as the lively flee. The same remarks may be applied to
thatched buildings, besides which there is the great difficulty
of troughing. The chances are that if you get the troughing
fixed this year it will require to be refixed next, owiug to the
thatch becoming worn or wasted, and the water is continually
getting stopped, when the troughing becomes worse than use-
less ; and in case of fire e.very one is helpless, even the fire
engine men will stand and look as if paralysed and tell you that
it is all U P. Great waste is frequently made of straw at the
mansions of our landlords, where tenants are required to supply
an unlimited quantity at a nominal price, servants of both
sexes using it as of no value. I don't know that our landlords
are to be blamed much for this ; it is a custom that lias been

handed down from one generation to another, something like
an heir-loom, and so loug as the teuaut could grow plenty of
straw by breaking up a pieco of pasture once iu a while, of
course he thought nothing of it. But thiugs have changed.
It is satisfactory to observe that the antiquated custom of using
straw for draining is fast dying out, aud the wonder is that it
should have continued so long, seeing that straw has such au
attraction for rats that draius have frequently been destroyed
by them before they had been done twelve months, and yet this
practice lias been followed where "flashings," i.e., rough
trimmings from hedges, could have been had for the Butting.
Of course your men will try to persuade you to use straw on,
account of the facility with which it can be put into the drain
If flashings cannot be found in sufficient quantities on the
firm, whin, broom, or ling may be bought at a price that will
make it preferable to straw. But I thiuk there can be no doubt
our old ploughed lands will be better drained with pipes, and
I venture to hope that there are but kw landlords to be found
who would object to supply them. Now that straw has in-
creased so much in value, it becomes necessary for us to take
greater care in preserving it. If we have no barn adjoiniug
our stackyards at liberty, the stack should be carefully topped
up aud tha'ched as quickly as possible after it is thrashed, but
wheat straw will take but little harm if the roof is well raked
down. Having taken care of your straw in your barns or
stacks, see that no unnecessary water gets to it in the stack,
yards. Rest assured that your cattle will find the proper
ingredients for convertfng it into a valuable manure.

Mr. Jeafjreson asked for suggestions as to a substitute for
straw in stables, observing that Lord Ellesmere used sawdust,
and Mr. Whitehead suggested the use of hay.

The Chairman complimented Mr. Pulham on his paper.
He suggested that for feeding, straw thrashed without steam
was best, and agreed in condemning the use of straw for
draining, aud recommended the straw stack should be thatched
speedily. He did not believe that straw had no manurial
value, but no doubt it was chiefly valuable as an absorbent,
and in using it thus covered yards were of value. Tying up
cattle was an economical plan.

Mr. J. Head spoke of the use of straw in countries where
it was valueless as food aud as fodder. Amongst these couutries
was Russia, where six or seven years ago he was led to con-
sider the possibility of using straw as fuel, and he explained
the mode by which he had succeeded in burning straw in the
portable engine, the stravv being injected into the fire box by
means of rollers, and steam generated as rapidly as by the best
coal or wood. The engines would also burn coal, wood, or
peat, white in Egypt the refuse cotton stalks of an acre were
sufficient to irrigate that acre. It would take eight sheeves of
wheat straw to thrash one hundred sheaves of wheat, but he
did not think these engines would come into use iu England
except in outlying diitricts far away from coal fields ; they
would, however, burns sticks or gorse. As to fodder, he said
cutting .straw into chaff in the tropics left the particles of straw
too sharp, or bruising was necessary. Tiiis he had also ac-
complished by machinery in a way which he explained, the
beaten straw being highly relished.

Rev. C. T. Corrance argued unlimited sale would reduce
price and impoverish farms, for he believed straw had manurial
value. It must be soaked in more than water, aud be iu yards,
for which it was desirable the tenant should pay reasonable
in'erest. Messrs. Gleed, Jeaffreson, aud the Chairman
spoke, and Mr. Pulham replied to the discussion at the close
of the procc dings.

276

THE FAEMEK'3 MAGAZINE.

CAPITAL

AND

LAND.

Mr. James W, Southern writes as follows to The Man.
clieder Examiner, in reply to a letter from the Bishop
(of Manchester we presume) which we do not happen to
have seen : —

It is certainly not from deficiency of capital seeking invest-
ment that agriculture languishes. There are many indications
that capital is redundant. In the manufacturing industries
cotton, coal, iron, paper, and others, we are suffering from,
over-investment, and whilst a large amount of money spent in
mills, mines, &c.., during recent years is irretrievably lost, a
still larger amount is unremunerative. At present capital
seeks vainly for investments combining security with fair
interest, and failing to find its " channel," remains stagnant at
two per cent. But besides this over-investment at home, it
is by English money that half the enterprise of the world is
supported. Hither come needy governments, inventors,
speculators, and projectors from all parts. It would be an
interesting inquiry — I commend it to those who fiave time to
pursue it — how far the utterly lost capital lent by this country
would have developed the resources of our own soil ; I mean
money invested in such ventures as Eries, Peruvian bonds,
Honduras railroads, Egyptian and Turkish stocks — not to speak
of the swindles and abortive enterprises by which, from time
to time, fools and their money have been parted. Any one who
doubts the redundancy of capital seeking employment may find
instruction by perusing a London daily stock au 1 share list,
and noting the bewildering sums, running into thousands of
millions sterling, invested in various ways — Government stocks,
h >rae, foreign, and colonial; railways at home and abroad;
insurance, docks, cauals. and all manner of miscellaneous
enterprises — and remembering that a large proportion of these
enormous sums represent the accumulation of English capital.
The money which cannot be attracted to English soil provides
shipping on the Amoor, grows tea in Assam, lays down tram-
ways in Brazil, and gas works in Hong kong, prov ides harbours
in New Zealand, and develops the agriculture of Australia and
Van Diemen's Land, and having filled all these channels leaves
a reserve so large that it seeks employment with a Bank rate
at two per cent. Assuredly if English capital is not applied
to the development 2nd increased productiveness of English
agriculture it is not because there is lack of it, it is not inade_
quacy to sustain at once the requirements of industry, commerce,
and agriculture that explains the neglect of the last ; and I have
now to consider the allegation that the returns from capital
invested in land are insufficient to attract it. In considering
this point it is well to remember at what percentage of profit
money finds its way into other channels. The present low
value of money is not a lair index, but it may be fairly assumed
that from four to five per cent., with good security, will per-
manently attract capital. Corporations can borrow any amoant
on these terms, So can railways. The daily share list quotes
55 issues of home railway preference stock, of which only
2 offer a higher return than 9 per cent, aud in one of these
the £100 stock stands at £108. The average interest on the
55 is 4§ per cent. ; the total amount of capital they represent
s £117,000,000.
Now there is good evidence that capital invested iu land
i mprovement returns a larger profit than this. I will not quote
Mr. Mechi's experience. The Bishop might not accept his

resuits as a fair guide ; nor indeed is it necessary to quote
any individual authority. What I regard as an unwilling
witness shall speak. 1 refer to the report of the Lords' com-
mittee on the improvement of land. Whenever a law shall be
passed to make land distribution easy the political
power of the territorial class will probably diminish, and
nineteen lords " steeped in acres to the lips " may be
excused if they showed a great relish for modes of land im-
provement which might interfere with " the sacred ark of
limited ownership."

Speaking of the necessity of land improvement the appendix
says : "Mr. Bailey Denton, who has given especial attention to
this subject, states, as the result of his calculations, that out of
20,000,000 acres of land requiring drainage in England and
Wales only 3,000,000 have as yet been drained. Mr. Caird,
the enclosure commissioner, speaking not only of drainage but
of all kinds of improvement, estimated that we have only
accomplished one-fifth of what requires to be done." The
opinion he expressed, " Yet no work is msre remunerative,'
is left out in the appendix. The report admits that tenants
are willing to pay fair interest on expenditure for? drainage.
" In the case of drainage it appears that sometimes, though
not in all cases, the tenant will pay back to the landowner in
the form of rent the full 7 per cent which he pays to the com-
pany. In forty cases of improvement mentioned by Mr. Ryder,
involviug a total expenditure of £191,730, and an average
expenditure of £t,S6S, the average increase on the rental in
eight or ten years between the first aud the last application
was 26| per cent. The average is much reduced by the
comparatively small .increase arising from new buildings, as
compared with the large increase resulting from drainage. The
root of the difficulty is laid bare by section 4 of the appendix.
''A frequent arrangement is that the landlord only receives 5 per
cent, on the effective outlay to reimburse him for the 7 per
cent, which he pays for 25 years to the company. Practically,
therefore, the investraent|prescnts itself to him as one involving
loss to himself with a gain to his heir." The real secret of
" starved land in the heart of the richest country the world
lias ever seen " lies in the fact that the life owner will not
sacrifice any portion of his present incomejto increase the rent-
roll of his successor.

By the evidence given before Mr. Pusey's committee the
estates uuder settlement were estimated as exceeding two-thirds
of the kingdom, which is to say that two-thirds of the land is
held by nominal owners, who cannot sell if they would, who if
they possess the means cannot improve the land except by
acting iu defiance of ordinary human mo'ives, who cannot
borrow^capital for the purpose, at less then 7 per cent, whereas
the real owner can borrow at 4.\, and who, as Mr. Caird says,
" are so heavily burdened with settlement incumbrances that
they have not the means of improving the land which they are
obliged to" hold. I need not point out that what a tenant is
willing to pay for improvement, as addition to his rent, affords
no adequate indication of what the same man could realise from
the same capital if expended on property which w.ts his own,
working with the consciousness that every hour, every energy,
every sovereign, was sown for his own advantage. Tha1
intelligent selfishness which in the manufacture and
distribution of commodities makes the fortune of individuals,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■but miuisters to the comfort of the worlds would operate with i
similar results in agriculture, and instead of ;i return of 7 per |
ceut. ou expenditure we might reasonably expect similar results
to those which have followed the distribution of land in other
countries.

Mr. Joseph Kay, for whose knowledge of and labours in
this land question I desire to offer the tribute of respectful
admiration, has shown us, in his book on "The Social Con.
dition of the People in England and Europe," what has been
the result of free trade in land elsewhere. He. quotes, among
others, Ilerr van Bronau, of Zurich: 'Since the Government has
sold to the peasants lands which formerly belonged to the
State, and has, in this manner, created a great number of smal
peasant properties, very often a third or a fourth of the land
produces as much cora and supports as many head of ctttle
as the whole estate formerly did when it was cultivated by
leasehold tenants." Mr. Kay also quotes — and I will only add
this additiouol quotation— Ilerr Pupikofer, of Thurgovie : "The
division of the great tracts of land belonging to the Govern-
ment and creating small peasant properties out of them has

277
1

had this effect, that ofteu a third or a fourth of the origin*
estate produces now as much corn and supports as many
cattle as the whole of the original estate did when it was
cultivated by lessees." Notwithstanding the Bishop's quota-
tion from Mr- C:iird as to the relative produce of wheat per
acre in France and England, the conclusion drawn, that the
removal of "iniquitous land laws" had not resulted in in-
creased productiveness is quite wrong ; but my letter is already
too long to enter on the discussion of this point. The real
obstacle to the free applicatien of capitoi to the soil is the
system of settlement. Remove the " dead hand " which in-
terposes and paralyses English agriculture ; limit the testator's
power of disposal to lives in being. As Wren Iloskyns says,
bring "the ownership of the laud abreast of the age." Convert
the nominal owner into the real owner, and capital would find
its way to the soil, providing labour for thousands and food
for millions. I should like to have said something of
the "iniquity " of the land laws, of the results of " Morcelle-
raent " in France, and of the system of conveyance, but I dare
not trespass further.

LIVE

STOCK

NOTES.

There is an increasing degree of alarm felt amongst
breeders as to the prevalence of yellow in the coats of the
Shorthorn, especially the Cherry Duchess and Cambridge
Rose tribes. It is simply that farmers have got saucy,
and are spoilt by choice. The abundance of young bulls,
and the frequency of their sale, give them such a wide
chance of purchase that they turn up their noses at any-
thing but a "rich roan," a colour Mr. Booth would not
have at Warlaby at any price. The blue roan, beautiful as
t is, is not quite suggestive of puri'y of blood. For its
presence one may look to some such tradition as the fol-
lowing, which I have just seen quoted in the American
National Live Stock Journal, February, 1S7S. "Chief-
tain (135), bred by Mr. T. Bates, got by Daisy bull
(18G)." " But in Mr. Allen's reprint of the pedigrees of
English bulls we find appended the following: Note. — Mr.
Bates notes in his copy of the ' English Herd Book' — Dam
by a grandson of Favourite, out of a black Highland cow
which Mr. Bates bought in Scotland in 1796." The
blue-roan has, no doubt, come from a cross with an ordi-
nary black, blue-black cow, and not a brown-black cow.
The Booth roan (and their best cattle are mainly de-
scended from the same elements as the Cambridge Roses)
is a yellow-roan, or a " strawberry-roan," and if you take
up any description of the early herds you will always fiud
abundant mention of yellow and yellow-red. Ilubback
was yellow-red. Coates's Patriot (48G), sold in those
times for 500 guineas, was a red-roan. Belvedsre was a
yellow-roan. " Old Sockburn was a large yellow cow,
with ' some white.' " — Hutchinson. " On June 14, 1784,
Mr. C. Colling bought his first Duchess cow, price £13,
a massive, shortlegged cow, breast near the ground, a
great grower, with wide back, and of a beautiful yellowish-
red llaked colour." — Bates. " Jacob Smith's bull was of
a yellowish-red^ohnr, with a white back, white face, and
white legs to the knees." — Bates. It was with reason,

then, that the late Mr. Storer, " instead of describing
yellow, which not unfrequeufly shows itself in the Knight-
leys, ' as an occasional vagary,' said that the old Shorthorn
breeders would have considered it a strong indication of
purity and antiquity of blood, whilst they would have
thought the inky-reds and sooty-roans we now see so
frequently just the contrary. This is so notorious that
I need scarcely give examples ; but I may say, en passant )
that on scarcely any other point wa3 Mr. Bates, as a
breeder, so consistent as he was in his uniform admiration
of the yellow colour." The fact is, the blue-roan, or
the purple-roan, is the complementary hue to the yellow-
green of the landscape. Hence it delights the eye, as an
amethyst brooch upon the missus's bosom, when attired
ju sage green. So long as it pleases the eye it will, of
course, have its value. The most curious instance of
colour that I know is on a cow of Sir Frederic Smythe's,
which begins with a yellow and ends with a blueish roan.
You have there the corrective influences combined, poison
and antidote, like reading The Daily News and Standard
the same hour, as all folks who study mental equilibrium
should.

The American Agriculturist, after a review of the
live stock market for 1877, comes to the conclusion
" that the export business in meats, and live beeves, and
sheep can never become anything more than a spasmodic
affair, flourishing when prices are low, and stocks heavy
here, and when stocks are light and prices high on the
other side. The expenses and risks are too great, and the
profits, when any are made, are too small to sustain a
steady trade. It may answer as a safety-valve to relieve
pressure here, but as soon as the pressure is relieved the
movement must cease. We may build up a business in
the course of years, but not until beeves bear a lower price
here than we hope to see." Let our farmers then here in

278

England " keep up their pecker," and continue to pur-
chase sires of the bluest blood they can afford, to follow on
with in succession. They will thus by degrees cheaply
enable themselves to undersell the American in quality.

I have just returned from a gallop, in astonishment at
the sight of a coal-black lamb iu the midst of a Cotswold
flock that's held in high estimation for its purity. Whence
came this dark sport ? I had lately a white pigling in the
midst of a jet litter, but it was owing, I fancy, to my
man's having turned in a friend's sow iu my absence
amongst the " in-calvers." Anyhow she has paid the
penalty of the accident, and has passed into ham and
sausages. But whence, I repeat, this sooty lamb, as
astonishing to behold as a dark tup his too inquisitive
visitor found hidden away on Bake well's premises ? I
must make inquiry, and report.

I have recently seen the strength of hereditary excellence
in apair of ordinary-Lokiug mares that run back in the fifth
generation to a pure desert Arabian dam. Out of a sure-
footed roadster, they stumble themselves at every step,
but not so much as to endanger, though incessantly to
alarm, their riders. They never come down, but they
trip for everlasting. But the trait one notes them to have
derived from their ancestry is that you cannot tire them.
On, on, for ever ; at their pace, a hand gallop, they wear
out a whole field of fashionable hunters. It was n0
wander that Whitaker (as Bates records) would never use
a bull of an indifferently milking strain. Let the tyro keep
this in mind. Accumulate in your breeding operations
every gooddispositionyoucau, andavoid the very semblance
of a bad one. The historian Hume remarks of Oliver
Cromwell in his latter days that he diligently sought
alliance with the haute nolUbse, which is, to my mind,
accounted for in the words with which he closes his
description of him. Cromwell's mother " was of a good
family, of the name of Stuart, remotely allied, as is by
some supposed, to the royal family." An instinct
eugrained by descent will find an outlet !

An ingenious young amateur farmer observed to me
the other day that there was something curious the
matter with his yeaning ewes; the wool came off in hand-
fulls when you touched them. Why, of course, the sheep
are rotten ! What a pity it is when men buy a painful
experience of this sort. On uncertain pasture there is no
more dangerous stock to keep. It is odd that ewes with
lambs alongside are found to escape the deadly infection
of the miasma, on the principle, I suppose, that the
sitting pheasant emits no scent for Reynard to inhale.
Wise provision of Nature ! I wish cold roast goose were
as well protected during the Christmas holidays. The
young gentleman-farmer should at least engage a compe-
tent shepherd.

I must enter a frieudly protest against pigs being
named after famous cattle. It would be far better to
invent a special nomenclature than to appropriate one of
already definite meaning. Wildeyes, Belvedere, Leonard,
&c> — there is a distinct appropriation of these names as
breeding auimals already.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1 am glad to find that Mr. Hermauu Biddell is to ed1*
the Suffolk Horse Stud Book, and will give some history
of the breed. Mr. Barthropp's beautiful winners having
been all painted, there need be no lack of illustration.

We had to part the ducks to-day, for the wild brown
ones and the lustrous black Bueuos Ayres sort were ex-
changing mates. Some wire netting through the pool
effected our purpose, but it was quite sad in its conse-
quences. One poor duck, somewhat mulatto in her
plumage, owing to last year's neglect, kept straining her
neck through the loops and trauing up her eyes with sad ,
amatory intention, whereas the naughty brown drake
seemed to revel in his escape from unwelcome matri-
mony, and dipped and splashed as if resolutely to wash
out all recollection of the attentions he had hitherto paid
her. Vigil, March 1.

HOT-BEDS IN COVERED I'AUDS there never will be,
if farmers will follow the instructions or advice which I have
so often publicly given. The main point is that the urin
should not be allowed to pass away from the general mass
The floor should be paved, and grouted with cement, and the
sides should be walled, to prevent lateral escape. If the
urine passes through into a loose sandy floor tliere will be
heat, but not otherwise — always provided we avoid the too
usual mistake of over-littering, or using more straw than can
be thoroughly moistened or wetted by the solid or liquid excre-
ment. The littering should be little and often. The first
layers should be thoroughly wet before more is added. A too
abundant dry beginning or foundation cannot be subsequently
cured. For 30 odd years I have never had a hot-bed ; but
then I was obliged to enforce a sparcity of straw— much less
than the men had been previously accustomed to use in open,
rain-saturated yards. Animals cannot thrive and be healthy
witli heated beds, and the manure is also injured. I like to
see the bed poached into a mass by the plunging in nearly
knee-deep of the cattle, which thus not only get exercise, but
also exclude air and mix the manure bed better than any man
can mix a dung heap. There is thus no smell and no escape
of gases, but when raised by the fork the chemical agents are
at once in action, and we hold our noses. I again say that
covered and enclosed well-ventilated cattle-yards are an essen-
tial in farm profits, especially on heavy lands. No open dung
heaps, but leave the dung untouched, until you want it, and
use another yard, if required. — J. J. Meohi.

FILIAL LOVE.— In cur recent hill warfare with the
Afreedees we have been utilising some of the native local
population for subordinate garrison duty at the hill forts •
These locals love fighting ; that is their chief reason for
assailing us; and if the" can be found employment, to fight
for us for money they prefer it to fightiug against us for love.
An oilicer on duty at a fort pointed out to a sentry a parti-
cular native that had among many others been skulking
round the fort all day, evidently with no good intent. " I see
him, sar," said the sentry ; " 1 had two shots at him already ;
but lie dam hard to hit ; he the hardest man to hit I know !"
" Oh ! you know him, then, do you ?" asked the officer. *' Oh
yes, sar, I know the dam rascal well ; I been trying to shoot
him all the week." " Who is he P What's his name ?" "The
dam old rascal — he my father." — Examiner.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

279

VIGIL" AND MR. SOTHAM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LOB EXPRESS.

Sir, — I was much pleased with aud interested in the article
from " Vigil " ia " Live Stock Notes" of Jauuary 21st, bat
think he is a little mistaken as to my being prejudiced
against Shorthorns. No man values a well-bred, sym-
metrical Shorthorn more highly than I do, aud probably
I have seeu as many herd3 as any one. There are but
very few of them that have come under my eye aud hand
possessing uniformity of character, either in quality, size,
or symmetry. Can "Vigil" pronounce this to be good
breeding ? I consider such of low standing, however rich
or fanciful their owners. Any man of wealth can buy
the animal he fancies, and yet not have sufficient judg-
ment to know whether he has secured a good one, and at
this point you may consider whether the rich men of
England, with their uneven herds, deserve the exalted
name of breeders, more especially when they have to
pamper them to hide their faults, and when uuder the
hammer encourage excitement to ruinous prices. Similar
men of monied power are attracted, aud in their pride will
not be outdone. Money is no object to those who are
born with silver spoons in their mouths. Such reckless-
ness overpowers reason, and the bidder kuows not in his
roused condition whether he is getting a cow so loaded
with forced flesh as to prevent breeding or one he will
have to take to the Smithfield Show.

This ring of fanciful speculators has been the ruin of
good breeding. I believe iu this country that the end has
come, as the reckless bidders here are trying to settle with
their creditors so as to begin anew, but if their spirit is
willing to bid, Jles/t will be exceedingly weak.

I do not wish to injure any breeder, as I consider the
breeder proper, in connection with a well and profitably -
cultivated farm, to be one of the most exalted characters
on earth, whether Duke, Lord, or commoner ; and, of
course, they are at liberty to adopt whatever breed their
fancy dictates. But men generally, when they have a
large overflow of capital, are very apt to let their fancy
overpower reason, and in this pride of power are inclined
to imagine themselves exalted by possessing what men of
less means caunot have, and are gratified whilst riding
this hobby ; hence this Duchess mania. I have seen
several of these Duchesses, and cannot help sayiug I have
yet to see a good and profitable animal, apart from specu-
lation.* Those bred from the original Duchess of Bates
called " pure Bates," from close in aud in breeding, are
almost extinct, from lack of constitution, and those pos-
sessing the few remaiuing ones pride themselves on the
possession. Reason would say that this must be short-
sightedness. Those Duchesses now living with a cross of
the West Highlander, of which no breeder of judgment
(knowing the breed) cau be deceived, are constitutionally
recovering by this out-cross, by which they have gained
in quality, symmetry, weight, and compactness ; but what

a beautiful picture this for men of pedigree, notwithstand-
ing that "Vigil" says: " Fair play then to the noblemen and
wealthy commoners, who have of late years in this country
been engaged in an honourable rivalry to obtain aud nurse
iu their purity such cattle as were commended by the
early improvers, such as the Messrs. Collings," &c. ! Will
" Vigil " tell us how many " nurses " it has taken to
preserve and nurture this purity, and what kind of cows
were kept in the nursery? This might lead to a very
interesting confession. I once witnessed a splendid lot of
milkiug cow3 in Col. Gunter's nursery. Did "Vigil"
gain his information on the purity of breeding " from the
lips of Mr. Bates " or from those numerous insertions of
Bell on Bates of which he speaks ? I have marked his
contradictions. The discrepancy in his letters to Mr.
Renick in this country, after his visit to him to purchase
Shorthorns for the Ohio Company, was enough for me.
Can anything be " pure " with hidden crosses in pedigree ?
A3 to those " rotton bonds," which " Vigil " says have
engulfed so many of our apparently shrewdest people, it
seems hard ; but those bonds built the railroads in this
country that are now bringing the beef from the far West
to supply the English market. Were not these " shrewd
men " some of the very same Shorthorn speculators
anticipating this event, to aid them in their recklessness
to support the "Bates' mania" then existing iu both
countries ? But I think Jonathan has got the better of
John Bull, by sendiug his Duchesses back again and ob-
taining his gold. Now, Mr. "Vigil," tell me which is
"the shrewdest ?" Although I have never forfeited my
allegiance to my native country, I think Jonathan has
the advantage in this mad speculation cu Duchesses.
Those who have lost money on these rotten bonds, had
better go to breeding and feeding Herefords on the plains
of Colorado, or the extensive rich prairies of Kansas or
Texas. The bonds they hold may be redeemed by the in-
creased traffic in the beef they produce, thereby making a
double profit. The breeders and feeders there feel assured
that the Herefords will carry more of it ou their backs iu
the right places, and of a better quality generally to
market than any other breed. All the grade Herefords
that have come from the far West have obtained the top
price in all markets, either as stockers or for beef.

Messrs. T. Miller and Son have a farm of 1,200 acres
at Beecher, Illinois, and a herd of 100 Hereford cows, and
they send all their bull-calves to Colorado aud Texas every
year. The demand is increasing as their merits are better
known, and to show you that this is no mean herd, he
showed iu the class for herds of all breeds at the Illinois
State Fair, last Fall, a bull and four cows, contending
against eleven Shorthorn herds, all pampered lo the
extreme, and took the first prize under a majority of Short-
horn judges. Wherever the Herefords have beeu allowed

280

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

to show fairly against the Shorthorns, they have always
triumphed. They took the same prize at the Ohio State
Fair, Michigan Stats Fair, and that of Indiana in the pre-
vious year. Mr. Frederick W. Stone, of Guelph, Canada,
is a breeder of Shorthorns and Ilerefords, having a large
number of each breed, both possessing high breeding. Ho
does not pamper either, but I think the Shorthorns have
the best pastures. About a month since he sold eleven
young Hereford bulls, one cow, and five young heifers, to
go to Colorado, having only one aged bull left for sale.
He is getting from three to four hundred dollars each for
his heifers, and his young bulls realised about one hundred
and fifty each. He has now about thirty young Short-
horn bulls on hand, all well-bred, some of them funcij ully ,
which he would be very glad to dispose of. I do not say
this in a spirit of boasting in favour of Herefords, but
they are facts that cannot be justly denied.

Another instance I wish to show to the "fancy ring"
is the end of the siiteen-thousand-dollar cow, purchased
at the New York Mills sale by Mr. Lewis G. Morris. Not
producing a calf since that time, she was fed and
slaughtered at Port Huron, in this State, for Christmas
beef. I saw her the day she was dressed. A worse car-
case of blubber (for you could not call it beef) I never saw
hung in shambles. Under this blubber, and along the
back-bone, was a streak of black lean, without a particle
of fat interlarded. Her rumps were as shaky as bags of
jelly ; her deep brisket hung over with soft greasy fat,
as if it had been oiled ; her whole body was covered with
small bags of blubber, quits unnatural to a healthy auimal ;
her back rick ribs bowed out to give space for her extended
paunch ; while her fore-ribs were contracted so as to
compress the heart and lungs and impair the constitution,
eharacteristicofall "pureDuchesse3." She had not meat
enough on those contracted fore-ribs to feed an American
eagle twice. Such has been the character of all the "pure
Duchesses" I have seen. What would dukes, lords, 'and
rich commoners say if they were compelled to eat such
fanciful beef? The "roast beef" of Old Englaud would
lose its reputation. Will " Vigil " tell us whether he
ever saw a Duchess differing from the above description ?
I saw the skin in which she was enveloped — it looked thin
enough to make purses to hold the bidders' gold, and the
butcher told me that it was with great difficulty that he
separated the hide from the blubber. A few days after I
called to look at the quarters, aud their cuttings, and
found two other thorough bred cows from the same herd,
In these three animals were three distinct qualities of
beef, the white one's as finely marbled and as first-class as
ever was cut ; the red one's fat was solid, the lean not at
all interlarded, and of a reddish colour. All were fed
alike, and all high-bred. The pure Duchess never could
get ripe; quality was not bred in her ; neither could her
blubber set except when frozen. I have met with several
instances of this kind in fanciful herds, and the cow named
above is from one of the most prominent and costly in this
country. It is such proofs of want of uniformity that had
prompted my criticism, which "Vigil " calls "prejudice'

If he can show a herd belonging to those rich noblemen and
commoners, bred by themselves, uniform in size
symmetry, aud quality in substance, as the worthy old
veteran Abram ltenick has done, I will praise them until
their cheeks become crimson ; I will even take a trip to
England, although I am in my seventy-sixth year, pur-
posely to try the experiment. I admire a man who will
pay a liberal price for a superior auimal, but when he buys
pedigree without the auimal, I condemn him as a novice
in good breeding. Such are my views, and thus I offer them.

I asked the butcher which was the most profitable
animal of (he three for him and the consumer. He said
poiuting to the white, " That will net me 3 cents per lb
more than the Duchess, although her previous owner
thought she was the best, and held that out as an inducement
for me to buy the whole, for which I paid 5£ cents per
lb. live weight, 2 cents, more thau the Duchess was
worth. I must now do the best I can to make the good
sell the bad."

One more ocular proof, and I have done. A few weeks
ago I saw two cows purchased by Messrs. Wm. Smith and
Son, in Detroit. I recognised both of these cows, having
seen them sold at a sale in Chicago, purchased by one of
the speculators. One was called " high iu Bates, more es-
pecially in the top crosses," and sold at a fancy figure,
while the other, being Booth, prejudice injured her charac-
ter, aud she sold low. We handled them ; the touch of
each was distinct, one being firm, the other flabby, and
so they died. The Bates was of the same character as
the sixteen-thousand-dollar cow, while the other proved
a fine level first-class quality carcase of beef, that could be
produced from any herd or breed, every pound as saleable
as a pound of butter. The Bates cow's blubber had to be
pared off for the tallow-tub, leaving her quarters in an
unsaleable shape to attract first-class customers ; they
went for what they were worth. Such dark lean meets
a slow sale, is tough, and indigestible. I witnessed the
facts above stated, and will vouch for them. I hope
"Vigil" will give us some proofs to sustain the Duchesses'
and Bates' blood, so as to place them in a more favourable
light than that in which I see them.

I am, Sir, &c,

Wm. H.Sotham.

Cass Ilotel, Detroit, Michigan, U.S., Fell. 9.

INSPECTION NEEDED.— I have heard of yet another
case of serious illness caused by the ignorant carelessness of
that most ignorant aud most careless of British workmen the
plumber, who, as usual, had established a connection between
the water-cistern and the sewer by means of an overflow pipe,
and by this simple arraugement poisoned a family. As rail-
way companies cannot carry possengers until their lines have
been surveyed and approved by the Board of Trade, and as
steamboat companies are subjected to a like inspection and
control, I am not able to see why the speculative builder and
the intelligent artisan should be tree to work their wicked will
and put in imperfect drains, badly-planned pipes, and other
lethal arrangements for the discomfort and destruction of the
British householder. If landlords bad to produce certificates
of sanitary perfection before they could let houses, and if the
expense caused by gross neglectand " scamping " were legally
deducible from rents, we should have less typhoid fever.—
World.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

281

THE MANAGEMENT OF LIGHT LAND.

A few months since I ventured to propound a theorj
which I had for some time considered, and which in 1113
opinion might accouut for, at least in a partial man.
ner, the decreasing productiveness of our soils, especially
those which do not come under the head of heavy lands.

One result has heen that attention has been called to
this subject by ethers who have in a great measure con-
firmed my opinion as to the deterioration of the soil, and
who agree with me as to the causes of the falling-ofFofits
productive power.

A former remark of mine was, that, in the old-
fashioned times, when autumn . cultivation was a thing
little practised, when the wheat-stubbles were allowed to
remain in possession of all the twitch, weeds, and rubbish
which was their legacy after harvest, until the following
March and April, such grass and weeds having a certain
value as a run for the ewe flock during the winter months,
the land was more productive in the growth of both roots
and cereals than has been the case since the introduction
of what may be termed a more advanced system of
cultivation.

I even recommended by way of test that an acre or
two of wheat-stubble should be left in a field uucleaned,
while the remainder of the field should be cleaned and
cultivated according to the most approved modern
system ; that the acre or two thus left should be brokec
up and hastily tilled in the month of May in preparation
for a crop of swedes, both portions of the field receiving
the same amount of dung and artificial manure previous
to the last ploughing ; and that the treatment in both
cases should then be alike in all respects. Such a
test I venture to say would result in a crop of far
greater weight, and better in quality, on the laud which
had been Bcamped in its earlier stages than on the por-
tion which had received autumn cultivation and winter
tillage.

I am perfectly well aware that I am layiug myself open
to the charge of being retrograde, and that the return to
a more primitive state of things tends to encourage
"slovenly farming. The charge may be partially true or
not, as the land is treated in the old-fashioned way, or
on the principle adopted by me, which pretty well
secures the advantage of the older system without incur-
ring the risk and censure of fouling the land.

As I said in a previous article embracing this subject,
my observations for several years past have induced me
to believe that the various operations included in the
term autumu cultivation, which result in baring the land
of vegetable life, in exposing the soil reduced to minute
particles to the scorching sun of August and September,
and the drying winds of October, possibly to be succeeded
by drenching rains in November and December, then to
be exposed to the blighting frosts of winter, and the
parching winds of March, have a great tendency to

soils, reducing their consistency
1 great waste of valuable soluble'

weaken the lighter
and thus inducing :
matter.

Now, the point is how to arrest this deterioration and
thus increase the productive power of the soil, which is
a result much to be desired. It is absolutely necessary
to adopt some method by which the manurial property
in the land may be conserved, and it is of special conse-
quence to keep this object in view nw that we depend
so much upon special manures as food for our crops ; far
greater is the necessity now than in days of yore, when
farmers were entirely dependent on farmyard dung for
recouping the laud. It must be borne in mind that the
proportion of soluble manures — and many manures are
exceedingly soluble — used on the land now is very large ;
hence the need of devising an arraugement by which the
land can be constantly eovered with vegetable life, thus
securiug by surface growth and a considerable development of
root fibre a great absorbing agent, which shall l'etain in
a large degree the soluble matters and at the same time
shade the land from the weakening influences of sun, rain,
frost, and wind.

The method which I adopt, and that on no small scale,
is this (I may mention incidentally that my land is
clean, and free from couch, grass, &c.) : so soon as I
have a wheat stubble clear, taking care to secure the
cleanest first, I drill iu a peck and a half of trifolium
seed, which by the early autumn forms a fair covering
for the soil. Later on the trifolium is covered with a coat-
ing of good farm dung, which protects it in winter and
pushes it forward, either to be fed by sheep or to be
mown late in May, when the land is turned only once,
taking care to turn down with the skim-coulter all the
surface to a depth of five inches : the heavy roller is kept
close after the ploughs, and when all the ploughing is
done, the laud i3 harrowed with heavy harrows for the
purpose of thoroughly disintegrating the soil, the roller
then follows, and these operations are continued until a
fine and firm seed-bed is secured for the turnip seed. If
the condition of the land requires it, a small dressing of
■I cwt. of superphosphate of lime is worked in after the
ploughs.

About one-fourth of wheat stubble is thus treated.
Another portion of the wheat stubble i3 rapidly culti-
vated, or skeleton-ploughed, and reduced to a condition to
be sown with mustard-seed, which soon forms a shade
above, and root fibres below the soil. The mustard is
allowed to remain so long as it is not wanted for the
sheep when it is fed, the sheep receiving at the same
time half a pound of cotton cake per diem ; the laud then
remains as the sheep leave it until the spring, when the
operations in preparation for the turnip crop are regulated
by the state of the land. If the land was fed dry a
f single ploughing of five inches ia sufficient, to be followed

282

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

by the same tillage as after the trifoliuni ; if the land is
wet at the time of feeding then the land is ploughed a
little deeper, aud one or two very shallow ploughings are
given so as to guard against bringing up the mustard
roots.

The remainder of the wheat stubble is broken up and
prepared for the sowing of rye at three bushels per acre,
which stands until wanted in the spring, when it is fed

off by the sheep ; at the same time they receive cake o
an equivalent of meal.

It will thus be seen that I keep my land uudisturb ■
and shaded by vegetable life during a time of the yea
when most lands are bare and exposed to the influenG
which I consider to be very prejudicial to our light soils

W. D.

FATTENING CATTLE.

Mr. Boyd Kinuear, who resides in Jersey, I believe, aud
is a great admirer of Jersey cattle, has contributed to The
Agricultural Gazette of February 4th a very valuable
paper on " The Value of Food," a subject which all practi-
cal farmers who desire to make a profit by the fattening
of cattle would do well to read. I do not propose to
discuss that question, for it is very well put in the article
I refer to, but I would simply call the attention of your
readers who are interested in the matter to a few common -
sense rules which may be considered as the finger-posts to
guide those who desire to fatten cattle with profit.

1. Animals of the same species eat in direct proportion
to their weight (of course there are individual exceptions,
but they are accidental) ; that is to say, an ox weighing
1,000 lb. in ordinary store condition will eat one quarter
more than an ox weighing 800 lb. also in store condition.

2. Every animal requires a certain amount of food to
support life while " in a state of rest," but if he is also
"in exercise or doing work" then he will require an
additional amount of food to make up for the waste of
his system which the exereise cr the work occasions. All
food which he consumes over and above those two
quantities goes to increase his weight.

3. But cold has the same effect as exercise or work, it
takes something out of the animal and he must consume
food to make up the animal heat which has flown off.
Thus, if one animal be kept in a warm, dry house, well
ventilated, while another is left exposed to the cold of
winter on the hillside it will be found that the exposed
animal, although he may keep in perfect health, will
consume considerably more food and yet will not increase
in weight, while his warmly-housed cousin will get
comfortably fat on considerably less food.

4. Animals of the same sort kept in the same house
and fed with the same quantity of food, and being of the
same weight, will increase in live weight "on the average"
in strict proportion to the food they consume. I say " on
the average " because there may be accidental differences
owing to "health" in some individuals, but if we take a

sufficient number, say 50 iu opposite sides of the same
house, the rule will hold good.

5. Every animal which chews the cud, such as cattle
or sheep, must have "bulk" in their food as " nutriment."
Yon could not feed an ox wholly on maize, meal, or
linseed meal, but you can feed him wholly on straw ; but

you could not fatten him on straw, whereas you coul
fatten him on straw and linseed meal combined. The
food required to support life must be chiefly what is
called " heat and fat producers," but if we want tt.
fatten an animal we must add to this some other food
which possesses a a large proportion of what are called
" flesh formers." [Now, the feeding material in straw is
almost wholly "heat and fat producers," while linseed
meal contains a very large proportion of " flesh formers "
or albuminous matter. Now, hay, besides containing
beat producers, also contains a considerable quantity of
flesh formers, and it would be possible to fatten animals on
hay alone, although the process would be a slow one.
But if the hay was clover-hay cut in full flower, then it
contains a much larger percentage of flesh formers, and
the process of fattening would be much faster. But if
any substance has a quantity of oil in its composition,
although oil is a " heat producer," yet that substance
becomes a fattening food. Hay, for instance, cut into
chaff and mixed with a small quantity of olive oil, would
unquestionably become a fattening food.

6. A vast number of the ordinary foods given to cattle
have been analysed to show the amount of heat and fat
producers and of flesh formers which they contain. These
analyses of course vary a little, but on the whole they
are very useful guides to a practical farmer ; that is to
say, they are useful for comparing one sort of food with
another. I do not say that any man should pin his
faith to them, but if intelligently used they will assist the
practical farmer greatly in his " feeding" operations. I
have from time to time extracted out of various
publications the following analyses, and which for my own
guidance I arranged under the four different heads of
"flesh formers," "heat and fat producers,' "wood
fibre and ashes and waste," " simple water ;" and the
way in which I have used them to estimate the quantity
of food likely to be consumed by a given animal has been
to exclude the water and allow that one animal will eat
one-fiftieth part of his own weight daily, or, if the water
does not exceed 14 to 10 per cent, (the amount of water
usually present in substances as dry as hay, or straw, or
sorn, the ordinary winter food for farm stock), then to
allow that each animal will eat every day about one-
fortieth part of his own weight of such food. The
following is the table I have compiled from the various
publications I have come across :

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

283

Oue hundred pouuds\)f the following foods contain : —

Foods.

Flesh
Formers.

Mangels

Swedes

Yellow Turnips ....

Wnite Turnips

Kohl Rabi (green) .
Kohl|Rabi (purple).

Carrots

Parsnips

Potatoes

Cattle Melons

Rape

Cabbage

Leaves of Cabbage..
Leaves of Swedes ..
Leaves of Mangels..

Meadow Grass

Green Clover

Green Vetches

Wheat Straw

Barley Straw

Oat Straw

Rye Straw

Bean Straw

Pea Straw

Meadow Hay

Clover Hay

Vetch Hay

Trifolium Hay

White Clover Hay..
Yellow Clover Hay..

Lucerne Hay

Sainfoin Hay

Wheat

Barley

Oats

Rye

Maize

Buckwheat

Beans

Peas

Lentils

Rice

Bran ,

Linseed Cake

Rape Cake

Cotton Cake (decor-
ticated)

Carob Beans

LSI-
Lit
1.S0
1.14

2.73

2.18

1.21

0.G0

1.40

0.78

3.13

1.45

1.29

2.08

1.76

3.00

3.20

3.50

1.79

1.68

1.63

2.29

10.20

6.50

8.44

18.79

19.68

13.83

15.63

20.50

10.63

16.38

11.64

10.84

11.85

13.83

11.27

8.60

23.30

23.40

24.00

12.37

14.00

27.28

29.53

25.16
3.11

Heat
Pro-

ducers.

8.60

5.93

4.62

3.96

7.28

5.G7

7.00

6.60

22.50

4.66

4.IM-

7.20

4.57

7.25

4.98

13.90

10.30

7.20

31.06

39.98

39.98

37.15

35.20

35.00

43.63

40.12

35.42

34.36

37.02

31.11

35.77

40 SI

71.74

68.71

63.64

71.50

67.48

65.40

48.50

50.00

52.00

68.47

49.70

54.15

52.00

58.01
62.92

Fibre

and

Waste.

2.08

3.16

3.00

3.02

4.16

3.00

9.06

4.30

0.90

2.54

5.16

1.93

1.39

2.31

1.30

8.10

8.50

7.30

52.92

41.14

44.04

46 26

38.60

42.50

33.32

24.43

28.24

35.15

30.69

31.70

28.91

27.15

4.36

6.20

11.72

2.72

6.29

12.40

13.40

12.00

11.50

11.65

2320

6.43

7.79

5.64
21.40

Simple
Water.

87.78
89.47
90.58
91.83
85.83
89.15
82.73
88.50
75.20
92.02
87.07
89 42
92.75
88.36
91.96
75.00
78.00
82.00
14.23
14.20
14.35
14.30
16.00
16.00
14.61
16.66
16.66
16.66
16.66
16.66
16.66
16.66
12.26
14.25
12.79
11.94
14.96
13.60
14.80
14.60
12.50
7.51
13.10
12.14
10.68

11.19
12.57

7. But the secret of all successful fattening, indeed, of
all successful farming, is " to have no waste." Every
article of food grown upon a farm should be either sold
or consumed with live stock, except so much of the straw
as is absolutely necessary as bedding for the creatures.
And the quantity given for bedding should be as little as
will keep the animals clean and comfortable. Stalls are
unquestionably more economical of straw than boxes.
Hammels are very nearly the same as boxes if straw is
only put into the house portion and none spread over ths
small yard. But as to uncovered straw yards, no farmer
who has any regard for his pocket should attempt to use
them ; they are simply "traps for wasting straw." Every
ton of straw fed to stock on the farm should produce the
tenant about forty shillings, and the manure which comes
from that straw after it has passed through the bcas
is very nearly as valuable as ivhat ivould remain >'/'

the ton of straw had been ivettcd and allowed to rot'
Every ton of straw then used for bedding is almost
entirely " wasted;" nevertheless, that waste every farmer
must make, because straw is the cheapest material he has
for bedding his creatures with in winter. But let every
farmer remember that if any article of food grown upon
his farm is allowed to rot instead of being sold or fed to
stock, he is picking his own pocket. If his agreement
prohibits him from selling it he should feed it to stock,
and if he lacks money to buy stock he had much better
take a smaller farm where his rent and his expenses will
all be smaller, and on which he will be able to keep as
much stock as he is now doing on a larger and a dearer
occupation. Even weeds are valuable if he cuts them
down green and cuts them up with some of last year's
straw iuto chaff to be stowed away for next winter's food.
Docks are perhaps as uninviting a food for cattle as one
could think of, yet I have seen my own fattening bullocks
fed daily with cake and corn in a rich pasture go to the
hedgerow and deliberately bite off and eat large docks
two feet high, and this not once, but many time3 ! I have
seen, too, the roots of couch grass and knotted or onion-
rooted grass eaten with great relish by horses, and cattle,
and sheep. Chickweed is considered a nasty weed, and yet
sheep will eat it greedily. Thistles, too, are about as
nutritive as clover, a fact which every donkey is well
aware of, and when they are cut down in summer before
they flower, if they were at once gathered up and made into
" chop," with straw for next winter's feeding, the land
they occupied would not have been wasted, but would in
fact have contributed its due share to the feeding of the
stock. In fact all weeds (even the roots of couch grass,
which can be easily'washed), iustead of being burnt, should
be cut up iuto chaff with straw and made to contribute
to the general good. In fact, let every "arable" farmer
who desires to succeed in his business fatten cattle by
stall feeding in winter, and let him write up over the
entrance to his farmyard " Waste not, want
not."

8. Last, though not least. Let every farmer
remember that the faster he fattens his beasts the less
food he will require to do it. Every beast requires every
day a certain quantity of food to support life (see clause 2),
and it is the surplus only which goe3 to increase the
weight. If I can fatten a beast in 120 days giving him
35 pounds a day of certain food, he will have eaten 4,200
lb., but if it took 180 days to fatten a similar beast on simi-
lar food given at the rate of 30 lb. a day, the second beast
would have eaten 5400 lb., or 1,200 lb. more, and it will not
be one shilling more valuable to the butcher; in fact, the
1,2001b. represents hi3 "life food "for the extra 60 days, the
food it was absolutely necessary for him to consume to
support life. Give fattening beast3, then, as much as ever
they will eat, and if the food is wholesome they will not
eat more than they can digest.

G. A. 11.

284

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

POACHING AS A PROFESSION.

The wire is, perhaps, the regular poacher's best implement,
and ground game his most profitable source of income.
Uares exist in numbers upon the downs, especially near the
localities where the great coursing meetings are held, where
a dozen may be kicked out of the grass in five minute?. In
these districts of course the downs are watched ; but hares
cannot be kept within bounds, and wander miles and miles at
night, limping daintily with their odd gait (when undisturbed)
along the lanes leading into the ploughed fields on the lower
slopes and plains. The hills -wide and almost pathless, and
practically destitute of fences— where the foot leaves no. trail
on the short grass and elastic turf, are peculiarly favour able
to illicit sport. Though apparently roaming aimlessly, hares
have their regular highways, or " runs ; " and it is the
poacher's business to discover which of these narrow paths are
most beaten by continuous use. He then sets his wire, as
early in the evening as compatible with safety to himself, for
hares are abroad with the twilight. Long practice and deli-
cate skill are essential to successful snaring. First, the look
itself into which the hare is to run his head must be of the
exact size. If it be too small he will simply thrust it aside ; if
too large his body will slip through, and his hind leg will be
captured : being crooked it draws the noose probably. Then
if caught by the hind leg, the wretched creature, mad with
terror, will shriek his loudest ; and a hire shrieks precisely like
a human being in distress. The sound, well understood be
the watchers, will at once reveal what is going forward. Bot
there may be no watchers about ; ,and in that case the miser-
able animal will tug and tug during the night till the wire
completely bares the lower bone of the leg, and in the morning,
Bhould any one pass, his leaps and bounds and rolls will of
course be seen. Sometimes he twists the wire till it snaps,
and so escapes— but probably to die a lidgering death, since
the copper or brass is pretty sure to mortify the flesh. No
greater cruelty can be imagined. The poacher, however, is
very anxious to avoid it, as it may lead to detection ; aud if
his wire is properly set the animal simply hangs himself,
brought up with a sudden jerk which kills him in two seconds,
and with less pain than is caused by the sting of the sports-
man's cartridge. Experience is required to set the loop at the
right height above the ground. It is measured by placing the
clenched fist on the earth, and then putting the extended
thumb of the other hand upon it, stretching it out as in the
action of spanning, when the tip of the little finger gives the
right height for the lower bend of the loop— that is, as a rule; but
clever poachers vary it slightly to suit the conformation of the
ground. A hare carries his head much higher than might be
thought ; and he is very strong, so that the plug which holds
the wire must be driven in firmly to withstand his first con-
vulsive struggle. The small upright stick whose cleft suspends
the wire across the " run " must not be put too near the hare's
path, or he will see it, and it must be tolerably stiff, or his
head will push the wire aside. Just behind a " tussocky "
bunch of grass is a favourite spot to set a noose ; the grass
partially conceals it. The poacher revisits his snares very
early in the morning, and if he is judicious invariably pulls
them up, whether successful or not, because they may be seen
in the day. Half the men who are fined by the magistrates
■*have been caught by keepers who, having observed wires, let
them remain, but keep a watch and take the offenders red-

handed. The professional poacher never leaves his wires se
up all day, unless a sudden change of weather and the duck's
frost prevent him from approaching them, and then
he abandons those particular snares for ever. For
this reason he does not set up more than he can easily manage.
If he gets three hares a night (wholesale price 2s. 6d. each) he
is well repaid. Rabbits are also wired in great numbers,
The loop is a trifle smaller, and should be just a span from the
ground. But the ferret is the poacher's chief assistant in
rabbiting ; it takes two men, one on each side of the " bury ' '
aud a ferret which will not " lie in " — i.e., stay in the hole and
feast till overcome with sleep. Ferrets differ remarkably in
disposition, and the poacher chooses his with care ; otherwise
if the ferret will not come out the keepers are certain to find
him the next day hunting on his own account. Part of the
secret is to feed him properly, so that he may have sufficient
appetite to hunt well and yet be quickly satisfied with a taste
of blood. Skill is essential in setting up the nets at the mouth
of the holes ; but beyond the mere knack, easily acquired
there is little to learn in ferreting.

The greatest difficulty with any kind of game is to get horn
unobserved with the bag. Keepers are quite aware of this ;
and in the case of large estates, leaving one or two assistants
near the preserves, they patrol the byways aud footpaths
while the police watch the cross-roads and lanes which lead to
the villages. If a man comes along at an exceptionally early
hour with coat pockets violently bulging, there is a prima
facie case for searching him. One advantage of wiring or
netting over the gun is here very noticeable ; anything shot
bleeds and stains the pocket — a suspicious sign even when
empty; strangulation leaves no traces. Without a knowledge
of the policeman's neat and the keepers' post the poacher can
do nothing on a large scale. He has, however, no great
trouble in ascertaining these things ; the labourers who do
not themselves poach sympathise warmly and whisper infor-
mation. There is reason to think that men sometimes get
drunk, or sufficiently so to'; simulate intoxication very success-
fully, with the express purpose of being out all night with a
good excuse and so discovering the policeman's ambuscade.
Finding a man whom he knows to be usually eober overtaken
with drink in a lonely road, wheie he injures none but him-
self, the policeman good-naturedly leads him home with a
ciution only.

The receivers of game are many and various. The low
beer-shop keepers are known to purchase large quantities;
Sometimes a local pork-butcher in a small way buys and
transmits it, having facilities for sending hampers, &c, unsus-
pected. Sometimes the carriers are the channel of commu.ni-
' cation ; and there is no doubt the lower class of game dealerg
i in the provincial towns get a good deal in this way. The
London dealer, who receives large consignments at once, has
of course no means of distinguishing poached from other game.
The men who purchase the rabbits ferreted by the keepers
during the winter in the woods and preserves, and who often
buy £100 worth or more in the season, have peculiar oppor-
tunities for conveying poached animals carefully stowed for
them in a ditch on their route. This fact having crept out has
induced gentlemen to remove rabbit contracts from local men,
and to prefer purchasers from a distance, who must take some
' time to get acquainted with the district poachers.

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285

The raiders, who come iu gaogs armed with guus and
shoot iu the preserves, are usually the scum of manufacturing
towns, led or guided by a man expelled through his own bad
conduct fro.n the village, and who has a kuowledge of the
ground. These gangs display no skill, relyiug on their
numbers, arms, and known desperation of character to pro-
tect them from arrest, as it does in nine cases out of teu.
Keepers and policemen cancot be expected to (ace such
brutes as these fellows ; they do sometimes, however, and get
shattered with shot. The " mouohers " sneak about the
hedgerows on Sundays with lurcher dogs, and snap up a
rabbit or a hare ; they do not do much damage except near
great towns, where they are very numerous. Shepherds, also,

occasionally mouch — their dogs being sometimes very expert »
ploughmen set wires in the gateways, or gaps, where they have
noticed the track of a hare, but it is only lor their own eating,
and is not of much consequence in comparison with the work
of the real local professional. These regular hands form a
class which are probably more numerous now thau ever ; the
reasons are — first, the high value of game, and the immense
demand for it since poultry has become so dear, and secondly,
the ease of transmission now that railways spread into the
most outlying districts, and carry baskets or parcels swiftly out
of roich. Poaching, in fact, well followed, is a lucrative
business. — Pall Mall Gazelle.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

HIGHLAND.
The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society was
held on March 6, in their chambers, No. 3, George IV.
Bridue. Sir Alexander Jardine, Bart., in the chair.

IMPLEMENT REGULATIONS, DUMFRIES SHOW, 1878.

The following report by the Committee on General Shows
in reference to the statement received from the Scottish Agri-
cultural Engineers' Association, dated 13th February, was
submitted : — " The Secretary having read the remit from the
Board of 6th February, and the committee having carefully
considered the same, along with the existing implement regu-
lations, beg to report as follows: — In the statement of griev-
ances by the Scottish Agricultural Engineers' Association, it
is stated that they object — (1) To the present mode of in-
specting and judging implements in the show ground ; (2) to
the arrangement which provides that all new inventions, and
improvements, and machinery in motion be entered in different
sections and placed separately in the show ground , (3) that
the charge for ground is not in proportion to the money ex-
pended by the Society in awards to implement exhibitors ; and
(+) that of Iote the extent of free ground allotted to members
has been considerably decreased, while the charge for additional
soace has been considerably increased. Under the first head,
the committee recommend that to the rule stating that the
otticialjduties of the Implement Committee are to inspect the
new inventions and improvements, and that they may award
such minor gold or silver medals as they see fit after due trial
or otherwise, the following clause should be added : — " It being
understood that no award will be made without an exhaustive
trial, if the implement admits of such trial." Under the
second head the committee recommend that the rule on this
poiut should be: — "All new inventions and improvements,
with the exception of those in notion, will be placed in the
catalogue at the head of each exhibitor's entry, and must be
arranged by liiin at the beginning of his stand according to
the numbers in the catalogue ;" and to meet the case of those
exhibiting iu two sections, that a new section should be added
to the list, namely — " All under cover, or all op«n, for articles
not in motion belonging to exhibitors in the motion yard,"
and that this section, and the one for the motion yard, should
be placed next each other. Under the third and fourth heads
the committee have to remark that at present implement exhi-
bitors are allowed 20 feet by 20 feet open space, or in motion
yard 8 feH by 50 feet, free, and that the rate lor additional

open space is only half of what is charged to non-member?.
The committee may further observe that the space allowed free
is equal to double the amount of an annual subscription, and
that no other class of exhibitors has a similar concession.
For these reasons the committee cannot recommend any reduc-
tion in the rate, as, looking to the large sum the Society
has to pay for the use of the ground, they are of opinion that
in respect of the grievances stated under the third and fourth
heads implement exhibitors are most liberally dealt with."

The Board approved of the report, aud the Secretary was
instructed to transmit a copy of it to the Secretary of the
Scottish Agricultural Eugineers' Association.

Competition of Thoroughbred Stallions. — The
Secretary reported that the local committee in charge of the
competition for the premium of £50 for a thoroughbred stal-
lion to serve iu the Dumfries district this season had fixed the
competition to be held on the Whitesands, Dumfries, on the
20th March, at 11 o'clock, and that entries must be made
before 10 a.m. on the day of the 3how with Mr. Thomas B.
Auderson, 76 Irish Street, Dumfries.

Agricultural Education. — The Board approved of the
examination for tne Society's agricultural certificates and
diploma being held on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of April, candi-
dates being required to lodjje intimation before the 16th of
March.

Veterinary Examinations. — It was remitted to the
Secretary to arrange the days for the examination of candi-
dates for the Society's veterinary certificate.

Miscellaneous Subjects. — Letters were submitted from
Mr. A. H. Hutchison, vice-consul, Leith, sending two copies
of the regulations now in force in Sweden and Norway having
for their object the prevention of the introduction and spread
of cattle disease in those countries ; from the Rev. John Gil-
lespie, Mouswald Manse, Dumfries, presenting for the library
of the Society a copy of part 1, volume ii. of the Galloway
Herd Book ; from Mr. George Fleming, veterinary surgeon,
2nd Life Guards, presenting copy of his work on " Veterinary
Obstetrics;" and from the Royal Observatory with tho 14th
vol. of the Edinburgh Astronomical Observations from 1870-

77.

Paris Agricultural Congress.— The Board resolved
that the report on the agriculture of Scotland which is being
prepared at the request of the Society of Agriculturists of
France should be sent to Paris in print. The report will con-

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286

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tain a description of the area, general physical features,
geology, and climatology of Scotland ; of the farming and
general rural economy of the east and west coasts and central
and hill districts respectively ; of the breeds of horses, cattle,

and sheep special to Scotland ; statistics of the agriculture Of
Scotland ; aud an account of the principal proceedings of the
Highland and Agricultural Society from its institution in
1784.

FARMERS' CLUBS.

MAIDSTONE.

A meeting of the members of this Club was held at the
Star Hotel, Maidstone, on March 7th.

Mr. A. Chittenden presided, and there was a large
attendance of members to hear a paper on "Steam Cultivation >
by Mr. W. Smith, of Woolston, Bucks.

Mr. Smith commenced his paper by recommending the
young farmers, who might contemplate farming with steam
power, to get well up to their work aud not be dependent
upon their men. His advice to young farmers was, " Do your
work once over, so that a second operation is not needed by
steam, for horses cm do that cheaper and better than steam
can, and, what is better still, while steam is doing the next
field, whereby the two powers are driving on together, and
whereby the greatest amount of autumn work can be ^got over
in the least turn." He recommended them to use the Woolston
ridger and subsoiler, and throw their wheat and barley stubbles
into ridges to get well frosted in the winter ; then they would
find what cheap and clean farming was. The implement
outside of Woolston, however, made no progress, although it
was the best implement he had. To make their set of imple-
ments complete, they should have a ridge splitter, to be worked
by horses. There was only one such implem nt in England,
and that was the one he had. Mr. Smith concluded a brief paper
by condemning thedouble operation by steam power and its cost,
and contending that they never ought to go but once over the
laud by steam power for a crop.

In the course of the discussion which ensued Mr.
G. W. Chambers, of Staplehurst, said that in the Weald
of Kent steam ploughing did not pay on the stiff clay
land, while the work done wa3 unequal. He chiefly
complained of the size of the clods thrown up, and the
depths of the furrows, and said he found the ploughing costs
26s. 6d. per acre.

Mr. Hayes, of Boughton, remarked that Mr. Chamber's ob-
jections were well.founded, but he thought the objections might
be overcome by having a narrower implement, and thus getting
a more even furrow.

Mr. Wyles, of Rochester, said he was the owner of three
sets of steam tackle, which ploughed all kinds of soils
in all kinds of seasons, and where he had been in the habit
of going in years past he still went, and the work seemed to
be appreciated.

Mr. Hartridge took up the arguments of Mr. Chambers.

The Vice Chairman (Mr. Stonham) argued iu favour of the
use of steam ploughs, contending that they were a great con-
venience. With the steam plough, and the facilities forgetting
manure, aud the hope of a more liberal land tenure, he felt sure
the English farmer need not despair.

The Chairman also spoke in favour of steam ploughing,
and

Mr. Smith having 'replied, a hearty vote of thanks was
passed to that gentleman for his lecture.

THE BREEDING, REARING, AND MANAGEMENT OF CART HORSES.

At the usual monthly meeting of the London Farmers' Club,
held on March 4, at the Club Rooms, Caledonian Hotel,
Adelphi, Mr. J. Brown, of Elwyn Orchard, March, Chairman
for the year, presiding, the above subject was introduced by
Mr. F. Street, of Somersham, St. Ives, Hunts.

The Chairman said: Gentlemen, in taking the chair for the
first time I may he allowed to express my regret that through
indisposition I was unable to be present at the last meeting. I
was very glad to find from the report that the Bubject then under
discussion was well debited, and I hope the oue for to night
will ba so as well. Science and steam and michiuery have
done much for us of late years. I trust they have yet some-
thing good in store for us. Bat we have not yet arrived at a
stage at which we can do without that useful animal the cart
horse. That animal is an important factor in the economy of
the farm, and I am quits sure it is well worthy of the con-
sideration of this Club. " The breeding, rearing, and manage-
ment of cart horses" is a subject that must be of considerable
int^esf, anl I belie/e that it 13 placed iu the bauds of a good
man to-night, and that he has something very practical and
us ful to tell us. I will not detain you, gentlemeu, any longer
yself, but w///*t once introduce to you Mr. Street.

Mr. F. Street then introduced the subject as follows : —
When last November I suggested to our Secretary the
desirability of a paper being read oa this subject, I mentioned
the names of several gentlemen that occurred to me who take
great interest iu cart horses, and who would be likely to intro-
duce it to your notica. But I bad not the slightest idea of
doing so myself, and it was only after repealed communication
with Mr. Druce that I agreed to read a short paper. When
steam was introduced to agricultural pursuits for thrashing,
chaff catting, ploughing, and other cultivation of the land, it
was predicted that the high price of horses had gone, never to
return again. But 1 think the oldest member here present
never knew good ones so dear, or heard of such prices as our
best stallions and brood mares are making at the present day.
This, to a very great extent, i believe, is attiibutable to the
influence of our Royal aud Couuty Shows, as well as the in.
creasing wealth and prosperity of the nation. In no other
country c an such exhibitions be witnessed. Some twenty years
since, at most of the couuty 6hows, exhibitors and the public
were not admitted until the judging was over. This, like most
other matters done in secret, led to all manner of jealousy and
ili-'e:liug. Now, I am pleased to say, every yard is open, and
it is interesting to see the education going on around the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

287

L'ru^Jed rings during judging. Anil %a a rule t lie outside public
fix oq tbe best animals. On all sides is expressed great dis-
app oiutment at the reductiou iu the prize sheet of the Royal
Agricultural Sjciety just issued for the Bristol meeting. The
total amouut offered iu prizes for all breeds of cut horses is
£175 ; ouly £169 more thau the Essex Association olferat the
forthcoming county meeting at Dunmow. Last year at Liver-
pool ths total amount was £1,312 10s.; viz., £370 by the
Society, or nearly double ; and £142 10(. spe.'ial prizes given
by the Liverpool Loeal Committee. Bat n:>t the lea-it alter i-
tion is mide in the cittle or sheep classes, yet if it is right to
encourage early maturity in Shorthorns by otf'riQg four prizes
of £20, £15, £10, and £5 for bull c lives above six m juths an 1
under twelve mouths; and the same sum for heifer calves of
the same age, and a prize list of £595 for this breed alone,
while the llerefords, Devous, Sussex, Longhoru", Jerseys,
Guernseys, Dairy Cattle, and Welsh Black, each have separate
and attractive prizes offered, the breeders of Cirt horses, be-
lieving as they do in early development, think that surely prizes
might have been offered for yearling colts and fillies and also
think they have a bone to pick with the Stock Prize Committee
for not allowing them a class, whio'i has bwn the case for
mmy years past. But as out of a committee of twenty-four
only one or two can be said to represe.it the breeders of cart
horses, it is thought by many that the sooner the election of
members of Council of the Royal Agricultural Society takes
place in the same way as the Smithfield Club, viz., by the
whole of the members, the better ; further, that one-third
should go out of office annually, and not be eligible for re-
election for one year. The last two years at Birmingham and
Liverpool prizes were offered for mares, with foal at foot ; now
the prizes are offered for mares iu foal, or with foal at foot,
thus going back to what the judges for years drew the attentiou
of the Council to, viz , the unequal race a mare suckling a foal
by her side had with a guest mare. Neither is there, as far as
I see, any rule to prevent a mare said to be in foal taking a
prize if she should prove not to be so. This changing of the
prize sheet from year to year is thought to be wrong, and I do
think if the Council really knew the feelings of cart horse
exhibitors outside, they would reconsider the prize sheet, and
offer some of the vested property, which, lam told, amounts
to nearly £30,000, for a class for mares and foals, also a class
for three-year-old entire colts, as they cannot successfully com.
pete with older horses. There should be separate classes for
each description of breed of three-ye.ir-old and two-year-old
fillies, instead of as now offered in Classes 18 and 19 of agri-
cultural fillies (including Clydesdale aud Suffolk). What
would the exhibitors of cattle say, if, after giving prizes for
bulls and cows of separate breeds, a prize was offered for the
best Shorthorn yearling heifer (including Hereford aud Devon) ?
And also prizes should be offered for yearling colts and fillies.
Foreigners attend in large numbers our Royal Shows, not only
to look on and observe, but to purchase too. And the success
of the cart horse classes at the future Bristol meeting wdl
depend more upon the Council than on exhibitors. It is to
be regretted that at the forthcoming Paris Universal Exhibition
the horse sho» does not take place at the same time as the
cattle and sheep show in June, but in the monthjof harvest, the
first week in September. Our railway companies are great
gainers by our uational shows, and I think they would do well
to copy the liberal terms offered by the French authorities —
viz., to convey horses and cattle at half price. At the Juue
show, Article 10 reads: " Foreign animals sent to the Exhibi-

tion will beconveyod from the French frontier to Paris at Hie
expense of the French Government." And at the Horse Show,
Article 6 : "Custom duties will not be levied on auimals en-
tering France for the Exhibition." Article 7 : " Both iu going
and returning ouly lnlf-fares will be. charged on French terri-
tory by the railway companies for animals admitted to the Ex-
hibition and those in charge of them, without prejudice to any
similar advantages which foreign Governments rn»y obtain for
their countrymen on their own territory."

I will now, with your permission, proceed to give a brief
outline of the leading breeds of cart horses — viz. :

The Shire-bred, Clydesdale, and Suffolk. — Mr. W.
C. Spooner, in his prize essay on farm horses, says : " The
art horse is not an aboriginal breed in this country, but was im-
ported from the neighbouring Continent since the Norman Con-
quest. Indeed, we have reason to believe that the horses em-
ployed iu the army of William the Conqueror were little better
as respects breeding than the cart horse of the present day.
As long a; armour was in fashion a large, massive animal was
required to support the enormous weight of the steel-clad
knight, and to withstand attack of a similar opponent. The
half bred horse was then unknown, and the barb of the Spanish
horse was insufficient in siz>, so that recourse was had to the
large black horse which had been known throughout the fertile
plains of Europe from time immemorial, and from which no
doubt the greater portion of our cut horses are descended, for
we find that during the reign of the Edwards repeated im-
portations of these animals took place. Aud in the time of the
Duke of Newcastle, who wrote a work on horses in 1667, there
was in this country an established breed of cart horses. The
most prevailing colour amongst these animals is black, so much
so that we recognize a distinct breed under the appellation of
the old black horse."

Undoubtedly this was the origin of the Shire-bred horse.
But they are by no means confined now to those of a black
colour. Bays and browus are now in fashion, while some
prefer roans, greys, or chesnuts. It is noticeable that at the
last Royal Show at Liverpool, the first, second, and third prizes
and reserve number in a class of twenty-six two-year-old colts,
were all of the latter colour. And, singularly enough, neither
sire nor dam of cither were chesnuts. Tnese large, massive
animals are chiefly reared in the rich marshes and fens of the
Midland and Eastern counties, and are rapidly spreading iur0
other districts, where lighter horses have hitherto been bred.
This breed is much prized for heavy dray work in our large
cities and towns, and commands high prices. While there is
an increasing demand for good stallions and brood mares
thanks to the interest taken in the subject by noblemen like
the Earl of Ellesmere, the Earl Spencer, the Ea rl of Maccles
field, and others, the shire-horse can, to say the least, hold
its own in competition with other breeds. At Liverpool the
Champion Cup of one hundred guineas for the best horse, and
the fifty guinea cup for the best mare iu the yard, both went
to animals of this breed. Mr. Stanford, the celebrated breeder
of Clydesdales, and owner of that grand horse the Duke, told
me last autumn he intended giving them up ; for said he, when
I show I like to win, and thi3 I cannot do in competition with
shire-breds.

I will now proceed to give what I consider the points they
should possess. The feet should be firm, deep, aud wide at
heel, not too long, or straight in pastern, flat bone, short
between fetlock and knee. A stallion should not measure less
than 11 inches belo.v knee, and girth from 7 feet 9 inches to

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

8 feet 3 inches, should not stand more than 17 hands, should
have wide chest, shoulders well thrown back, head big and
masculine, without coarseness ; full flowing mane, short back,
large muscular development of the loin, long quarters, with
tail well set on, good second thighs (this is a point where so
many fail), large flat, clean hocks ; plenty of long silky hair on
legs ; or, to sum up in a few words, a horse should be long,
low, and wide, and thoroughly free from all hereditary disease.
Amain point is action ; he should be a good mover in the cart-
horse pace, walking, and if required to trot should have action
like a Norfolk cob. Horses recently sold have made high
figures. With Honest Tom, £500 ; Prince of the Isle, £800 ;
Young Samson, £750 ; Paragon, £600 ; while as two-year-
olds, King Tom made £500 ; Marvellous, the same sum ;
British Wonder, £550. As yearlings, Mr. Beart's unnamed
colt recently made 500 guineas ; Peeping Tom, 370 guineas.
A foal last autumn by old Heart of Oak, made £150. These
have all been sold to keep in this[ country, and others have
made great prices for exportation, including Young Admiral
by Columbus (now the property of Mr. James Howard), sold
for America for ,£800. Two years since Mr. Stokes refused
1,000 guineas for Young Champion, own brother to Mr.
.Setter's celebrated horse of the same name. Mares and fillies
hive made equally long prices. The Clydesdale and Suffolk
breeders have started a Stud Book Association, and I hope
that before this meeting clones, a determination will be come
to to establish one for shire-bred horses. It is an acknow-
ledged want, and never let it be said that breeders of this
description of horse are indiffereut in what I consider a very
important matter — pedigree — as affecting the. future of breed-
ing. Once started, I have no fear of the success of such an
undertaking. Some gentlemeu have suggested to me either
C tmbridge or Peterborough as head-quarters for such an A'iSO-
ciation, as being central for the breeding districts. I am
rather inclined to think London would be better. A Stud
Book I consider an important part of my subject, and I do hope
H will be taken up in the discussion to follotv.

The Clydesdale Horse. — I am indebted to Mr. Mhc-
donald, editor of The North British Ajriuulturalid for
the following. He says ; " The origin of the Clydesdale horse
is not very defined. It has often been stated that the Clydes-
dale was of Flemish extraction. Many years ago one of the
Dukes of Hamilton imported a number of Flemish stallions
which he had crossed with the native mares of the west of
Scotland ; a by no means unpopular theary is, that from this
alliance the Clydesdale horse sprang. Be this as it may, the
sonth-west of Scotland has all along been the great centre of
the Clydesdale breeding district ; but over almost all Scotland
Clydesdale horses have made their impression. Latterly, even
In the south-western district of Scotland, a great deal of
Eaglish blood in the form of shire or cart horses has been
introduced, and mixed with Clydesdale element. This has
improved rather than deteriorated the stamina of the Scotch
horses, but buyers of the Clydesdales were naturally unwilling
to have to pay fancy prices for what they believed to be
Clydesdale blood, while iu reality they may only have been
getting a cross between the Clydesdale and the English horse.
Hence the agitation for a Stud Book, which culminated suc-
cessfully last year in the formation of a Clydesdale Horse
Association, which has made considerable progress with the
preparation of Vol. I. of the Stud Book. It has principally
been mares and foals that have been brought from England,
hich when mated with a good Clydesdale stallion produced

first-class stock. Owing to this mixing of blood, the chara
ter, colour, and type of what generally pass muster as Clydes-
dales are not so uniform as could be desired, or as may have
at one time been the case. The Clydesdale is an active and
well-built durable animal, very suitable for heavy land farms,
and prized for long aud heavy town work. Prices for the
better sorts have risen immensely within recent years. Several
instances occur to me where as much as 500 guineas have been
paid for a yearling colt of this breed, while as much as 1,000
guineas have been given lately for a mare and foal. For colts,
fillies, and mares prices range from 200 to 600 guineas ; entire
horses of the best class fetch from 600 to 1,500 guineas. The
Stud Book movement has so far been successful, the Earl of
Dunmore having secured a large list of influential noblemen
and gentlemen as life members of the Association. The original
idea was to make two crosses of recognised Clydesdale blood
the minimum for entry in the Stud Book. That, however,
may not be quite insisted on, as we fiud by Clause 34 of the
Clydesdale Society's byelaws ' stallions having a pedigree of
not less than two crosses, which have entered in the Stud
Book, and mares having a pedigree of one cross entered, and
having aho produce by a stallion which has been entered, shall
be eligible for entry in subsequent volumes of the Stud Book."*
"The Suffolk," or " Suffolk Punch," are chiefly bred in their
own county and some parts of Essex. The colour most fancied
is a bright whole-coloured light red or chesnut. They show
great uniformity of character, and tell of past as well as present
carefulness of breeding. Those interested in this breed of
horse I would recommend to read a well-written paper on
" The Suffolk Horse," by Mr. Herman Biddell, in the " Live
S'ock Journal Almanac" for this year, 1878. Suffolk land-
owners are mostly breeders of the county cart horses. The
Duke of Grafton bought " Cottiugham's Captain" for the use
of his tenantry. Sir Edward Kerrison, the Marquis of Bristol,
the Earl of Stradbroke, Lord Henuiker, Colonel Wilson, the
Duke of Hamilton, and others, not only breed but exhibit too.
I mention this as I think landowners in other counties do not
take that interest in the subject they ought to do. " Crisp's
Cupbearer" was sold for 375 guineas to Mr. Garratt, " Crisp's
Conqueror" to the King of Prussia for 300 guineas. " Man-
chester Boxer" made the same sum, and " Heir Apparent"
400 guineas. Up to the present time there has been no Stud
Book of the Suffolk horse. An Association has now, however>
under the presidency of Lord Waveney, been formed for the
purpose of collecting information regarding pedigrees, and
publishing a first volume or registry, from which it is proposed
to carry on further a regular Stud Book. Through the
courtesy of the secretaries we have been favoured with the
loan of some MSS., from which it clearly appears that there
is scarcely a Suffolk stallion in the county of any note whose
pedigree is not clearly to be traced in a direct male line for
70 yean, and some nearly 100.

The following rules of the Suffolk Stud Book Association
may be of interest : — " At a meeting of the Association, held
at Ipswich on January 5, 1878, it was unanimously resolved
that the entries in the Suffolk Stud Book shall be subject to
the following conditions : — 1. No stallion which is known to
have a cross of any other breed in the direct male line within
four generations, and no mare which is known to have a cross
of any other breed in the direct male line within two genera-
tions, shall be admitted : but all horses of chesnut colour
which have hitherto been exhibited as Suffolks, and have been
accepted as such by any Agricultural Society in the United

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289

Kingdom, shall be eligible for entry. 2. No horse otherwise
than of a chesnut colour shall be admitted, but white or silver
hairs well blended with chesnut shall not be held to be ground
of objection, provided the quantity of each does not amount
to decided roan. 2. No entry shall be rejected on account of
white on face or legs, nor be subject to limit as to height,
weight, or size. 4. The foregoing conditions shall apply to
stallions, mares, colts, and Allies, unless specified to the con-
trary. No fees required for entry, and breeders of Suffolk
horses wishing to enter their animals are requested to make
application for forms, which will be supplied gratis. Any
information relating to the pedigree, history, or exportation of
Suffolk horses will be thankfully received. Further particu-
lars to be obtained from the Honorary Secretaries' Office, Hill
House, Playford, Ipswich. — Herman Biddei,l. Arthur
W. Crisp."

The breeding of horses appears to be on the increase. The
returns of 1877 show that a satisfactory increase is again
noted in all the classes of horses enumerated in Great Britain.
Brood mares and young horses are more numerous by 3 per
cent, since 1876 and by 7 per cent, since 1875.

Bnt in horned cattle in Great Britain there is again a large
falling-off, in spite of the steady increase of pasture land
in late years. The decrease since 187G in the various classes
of cattle has been 1 per cent, in cows, 6 per cent, in other
cattle above two years of age, and 1 per cent, in young cattle,
making the total decrease in all kinds of cattle 2£ per cent.
In Ireland also cattle have decreased by about 3 per cent.
Sheep and lambs differ very slightly from 1876, although a
falling off of more than two millions, or nearly 7 per cent., is
shown since 1874. The mention of cattle and sheep does not
properly belong to my subject, but I give these statistics, as
the increase in the breeding of horses is the result, to some
extent, of fear of cattle plague, pleuro-pneumonia, foot-and-
mouth, and other contagious diseases breeders and graziers
have had to contend against in their herds and flocks. The
successful breeding of cart horses depends much on the nature
of land, and proportion of grass, &c, as well as the require-
ment of the teams at certain seasons of the year. The farmer
of stiff, tenacious clay land runs a very unequal race with
another farming fen land, and there is danger of mares casting
their foals unless great care is taken when they are hard
worked. The turnip-land farmer, too, has work in hand after
barley-sowing is finished, to get his roots in ; then follows
hay-time, mostly now cut by mowing machines, drawn by
horses ; then harvest, which used to be the easiest time for
horses, until the carting commences (the sickle is a thing of
the past, never again to return, unless game-preserving land-
lords wish to farm their own land) ; now on most farms
throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom, the corn
is cut by reaping machines, many teams being changed out of
the machine to take the place of those that have been carting.
Such being the case, the farmer of arable land nan never breed
to any great extent with advantage, »nd it may answer better
to buy in, as two-year-olds, thereby taking the surplus stock
bred in the breeding district*. But as steam cultivation can
easily be obtained by the strong-land farmer to break up the
fallow and tare land before harvest, and the same power can
be used by the root grower, for autumn cultivation, and as
ordinary foals make from £30 to £40 each when weaned, an
effort might be made to breed a few each year according to
the size and requirements of the farm. A horse or mare of a
bad constitution, or bad tempered ones should never be bred

from. The great dilliculty is to secure a good stallion free
from hereditary disease. It is too often the case that the
worst brute that travels a neighbourhood, if the owner con-
sents to serve mares at from 15s. to £1 a mare, will be fully
employed— many of this description have 150 to 200 mares in
about ten weeks— what but disgust and disappointment can
be expected from such a course ? I think no horse should
have more than 100 mares, and if a shy getter not more than
seventy or eighty. Better stallions can be secured in a
district by holding the Eitire Shows in the spring instead of,
as is often the case, at the annual Stock Shows in the summer.
It may be well for the Bath and West of England and the
Royal to have a show in the summer ; but at the end of a
season a horse ought not to be in show condition. The offer-
ing of a good prize is of little use unless the Society guaran-
tees a certain number of mares at a fixed price. I am pleased
to say that many such Associations are springing up. For
instance, the Welshpool Society, which keeps the horse, and
gives £300, half paid at the commencement of the season,
and the remaining half in July. Last year this Association
hired what The Mark Lane Express calls the Stockwell of
cart horses, better known as the Strawberry Roan. Two colts
and two fillies have been sold as two-year-olds, by this sire for
£1,475, and he is hired for the same district again this season.
The Crewe breeders have started a good Association, with Lord
Combermere as President. Forty-three horses competed for the
£100 prize, Februaiy 23 ; they also guaranted 100 mares at
2 guineas each. If good prizes are offered, unless mares are
guaranteed, the show ring is turned into a marie et, and the
prize horse is sold as a rule at a high figure to go elsewhere.
For many years past a large sam has been voted annually in
Parliament for " Queen's Plates ;" racers are brought forward
to win them strong enough to carry a pair of breeches and
boots. If the members representing agricultural constituen-
cies, when next this vote comes on, could secure the whole or
part of this sum for prizes for cart stallions great good would
result. The Scotch plan of having a great Spring Show of
entire horses, at which different districts offer prizes and select
stallions, is worthy of imitation, and I hope next year a
similar show will be held in the Midland counties. In rear-
ing young horses it always pays better to keep them well from
the first, and especially their dams. A sheltered paddock with
hovel to run under for the first two winters is far better than
being kept too close and warm, and they will do much better
with the old coat on when turned out in meadows in the
spring. Bran, crushed oats and hay are the best dry food.
If a foal scours when young, give a dose of castor.oil to take
away the irritation, and then give a dose of diarrhoea mixture
—that made by Mr. Goodenough, Somersham, I never knew
to fail. Colts and fillies are generally broken in when two or
two years and a half old, but I will not take up your time with
this. Mares turned out to grass are more likely to breed than
those kept in yards, and there is no time they are so likely to
stand to the horse as about the ninth day after foaling. In
the management of horses, colts, and fillies prepared for show
purposes it is better to boil or scald the food. Nothing i
better for this purpose than bran, oats, a small quantity of
linseed (or the dust of linseed cake), boiled beans and boiled
carrots, and pulped wurzel all mixed together. The entire
male animal should have a dose of nitre and one of brimstone
alternately wrekly. Some years since my horses suffered much
from gripes, caused by eating short cut chaff when returning
from work. An old friend advised me to give them hay while
the horsekeeper returned, from dinner; since I have done so

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it is quite the exception to have a horse griped. If griped,
give immediately a pint of linseed oil, of which every owner
should have a cask by him ; if this fails give one of Day and
Hewitt's drinks. For the ordinnry working horse of the farm
a few carrots or pulped wurzel, mixed with the chaff and corn,
is a good thing. When hay runs short a great many rack up
with bean or pea straw, and give the hay to the Tatting stock.
This I think bad policy, and if hay cannot be had, by all
meant order some long bran for night feed, for I am certain
no animal will pay better for liberal treatment on the farm
than cart horses. For some time past, in the case of valuable
stallions, I have adopted the plan of insurance ; this I effect
through Messrs. Weatherby, G, Old Burlington Street; the
cost is 8 guineas per cent, per annum, or H guineas per cent,
for the six months or season. I am afraid, gentlemen, I have
taken up your time too long, and in conclusion wish to tender
my best thanks to Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Biddell for the
information so kindly given me (cheers).

Mr. James Howard (Bedford) said there could be no
question that a very considerable change in public opinion
and practice with respect to the breeding and rearing of cart
horses had taken place of late years. It wculd be in the
remembrance of many persons in that room that some
twenty or thirty years ago there was almost a rage throughout
England for clean-legged, active cart horses ; and the old-
fashioned English-bred shire horse was very much neglected
in consequence. Indeed the Royal Agricultural Society,
which for many years gave prizes for dray horses— the large
shire-bred horse— dropped those prizes altogether from their
list; consequently the want of estimation and general demand
for the old-rashioned Lincolnshires horse greatly decreased,
and Suffolks and other clean-legged horses became popular.
Two things, however, were very soon discovered. The firs1
was, that these clean-legged cart horses, of a later breed
than the old.<ashioned ones, when sent to the London and
o'.her markets, failed to command anything like the price of
their larger rivals ; and in the next place it was discovered
that a horse with big bones, if active, was just as capable of
doing as much work upon a farm as its clean-legged and later
rival ; and hence there had been of late years a growing
tendency to return to the old-fashioned cart horse, hence the
desire in many parts of England to possess a large-boned, big
hor:e of the old type, possessing activity, because without
activity no horse was, or could be, of any very great
value. He could have wished that Mr. Street had given at
greater length the result of his experience in the management
of cut horses— (Hear, hear) — as he was so well able to do ;
and he hoped that Mr. Street, in his reply, would tell them
how the cost of keeping these animals might be reduced, be-
cause one of the most expensive item of the farm was the keep
of cart horses. However, Mr. Street had thrown out a great
many suggestions in his paper, which there could be no
question would prove highly valuable. He had very properly
called prominent attention to the question of pedigree — for no
animal in the kingdom would ever command much more than
the ordinary market price except the owner could trace and
give a reliable pedigree of the animal he wished to sell — of
course he was referring now especially to horses for breeding
purposes. What had given Shorthorn cattle their very ex-
ceptionable value in tbi3 and other countries ? Not their
intrinsic value, great as that no doubt was, but the ability of
the owners to point to a long line of pedigree. Breeders
know full well, in practice, the value of length of pedigree;

and latterly our scientific men, in another department,
had turned their attention to the physiology of breeding,
and had also discovered the value of the longest pedigree.
He believed that scientific men of the present day had come to
the conclusion that in every class of animal the parent as it
were sows certain seeds in the system many of which were
not fructified, but remained in the system, and, perhaps, were
fertilised generations after the parent was deceased (Hear, hear) .
That acconnted for what had been so often noticed by every
breeder of any long experience — how animals " throw back "
to former parents ; that is to say, the germ, or seed, has re-
mained in the system and has not fructified, but when mated
with subsequent parents the seed which had remained in the
system unfructified became fertilised, and hence the value of a
long and pure pedigree, especially in the male animal. A sire
of good pedigree will often beget an animal better than him-
self, whereas a sire of uncertain pedigree is far more lik ly to
get animals worse than himself. Ha hoped the suggestion
of a stud book alluded to by Mr. Street would not be allowed
to fall, for if this breed of horses were so valuable, as many
believed, surely it was desirable that the country should be
possessed of their pedigree. He need not again point out that
the longer the pedigree and the better the pedigree the more
certainty there would be in breeding. He hoped that before
the meeting broke np some steps would be taken to form an
Association of the kind to which Mr. Street had alluded.

Dr. Shorthouse (Croydon), a visitor, asked to be allowed
to allude to one point which had been almost a " hobby " of
his life, viz., the pedigrees, as he had investigated and pub-
lished thousands of them. He desired to tell them, as Mr.
Street had made a feature of it, that they should begin
on a sound basis at first. Mr. Street had mentioned as the
foundation of a Stud Book that there should be two crosses in
a stallion and one cross in a mare. He did not understand
what Mr. Street meant by that, because a mule might be one
" cross" from a mare.
The Chairman : I do not think he said that.
Mr. Street : One part of that is what was said by the
Suffolk Society in their rules, and the other is a quotation
from Mr. McDonald, editor of the North British Journal.

Dr. Shorthouse would like to know what one " cross" was,
because a mule would come under that designation. Suppose
they had a mare of any breed, and put it to a donkey, she
would have but one cross, and the mule would come into the
Stud Book (laughter). Mr. Street must not for a moment
suppose he wished to say anything offensive.

Mr. Street explained that the words quoted were not his
words. They were the words of Mr. Herman Biddell aud Mr.
Crisp, the secretaries of the Suffolk Society, and Mr. Macdonald,
the editor of the North British Journal, who gave a description
of the Clydesdale horse.

Dr. Shorthouse said he would stick to the Stud Book point
as the one he was most familiar with. How were they to get
the foundation for it when owners proverbially gave all sorts
of fictitious and fanciful pedigrees to the horses. He remem-
bered a Society, of which the late Lord Mayo was president —
the Palmerstown Association of Ireland — where, directly any
horse won the Derby, or the prize at an agricultural show,
the association advertised that they had a yearling from the
same stock, er a half-brother, or own-brother or sister; and a
greater fraud was never perpetrated than through allowing
people to give pedigrees of their own to their animals. This
was quite true, and he had shown it up repeatedly. Another

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291

poiut he would mention before sitting down. Mr. Street would
allow the public to be admitted to the judging at shows ; but
he (Dr. Shorthouse believed it would be a vicious system. The
judgss should be men of irreproachable character, whose ver-
dict ought to be accepted without question as beintc given to
the best of their ability. Their decision ought not to be ques-
tioned by the rabble, or by a clique, or by th<i owners who went
aud pointed out the merits of the animals, as they did at the
Islington Show. There were some owners who used to go into
the ring, and ou one occasion he (Dr. Shorthouse) saw the
owner mount and ride his horse round before the prizes were
awarded at the Islington show. Such a system was altogether
vicious. What I said, or was saying, when I was interrupted
by Mr. Howard, was to the following effect : — 1 thought the
Stud Book question was a much more formidable matter than
the introducer supposed it to be, for that in the Stud Book
which proressed to be a register of thorough-bred horses, and
which if they won races and valuable stakes were disqualified
if they were fouDd to be incorrectly described. And when so
much pains were taken that blunders should creep iu was a
serious matter, and I was sure that with certain horses even
an approach to accuracy was impossible. I also instanced the
case of the Duke of Wellington's famous charger " Copen-
hagen," whose pedigree, though admitted into the professed
register of pure bloods, was on the same page acknowledged to
be impure.

Mr. James Howard rose to order, as the discussion was
on the subject of cart horses, and not on thoroughbred horses,
which Mr. Street had scarcely alluded to.
The Chairman: Will Dr. Shorthouse keep to the point P
Dr. Shorthouse : I have done so sir.
Mr. Finlay Dun said the subject was so extensive that it
was difficult to know into what section to dive. He believed
the great deficiency to be met with, at the present day, amongst
the best and most valuable of our cart horses was, in spite of
all efforts to the contrary, their want of action. He found
that amongst the heaviest and most imposing of the cart horses
that come into London there was a difference of something
like from 25 to 40 per cent, in value according to whether they
could step or not. It was surprising still to find that a very
large number of what, in a sense, should be the best horses —
because the biggest and heaviest, and probably most symmetri-
cal— were deficient in action ; their shoulders were uprighb
their heads were heavy, their limbs were round, the hair of
the limbs was rough, and there was, as Mr. Street had said,
an undue tendency to various hereditary diseases. What
seemed to be wanted was that greater attention should be paid
to constitution and action. Until some better system than
that hitherto in force were adopted we were not likely
to make the progress we ought to make in the breed of
useful and valuable horses ; and not only was a Stud Book very
much wanted to register and preserve the pedigrees of the
most valuable and best constitutioned horses throughout
the Empire, but in addition we required also an increased
development throughout the Midland and Southern coun-
ties of the system which had taken root and was flourish-
ing both in Scotland and the Northern counties of England,
and had borne good fruit — viz., the formation of associations
for the hire of the best possible horses throughout the country.
It was a wonderful and most satisfactory sight to anybody fond
df horses to see collected at Glasgow, during the show week,
upwards of 200 splendid draught stallions exhibited there
before the representatives of about forty different county asso-
ciations, which sent their best and most practical judges with

instructions and premiums so as to induce the best-bred and
best-constitutioned and most symmetrical of the horses to travel
various districts throughout the country. These prizes, as
hinted at in the paper, varied from £50 to £100, the owners
of the horses had a cettain number of mares guaranteed; whilst
to prevent disappointment the number wis usually restricted
to a hundred, and not merely 2 guineas each, but frequently
4 guineas per mare was given in the best breeding districts in
the north of Eugland and Scotland. With these increased
facilities for the disposal of good stud horses, by hire or sale>
1 irge numbers of Clydesdales during tho last twenty years have
been brought together. At this great Glasgow spring show
usually held in February, thence distributed on their service
throughout the northern and agricultural districts, improving
and multiplying an admirable breed of horses, not perhaps so
cumbrous, so ponderous, and so heavy as those of the Midland
Counties — from Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire — but
horses with a greater amount of go, endurance, and activity ;
horses which are brought in increasingly large numbers
to London, Manchester, and Birmingham, and other
iarge towns, which are used in the large railway vans,
and which are found able to stand the hard work of
railways and contractors better than some of the more
cumbrous, rough-limbed horses. Messrs. Pickford and Co.
who employ about 2,000 horses, and who at present
work 1,000 iu London alone, began twenty years ago to send
their commissioners to Carlisle, and then farther north, for
the purpose of getting horses ; and so well have thpse horses
— though not filling the eye so thoroughly as the shire horses
— answered the purpose, that now in Messrs. Pickford's estab-
lishment thei'e Was not probably more than about 10 per cent,
of the English breed of horses, the north-country horses having
almost entirely superseded them. These horses, as he had
said, did not till the eye, but they managed to walk about four
miles aa hour when out with the heavy vans, and when re-
turning home were able to trot along over the hard stone aud
unyielding pavement of the London streets without shaking
themselves or damaging their legs, as occurred, to a great extent,
with some of the rounder-limbed, but worse bred, sort. Messrs.
Pickford had not only shown good judgment in the selection of
usefulhorses,butthey had also led the'way in another interesting
department, viz., in regard to their management, their feeding.
In their large establishment would be found a mure thorough
and systematic care bestowed upon the horses than obtained
in the farmer's stables or in those of the smaller horse-owner.
Almost every horse in their large establishment was very soon
taught to eat its food pretty nearly bruised, cut up, and reduced to
chaff. A little long food was generally given to a horse when it
came home tired, fatigued, and hungry ; bntja large proportion
of both fodder and corn was given in the reduced state. Iu
Messrs. Pickford'.", and in some of the lar^e carrying
establishments, where the horses weighed from 16 to 20 cwt.,
the amount of food given was 20 lb. of bruised graiu, and
about 20 lb. of cut fodder per day. For farm horses lie fuund
that an allowance of about three-fourths of what he had
named, with 4 or 5 lb. of long hay, ausweredvery well iudeed,
viz., about 15 lb. of mixed graiu — mixed generally according
to their relative price — probably the best mixture of late years
being about equal proportions of oats, maize and Canadian
peas. Such a mixture, even when adding the expense of
crushing, would not much exceed Id. per lb. About thesame>
or a smaller weight, of cut fodder, was necessary for agricultural
horses; and with a very small quantity of long food, this
liberal allowance of grain, would keep such a horse in admir-

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able condition, and free from serious disease. They ought to
have, as every one knew, some bran or clean roots daily
in order to counteract the heating and constipating tendency
of the dry grain and fodder ; but if such roots could not readily
be got for heavy draught town horses an admirable and healthful
substitute was 1 to 2 lb. weight of linseed cake. Horses were
most grateful for linseed cakes. They showed it in their coats
and in their condition, as much as young cattle did, and there
was no more profitable adjunct to the winter food of a farm
horse thau good linseed cake. Mr. Street had, in his paper, ex-
pressed a partiality for a particular colour in horses, with wine"
he (Mr. Dun) could scarcely agree. These big red roans
which were a fancy sort of colour, in which some amateurs
delighted were not so good in most respects as they should
be. They had more delicacy and a worse constitution than any
horse going. He would not say a good horse was ever a bad
colour ; but amongst horses of different colours they would find
a difference in point of endurance, constitution, and activity in
a certain colour as compared with a certain other colour-
Clearly preferable in point of colour, as to useful hardi-
ness, he would place the best bays and browns ; and lowest
amongst the most delicate, the most troublesome to rear, the
most likely to be affected by the most serious diseases, and the
least likely to pull jthrough them, he would place the
red roan horse. This condemnation, although applying
tolerably equally to heavy draught and nag horses is not
applicable to the Norfolk trotting horses, of which many good
ones are red roan. He might point to the fact
that a royal animal having travelled about, the result
was a great number of horses known as yellowish
bays, all of which had a distinct mark, while
one of them had a mark like a cross round the
shoulders (laughter). He would have been exceedingly
glai to have got that animal's pedigree, and he felt certain
that had there been a Stud Book the owner would have been
too wise to have placed it th?re if he knew what it was. That
animal took the first prize as a two-year-old — he would not
say where — (A member : " At Battersea ") — and yet it had
produced stock of that peculiar kind, and he had reason to
believe that his dam was an ordinary nag or half-bred mare.
Further than that he would not go ; and he only alluded to
the case to show that very compact handsome horses and very
good workers might have such germs as had been alluded to by
Mr. Howard. The peculiar marks which belonged to defective
breeds of horses had been perpetuated in the way which he had
mentioned. In conclusion he desired to thank Mr.
Strpet for the trouble he had taken in putting together so
careful a piper.

Captain HeaTON ( Worsley, Manchester) said he felt that
he was very much out of place in rising to make any remarks
in the presence of so many leading agriculturists who had been
accustomed to deal with such questions as that all their lives,
and after what had fallen from Mr. Street, Mr. Howard, and
Mr. Finlay Dun, there was in fact little more to be said.
He could not quite concur in what Mr. Finlay Dun said about
his pet Clydesdales. He must stick up for the shire breed of
Cart horses, and he feared unless something were done thei r
Scotch friends would completely knock their legs from under
them. Having Lord Ellesmere's horses under his control he
had had frequent applications from foreigners, and he had
observed that they generally asked for Clydesdales. He had
asked them why they did so, and they told him that it was
because the Clydesdales were the only pure breed of horses

in the country. Now he did not wish to say anything against
Clydesdale horses, but they all knew that Scotchmen often went
to England and took back shire-bred mares by hundreds*
and hence their own horses had many of the character-
istics of that breed, and Euglish agriculturists ought to set up
a Stud Book as soon as possible in order to prevent Clydesdale
breeders from claiming purity for their breed over that of
shire horses. They all knew what an immense number of old
screws were travelling about the country, and unfairly damag-
ing the character of Euglish horses. In visiting Cambridgeshire
and Huntingdonshire he had been much surprised to find how
unwilling most farmers were to pay a moderate price for the
use of a good horse. They would not consent to pay perhaps
more thau 2 guineas, whereas it was well known that a
stallion which was worth £500 or £600 could not be allowed
to be used for such a sum as that. In his own district land"
lords possessing large studs had horses worth from 500 to
1,000 guineas, and had offered to let the tenants have the use
of them at the nominal fee of a guinea and a-half, and he had
known farmers having good mares refuse the offer because
they could obtain an old screw for a guinea. He would like to
know what an English farmer would say if he were asked to
pay 40 guineas for the use of a horse ; yet Scotch farmers, who
were supposed to be able, to take care of their money, had paid
20 guineas for the serving, and twenty more for the foal. With
regard to prize lists he must say that the list of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England was miserable compared with
that of the Highland Society. In the Highland Society there
are four prizes (£40, £30, £20, and £10) for aged stallions,
and foi'r for three-year-old stallions, which could not compete
successfully against their seniors. There were prizes also
for two-year-olds and for yearling colts, with prizes for mare8
in foal, and others with mares with foals at foot, and a liberal
list for fillies of various ages. He deprecated the continuance
of the system adopted this year by the Boyal Agricultura
Society of giving prizes to mares in foal instead of giving
prizes to mares with foal at foot, and he believed it was a fact
that in few instances in former shows had the first prize
winner been able to claim the prize, having failed to fulfil the
conditions of having produced a foal. With reference to what
Mr. Howard said about the keep of horses, he would remark
that he thought that it was not desirable to give colts up to
two years one atom of hard corn. He thought that the food
of animals up to that period should be entirely cooked, and
that they should have steamed oats, straw, and hay
chopped up, boiled or steamed roots, and a large quantity of
bran. He had found that farm horses were kept in better
condition, and the mares bred far better when they were fed in
that way than when they were kept upon hard corn. He
noticed that farmers did not bestow sufficient care on the rearing
of young stock. A colt should never be allowed to lose its
foal's flesh, and for the first two years at least it should have a
liberal supply of good nourishing food, which would do more
to make it a good horse than all its keep in after life.

Mr. T. Bell (Newcastle) said he happened to be a member
of the Northumberland Agricultural Society, and he knew that
for the last two years a deputation had been sent from the
southern district to the Glasgow Show of Stallions, with power
to select stallions and also to offer a prize of £100. The
second fhow having been held only last week, he was not in a
position to state how the scheme had worked, and some time
was required to show whether the experiment was a success or
not ; but he knew that in another case of the same kind the

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

?.j:5

result was satisfactory. He alluded to the case of a local society
in Northumberland, which last year sent a similar deputation
and offered a similar prize. He might add that he knew more
than one English farmer in Northumberland who had paid 40
guineas for sending a mare to the Prince of Wales.

Mr. J. K. Fowler (the Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury),
wished to say a few words in reference to the practice of giv-
ing prizes at agricultural shows for cart horses. At a Buck-
inghamshire Show there was offered through the kindness of
Lord Carington a first prize of £50, to which £20 was added
by the Society, and the result was that the animal which ob.
tained the prize was sold to Lord Camperdown, and did nothing
to benefit the farmers of the district. With all due deference
to Captain Heaton, he would remark that farmers must use
the best horses they could get, and that it was not satisfactory
for them to be denuded of all the advantages of prizes. He
thought that the prizes given by agricultural societies should
be of much larger amount, but arrangements should be made
which would ensure successful exhibitors sending their horses
to the districts in which they gained prizes. He was also of
opinion that farmers should be prepared to pay considerably
higher prices, and that in the case of such districts as his
own, where farmers wished to breed cart horses for the London
market, arrangements should be made for securing a reason-
able subscription list for that purpose. He was sorry to differ
from Mr. Finlay Dun, but he certainly thought the red roan
was a very good kind of animal. About six years ago some
friends of his bought the prize trotting horse at the Agricul-
tural Hall Show, giving £100 for it for the purpose of im-
proving their breed of horses, and the result was that they
secured not only good hacks, but also good cart horses. The
horses obtained in that way were very useful, but they had
not as much hair as was expected, and the result was tha*>
after having had light-haired animals they had now gone in
for animals with a great deal of hair.]

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said with regard to what Mr. Fow-
ler had just said about prize winners not benefiting the
district, he wished to observe that they had experienced that
evil in Norfolk to such an extent that it had been determined,
in connection with the show of cart horses which was to take
place at Norwich on the following Saturday, that the prizes
should not be given until next June. The successful horses
must travel about the district, or else the owners could not
have the prizes (Hear, hear).

Mr. J. K. Fowler ; Oh, I beg to say that in our case such
exhibitors as I alluded to won't have the money (laughter).

Mr. George Street (Maulden, Ampthill) said he was one
of those who thought it would be for the advantage of
farmers generally to breed their own horses. When they
remembered that cart mares could be worked up to the very
day of foaling, and that, if necessary, they could be put to easy
work soon after foaling, and when they also remembered that
the colts were fit for work or for sale, and would fetch a good
price as two-year-olds, he thought they would agree with him
that no animal which was bred on the farm, except perhaps
the sheep, would pay better than the cart-horse. When a
man had made up his mind to begin breeding, if he were
wise he would form an opinion as to the best type of animal
to breed, and he would then steadily slick to it ; not jumping
about from one sort of animal to another, choosing first, per-
haps, the big Lincolnshire horse and then going in for a clean-
logged animal, but taking care at the outset to secure the best
mare he can purchase. By using the best sire in his district
he will soon hare a good team. Mares that are bred from

regularly are far more likely to breed than those that are
occasionally put to a horse. He would here throw out a hint
to young breeders. He had known many gentlemen who,
having suffered some loss and disappointment, had given uP
breeding ; but his impression was that it was far the
best to persevere, and stick to one particular breed. As
to the best sort of horses to breed, that question depended
very much upon locality, and upon what they wished
the animals to do. He was not prepared to say that on
light lands two compact horses, with plenty of bone, that
would walk cheerfully away with the plough, would not d°
the work required quite as well as a big Lincolnshire horse j
but those who wished to sell their horses at good prices
must have plenty of size and substance, a good deep
middle, plenty of hair, and plenty of bone beneath the knee.
That was the 3ort of horse that would fetch a long price ;
and if a young man bred such animals steadily he would
ultimately find his whole team pretty much of the same sort.
If a man intended to make money by horses, he must secure
plenty of substance, hone, and hair. Allusion was made by
Mr. Finlay Dun to the fact that London horses are now some-
what changing their character. Perhaps he had lost sight of
the fact that the reason of that was that the old-fashioned
Lincolnshire horses went out of fashion when so manj
breeders went in for a light clean-legged horse. People did
not know where to find those horses, and therefore they went
in for light van horses, but the prize lists and high prices
proved that the heavier kinds of animals were appreciated qnite
as highly as, if not more highly than, they ever were before. He
had a strong impression that a vast number of foals were lost
every year that might be saved. Many foals were turned out
when they were only one or two days old, with their mares, and
exposed all day to an east wind, and hence there was a
sudden change in the milk, with other attendant evils, result-
ing in great loss. At such a period it was best to keep the
mare and the foal in the stable, and let them be supplied with
bran and bran meal, and they should watch for an opportunity
of taking them out on a sunny day for an hour or two, and
trying to get the mare and the foal accustomed to a change
of food. That would be far better for them than turning them
out too quickly. Another remark with regard to foals :
they all knew that foals were generally very cheerful, lively
animals ; but sometimes when a foal was five or six days old
he had gone into a field and found it with its ears drooping,
tucked up, and in pain, and on examining the animal pretty
closely he had found a watery substance oozing out from the
belly. When that was the case no time should be lost. A
veterinary surgeon should at once be sent for, and he would
probably administer a pretty strong dose, or something to act
upon the mare's milk, and indirectly on the foal. After send-
ing for the veterinary surgeon, the next thing would be to lay
the foal down, put a strong pin through just above the navel,
and bind it tightly with strong thread. That might stop the
discharge, and in that case the foal would probably be saved.
He had a valuable yearling from his Cardiff mare, which he
believed would have died if he had not pursued that course.
When Mr. Finlay Dun remarked that red roans were very
tender, he turned round to Mr. James Howard and said,
■ What will he say to my brother's mare, and my Cardiff
mareP" "Oh!" he replied, "you forget, they are blue
roans." He had always been under the impression that they
were red roans, and were good doers. Further, he would say
with regard to foals and colts, let them be kept moving
always improving, should be the rule for young stock. He agreed

39

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

most thoroughly with his brother that it was desirable that they
should have a Stud Book for horses as well as for other kinds
of animals. If he wanted to illustrate how good-looking
horses were not necessarily well-bred, he might state that
some years since a first prize two year-old at the Royal Show
was used in his neighbourhood ; nearly all his stock were of
one colour, a yellowish bay with a brown mark down h:s back,
and sometimes down the shoulders also. He had been told
that his horse was bred from a nag or half-bred mare, but had
not bepn able to trace his pedigree further back. If the horse
had been entered in a Stud Book it would have been interest-
ing to have discovered the origin of that particular and dis-
tinctive mark which was reproduced in successive generations,
but, perhaps, the owner would not have entered him. It
is only fair to say they are compact, good-looking horses, and
capital workers.

M<)jor Dashwood (Kirtlington, Oxfordshire) said he was
glad to find Mr. Street advocating the shire horses, having
himself witnessed the advantages connected with such horses.
He admitted that Clydesdales and Suffolks were very useful
animals, but they were not better thau the shire horses. As
regarded the management of horses, he had found the wear
and tear much greater than it used to be, owing to the use of
machinery and other causes, and that compelled them to keep
their horses in better condition than they used to do. They
now heard more than they used to do of horses that were
broken-winded, &c, it proving the harder work and higher feed-
ng required very careful treatment. He dare say many of them
had sometimes suffered the loss of horses without knowing why.
A little while ago he bought a six-year-old of a gentleman in
his neighbourhood, who was giving up farming. That horse
having gone to work on a Monday morning, worked for two
hours, then began rolling about ; on being taken towards the
stable he fell down within 100 yards of it, and died within a
few hours. A veterinary surgeon in the neighbourhood gave a
reason, and said that there waa no blame attaching to the
owner. He (Major Dashwood) recollected at least one other
case similar to this one. The animal lost the use of his
extremities, and dropped down. Happening to know a large
contractor in London, who had about 600 horses, he
mentioned the case to him. " Oh," he said, " I know all about
it. I have had several cases of the same kind. The horse has
gone to work on Monday, or after a holiday, and perhaps a Bank
holiday falling on a Tuesday, and then it has fallen down, and
I have not known why in the world it was. I applied to the
best authorities, but could not get much information about the
matter. I now give a horse, when it is in the stable for two
days in succession, 51b. of bran." He also said that it appeared
to him that foreign horses were especially liable to such
attacks, but that in two cases the animals were English home-
bred horses. He (Major Dashwood) afterwards went to the
Royal Veterinary College, where Professor Pritchard was
kind enough to tell him what was the real cause, which is
the result of high feeding without work, causing apoplexy of
the spinal cord. No doubt the same case had happened before,
but it was so rare that veterinary surgeons as a body had not
learned the cause. He hoped that Professor Pritchard would
explain the matter better than he had done.

Professor Pritchard (Royal Veterinary College) said he

must first thank the Club, as a stranger, for the privilege of say-

oj a few words on the subject of the paper. He would first

remark that, so far as he was aware, the malady just referred

to by Major Dashwood first made ^Ppearance among cart

horses at a comparatively recent period — only some five or six
year3 ago at the utmost. There was very little doubt in the
present day among those who had had an opportunity of
examining the matter carefully, that the malady in question
consisted of an apoplectic condition of the spinal cord. In
post mortem examinations of such cases it had been found either
that the vessels of the spinal cord were in a highly congested
state, or that effusion had taken place, imparting undue pressure
to the cord ; such pressure would necessarily bring about
what the last speaker mentioned as regarded the extremities.
He had been asked to explain the cause. He was at first in-
clined to come to the conclusion that the malady belonged
more particularly to foreign-bred horses, but a little investiga-
tion satisfied him that it extended to English horses, though it
did not appear to attack them so frequently ; and he formed the
opinion that the malady, which had only recently made its
appearance in this country, might be due to the introduction of
a comparatively new food in the shape of maize. He made
particular inquiries of those who were in the habit of feeding
horses with large quantities of maize, and compared such cases
with those of animals which were fed on other kinds of food.
He however found that many cases occurred in horses fed
on other kinds of food, including oats, beans, and
peas. It then occurred to him that it might be due to a
plethoric condition of the body, brought about by idleness or
freedom from work. He found that far more cases occurred on
Monday than on any other day of the week ; and as the result
of subsequent investigations he had very little doubt that the
malady was really due to a plethoric habit of body brought on
by animals in full condition being suddenly thrown, as it were,
out of work. He had found, for example, that when a severe
frost lasting for three or four days had prevented a number of
horses from being worked, it was followed by a number of these
attacks, and here was a clue to the mystery under such cir-
cumstances. He would, therefore recommend that
when horses were thrown out of work for four-
and-twenty hours, instead of being supplied with a larger
quantity of food, as animals in that position were apt
to be, they should be supplied with a smaller quantity and of a
less stimulating character than that which they would
require when kept at work. By the treatment now adopted in
such cases they were enabled to save from 70 to 75 per cent,
of the animals attacked. The best advice he could give them
was that in all such cases they should endeavour to secure the
aid of the best veterinary surgeon in their neighbourhood ; and
if he were asked whether there was anything they could do in
the meantime for the purpose of bringing about recovery, he
would say that if the horse could bear the slightest weight, or
partly stand on his legs, they should try and sling him, while
if he could not stand at all on his legs slings should not be used,
the animal being turned over from time to time. There were one
or two other points to which he wished to allude. He entirely
concurred in what Mr. George Street said about the necessity
of selecting horses free from hereditary taint. Nothing was
more important to bear in mind, in the breeding of
horses, than the absolute necessity of choosing dams and
sires which had no hereditary disease. The number of horses
that were seen working about farms with "side-bones" was mar-
vellous, and in a large proportion of cases they were due to
nothing 1 else . than hereditary taint; the time had come
when farmers should be warned that they should not merely
select animals of a particular breed, but should also take care
that those which they selected were free from hereditary

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2^3

disease. He did not thiuk any one would question his state-
ment that side-bone was an hereditary malady, but if any one
did lie would poiDt to other defects which clearly arose from
that cause. In travelling about the country he frequently
saw a stallion with one eye, and he would put them on their
guard against haviug anything to do with such animals unless
they knew that the defect arose from an accident. In such
cases it was often stated that the defect was caused by a stick
or something of that kind ; but the horse was the
subject of a disease termed constitutional ophthalmia*
which often led to the loss of one or even of both
ayes. It was a remarkable fact that in many cases
when that disease had destroyed one eye the other
would remain sound, acute, and look as healthy as pos-
sible, although even that eye might have had one or two
attacks. It should be borne in mind tint although the re-
maining eye might appear to be in a very clear condition, and
although there might be no proof of intentional injury, there
were those who would do such things for a purpose ; yet there
might be actual hereditary disease, and they should not accept
the statement that the lost eye had been destroyed by some
accident without good proof that jsuch was the case. Mr.
Howard said he wished the essayist had said more in reference
to the feeding and general management of horses. On that
subject he would only say a few words. If they wanted to
make the most of a horse and of the food which they gave him,
they should let him be well housed; they should put him in
a place which was thoroughly well-drained and ventilated and
give him the best kind of fooj, including a moderate quantity
of hay, and avoiding what would be likely to cause indigestion.
Some years ago stoppages of the bowels and other evils of the
same kind were mueh more common than they are now. Why ?
Because in those days nosebags were hardly ever used, and
horses which had remained without food for a long period
were allowed suddenly to consume a large quantity. Again,
he thought that animals should be water ;d before they were
fed. Within the last twenty years he had had op-
portunities of seeing many proofs of the advantages of that
mode of treatment. He had lived among the South Stafford-
shire ironworks where the horses are very hard-worked ; he
had often been called up in the night toattend to horses thp.t
were suffering from affection of the bowels, and he could state
that in a large proportion of cases the attack arose from the
animal's haviug taken a great quantity of solid food. He
would be happy to explain that physiologically, but time
would not allow him to do so then. The engines connected
with the ironworks supplied large tanks close to the stables
with waterin a chilled condition, and before taking any solid
food the horse was left to go to the stand and take his fill
of water. If water were chilled, he might add, it would not
be attended with any danger when used in that way.

The Ciia.irh.an said before Mr. Street replied he Bhould
like to say a word in reference to the prices paid for the serv-
ing of mares in this country. He believed that as regarded
the rule that gentleman was quite right in his observations,
but he had not exactly hit upon what had led to that. He
and others who lived in the same district had been breeders of
horses for some years, and they generally selected the very
best animal that they could get to put to the mare, but they
had been frequently disappointed at the absence of foals after
having used prize animals, and hence they had been led to use
other animals, feeling that they must either do that or remain
without foals, He believed that that was what had generally

led to the employment of an inferior class of carl horses- The
wonder was that the breed had kept up so well. In his own
neighbourhood they had a very excellent breed of cart horses,
and he did not believe many parts of England could show a
better one than was to be seen at the shows of Chatteris,
March, and some other Fen towns, He was sure he did not
raise their expectations too high in what lie said before in
reference to Mr. Street's paper, and he would now call upon
him to reply.

Mr. F. Street then replied. He said as regards tbe
small number of foals lert, the causes of that were referred
to in his paper, and he would add that if a horse were limited
to 100 mares they could not reasonably expect more than 70
foals. As to the complaint with respect to the serving of marrs
he might remark that between Waterbeach and Cambridge out
cf fifteen mares served by Young Sampson fourteen were leftjn
foal. Mr. James Howard, Captain Ileaton, his (Mr. Street's)
brother, and he thought other speakers also, had ppoken of
the necessity for having a Stud Book for cart horses, and he
should be much pleased if some resolution on that subject were
passsd that evening.

The Chairman observed that it was not customary in that
Club to pass resolutions at meetings for discussion.

Mr. F. Street continued : He hoped that something would
be done. Perhaps it might be well to summon a special meet-
ing to consider the matter. There was nothing like striking
while the iron was hot, and it was of great importance that
something should be done at once to secure sach an object.
Dr. Shorthouse advocated secret judging. Secrecy
did not belong to agriculture, and he hoped it never
would. He was pleased to find Mr. Finlay Dim, Captain
Heaton, Mr. Bell, and other gentlemen advocating the pro.
vidiug a collection of horses in the spring to select from. As
regards feeding, he did not quite agree with Mr. Dun as to the
advisability of using maize or peas, unless, indeed, they were
mixed in a very small degree with other kinds of food. He
had fonnd that bruised oats, split beans, and bran, in about
equal proportions formed on the whole the most useful kind
of food, and that with such feeding an ordinary cart-
horse would cost about 10s. a week. In introducing
his paper he had thought it best to throw out points
or discussion and not take up the time of practical
men too long on the rearing of young horses. He
would tell Mr. Fowler it would be useless for the Aylesbury
Association to offer a good prize unless a given number of
mares were guaranteed at a fixed price. And, as was the case
last year, the owner of horses taking the prizes would not ful-
fil the conditions. He did trust they would soon see a number
of Associations springing up similar to the Welchpool and
Crewe spring shows. He could not concur in what Mr.
Fiulay Dun said about roan horses. If he had the oppor-
tunity of usiug the '■ Strawberry Roan " referred to he would
rather use him than any other horse in the Kingdom. He
offered Mr. Marston £300 for him for the season, but could
not succeed in getting him.

Mr. T. Duckiiam said he felt great pleasure in moving a
vote of thanks to Mr. Street for his excellent paper, and he
hoped the reading of it would soon be followed by the esta-
blishment of a Stnd Book for cart horses.

Mr. T. Willson seconded the motion, which was then put
and carried.

Mr. P. Phipps, M.P., in proposing a vote of thanks to the
chsirman, said he could not help remarking that the subjec

296

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

discussed that evening was important not only to agriculturists
but »o to mercantile men and many others who wanted good
h aes. There was great difficulty in getting such animals, and
jne ofte had to pay a very high price, but he must say that
after i hat he bad heard he preferred a good big, bony horse
with e hair on his legs.

iarles Howard, in seconding the motion, said there
was v ■(■ point in Professor Pritchard's valuable remarks which
very ro h pleased him ; he alluded to his calling the attention
r r the warmers of the country to the necessity of using nose,
bags. He was in business for a great number of years before
he found out the great advantages derivable from that very
simple appendage of horse gear, and he had since reaped most
beneficial results. With regard to the passing of a resolution

on the subject which had been discussed, he would remark that
formerly the resolutions were generally proposed, but that after
due consideration it was determined to discontinue the practice.
Of course it was quite open to Mr. Street to convene a meeting
to consider the question which he had introduced. With
regard to what had been said about the Royal Agricultural
Society he could not help expressing his regret that those who
had made complaints had not, before the prize-sheets were
sent out, placed themselves in communication with the Council
of that Society in order that the defects to which they alluded
might, if possible, be remedied.

The motion was then carried by acclamation, and the meet-
ing separated.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

CENTRAL.
The usual monthly meeting of the Council of this
Chamber was held on March 5, at the Rooms of
the Society of Arts, Sir George Jenkinson, M.P., in the
chair.

After the usual preliminary business, Mr. J. Bell, of
Newcastle, presented, in the absence of the Chairman of
the Education Committee appointed in December last
the subjoined report. The Committee having been
appointed to confer with Professor Tanner, of the Science
and Art Department, and to report relative to the advan-
tages offered by that Department towards the education of
farmers' sons, reported as follows : —

" Your Committee, having, in accordance with their in-
structions, had jan interview with Professor Tanner, beg to
report that, for upwards of twenty years previous to 1876, the
advantages of the Government grant in aid of science teaching,
amounting in the year 1876 to £44,000, was exclusively en-
joyed by urban and manufacturing interests. A very large
number of schools have been established in towns, at which
art and science instruction has been obtained at a very small
cost, by young persons preparing to engage in manufacturing
and other industrial pursuits. In 1876 the number of schools
having science classes under qualified teachers was 1,426,
having 58,000 pupils and students; and 33,000 were
examined. The money grant was expended (1) in fees to the
teachers at certain sums per head for the pupils and students
who passed the examinations of the Department ; (2) in sums
in aid of local exhibitions and scholarships held by pupils for
a term of years ; (3) in sums paid in aid of travelling expenses
of teachers attending lectures ; (4) in grants towards the pur-
chase of apparatus ; and (5) in grants in aid of the erection
or adaptation of buildings for the purpose of Science Schools.
Early in 1876 the Committee of Council on Education decided
to place agriculture on an equal footing with the other great
industries of the nation ; and accordingly provided a section
for the principles of agriculture, for, encouraging and stimu-
lating instruction at a low cost, not in technical farming and
grazing, but in the applications of science to husbandry. In the
first year, 150 candidates underwent examination in the prin-
ciples of agriculture ; Cirencester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and
Aberdeen contributing pupils and students, some of these
being persons desirous of qualifying themselves to act as

teachers. In 1877 no fewer than 800 candidates came up
and it is considered probable that in the present year there
will be a still larger number. Of these, however, only a small
proportion came from England, Scotland and Ireland
supplying the large majority. According to the last official
returns, the pupils under instruction in agriculture were as fol-
lows : — In England and Wales, 223 ; in Scotland and Ireland,
915 ; making a total of 1,138. This probably arises from the
fact that little has been done in England for enabling the ad-
vantages offered to be made use of for the sons of farmers.
Yonr Committee are aware that a most admirable course of
study in the principles of agriculture is open to young men
in the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, and elsewhere;
and the Royal Agricultural Society of England is accomplishing
a valuable work by its annual examinations in scientific and
practical agriculture. Nevertheless, a great need still exist8
for local classes, at which, by means of courses of lectures boys
in rural districts may receive some elementary instruction in
the application of chemical, geological, botanical, and other
sciences to the various branches of husbandry. With the help
of the Government grant, [and for fees not exceeding a few
pounds, students could attend such lectures by qualified in-
structors at various rural centres. In order to secure a share
for agriculturists in the advantages offered by the Committee
of Council on Education for science teaching, it will be
necessary in some localities to establish new centres, hut in
many cases it will suffice to provide new classes in connection
with existing Schools where these are already established in
county or market towns. The initiation in the matter consists
in forming, i small Local Committee of gentlemen of recognised
position, to obtain suitable rooms for classes, to make applica-
tion to the Science and Art Department for a qualified
instructor in the principles of agriculture, and to superintend
the system of local examinations. In rural districts it might
be desirable to arrange for a teacher to visit different towns and
villages in rotation. Iu submitting this Report your Com-
mittee venture to recommend the subject to the attention of
the Council ; and suggest that they or a larger committee,
be re-appointed, with power to circulate among associated
Chambers and farmers generally information respecting the
conditions and benefits of the new section for the principles of
agriculture established in connection with the Government
Science and Art Department."-PiCKERiNG Phipps, chairman
On the motion of Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. Caldecott
the Report was adopted.

THE FARMER'S

Mr. T. Willson, in moving the reappointment of the
Committee, observed that the master of a British school in
his neighbourhood had for several years received £50 a-year
from the Science and Art Department alone, and added that
an enormous deal of scientific work must have been done to
enable the Government to pay such an amount, and that the
result as regarded the boys appeared to be very satisfactory.

Mr. Adkins seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.

Mr. Pell, M.P., presented the Report of the Local Taxa-
tion Committee, which was as follows : —

" The Local Taxation Committee desire to direct attention
to the important legislative measures introduced this session
by her Majesty's Government. These include Bills for the
establishment of representative county boards, for the im-
provement of the details of highway management, and for the
better valuation of rateable property. The first of these
measures was read a second time on the 18th of February, by
the large majority of 231 to 63. The Highway Bill has not
yet been considered by the House of Commons, and the
Valuation Bill has not yet been issued. To facilitate the
discussion of the County Administration Bill, the Executive
Committee thought it well to issue on February 13th, before
the second readiug, a detailed summary of its provisions,
together with some suggestions as to the points which in their
opinion most required attention or amendment. This state-
ment, which is presented herewith, has been circulated
among Chambers of Agriculture, Boards of Guardians, and
others interested. During the two nights' debate on tha
second reading of the Bill considerable preference was shown
for the union instead of the petty sessional division of the
electoral area for the new County Boards. Your Committee
regard the substitution of the uuion area for that proposed in
the Bill as the most important and pressing of the improve,
ments to be desired in the Government scheme. Other
amendments may, they believe, be desirable in the direction
of reducing the magisterial quota prescribed in the constitution
of the new boards, in securing publicity for their work, and in
ensuring a uniform period of account, together with a proper
otlicial audit. They do not believe, however, the proposal
which has been made to substitute a system of direct election
in place of the selection by guardians provided in the Govern-
ment Bill to be requisite, or generally desired. Your Com-
mittee trust that tiie clauses which relate to highway manage-
ment and control will be relegated to and discussed with the
Highways Bill, to which they naturally belong. As thus re-
arranged and viewed collectively, the present proposals of the
Government in the matter of highways resemble in many
particulars those put forward in 1876. Your Committee
view witli satisfaction the proposal to extend the area of
charge for important thoroughfares ; but would recommend
that the whole, instead of only one-half, of the cost of main
roads should be borne by the entire area represented on the
County Board. They fail to fiud sullicient justification for the
date (187-i) which it is proposed to fix for the conversion of
dis-turnpiktd roads into main roads, and would, if any period
at all must be named, give preference to the year 1870, which
was proposed in the former Bill. They question the sufficiency
oi the very limited powers for reimposing tolls in exceptional
cases as a remedy for the pressure on the ratepayers in the
matter of road repair ; and they regret that the Bill does not
make nrban districts contributory towards the maintenance
of main roads, which are largely devoted to inter-urban traflic.
In the absence of such proposals, or of relief by indirect local

MAGAZINE. 297

taxes, or of the power of exceptionall assessing on a graded
scale certain specially road-using businesses (such as that noted
with special approval in a former Government measure for
Scotland), your Committee are unable to welcome the High-
way Bill of 1878 as likely finally to settle some of the most
difficult questions of road maintenance which have been so long
agitated. They, however, believe the powers conferred on
County Boards over defaulting highway authorities will be
found to be of great practical utility, and they cordially approve
of the disposition shown by this measure to promote the
amalgamation of highway and sanitary authorities in rural as
well as in urban districts. They trust it may be found
practicable to extend these provisions, and ultimately to merge
existing as well as future highway districts in the areas oj
the rural sanitary authorities. In reference to the future
adoption of the Highways Acts, they are inclined to require
the sanction of five members of the County Board, in place of
only one, to the raising of the question. They believe extended
facilities for the use of rural tramways on roads or roadsides
would be desirable. As regards the clauses of the present Bill
dealing with locomotives, jour Committee would very strongly
urge the necessity of distinguishing between the casual use of
engines moving implements from place to place and the con-
tinuous use of roads by locomotives hauling heavy trains for
ordinary trade purposes. Instances have come to the know-
ledge of your Committee of great hardships Uus inflicted. In
one case a road formerly costing £26 a mile has by traffic o
this nature been raised to a yearly cos* of £500 a mile, and this
entirely for the benefit of a single raining property, rated at
less than £100 a year, and contributing but 15s. to the in-
creased cost of road repair. The distinction here noted as
desirable between the damage inflicted by the two classes of
locomotives might be enforced by requiring a higher scale of
license duty in the latter case ; the fees for the licenses to be
in all instances credited to the county road fund rather than
the county rate. Although the general business of the session
has not yet far advanced, the attention of your Committee has
been directed to the proposed imposition of new charges on the
rales in the Training Ships and Schools Bill and the Blind and
Deaf Mute Children (Education) Bill. The progress of these
measures it will be therefore necessary again to watch. Since
the issue of the Annual Report of your Committee in November
last, they have received tiie following subscriptions, in addition
to those acknowledged in their annual list: —

£ s. d.

The Lincolnshire Chamber (8th donation) 15 0 0

The Gloucestershire Chamber ((Jth donation) 10 0 0

The West Riding of Yorkshire Chamber 12 o 0

The Herefordshire Chamber (7th donation) 5 0 O

Richard Walmesley, Esq 5 ft 0

"Albert Pell, Chairman."

On the motion of the lion, member, seconded by Mr. Law-
rence, the Report was received and ordered to be printed and
circulated.

The meeting then proceeded to consider the County Ad-
ministration Bill, upon which there was the following on the
agenda paper, Mr. Pell, M.P., explaining that although it
was submitted by the Business Committee, they were not
pledged to it, and that it was merely the result of the com-
munications on the subject which had been received from a
number of local Chambers.

Mr. Everett moved—" That this Council cordially ap-
proves of the County Administration Bill, and heartily thanks

298

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Her Majesty* Government Tor promptly introducing so good
a measure."

This resolution having been secouded, a discussion ensued
as to the precise wording of it in connection with the question
of introducing amendments, but it was ultimately adopted
without any alteration.

Mr. Pell, M.P., then moved " That this Council suggests
as an amendment to make the union so far as it is practicable
the electoral area."

Mr. T. Willson having seconded this proposal,

Mr. Knight, M.P., said Le saw great objections to the Bill
as brought in by his friend Mr. Sclater-Booth. In the first
place, he felt that if it were adopted iu its present form one
effect would be to put off the passing of a measure in the
present session. He knew that the matter had been very
much discussed in the Local Government Board. When Mr.
Goschen brought forward his proposal in reference to that
question, finding what great difficulty there would be in fitting
the union to the area of the county, he was obliged, although
lie was a great ceutraliser, to adopt the petty sessional divis-
ions, and Mr. Sclater-Booth had done the same thing. Mr.
Sclater-Booth was not a centraliser by nature, but he had
falleu to a great extent into the hands of the permanent staff,
and it was a fear of such tendencies that led him (Mr. Knight)
So oppose the establishment of the Local Government Board,
which wa3 one of the most centralising bodies iu the country.
Ons great object which they ought to keep in view in seeking
an improved system of county administration was to secure a
farm of government which would be independent of London.
It weald be very easy to show from the statements of Mr.
Ch&dvsiek and other founders of the new Toor-Law system,
who vcero .Muong the greatest centralisers that ever lived, that
ttu.fr intention in forming unions was to break up the county
Bjtkffij, and to do away with all local government, the mode
of proceeding being to place the whole of the management in
the hands of unions which were to be under the control of a
great central Board. As long as the Whigs were in office he
and those who agreed with him in such matters opposed the
full carrying out of that object ; but when the Conservatives
carte into office they fell into the hands of the centralisers,
and he was sorry to say that several measures of a centralising
character had emanated from the present Government. When
Mr. Sclater-Booth was about to propose the Bill under con-
sideration he (Mr. Knight) expected to find that everything
would be put in the hands of the Government, and his reason
for now approving of it was that it was a decentralising Bill,
inasmuch as it did not leave everything to the unions, and
therefore to the Local Government Boaid. It took the area
of the petty sessional divisions, which had no authority
over them in London. It was as a decentralising measure
ihat he gave it his support. Had it been a measure for
placing the unions in the hands of a Board in London he
would have voted against it. It was very difficult to estimate
the position of a poor-law guardian, one of the least inde-
pendent positions in the world. The guardians could uot
order any one thing without being liable to be checked ; and
if they were to have for the counties a form of local govern-
ment which would be subject to a Board in London they
would be much worse off than they were before. If they were to
have union areas the county boundaries would be so
broken up that it would be impossible to pass the measure
at all this session, and they would have to wait a year or two
for the equalising of the union and the county boundaries

He had been twice Secretary of the Poor-Law Board, and
while he was at the office the permanent staff had the greatest
possible horror of a guardian being employed as a local officer,
contending that he was an officer of the Board ; and he liked
this Bill, and would support it because it would make the
guardian an independent man — a man sent from his parish to
vote not as an officer of the Local Government Board, but as
a representative of his parish. Anybody who had been work-
ing against centralisation as he had been doing a large portion
of his life must feel the importance of adopting petty ses-
sional divisions instead of the old Chadwickian plan of trying to
abolish all local government. If the union area was adopted
they would have to go through a long tedious process in order
to meet money difficulties, and he hoped the advocates of de-
centralisation in that room would vote with him in support
of Mr. Sclater-Booth's Bill without amendment No. 1 for
making the union area as far as practicable the electoral area.
He now moved that No. 1 be left out,
Mr. Storer, M.P., seconded the amendment.
Captain Crajgie said as a decentraliser he took up the
challenge which had just been thrown out. He felt great
surprise at the picture which had just been drawn of a Poor-
Law guardian as little better than a menial of a Board sitting
in Whitehall. He had never met with such a description
before, and he must say it had filled him with amaEeraent.
He felt very strongly on the question before the meeting,
having devoted a great deal of time to the consideration of it.
He had always earnestly advocated the establishment of a
good system of coanty government as a buttress and a barrier
against centralisation, and he wanted to see unions taken as
a unit for county purposes, because he looked forward hope-
fully to the breaking up of centralisation, and he believed that
that would hasten it. The Council had on more than one
occasion passed a resolution affirming the expediency of
bringing the sanitary laws, the Poor-Law, and highways under
one management. That could not be done as matters now
stood, because of the crossing of unions, but to make the
union the electoral area would be to stimulate the putting in
force the 25th Clause of Mr. Sclater-Bcoth's Bill, which had
for its object the rearranging of union areas in harmony with
county boundaries. True, there were financial and other
questionsof a similar nature which would have to be settled ; but
did the hon. gentleman who had just spoken believe that such
questions could be settled most rapidly by taking the petty
sessional divisions as a unit? Would ii not be the greatest
stimulus to take in hand the difficult work that there was an
area which would be continually bringing before the minds
of people the inconveniences that resulted from the arrange-
ments made iu 1831 P He did not believe there could be very
great difficulty in making a rearrangement. Of the 650
unions in England 4G9 were complete unions within counties.
No doubt 180 in some degree crossed the county boundary,
but of that number over 60 crossed by only one or two
parishes, over 80 by only three parishes, and 126 by less than
6 parishes ; and he believed that the difficulty arising from
crossing was not nearly so great as many supposed. He was
not advocating anything impracticable, but he was advocating
what would tend to foster a better administration of county
business generally. He believed thac the adoption of nuion
areas would in the end do more towards abolishing centralisa-
tion than almost anythiug else that could be proposed at the
present time.
Mr, Treapwell said he had come to that room believing

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

299

all petty sessional divisions would not form as good electora'
areas as unions, and what he had heard from Mr. Kuight failed
to convince him that he was wrong, lie did not know his
own petty sessioual division, but he did know his own union
His petty sessioual division had been changed twice or three
times within the last few years and he did not now know how
far it extended, while he did know the extent of his union.
The hon. gentleman (Mr. Kuight) said that with union areas
the guardiaus would be under the control of the officers of the
Local Government Board. If that was the case it must be a
serious thing to be a guardian ; but did the hon. gentleman
mean to tell him that his vote as a guardian was affected by
the Local Government Board (Hear, hear) P If he thought it
were he would not be a guardian for one week longer (Hear,
hear). He agreed with Captain Craigie that it would be quite
as practicable to take the union area as the petty sessioual
division, and his experience tended to show that it would be
more practicable.

Mr. Godjjy (Nottinghamshire) thought it would be very
difficult to bring unions into a suitable position for forming
electoral areas, He had had a considerable amount of ex-
perience th<«t bore on that question. For 25 years he had been a
guardian in a union which was made up of 25 parishes out of
Nottinghamshire, 26 out of Lincolnshire, and the borough of
Newark with S guardians. Under this Bill, in which it wa8
proposed to take petty sessional divisions, they would have
three guardians elected members of the County Government
Board in each division, and he believed that there were the
same number of unions as of petty sessional divisions, so that
if the union area were adopted having three members for
each Union, they would have to split one man in every Union
in order to elect Uiree, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
being equally divided. Then, as regarded the formation of a
Union which comprised 27,000 inhabitants, viz., 12,000 in
the borough of Newark, 8,000 in Nottinghamshire, and 7,000
in Lincolnshire, he foresaw the greatest difficulty in making a
convenient electoral area. There were, as they had just been
told, 180 unions which overlapped, and any one who had a
pract.cal acquaintance with the matter must see that that fact
involved the greatest difficulty in connection with the object
of the motion before the Council. On the whole he believed
petty sessional divisions would form the most compact and
the best areas, and on that ground he would support the
amendment. He admitted that union areas required reform-
ing, but Captain Craigie's argument ou that poiut reminded
him of ladies who chose a bad husband in the hope of being
enabled to improve him (laughter). Captaiu Craigie would
make the union area the electoral one in order to bring
about a reform of that kind of area. That would, indeed, be
a slow process, and what was now proposed would, in fact, en-
danger the passing of the Bill.

Mr. T. Duckham said he entirely agreed witli the last
speaker. In the county of Hereford, where he lived, out of
11 unions 8 were border unions. He was at a loss to know
how Captain Craigie's ideas were to be carried out? How
were they going to work the Foor-Law with a rearrangement
of unious? Was it through the destruction of the present
workhouses and the erection of others P He believed there
would he found very serious difficulties in rearranging the
unions throughout the country ? Captain Craigie had told
them that there were 180 unious which overlapped, and he
could not see the desirableness of adopting areas which were
incomplete, in order to carry out the views which that gentle-

man expressed, especially when there wore areas which were
all complete in themselves.

Mr. Storeu, M.P., observed that the case of Nottingham-
shire was a rathercruciul one, there beingonly one ortwo unious
which were entirely within the county. The object of the
Bill was to provide for an altogether new state of things, and
what was contemplated would in many respects be a great
revolution, and therefore lie thought the Government were
perfectly right in proposing a new area for county adminis.
(ration. He did not see why the Goverumeut were bound for
electoral purposes to stick to union areas, which were originated
for such very different objects. As regarded the reform of
union areas, a long time must elapse before there could be an
amalgamation, because there were such conflicting interests
involved. He believed that what t lie Government uow pro-
posed would form the foundation of a better system of county
management, and he thought the adoption of petty sessional
divisions would do most to promote that object.

Mr. C, S. Read, M.F., said he entirely dissented from the
conclusion of his lion, friend who had just sat down, and
almost entirely from his lion, friend's reasons (laughter).
They were told that they were going to have a revolution^
What was that revolution but the revolution of taking the
areas used by the Local Government Board and making them
areas for electoral purposes ? If there were a revolution it
was of the minutest possible kind. Mr. Godby had mentioned
the case of a Union including 25 parishes in one county and
26 in another. He (Mr. Read) would have thought it was
perfectly possible for those 25 and 26 parishes to have eash
elected one man, and for oue to have been sent to Lincoln and
the other to Nottingham, the other representative, making up
three, being given to the town of Newark. Putting out of
considera'ion the urban element, would it not be much better
for the rural guardians to elect two men than for the guardians
of different Unions to go to the Petty Sessional Divisions and
there elect members? He would put it to any one in that
room whether they could be aware of the character or qualifi-
cations of any man for a seat at a County Board before they
had worked with him. Having had some experience of officiaj
life, he must say that most officials were very averse to giving
themselves much trouble ; and heuce it was natural that as
regarded the electoral area under the Bill the Government
officials should have considered the easiest course the best one.
In the present case he felt sure that the easiest course was not
the best. It was not the best course to begin the new system
by setting up a new area instead of sticking to the old oue and
endeavouring to improve it. The great majority of the
Chambers which had already reported on the subject were
unanimously in favour of the Union area.

Baron Dimsd.yle (Hertfordshire) said the question was
fully discussed in his Chamber on the previous Wednesday
and no one seemed to be in favour of the Union area, while
there was a general assent to the selection of Petty Sessional
Divisions. He thought it was desirable that the Bill should
be passed as speedily as possible. A good deal, perhaps, might
be said in favour of the administration of county finances by
the magistrates, but that system having been condemned the
sooner a change was made the better, and unless Petty Ses.
sional Divisions were adopted there must be considerable delay
arising from the necessity of re-adjusting boundaries. The
Union areas could not be adopted without revolutionary
changes, and wishing to see the Bill become law as soon as
possible he was in favour of the proposal of the Government.

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. Whitaker Wilson deprecated the time of the Council
being occupied witli details. The Bill was a good one, and he
for one cordially thanked the Government for introducing it,
and whether they had Union areas or Petty Sessional Divisions
there would he the same numher of representatives.

Mr. Carpenter (Herefordshire) said his Chamber was
unanimously in favour of petty sessional division. He
wished to enter his strong protest against the assumption
that farmers were not qualified to take part in the administra-
tion of county business, five-and-twenty years of observation
having led him to the conclusion that they were as well
fitted to do so as magistrates.

Mr. Lywood thought that, having regard to the pressure
of Government business, the Couneil would do well to support
the petty sessional division arrangement for the present, as a
contrary course would be a great obstacle in the way of legis-
lation. The matter was of detail, and it should be borne in
mind that, after all, it was the guardians who would select the
man, and he believed they would select the best man in
petty sessional divisions. The area of Unions might hereafter
be made coincident with that of counties.

Mr. Woodward (Worcestershire) doubted whether the
majority of Chambers were in favour of petty sessional
divisions. However ancient such divisions might be they were
not known except as areas for the administration of justice
(Hear, hear), and it seemed to him that if they were to adopt
Union areas the difficulties which had been referred to
might be got over ; while the result would be to render the
Guardians much more powerful than they would be uuder the
Bill. Surely, if Boards of Guardians had the administration
of sanitary matters, education, and the Poor-law system they
must be very powerful, and when their power was concentrated
in County Boards they would be fouud quite capable of coping
with a Central Board in London.

Mr. T. Willson said he must vote in favour of union areas
in preference to petty sessional divisions. Although he had
had considerable experience in his own district, he did not
know the boundaries of his petty sessional division, neither did
he know who were the most likely to be nominated as mem-
bers of a Couuty Board. Having been a guardian for five-and-
thirty years, he did not agree with Mr. Knight, that guardians
were a down-trodden set of people, who had no power to do
anything. If they had good sense on their side they could
always beat a Local Government Board as well as any other
body (laughter).

Mr. Bell (Newcastle) thought that if the discussion had
proved anything, it had proved the evils of the present compli-
cation of areas, and it appeared to him that by adopting petty
sessional divisions the Government would be taking a step in
the direction of fresh complications. Whichever system was
adopted there must be confusion, but of two evils they must
choose the least. If union areas were adopted there would be
the evil of having 180 areas overlapping, while if petty ses-
sional divisions were adopted there would be great complica-
tions in every ciunty.

The Chairman said, before putting the question, he wished
to m ike one or two remarks. It seemed to him that the dif-
ference of opinion as had been expressed that day what they
had to expect in another place. The question had been very
earnestly debated ; aud besides the movers and seconders
there were seven speakers for the motion, and the same num-
ber for the amendment. When that was the case, let them
consider what was likely to be the difference of opinion and

the amount of time occupied in a similar discussion elsewhere.
He really did not think the point was worth so much discus-
sion ; for whichever area might be determined upon, the
boards of guardians would be the electing medium, and would
be almost sure to choose the most intelligent men of their class-
Another reason for preferring the petty sessions area was
that it had been deliberately selected by the Government, which
had paid great attention to the subject, and that that decision
was supported by Mr. Goschen representing the Opposition.
By fettering the action of the Government, as they would by
opposing one of the main features of the Bill, they would endan-
ger the passing of it. Opponents of the object would take
advantage of such divided counsels, a boundary commission
would be appointed, and there would be a delay of two or
three years. In fact, while fighting, as it were for a shadow,
they would lose the substance. He had reason to believe that
the question of area would not be regarded by the Government
as finally settled if the Bill pissed in that respect as it stood
and he had also reason to believe with Mr. Sclater-Booth
that the passing of the proposal of union arears would endan-
ger the pressing of the Bill. There had not been such a gene-
ral expression of opinion on the part of the local Chambers in
favojr of union areas as would be entitled to carry much
weight. Reports on the subject had been received from 21
Chambers, and of these only 12 were for tne union areas.

Mr. James Howard said he must protest against the
assumption that the Central Chamber of Agriculture was a
political body. They were not united together for party
politics, and it was dangerous to lay down the principle that
that Chamber ought not to express its opinion either on the
principle or the details of a Bill, because that might embarrass
the Government in their efforts to get it passed (cheers).

The Chairman disclaimed having intended what was
supposed ; what he meant was that they should not embarrass
the Government for their owu sake.

Mr. J. Howard said he accepted the explanation, but failed
to see the difference which it made. He thought that wheu
they were assembled together as a deliberative body they
ought to express an opinion oa the principle of the details of
Bills which affected agriculture. If they were to take into
account collateral issues the object of joining the Chamber
would be defeated.

In reply to Mr. C. S. Read,

The Secretary stated that 12 Chambers had thus far ex-
pressed their opinion in favour of union areas and one in
favour of petty sessional divisions. For the union areas there
were the Chambers of Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Lincoln-
shire, East Kent, Newbury, Somersetshire, Devon, Cornwall,
Norfolk, Swindon, West Ridinj, and East Suffolk. The
Nottinghamshire Chamber was iu favour of petty sessional
divisions.

The Chairman then put the question, wheu the numbers
were — For the amendment 17, against it 21.

The original motion wa3 then adopted.

Mr. Evrrett moved au amendment iu the Bill, re.
ducing the number of magistrates chosen by qua.-ter session
to one-third of the Board. He said unless the representative
element formed a majorit) the Boards would fail to accomplish
what he believed they all desired. Wuether there was a
majority of magistrates or of uon-magistrates was immaterial,
all that was necessary for the purpose being that they should
sit there in a representative capacity. He hoped the Chamber
would be unanimous in favour of that proposal,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

301

Mr. C. S. Read, M. P., was happy to second the motion. One-
third was the proportion of exollicio members on all Boards
appointed of late years — for exanple, the Sanitary Boards,
the Valuation Boards, and the Education Boards. He agreed
with Mr. Everett that it would not matter much how mauy
magistrates sat on the Board if they were elected ; indeed lie
would have no objection to the whole Board consisting of
magistrates if that condition were fulfilled.

Mr. CaldecOTT remarked that the provision in the Bill,
that in choosing magistrates to act on the Board the quarter
sessions should " have regard as far as practicable to petty
sessional divisions," seemed to him unnecessary, as they might
rely upou it that the magistrates sitting in quarter sessions
would select the best men belonging to their own body that
they could find in the county.

Mr. Stoker, M.P., said as regarded the remark of the
mover, that he would uot object to any number of magistrates
sitting on the Board in a representative capacity, he considered
that they would be there in a representative capacity under
the Bill. [A. Member : " They would not represent the rate-
payers."] They would be representatives of the magistrates,
who were chiefly landowners, and would be just as much
elected by them as the guardians would be elected by their
brother guardians. The magistrates would have very little
power if the motion were carried out. They were sure to be
out-voted, as he had been when acting as an ex-qfficio member
of a Board, and hence they would not be found to attend. He
did not wish to propose any amendment, but he objected to
the proposal.

Mr. Lywood supported the motion, and believed that if the
magistrates formed only one-third of the whole they would
still, by reason of their position, education, and capacity, have
quite a preponderating influence (Hear, hear).

Professor Willis Bund denied that there was any anta-
gonism between the magistrates and the ratepayers. Although
there might be great objections to magistrates forming half
the Board, it would be well to consider what effect their being
reduced to onethird would be likely to have, consideriug what
large powers would be entrusted to the Board.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P. : The more representative the Board
was the more likely would the Government be to trust 'n
(cheers).
After some discussion the motion was agreed to.
Mr. Adkins proposed an amendment in the Bill extending
the term of oilice to three years, adding that he would be glad
to see a provision to the effect that one-third of the members
should retire annually.

Mr. Lipscombe seconded the motion.
Mr. Clay (the Treasurer) said that out of the 21 Chambers
which had been reported from, 12 were in favour of 3 years,
and 1 in favour of 5 years, while 8 had expressed no
opinion.
The motion was then agreed to.

Mr. Caldecott moved an amendment in the Bill trans-
ferring the appointment and cost of coroners to the State, ob-
serving that he should be very glad if that were done, but was
afraid it would not be,

Mr. Lywood seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.
Mr. T. Willson moved an amendment for eliminating the
highway clauses and transferring them to the Highways Bill,
remarking that without that it would be impossible to get the
measure passed in the present session.
Captain Craigie seconded the motion.
\

Mr. J. Howard considered it absolutely necessary that the
ship should be lightened in the manner proposed.

The motion was adopted, and this terminated the discussion
on the County Administration Bill.

The next question on the agenda being the reception of the
Report of the Cattle Diseases Committee, it was explained by
the Chairman and Secretary that since the Report of the Joint
Committee of the Chamber and the Farmers' Club was printed
some alterations had been made in it, and a discussion ensued
as to what course was best under the circumstances.

The Chairman remarked that the Bill had not yet passed
through the House of Lords, and that there would be quite
time enough to discuss the question without doing so on that
occasion. Ultimately the following resolution was agreed to :
of the Joint Committee of the Farmers
Club and the. Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture
be printed and circulated by the Secretary to all the Local
Chambers throughout the country, and that it be considered
at the next Council meeting."

1', was understood that the Contagious Diseases Auimalg
Bill will be the first subject fixed for discussion at the next
Council meeting.

On the motion of Mr. Clay, seoonded by Mr. T. Duckiiam,
a vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, and this ter-
minated the proceedings.

THE BRITISH OBELISK.— It was hewn in the renowned
quarries of Syene, at the extreme southern boundary of
Egypt, and was theuce floated down the stream of the Nile to
Heliopolis, the City of the Sun. It was erected as one of a
pair iu front of the seat of learning whereiu Moses received
his education, and stood in that position for about 1,600
ye irs. Shortly before the Christian era it was conveyed to
Alexandria, w here it has remained until the present time
Its age, therefore, may be computed at upwards of 3,000 years
At that early period, when other nations had not yet
awakened into the dawn of civilisation, Egypt had made snb-
stautial progress in architecture and sculpture ; and the
British obelisk may be taken as an admirable example of their
excellence, The hieroglyphs which adorn its surface inform
us that it was erected by a powerful Pharaoh of the eighteenth
dynasty, Thothmes III., and that 200 years later it was
carved with the name of another illustrious Egyptian
potentate, Ranges the Great. The sculptures of Thothmes
occupy the central lino of each face of the shaft from top to
bottom, and those of Rameses the side lines ; so that, at a
glance, we are enabled to compare the art of sculpture at
periods of two centuries apart. Heliopolis was the On or
the Bible, and one of the cities of the Land of Goshen
where Abraham sought refuge when driven by famine out of
Canaan. It was at Heliopolis that Joseph endured his
slavf ry and imprisonment, and was rewarded by the Pharaoh
of his day with the hand of Asenath, the daughter of
Potipherah, a priest and ruler of On. Here he received in
his arms his aged father Jacob, and Jacob fell on his neck
and wept with joy at the recovery of his long-lost and well-
beloved son ; whilst in the neighbourhood of Heliopolis is
et ill showu the venerable sycamore tree, under which, accord-
ing to traditional report, the Holy Family took shelter in
their flight into Egypt. — Cleopatra's Needle, Sc, by Erasmus
F.R.S.

102

THE FARMER'S MAGAZ1JME.

THE NORFOLK SPRING SHOW OF AGRICULTURAL STALLIONS.

Some few weeks since it was proposed at a Committee
Meeting of the Norfolk Agricultural Society that the
exhibition of cart stallions should be held in the spring,
before the travelling season commences, rather than in
June, when the Society's annual show generally takes
place, and it was hoped that by offering prizes of greater
value, to be awarded only in the event of the prize-winners
remaining for service in the county, that they would thus
secure the services of tho best horses, and supply
a need which had long been seriously felt. A general
meeting being summoned to debate the subject, the
proposition was carried unanimously, and the first Spring
Exhibition of Cart Stallions was held on Saturday last,
March 9tn, in Chapel Field, Norwich. The judges were
Mr. W. Thompson, of Thorpe, Colchester, and Mr. J. II. |
Plowright, of Pinchbeek, Lincolnshire.

In the class for horses of four years old and upwards,
there were 17 entries, and 16 put in an appearance. Mr.
Wilkius' (Tiptree Heath, Essex), Honest John by
Welcher's Honest Tom, was the absentee. The special
prize of £60, and the Society's prize, of £20 deservedly
went to Mr. Thomas Murfet, for his bay horse, Major,
by Welcher's Honest Tom ; he is a magnificent horse, with
a beautiful head and crest, grand shoulders, wide
chest, and well sprung ribs. He has wide, good quarters,
and possesses " the moat important qualities necessary in
a cart-horse, viz., fine action and plenty of muscle and
bone, combined with great power; fiat legs covered below
the knee with good, silky hair." Major belongs to a
good old stock of blood, his dain's sire was Harpley's
World's Wonder, and the mares got by him bred some
of the best stock iu Eastern England. It will be fortunate
for Norfolk farmers if they can retain this horse in the
county. The fee charged by Mr. Murfet for his use places
him within the reach of all, as £3 3s., including groom's
fee, cannot be called an exorbitant demand. We were
glad to notice that mauy farmers were exerting
themselves to secure his services for their mares.
The second honours fell to Mr. Anthony Hammond's

brown horse, Lion, a, general favourite. He is a compact,
powerful, active horse, and beautifully bred (by Heart of
Oak). He has good head, crest, shoulders, and ribs ■ his
weak points are that he is rather deficient in his hind-
quarters, and although he has good feet, he has rather
nipped, weak hocks ; however, he well deserved the prize
awarded him. The third prize fell to Mr. H. Stanley, of
Bury St. Edmund's, for his horse Champion. The Ke-
serve card was given to Mr. J. J. Palmer, of Snetterton,
for Monarch, an old Norfolk favourite ; although a good
mover he lacks the appearance of a stallion. Mr. Wm.
How, of Tottington, received a commendation for his dark
chesuut Prince Imperial, a pretty horse, but rather
low in his back, and somewhat small. Mr. Martin, of
Highfield House, Littleport, also received a Commenda-
tion card for Hector, by Hercules, a short-legged,
compact, powerful horse, with plenty of bone. The three-
year-old class had nine entries ; only six, however, made
their appeai'anee iu the ring. Mr. Charles Marsters, of
Saddlebow, was, as usual, invincible in his class ; the
special prize of £40, and the Society's prize of £12, fell
to his celebrated Topsman, a winner of many first
prizes last year. He is a grand horse, quite a show
animal, good mover, plenty of fashion, and sufficient
boue and substance to satisfy all judges. A further
description of this grand and well-known horse is need-
less. Suffice it to say, his services are secured for the
county of Norfolk. The second prize fell to Mr. James
Case for Tomboy, of Testertou, a grandson of Welcher's
Honest Tom. This is a very compact, powerful horse, with
finely-arched ribs, good shoulders, loin, and arms. He
has fine action, and wre must congratulate his owner on his
well-deserved success.

On the whole, the show must be considered a success,
and the members of the Norfolk Society may congratu-
late themselves that they have done what lies in their
power to encourage the breediug of improved cart horses,
which ought and, in fact, must be looked to as a certain
source of income to the British farmer of the present
day.

BIRMINGHAM SHORTHORN SHOW AND SALE.

The tenth great annual exhibition and sale of pedigree Short- I Moreton, Lord Braybrooke, Baron vou S;hroder, Sir Georg

horn Cattle, held in Bingley Hall, under the auspices of the
Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society, commenced
on March 6th, and will, there is every reason to anticipate,
prove as successful as any of its predecessors. The entries did
not present so large an aggregate as last year ; but the general
quality of the stock was good, the bulls exceeding ten and
exceptionally meritorious. Among the herds represented were
not exceeding twenty months old, those exceeding fifteen and
not exceeding twenty months old, and the bull calves bein^
those of the Duke of Northumberland, Earl Beauchamp, Ear°l
of Coventry, Earl Spencer, Lord Leigh, Lord Polwarth^Lord

Jenkinson, Bart., M.P., Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P., Sir G.
R. Phillips, Bart., Sir Richard Sutton, Bart., Rev. It. B.
Kennard, Rev. H. Beckwith, Rev. J. J. D. Jefferson, Rev. E
C. Perry, Rev. H. 0. Wilson, Colonel Kingscote, M.P.,
Colonel Loyd-Lindsay, M.P., Major Webb, Captain Haydock,
Captain Mytton, Mr. H. Atlsopp, M.P., Mr. A.Brassey.M.P.,
and Mr, H. J. Sheldon. The last-named gentleman was the
winner of the extra prize of £20 for the best bull in four
classes, with Duke of Charming Land 7th, red with a little
white, calved January 8th, 1877. This is a compact, level
animal, of excellent quality, his sire being Giand Duke 23rd,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

3o-r

and dain Charming Duchess 6th, At eleven o'clock Mr. J.
13. Lythall proceeded with the sale of the cows, heifers, and
bulls in the first six classes, all of which were disposed of at
satisfactory prices, two of the bulls in Cla9s 6, bred by Mr.
Sheldon, realising 115 guineas each.

LIST OF PRIZES.
Judges :— Mr. Stiles Rich, Fearnall Heath, Worcester, and

Mr. James Upson, Witliam, Essex, for Classes 1 to 0 ; Mr.

Charles Howard, Bedford, and Mr. William Sanday, Rat-

cliffe upou-Trcnt, Nottingham, for Classes 7 to 10.

Cows or Heifers exceeding three years old. — First prize, £10
W. Bliss, Chipping Norton (Secret) ; second, £5, W. Tidy,
Middlcton, Tamworth (Blue Belle) ; h. com. and reserve, 11.
Lovalt, Bushbury, Wolverhampton (Laviua) ; com., F. Lythall,
Offchurch, Leamington (Lucy 7th); Sir R. Tee I, Drayton
Manor, Tamworth (Lady Eleanor 3rd).

Heifers, exceeding two and not exceediug three years old. —
First piize, £10, W. G. Game, Broadmoor, Northleach (Netta
3rd) ; second, £5, Rev. R. B. Kennard, Marnhull, Blandford
(Cygnet 2nd) ; h. com. and reserve, W. Arkell,jun., Ilatherop,
Fairford (Damsel 7th) ; com., H. Parker, Wickwar (Lady,
Butterfly).

Heifers, exceeding one- and not exceeding two years old. —
Prize £10, G. J. Day, Norwich (Trifoliura 10th). II. com.
aud reserve, J. Briscoe, Hill Croome, Worcester (Bessie).

Heifer Calf exceediug six and not exceeding twelve months
old. — Prize, £5, Horsley and Son, Rugeley (Pink). H. com.
and reserve, G. J. Day (Harebell 2nd).

Bulls exceeding thirty-six months old. — First prize, £10,
T. M. Hopkins, Worcester (Duke of St. John's) ; second, £5
Mrs. Mace, Northleach (LordFitzclarence 3th). H. com. aud
reserve, G. J. Day (Young Robert Peel).

Bulls exceeding twenty and not exceeding thirty-six months
old.— First prize, £10, E. Grey, Eastham, Cheshire (Stock-
well) ; second, £5, Messrs. Horsley (St. Peter). H. com. and
reserve, Lord Braybrooke, Saffron Walden (Tablet). Com-
J. Whyte, Darlington, (Scotland's Farewell).

Bulls exceeding ten and not exceeding twenty months old. —
First prize, £50, and extra prize of £20 as best bull in Classes
7, 8, 9, or 10, H. J. Sheldon, Brailes House, Warwickshire
(Duke of Charming Land 7th) ; second, £20, W. G. Game
(Emperor) ; third, £10, H. J. Sheldon (Petrarch). H. com.
and reserve, Rev. J. J. Dunnington Jefferson, York (Gazette).
H. com., W. Faulkner, Northampton (Frederick) ; E. Cazalet,
Shipboume, Kent (Lord Vane) ; E. Lythall, Leamington
(Pilot). Com. : J. Roberts, Gloucestershire (Oxonian Sweet-
heart) ; T. H. Bland, Market Ilnrborough (Baron Lightbum).

Bulls exceeding fifteen and not exceeding twenty months
old. — First prize, £20, J. G. Attwater, Salisbury (Amos)
Second, £10, Col. R. Lo^d-Lindsay, Wantage (ReJan). Third
£5, H. J. Sheldon (Earl of Fawsley 7th). H. Com. an.
Reserve, Rev. R. B. Kennard (Crown Prince). II. Com : R"
Phipps, Woottou (Abbot of St. Albr.ns). E. Freeman, Chil
tou (Bonny Swell). Com: R. Frost, Chester (Garrett); S.
L. Horton, Shifnal (The Abbot) ; G. Game, Chipping Nor-
ton (Prince of Geneva 8th) ; Sir G. R. Phillips, Shipston-on-
Stour (Political) ; Mrs. M. A. Severne (Lord Walter) ; J. D
Allen, Salisbury (Lord Hopetown) ; J. J. Bibby, Shrewsbury
(Baron Hardwicke) ; T. Willis, jun., Bedale (Petition) ; G.
Hewer, Northleach (Prince of Prussia) ; Mrs. Mace (Prince
Consort) ; J. W. Larking, HartfielJ (Silvo) 5 C. Ilobbs, Fair
ford (Mercury) ; W. G. Game (Union Prince) ; Earl Beau
champ, Malvern (Ryland Duke) ; C. S. Pilgrim, Hinckley
(Polemon).

Bulls exceeding twelve and not exceeding fifteen mouths old
— First prize, £20, J. Outhwaite, Catterick (Grand Duke
27th) ; second, £10, Rev. R. B. Kennard (Marquis of Bland-
(ford) ; third, £5, T. Harris, Bromsgrove (llobart Pacha). U.
Com. and Reserve, Earl Beauchamp (Glen Gower). II. Com. :
Earl Beauchamp, (Douglas); T. Pears, Lincoln (Revolter) ;
T. Nash, Wolverlumpton (Lord Dodridge). Com..: J. Whyte
(Valentine Boy) ; Col. R. Loyd-Lindsay (Royalist) ; Mrs.
Mace (Royal Fitzclarence) ; Sir. G. S. Jenkinson, Falficld
Royalist 3rd) ; Earl Beauchamp (Madresfield Duke) ; A.
Soames, Bourn, Lincolnshire (Frederick the Great) ; R. B.
Bljth, Reading (Osmsn) ; W. G. Game (Frogmore Prince
2nd) ; M. Savidge, Chipping Norton (Master Merry) ; W.
Linton, York (British Hope) ; T. Harris (Magnum Bonum) ;
Earl Beauchamp (Young Sol).

Bull Calves, exceeding six and not exceeding twelve months
old.— First prize, £20, E. Lythall (Plato). Second, £10, E.
Lythall (Paragon). Third, £5, R. Wade, Market liar-
borough (Prodigal). II. Com. and Reserve : Earl Beauchamp
(Earl of Leicester). H. Com.: G. T. Phillips, Newport,
Salop (Prince Claro) ; Mrs. Mace (Baron Windrush) ; T. H .
Bland (Duke of Goldsmith). Com.: W. J. Edmonds, Lech-
lade (17th Master Tregunter) ; J. El well, Castle Bromwich
(Iron Duke); J. J. Bibby (Waterloo Chief) ; W.Faulkner
(Fortune) ; W. Dent (General Manfred) ; Major Webb,
Tamworth (Lord Lightboume 5th) ; Earl Spencer, Northamp-
tonshire (2nd Duke of Venice) ; H. Allsopp, Worcester (Grand
Patriot 4th) ; T. Hands, Coventry (Canley Cesarewitch 11th) ;
Lord Polwarth, St. Boswells (Grand Vizier) ; I. J. Banks,
Kendal (Duke of Certainty) ; R. Hemming, Bromsgrove
(Albion); R. H. Masfen, Wolverhampton (Bruno); SirR.
Sutton, Bart, (Prince Ruby) ; G. T. Phillips (Claro Duke) ;
A. Robotham, Tamworth (Royal Duke) ; Lord Moreton
(Prince of Whitfield 2nd) ; T. Hands (Canley Cesarewitch
13th) ; H. Allsopp (Grand Patriot 5th) ; II. A. Brassey,
Aylcsford (Baron Bright Eyes 2nd). — Midland Counties
Herald.

ALLEGED ORIGIN OF THE LETTER STAMP.— The
origin of the stamp had a tinge of romance in it. It was
thirty-seven years ago that Rowland Hill, while crossing a
district in the north of England, arrived at the door of an
inn where a postman had stopped to deliver a letter. A young
girl came out to receive it, she turned it over aud over in her
hand and asked the price of postage. This was a large sum,
and evidently the girl was poor, for the postman demanded a
shilling. She sighed sadly, and said the letter was from her
brother, but that she had no money; and so she returned the
letter to the postman. Touched with pity, Mr. Hill paid the
postage and gave the letter to the girl, who seemed very much
embarrassed. Scarcely had the penman turned his back when
the young iunkeeper's daughter confessed that it was a trick
between her and her brother. Some signs on the envelope told
her all she wanted to know, but the letter contaiued no writing
"We are both poor," she added, "so we invented this mode
of correspondence without paying for our letters." The
traveller, continuing his road, asked himself if a system giving
place to such frauds was not a vicious one. Before sunset
Rowland Hill had planned to organise the postal service on a
new basis — with' what success is known to the world. — Western
Farm Journal.

304

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

STUDBOOK ASSOCIATION FOR SHIRE-BRED HORSES.

After the discussion on Mr. F. Street's paper on "The '
Breeding, Rearing, and Management of Cart Horses," at
the Farmers' Club, on March 4, a number of gentle-
men formed themselves into a meeting to discuss the
desirability of establishing a stud-book for shire-bred
horses. Mr. John Brown, chairmau of the Club, presided,
and requested Mr. F. Street to introduce the subject-
Mr. Street said that there was a general feeling amongst
the breeders of shire-horses, and others interested in
the improvement of the breed, that there should be
a registry of pedigrees, as in the cases of the Clydesdales
and Suffolks. He desired, therefore to take advantage
of the present opportunity for forming an Association to
carry out that object. As to the place for the head-
quarters of the proposed Association, some had proposed
Cambridge or Peterborough, but he thought London
would be more suitable. He proposed the following
resolution, which was seconded by Mr. J. K. Fowler,
supported by Capt. Heaton, and unanimously agreed to :
" That it is desirable to form an Association for the
establishment of a StudBook " for Shire-bred Horses.'

The following gentlemen were then chosen a3 a Com-
mittee, with power to add to their number : —

Mr. J. Brown, Chairman of the Farmers' Club ; Mr. James
Howard, Bedford ; Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., Honingham, Nor-
folk ; Mr. Pickering Phipps, M.P., Northampton; Hon. E.
Coke, Derby ; Capt. Heaton, Worsley, Manchester ; Major
Dashwood, Kirtlington, Oxford ; Rev. L. Wood, Singleton,
Lancashire ; Mr. Charles Howard, Biddenham, Bedford ; Mr*
Finlay Dun, Hanover Square, London; Mr. R. Leeds, Castle-
acre, Norfolk ; Mr. J. Duckham, Ross, Herefordshire; Mr.
J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury; Mr. W. E. Bear, Thorpe, Essex ;
Mr. Joseph Martin, Littleport, Cambs ; Mr. J. F. Crowther,
Mirfield, Yorkshire ; Mr. Lewin Curtis, Chatteris, Cambs ;
Mr. J. Linton, West wick Hall, Cambs ; Mr. C. Masters,
Saddlebow, King's Lynn ; Mr. T. Rose, Melton Magna, Nor-
folk ; Mr. George Street. Maulden, Beds ; Mr. F. Street,
Sommersham Park, St. Ives.

It was decided to request the Right Hon. the Earl of Elles-
mere to become President of the Association. Mr. F. Street
was requested to act as Hon. Sec. The first meeting of the
Committee was arranged to be held on the 1st inst.

THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) BILL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Having recently attempted to deal with the
subject of contagious cattle diseases from a broad social
point of view, I shall esteem it a favour to be allowed space
in your Journal for a consideration of the proposed Con-
tagious Diseases (Animals) Bill from a purely agricultural
standpoint, which I trust will not be ill-timed, nor
considered to be out of place.

In introducing the measure, it will be remembered that
the Duke of Richmond attributed the failure of the Act
of 1SG9 to three distinct causes : — -namely, the impossi-
bility of preventing the admission and dissemination of
foreign diseases by port inspection, the absence of uni-
formity in the action of local authorities, and the want
of effective power vested in the Privy Council. The
Bill now before the House of Lords proposes to give full
and complete power to the Privy Council to deal with
contagious cattle diseases inland, and to slaughter all
foreign fat stock at the ports of landing. Since the
cattle plague era of 1865-6 farmers have contended for
slaughter of foreign stock at the ports of landing ; and
within the last two years the success which ha9 attended
the adaptation of refrigeration to the transit of dead meat
has warranted a demand for the total prohibition of
foreign live stock.

The Duke of Richmond fully admitted the reasonable-
ness and correctness of this latter demand, but tells us
plainly that public opinion is not ripe for such a change-
In the face of the fact that trade organisations have

hitherto effectively influenced public opinion against
slaughter at the port of landing, it is impossible to deny
that the Duke is justified in proposing such a measure as
he has reason to believe to be practicable, rather than one
which, though theoretically and logically unassailable,
would have no chance of becoming law in the present
state of public feeling. Therefore, the main feature of
the measure must be regarded as being based on political
possibilities, and not on the logical sequence which
scientific knowledge and common sense must derive from
the history of contagious diseases of animals in this
country. Slaughter at the ports of landing, as compared
with port inspection and inland distribution, is an advan-
tage which must be admitted by all, and cannot fail to
prove of immense benefit to the agricultural industry of
the United Kingdom. A practicable Bill in the hand is
better than a " logical" one in the bush.

Second only in importance to the main feature of the
Bill is the code of rules and regulations by which existing
diseases are to be combated. From a careful perusal of
the Bill I am unable to discover that the restrictions are
likely to prove vexatious or oppressive to the producer's
industry. If foreign stock were prohibited, and foreign
diseases thus prevented from landing, then measures of
a more drastic nature would be admissible ; but inasmuch
as these diseases are still to be brought here, the inland
restrictions appear to me to be quite commensurate with

THE FAHMRLfS MAGAZINE.

305

such an imperfect solution of the difficulty. They go
far enough in providing for a cordon to be drawn around
every centre of infection, constituting infected districts
in lieu of infected places under the old regime • but they
do not go too far iu the direction of stopping markets
and interferiug with ordinary traffic. The framers of the
Bill have not committed the error of going beyond the
circumstances of the case by proposing home rules
which would correspond to total prohibition, whilst only
providing for slaughter at the ports of landing ; and this
commends itself to me as a matter for which farmers
have cause to be thankful if they take into consideration
the tone and spirit of Mr. Forster's amendment to the
38th Clause of the Report of the Cattle Plague Com-
mittee. If a half measure is unavoidable, as I believe
it unfortunately is, then it is at least a consolation to
know that it is consistent iu itself, and not a half-measure
in one direction whilst a whole one in another. The
Bill confers full aud complete power on the Privy Council
to do whatever is necessary, and to meet any emergency
or contingency which may arise. I take it for granted
that this carte blanche will not be used in any way con-
trary to the general teuour of the Bill, because the Duke
of Richmond expressly stated that he had not availed
himself of certain powers under the Act of 1869, they
being in his opinion " outside the spirit of the Act.''
As far as I can discern, the intent and meaning of the
proposed Bill is simply to isolate disease centres with the
least possible interference with the conveniences of
breeders, feeders, and traders. Clause 22 certainly give3
an amount of discretionary power which, if exercised to
the letter, would skid the wheels of the entire cattle
traffic of the couutry ; if, by an Order in Council, the
seventh paragraph of this Clause — "as well with regard
to the auimals as with regard to the place where they are
so found (diseased)" — were enforced to its present meaning
the immediate result would be the closing of nearly every
market of any consequence throughout the country. If
I have read the Bill correctly such action as this would
be quite outside its general purport. If an infected
" district" included a market within its boundaries, that
market would doubtless be suspended ; but I cannot
gather from the clauses of the Bill that the exposure of
the animal affected with disease other than cattle plague
would be construed into legitimate cause for suspending,
or drawing a cordon around, a market. If that were to
be so, London and all our large markets would be sus-
pended, or cordoned, almost simultaneonsly with the
passing of the Act. No doubt that would, under certain
circumstances, be the right thing to do, but this is
evidently not the right time to do it j it will be soon
enough to submit to measures of that character when the
last foreign living animai has been lauded on our shores.
It has been proposed to draw a cordon arouud London,
which the Bill does not provide for ; but as the London
market differs from other large markets only iu degree,
it is difficult to understand why it should be subjected to
restrictions differing in kind. A great advantage, how-

ever, would doubtless accrue if separate markets were
provided for stores and dairy cows in our large towns.

The quarantine provided by the Bill cannot be defended
from any point of view with which I am acquainted. It
has reference to Dutch cow3 aud pleuro-pneumonia ; the
cows do not serve any agricul ural purpose, are not ne-
cessary to the welfare of the inhabitants of the metropolis,
nor of any other town, certainly not to that of the
general public, and the disease cannot be detected with
any degree of certainty by the fourteen days' quarantine.
The fifty -six days' subsequent supervision will probably
afford the advantage of enabing the inspectors to find tho
imported disease with tolerable certainty ; this is all that
can be said for it. In making such a regulation the
Government must be afraid of trade opposition, or
unwilling to allow prohibition to form any part of
their measure ; it is impossible to suppose that the pro-
fessional advisers of the Privy Council have sanctioned the
principle of the enactment. The Privy Council is to be
armed with power to deal with cattle plague should it
make its appearance, and no one will object to that ; but
pleuro-pneumouiaand foot-and-mouth disease are to be left
to the action of local authorities. It is true that local
authorities will have merely to carry out the rules and
regulations of the central authority, but the use made by
local athorities of the permissive powers vested in them
by the Act of 1869 cannot be said to augur well
for the way in which they are likely to carry out
these rules. It is a consolation to know that they
are compelled to appoint competent veterinary in*
spectors, and are responsible to— and liable to be super-
seded by— the central authority ; but it would have
been more satisfactory if the inspectors were to be ap
pointed by the central authority and responsible to them
alone. There must be a certain amount of discretionary
power vested in those who have to carry out rule3 and
regulations. The limits of the infected " district " is a
case in point, and paragraph 2 of Clause 21 stipulates that
a local authority may order the slaughter of cattle having
been in contact with pleuro-pneumonia "if they think fit.''
When the conflicting interests aud incompatible elements
of which local authorities are sometimes made up are duly
taken into consideration— together with the fact that
scarcely any two adjoining local authorities have hitherto
acted in unison — it will be seen to be quite within the
bounds of probability that they may not always *' think
fit " to carry out the spirit of the Act. though bound to
the letter thereof. I have no faith whatever in local au-
thorities, iu respect to cattle disease matters ; there is too
much division of opinion, too many conflicting interests
and too little practical knowledge of the question at issue.
The central authority proposes to confine itself to giving
orders and looking-on ; I think it likely they would savO
themselves trouble by doing the work themselves.

Taking the Bill as a whole, I cannot see that it is any-
thing but a gain to farmers ; it is not perfect, nor all
which might with reason be demanded, but as the Duke
of Richmond declares it to be all he has power to offer, it

306

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

appears lo me that it may be safely accepted as tentative
and provisional. I regard it not so much as a " half-
measure," and "step in the right direction," as it is being
termed, but as an immense stride towards the ultimate
total prohibition of foreigu cattle at no distant date, and

the consequent emancipation of the country from the curse

of foreign contagious diseases of animals.

I am, Sir, kc,
George T. Turner.

Sir,

CARBOLIC ACID FOR SHEEP.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS..

-On the 12th December last I received a letter

from a young Scotchman, Mr. Charles Scott of Howford,
Ettrick, Selkirk, who is a total stranger to me, giving
me some interesting information respecting the use of
carbolic acid as a remedy for "fever and straining"
amongst ewes after bad lambing, and he asked me to
give his treatment a trial and to report my experience
respecting it.

I willingly undertook, at the proper time, to comply
with this request, and I do not doubt that it will be
interesting to many flockmasters to learn the result of my
trial of this new remedy. (Here follows some corres
pondence, which we are obliged to omit, in whieh Mr.
Scott tells how he successfully treated ewes with his
remedy.)

Having an impression that for even severe cases a
mixture of one part carbolic acid to two of oil, the
quantity "recommended, would be too strong a dressing to be
used [with safety, I consulted Mr. Corder, chemist,
Norwich, who most kindly gave me the benefit of his
advice, and we decided that a dressing for severe cases
•hould be composed of one part of carbolic acid, to seven
parts gallipoli oil, and for milder cases one part carbolic
acid to fifteen parts oil.

The first case upon which the remedy was tried was
that of a ewe, which lambed in the fold on a very wet,
severe night, and she seemed to have caught cold before
the shepherd could get her into a shelter pen.

The ewe was taken with violent straining, and was in
great pain, and when I went to the shepherd I found
that by mistake he had used the milder dressing of the
two, which appeared to have little effect, for at that time
the exterior of the vagina was fearfully enlarged and
gangrene had commenced. I had the strong dressing
applied and the eifect was very remarkable. The poor
ewe appeared to be soothed and relieved from pain, and
the inflammation and swelling of the veins gradually sub-
sided and eventually disappeared, and the ewe did well.
It was an extreme case, aud both the shepherd and I
thought nothing could save the life of the ewe, and we
were both of U3 surprised and pleased at the unexpected
result.

A second case was that of a shearling ewe, which had
a wrong presentation, and considerable force had to be
used to turn the lamb, and the shepherd thought the
ewe eould not get over it. However, s^me of the
strong mixture was poured to in the uterus, and the ex-

ternal parts of the vagina were well dressed, and the ewe
never fell off her food and did well.

The third case was that of a three-year-old ewe, which
had two lambs, one of which was so placed that neither
could be born without help, and the shepherd had very
great difficulty in getting the lambs from the ewe, and he
thought this case would be a good test for the carbolic acid
diessing. The vagina wa3 carefully washed with warm
water and wiped dry, and then the strong mixture was
applied pretty freely to the uterus as well as to the ex-
terior of the vagina, which had been somewhat injured
from the force used. The ewe appeared faint and
exhausted for several honrs, but on the following day
took to her food and gradually recovered.

The ewes in the Merton home farm flock have been
remarkably healthy, aud up to this time I never remember
a more successfnl lambing season, and the three cases I
have mentioned above are the only opportunities I had of
trying the carbolic acid dressing in extreme cases, but they
were of a nature to satisfy me that the dressing can be
used with great advantage, and this is also the opinion of
the flock shepherd here, who is by no means a man to
jump at conclusions, especially concerning a remedy of
which he has had no previous experience.

The shepherd tells me that he has used the mixture in
several cases where he thought there might be inflamma-
tion of the uterus arise, and he is strongly of opinion that
it has in some instances prevented the disease. He
considers it of importance (and I agree with him) that,
after a bad lambing, the external parts of the vagina
should be carefully washed with clean tepid water and
wiped dry, before the mixture is applied.

On au off farm there have been two or three cases of
bad lambing, and the carbolic acid and oil (strong
mixture) was used with the best effect. The old shep
herd on the farm appeared surprised to see the symptoms
of straining so quickly subside.

My experience of the mixture has not been so full as
may seem desirable, but having had so few bad cases I have
up to this moment been unable to test it further
Feeling, however, from what I have seen of its effect in
three bad cases,that I may safely recommend flockmaster.
to givejthe mixture a trial, I am desirous of loaing no time
in making the above particulars known, so that the
treatment may be tried during the present lambing season.

I would particularly urge upon all who may try the
mixture to use only the very best carbolic acid, and would
even recommend going to the expense of Calvert's, and to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

807

shake the mixture thoroughly before using. Both these
are important points to he observed.

I should like to say that although this treatment was
unknown to myself as applied to ewes, it is, of course,
possible that it may he already in use by others besides
Mr. Scott, but in any case I feel much indebted to him
for allowing his treatment to have a fair trial under my

own observation, and fur his generosity iii permitting me
to make known to the public what seems to be so simple
and effectual a remedy for such a fatal and destructive
disease. I am, Sir, &c.,

Hexky Woods,

Thetford, Norjolk, March C.

FAT.

TO THE EDITOR OK THE HARK LANK EXPRESS.

Sir, — Popular delusions are so apt to spread that a
word or two on the above subject may not be out of
place.

The Chairman of the Dublin Tramway Company at the
meeting held the other day, said "Only two of our horses
died during the half-year, and one from fatty de-
generation of the heart— a pretty good proof that the
Company's horses were well used." (Hear, hear, and
laughter).

If the chairman meant that the small mortality among
the horses was a proof they were well used, he was quite
possibly right, but if he meant that fatty degeneration of a
horse's heart showed it had been well used he wa3 quite
possibly wrong. That the audience thus understood him
is shown by their laughter. And it is too commonly
supposed that fattening the animal fattens the heart. The
true sense of fatty degeneration appears to be, giving the
heart too much labour. Whether indolence deprives the
heart of the assistance of muscular pressure on the veins
of the body, or over-work, or excitement drives the heart
at abnormal speed, the result may be the same. The
strain on the heart is above what is natural, and the blood
is forced beyond what nature (on an average) provided for
into the blood vessels which nourish the substance of
the heart. If this state of things is long continued the
blood vessels may become gorged or otherwise injured
and incapable of conveying the proper nutriment to repair
the wasting tissues. Consequently unorganised substance
gradually takes the place of organised tissues — i.e., there
is fat where there should be fibriue in the form of muscle.
Thus we see it is quite possible for an animal to lay on a
great stock of fat outside its framework of bones without
overtaxing its heart, andwithout risk of fatty degeneration

of that organ. And it is quite possible for an animal
to be very lean, and yet by overtaxing its heart, become
liable to fatty degeneration.

The stimulating treatment often applied to so-called
" weak"' hearts, may often lay the foundation of fatty de"
generation. The only rational treatment of such com •
plaints seems to be to breathe such air and take such food
as shall keep the heart as much as possible from giving
one stroke per minute above the usual average. It then
gats time to feed without ruuning the risk of overcharging
any of its nutritive channels, and at least economises the
power it has.

Doctors say much about enriching the blood, but if
in doing so they drive it into the wrong place it were
better to leave it alone. Some people take stimulants
instead of exercise. This, from what has been already
said, must be a blunder. The stimulaut spurs the heart
to force the blood through the veins, thus increasing
the strain upon it. But moderate exercise mechanically
moves forward the blood in the veins, and thus relieves
the strain on the heart. Whence it follows that in some
cises of threatened syncope from failing circulation, it is
much safer to use gentle upward friction of the limbs in
horizontal posture than to administer brandy. The for-
mer is like opeuing the gate for the jaded nag, the other
like digging the spur into the fhnk and forcing him to put
his remaining strength to a high leap, and, it may be, a
damaging tumble.

" Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it
are the issues of life," said a wise man to his fellow-
men, and those who are humane will apply the maxim to
all the animals under their charge.

I am, Sir, &c, C.L. B.

RABBIT AND HARE "DISGUSTER."

TO TDK EDITOR OF THE MARK LAXE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Feeling great sympathy for " A Sufferer," I beg
to suggest that — if his farm is a light-laud one, and I
presume it is, because ground game will not hang about
heavy soils so much as on light and warmer grounds — the
following method will assist him very much, viz., not to
sow his wheat before the last week iu January or the first
week in February in each year for five years iu succession.
I have adopted this plan, and found it answer thoroughly

The worst crop produced six quarters per acre. I had
nothing to lose by ground game during the winter months,
and no risk as to the plant becoming what is termed root-
fallen through the soil being removed away from the plant
by the action of frost and wind. He should use Mr. J.
Prout's patent broadcast seed-sower, and not a drill. I
have always found broadcast sowing answer much better
than drilling ; the plant has more chance to tiller out,

308

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

and it prevents hares from running between the rows and
biting througn the straw, as they will do to a fearful
extent in drilled crops. As soou as the young plants
begin to make their appearance, engage a trustworthy
man to sow over the wheat, barley, or oats once a week,
very early in the morning, a small quantity of soot, mixed
with a very little guano ; such attention will rally the
young plant into strength, and prevent the vermin from
cropping it off through the two most trying months-
March and April. The soot should be purchased in the
winter months, when it can be bought cheaper, and so as
to have a good stock in hand when it is required.

I quite agree with the remarks in your valuable journal
that the most effective " disguster," as against the greatest
agricultural curse, ground game, would be an Act of
Parliament, giving the occupier an inalienable right to
destroy hares and rabbits or his holding. T should much
rejoice if such an Act could be procured ; but I fear it
will never be had, becanse farmers appear not to have
sufficient strength of mind to combine, and are afraid of
giving offence to their landlords. I speak from experience,
having been acting as land agent on an estate nearly the
whole of which is swarming with hares, rabbits, and
keepers, so much so that I have resigned my positiou,
because I would not attempt to cultivate the home farm
against such vermin, and because the tenants are always
acting in a sycophantic manner towards their landlord.
I am, Sir, &c .,'

Land Agent.

PRUDENT, NOT 3IEAN.—Mr. Elijah Hitchcock wa
a Connecticut constable, whose character was under scrutiny.
Deacon Solomon Rising was enquired of about him. " Deacon
Solomon Rising," said the questioner, " do you think Mr.
Hitchcock is a dishonest man ?" (Very promptly), " Oh, no,
sir ; not by any means." " Well, do you think he is a mean
man?" " Well, with regard to that," said the Deacon, a
little more deliberately, " I may say that I don't really think
he is a mean man ; I've sometimes thought he was what you
might call a keerful man — a prudent man so to speak.
•' What do you mean by a prudent man ?" Well, I mean
this : that one time he had an execution for & dols. against the
old Widow Witter back here, and he went up to her house
aud levied on a flock of ducks, and he chased them ducks, one
at a time round the house pooty much all day, and
every time he catched a duck he'd set right down and
wring its neck, and charge mileage ; an' his mileage
'mounted to more than the debt. Nothin' mean about it, as
I know of, but I always thought, after that, Mr. Hitchcock
was a very prudent man." — Prairie Farmer.

FEMALE BEAUTY.— An American paper says :— No two
nations agree exactly with each other as to what constituted
female beauty. The Moors estimate women by their weight,
as we do beef cattle, and purchase them at so much a hun-
dred. The favourites of the Chinese have deformed feet, black
teeth, and long nails. A girl painted sky-blue, with a ring
through her nose, is the acme of loveliness to a Tonga
islander. The Venetians 'almost worship red hair : and
so national tastes vary.

A PRETENDED MIRACLE.— A miracle is alleged to
have been wrought at the village of Maunch Chunk in Penn_
sylvania. A lady, by name Miss Amelia Greth, has, it is
asserted, been raised from the dead by Father Heinau, a
Get man Catholic priest at Maunch Chunk. Miss Greth,
according to her own account, was enabled, through
a communication from her guardian angel, to pre"
diet her own death, from consumption, but the pre-
diction was accompanied by the gratifying announce-
ment that she would be restored to life by a miracle,
would get up from her death-bed, attend mass, and return from
church cured of all ailments. On the day predicted Miss Greth
died accordingly, and her remains were viewed by 7,000
persons, |who were permitted to pass through the room in
which the corpse was lyiug. After Miss Greth had been
dead for about an hour, Father Heinau, who had attended her
in her last moments, announced amid the most profound
silence that he was about to " call her." He then cried
"Amelia !" and, there being no response, shouted her name
again in a loud voice, upon which Miss Greth immediately
came to life and responded " Father." The scene in the room,
it is stated, was at that moment "indescribable." Cries of joy
and weeping were heard on all sides. Miss Greth then asked
for a shawl, and was accommodated with a sealskin jacket,
which a lady who stood by the bedside took off and placed on
her shoulders. She then walked alone and quite rapidly to
church, followed by an immense concourse of people in a state
af wild excitement. When she arrived at the church Father
Heinau preached two sermons — one in German the other in
English — and on the conclusion of the service Miss Greth
returned to her room apparently strong and hearty. She has
since been interviewed by several reporters ; but, as she is not
permitted to describe her sensations during the time she was
dead, her revelations were confined chiefly to details as to her
health, which seems to have been far from satisfactory. — Pall
Mall Gazette.

PETITE.
Oh, you are like the cloudy speck

That rises on the blue of May ;
So thin, so fine, the little fleck

Is hardly worth a care, you say,
My sweet ?

Yet cloudlets hide the sun, Petite.

Or you. are like the rose in spring,
That scarcely shows the rose's pink ;

So pale, so frail, the tender thing
Is hardly worth a thought, you think,

My sweet ?
Yet rose-buds have their thorns, Petito.

Or you aro like the tempest's hoart

Tho swift aud slender lightning gleam ;

So light, so slight, the tiny dart
Is hardly worth a fear, you deem,

My sweet?
Yet little lightnings kill, Petite.

It is said that the members of the Sacred College iu Con_
clave were allowed to receive letters and newspapers — an
unheard-of innovation, and undoubtedly a concession to the
spirit of the times.?— Coming Events.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

SOfl

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

E O V A I- •

Monthly Council, Wednesday, March 13th. — Pre-
sent: Colonel Kingseote, C.B., ALP., President, in the
chair ; the Duke of Bedford, Earl Cathcart, the Earl of
Eeversham, Lord Chesham, Lord Skclinersdale, Lord
Vernon, the Hon. W. Egerton, ALP., Sir A. K. Mac-
douald, Bart., Sir M. White Ridley, Bart., M.P., Sir
Watkin W. Wynn, Bart., M.P., Mr. Arkwright, Mr
Aveling, Mr. Aylmer, Mr. Booth, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Can-
trell, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell. Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent, Mr.
Druce, Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Frankish, Air. Brandreth
Gihbs, Air. Hemsley, Air. Howard, Mr. Boweu Jones
Air. Leeds, Air. Mcintosh, Air. Martin, Air. Pain, Mr
llaudell, Air. Ransome, Air. Russell, Air. Sanday, Air.
Shuttleworth, Lieutenant-Colonel Turbervill, Mr. Jabez
Turner, .Air. Wells, Air. Whitehead, Mr. Wilson, Pro-
fessor Brown, Professor Simonds, and Dr. Voelcker.

The following new members were elected : —
Bear, William E., of Thorpe, Colchester.
Bellamy, T. H., of Ross.

Beun, Thomas G., of High House, Alutfen, Northumberland
Bookes, Thomas, of Sutton, Newport, Salop.
Brooks, John, of West Heath, Norfteld, Worcestershire.
Butler, John, of Tetbury.
Carr, Francis, of Heslington, York.
Clarke, John, of Broad Land, Nantwich.
Cooke, Walter II., of Ewenny Cottage, Bridgend.
Downward, John, of Tilstock, Whitchurch, Salop.
Eley, Henry, of Poyle farm, Colnbrook, Slough.
Foulkes, John, of The Sycamore, Lymra, Warrington.
Gilbert, John Heathcote, of Ashtoa-on-AIersey, Sale,

Clieshire.
Grifllths, Richard LI., of Alerriou Court, Pembroke.
Hall, Henry, of Alarchamley Wood, Hawkstone, Salop.

Heatley, John, of The Day House, Newport, Salop.

Hewitt, Win. H., of Glanonney, Crickbowell.

Hickman, Thomas, of Leaton Lodge, Shrewsbury.
Holcroft, Vincent O., of St. Alary's College, Oscott, Birm-
ingham.

Jelley, Henry, of Ganvell Mills, Wansford.

King, G. P., of Elm Farm, Chewtou, Keynsham, Bristol.

Lee, John, of Ilalghton Hall, Bangor Iscoed, Wrexham.

Le Grand, Alfred, of 100, Bunhill Row, E.C.

Lewis, George, of Flimstone, Pembroke.

Lewis, James, of Tlie Rest, Torthcawl, Bridgend,

Lister, Charles, of Darley Dale Abbey, Alatlock.

Madders, Grayson, of Grosvenor Terrace, Riclimond, Surrey.

May, John, of Farningham, Dartford.

Mayne, Joseph, of Catherine Lodge, Warrenpoint, Co.
Down.

Mundy, Francis Noel, of Markeatou Hall, Derby.

Palmer, Alfred, of S, Lancaster Place, Strand, W.C,

Phillips, James Edwin, of Britaunia Foundry, Derby.

Friday, William, of Linton, Highnam, Gloucester.

Roadley, Gravenor S , of Partridge Hill, Bavvtry.

Rob9on, Thomas, of Cundall Lodge, Boroughbridgc, Yorks.

Scratton, John, of Court Lodge, Sliornp, Gravescud.

Stacey, Harry, of Alerstliam, Red Hill.
Sutcliff, Robert, of 100, Bunhill Row, E.C.
Thomas, Georgp, of Ely Farm, Ely, Cardiff.
Thomas, John, of KoightasD, Tenby.
Thompson, John, of Sandymount, Tipperary.
Tonge, Dinely P., of Wellington Foundry, Lincoln.
Tophara, Robert, of Elson, EUesaaere, Salop.
Workman, J. B., of Southend, Uptou-on-Severn, Worcester.
Finances.— Air. Randell (Chairman) presented the
report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's receipts
during the past month had been examined by the Com-
mittee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., the Society's
: accountants, and fonud correct. The balance in the
hands of the bankers on February 28 was £1,315 3s. lOd.
an.l £3,000 on deposit.
This report was adopted.

Journal.— Air. Dent (chairman) reported that Air.
Clarke had attended the Journal Committee to offer ex-
planations as to his Memoir on Agriculture for the Pari g
Congress. Applications for exchange of publications with
the Journal had been received, and inquiries ordered to
be made in reference to them.
This report was adopted.

Education. — The Duke of Bedford reported the re .
commendation of the Committee that the usual examiners
be invited to act at the ensuing senior examination.
This report was adopted.

Implement.— Air. Hemsley (chairman) reported that
the Committee had drawn up the following regulations
respecting the trials of Dairy Apparatus selected for trial
at Bristol on July 8th and following days : —

Class 1. — Milk cans: Facility of cleaning, facility of filling'
ventilation, freedom from spilling, means of preventing motion
in milk when travelling, and strength, are points which will
be specially noted. The cans will be tested by being placed
on a covered truck, and drawn along a rough circular railway
by steam-power.

Classes 2 and 3. — Churns. — The milk and cream will be
delivered at 8.30 a.m., and mixed at once in suitable vessels
provided by the Society, and immediately afterwards delivered
to the churns at whatever temperature it happens to be.
Exhibitors must specify the quantity of milk or cream they
will require for eaeh churning when they make their entries.
Alter the churns are filled, a sample will be taken in a cream
gauge from each churn, and be reserved for future examination
by the chemist of the Society. The exhibitors may churn at
what temperature they please, but they are to provide their
own means for altering the temperature of their milk or cream.
Each churn is to have as much milk or cream issued to it as
the exhibitor may have demanded in his particulars of entry.
1'he weight of milk issued, and the temperature at which it is
churned, together with the time taken in churning, will he
noted. The cost of altering the temperature of the milk or
cream will he considered, and the power necessary to work the
churns will also be noted, but these points will not be made
important features in the decisions. Esch class of churns will

Z

310

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

be tested on the same day from the same stock of milk or
cream. The exhibitors are to bring their own butter-workers,
and fit persons for preparing the butter ready for market. Tha
relative merits of the chums will be decided with reference to
the following considerations :— The condition in which the
butter leaves the churn, its quality and quantity, the facility
with which the churns can be cleaned, and the time which the
churning occupies. The butter will be weighed and judged
after being completed by the exhibitors, and, if necessary,
aualysed by the Society's chemist.

Classes 4 and 5.— Butter-workers : Freshly-churned butter
will be provided by the Society to each exhibitor, in such
quantities as he may require, and power for driving his exhibit
will also be provided if required.* The exhibitor is to state
in his entry how much butter each machine will require. The
points of merit will be— completeness of extraction of moisture f
absence of hand-contact with the butter, freedom of machine
from fouling, facility of cleaning, and power required.

Class 6.— Cheese tub : Facility mode of filling and cleaning
and cost of heating, method of drawing off whey, economy of
labour generally in putting in milk and getting out the curd.

Classes 7 and 8.— Curd knife aud mill: Adaptability to
their purpose, facility of cleaning.

Classes 9 and 10.— Cheese turning and cleaning apparatus :
General adaptability to their purpose.

Class 11.— Automatic machine for preventing thcr ising of
cream : Adaptability to its purpose.

Class 12. — Milk cooler : Time occupied in reducing the
temperature a given number of d-grees, and the cost of
doing it.

Class 13.— Keeping milk at 40 degrees : Adaptability to the
purpose, cost of apparatus, and expenses of working it.

Class 14.— Milking machine ; The machines must be ex-
hibited at the Bristol Show, where the judges will select such
as appear to them worthy of further trial ; these will be taken
possession of by the Society's engineer, and tried during the six
consecutive months of the spring aud summer of 1879.
This lleport was adopted.

CHEMICAL.

Mr. Wells (chairman) reported the recommendation
of the Committee that the usual grant to Dr. Yoelcker for
experiments be made. During the past year the following
papers had been contributed by Dr. Voeleker to the
Journal of the Society : — 1. The Influence of Chemical
Discoveries on the Progress of English Agriculture ; 2.
On the Chemical Properties and Manuring Value of Bats'
Guano; 3. Quarterly Reports ; 4. Annual/ Report. The
Committee presented the following report on the subject
of the establishment cf a Laboratory on the Society's
premises, and recommended that it be printed, and copies
gent to Members of the Council, with the view of its
being considered at the next Council meeting.
Estimated Cost op the Establishment and Working
or a Laboratory fob the Analysis oe Agricul-
tural Materials and Produce.

1st. — As to Laboratory and Offices.
The followiug rooms would be required : —

1. Large Laboratory.

2. Balance Room.

3. Store Room for Chemicals and Apparatus.

4. Room for Water-Analysis.

5. Consu'tivtion or sitting-room for Director.

It is proposed to build a laboratory at the back of the
Society's house in a simple manner, by covering in a portion
of the yard with a span glass-roof. The present finance-room
would be made available for the Consulting Chemist's office,
and the Secretary's kitchen and other offices in the basement
would be used for water-analysis and store-rooms. All the
rooms must be supplied with water and gas. The followiug is
an approximate estimate of the cost of fitting up the laboratory
with benches for four analysts, and with the necessary shelves
cupboards, drawers, and apparatus : —
Additions to existing premises ...

Carpenters', plumbers', and glaziers' work ...
Glass and porcelain vessels, &c.
Gas combustion-furnaces, water-bath, air-bath,
steamer, distilled water apparatus, tubing, &c.
Air-pump, microscope, and physical apparatus, such

as aspirators, Sprengel pump
Platinum dishes, crucibles, &c.
Three balances aud sets of weights ...
Sundries, as printed form?, labels ; and small pieces

of apparatus, as files, cork-borers, &c. ...
Chemicals for one year
Bottles for re- agents ...

Bottles for 1,200 samples

Rooms 2, 3, 4, and 5 need not be large. Shelving and
furniture of the simplest character would suffice
for them. The cost of these fittings ought not to
exceed the sum of
It would be convenient to have a small set of books
of reference in the Balance Room. About GO
volumes of works aud periodicals relating to
chemistry and analysis would suffice for a be-
ginning. Such works as the following should
be included : — Jahresbericht de Agrikultur
Chemie, 13 vols. ; Fresenius Qualitative and
Quantitative Analysis, 2 vols.; Versuchs Sta.
tionen, 21 vols., &c.
The cost of such books would be about

£500

120

53

75

40
45

25

120

60

20

120

30

Grand Total

-As to the Staff of the Laboratory.

£1,250

* Exhibitors who require power for driving competing
machinery will have to provide driving pullies in halves to fit
r\. 2-inch shaft running at 100 revolutions per minute.

. 2nd.-

This should include : —

1. A Director or Chemist in Chief.
2- Senior Assistant.
3. Second Assistant.
-1. Porter or Attendant.
5. Boy Messenger.
Duties and Salaries of above officers: —
1. The Director shall receive a fixed salary of £400 a year,
together with one-half of the fees for analysis.

The Director's time will be occupied by the Society's work
for at lerst three hours each day, and except under special
circumstances he shall not underfjjje any other than the
Society's duties at their laboratory. The Director will conduct
all correspondence on questions of agricultural chemistry ; he
will plan aud supervise all analyses ; he will submit all ana-
lytical results to careful scrutiny, supplementing them by mi-
croscopic inquiries and special tests ; and he will draw up in
eacli case the final report on the quality of the material sub-
mitted to analysis.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

311

The other labours to be performed by the Director shall be
the furnishing of
Annual reports.

Quarterly reports as to analyses mule.
Special reports on new materials, and new chemical pro-
blems of agricuhural interest.
Original researchss in agricultural chemistry and improved

methods of analysis.
Reports on experimental analyses in connection with the
Wohurn farm and experimental held.
On the whole, it may be concluded that the Society might
conduct its analytical department for an initial outlay of about
£1,130, together with a yearly expenditure of about £770.
The details of this expenditure are here summarised: —

Expenses.

Original outlay.

Staff: Director —

Senior Assistant —

Secoud Assistant —

Servants —

Laboratory and offices :

Buildings : £500 ....

Laboratory 4S0 ....

Balance and other rooms 120 ....

Books and stationery 30 ....

Stamps —

Annual.
£400

140

120

100

140

10
10

Total

£1,130 £920

From the above total annual expenditure of £920 must be
deducted half the sum received each year as fees. The num-
ber of analyses made annually for members of the Society
under the present scale of fees has averaged between COO and
700; and even assuming as a basis of calculation that S00
analyses only would be made if the fees were reduced to an
average of 7s. Gd. each, a sum of £150 would be available for
the reduction of the annual cost to the Society as calculated
above ; this would leave £770 to be defrayed out of the general
income of the Society.

Proposed Alteration in Members' Privileges of Chemical

Analysis.

No. 1. — An opinion of the genuineness and value of

bone-dust or oilcake (each sample) 5s.

No, 2. — An estimate of the value (relatively to the
average samples in the market) of sulphate and
muriate of ammonia and of the nitrates of potash
and soda 5s.

No. 3. — Au analysis of guano ; showing the propor-
tion of moisture, organic matter, sand, phosphate
of lime, alkaline salts, and ammonia, and an esti-
mate of its value 10s.

No. 4. — An analysis of mineral superphosphate of linr.e
for soluble phosphates only, and an estimate of its
value 5s.

No. 5. — An analysis of superphosphate of lime, show-
ing the proportions of moisture, organic matter,
sand, soluble and insoluble phosphates, sulphate of
lime, and ammonia, and an estimate of its value... 10s.

No. 6. — An analysis, showing the value of any ordiuary

artificial m inure 10>.

No. 7.— An analysis of limestone, showing t he propor-
tion of lime, 7s. Cd. ; the proportion of magnesia,
10s.; the proportion of lime anl magnesia 10s.

10s.

No. 8. — Au analysis of limestone or marls, showing
the proportion of carbonate, phosphate aud sul-
phate of lime, and magnesia, with sand and clay...
' . — Pari i:»l analysis 0' a soil, including determina-
tions Ol clay, sand, organic matter, and carbonate

of lime 10«.

No. 10. — Gompli te analysis ol a soil £3

No. 11. — An analysis ol oilcake or other substance
used lor feeding purposes, showing the proportion
Of moisture, oil, mineral matter, albuminous mat-
ter, and wood) fibre, as well as of starch, gum,
and sugar in the aggregate; and an estimate of
its. value as compared with pure linseed cake 10s.

No. 15. — Analysis of any vegetable proiluct 10s.

No. 13. — Analysis of animal products, refuse substances

used for manure, &c from 10s. to £1

No. 14. — Determination of the " hardness" of a sample

of water before and after boiling 5s.

No. 15. — Analysis of water of land drainage, and of

water used for irrigation £1

No. 16. — Analysis of water used for domestic pur-
poses £1 10s.

No. 17. — Determination of nitric acid in a sample of

water 10s.

No. 18. — Personal consultation with the consulting
chemist (except under special circumstances the
Director will attend at the office from 11 to 2, but
to prevent disappointment it is suggested that
members desiring to hold a consultation with
the Director should write to make an appointment) 5s.

No. 19. — Consultation by letter 5s.

No. 20. — Consultation necessitating the writing of

three or more letters 10s.

N.B.— The above scale of charges is not applicable to the

case of persons commercially engaged in the manufacture or

sale of any substance sent for analysis.

In reference to the appointment of a manager of the
Crawley Farm and Experimental Field at Woburn, the
Committee asked for the authority of the Council to make
the appointment, subject to the concurrence of Mr. Lawes
and Dr. Voelcker.

Mr. Wells having presented this report. Lord Ye::xox
called attention to the proposed large expenditure, and.
while expressing his opinion that it was well worth in-
curring to secure the object desired, he questioned
whether it was desirable to spend that amount of money
on the premises which were at present occupied by
the Society. In. mauy respects these premises were
very inconvenient, and therefore be thought it would
be worth while to consider the question of a
change. He gave various practical reasons for this
proposal, and added that the Council might memorialise
the Government with the view of obtaining premises or a
grant for that purpose. He enumerated the learned
Societies which were at present accommodated at
Burlington House, and expressed his belief that the Royal
Agricultural Society could make out as strong a case as
any of them for Government assistance- lie moved —
" That considering the general deficiency of accommoda-
tion for the purposes of the Society in their presenl
a committee be appointed to consider the question."

/. 2

312

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. Pain having seconded the motion,

Mr. Dent expressed his preference for the present in.
dependence of the Society to a grant from the Govern-
ment, whether in the shape of money or premises, which
would virtually he a suhvention, and might entail a sur-
render of their present independence. He admitted that
the Society was at present hadly housed, and that the
question of a change was well worthy of consideration,
but he preferred that it should be done by the Society
without Government assistance, and he maintained. that
no Society, whether at home or abroad, had done so
much for the public, even with Government aid, as the
Royal Agricultural Society had done without it.

Mr. Aveling expressed a strong feeliug in favour of
Lord Vernon's motion. The effect of obtaining Govern-
ment aid in the manner sought for would be to make the
Society more useful to its members and to the public at
large. The Government of the day did not hesitate to
go to the Council if they wanted advice or assistance in
any agricultural matter, and the agricultural interest was
the greatest one in the country. At present the accom-
modation in the Society's house was very limited, and
therefore the efficiency of the Society in it? numerous
operations could not but be impaired.

Mr. Whitehead endorsed Mr. Aveling's views, and
hoped that the matter would be referred to a committee.
Independence would not be sacrificed in the case of this
Society, for it certainly had not been in the case of the
learned Societies to which reference had been made.

Mr. Wet.t.s dilated upon the inadequate accommoda-
tion of the Society's house. lie should like to see the
Society possess a p.oper laboratory, an agricultural mu-
seum, and every other requisite for a great national
institution ; but unless some assistance were rendered by
the Government he could not see that such a building
could be obtained by the funds at present available to
the Society.

Mr. Randell expressed himself in the same sense, and
also urged that the means of the Society would be insuffi-
cient to carry out properly all its operations if they were
compelled to sink their reserve fund in obtaining a suitable
building. lie saw no reason why the Society should not
ask from the Government the same aid that was given to
other Societies, but he would not, on that account, post-
pone the proposal of the Committee to make temporary
provision for a laboratory ou the Society's premises. The
proposal of Lord Vernon simply meant to ask for means
to do more than it could do at present for its members
and for the advancement of English agriculture.

After a further conversation, in which the President,
Lord Chesham, Earl Cathcart, Mr. Martin, the Hon. W.
Egerton, M.P., and Mr. Jacob Wilson took part, Lord
Vernon's proposal was carried uuanimously.

The report of the Committee was then adopted.

On the nomination of Lord Vernon, the following

noblemen and gentlemen were appointed a House Exten-
sion Committee: —

The President.

E;dr of Lichfield.

Earl Cathcart.

Lord Vernon.

Hon. W. Egerton, M.P.

Mr. Wells.

Mr. Arkwright.

Veterinary.

Mr. Dent.

Lieut.-Col. Tarbervill.
Mr. Brandreth Gibbs.
Mr. Randell.

Mr. Aveling.
j Mr. Whitehead,
! Mr. Jacob Wilsou.

The Hon. W. Egerton (chairman)
reported that Mr.Duguid had presented the following report
ou the outbreak of anthrax in Lincolnshire :—

"On Monday, Feb. 18, 1S78, 1 received information of
a most extensive and rapidly fatal outbreak of splenic
apoplexy in a herd of cattle belonging to Mr. W. N.
Mason, Rigsby, Alford, Lincolnshire. So great and
sudden was the mortality that 46 animals died in two
days, and it was at first supposed that they had been
I oisontd.

"Mr. Gressvvell, veterinary surgeon, Louth, was called
n, and after a careful examination of the affected animals,
and a post mortem of three that had just died, he pro-
nounced the disease a severe form of splenic apoplexy. I
examined portions of spleen and other organs sent me, and
found the long rod bacteria characteristic of this malady
in the blood obtained from them.

" It is seldom that we find more than a few animals of
a herd succumb in such outbreaks ; but iu the present case
only two animals survived out of a total of fifty that were
in the portion of the buildings where the disease appeared.
One of these, a yearling heifer, was affected and recovered ;
the other, a bull, had only been brought to the farm two
days previous to the outbreak. The animals were of
differeut ages. Two were fatting cows ; twenty-two were
cows in calf, or giving milk ; one was a sucking calf; and
the remainder were yearlings. The animals were all
apparently well on the evening of Friday, Feb. 15, buton
Saturday morning the herdsman found 1 cow lying dead,
and 21 more died during the day, and by Monday morn-
ing 46 had succumbed ; 1 more died on Monday, and
the sucking calf on Tuesday, making a total mortality of
48 animals from the 16th to the 19th. In another portion
of the buildings 26 heifers in calf have remained healthy.
At the request of Dr. Sanderson I visited the farm, with
a view of ascertaining, if possible, the cause of the out-
break, by inquiring into the feeding, water supply, and
state of buildings. The farm is situated on the chalk hills
and quite removed from the extensive marsh lands of the
county. The farm buildings are in very good condition,
and are situated on a slope, with a north-east exposure, the
substratum being chalk. A brick wall divides the buildiags
into two ; the upper portion is divided into four open yards
in which 26 heifers in calf have been kept all the winter
in perfect health ; the lower portion consists of two open
yards, in which the yearlings were kept, and a range of
covered stalls, in which the older animals stood. In this
lower portion the mortality occurred, and, as already
stated, only 2 ont of 50 animals survived.

" The water supply is the same throughout. The rain-
fall collected on a chalky road that runs through part of the

farm is stored in a pond, from which it is supplied by
syphon and ball-taps to the whole of the buildings. The
pond is fenced in so that no animal can get into it, and
from the fact that it stands above the level of the yard
there can be no drainage from them into it. The water
deposits a considerable amount of fine chalky deposit, and
contains organic matter, probably from the decomposition
of vegetable matter, straw, &c, blown into it. An analy-
sis of the water Las not yet been made ; there seems no
grounds for suspectiug this as the cause of the disease.

" Although the water supplied to all the animals was
the same, the feeding in the upper yard was totally
differeut from that where the malady appeared. The
animals that are still healthy were fed on liuseed and
cotton cake (about 1Mb. of each daily) and barley straw.

" The animals that became all'ected were fed on liuseed
and cotton cake in various proportions, 'he milch cows
and the cows in calf about 31b. daily, and the yeaidings
about 311b. The feeding beasts were receiving 51b. of
cake daily, and about 31b. of a meal of ground rice, wheat,
and barley. In addition to this the whole of the animals
in the lower portion of the buildings were receiving
brewers' grains and barley chaff.

" The grains were brought fresh from the brewery, and
stored for a short time in old sugar casks. Ou the 14th
February some fresh porter grains were fetched from the
brewery. The lad who brought them staled they had a
pecnliar odour, which made him feel sick. The grains
and chaff were mixed, and allowed to lie for twenty-four
hours ; the animals were fed with this mixture on Friday
evening, and the mortality began on the following
morning.

" Dr. Voelcker has analysed a sample of these grains,
and found nothing poisonous in them. From the fact
that only those animals fed with grains fell victims to the
disease it seemed of the first importance to feed some
more animals with them, and thus prove whether the
grains were the direct cause. Two auimals have been
fed for ten days at the Brown Institution with some of
the grains sent up by Mr. Mason, and they have con-
tinued in perfect health.

"I have further to report that on March 6 a bullock
was found dead in another yard oft the same farm, but at
least half-a-mile from the scene of the former mortality.
A. post mortem examination made by Mr. Gresswell, who
was again called in, showedthat the causeof death was splenic
apoplexy. This was one of a lot of 15 bullocks about two
and a half years old, that had been fed for the past six
weeks in open yards with 51b. daily of a mixture of
equal parts of linseed and cotton cake and barley straw.
Mr. Gresswell observing some premonitory symptoms in
some of the others ordered a change of food, and instead
of cake gave bran mashes, a few roots, and no straw, in
addition to which he prescribed hyposulphite of soda
medicinally.

" I visited the farm agaiu on the 7th March, and Mr.
Cope, the chief inspector of the Veterinary Department

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 313

of the Privy Council, arrived on the evening of the same

" On Friday, March 8th, the whole of the remaining
14 bullocks were examined, and 4 showed an internal
temperature of 103 degrees or over. These were separ-
ated for closer observation.

"On Saturday the temperature had declined, and up to
yesterday (March 11th) no further cases ha 1 occurred.

" In this instance only one animal died, and it is very
doubtful whether this was a fresh outbreak or whether it
was a continuation of the former due to some communi-
cation between the two yards. The same man had fed all
the animals.

" The water supply to this yard was separate from the
other ; and as there seemed a slight possibility of drainage
from the yard getting into the storage pond, water is
now being carted from a well for the supply. It has long
been known that in this disease bacteria are found in the
blood, and recent experiments show that these pass
through certain stages of existence when cultivated in
some animal fluids. In connection with the present out-
breaks, experiments are being conducted to ascertain if
they are capable of multiplying in other than animal
fluids, and if such prove to be the case a mo3t useful and
interesting field of observation is opened up in connection
with the causes of such outbreaks."

Dr. VoelckEr stated that he had examined the grains
and chaff which had been given to the animals in question,
and had found no animal or vegetable poison, adding some
further information in reference to the action of certain
claases of food.

Mr. Dent expressed the hope that the Veterinary
Committee would thoroughly investigate this case,
which was one of those ravages of a disease which had so
frequently baflied the efforts of veterinary surgeons to
arrive at its cause.

Professor Brown said that two distinct views were
at present held on this subject. Dr. Burdon Sanderson,
and other of the most advauced pathologists, held that in
all cases it must have been caused by contagion from a
previous outbreak, as certain organisms or their germs
were always found in the blood of animals affected with
splenic apophxy. This view had never yet been properly
tested in this country. If it were true that these organisms
'or their germs were essential to the production of the
diseases all questions connected with the food which had
beeu given to the animals had no longer any importance ;
and it was perfectly true that cases of the disease had been
known to occur under all the conditions contemplated by
the Inlders of this view. On the other hand a large
number of eminent practical veterinary surgeons held
that the disease only occurred under peculiar conditions
of soil and herbage, such as would be causel by the
absence of drainage, by excessive stocking, by abnor-
malities of climate, and so forth ; but the difficulty at-
tending on this view was that the disease only occurred
on those farms on certain occasions, and generally at very
long intervals.

314

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The report of the Committee was then adopted.

Selection. — Earl Cathcart reported the recom-
mendation of the Committee that Mr. George Fleming,
veterinary surgeon 2nd Life Guards, be elected an hono"
ary member of the Society in. recognition of his eminent
services to veterinary science.

This report was adopted.

It was moved by Earl Cathcart, seconded by Lord
Chesham, and carried unanimously, that Mr. Odams, of
The Grange, Bishop Stortford, be elected a member of
Council in the place of Mr. R. Horusby, deceased.

It was moved by Earl Caihcart, seconded by Mr. Dent,
and carried unanimously, that Mr. George Wise, of Wood-
cote, Warwick, be elected a member of Council in the
place of Mr. T. Horley, jun., deceased.

The following letter was then read from Mr
Stratton : —

The DuffryD, March 11th.

Dear Sir, — As I cannot be in town this week I shall fee]
obliged if you will call the attention of the Bristol Committee
t:> the new railway charges for cattle conveyed by passenger
trains. Until recently cattle have been charged the same as
horses, and two standings were always allowed without extra
charges, if required, for a large animal, and anything above a
yearling would require thera. The new rate is 50 per cent.
a'love the charge for a horse, and if two standings are used
5'J per cent, above the charge for a pair of horses. As these
e'uarges are simply prohibitive, and must have a prrjudicial
effect on agricultural shows in general, I submit that it would
be weil for the Royal Agricultural Society to take the matter
up, and endeavour to obtain their reduction.

Yours very truly,
II. M. Jenkins, Esq. R. Stratton.

In the discussion which followed, Mr. Booth stated
that last year the railway coarpanies refused entirely to
carry cattle in horse-boxes, but upon the breeders ex-
pressing their willingness to pay the extra cost which the
regulations of the Privy Council entailed upon them they
made the regulations which Mr. Stratton complained of,
and which were submitted to in preference to the pro-
hibitory orders which had been previously issued.

Mr. Dent said that last year great difficulty was expe-
rienced by the Society in arranging for the conveyance of
its own experimental animals (for the purpose of investi-
gations into foot-and-mouth disease and pleuro-pneu-
monia) from Northumberland to London, and he
consequently had an interview with the chairman aud
general manager of the North Eastern Railway Company ;
aud although they conveyed the Society's experimental
animals in horse-boxes in consideration of the national
importance of the investigation, they then explained to
him the great amount of loss which the railway com-
panies experienced in consequence of the necessity of
complying with the strict regulations of the Privy Coun-
cil as to disinfection of horse-boxes which had been used
for the carriage of rattle, and that nothing short of a
very considerable increase of charge would enable them
to carry cattle in horse-boxes in the face of these regu-
ations.

On the motion of Mr. Jacob Wilson, seconded by Mr-
Bowen Jones, a committee, consisting of the Stock
Prizes aud Implement Committees, was appointed to
select judges of stock and implements for the Bristol
Meeting.

A letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
requesting the Council to nominate jnror3 for the Paris
Exhibition was referred to the Judges' Committee just
appointed.

A letter was received from the clerk to the Council
enclosing a copy of the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Bill.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's rooms, 12, Hanover-square, on Tuesday, the
12th inst. Present: Lord Skelmeisdale, President of
the Society (in the chair), The Earl of Bective, M.P., Sir
Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., M.P., Colonel Kingscote, C.B.,
M.P., Mr. Hugh Aylmer, Mr. H. W. Beauford, Mr. T. C.
Booth, Mr. Edward Bowly, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr.
S. P. Foster, Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. David Mcintosh,
the Rev. T. Staniforth, Mr. G. Murton Tracy, and Mr.
Jacob Wilson.

The following new members were elected : —
Atkinson, William, Bumeside Hall, Kendal.
Briscoe, John, Hill Crooine, Severn Stoke, Worcestershirf .
Chamley, Thomas, Warcop House, Penrith.
Curtis, William, Fernham, Faringdon, Berks.
Kelsey, Henry, Crowlmrst, East Grinstead.
Mitchell,°H. B., Leiniog Castle, Beaumaris.
Mowbray and Stourton, Lord, Stourton, Knaresborough.
Riddell, J. F, Grange House, Kilkenny.
Ridley, Sir M. W., Bart., Blaguon, Cramlington.
Stanford, Joseph, Hasted Mills, Lmgfield, Edenbridge.

Editing Committee. — Colonel Kingscote reported
that 4,850 entries had been received for Volume 24 of
the "Herd Book," viz., 1,647 bulls and 2,203 cows, and
that these numbers were 200 in excess of those entered in
Volume 23.

The Committee also reported that they had had before
them the pedigree of a bull entered in Volume 23, and
they recommended that the same be re-entered in Volume
24, to correct two inaccuracies in the pedigree.

The Committee recommended that the pedigrees of two
bulls bred in this country and exported to Australia be
accepted for entry in Volume 24.

The Committee also recommended that in future vol-
umes of the Herd Book the terms of membership, sub-
scription, and to whom payable, &c, be inserted at the
end of each volume.

the Committee further recommended that the tender
of Messrs. Taylor aud Francis, for reprinting Volume 15
ot the Herd Book, 400 copies, be accepted.

The Committee wished to take the opinion of the Coun-
cil on the desirability of owners of Shorthorns in-
serting in their sale catalogues the names of the breeders
of animals not bred by them.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

'ill

This report having been adopted, the Council took into
consideration the recommendation of the Committee with
regard to " owners of Shorthorns inserting in their sale
catalogues the names of the breeders of animate not
bred by them," and the Council were of opinion that
it was desirable whenever practicable that the names of
breeders, when other than the vendor, should be given in
such catalogues.

Genekal Purposes Committee. — Mr. Hugh
Atlmeb reported that the accounts for the month of
February had been examined by Messrs. Quilter, Ball,
and Co., and the Committee, and were found to be
correct.

The Committee also reported that tha Secretary's petty
cash account had been examined and passed, and showed
an expenditure of .€12 3s. 3d. during the past month,

that the receipts for the same period had been £732 8s.
the balance of the Society's current account at the
banker's being £1,277 5s. Ad.

The Committee recommended that cheques be drawn
for various accounts aud salaries, amounting to
£171 3s. 3d.

The Committee also recommended that the sum of
£700 be placed on deposit.
The report was adopted.

On the motion of Mr. II. Chandos-Pole-Gell, seconded
by Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., Lord Polwarth, of
Merton House, St. Boswell's, N.B., was unanimously
elected member of the Council in the room of Sir W.
Stirling Maxwell, Bart., M.P., deceased.

On the motion of Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., the
Council adjourned until Tuesday, April 30tb, at 3 p.m.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

The County Government Bill was discussed by this Chamber
at their last meeting, and the following resolution passed on
the motion of Mr. 0. C. Pelij—

" That the magisterial portion of the County Boards should
be elected as the assessment committee v/as by the Boards of
Guardians in union areas."

DEVON AND CORNWALL.

At a meeting of this Chamber, held at Plymouth,

Mr. Sxell concluded a long speech by putting in the form
of a resolution the points in which he thought the Bill might
be amended. The first had reference to the proportion of repre-
sentatives, and on this Mr. Snell moved that the proportion of
magistrates to elected members should be one-third instead of
one-half, and that the duration of the Boards should be three
years instead of one.

Mr. Pltmn seconded the motion, and it was carried.

A resolution was also carried in favour of the union and not
the petty sessioaal division being the electoral area.

Mr. Sjjell next submitted a epiestion with reference to the
19th Clause, to which he had drawn attention. The motion
afirmed that elected members ought to have a voiced in all
matters brought before the court.

The motion was agreed to. A resolution was also carried
recommending that the appointment and payment of coroners
be transferred to the State.

On Wednesday last the Chamber again met to consider the
Cattle Diseases Bill, when the following resolution was

1. " That this Chamber expresses its approval of the
Government Bill on Cattle Diseases now before Parlia-
ment, and believes that farmers will willingly submit to the
severe restrictions for the suppression of infection and con-
tagious diseases among their own stock provided measures are
at the same time taken to prevent the introduction of disease
from abroad."

2 "That this Chamber, understanding that'on the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Bill going into committee an amendment
will be moved to make a distinction between scheduled and
nonscheduled countries and to restrict, compnbory 'slaughter

to the former, considers that the risk of importing diseased
animals will be greatly increased if all foreign animals in-
tended for food are not slaughtered at the ports of landing.
And this Chamber is also of opinion that a uniform plan for all
countries is better calculated to promote a steadier trade, and
thereby uniform prices.

EAST SUFFOLK.
The Chamber at its last meeting discussed the County
Government Bill. The following resolutions were carried :—

1. That this Chamber approves of the method of indirect
election proposed by the Bill.

2. That the union should be the electoral area.

3. That the members of the Board should be elected for
three years instead of one.

4. That in the opinion of this Chamber all matters con.
nected with the appointment, cost, and payment of coroners
should be transferred directly to the State.

5. That the Chamber approve of the main principles of the
Bill, and generally of its leading provisions, subject to the
modifications which had been approved of by this meeting.

HEREFORDSHIRE.

At the last meeting of this Chamber, a motion
generally approving of the principles of the County Govern-
ment Bill wa3 carried. The following resolution was also
agreed to : —

"That in the opinion of the meeting it is expedient that all
the clauses from 'J to 21 be expunged from the County Boards
Bill. That it is inexpedient to divide the roads into two classes,
ordinary and main roxh, or to place any district roads under a
central county board."

II E R T S.

At the last meeting of the Chamber the Contagious Dis-
eases (Animals) Bill was discussed. Mr. Lattimore spoke
approvingly of the Bill. Mr. Robcrson criticised some of its
provisions, taking particular exception to the insufficient period
of quarantine.

Mr. Abel Smith said as to foreign animals imported fcT

8i6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

store or breeding purposes the -lth schedule said they 'should be
kept 14 days in the quarantine station, aud after that taken to
any phce under a li:euse, anl there kept for 53 days, making
70 days altogether.

Mr. li.oBF.RsoN: Thst would not prevent the spread of dis-
ease over the country ; thry would go away with the germs of
disease in them.

Mr. Lattimore proposed "That it appears to this Chamber
desirable to folbw the recommendation of the committee to
slaughter all animals for the butcher at the port of debarkation
in order to prevent the continuous periodical outbreaks of
disease whkh past experience proves to be inseparable
from the admission of live stock ; and by this system
only will the English gra/.iers be reconciled to the severe
restrictions entailed upon them by the operatiou of the pro-
posed Bill."

Mr. Brandr\m seconded the. motion. Although no longer a
breeder and grazier lie concurred with what had come from his
friends vi ho had spoken. And, as a consumer, with a large
family, he thought that some such measure as that before the
country was desirable.

Mr. A.Smith : What is your view on the time for quaran-
tine ?

Mr. Brandram : I do not thiuk any system of quarantine
will give safety. If they are only U days in the quarantine
ground I don't think 5G diys' detention in another place
afterwards gives much security to the country. They could be
removed from the qiarsntiue ground 50 miles in and then fall
with the disease.

Mr. Roberson : And infect the whole of the country.

Mr. Brvndram ; Let nothing alive come into the country
The benefit derived from our own home stock is far gieater
thau that from foreign stock.

Mr. Abel Smith asked Mr. Brandram's views as to impor-
tation of animals for dairy or breeding purposes.

Mr. Brandram : The dairy is a serious part of the question,
wh'ch I am not ahle to go into.

In answer to Earl Cowfer,

Mr. BRAISDRAM said if disease broks out on a farm he would
have quarantine ; he did not think 56 days too much.

Mr. Robeiison : What is the benefit of importing ? We do
not improve the breed.

Mr, La.TTJ.MORE : I don't think Dutch cows improve our
breeds very much ; but they improve cur supply of pleuro-
pneumonia.

In reply to some remarks from Mr. IIalsey,

Mr. Roberson said he would not restrict the importation of
animals for dairy and breeding purposes from the Channel
Isles, but from the Continent. He attributed pleuro-puen-
monia and cattle plague to the introduction of the Dutcli
cows. If they went ii.to any r'airy in London they would find
that where Dutch cows were ! ept they were scarcely ever
free from plcuro-pnenrnonia, which was the worst disease
farmers had to con'end with. Where they lost one
from cattle plague he believed they lost a thousand from
plturo-pncutnoni.i, an,', as long as they allowed Dutch
cows to cone in they wouly never be free from disease in this
country.

A resolution supporting the Bill was passed.]

The Count'. Cloven- merit Bill was afterwards discussed.

L A N C A S III R E.
A general mre'ing of the Lancashire Farmers,' Club
and Chamber of Agtirulture was recently held at the

offices in Liverpool. Mr. llcury Neild (Worsley) presiding
to consider the County Administration Bill now before
Parliament.

The Chairman said that as the County Government Bil
bad passed the second reading by a majority of 178, it was
evident that there wrs very great unanimity in Parliament
with respect to it ; and, taking into account [the care which
had been bestowed upon the subject by such men as Mr. Clare
Sewell Bead, they might take it for granted that the matter
had been hrought into such a shape as would make it generally
acceptable. The cardinal principle of the Bill was the
retention of a great measure of self-government instead of
putting them altogether under central management. For
his own part he quite concurred in the three salient points of
the Bill — the indirect method of election by which the repre-
sentative elements of the Board were provided, the proportion
determined on between the representatives of the magistrates
aud those of the rural guardians, and the electoral areas which
were selected.

Mr. Norreys (Manchester) moved and Mr. W. Scotson
(Liverpool) seconded, a resolution to the effect that the union
ought to be the electoral area, instead of the petty sessional
divisions.

After a few remarks from the Chairman, who opposed the
motion, it was agreed to unanimously.

Mr. Norreys moved a resolution confirming the principle
contained in the Bill that the elections to the County Boards
should take place through the guardians, and not directly
through the ratepayers ; and also expressing the opinion
that the magistrates should not exceed one-third of the
Board, and should be elected at quarter sessions, and that
the remaining two-thirds be elected by the Board of Guar-
dians.

Mr. R. Webster (Litherland) seconded the motion. .

Mr. Cook (Liverpool) moved, and Mr. Birch (Sefion
seconded, an amendment providing that two-thirds of the
Board shou'd be elected from the guardians, or from persons
qualified to be guardians.

On a division, the amendment was carried.

Mr. Scotson moved a resolution providing that the number
of representatives of each union sent to the County Boards
should be proportioned to to the comparative rateable value
of the unions. The Bill having been drawn on the assumption
that the petty sessional divisions are to be the electoral areas
no provision has been made in this respect.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Norreys, and agreed
to. It was also resolved that a copy of the resolutions should
be forwarded to the executive of the Central Chamber of Agri-
cu'ture-

The husiness concluded with the passing of the following
resolution, moved by the Chairman and seconded by Mr.
Norreys : —

"That the ihanks of this meeting of the] Lancashire Farmers
Club and Chamber of Agriculture be given to her Majesty's
Government for the prompt introduction of this important
measure, and that the meeting, while cordially approving of
the principle of the County Administration Bill, trusts that
the amendments they have suggested may meet with the
favourable consideration of the promoters of the Bill and
that a good and satisfactory measure may be passed in the
present session."

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

L I N C O L N S II I It E.

Recently, a special meeting of the members of this

yi7

Chamber was held at Lincoln, to consider the Contagious Dis-
eases (Animals) Bill,

The following resolution was carried :— "That (his Chamber
having carefully considered (lie Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Dill, fully and very strongly approves of the same, provided
that clauses numbered -2'J, 30, and 31, and the fourth schedule
referred to in Clause 30, be passed in extenso, otherwise the
provisions of the Dill would be unacceptable to the Chamber,
and would press unfairly upou the interest of the English far-
mer ; that the thanks of the Chamber be communicated to her
Majesty s Government for having so promptly brought in a Dill
to carry into effect the recommendations of the Select Com-
mittee on Cattle Tlague and Importation of Live Stock ; and
that the alterations agreed upon by the meeting be suggested
for consideration."

MONMOUTHSHIRE.

At the annual meeting of this Chamber the report was
received, and some other business was transacted. After
the annual dinner the Chamber read a paper on ".Highway
Legislation, " aud the following resolution was passed after
much discission : —

"That the most satisfactory settlement to this Chamber of
this subject will be by one-half of the expenses ot all main roads
of each county being paid out of Imperial taxes, the other
moiety out of the county rate."

NORTH CHESHIRE.

At a recent meeting of this Chamber the Cattle
Diseases Dill was discussed.

Mr. Carswell proposed, Mr. Keogii seconded, and it was
uuanimously agreed to, "That this Chamber cordially
approves of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, with
the single exception that it is doubtful whether there
was not an inconsistency in insisting on the slaughtering of
fat stock at the port of debarkation, while allowing store
stock to be moved into the country after fourteen days' quaran-
tine."

NOTTINGHAM.
At the last meeting of this Chamber the County Govern"
ment Dill was discussed, aud the following resolutions were
agreed to :—

1. "That this Chamber approves generally of the Bill ; that
it supports the mode of election suggested, but recommends that
the magistrates elected at quarter sessions be only one-third of
the whole Doard. It also approves of the petty sessional
division being the electoral area; but, in the opinion of this
Chamber, Clause 19, referring to the powers of elective mem-
bers, should be expunged."

2. "That the mode of election be by ballot."

SOUTH DURHAM AND NORTH YORKSHIRE-
Recently, a meeting of this Chamber was held at
Darlington, to consider the County Government Dill, the Valu-
ation Bill, and the Highway Bill.

The clauses of the first Dill were [considered consecutively
by the meeting. It was decided that three years ought to he
the term for election instead of one year. The principle of
one-third going out eacli year was also favoured. It was
also decided that the elective members ought to be two-thirds
to one-third ex-officio. There was a division of opiniou

as to whether the union or petty sessional division should
be the area. It was also held that the powers now vested iu
the rural sanitary authorities be transferred to the Highway
Boards. »

The Chamber briefly considered the Highway Bill and the
Valuation Bill ; afterwards Mr. Wordsworth, a large cattle
dealer in the district, brought forward the subject of the Con-
tagious Diseases of Cattle Bill, which was then generally ap-
proved by the meeting, and it was decided a petition should be
sent to Parliament in favour of the Bill.

W A It W I C K S II I R E .

At a recent meeting of this Chamber, the County
Government Dill was discussed, and a resolution was passed
in favour of two-thirds of the members of County Boards
being elected by the ratepayers. A petition iu favour of the
Cattle Diseases Dill was adopted. The Highways Bill was
afterwards discussed, but no resolutionwas passed.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

At the last meeting this Chamber discussed the County
Government Bill, and passed this resolution : —

"That the Council agrees generally with the provisions of
the Bill."

A motion was also agreed to in favour of the Cattle Disease
Bill, as follows : —

"That this Council welcomes the introduction of the Con-
tagious Diseases (Animals) Dill by the Lord President as an
earnest endeavour to prevent the re-introduction of foreign
diseases amongst our native flocks and herds, aud while
giving it their cordial and uuauimous approval trusts it may
speedily be passed into law."

YORK.

At a recent meeting there was a numerously-attended
meetiug of the members held at the Queen Hotel, Micklegate,
York, Mr. Dunn, Kelfield, the President, in the chair. The
Chairman moved that the Chamber approved generally of the
County Administration Bill, and tendered i*s thanks to the
Government for introducing the measure, but suggested some
alteration therein which would make the Bill more popular
and efficient. That the County Board should consist of two-
thirds elected representatives of the guardians and one-third
representatives of the justices ; that the uniou rather than the
Petty Sessional Division should be the electoral area ; that the
members should be elected for three years instead of one.

Mr. Lett, Scumpston, seconded the motion, which was sup-
ported by Mr. Ware, of Skirpenbeck, and others, and was
unanimously adopted.

Mr. Coleman, Riccall Hall, moved that the Chamber
should petitiou the House of Commons, praying that their
honourable House would pass the Cattle Plague Bill without
making any material alterations in its principal features.

Mr. Ware seconded the motion, which was supported by
Mr. J. Newton, York.

Mr. Smith, Huggate, moved au amendment to t*e Bill
that at the expiration of twenty-eight days, in case the cattle
were healthy, that the cattle for the remaining twenty-eight
days be removed by magistrates' license.

Mr. W. J. Ware seconded the amendment.

The Chairman considered that the Duke of Richmond
would listen to any suggestions.

The amendment was negatived, aud the petition to Parlia-
ment adopted, and signed by all present.

Sl8

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

We are, of course, amongst the multitude who make a
pilgrimage to Birmingham to see how the new institution
prospers. After a brief survey, we arrive at the conclu-
sion, which others seem generally to share, that it is the
best lot of young bulls ever yet exhibited for sale here.
They are not so numerous, we are informed, but they are
more even in character throughout. There is ample choice,
and merit, as the sale proved, make3 itself felt. It was
not the best bred ones that showed the best. Obviously,
breeders of the more expensive order are nervous of com-
mitting to the necessity of there being disposed of at
twenty guineas any but the culls of their herds. It is
surprising how we found the day through earnest buyei-3
arriving at, or in contemplation of, the calves, whose
pedigree showed well on paper. Notably an indifferent
Kirldevington bull had a constant collection of visitors •
This, at least, shows that breeders prefer, if they
can obtain it, the best-accredited old blood. Mr-
Sheldon, who ventured most, was again most suc-
cessful: His Dukes of Charming Laud (what a nice
name it is ! ) were to the front again, as was not to
be wondered at by those who have seen their ancestresses'
the Twin Duchesses, in the flesh at Brailes. Duke of
Charming Land 5th is a noble animal, of immense growth,
having a broad loin, and a very handsome front. He
goes into Glamorganshire, to mate with a blood-red herd,
all descended from a cow bred at Willesden by no less
than Mr. Strafford himself. He made 115 guineas. His
relative, just fourteen months old, Duke of Charming
Land 7th, made 185 guineas, besides winning the prize in
his class and the £50 champion cheque to boot. Mr.
Sheldon's stock are remarkable for their tasteful heads.
Last year the great artist auctioneer pointed our attention
to one as being about perfection. Much of this pleasant
character is due to the Fawsley stock, from which they
spring. The combined neatness and style which Sir
Charles Knightley managed to exhibit in the herd of his
creation is a fact full of encouragement to the youthful
breeder who may be possessed of taste and perseverance.
His cattle were as remarkable at the pail as in the
butcher's stall, and he managed to model them altogether
out of material which he selected for himself. And to
show how thoroughly he effected his task, those tribes
dispersed in 1856 are unmistakeable any where now, as the
Guernsey and the Galloway, and never fail to exercise a
decided influence upon the frame and properties of any
stock whatever with which they may be crossed. A very
stylish roan calf, the last upon the list of entries, of Mr.
Harvard's breeding, Lord Gwynne, by the 6th Baron
Barrington, out of Polly Gwynne 7th attracted much
admiration. Whither he went, and at what figure, re-
mains to be seen. The judges were wonderfully impartial.
They went altogether for shape and quality, and were
quite regardless of colour. It was curious what a pre-

ponderance of the old " yellow-red" there was throughout
this exhibition. " "What colour would you like better ?"
remonstrates the veteran judge, Mr. Drewry. " What !
not roan ?" " No, certainly not." And the winners in
several cases verged absolutely on the hue of the Gallo-
way. Iu fact, there was scarcely a blue roan at all upon
the scene. One there was of peculiarly dark dye, but
the generality of roaus were decidedly yellow or chesnuty
about the heads. This is remarkable, considering the
aversion some entertain to the colour. Like murder, it
will out. But it is difficult to understand how much
more it has forced itself to the front of late years. Two
seasons ago it was suggested in the columns of a con-
temporary that the season might have something to do
with the increased development t f this hue, and a fowl-
breeder endorsed the idea by stating that it had been
found almost impossible to breed dark Brahmas of late,
that they persisted iu coming of a lighter order than was
aimed at. Is there something altered in the sunlight ?
as we are induced to ask often times when we hear of the
heavier crops of old time ; is our climate changed ? by
over drainage perhaps, or otherwise. Will some expert
reply ? Reading the catalogue backwards, out of one
hundred and twenty-six calves under twelve months old,
fifty-four were decidedly yellowish or yellow ; whilst of
sixty-eight " exceeding twelve and not exceeding fifteen
months old" there were forty-jive who could not have
been painted without the artist's using a considerable
proportion of yellow ochre or some kindred pigment in
his compound. Mr. John Outhwaite's handsome winner,
very suggestive of the best Warlaby form, and handling
superbly, was in colour neither more nor less than a dark
chesnut brindle ! I wonder what deductions the wise
will derive from these absolute facts 1

The statement recently issued as to the growth of
ergot on old and especially water grasses fills one with
terror. It helps to account for about fifty cows on one
farm a few years since all casting their calves ; their
ordinary pasture was of a marshy nature. By way of
precaution and antidote some run a goat amongst the herd,
that animal being credited with a taste for this destructive
fungus, others having a donkey under the same pretenee
The worst experience of accidental food and its conse-
quences one has ever met with is mentioned in " White's
Farriery." For some disorder an old woman was induced
to mix a spoonful or so of soil from a pet preacher's grave
with her daily drink. Heavens, what an issue ! Very
shortly, not by the score only but in hundreds, with horrid
sickness and torture accompanying, the poor creature was
delivered in one form or another, egg, larva, or mailed,
keen-cutting adult, of a whole beetle horde ! It had been
her bad luck to swallow a nest in the earth ! If, as this
year is pretty commonly the case, you have feeding grounds
covered with the dry stems of the past, choose a fine

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

319

March wind and sally out across with lighted torch in
hand. As on the American prairie, the conflagration will
rapidly spreads, and the burning, no less than the resulting
ashes, will help to forward a new sweet growth. We fired
some seven acres of slope in a few hours most effectually
the other night.

" I say, how Housmau pitches into unfortunate Mr. C.
Durham's bulls in Bell's," i3 a sentence Trom a Shorthorn
breeder's letter which I have just received. I am away
from home and cannot refer to either catalogue or Herd
Book, as T shall do on my return. On the morning of
the Birmingham sale Mr. Charles Durham, a young
breeder, " awoke," a3 Lord Byron, " to find himself
famous." And how ? Why, inasmuch as he exhibited
what the public pronounced to be the two worst specimens
of bull-kind in the show. It is well to get celebrated
anyhow, and early failures can be atoned for. " You
shall hear me yet " was Mr. Disraeli's angry, but pro-
phetic, rejoinder to a jeering House. But in this Bir-
mingham affair there is a moral for us all. What
triumphant capital was made on the Booth side against
the Bates on the strength of the scrofula discussion, whihe
took place a few mouths since in the columns of a con-
temporary "Well, here is a Mantalini bull in whose
defective appearance the general no less than the critical
public finds fairly much to condemn. What will the
Booth side say of this ? It is a pity that he ever fell in
Mr. Durham's way, doiug his best as a beginner. It
would be curious to see how this in-bred hidalgo mated
with heifers not too alien at root, and yet of fresher con-
stitution, would answer. Asa concentration of grand old
blood he may be of exceeding value yet, if judiciously
paired.

The other unworthy specimen exhibited by Mr. Durham
was by the Duke of Connaught out of a Seraphina cow,
bred by the late Mr. W. Woodward. He handled well,
and had good hair, and that was all that could be said of
him. Fair play to the Duke, I have seen many of his
calves at Berkeley, Horton, Kiinbolton, &c., and never,
that I remember, inspected any but a really good one.
For the Seraphiuas, be it said that at Lord Sudeley's,
Kingscote, and other places they were an:l are a very
shapely tribe. But Mr. Woodward, as all know, was a
fearless breeder. He would use any animal that pleased
his eye, regardless of strain. The dam of this bull-calf
wa3 by a home-bred bull of Mr. Woodward's, the Drum-
mer, a fine upstanding, dark-red animal, his dam,
Delilah, a grand cow, having in her veins, mixed with
other, much of the best Warlaby blood ; his sire, I
think, was bred at Holker ; his granddam, Seraphic,
wa3 by Marmaduke 2nd, bred by Lord Penrhyn,
and got by the famous Marmaduke out of Wetherell's
Moss Rose, also a famous animal. This sad development
in the Birmingham bull-calf must be due to the meeting
of incongruous elements somewhere. In these several
instances that I have named, excellent specimens of the
Shorthorn breed as they individually were, there is much
diversity of combined strains. Marmaduke 2nd was a

fiuc roan bull, a little high over the tail, and that was all.
It must be remembered that last year comment was
excited by the appearance of a bull-calf whose dam was of
one of our most fashionable Bates tribes, as was also his
sire. For some occult reason he himself was a sad
" misfit." By these results one i3 induced more than
ever to advocate the old plan of successful breeders, viz.,
not to go too far a-field for a cross, and to keep in your
manufacture as closely as you can to your originally-
selected materials, having a bright look-out for any
symptom of constitutional weakness. Upon the record of
those who successfully adopted this course we have,
amongst others in old times, the familiar names of Bake-
well, Collings, Wright, Coates, Mason, Berry, Bates,
Booth, &c. It requires a good pilot to steer through
the shoals ; but is not Shorthorn breeding altogether a
matter as much of danger as delight? I shall gladly
peruse what others have thought upon this subject.

Vigil, March 16.

WHAT IS LIGHT ?— If you put your hand into a
basin of water and move it backwards and forwards you will
see a number of little water waves move up to and strike
against the sides of the basin. If your hand represents the
sun, and the water the aether, then the little waves will repre-
sent the waves of light, and the sides of the basin against
which the waves strike, the eye. So light is made up of little
waves which are produced by the trembling of the sun, and
which rush through the tether from the sun in all directions.
Now, if we look at the waves of the sea after a storm we all
know that they are much larger, and so we ought not to be at
all surprised to find that the waves of light are of different
sizes ; and just as a big water wave will give a heavier blow
to the sea-wall or cliff, so a large wave of light will strike our
eyes with greater force, and will make the body (as the sun or
a cr.ndie) appear brighter. But there is something else to be
seen at the seaside besides the greater height of the waves
after a storm. You will rind that the waves are at different
distances apart on different days ; and when men of science
examined the waves of light they found that some of them
were more than double the distance apart that others were.
And the most remarkable thing is this — that the distance
apart of the waves determines the colour of the light; and so if
we know the distance we shall he able to say that the light is
such a colour, and if we know the colour we are equally cer-
tain about the distance between each wave. The waves
which are farthest apart when they strike our eyes are seen to
be of the colour we call red ; next come orange rays, then
yellow, then green, then blue, then indigo, and finally the
ones that are the least distance apart are violet. Thus we see
that the waves of light are quite similar to waves of water,
and the height of the wave corresponds to the brightness, and
the distance apart to the colour, of the light. — From " Why
the Sky is Blue," in Little Foils.

STABLE MANAGEMENT.— (A discussion on Litter.)
Nimrod One : " But horses look so wretched on sawdust'
particularly in winter." Nimrod Two : "Well, I keep this
horse on it all the year round, rind Iip does as well again."
Nimrod Three : " Sawdust ! Didn't know they'd eat ! It
must come cheap 1 " — Punch.

3 20

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

VARIOUS

By G.

[Our correspondent, " G. A. II.," has sent us such a
budget of letters on various topics that, to save space,
we have put them in separate paragraphs, one after the
other. — Ed. Mark Lane Express,']

WILL WINTER FATTENING PAY?— The follow-
ing simple figures can be calculated out and checked with
perfect ease by any man with a head on hi3 shoulders
and who has learnt the first four rules of arithmetic.
1. An acre of average grass laud in the country (not near
a large town) lets for 30s., or thereabouts, and the rates
and taxes and tithe will be about ] 0s. more, or £2 in
all. — 2. If this acre of land be twice mown it will give
about 2 tons of hay, and the cost of the mowing,
making, and carting home will be about 15s. Therefore
each acre will produce 2 tons of hay, costing £2 15s. —
3. Cotton cake and maize can be bought and delivered
on most farms for £8 per ton (half of each), or 8s. per
cwt.— 4. If I tie up a bullock 2\ years old, weighing 7
cwt. alive, and feed him for 100 days with 281b. of hay
and 71b. of cake and corn daily, that bullock will weigh
quite 11 cwt. at the end of the time.— 5. The "increase"
in weight of four hundredweight (4481b.) represents at
least 70 per cent, of meal, or 3141b., and this at 8d. per
pound would be worth £10 9s. 4d.— 6. But the food
will have cost : Hay, off one acre, £2 15s. ; cake and
corn, 71b. daily for 160 days, making 10 cwt. at 8s., £4,
making £6 15s. in all. To this we have to add 10s. for
attendance and 20s. for bedding, as half a ton of straw is
quite enough to bed down one bullock for 160 days,
making the total " cost " £8 5s. of producing beef worth
(at 8d. per lb.) £1 0 9s. 4d., showing a profit of £2 4s. 4d.
— 7. The whole of the dung would go back on to the acre
of land, aud as that dung represents not only the whole
of the hay which came off it, but also 10 cwt. of cake
and corn^ and 10 cwt. of straw produced elsewhere, the
land might be mown year after year with perfect safety. —
8. I have not put down " market price " for anything
except straw and cake and corn, which are all supposed
to be brought from some other field than the field which
supplies the hay, which is the real food for the bullock, and
as the grass they produce goes on to the grass land it is
only fair to charge them at market price. But, as to hay,
there is no reason for putting any price whatever upon it.
because it is all consumed at home, and the manure from
it goes back to the land which grew it. Besides, 99
farmers out of every 100 are piohibited selling hay, and
even if the restriction were removed it would be impos-
sible for every farmer to sell his hay, and if they attempted
it the market price would very soon fall to very little
more than " cost " price.— 9. I have not put down any-
thing for interest or for risk, because each man can judge
for himself whether the '' prospective " profit of £2 4s.
4d. on each acre of grass land is enough to pay him for

NOTES.

A. H.

his venture. — 10. Bullocks fed on hay with cake and corn
will require a large quantity of water, say about S gallons,
and they will undoubtedly feed full fat in the time I have
named, aud weigh even more than the weight I have
marked down. In conclusion, let me observe that I have
put down "hay" as the feeding stuff simply because
every one who knows anything about land knows how
much hay he can get in ordinary years off ordinary land
mown twice, and I have done this for simplicity of cal-
culation. Two tons of hay represent the whole grass that
grows on the laud, as there is no stock on it in winter,
and if the land will not produce that in two mowings
on the average of years we may be quite sure that the
rent and the tithe and the rates will not be £2 per acre,
as agricultural land away from a town. And I think
the experiment I have sketched out is a very severe test,
as hay is usually considered the most expensive food you
can give to cattle.

STRAW FOR BEDDING CATTLE.— I did not re-
ply to the various criticisms in your paper of the 25th
of February sooner, because you had too much of my
"matter" to print; but I now take up my pen. The
"Man of Mark Lane" says 201b. per day ''might" be
enough to bed a bullock- I am afraid this is one of those
" rougb guesses " whose worthlessness Mr. Editor talks
about. Why, a bullock is usually house-fed for from 5 to
6 months — suppose we say 168 days. Well, 168 X 20
= 5,040 pounds; so that a bullock would need \\ tons of
straw for bedding ! But this straw is worth, at market
price, 60s., and the manure it produces is worth about 18s.,
leaving a loss of 42s. as the cost of each bullock's bed
when stall-fed in winter. " Prodigious ! " as Dominie
Sampson said. My allowance for bedding a bullock for
112 days was not 1 ton, as your contributor calls it, but
2 tons, and that I say is ample. It is 46§ lb. weekly for
each beast, and quite as much as any good farmer would
give for that purpose, nay more than many men would
give who possess the knowledge that straw after it has
passed through a beast gives very nearly as much manure
as if trodden and rotted away in a straw-yard. But why
does not the " Man of Mark Lane " himself make the
experiment ? He talks of being a practical man, and
affects to have a very great contempt for the " happy-go-
lucky " amateur farmers (amongst whom he ranks me) ;
let us hear, then, what his own practice does. One or
two weeks' trial will give him a bit of experience if he
be, as he implies himself to be, a " practical " farmer. I
have ho beasts stall-feeding, or I would be glad to make
the experiment for him.

ONE TON OF STRAW TRODDEN DOWN.— A
very little consideration would tell your contributor that
the quantity of manure made by one ton of straw depends
entirely on the amount of straw put under each beast

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

.321

each day. A large bullock, when fed in the usual way
with roots, hay, straw, aud cake, will void about 901b. of
excrement (including the urine) daily, and if I give each
bullock, say, half a ton of straw in 100 days for bedding
(which is 71b. a day, and in a well-constructod house a
very ample allowance), then the manure that ought to be
found in my manure-pit would be —
(90 x 100) + (7 x 1G0) = 11, 100 + 1 ,120, or 15,5201b.,

minus loss from evaporation and leakage.
If my manure-pit is watertight, aud the floor of my
cattle-house also water-tight, there ought to be no leak-
age, and if we allow 20 per cent, of the excrement to
evaporate, say SSSOlb., then my manure ought to be
15,520—2,880 = 12,G401b.or 1121 cwts., although only
10 owt. of straw was used to bed the bullock. But if,
instead of 71b. of bedding each day I foolishly gave 211b.,
then in 1G0 days I should have used 30 cwts. of straw
for bedding, and my manure would be just 20 cwts.
heavier, say 132| cwts. instead of 1121 cwts. The
results then are : 1. With 10 cwts. of straw for bedding,
the bullock would leave 1121 cwts. of manure, or at the
rate of 11 tons 5j cwts. for the ton of straw used. 2.
With 30 cwts. of straw for bedding, the bullock would
leave 1321 cwts. of manure, or at the rate of 1 tons 8|
ewts. for each ton of straw u-;cd. In fact the manure
bears no fiSed proportion to the straw used, but depends
much more ou the size of the animal and the quautity of
food he consumes.

MAXIMUM VALUE OF DUNG.— The " Man of
Mark Lane " may be a practical farmer, but he asks
most unpractical questions. Are 12 tons of the be9t
manure that was ever made under cover worth as much as
10 cwts. of the best guano for producing increased crop3 ?
Not one word here about cost of spreading the dung !
Suppose the dung to be applied to a grass- field, and then
fed off with bullocks and sheep, and suppose the guano
applied to a field of mangels, all sold off the land aud
sent by water to London — what then ? Or suppose both
of them applied to a field of wheat divided by a straight
furrow, the land on each side being exactly the same ;
tell me, " Man of Mark Lane," which half of the field
you would prefer fjr the next two or three crops ? Mr.
Lawes never told us that the money value he put upon
the manure value of various articles fed to stock were to
be taken as "absolute" value. He only said that his
experiments proved that certain substances supposed to
have great manure value would be nearly all found in the
manure, aud he valued those substances at rates he could
buy them for under certain known forms, lie also told
U3 that certain other substances would disappear almost
wholly, and scarcely a trace of them would be found in
the manure.

ACCOUNTS OF STALL-FEEDING.— Does " A
Man of Mark Lane" seriously suppose that any genuine
farmers who have to work for their living are going to
send him a true account of "the expenses aud returns of
bullocks kept during the winter now nearly at an end?"
Suppose the editor of some paper asked the factors of

Mark Laue each to send him the expenses and re-
turns of the business they have done during the
year 1877 now ended, would "A Man of
Mark Lane " send in his returns ? If there were any rich
firm who had made a loss (although in a general way they
make a profit), aud who knew their credit would in no
way be hurt, aud who might probably wish to deter rivals
from setting up to carry off some of their trade, such a
firm might very possibly send him the returns. Aud even
if fanners should send him the returns he asks for, of
what value will they be unless we know whether the beasts
were well bought or badly bought, well sold or bally
sold? The money returns arc of very little value for
comparison ; the weight going in and the weight going
out, the quantity of food consumed and the quantity of
bedding used, and a fair estimate of the saleable value of
that food and bedding as it stool in the farmyard, would
enable an intelligent farmer to form a fair opinion. With
those facts before him, any intelligent farmer can calcu-
late for himself whether stall-feeding pays or not. That
wintering cattle in open straw-yards does not pay, every
one who has paid any attention to the subject knows
well.

IS IT THE CORN CROP WHICH PAYS?— I
beg to remind "A Man of Mark Laue " that he has not
answered my question, published on February 11, page
11, as to how farmers who grow no corn for sale, and
yet fatten cattle in winter, pay their way. His mouth is
no longer shut by an editorial decree, so I beg for an
answer. It goes to the gist of the questiou.

STE.VM CULTIVATION.— We learn from " Veritas >'
the quantity of work his tackle did in 1S77. Now it is
necessary, in order to estimate cost of work, to reduce all
work to its " equivalent " in ploughing. Well, horses
workiug a Coleman's cultivator will cultivate 2^ acres
for 1 acre that they can plough. They will also harrow
10 acres for 1 which they can plough. I do not
know what " Veritas " means by drill rolling and har-
rowing behind roller, aud therefore cannot estimate it,
but, as the amount is not large, we will assume horses
to go over with the drill roller and harrow behind it
twice as much land as they will plough. Well, then
the work done in 1877 was as follows : —

Ploughed 317 acres, equivalent to 317 ploughed.
Cultivated 237 „ „ 05

Harrowed l'JG „ „ 20

Rolled, &c. 49 „ „ 25

Total , 487 acres.

That is to 9ay, the whole of the work done was equivalent
to 487 acres ploughed. But 1 pair of horses will
plough § of an acre a day, or say 7 acres in 8 days,
therefore 1 pair of horses would have been 557 days
doing this work. Now 1 pair of horses will work quite
300 days iu a year, so that the quantity of actual work
done by this steam tackle does not represent the work of
4 horses (two pairs), and yet " Veritas " gravely tells us
that he has saved 8 horse9 by getting it. We must, in

322

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

fact, cut down the " supposed " horse capital and the
"supposed" horse expenses to one-half, and even then
we do not get a fair statement of the relative cost, be-
cause he has not, as I showed on Feb. 25, page 11, put
down one penny for repairs for steam tackle, aud only £26
for wear and tear on a capital of £000. If we suppose
the £26 to represent actual outlay for repairs, and if we
add 10 per cent, on steam capital for "depreciation,"
that would amount to £69 per annum, and then his
accounts would stand thus; —

Steam Capital.

As before £690

Expenses.

As before £150

Depreciation . 69

Total £219

And even then there h

Hoese Capital.
One-half only... £270

Expenses.
One-half only... £195

Total.

£195

nothing allowed for the loss on
the engineer, who will not do farm-work, and is in con-
sequenee idle for a large portion of his time,

THE CATTLE DISEASES BILL.

A deputation from the Metropolitan Dairymen's Society
had an interview with the Duke of Richmond and Gordon,
at the Privy Council Office on Thursday, March 15th, on
the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill. They were in-
troduced by Mr. John Holms, M.P.

Mr. Stapleton said they owned very large herds of cattle,
and had had great care aud experience in the management of
stock and practical knowledge of the diseases which they
suffered ; aud they objected to the claus.e in the Bill which
dealt with pleuropneumonia, which would press with undue
severity upon stockowners, injure the trade, aud vex and
annoy a large body of respectable traders. That disease was a
native one, and there were little hopes of ever finally stamping
it out. Nor did they think the means of doing so proposed by
the Bill would be effective. To stop, as it aimed at doing, the
movement of cattle for 56 days would be ruinous to their
business, and the Government should hesitate ere they imposed
such a restriction. They could not admit that pleuro-pneumonia
was contagious, like the foot-and-mouth disease, and by care
any fear of its spreading to other animals could be obviated-
They asked that the present law should remain unaltered.

Mr. Deon objected to the limit of time for quarantine as the
Bill suggested, and thought that 14 days would be sufficient to
satisfy a cowkeeper, whether disease had disappeared or not.

Mr. J. Wileokd asked, with regard to the time that should
expire for payment of compensation, that it should be accurately
defined in the Bill, and not left to an undefiued period. He
asked that the " local authority " for executing the work
laid down in the Bill should be clearly stated. They had
always been under the Vestry Board for the district, but the
Bill did not say whether that authority would remain or be
substituted by the Board of Works.

The Duke ol Richmond and Goehon replied that that
should be seen to, as it wanted clearing up. With regard to
the question of the authority, who should be appealed to as to
the imposition of restrictions aud regulations, the local
authority would not be able to impose them without an order
from the Privy Council. With respect to declaring a district
infected, the local authority could not do that, they could ouly
report the outbreak in a particular place. He did not share
their views upon pleuro-pneumonia. He was much obliged
to them for the points they had mentioned, which were well
worthy of consideration, ami should receive it; he however
differed from Mr. Stapletou respecting the origin of pleuro-
pneumonia, which was of foreign origin, and up to 35 years
a*o it was unknowu in this country. Ho presumed that the
ess they imported from abroad and the greater the precautions

taken at home the less likely were they to have pleuro-
pneumonia ?

Mr. Stapleton : Yes, that I believe.

The Duke of Richmond and Gordon : A.nd that is a
contagions disease?

Mr. Stapleton replied that he never thought so, because
it had never appeared in that form to him. He had had 50
cows herded together, and they had not all taken it.

The Duke of Richmond and Gordon : That might be
applied to the case of persons as well as cattle herded together.
Some will take it while others will not. Some of the argu-
ments of the deputation had been very useful, calling attention
to clauses that required alteration, which must always be the
case in a Bill dealing with a subject of such magnitude.

The deputation thanked his Grace and retired.

Another deputation, from the Corporation of Liverpool,
had an interview with the Duke of Richmond, to ask his
Lordship to relax the regulations on the import of animals,
and specially those coming from Spain and Portugal,
America aud Canada. Mr. Tork, M.P., having introduced
the deputation, the Mayor (Mr. Forwood) presented a
memorial, praying that permission should be given to
import foreign animals without requiring them to be
slaughtered in all cases.

Tlie Duke of Richmond, in reply, said — In the first place
I could not agree in the prayer of the memorial that the
Government should make such modifications in the provisions
of the Bill as will enable the Privy Council, if tliey think fit,
aud subject to proper regulations, to give permission for the
importation of foreign animals without requiring them in all
cases to be slaughtered at the place of landing. The main
feature of I he Bill, the clause which I consider of more im-
portance than any other, is that which compels animals from
abroad to be slaughtered at the port of landing. The Mayer
has alluded to American and Canadian cattle, in which
couutries he says no disease has been proved to exist.
There may be something to be said for them ; but I wish to
speak af present of the couutries of Europe. The Mayor slid
there would be no risk iu allowing animals to be sent from
Spain and Portugal into this country alive ; but I am afraid
from the evideucu which we have received that there is a great
risk of getting pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-mouth disease,
because they come from Portugal. The grounds upon which
we have gone iu drawing up this Bill are these : We propose
td put the whole trade of producers at home under the very
severest aud most stringent regulations and restrictions ; on
the other hand we say to (hem, " We will not subject you to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

323

the introduction of disease from foreign countries which we

consider to be infected. We do not want to admit the disease
into the country, and will take care that if we put you under
such restrictions when it sets into the country that you shall
not he subjected to the importation of disease from abroad."
When I say " from abroad " I do not mean Ireland, and we
trust that the regulations in Ireland will ha made such as are
shadowed out in this Bill. We never intended Ireland to be
anything but a part of the United Kingdom, as most people
now thiuk it is at this moment. There is no question
of the slaughtering of animals coming from Ireland, unless the
Bill was to he altered in such a manner that thero would be no
isolation and no injected place agreed upon in Ireland. As
regards Spain and Portugal we could not m;ike an exception in
their favour. Norway is the only country in Europe from

which we have had no disease, but the importation was small
from Norway, aud we did not thiuk it worth while to make
an exception even in Norway. Speaking on the question of
Europe we felt that we must prevent disease coming into this
country. As to excluding America and Canada, that is a
question upon which I would rather not express an opinion
because it will come before the Select Committee to which the
Bill is referred.

The deputation then withdrew.

A memorial has been drawn up by the Silford Town
Council, who are the owners and managers of one of the
greatest cattle markets in the kingdom, addressed to the Privy
Council and Parliament, protesting against that part of the
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill which provides for the
compulsory slaughter of healthy beasts at the port of landing.

REPORT ON THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) BILL.

The following is tlie First Report of the Joint Sub-
committee of the Farmers' Club aud the Council of the
Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture ap-
pointed to watch the progress of the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Bill, and to take such united action as may
seem to them desirable :

In presenting their fust Report, the Joint Committee ex-
press their satisfaction that the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Bill consolidates into one statute the various enactments
hitherto applicable to different divisions of the United King-
dom. The laws wholly repealed are the Act of 1875, relating
to Scotland, and eight Acts relating to Ireland — namely, two
passed in 1848, one in 1853, one in 1S66, one in 1870, one in
187^, one in 1874, and cue in 1871). The Contagious Diseases
(Auimals) Act, 1869, i3 repealed, with two exceptions —
namely. Sections 100 and 101, which made provisions for
loans of certain local authorities, aud three paragraphs of
Section 28, with the Fifth Schedule — the effect being to con-
tinue to the Corporation of London the provisions made for
the repayment of the money borrowed for the erection of
Deptford Market, and perpetuating also the double
tolls at Islington. Largs portions of the Act 1869
are re-enacted ; and the Bill — which is to come info
operation on the 1st of January, 1879 — will render the law
uniform for the whole of the United Kingdom, Scotland and
Ireland being placed on the same footing as Eugland. Iu fact,
the principal provisions of the Bill relating to the prev
of disease, the duties of the central and local authorities, and
the importation of animals, are made applicable to all
divisions of the United Kingdom, with the addition of S]
euaetments :.s to local authorities, recovery of penalties, &e.,
rendered necessary by the differences in the local admin
tion of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Thus, the
authorities for England are, as at present — for counties, the
justices in general or quarter sessions assembled, their fund
being the county rate, and their clerk the clerk of the peace ; for
the city of London, the Corporation ; for the rest of the Metro-
polis the Metropolitan Board of Works ; for boroughs sub-
ject to the Municipal Corporations Act, the Town Council ;
for other boroughs the Commissioners or ether body main-
tainiag the police; aud for Otford the local board. These
local authorities are to act by committees composed wholly of
members of the local authority, or in part of rated occupi-rs.

Aud the police of each county, borough, town, and place, are
toexecuteaudenforcethe Act. In Scotland, a bodyone-half consist-
ing of not less than four nor more than fifteen of the Commis-
sioners of Supply, nominated by those Commissioners to act
on the county board for the purposes of the Act, and one-half
consisting of elected owners and occupiers of laud, their clerk
being the clerk of supply, and their fund the local rate, to-
gether with the lord-lieutenant of the county, the convener,
aud the sheriff, constitute the local authority for each county.
In burghs the authority is the magistrates iu town council,
the clerk is the town clerk, and the fund a local rate. In Ire-
tlie local authorities are the boards of guardians, and the
expenses are to be charged one-half on union funds and
one-half on a General Cattle Diseases Fund assessed on all the
unions.

The Committee recognise the great care with which the
Bill has been drawn; and after fully considering the eighty-
three clauses and seven schedules it contains, came to the
conclusion that the following amendments are desirable :

la the Interpret ition Clause (5), it appeals to the Committee
that as "disease" includes "glauders or farcy," the word
" animals " should include " horses," as well as " cattle, sheep,
goats, all other ruminating auimals, and swine." And it is
desirable that " disease" should include " mange of horses."
" Vete- inary " used with "inspector" is defined to mean "a
member of the [loyal College of Veterinary Surgeons ; " but
it seems to the Committee that this exclusivs definition will
not be adeqn .1 to Scotland uor to some parts of

England. The Committee observe that in Part IV., relating
land, Clause 76 enacts that the powers aud duties by
Part 11. conferred and imposed upon a veterinary inspector
.shall in Ireland be vested in and discharged by an inspector.

i i Committee remark with satisfaction that, by Clauses 10
and 15, the suppression of cattle plague is entrusted to the
Privy Council only, and that compensation for animals
slaughtered on account of cattle plague is to be paid out of
"mouey provided by Parliament."

In dealing with outbreaks of c title plague, a declaration of
an infe is to be mile by an iu.-pector when it

appears to him that cattle plague exists, or has existed, in that
i'he Committee are of opinion that
the period should be longer, and might be twenty-one days
With regard to the notice to be given by the inspector to

324

occupiers of lands and buildings any part whereof lies within
one mile of the infected place, the Committee would prefer
this being made compulsory, and would therefore omit the
words, «unless,in the circumstances/.this appears to him not to
be expedient." By Clause 15 the Privy Council must cause
to be slaughtered, not only all animals affected with cattle
plague, but also all animals being, or having been, in contact
with ail affected animal; and they may slaughter all suspected
animals, or all animals in an infected district.

Clause 15 limits the compensation for slaughtered animals
affected with cattlejlague^o one-half the value, with a maxi-
mum payment of £20, and for suspected animals the full
value, with a maximum of £10 ; but the Committee fail to see
a reason for making any difference between the amount of
compensation in cases of cattle plague paid out of money pro-
vided by Parliament and the compensation in cases of pleuro-
pneumonia paid out of local rates ; and consider that the
payment for atfected animals should be three-fourths the value,
with a maximum of £30 in the one case as in the other

(Clause 21).

It is an admirable feature of the Bill that, by Clauses 16 to
22, relating to pleuropneumonia and foot-and-mouth disease,
it is made compulsory ou local authorities to slaughter all
cattle affected with pleuropneumonia, and power is given to
them also to slaughter cattte which are or have been in con-
tact, paying compensation out of the local rates.

To all places infected with pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-
mouth disease it is enacted that the rules of theThird Schedule
shall be applied— namely, that cattle in the case of pleuro-
pneumonia, and animals in the case of foot-and-mouth disease
are. not to be moved into or out of an infected place, except by'
Order of Council, and are not to be moved into, in, or out of
an infected district except by license under an Order of
Council ; and that no market, fair, or exhibition, or sale of
cattle or of animals is to be held in an iufected district except
by license of the Privy Couucil. This schedule the Committee
regarded as one of the most important and valuable provisions
of the Bill. In Clause 16 the periods of 28 days for pleuro-pneu-
monia and only 7 days for foot-and-mouth disease, do not
appear consistent with the 56 days and 28 days respectively,
adopted in Clause 20 • and the Committee consider that it is
desirable to make both clauses uniform by inserting the longer
and sufficient periods in Clause 16. The Committee fail to
apprehend the scope of the word " consequences " in Clause 22.

In Clause 24., relating to slaughter by Order of Privy
Council for any disease other than cattle plague, the amoun
of compensation is left doubtful.

The Committee highly approve of Clause 26, which, in
thirty-one sub-sections, enables the Privy Council to make
orders for prohibiting and regulating the movement of animals,
carcases, fodder, dung, See. ; cleansing and disinfecting places,
persons, and things ; preventing the exposure of diseased or
infected animals, regulating fairs and markets, the trausport
of animals by land and water, &c. And it appears to the
Committee that a supervision of the Irish cattle trade and
traffic by sea is embraced ill these numerous and comprehensive
provisions. In Sub-section xxii., insuring for animals carried
by sea a proper supply of food and water during the passage
and on lauding, it would be well to insert the word " air.
In Clause 28, Sub-section i., relating to the ventilation, drain-
age, and water supply of dairies and cow-sheds, the Committee
deem it necessary that the words " in the occupation of cow-
keepers or dairymen" should be struck out, and the follow-

TIIE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■" From which the milk is sold for con

iug words inserted :
sumption."

The serious and elaborate interference with the business
operations of farmers and graziers enacted by the Bill, under
penalties, and the burdensome regulations which it imposes
upon the whole trade and traffic in home animals, could not be
submitted to unless etfectiul safeguards were erected against
continual re-introductions of contagion from foreign countries.
And accordingly the Committee canuot but thank her
Majesty's Government for the provisions made in Clauses 29
to 31 and in the Fourth Schedule, with respect to the impor-
tation of foreign animals, although total prohibition of the
importation of live animals would unquestionably have been a
more safe and effectual provision.

By Clause 29 the Privy Council may from time to time
prohibit the importation of animals from any foreign couutry
in which the existence of cattle plague is to be apprehended ;
but the Committee desire to see added the words, " or in which
other contagious disease is prevalent." Even under the Act o
1869 the Privy Council had power to prohibit uncondition-
ally the landing of foreign animals at our ports.

By the Fourth Schedule foreign animals are to be lauded
only at a defined part of a port to be called a " foreign
animals wharf," and none are to be moved alive out of the
wharf except animals intended for dairy or breeding purposes,
or for exhibition. These excepted animals are to be landed
only at a defined part of a port to be called a " foreign ani-
mals' quarantine station." They must be placed in sheds or
other receptacles, detained not less than fourteen days, removed
after that period by licence and with a Privy Council veteri-
nary inspector's certificate of freedom from disease, and to
whatever district forwarded must not bs moved out of or in
that district for fifl,y-3ix days. The Committee consider that
in Sub-section i the words " the local authority " should
be inserted after the words " sheds or other receptacles
prepared by," and before the words " the consignees or others.''

The Committee call attention to the fact that the Fourth
Schedule is headed " foreign animals," and that under this
heading the Ciiannel Islands and the Isle of Man are included
unless excepted by Privy Council Orders from time to time.
The Committee recommend that, for the purposes of the Act,
the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man be treated as integral
parts of the United Kingdom.

Clauses 32 to 43 relate to the powers, duties, and expense8
of local authorities, mainly re-enacting the provisions of the
existing law.

Under Clause '15 inquisitorial though necessary powers are
given to inspectors. In order to accord with Clause 10, the
time specified in Subsection 2 (a) should be twenty-one instead
of seven days And in Sub-section 4 it should be "the
owner, occupier, or person in charge " by whom an inspector
may be required to give his reasons for entering any land,
building, place, vessel, or boat. Authority is properly given
by Clause 48 to owners of animals or persons in charge to
exclude strangers from an iufected building or inclosure.

In the latter part of Clause 53, relating to a yearly return
to be laid before Parliament, the Committee notice an am-
biguity in the wording, which they consider should run thus :
— "Showing the number of foreign animals landed and the
number found diseased in that year, specifying the disease
and the ports of exportation and landing, and the mode of
disposal of all the animals." Pickering Piiii-fs,

Presiding Chairman.

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

325

PROPOSED ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW IN LONDON.

The Lord Mayor presided recently over a public
meeting at the Saloon, Mansion House, couveued "to
promote the holding- of a great Agricultural Exhibition in
Loudon in 1870, under the auspices of the Royal Agricultura
S iciety of Eugland." The attendance, which was ver.>'
nuiierous, incliiied th". Dike of Richmond and Gordon, the
Duke of Bedford, Karl Bective, Earl Cathcart, Earl Fever*-
ham, Lord Skelmersdale, Lord Vernon, Lord Winmarleigh
Colonel KiDgscote, C.B., M.P. ; Mr. Jolin Holms, M.P. ; Mr.
John Torr, M.P. ; the Hon. George Waldesrrave Leslie, Sir J
Heron-Maxwell, Sir John Bennett, Sir A. K. Macdonald,
Alderman Sir Thomas Dakiu, Alderman Sir Thomas White
Alderman Sir Charles Whetham, Mr. William Wells, Mr.
Jacob Wilson, Mr. T. C. Booth, Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr,
John Thornton, Mr. V. C. Scott, Professor Siraonds, and Mr
H. M. Jenkins (Secretary of the Society).

In opening the proceedings, the Lord Mavor said he knew
but little with regard to the arrangements and the 'manage-
ment of the Exhibitions of the Royal Agricultura! Society, but
he felt that they had a great work ia hand, and one of great
benefit to the nation at large; and in consequence of the
great importance of that work he had felt it his duty to allow

stock. He submitted that England had yet much lo learn in

regard to the importation of live meat, and this matter wa

,' well worthy of attentiou in making arrangements for nex

i year's show ; while there was an increasingly large trade both

in fish and fruit.

the lit ke of Richmond and Gordon (who was received
with loud cheers) seconded the resolution. He said : My
Lord Mayor, My Lords, and Gentlemen, — Intimately con-
nected as I have been from my earliest days with the agricul-
ture 01 this country and the agriculturists of the kingdom, Is
esteem it a very high honour to be permitted to make a few
remarks ou the subject-matter now under consideration. I
have, for many years been a member of the Council of the
Royal Agricultural Society of England, and I think I may-
venture to claim for that Society that it has done a very great
deal to promote agriculture in the United Kingdom (ILar,
hear). Those who look back upon the various shows which
have taken place in all parts of the Empire must have seen
that our desire has been to point out to all classes in the
kingdom, and in no one particular part of the kingdom, what
can be done by means of energy and enterprise towards pro-
moting the agricultural iuterests of the country. We recollect

the use of the Mansion House for that meeting. He had hoped [ that in former years the late lamented Prince Consort took a
that some one else would have presided, but it was thought deep interest in the workings of this Society ; we recollect
best that he should occupy the chair, and he had the satisfac- j perfectly well that it was thought right and proper to hold a
tion of knowing that he was surrounded by a number of | meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England in the
gentlemen who perfectly understood the matter they had met ' Metropolis, and that, as has been remarked, the meeting took

to consider, and he was confident that the issue would be best
not only for the Society but for the interests they had in
charge.

Alderman Sir Thomas Dakin moved the first resolution
viz : — " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to
promote the holding of a great Agricultural Exhibition in
London next year under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural
Society of England." This resolution he felt sure would
commend itself to all present. He had no doubt that the pro-
posed Exhibition would prove a great success, from the very
fact that the movement emanated from the Mansion House, I
for whatever was inaugurated there generally resulted success-
fully. But apart from that, it was impossible to consider the i

place in Battersea Park in 1S62. I hope, from the faces I see
around me, and from the remarks which have been made, that
during next year an exhibition may take place under
the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society of England
which may have even a greater importance than had the ex-
hibition which took place at Battersea upon a former occask a
I quite agree with the gentleman who spoke last as to th.
importance of the dead meat trade in this country ; but I wil
not on the present occasion follow him into the varion
peculations that he has offered on this subject. I have had
and probably shall have, other opportunities, and in other
places, for the utterance of any views that I may have on that
subject; and I am afraid that if we were now to enter upon

important services which the Royal Agricultural Society of j its discussion we might prolong this meeting to an hour

England during the last forty years had rendered to agriculture,
without wishing to aid the movement. The last London ex-
hibition in connection with the Society was held in 1862, iu
Battersea Park, a place difficult of access ; and another un-
fortunate circumstance was that it had to contend with a rival
in the shape of the International Exhibition. Next year, how-
ever, there would be no such rivalry, and he looked forward
to a most successful show.

Mr. John Holms, M.P., seconded the resolution, and
remarked that he regarded the proposal of great importance
to the country, aud he was very glad that the Lord Mayor had
inaugurated it. He was, however, inclined to think that their
position would be greatly improved by extending the title of
the show, so as to call it not merely an Agricultural Exhibi-
tion, but an "Agricultural and Food Exhibition." By in-
viting a'l the earth to send samples of all kinds of food the
Exhibition would be made far more interesting and profitable
to the nation than by confining it to implements and live

which you, my Lord Mayor, misjht perhaps think somewhat
undae (Hear,her.r). I have always considered that we.the agri-
culturists ol the country, should see that we do not neglect the
interests of alt classes in the community. One great obj«ct
ought to be to provide the vast consuming community of fiis
country with the greatest amouutand the best quality ot food ilia
could be produced I believe that the Society that I have
the honour to be a member of has that view, and is carrying
it out to the best of its ability. Those who compare the
present stateof the'stockin|this country with thestale of thestoik
some 30 or 40 years ago will see that the stock has improved in
a large and more rapid degree than could have been anticipated.
J think I should be unpardonable if I were to enter on anything
like an agricultural lecture, however tempting this ui'ijec' may
be, especially when one finds oneself among so many agricul-
tural friends ; and I will, therefore, content myself with hoping
lhat ttie resolution will commend itself to the attention of the
community, aud that the year 1879 may produce au exhibition

A A

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

•which will show to the world that the United Kingdom ih
behind no other civilised nation iu its agriculture (loud ap-
plause).

The resolution was also supported by Sir Charles
Whetham, who was introduced as the probable Lord Mayor
of next year, after which it was put to the meeting and carried
unanimously.

The Duke of Bf,i>fort) moved : —

" That a Committee be formed to carry out the object of
the previous resolution, to coller-t subscription", and to co-
operate with the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society."

The motion was seconded by Mr. W. A. Gileey, supported
by Mr. William Botley, and adopted.

The Hon. G. Wallegrave Leslie then moved : —

" That the following noblemen and gentlemen be appointed

-H London Agricultural Exhibition Committee, with power to

add to their number, and to appoint an Executive Committee

and such Sub-Committees and officers as may be deemed neces

sary :— The Lord Mayor, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon,

the. Duke of Bedford, the Duke of Buecleuch, the Duke of

Westminster, Earl Cathcart, Lord Marston, Lord Skelmers-

■ dale, Lord Vernon, Lord Winmarleigh, Mr. John Holms,

M.P., Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P , the Hon. G. Waldegrave

Leslie, S:r Thomas White, Sir Charles Whetham, Sir Thomas

Dakin, Sir J. Heron Maxwell, Sir John Bennett, Mr. William

Wells, Mr. W. A. Gilbey, Mr. James Odams, Mr. T. C. Scott,

"Mr, P. Simpson, Mr. Pavy, and Mr. C. Gassiott."

Lord Skei.merspale in srconding the resolution expressed
his belief that the London Show would outvie the great
successes which had been achieved at Manchester and at Liter-
pool.

The motion was then put end carried.

Sir J. Heron Maxwell moved : —

" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the
Exhibition should, if possible, be held in Hyde Park ; and
t lift the Committee now appointed, in conjunction with the
Council ol the Society, be rfquested to take the necessary
s'epswith a view te obtain the sanetion of his Roj-kI Highness
the Duke of Cambridge, as Ranger of Myde Park, and the
First Commissioner of 'Works."

Mr. T. C. Scott seconded the motion, which was carried.

In piopoing a vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor for pre-
siding, Colonel KiNGSCQlEj M.P., said he thought he
might venture to sny that if the movement was well begun,
the Prince of Wales would accept the preeideucy of the Society
for next j ear.

The motion was seconded by Lord Winmarleigh and car
ried with acclamation.

In acknowledging the vote, the Lord Mayor said that it
the rooms of the Mansion House could be of use to the Ex-
hibition Committee, he should be happy to make arrangements
accordingly. The meeting then separated.

f"F R E E

>&t the request of the Bolton Liberal Association, Mr.
Arthur Arnold recently delivered an address upon
"Free Land" in the Co-operative. Hall. He said it was

■ a matter which concerned ilie food of the people. There was
not a pound of meat at the butchers shops, there was not a bit

of bacon at the grocers', there was not a loaf of bread at the
< bakers', which was net indirectly taxed, of which the price was not
.made higher than it would be if the soil of England were net held
•back from increased production by laws positive and permissive
which have but one object and one defence, that they maiutaiu
a priviliged class in a position of supremacy in the Legislature
and upon the land. As for thrift, no people had ever shown
thrift or carefulness who Tere divorced from the soil. Even

■ onr fellow subjects in Jersey, where land wa3 free, when they
had a pauper say he must be Englis-h or Irish. We want free
land. It is a fact that 50,000,000 acres — nearly four-filths of
the United Kingdom — know no freeholder. These acres are
settled ; they are the patrimony of the landed gentry. The
smallest estate in that immense area is not less than 1,000
acres. Take the 500 members of the House of Lords, who re-
ceive the rents of nearly one-fifth of the United Kingdom
They are not owners ; they are only life-tenants, with small
inducements and small power to improve the land. With very
few exceptions their estates :re settled, it may be, for 100
years, aud are by that means practically withdrawn from all
the advantages aud accidents of ownership. To have free land
we must insist that tenure shall be freehold. It must be for-
bidden to create life estates in land. It will be said why should
not land be settled as well as money ? Mr. Arnold said he
■would reply in the words of Mr. Lowe — because " land is a kind
of property in which the public must, from its very nature
have a kind of dormant joint interest with the proprietor ; and

L A N IX"

because the public, now that it is to "have the power, will no
submit to be deprived of the benefits of that interest. Absolute
property in land cannot exist. In the standard work upon the
law of real property we find it stated that, " no man in law is the
absolute owner of lauds." Mr. Arnold said his rule with regard
to legislation touching property in land was to make sure that
the legislation proposed wonid raise, the pecuniary value of the
landlord's interest. That, he thought, was the surest way to
judge whether the change would he for the public advantage.
He had never met any one who doubted that if the power of
settling land were abolished, aud transfer by registration of
title made simple and inexpensive, as it is in the Channel
Islands, which have belonged to the Crown since the Conquest
or by a b tter system >n Australia, the result would be a large
increase in the proprietary value. One reason why thoughtless
opposition mijiht be expected was because, not being owners,
the mest intelligent landlords are least concerned with the eare
of their estates. They prefer pleasure or statesmanship. As
for the majority, they will oppose because, as Lord Beaconsfield
lias written of them in " Lothair," " they live in the open air
and they never read," and because, as Mr. Mill said, "Great
landlords have rarely studied anything." We confront the
greatest anomaly in the political world. With representation
of an increasingly popnlar character, we are maintaining a me-
diaeval land system. No one who is wise will defend primo-
geniture, entail, settlement, aud our .cumbrous law of transfei
on the gronnd that it is necessary for the maintenance of the
House of Lords that 50,000,000 acres, Gr nearly four-fifths of
cur country, should be held in mortmain ; for that is what it
amounts to. The nobility m ay count securely upon the good
will of the people, but they must be careful not to identify the
uses of a landed gentry .with thotd abuses of law and custom

THE FARM Kirs MAGAZINE.

327

which' have placed nearly four-fifths of tho soil in thi- fettered
and ownerless condition. The county franchise was most
needed to make. K igland free in regard to land tenure, to
ab'ilish primogeniture, to release the land from the disabilities
or settlement, and to make trausfer simple and secure. Oar
law of transfer is a protection to the landed gentry, a terror to
the middle class, and an unkuowu and unintelligible mystery
to the mass of the people. It is bad in every point, and by it
the people of England have been turned away altogether from
the laud. In Australia the cost of a mortgage is IDs., and it

need be no more in England. The time occupied is 15 minuses.
With a proper system of registration the price of land would rise
aud loans on land would be obtained at 3^ per cent. Registration
should be compulsory upon sale or transfer, and the period for
investigation ii.uited to 20 years. Indefeasible title, with
pecuniary compensation for ertor, must be given where possible,
and a fair holding title in the comparatively few cases which
would be maturing to iudeftasibility. We should then have free-
land, and Lord Derby's views about doubling the produce migh^
be realised.

T II E T R E A T M E N T 0 F E W E B'.

TO THI EDITOE 0* THE MARK LANK EXPRESS.

Sir, — I receive many letters asking for further in-
formation as to the application of the carbolic acid and
oil mixture for straining iu ewes after lambing, which I
regret, for want of time, I am unable to answer. I there-
fore think it better to ask you kindly to allow rat to
state, through your paper, that it is desirable to use' the
mixture about new-mi!k warm, and that it might be ap-
plied freely to the exterior of the vagina. The ewe
should be placed in a position so that the mixture will
pass on to the uterus, or a syringe may be used with ad-
vantage.

1 have received the following satisfactory letter from
Mr. Barton, of Thrextou House, near Walton : —

" Upon reading your letter and extracts from Mr. Scott
in Saturday's Merciwy, 1 immediately* procured carbolic
acid and Gallipoli oil, aud it was not long before it was
required as a very bad case of" straining " occurred; the
shepherd immediately applied the mixture as directed, aud
iu strength one-seventh. That at once relieved the ewe,
but straining returned after a few hours, and then another
application of one-fifth strength had the desired effect. A
third application was made after 10 or 12 hours with
complete success, the ewe being this, Thursday morning,
apparently quite recovered. I am sure rlockmasters are
much indebted to Mr. Scott for making the remedy known
and to you for giving it so much publicity."

Mr. W. II. Jillings, of the Nuuuery Farm, Thetford,
writes : —

" My experience of the carbolic arid and oil mixture
has been most satisfactory. I have tried it iu four cases,
with the best results. One ewe had a dead lamb, aud had
been lying about for two or three days before I heard of
your excellent remedy. After its application the change
in the state of the ewe was marvellous. The following
day she was up aud feeding, aud very soon recovered."

Several gentlemen told me at Norwich to-day that they
have tried the mixture most successfully.

I have every reason to believe that my own experience
of the mixture is being confirmed by that of other persons.
I am, Sir, &c,

IIe.nri Wouds.
Thezford, March 16,

Sir, — Will you allow me to say a few words in con-
firmation of the excellent advice of Mr. Wood's as to tb.6
use of carbolic acid in the lambing fold.

This terrible scourge amongst our breediug flocks,
uterine inflammation, needs to be dealt with iu a more
rational aud se'entific manner, and we should hear less
about the " bad luck " of breeders which, after all, is but
a synonym for bad management. L am a firm believer in
the " germ theory " of the disease, and consequently hold
that this kiud of inflammatory action is caused by the.
" germs " coming iu contact with the tissues of the-
injured and excited womb from without, and heuce the
free use of carbolic acid iu destroying the vitality of these
putrefactive agents prevents the iuiLuumatory action
taking place.

How often a shepherd, by supreme ignorance, will in-
fect case after case iu the (lock. Perhaps withiu an
hour after having skinned a ewe dead from this complaint
he will assist another, ahd so convey into the womb the
contagium, vigorously able to sow a fresh crop if i't should
find a seed-bed amongst the injured tissues. Never let
the shepherd-accuiicher touch or go near an infected ewe.
Let him keep his clothes and himself rigidly free from all
risk of coutagion, and where a ewe is sick of it, let her be
removed from the rest of the flock at once-
After assistance has been given to the gravid uterus-
and the contents removed infect with a vaginal syringe a
copious solution of carbolic acid, washing out the womb
aud parts. Iu extreme cases this may be repeated at in-
tervals, taking care not to chill.

Two causes mostly operate to bring uterine inflanima- -
tion about : first, injury to the walls of the womb
secondly, portions of the placenta] membranes are broken
up, or are left still adherent to its coats, aud these by thcir
decompositiou cause great derangement of the tissues, audi
in many cases, tend to inflammation.

As regards the first cause, care and' skill in removing
the fecius quickly, and without straining the parts, is the
great aim. When, through the smalluess of the pelvic
arch, there is found a difficulty iu expelling the fcelus iu
the natural way, the operator should desist from further
effort iu this direction, and by carefully grasping the two
hiud-feet of the lamb, invert the fuetus, geutly turnin
the mother's body to assist the movement. It will b*

328

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

found that the contents can be removed in this position,
when all attempts in any other would prove fatal to both
ewe and lamb.

As regards the second set of symptoms, removal of the

irritating membrane is necessary, to be followed up by
the disinfecting process, until the disquiettug action has
subsided. 1 am, Sir, &c, D. T.

DAIRY FARMING.

We can only give some extracts from the above paper,
read at a recent meeting of the Blaudford Farmers' Club,
by Mr. Summers.

It has been said, on what is considered good authority, that
it is impossible to unite good milkers with good feeders, and
that the attempt will end in utter failure. " In proportion,"
says the expounder of this doctrine, " as we gain the one in
the same proportion we lose the other ; the more milk the less
beef, and the more we pursue beef the less milk we get. In
truth, they seem to be two different varieties of the same kind
for very different uses, and, if so, they ought most certainly to
be differently pursued by those who employ them. If the
dairyman wants milk let him pursue the milking tribe ; let
him have both bull and cows of the best and greatest milking
family he can find ; on the contrary, he who wants feeding or
grazing cattle let him procure a bull and cows of that sort
which feed the quickest, wherever they are to be found. By
pursuing too many objects at once we are apt to lose sight of
the principal, and by aiming at too much we often lose all.
Let us keep two distinct sorts, and we shall gain the prize in
due time. I apprehend it has been too much owiug to the
mixing of breeds and improper crossings that has kept us so
long from distinguishing the most valuable kinds." This, gen-
tlemen, has a plausible ring with it, but it is contrary to my
experience, for, however scarce those animals are which are
good representatives of the combination of the good milker
and good feeder in one, it is enough to know that they can be
produced, and, as such, deserve the particular attention of
dairy farmers. Such animals, I believe, are represented in a
more marked degree in cross-breds than in any pure-bred
variety. It will be understood that the best dairy cow ia the
animal which produces the greatest weight of butter and
cheese, and not the animal which produces the greatest quan-
tity of milk. A very large flow of milk is generally of a
character which would not pass the public analyst, on whose
authority the milkmen are too often condemned. I agree with
Professor Symonds that it does not follow as a matter of
necessity that a cow which yields a large quantity of milk shall
be the best cow for the dairy, for it frequently occurs that such
milk has an increased proportion of water. There is a remark
which often falls from a practical man-—" quantity for cheese
and quality for butter." What we want is these two things
combined, as we see occasionally among Alderneys, and when
present we can only attribute it to a peculiarity of the
organism of the individual animal. This peculiarity, like
many others, may, and indeed is very likely to, prove heredi-
tary, and as such the calves of these animals should be selected
for rearing. The goodness of milk for butter making is fre-
quently judged of by its colour, preference being given to such

as has a yellow hue. This, however, may be fallacious ; for
the colour often depends on other causes rather than on an
augmentation of the proportion of butter. An Aldeniey is

not (infrequently kept in a dairy in orJer to give a greater
depth of colour to the bitter. Her doing so is due to the

excess of yellow pigment which exists in her organism, and
which is cast out with the secretion of milk in common with
many other vital functions. She, indeed, may be a deficient
butter-making animal, her milk not being rich in the amount
of its oleaginous materials. This augmentation of yellow
pigment belongs to the race ; it is a peculiarity attaching to
their organisation, and cannot be explained by the physiologist
with any greater satisfaction than can the varied hues met
with in man. Tiie fact of its belonging to the race proves it
to be hereditary, and its conveyance from parent to offspring
is on a par with the transmission in like manner of the capa-
bility of giving either a large quantity, good quality, or both
of milk. Then there is a considerable variation in the quan-
tity and quality of milk given by cows of varying age#
Although the amount of milk yielded by a heifer or other
young animal may be considerable, it is not until they are four
or five years old that the glands secrete the Idlest quantity.
At this period all the organs are in their most vigorous con-
dition, and if not ovettaxed may remain for several years with-
out showing any marked signs of decay. Both the quantity
and quality of old animals have suffered loss, the latter often
more so than the former. And, again, the temperament plays
a most important part in the production of milk. A cow of
an irritable or nervous temperament is rarely a good milker-
It is the quietly disposed, bland, and mild animal which fills
the pail. The influence of mind over the secretion of milk is
very remarkable, and ought to be strictly attended to by those
who have the management of the dairy. As I have before
observed, I have great faith in a cross between the Shorthorns
and some other breed that is hardy and have a disposition to
fatten, to produce a combination of the good milker and good
feeder. I never confine myself to any particular description
of cows, the chief consideration being hardiness of constitution,
good milking qualities, and a disposition to lay on flesh and
fat. With good milking qualities I include a large flow of
rich milk with no inclination to give out in milking should
any slight untoward circumstances occur. The latter disposi-
tion has much to do with the feeding. It is not the highest
feeder which will keep the cow iu milk during the season ; it
depends much on particular attention beiug paid to giving a
regular supply of milk-producing food. From this necessity
arises the great value of early spring feed and from early after-
grass. To obviate any loss of condition or milk I give four
pounds of cotton cake per day to each cow, beginning as soon
as they have calved, and continuing it until they leave the
stalls in May. If they have nothing but hay up to the month
of May, or if they have no aftergrass ready for them in July
or early iu August, when the cowleases are parched by the
burning sun and drying winds, the loss of milk is considerable,
and no after treatment will bring it up to its former quantity.
There is a great variation in differeut dairies as to the time of
calving, much depending on the price which the dairyman
gives per cow. My cows are early, usually beginning near the
1st of January. The oniv objection I see to this is the greater

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

.129

consumption of hay after the cows have calved. There would
be a falliug-off in the production of milk, in April if I did not
take the preoiutijn to provide grass lor spring feed, so that it
may be ready for the.n to be turned infca about the middle of
.March. This causes a greater flow of milk, and imparts a
richness to the butter and cheese not usually found at this
season of the year. Taey return to their stalls early in the,
afternoon to be fed on hay during the night, but the consump-
tion is considerably diminished, and tints a great saving is
effected. The rearing of calves and feeding of young stock is
a considerable item in the balance sheet of many farmers-
From this I am debarred by the prevalence of bronchitis (ver-
nnuous) — locally termed " hisk" — ou my farm. From some
cause unknown to me, and, 1 believe, to the veterinary profes-
sion, all of my fields are productive of this troublesome disease
to which calves are so subject. It invariably appeared among
my calves in a form to warrant the term " enzootic," and
sometimes carried off oue or more of them, leaving others very
emaciated, so that I gave up the contest. I battled with it
for years, trying the preparations of every vet. aud every
quack nostrum in local use to no purpose, until at last I took
it that " discretion was the better part of valour," and' yielded
to fate. I shall say very little about butter and butter making,
it being, apparently, so simple an operation that nobody fears
carrying it through with success. This is a grave error into
which too many fall, and what is called butter has often little
of that flavour left which is so pleasing to the palate. Dorset-
shire is fast losing its good name for butter, aud will never
legain it until the butter is more carefully and properly
washed, and much more of the water removed before being
put into the firkin. Weight must be sacrificed for quality, or
the latter cannot be obtained. Dorsetshire appears to be
behind most other counties in the art of cheese making, and
still further behind them in applying science to its manufac-
ture. The Press has done much to awaken a spirit of inquiry,
and the spirit of emulation has also done much where
judiciously directed. Together it tends to remove dairy prac-
tice from an empirical process to a scientific art ; but cheese
making, as a science, is not quite understood. I cannot enter
into any detailed explanation or description of the process of
cheese making, or into its after treatment, as I do not under-
stand the processes, and it would occupy too much precious
time if I did, which has to be tilled in by other matters that
are of greater importance. I will incidentally remark, with
Dr. Voelcker, that the inferior character, aud especially the
bad flavour, of cheese owes its origin m many cases to a want
of proper care in handling the milk from which it has been
made — from care not being bestowed upon noticing the tem-
perature at which the milk is " set" or "run," as it is called
in this county ; from the temperature at which the curd, being
a very delicate substance, is exposed ; from the imperfect
separation of the whey from the curd ; from the curd being
too sour before being separated from the whey ; from breaking
up the curd too rapidly and carelessly ; from badly made
rennet, which is too weak or has a disagreeable smell ; from
bad anuatto being employed as a colouring matter ; from too
much or too little salt being used iu curing it ; or from many
other causes which do not at present occur to my mind. Tien,
again, after cheese has left the press it is deteriorated in qua-
lity when it is placed in damp or badly ventilated rooms. If
newly made it is spoiled by not turniug it frequently enough,
or by the temperature of the cheese room being too high or
too low. A sltady fermentation, which is essential to the pro-

per ripening of the cheese, can only be maintained iu a room
which is not subject to great fluctuations of temperature.
From these few general remarks, gentlemen, yon may under-
stand how difficult and delicate are the processes which have
to be goue through before a good cheese can be got ready lor
our tables, and how it is that not more than oue dairyman in
ten ever becomes a good cheesemaker. The maker of good
cheese makes 30s. or 40s. per cow more than he who makes
second quality ; the former accumulates wealth, whereas the
latter grumbles aud becomes impoverished. The letting of
dairies being almost the only system adopted by Dorsetshire
farmers makes this matter stand very prominent for our con-
sideration. Lang as I have let dairies on the 14th of
February I must avow there is a touch of imbecility in us
farmers who do so, and perhaps there is nothing in which we
have shown it so transparently of late years as in this. It
throws the management of the whole dairy on our handa
nearly three months previous to the new dairyman coming to
reside in his new residence, the last six or seven weeks being
a time of trouble aud anxiety through the calving season
having begun. But the stamping out of old customs and the
introduction of new is a work of slow progress at all times ;
still the former date ought to and must be erased at once and
for ever, and the first day of the year inserted in its place.

After some further remarks on the dairy-letting system,
Mr. Summers said :

The only alternative left to us is to adopt the factory system
which is so extensively patronised in Derbyshire and the sur-
rounding counties. When this system was first introduced
from America and carried out at the " Holms Factory," in
Derbyshire, the site on which the factory stands was designated
"Fools' Corner;" but this name and the prejudice which
gave it birth have long since died out, and the factory system
is now looked on with cordial approval. Mr. Morton said in
1875 that experience had satisfied the expectations of those
who first introduced the factory system into England. Manu-
facture on the larger scale has in the case of milk, as in that
of all other raw materials, been found more economical and
more profitable. A manufactured article of higher average
quality, because of more uniform excellence, and consequently
of greater value, has been obtained. Where estates are not
properly equipped it is held by those who unquestionably have
the interests ol dairy farmers at heart that this system is the
best to adopt. The landlords would profit largely by it through
the factory system relieving them of the duty of providing
adequate accommodation on the farms ; the tenants would
profit by it through 7|d. to 7fd. per gallon being paid for
heir milk, and the country would profit by it through a greater
number of dairy cows being kept, cons quent on the removal
of the drudgery attending the manufacture of the produce.
Agaiu I ask the question — Why cannot dairymen be more
liberal in their prices for milk? First, they have not the
appliances, and rarely the skill, for making cheese of the best
quality ; secondly, the labour bill is much enhanced per cwt.
through the small quantity dealt with ; thirdly, their equip-
ments are not such as tend to economise its manufacture
fourthly, the early and late made goods are of inferior quality
from want of quantity and the best arrangements and contri-
vances. All these drawbacks fall ultimately, perhaps, on the
shoulders of dairy-letting farmers, or, in the end, the landlords
may have to bear their shares in diminished reDts. The 10s.
per cwt. extra paid for factory made cheese, with that of taking
2s. or 3s. per cwt. from the co&t of it, arc most important cou-

331)

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

siJerations, both socially and agriculturally. Centralisation it
the tendency of the age, yet I do not, think this great industry
will accumulate wholly in factories. But there are so many
advantages conuected with this system which I have not time
to enumerate, that with my present view of it all I can see is
that it tends to become fashionable, like mauy other thiugs,
and end in centralisation. You will observe, gentlemen, that
there are many important points left untouched in this cur-
sorily written paper, such as — The age of the bull best suited
for the dairy ; how many cows ought he to serve ; at what

date, ought the bull to be withdrawn from the dairy ; at what
age and under what conditions is it most profitable to take
cows from the dairy, and at what time of the year ; on the
best method* of delivering a cow under various difficulties ; on
the fattening of calves ; on the management and fattening of
pigs ; and many other topics which would supply material for
a dozen papers. But I trust they will receive the attention of
gentlemen who follow me in discussing this important subject
of " Dairy Farming."

F.REE TRADE

NO,

After a long interval, Mr. Joseph Kay, of Fredley ,
Dorking, ha* contributed a fourth letter on the land
question to The Manchester Examiner. It is dated Feb.
7th, and is as follows : —

In No. I, published on the 20th of Dec. {M. L. E., Jan.
7th), I tried to show the condition of things which the
present Land Laws have produced ; in No. 2, published on the
23th of Dec. (.If. L. E. Jan. 21st), I attempted to dispose of
certain common fallacies which beset the question of the Land
Liws • and in No. 3, published on the 8th of Jan. (M.L. E.,
Feb. 11th), I endeavoured to explain the laws which have
broight about the condition of things described in Nj. 1.

In this and the following letter I propose to show what are
so ne o? the evil consequences of these laws as they now exist.
Bu. before I do so, I must beg to be permitted to notice twn
or three suggestions and queries, which the letters already
published have evoked.

One gentleman, an eminent and well-known member Of
Parliament, inquires if I would suggest the doing away with
marriage settlements of laudP I answer, that inasmuch as it is
by and in the m irriaga settlements that a great part, if not the
greatest part, of the land of Great Britain and Ireland is tied
up for many years, and so rendered incapable of being sold, or
seized, or divided, however expedient it may be to do so ; and
inasmuch as without doing away with marriage settlements of
and you cannot possibly huve anything like free trade in land ;
and inasmuch as such marriige settlements of laud have been
done away with iu all countries where free land his been in-
troduced, I would certainly do away with marriage settlements
of land, as I would with all other deeds or wills which render
laid incapable of being sold. I an quite certain that no
a lequa^e reform cm possibly be, or that any has in any country
been accomplished without doing away with such settlements.
Turn I am asked why I am opposed to the proposal to limit
the amount of land which a mau might hold, and also why a
landowner should not be forced to sell all his estate, except a
limited portion, on receiving proper notices from purchasers
intending to buy? I answer, that if gentemen who make
these suggestions really think they are practicable, or reason -
ab'e, or desirable, nothing I could say or do would convince
them to the contrary. They propose schemes which I hive
neither the time nor the inclination to fight. Life is too short
for some sort of controversies. Then I am told that in a
crowded rich country like this it is idle to dream of land ever
selling in small estates to any great extent. I answer, let us
get rid of the causes, which, as I showed in No. 1, have put
U,19S £00 acres, or more than one hair of England aud Wales,
iato the hands of onty 4,500 persons, which have given half of

IN

LAND.

IV.

the whole couuty of Northumberland to 26 persons, which
have given 1,358,548 acres to one person, aud which have
given 4,41).'i87 acres of land to only twelve persons ; and when
we have done this we shall better see thau at present what
number of the citizens of the United Kingdom would obtain
shares in the land. It is, at any rate, somewhat premature at
present, under the existing most extraordinary circumstauces,
to talk of the large population and of the '' limited quantity "
of land , at any rate, without being so ridiculous as to expect
every citizen to be a landowner, one is not a dreamer iu sup-
nosing that a vast number of citizens might in this country,
a- abroad, become landowners if these immense estates were
divided.

Then a Bishop of the C lurch of Eugltud his objected to me
that personal property can be tied up as long as land, aud with
as mueh mischievous results. I ausw -r, first, that I do not
t link tint it is wise or gooi that the Uw should allo.v personal
p-opsrty to be tied up lor s) greit a nuuber of years, as at
present, after the testator's death, and that I would alter tha'
law ; but, secondly, I say that many of the evil consequences
which result from tying up laud b; these deeds and wills, aud
which I am going to try and explain iu this and the following
letter, either do not result at all, or, any rate, do not result to
nearly the same extent from tying up personal property ; and
thirdly, I say that personal property cannot be tied up iu foreign
countries to anything like the same extent to which it can be
tied up in Great Britain and Irelaud.

Now, let us consider some of the consequences of these deeds
and wills which bind an es'ate for so many years : —

1. It is unquestionable, as I have already said, that they
prevent many estates being sold, which would otherwise come
into the market. I gave one instance of this in letter No. 2>
in the case of Lord A.'s estate, of which I myself was trustee.
The estate would undoubtedly have been sold at least 40 year*
ago, either iu one or more lots, if it had not been for the deed
which was made upon Lord A.'s marriage. I myself, wi h my
own limited sphere of observation, know several other estate8
which would undoubtedly have been sold if it had not beeu for
similar deeds or wills. Indeed there cau be no doubt whatever
that there are many es ates in all parts of the country which
are only kept out of the auction room by similar deeds and
wills. They are. overburdened with charges and mortgiges.
Everybody concerned would be a gaiuer by a sale. The land
■vould pass from irnpovished owners to men who would buy,
because they had the desire aud means to make good use of
.vhat they brought. Besides this, iu many, m tny cases, w.iere
the o^vaer was on the turf, or gambled as Lord A did, or was
i mere spendthrift, or reckless manager, the had would be

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

3?1

sold. And the greater the numher of the rs'ates that thus
came to the hammer, the less inflated would the price of land
become, and the more necessary, in order to realise the bes1
price, would it become to sell ai estate in single farms, rather
than in one lot. This is abundantly proved by the course, of
sales under the Encumbered Es ates and Church Acts of Ire-
land, where, instead of the prjperties sold going solely to great
owr.ers or great capitalists, mo e than 1,000 small farms or
plots have been sold to small farmers or capitalists. If any
fair number of great estates in England and Seo'laiul were to
come into the market as in Ireland, mea of husines?, shop-
keepers, small farmers, and sm ill village! tradesmen would buy-
Similar results have followed similar causes in all foreigu
couutries wh-re the feulal laws have been done away with.

Tne London Times of the 29 h December, 1877, published a
most remarkable piece of evidence of the truth of what I have
just written, so remarkible that I am sure your readers will
thank me for citiug it in ejetenso, especially as Mr. Caird and
other eminent men are ei^erly asserting just now that if the
great estates came into the mirket and were, divided, no people
but rich capitalists would buy. Your readers will bsir in
mind that this extract is taken from a piper which his always
shown itself most hostile to " free trade in laud."

Our Dublin correspondent writes under date December
28th :—

" Mr. Shaw Lefevre, MP., has pursued his inquiries as to
the operation of the clauses of the Church and Lind Acts,
which enable tenants to bay their holdings beyond the com-
mittee room of the House of Commous to the lands themselves,
and has coinmuuicated the result of his observation to the
"Journal of the Statistical S)ciety." In the forthcoming
number a paper will appear giving an account of visits paid to
two glebes in the neighbourhood of Newry. One of these has
been sold to the tenants, and the other is only no* about to
be offered for sale, some techuical difficulties having caused
delay. The lauds which were so'd consisted of 250 statute
acres, on which there were 21 small farms, let at an average
rent of £1 -ts. per acre. All the tenants purchased these farms
at about 24 year»' purchase of the rental. The distric" is
purely agricultural and the land is light and undulating. He
states the results of his inquiries in nine cases. The first
bought 20 acres for £516, the whole of which he paid down.
He had been an engineer in the merchant service for some
years, then inherited a small farm of eight acres, and afterwards
bought the tenant's interest in an adjoining one of 12 acres,
for which he paid £350, or 30 times the rent. Since he bought
the fee, he has built a range of superior farm buildings at a
cost of £500, tiled the floor of the house, put up an excellent
kitchen range, and drained and reclaimed some of the land.
His testimony as to the other tenants is that they felt satisfac-
tion in having become owners, but those who had to borrow
the balance of the purchase money had a hard struggle. They
got a loan of money at 5 per cent., and were paying it off by
degrees. The next farm consisted of only 2.^ acres, held at a
rent of £2 15s., which was bought for £73, of which £39 had
been paid down. In this case the money had to be borrowed
from different persons, one of whom got £1 for a loan of £10
for ten months, and the buyer's sister 10s. for the loan of £11
for a year. He is a labourer, and his wife is a laundress. They
are glad to have the land and expect that it will be free before
they die. They never could save before, they say. The next
tenant bought, a farm of 5£ acres, for £16t . He is 92 years
of age, hs.s uine sons and two daughters. Seven of the sons
are at sea, and one of them gave the purchase money and a

further sum to erect additional farm building. The next farm
coutaiuing 17 acres, wh'ch was held st a rent of £27, wis
bought by the tenant for £6t3, o( which he piil do in £228.
The money had been saved at sea. Since the purchase he p.iid
£37 for buldi ig material, and converted the th itched cottages
into a two-storeyed slated house. He his seven children, too
small to be any help, and lives altogether on the labour of the
larin. The next tenant, an able seaman, had a farm of 10
acres, for which he gave £273, paying down £73, which he
had borrowed from friends. His reason for paying was lest
he should be turned out of the farm. No improvement has
been made, but he hopes to pay off th? debt. The next
tenant was a widow, who had bought 9£ acres for £31 1; she
paid down £79, of which £75 had been borrowed at 6 per
cent., and all except £15 had been, repiid. List year she had
a good bit ol flax, which enabled her to piy off £10. She has
two daughters aud a boy 15 years old, and the whole family
work on the farm and have uo other means of support. She
bought the 1 >nd lest she should be thrown oat and have to
go lie behind a hedge. The house is thatched, clean, neat,
and comfortable. The next farm contained 51 acres, which
was bought for £1,583, which the tenant paid in full. He
handed it over to his son to work, and lives himself on an
adjoining property. The eighth tenant who was visited
bought 15 acres for £122, and paid down £106, leaving the
remainder on mortgage. He died soon, and left the farm to
his widow in trust for his son, a lad of 15, who was at sea.
The father, who was a Scotchman, had sold the Tenant-Right of
a farm in Fermanagh for £600, aud preferred to buy the small
farm to renting a greater one. The house had been greatly
improved. The last case was that of a farm of IS acres, bought
for £508, of which £168 had been paid down. The purchaser
died, leaving the lauds to his widow for life and then to his
youngest sou. She is laying by for him, and is well pleased
with the purchase of the farm. Mr. Shaw Lefevre. admits that
it might be dangerous to draw conclusion from these limited
cases, and one property, if they did not coufirra the evidence
laid before the committee. In every case great benefit had
resulted from the purchase. It had been a spur to industry
and thrift, and the increased industry and activity required
to pay off the loan will, he thinks, establish a habit for the
future. He remarks that many of the families were partly
supported by contributions from members who were at sea,
and that he had always contended that small landowners are
not necessarily to be expected to derive, the whole of their
subsistence from the land. He felt confident that many of the
older people he saw would in England be in the workhonse.
Under the English system the whole of the nine small (arms
which he visited, containing 150 acres, would be thrown into
one, and, instead of nine families, there would be one farmer's
family superior in social position, but not superior in intelli-
gence, to those whom he saw ; and four or five families of
labouring men, with a quarter of an acre for a garden, without
any hope of bettering their condition, and with no prospect for
their old age but the poorliouse. He visited a second glebe,
which was still to be sold."

As I have said before, it is really ridiculous to assert that
these deeds and wills do not keep great numbers of estates out
of the market ; but if they do not, if their object is not spe-
cially to effect this, what good are they ? Is it to be supposed
that the landowners tie their own hands, limit their powers
over their own estates, and subject themselves and their 6uc
cessors to all the many inconveniences which necessarily at-

332

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

tend thelimita'ionof their powers over their estates for no
prospect or hope of advantage P Such a supposition is absurd.
These deeds and wills are notoriously framed for the express
purpose of preventing: til e great estates dividing or coming
into the market. Th*y do most successfully accomplish the
eud for which they are so frame 1. Tiiey very greatly diminish
the number of sales of land that would otherwise take place.
They thus raise the market price of land very considerably, and
by this means make it more and more difficult for small capi-
talists or tradesmen to purchase.

2. But let us look at auother consequence of these deeds aud
wills.

The son constantly knows that do what his father will, he
(the son) is sure, under one of these deeds or wills, to succeed
to the estate. The son is therefore, to a very great extent,
rendered independent of his father. The parenttl control and
authority are lessened just in those very cases in which they
are most needed, and in which they ought to be increased
rather than diminished.

As soon as the young man is 21 he finds himself surrounded
by money lenders, who moke it their special business to devote
themselves to the wants of such heirs, and who are always on
the look out for them. The father has no power to save the
son from these harpies. He is deprived of a great check upon
his son. If the father threatens to cut off the son's allowance,
unless his misconduct is discontinued, the son can, and often
does, in such a case, laugh in his father's face. The money-
lenders are only too happy to relieve present wants, and to lead
on to fuither loans. Aud in this way the heir often comes
into the possession of his estate with such a weight of debts
and liabilities around his neck that during the remainder of
},is life there is no owner who has either virtue or capital
enough to manage the estate decently. In such a case would
it not be an unalloyed good to all concerned if he could sell
the land ? Who is there who among his acquaintances or
neighbours cannot recall many instances of this kind? if it
were not for these deeds and wills, in all these cases a part or
the whole of such an estate would come into the market.

3. These laws induce unprincipled or careless landowners to
be tenfold more careless than they otherwise would be about
the education of the child who is to succeed to the ownership
of the estate. They know that however badly the child may
be brought up, however extravagant, or reckless, or dissi-
pated he may turn ou^, he cannot, no matter what may be his
extravagance or folly, loose or lessen the estates or the social
status cf the family, but that the iand will go undiminished
to the next owner mentioned in the deed or will.

Not only does the knowledge, that the estate must come to
him, however he should behave, act most prejudicially on the
child's character, hut the knowledge that the child cannot get
rid of it increases this evil by rendering the father more callous
as to the proper training of his child than he would be if he
knew that the future of the family estates and of the family
status depended entirely on the character of the future owner.
Many and many an heir is utterly demoralised by these causes.
And then the country suffers iu a double sense, for not only
are the estate aud the ten >uts neglected, but a man is put into
the influential position of a landowner whose early education
and habits have rendered him totally unfit to be entrusted with
any influence whatever, and who never would have enjoyed
any such influence if it had not been for these Land Laws,
which I have attempted to describe. These laws in this way
often set up in influential positions, as examples to society,

men of luxurious and idle habits, depraved tastes, and corrupted
morals.

4. These laws ke?p iu influential positions a large body of
men, however unworthy of these positions they may b?. — men
who have always knowu that they need not work, who have
in couspquence ofteu grown up in ignorance and frivolity, who
areso rich and in such influential positions as to enable them to
exercise great influence on public affairs, and to make their
own conduct and nnuners the standard for the thoughtless and
weak-minded, who are supported and strengthened in their
position by the state of the county franchise aud the county
magistracy, and who more than any other class foster habits
of idleness, self-indulgence, and extravagance.

5. But I will try to explaiu another serious evil, which
constantly results from tying up and charging these estates in
the way I have described. In the raijorit.y of cases the owner
d)es not come into possession of the land until he is past
middle age. He is then generally married, and he has pro-
fa ibly a family of children. He kuows that he has no interest
in the land beyond his own life. Sometimes he has a power
of charging the estate to a small extent for younger children.
If such a man really cares for the future of his family, look at
the position in which he is placed. In nine cases out of ten
he receives the property burdened with charges to his mother,
his brothers, and sisters. He feels he ought to have some-
thing for his own younger children. Now, except in the cases
of the larger estates, how cau he hope to do this during the
remainder of his life, and at the same time to spend in the
improvement and proper maintenance of the estate, its build-
ings, farms, &c. His eldest son is to take the whole of the
land. Every penny he spends upon the improvement of the
estate is so much taken from what he could have saved for the
younger children, and so much added to the eldest son's already
unjust share. How often, under the pressure of these circum-
stances is not the unfortunate owner obliged to neglect either
the estate or his children ? Of course, the heavier the estate
has been previously charged with debts the worse does such a
case become. It is difficult to conceive a system more certain
to repress any efforts for improvement, or to discourage any
outlay of capital upon the land. Mr. Caird, C.B , F.R.S.,
who is strongly opposed to the system of small estates, writing
in 1851, in his " Agricultural Survey of England," says :
" Much of the land of England — a far greater proportion of it
than is generally believed — is in the possession of tenants for
life, so heavily burdened with settlement encumbrances that
they have not the means of improving the land which they are
obliged to hold. It would be a waste of time to dilate on the
public and private disadvantages thus occasioned, for they are
acknowledged by all who have studied the subject."

The same gentleman, on the 25th of September, 1877'
at the meeting of the Social Science Congress at Aberdeen, in
his address on " Economy and Trade," with especial reference
to the condition and prospects of British Agriculture, said,
" The evil that exists in the present land system is, not that
we have great proprietors amongst us— for, as a rule, their
estates are the most liberably managed, but it is because of the
too common existence of the possession of land by persons so
heavily encumbered by settlements and debts that they are
incapable of doing justice either to their property or to them-
selves. For the sake of progress in the fuller development of
our agricultural resources it is desirable that the land in such
cases should pass into other hands. And the advantage of
enlisting a large body of competitors for it, when exposed for

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

33$

sal*, induces the offering of estates, whenever practicable, in
single farms, aud thus leads iu some dcgrea to its sub-
division."

In foreign countries, where the land is not put into such a
position by deeds or wills that it cannot he sold— where, iu
fact, the laud cm always he sold whenever it is expedient for
the owuer to sell — an owner, if embarrassed by debts, or
mortgages, or claim*, would sell the whole or part of the
estate, and, having pnid off all his debts, would either devote
himself to some other employment or business or would
cultivate properly the portion of the estate remaining to him
after the sale. These evils in Great Britain aud Ireland can
never be effectually remedied, or even seriously mitigated, as
long as landowners are altawed by law to tie up the land by
deed or will for long series of years after their own death It
is true that the Legislature has attempted to relieve landowners
so circumstanced, but these measures have only been partial
and most insufficient palliatives for a widespread evil.

6. This system tends very greatly to retard the progress of
agricultural improvement.

Let any one who knows any large number of the landowners,
or the " landed gentry," as they are popularly called, ask
himself how many of their sons are ever taught scientific
agriculture, or the details of estate management. Generally,
when they come into possession of their estates, they know as
little of either as they know of the details of a Manchester
business. They generally uuderstand hunting, shooting,
fishing, billiards, athletic sports, perhaps in rare eases some-
thing of art. They know the points of a horse . They
uuderstasd dogs, and all descriptions of game. But how
many know anything whatever of scientific farming, of
plantations, of orchards, or of scientific gardening ? Let
auy one who knows much of them look around him aud ask
himself- this question. When they come into their estates
they are, so far as the details of estate management are
concerned, entirely in the hands of their agents or stewards.
The very ignorance of such landowners as I am describing
makes them lean against changes and improvements. Their
ancestors and predecessors have gone on in a certain way,
why should not they ? As they qannot estimate the value of
reforms the very name of them is hateful to them. These
reforms require study, thought, and mental exertion, to which
they have not been trained.

I remember a singular instance of this. One of my intimate
friends, a man who had been brought up in business, hard-
working habits, came some years ago into the possession of a
large estate, in a part of the country in which anything like
scientific farming was utterly unknown, and in which the
ordinary farming was of the lowest possible description. The
land in that part of the country was a heavy clay soil.
Drainage was unknown. The farms for miles around were
more or less covered with rushes, and with the herbage
springing up in soil charged with moisture. My friend sent
for a scientific farmer, and said, " What must I do in order to
reform this state of things ? " Under this gentleman's advice,
tileries were erected on the estate, drainage tiles were raadci
gangs of drainers were engaged, the estate in a few years was
drained from end to end. The products of the estate were
greatly increased, the herbage improved, the rushes dis-
appeared, rents were raised, and willingly paid. But while this
was being done, and until the results had become too plain
and too remarkable to be denied, my friend was subjected to
*neers, insult, aud opposition of all kinds from the neighbour*

ing squires, who seemed to hate the interference with the old
way*.

Is it then astonishing that in 1870 a committee of the
House of Lordi, consisting of four great landowners — the
Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of
Derby, and Lord Egerton, of Tatton — reported that of the
twenty million acres of laud in the country requiring drain-
age only three millions lud beea drained, and that, taking
into account also all other necessary improvements, only one-
fifth of the land had been properly dealt with ? Is it, there-
fore, surprising that Mr. Mechi, the eminent agriculturist,
estimated that the laud does uot yield oue-lilth of its proper
productiou ?

llowever intelligent the agent or steward of these land-
owners may be, the ignorance and idleness of the latter, joined
often to their want of ready funds aud to the heavy charges ou
their estates, oppose au insurmountable bar to anything like a
proper development of the land. Aud even when the laud-
owner is huiliciently intelligent to promote improvement, he is
too often hindered by the state of the charges on his estate,
by the kuowledge that he will only possess it (or his life, and
by the necessity of providing (or younger children during the
short contiuuauce of his possession. All this results fiom the
deeds and wills I have described. Of course, I well know that
there are happily many bright exceptions to the description I
have endeavoured faithfully to draw — men who deeply feel
their great responsibilities ; who do all they can to fit them-
selves for the proper performance of their important duties ;
who remember that " property has its duties as well as its
rights;" and who aie the centres of kindliness and intel-
ligence in their influential stations. But these are exceptions,
as compared to the general character of the class I have
described. And whether I have described fairly or unfairly
let each reader look around and consult his own persona!
experience. These bright exceptions, I contend, exist in spite
of, and by no means as a consequence of, our present system
of Land Laws.

But I must reserve the further consideration of the con-
sequences of these deeds and wills until my next letter.

NOT A BAD JUDGE EITHER.— Kron Prinz Rudolf is,
1 hear, delighted with hie visit to this country. He owns to
being " a little mixed " as to the various factories, foundries
public buildings, and so forth, which he has been so merci-
lessly made to " do " during the last few weeks. But ou one
subject H.I.H. has a most clear and decided opinion, and that
is as to the great beauty and charm of our English girls, who
he declares beat all contiueutal young women in looks, shape,
and action. This from a Vieunese may be well consideied
high praise ; and I hear that the Prince, when making this
statement, annonnced his inteution of dancing " till four iu
the morning" at the two balls at which he will be present in
London this week. His imperial mother has also been greatly
enjoying herself in Northamptonshire, where, aided by a good
pilot, she has dene far better over the grass than last season.
There is only one thing wanting to make Prince K,udolf com-
pletely happy, a day with what Mr. Bright once called in the
House " the Pitchley." Bu> that lam afraid is what he will
not be allowed to have. — World.

B B

334

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

jlttsedlimmts.

"THE LOVERS' QUARREL.— They had a quarrel one
evening He got angry and swore he'd leave her. Then she
got vexed and told him he could do as he pleased. He left-
The nest night he came back again. He asked to see her
alone. She readily complied. She was all of a tremor. Her
heart went out to him in a gush of sympathetic love. She
stood ready to throw both arms about his neck and cry for
joy. There was not much colour in his face, and his voice
was husky. He said : " I have been engaged to you sis
months, Matilda, and I tried in all that time to de what was
right." He paused an instant to recover the voice which was
faltering rapidly, while her trembling increased. " I know I
have got a considerable temper, and that I do not control it
always as I ought. But I have tried to be faithful to you,
tried to do everything that I thought would tend to make you
happy. And feeling this I have called to-night to see if
you wouldn't be kind enough to give me a sort of testimonial
to this effect, so that I could show it to any young lady that I
might want to marry. It might help me." He looked at her
anxiously. All the colour left her face in a flash. She made
a great etfort to swallow something which threatened to suf-
focate her. Then she spoke : " You get out of this house as
quick as you can, you miserable wretch, or my father shall
kick you out." He didn't dally with time. He left without
the testimonial.

WHAT IS AN AMATEUR GARDENER ?— For all
general purposes the distinction between the amateur and the
trader rests on the thin and scarcely perceptible line that
separates love from money. We must permit the amateur to
sell occasionally, just as we must permit the trader to cherish
a little love for the, matters hi is commercially interested in.
It may happen that an amateur tends constantly tc become
a tcader, and the question at last arises, shall he be permitted
any longer to compete as an amateur, or required to cast in
his lot with the traders, from whom perhaps he is still sepa-
rated by tha fact that he has never entered the open market, and
has never adopted measures for systematically obtaining
business. In such a case it is difficult to draw the line, but
there is a golden rule applicable to it, and it is that every man
is entitled to the position he assumes for himself until it can be
proved he has no right to it. The onus of proof is en those
•who object to the trading amateur, and until they can prove
that he systematically orders his affairs to make a trade of
the subjects of which he claims to be an amateur, the status of
the man who is complained of remains untouched. — The
• Gardeners' Chronicle.

COCKROACHES.— A mixture of red lead, Indian meal,
and molasses will be eagerly eaten by them and will soon ex-
terminate them. Paris green, phosphorus, or arsenic are
sometimes used, but are very dangerous. Borax, to which
cockroaches have a great antipathy, will drive them away.

He had brought her the very things she wanted from the
aupper table to her safe retreat on the stairs, and she was
moved to say, half laughingly : " You are a man after my own

heart, Mr. B ! " " Just what I am after !" he answered'

quick as a flash, covering her with confusion.

ACCIDENTS IN THE HUNTING-FIELD. — Her
Majesty's staghounds were out recently with the Master of
the Hunt, the Earl of Hardwicke, The deer was Released

on Mr. Graham's farm at [Iorton, and all went well for about
half an hour, when Lord Ilardwicke's horse, in galloping
made a mistake at a fence aud threw its rider, who fell
heavily on his head. For some minutes Lord Hardwicke was
unconscious. Upon his recovering himself Dr. D. Jones aud
Mr. Douglas, surgeon, of Hounslow, were by his side assift-
ing him, and they carefully moved him into the brougham of
a Mr. Watson, in which he was driven to Slough. There he
was placed in a railway carriage of the Great Western
Company, and he arrived at Faddington about 3.30. We
regret to state that the symptoms indicate concussion of the
spine, but Lord Hardwicke tried to make as l;ght of the
accident as possible. The Earl of Camperdown has had a
narrow escape while hunting with the Bicester hounds. His
horse falling at a fence, his lordship was thrown head fore-
most, but happily, escaped almost uuhurt. The Earl of Hard
wicke was on Friday reported to be doing well.

HUMAN NATURE.

A TRUE INCIDENT.

Two little children, five years old,
Marie the gentle, Charlie the bold ;
Sweet and bright and quaintly wise,
Angels both in their mother's eyes.

But you, if yon follow my verse, shall see,
That they were as human as human can be,
And had not yet learned the maturer art
Of hiding the " self" of the finite heart.

One day they found in their romp and play
Two little rabbits soft and grey-
Soft and grey, and just of a size,
As like each other as your two eyes.

All day long the children made love
To their dear little pets — their treasure-trove ;
They kissed and hugged them until the night
Brought to the conies a glad respite.

Too much fondling doesn't agree

With the rabbit nature, as we shall see,

For ere the light of another day

Had chased the shadows of night away

One little pet had gone to the shades,
Or, let us hope, to perennial glades
Brighter and softer than any below—
A heaven where good little rabbits go.

The living and dead lay side by side,

And still alike as before one died ;

And it chanced that the children came singly to view

The pets they had dreamed of all the night through.

First came Charlie, and, with sad surprise,
Beheld the dead with streaming eyes ;
Howe'er, consolingly he said,
"Poor little Marie — her rabbit's dead J"

Later came Marie, and stood aghast ;
She kissed and caressed it, but at last
Found voice to say, while her young heart bled,
" I'm to sorry for Charlie — his rabbit's dead .'"

—Catiada Ghbe.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

335

CONSUMPTION OF CAPITAL. -The Economist recently
Concluded a paper on the question, " Are we consuming our
capital?" as follows : — "While there seems to us no proof
that we are living out of our capital, it is yet obvious that ac-
cumulation does not go on in the country at the same rate as
previously. So far as the increased importations, winch have
been so much discussed of late, have been paid for out of the
CHpitsl set at liberty by the diversion of trade from one channel
to another, we are not necessarily the worse off, if the im-
ports have been employed iu a manner which will be a source
of future profit. So far as we are accumulating stocks of
manu actured goods in the country for future use, a source of
future profit may be merely accumulating unsold, waiting til)
a demand may, as it djubtless will, in course of time spring
»p. So far as our importations of articles of food enable us
to support a large population engaged in preparing stocks of
manulactured articles drawn from materials found within our
own boundaries, this supply of food is the stay also of an
industry which may also be classed as productive. So long as
the country is merely fetching back iu one shape or another
the capital whicli it formerly exported, no injury is done to its
permauent prosperity. But further it cunnot salely go. There
are limits in time to the largest accumulated resources, and
there are other considerations besides mere movements o^
capital to be thought of. There may have been, aud there
probably was by a considerable increase, in the days of our
recent prosperity, in the unproductive expenditure of the
country, aud this must lead to its ultimate impoverishment.
There is the difference in the modes of life started or de-
veloped during the recent years of too abundant sunshine to
be borne in mind. There has been much waste of capital in
various ways. It is always unpleasant for people, when les3
well off than they have been, to come down to a lower scale of
expenditure ; but come down they must, if they would avoid
ruin. The prodigality indulged iu among the working classes
during the time of high wages has been the theme of many
a speech aud many a statement. The reckless extravagance ol
those above fiem in station, who, suddenly enriched, thought
there was, as the old saying has it, ' no bottom to the moaey-
big," the sums lavished on costly buildings, on splendid
establishments, on luxuries of every description — all these
have to be written off the account, as so much wasted capital.
Yet the business heart of the nation is still thoroughly sound,
Tne evidence is strong in favour of this. The Clearing-house
returns, the railway returns, the receipts of the Exchequer, all
show that though the great wave of prosperity, which seemed
as it would bear everything so rapidly onward with it a few
years since, is stayed in its course, aDd has for tlie moment
even receded, we may well hope to maintain our position by a
timely economy. Retren hnient will undoubtedly have to
be the order of the day, aud when the cloud is removed
it is to be hoped that the lessons of the past will Dot be
forgotten."

THIRTY CATTLE BURNED TO DEATH.— Recently
the steading of Kipps Farm in the parish of New
Monkland, tenanted by Mr. John Dykes, was destroyed by lire,
and thirty cattle were burned to death. About one o'clock
the farmer was aroused by the alarm that the larm was on fire.
There is no wate- near the farm, and the fire speedily made
headway. From the straw-house it spread to the. barn adjoin.
ing, and a new thrashing machine, together with all the farm
implements, were completely dcstioytd. The stable was uext

caught, aud altogether five horses were got out ; a fine filly,
valued at £120, was burned to a cinder. The byre was also
soon iu a blaze, and twenty-eight cattle, including a bull, were
destroyed without a single chance of saving them. Au attempt
was made about a month ago to noisou >ome of the cattle on
the farm.

©Mfamrg*

DEATH OF MR. C. W. JOHNSON, F.R.S.-We record
witli regret the death of Mr. Cuthbert W. Johnson, F.R.S., 80
long and well known as a writer on agricultural subjects, and
for many years a frequent contributor to these columns. He
died at his residence, Waldronhorst, near Croydon, on the 8th-
inst, in the 'JSth year of his age. The Journal of Horticulture
gives tlie following notice of his life: — Mr. Johnson was the
eldest surviving son of William Johnson, Esq., of Widmore
House, Bromley, in Kent, where he was bom on the 28th
September, 1799. He was also the brother of one of the
editors of this journ 1, and was a barrister by profession, but
he devoted himself so closely to the science and practice of
agriculture that lie at an early period became widely known
as a reliable agricultural writer. In 1820 he published an
" Essay on the Uses of Salt for Agricultural Purposes," and
this was followed by " The Advantages of Railways to Agri-
culture " (1837), " On Liquid Manures" (1837), "On Eertil-
sers" (1839), "The Ouje.cts and History of the Tfiamee
Improvement Company " (1839), " On Gypsum as a Fertiliser "
(1840), " On Saltpetre and Nitrate of Soda as Eertilisers"
(1840), "On Increasiug the Depths of Soils" (1840). In
1811, conjointly with Mr. Shaw, he began " The Farmers'
Almauack," which was the first periodical of that kiud, and
which has existed uninterruptedly up to the p esent time. In
1842 he undertook " The Farmers' Encyclopaedia," an exten-
sive work of 1320 pages. Then folio wed " The Farmers'
Medical Dictionary" (1845), " The English Rural Spelling
Book " (1846), "Our House and Garde > " (1867). Besides
these there we e "A Calendar for YouDg F'armers," " The
Modern Dairyman," and other minor publications. Mr-
Johnson held for many years the office of Chairman of the
Croydon Local Board of Health, of which he was the original
President, and on his retirement from that office in 1877 tlie
Board presented him with a splendid piece of plate as a recog-
nition of his services, on which was the followiug inscription :
'' Presented to Cuthbert William Johnson, Esq., F.1LS , by
his fellow members of the Croydon Local Board of Health,
in testimony of the valuable assistance in law and science
rendered by him for upwards of a quarter of a century as their
Chairman, and in memory o( th^ir high esteem and affectionate
regard. 1877." Mr. Johuson was at the time of his death
aho a Director of the Royal Fanners' Insurance Company,
aud Chairman of tlie Ti'he and Rent Guarantee Company.
Thus lived and thus died one of the best men. He was a
willing and an assiduous worker, and his object was useful
work, such as would benefit his country Rud the community.
The kindliness of his nature, his s'rlct integrity, his firm
friendship, and his high sense of honour will endear liira in
the memories of all who had the benefit ol Ins acquaintance.

336

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

FROM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK EXDING MARCH 25.

We Lave passed the Vernal Equinox after a con-
tinuance of weather that has been very favourable
both for the growing Wheat and for spring-sowing*
The return of winter which we are just now expe-
riencing can hardly be of long duration, as the day
is now longer than the night, and the suu's rays
Lave a constantly increasing power. A large
breadth of Spring Corn has been planted under the
most favourable conditions, and the seasonable
weather of the last few weeks has strengthened
the Wheat-plant without unduly forcing it. A
few frosts as early in the year as the end of March
are not dangerous to agricultural produce, although
they check the growth of early Peas, Winte1'
Beans, and feeding crops; therefore, in spite of
the present winterly weather, we have every reason
to hope for a more prosperous season than we have
had for the past three years. In many districts
the sowing of Barley and Oats is nearly completed,
and the little snow that fell on Sunday night and
this morning lias already pretty well disappeared.
Another week of dry weather would see nearly
the end of Spring-sowing. Some reaction in favour
of higher prices has been noticeable in the "Wheat
trade during the past week, but the improvement
has only in a few instances extended to home-
grown grain, which has been marketed in very
short quantity and somewhat defective condition.
Foreign Wheat, of which the imports into London
have been very moderate, has met an improved de-
mand at an advance of Is. per qr., chiefly on
American descriptions, but there has been more
business passing than of late in all varieties, and
and the tendency of prices has been in sellers'
favour. There has also been some Continental
demand, which has tended to advance values for
cargoes off coast, and it is probable that France
will require some 700,000 qrs. of fine Wheat for
mixing purposes between this and harvest. Judg-
ing from the duluess of trade at the close of the
week, it is doubtful whether Monday's advance
■will be maintained, as the arrivals of Wheat both
from America and Russia during the next few
months will be on too large a scale to admit of
much enhancement of values. France will proba-
bly relieve us of some portion of the accumulated
stocks in South Russia, but even allowing for this
t is scarcely likely that an ordinary consumptive

demand will be sufficient to support present cur-
rencies, and the absence of anything tending to
arouse political apprehensions renders speculation
unlikely. Some attention is being directed to In-
dian Wheat, of which stocks in London have
worked down to a comparatively narrow compass
aud some slight improvement in the value of Cal-
cutta produce appears by no means improbable, as
there is little or nothing to come forward until the
new crop is secured. According to a recent advice
the shipments from Calcutta for the first seven
weeks of the present year were only 7,700 tons, or
less than one quarter of the quantity sent during
the corresponding time in 1877. Maize, although
quiet, has been fairly steady, and both old and new
corn have been in moderate request at late rates,
but others sorts of feeding corn have been
dull, and grinding Barley and inferior sorts
of Oats have given way Is. and 6d. per qr.
respectively. With moderate arrivals at ports of
call during the past week, the floating cargo trade
for Wheat has ruled steady, and the demand for
the Continent continues. Maize has advanced 3d.
to 6d. per qr., while Barley has sold slowly at
rather easier terms. The sales of English Wheat
noted last week were 32,298 qrs., at 49s. 6d.,
against 44,717 qrs., at 51s. 31. in the previous year.
The London averages were 52s. lOd. on 1,299 qrs.
The imports into the kingdom for the week ending
March 16th were 921,297 cwts. Wheat, and
177,167 cwts. Flour. A stronger tone character-
ised the grain tr de on Monday last, as the week's
imports, although fair, were not excessive of any
article, and as millers operated with less reserve
the increased firmness noticeable at the close of
the preceding week was well maintained, The
arrivals of English AVheat amounted to 2,509 qrs.>
and the supply fresh up on factors' stands was
again short, and, generally speaking, in defective
condition. Holders demanded an advance of Is.
per qr., which buyers resisted, and sales could ouly
be made at previous rates, at which the trade was
by no means brisk. The total imports of foreign
amounted to 41,483 qrs., of which quantity 20,383
qrs. were from American Atlantic ports, 9,100 qrs.
from North Russia, 7,477 qrs. from Germany, and
the remainder from Persia and the East Indies.
An improved demand was experienced for all de-
scriptions, and American sorts realised an advance

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

337

of fully Is. per qr., while Russian and Indian va-
rieties moved off steadily at the extreme quota-
tions of the previous week. There was a full
atteudance, and a strong feeling at the close of the
market. The week's exports were 6,082 qrs.>
against 4,945 qrs. in the preceding week. There
were 3,418 qrs. of home-grown Barley, and 11,053
qrs. of foreign. Malting descriptions were held
for previous prices, as there was rather more
inquiry, but for grinding qualities a reduction of
Is. per qr. was necessary in order to effect sales.
The imports of Maize were 11,G03 qrs., and the
trade ruled very firm for both old and new corn at
an occasional advance of 3d. to 6d. per qr. There
were 30,750 qrs. of Oats reported, and in spite of
the moderate arrivals the trade proved disappoint-
in?, as the demand flagged, and prices ruled the
turn in buyers' favour for all except the choicest
parcels of old corn. On Wednesday there was a
further arrival of 230 qrs. of English Wheat, and
20,200 qrs. of foreign. With a very limited
atteudance, a slow sale was experienced for both
"Wheat and feeding stuffs at Monday's prices. On
Friday the return showed 840 qrs. of English
Wheat and 27,540 qrs. of foreign. Although
prices were nominally unaltered the trade was
exceedingly dull both for Wheat and Spring Corn;
quotations ruling the turn in buyers' favour. The
imports of Flour into the United Kingdom for the
week ending March lGth were 177,167 cwt., against
212,656 cwt. in the previous week. The receipt3
were 14,511 sacks of English, and 4,110 and sacks
8,497 barrels of foreign. There hat been but little
improvement in the demand, but in the limited
amount of business passing the trade has ruled
steady, and both sacks and barrels have supported
previous currencies. The week's imports of Beans
were 25,603 cwts., and of Peas 27,769 cwts., show-
ing a decrease of 29,611 cwts, on the former and
an increase of 7,086 cwts. on the latter. A quiet
but steady business has been passing in both articles
and prices have undergone no quotable alteration.
The deliveries of Malt were 15,854 qrs., and the
exports 199 qrs. The trade continues quiet, but in
the limited amount of busiuess done no further de-
pression has occurred in values. The activity
noticed in the agricultural seed trade last week has
been steadily maintained, and prices of all the
le.idiug varieties have evinced an upward tendency
by reason of the brisk deimnd. Stocks of Red
Olover on spot have been steadily decreasing, and
as imports have been on a very moderate scale au
improvement of Is. to 2s. p6r cwt. has been realised,
while Trefoil has also advanced to a like extent.
Spring Tares and feeding Linseed may also be noted

13. per qr. dearer. Very little business has been
done either in white Mustard or Canary Seed, for
both of which articles there has been little or no
inquiry, but fine Rape continues scarce and fully as
dear. The offerings of grain at the provincial
markets have been very moderate during the past
week, and the general tone of the trade has been
firm, although business has been far from active*
Lower prices have been quoted for Wheat in a few
instances, but these have been quite the exception,
as previous currencies have as a rule been main-
tained. At Liverpool there has been an improved
demand for spot Wheat, and at market on Tuesday
holders realised an advance of Id. to 2d. per cental
on the depressed prices of the previous week.
Flour was also in better request, although quotably
uuchauged. Feediug corn generally met a slow
sale at about former prices, but quotations were a
trifle easier for new Maize, uf which the choicest
parcels brought 26s. per qr. The week's imports
were again heavy, and included 84,800 qrs. of
Wheat and 49,000 qrs. of Maize. At Newcastle
no chang has occurred in values, and, as holders
are very firm, business has been slow both for
Wheat and feediug corn. At Peterborough and
Wisbeach the markets have been poorly supplied,
and the trade has ruled quiet but firm at fully las t
week's prices. At Edinburgh the supply of grain
from the farmers has been fair, and Wheat and
Oats have met an improved demaud at an advance
of Is. per qr., while other articles have sold slowly
at unaltered rates. At Leith a firmer feeling has
animated the grain trade, and although business
has not been very brisk sales have been practicable
at rather higher currencies. The week's imports
of all articles have been liberal, and at Wsdues-
day's market the decline of Is. per qr. which took
place last week on Wheat was recovered. Barley
met a dull sale at rather less money, but Beans
were the turn dearer. At Glasgow the trade has
been quiet but steady for Wheat at last week's full
prices, and Flour has ruled dull at nominally late
rates. Spring Corn has also been without change
in value, and Maize has met a light retail demand
at barely late rates. The arrivals from abroad
have been large of barrel Flour, but moderate of
Wheat and feeding stuffs. At Dublin the weather
has been fine, and there has been increased anima-
tion in the grain trade/prices favouring sellers for
both Wheat and Maize. At Cork business has
ruled quiet, and the turn lower for Wheat, which
millers have only purchased for their immediate
wants. Maize, on the other hand, has been firm,
with a good consumptive demand, and last week's
prices have been fully supported.

338 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

The following are the Reports from Mark LaDe
during the past month :

Mark Lane, Monday Afternoon, March 4. —
The arrivals daring the past week have been : English
Wheat, 2,295 qrs. ; foreigu, 39,018 qrs. Exports, 2,603
qrs. English Wheat was again in very short supply at
market this morning, and most of the samples on offer
were in poor condition. With a moderate attendance of
millers the trade ruled slow, at a decliue of Is. to 2s. per
qr. on English, and about Is. per qr, on foreign, of which
the arrivals were rather lighter than of late, but business
was much depressed by the line weather, and the peaceful
political news. Country Flour, 17,080 sacks ; foreign^
3,4.4<7 sacks and 9,747 barrels. The trade ruled dull both
for sacks and barrels at barely last week's currencies.
English Barley, 1,943 qrs. ; Scotch, 953 qrs. ; Irish, 100
qrs. ; foreign, 9,984 qrs. Grinding descriptions were
about 6d. per qr. cheaper, while malting sorts also gave
way slightly. Malt, English, 14,332 qrs ; Scotch 942
qrs. Exports, 1,103 qrs. A dull sale at nominally late
rates. Maize, 20,590 qrs. New corn was about Gd. per
qr. lower on the week, but old ruled steady at last week's
full rates. English Oats, 536 qrs. ; foreign, 8,857 qrs.
Exports, 511 qrs. The foreign arrivals being light a fail-
inquiry was experienced for all descriptions, at an advance
ot 3d. to 6d. per qr. English Beans, 391 qrs. ; foreign,
5,817 qrs. In moderate request and unaltered iu value.
Linseed, 14,481 qrs. Exports, 87 qrs. A slow sale, at
barely former prices.

Mark Lane, Monday Afternoon, March 11. —
The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 2,552 qrs.; Scotch, 24 qrs.; foreign, 39,044
qrs. Exports, 4,945 qrs. The supply of English Wheat
at market this raoruiug was again short, and sales pro-
gressed slowly at a decline of Is. to 2s. per qr. on the
week ; of foreign the arrivals were moderate, and with a
scanty attendance of millers, a quiet consumptive demand
was experienced at a similar reduction. Country Flour,
18,491 sacks; foreign, 5,420 sacks, and 9,363 brls.
There was very little iuquiry, and a concession of 6d. per
barrel and Is. per sack was necessary to effect sales.
English Barley, 1,567 qrs. ; Scotch, 363 qrs. ; foreign,
2,958 qrs. Malting descriptions ruled slow at about late
rates, while grinding was the turn in buyers' favour^
English Malt, 18,058 qrs.; Scotch, 1,054 qrs. Exports,
1,210 qrs. A dull trade at about previons currencies.
Maize, 14,964 qrs. Exports, 3,367 qrs. Old mixed
American ex store was fully as dear, but new corn was
about 6d. per qr. cheaper on the week. English Oats,
744 qrs. ; Scotch, 25 qrs. ; foreign, 30,548 qrs. Ex-
ports, 375 qrs. Swedes and fine qualities generally
were unaltered in value, but low-class Russian varieties
receded 3d. to 6d. per qr. English Beans, 290 qrs. _
foreign, 887 qrs. In limited request, at about late rates.
L:n8eed, 19,770 qrs. Exports, 458 qrs. Unaltered in
value or demand.

Mark Lane, Muuday Afternoon, March 18. — ;
The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 2,509 qrs. ; foreign, 41,483 qrs. Exports, 6,082
qrs. The supply of English Wheat fresh up to market
this morning was light, and sales progressed slowly at
about last Monday's prices ; of foreigu the arrivals were
fair, and with a good attendance •£ millers an improved
demaud was experienced at an occasional advance of Is.
per qr., the improvement being noticeable chiefly upo a
Ameiicaiiaud Indian descriptions. Country Flour, 14,511
sacks; foreign, 4,110 sacks aud 8,497 barrels. There
was a rather better feeling iu the trade, and last week's
prices were maintained for both sacks and barrels.
English Barley, 2,425 qrs. ; Scotch, 955 qrs. ; Irish, 38
qrs ; foreign, 11,053 qrs. Malting sorts were dull, audi
the turn lower, while grinding descriptions receded la.
per qr. on the week. Malt, English, 15,2S7 qrs. ;
Scotch, 268 qrs. ; Irish, 299 qrs. Exports, 199 qrs.
A dull trade at about former quotations. Maize, 11,663
qrs. There was more inquiry for new corn at ratht1'
better prices, while old fully supported late rates. English
Oats, 1,122 qrs.; Irish, 150 qrs.; foreign, 30,750 qrs_
Exports, 722 qrs. The trade generally ruled steady,
aud an occasional advance of 3d. per qr. was obtainable
on the choicest varieties. English Beans, 492 qrs.
foreign, 14 qrs. A quiet but steady demand at unaltered
currencies. Linseed, 6,384 qrs. Exports, 267 qrs. In
better request, aud Is. per qr. dearer on the week.

Mark Lane, Monday Afternoon, March 25. —
The anivals during' the past week have been : English
Wheat, 2,232 qrs; foreign, 33,119 qrs. Exports, 5,806
qrs. There was a very small supply of English Wheat at
market this morning, and the few choice lots on offer
moved off at last week's prices, while secondary parcels met
with little attention. Of foreign the imports were very
moderate, and with a good attendance of millers, a
quiet consumptive demand was experienced at fully late
rates. Country Flour, 15,996 sacks; foreign, 13,S22
sacks, and 10,242 barrels. There was very little anima-
tion in the trade, but quotations were not lower for either
sacks or barrels. English Barley, 1,924 qrs. ; Scotch, 129
qrs.; foreign, 17,513 qrs. Maltiug descriptions ruled
very dull, and grinding sorts were purchasable at a re-
duction of 6d. to Is. per qr. Malt, Euglish, 18,366 qrs. ■
Scotch, 400 qrs. Exports, 585 qrs. Values were un.
changed, but there was ouly a very limited amouut o-f
business passiug. Maize, 4,302 qrs. Both old and
new corn were in better request at an advance of 3d.
to 6d. per qr. on the week. English Oats, 775 qrs. ;
Scotch, 220 qrs. ; Irish, 1,580 qrs. ; foreign, 45,036 qrs.
Exports, 13 qrs. The trade ruled quiet, but firm for
all varieties at last week's currencies. Euglish Beans,
375 qrs. ; foreign, 13 qrs. In limited request, but uual-
tered in value. Linseed, 2,872 qrs. Exports, 514 qrs •
A quiet demand at former prices.

Printed by IIazkij., Watson, & Viney, 265, Strand, London.

THE FAKMEE'S MAGAZINE,

C O N T E N T S.

APRIL, 1878.
Plate.— ME. HENRY CORBET.

Description of Plate. ....

Pleuro-pneumonia in America ....

The Caitle Tkade Association .

Fattening Cattle in Winter ....

The Proposed Agricultural Exhibition in London
The Irish Land Act .....

Mr. Arch on Tenant-Right ....

The Harvest in Australia ....

Foreign Cattle and the Meat Supply

Sale of Mr. Horley's Flock and Herd

Cattle Feeding .....

Middle Class Agricultural College

Mr. J. B. Lawes on the Action of Nitrogenous Manures

The Land and the Peotle ....

Farmers' Clubs .....

The Analysis of Milk, Butter, and Artificial Manures

Straw, Its Value and Waste.

Capital and Land .....

Live Stock Notes .....

" Vigil " and Mr. Sotham ....

The Management of Light Land

Fattening Cattle .....

Poaching as a Profession ....

Agricultural Societies ....

The Breeding, Rearing, and Management of Cart Horses
Chambers of Agriculture ....

The Norfolk Spring Show of Agricultural Stallions

Birmingham Shorthorn Show and Sale

Stud book Association for Shire-bred Horses.

The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill

Carbolic Acid for Sheep ....

Fat .......

Rabbit and Hare '* Disguster."

Various Notes.— By G. A. H. .

The Cattle Diseases Bill . . .

Report on the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill

" Free Land" .....

The Treatment of Ewes ....

Dairy Farming .....

Free Trade in Land — No. IV.

Review of the Corn Trade ....

.

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286

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318

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309

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. 299, 221

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TUXFORD & CO.,

Wine Importers,
48, FENCHURCH STREET, E.C.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

PORT

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

per dozen &

SHERRY

18s.,

24*.
i

30s.,

3Gs.

)>

MADEIRA

30s.,

3Gs.,

42s.,

48s.

,,

( U supplied to the woumled in the East

)

MARSALA

20s.,

24s.,

28s.,

32s.

>>

CHAMPAGNE ...

30s.,

30s..

42s.,

50s.

)>

CLAKET

12s.,

15s.,

18s.,

24s.

»

BURGUNDY

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

>>

I >itto (Sparkling)

36s.,

42s.,

48s.,

54s.

3»

MOSELLE .

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

>»

Ditto (Sparkling)

32s.,

38s.,

44s.,

50s.

»»

HOCK

20s.,

24s.,

30s.,

36s,

>>

HOCK (Sparkling)

32s.,

38s.,

44s.,

50s.

>>

BAUTERNE.

18s.,

24s.,

30s.,

36s.

}>

PKAN'DY ...

38s.,

42s.,

48s.

>>

WHISKY

38s.,

42s.

>>

RIM

40s.,

42s.

}>

GIN

30s.,

32s.

>>

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AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE

This Manure, after six years ' trial, is unapproached in its results by
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CEREALS, ROOTS, GRASS,
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TRIALS OF THE MANURE ARE SOLICITED IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER MANURES.
"Write fob Par-ticulaxs—

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79, MARK LANE, LONDON, E C.

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AND

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u

FARMERS' MAGAZINE "

CA.N NOW BE HAD,

Price Eighteenpence, Post Free :

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LONDON, W.O.

iwiPORTA^T TO FLOCKIBASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & 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 SHKKP and LAMB
HIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, tor 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
Oontributhit' to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &C, at his Manu-
factory as aliove, and sold as lollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 3© „ „ „ 0 3 0

8 lb. 40 ,, ,, „ 0 4 0

101b. 50 ,, ,, „ 0 5 0

20 lb. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 „ „ included) 0 15 0

40 lb. 200 ,, „* , 10 0

601b. 250 „ ., 13 6

60 1b. 300 „ „ , 17 6

80 1b. 400 ,. „ , 1 17 6

100 1b. 500 ,, „ , 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hhrepath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist: —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep lopping Composition to

*u»lysi8, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

*i yen, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,

r 7f|ll not injure the hair roots (or "yolk "J in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserve* the numeroq
testimonials published. I am. Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbbafath, Sen., F.C.S., Ac, 4c.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg l'ro'ressor of Chemistry.

'<eicester Rouse, Great i/over-street Boroutrh 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 u^ed m an
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price F1VL S H ILLI N GS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thu-ty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, l85o.

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ot thp 4th inst., whion
would have been replied to before this had I been at home, 1
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cureof Scabin Sheep.' The
tiOv sheep were all dressed in August last with si gallons of
the ' Non-poiso»ous Specific,' that was so liighly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd alter
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to hav i
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of y our
Specific, which I received the following day ; and although
the weather was most severe in Februai y during the dressing,
your Specific proved itself an invaluable remedy, for ui
three weeks the Sheep were quite cure' I ; and I am happy to
say the young iambs 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. RENNKY.

f< ■■' Flockmasters would be well to beware of snch pre-
parations as " Non-pcisonous Compositions :" it is only
necessary to appeal to tbeir gooi.' 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
ot life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly ugflese.
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING API ARATUS «'4. £6, £4, k £8,

^ ' : i";V- -

-t'"' "

340

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE.

For barley the over-avc-rago returns exceeded the under,
average returns only ouoe, in 1871 ; for oats only twice, in
1871 and 1872; for beans, not at all; and for peas, only
once, in 1S71. Remarking on these very discouraging
results, a writer in the journal in which they are recorded
observed : — " I see that in commenting on the returns for the
year 1865 The Mark Lane Repress said: — 'We have
assumed the average of this country (England) to be — wheat,
85 quarters ; barley, 5 quarters ; oats, 6 quarters ; peas [and
beans, 4; quarters each P Surely these are not very high
averages ; but if time shows that our climate has permanently
changed for the worse in respect to tlie growth of corn, they
may have to be put lower." I fear that this lowering will
have to take place, but not solely beoause the climate has
" changed for the worse." The results shown above are too
bad to be attributed entirely to bad seasons, although the
greater number of the years in the last decade have been
notoriously unfavourable to the growth of corn crops. A
season that suits some crops does not suit other crops, and for
that very reason there should have been more over.average
returns of one crop or another than we find that there were_
It is an ominous fact that there was only one over-average
return for peas, and not one for beans, since nothing is a
better criterion of the condition of land than the yield of pulse
crops over a series of years. These crops are not usually forced
by artificial manures, which, indeed, have but little effect upon
them. Very commonly they are not manured for at all, and
to grow luxuriantly, therefore, they require land in " good
heart." Some agriculturists attribute the decrease of the bean
crop to draining ; but we know that only a comparatively small
proportion of the laud is properly drained. On the other hand,
wet seasons are favourable to beans, aud wet seasons have
chiefiy prevailed during the ten years under review. After
careful consideration, then, I have come to the conclusion— in
which I know that many practioal farmers share— that English
agriculture is declining.

What are the reasons for this decline ? About twenty years
ago British agriculture was making great strides, farms were
greatly in demand, and rents were high. Since then the
mechanical appliances used for the cultivation of the soil have
been vastly improved, rents have not greatly advanced, and the
prices of agricultural produce, as a whole, are higher, taking
an average of several years, than they ever were for any
lengthened period. It is true that wages have advanced, taxes
are higher, and the cost of living is greater ; but these advances
have been incidental to all trades and productive industries, and
not to agriculture only. The decrease in the number of live
stock is chiefly accounted for by the loss, and the fear of loss
occasioned by the prevalence of cattle disease ; but capital
withdrawn from meat-production might have been expected to
flow to the production of corn. I fear that it has been partly
lost and partly withdrawn from farming. It is generally
admitted that farmers have, as a body, lost money during the
past few years, and it is therefore probable that a considerable
proportion of agricultural capital has actually been lost. But
I believe that some has also been withdrawn and devoted to
other channels of investment. At any rate if agriculture had
been a hopeful pursuit, lost capital would have been replaced
by fresh investment. It is known, however, that many
farmers who have saved money have preferred to invest it in
foreign securities rather than in the land, and that they have
shown an increased disposition to train their sons for other
pursuits than that of farming.

Now modern farming, in order to be successful, requires
more capital, instead of less, and farming is such an attractive
pursuit that there can be no doubt that capital would flow freely
to the laud if there were no special disadvantages in that mode
of investment. When times were less hard than they are now
men gave high rents for land, knowing that there was but little
prospect of accumulating fortunes by farming, but content if
they could live comfortably by it, educating their families
fairly, and setting their sons up in business. But when a few
successive bad crops, losses by cattle disease, and in many
districts the devastation of game, had made farmers poorer, the
desire for taking land began to diminish. When the labour
disturbances became prevalent a climax was put upon the dis-
comfiture of the class — not so much on acoount of the rise in
wages as on that of the fear of strikes and the unhappiness of
co-operatiug with discontented and rebellious workmen. The
farmers had been accustomed to have it all their own way with
their labourers. They had allowed their landlords to squeeze
out of them whatever margin of profit remained beyond the
minimum that they were content to do with, rather than give
up a business that they loved — in most cases, indeed, the only
one they were fitted to carry on — and their men had to do
without their fair share of the increased products of the soil.
The rise of the farm labourers came none too soon, and, if the
masters on the one hand, and the union leaders on the other,
had behaved in a more conciliatory spirit, little but good to
either class would have resulted. But bad feeling was excited,
and s'.rikes and lock-outs took place. Farmers discharged
their men, or the latter left them, land got foul from the want
of labour, and its already poor condition became poorer still.
More pasture was laid down, with a diminished return as a
result. What do we see now ? Why, more farms to let than
there have been at any previous time within the last thirty
years ; rents diminished on a vast number of estates from
twenty to fifty per cent. ; a large proportion of the farmers
either ruined or next door to ruin ; aud the land in a miserably
poor and neglected condition.

What are the remedies of this deplorable state of British
agriculture — once the finest in the world? How can capital
be attracted to the impoverished soil ? How can farming again
become what it once was — the happiest pursuit of the capitalist,
large or small ? How can the land be made to support a happy
aud prosperous peasantry ? And how can it be made to pro-
duce bread aud meat in greater abundance to feed the people,
aud surplus wealth to stimulate the flagging interests of trade
and manufacturing production ? I say, simply by the exercise
of the power which the people have to reform the laws and
customs relating to the laud, which, at the best of times, have
depressed agricultural prosperity and retarded agricultural
progress, and which now, after a period of uncommonly severe
reverses, have caused a crisis that is felt more or less by every
inhabitant in the country, from the richest to the poorest.
What those reforms are, and how they can be brought to pass,
it will be my object in future artioles to show.

A Free Farmer.

BUTTER TREE.— The butter tree of South-east Africa
{Combretim hutyraceum, Caruel) yields a fatty substancej
called by the Kaffirs " Chequito." It is largely used by them
as an admixture to their food, and also exported. It contains
about one-fourth olein and three.fourths margarin. This
butter-like fat is extracted from the fruit, aud is of au aroraati
flavour.— Journal of Applied Science,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,.

3 ! 1

THE FLESTT OF DISEASED ANIMALS AS FOOT).

Perhaps there is no more important question connected with
sanitary or economic science thau that relating to the
flesh of diseased animals as an article of food. Its importance
has been recognised from the earliest times, and the use of
such flesh has often been the subject of domestic legislation ;
but it was only at a comparatively recent period that it began
to receive marked attention, and it must be acknowledged
that it is now a matter of the greatest moment. It has
become so from the fact that auimal food is now more neces-
sary than ever for the sustenance of civilized man — that it is
consumed iu far larger quantity than even less than a century
ago, and that diseases among food-yielding animals are either
on the increase or the progress of veterinary science has enabled
us to discover them when and where they were previously not
suspected.

With the increasing demand for auimal food has its niarke
value become enhanced — its price being double, or even
treble, what it was within the memory of the present genera -
tion. Any cause, therefore, which diminishes to a notable
amount the quantity of this food, must receive, or at least
deserves, careful consideration, as it is not only an individual,
but a national loss, in a pecuniary point of view; while it
may, more or less, deprive the poorer labouring classes of a
most essentialportion of their aliment. In this respect, those
diseases which render the flesh of affected animals dangerous
0r unfit for food, or lessen its nutritive qualities, should com-
maud public attention, and receive more than ordinary notice
from the sanitarian and social economist.

In those countries in which veterinary science has been
most successfully and profitably cultivated, this subject has
long been carefully considered, and we find that wise precau-
tions have been adopted to safeguard the public ; while the
caryiug out of measures devised with this object has been en-
trusted to those who, from their special knowledge and train-
ing, cau alone be deemed competent for this task — that is>
veterinary surgeons.

In this country we have not yet reached so desirable a stage
of civilisation ; and our peculiarly insular notions — even in our
own profession — as to the scope of veterinary science and the
functions of its students, almost forbid us to hope that it will
be reached before many years have elapsed and a new order of
things inaugurated. Until within a few years ago medical
men were supposed, by those who controlled the veterinary
profession in England, to be more capable of acting as teachers
or examiners than its own graduates, and to be the fit repre-
sentatives of the profession at Veterinary Congresses, the head
of the Government Veterinary Department, and, indeed, to be
the rulers, governors, tutors, and arbiters of the desiiny of
veterinary surgeons. After a long struggle, the profession has
gradually emancipated itself from the somewhat humiliating
state of dependence and pupilage imposed upon it by some of
its own members, and it has b°gun to claim a right to inde-
pendent existence, from a well founded consciousness of its
fitness and worthiness to govern itself and manage its own
affairs. But it has still to struggle agaiust the narrow-minded
influence of those who would fain prevent it attaining its legi-
timate place and performing its legitimate functions.

With regard to the propriety of giving an opinion respect-
ing the flesh of diseased animals as food, veteriuary surgeons

are now told that they are not called upon to usurp the func
tions of the meat-inspector, but are bound to oppose the idea
that consumption of diseased meat is sanctioned by sanitary
laws. Now, we entirely demur to the notion that veterinary
surgeons are not to usurp the functions of meat-inspectors —
for if properly educated they are the only persons who can be
entrusted with this most responsible and important duty, and
this lact has been recognised in every European couutry, save
and except our own. Sanitary laws are— or at any rate should
be — founded, not on hypotheses or surmises, but on facts, ob-
servations, and the teaching of enlightened experience ; and if
these show that the flesh of animals which have suffered from
a particular disease has been, and can be, consumed with im-
punity, so far as the health of the consumers is concerned,
then sanitarians are bound to say so, and to frame laws ac-
cordingly, no matter what theorists may say to the coutrar}-.
We have more than ample proof, both of an accidental and
experimental kind, that certain maladies — as septikamia,
anthrax, and glanders — render the flesh, unless thoroughly
cooked, very dangerous as food ; while there is not a tittle of
reliable evidence anywhere to be found that the flesh «f
animals which had been affected with foot-and-mouth disease
infectious pleuro-pueumonia, cattle plague, and some other
febrile diseases has ever produced the slightest injury or incon-
venience— direct or indirect, immediate or remote— to those
who partook of it.

Considering the wide prevalence, at times, of one or all of
these maladies, and the pecuniary value of the diseased auimals ,
it is a question of no mean importance whether it is justifiable
or necessary to condemn, as nnfit for human food, the flesh of
creatures suffering from them ; and this question should not be
decided on mere theoretical or sentimental assumptions, but on
the teaching of everyday experience. We do not deny, an,}
iudeed we are ready to admit, that such flesh, if innocuous,
may yet possess less nutritive value thau that of healthy
animals in good condition ; but this is quite another matter.
We know that certain diseased conditions, accompanied by
fever, are artificially produced in animals in order to render
their flesh more palatable, and nevertheless no harm results
from its consumption. Sanitarians have no business to pander
to prejudice, which is generally most unreasonable ; and though
prejudice is usually strongly opposed to the use of fle3h of
diseased animals as food, yet a distinction must be drawn
between flesh which may be hurtlul and that which is posi-
tively harmless, and the sale of which — at a reduced price, if
need be — is an advantage to the community.

The subject of meat inspection comes specially within the
domain of veterinary sanitary science, as we have for years
pointed out and insisted upon. From their training and expe-
rience, veteriuary surgeons should be far more competent to
advise upon or give an opinion as to the nature and quality of
flesh, and if diseased, the character of the disease, thau other
persons.

There cau be no doubt whatever that an enormous quantity
of diseased and dangerous meat is disposed of as food in this
country, and almost without risk of detection, for it is only
by chance that a seizure is now and again made. Quite re-
cently an inquest was held in West Kent on the body of a
butcher who died from blood-poisoning, through dressing

C C 2

342

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the carcase of an ox which had, there is every reason to believe,
been affected with anthrax, and the carcase of which had
been sold for food. This disease is not at all uncommon
among cattle, and it is to he feared that many of the animals
fall into the hands of the butchers. It is customary to kill
animals which are suffering from grave disorders — among
them septikeemia or parturient fever — and send their carcases
to the meat market. And even when the disease lias not
made the flesh dangerous, it may happen that it is rendered
poisonous by the medicines administered before the animals
were slaughtered. From the evidence which crops up at inter-
vals, aud, from what we hear casually, there is much to lead
us to believe that an extensive trade is carried on in diseased
meat.

It is somewhat remarkable that we rarely, if ever, hear
of meat infested by worms being seized as unfit for food; and
yet we know that animals in this country harbour to a con-
siderable extent the germs of verminous diseases, which may
produce serious disturbance in people who eat their flesh — we
may mention tapeworm and trichinosis. To detect these germs
in the bodies or carcases of animals requires the special know-
ledge of the skilled veterinarian, whose province it is to study
them and their effects in the creatures they primarily infest.

In conclusion, nothing in sanitary science more deserves the
attention of a paternal government than this question of a
healthy meat supply ; while the institution of public slaughter-
houses— especially in our towns and cities, which are a
present the convenient and chief receptacles of diseased flesh-
should be persistently demanded. In these alone the public
can be assured as to the condition of the flesh they consume,
the animals being inspected before and after slaughter by au
expert; and our daily increasing knowledge of the diseases of
animals, and their influence ou flesh, could there aud then be
applied with the most beneficial results. In this direction
veterinary scieuce can coufer benefits of no mean kind, and
we shall continue to hope that we may see the day when
veterinarians will be solely entrusted with the duty of pro-
tecting the health and interests of the community in the
matter of meat inspection. It is, perhaps, as blameable to
condemn all flesh from diseased animals as unfit for human
aliment as it would be to allow all such flesh to be exposed for
sale. Such, at any rate, would be the verdict arrived at by
any one who cares to examine the scientific evidence which is
now before us ; and it is for veterinarians to prevent needless
loss, whilst guarding against possible risk of inconvenience or
danger to meat consumers. — Veterinary Journal.

EXPERIMENTS IN TURNIP GROWING.

We lately drew attention to Mr. Stephen Wilson's experi-
ments on the influence exerted ou the turnip crop by the size
of the seeds from which it is grown. Mr. Wilson has also ex"
perimented on another point of no slight importance in the
cultivation of this crop, viz., the distance to which the plants
ought to be thinned out. These experiments were carried out
by singling equal lengths of adjoining drills, so as to leave the
best plants, as nearly as possible, at distances of respectively
12 inches, 0 inches, and 6 inches apart. The singling was
done by hand, and the drills were not reduced by hoeiug.
Greystone globes and swedes were experimented on. The
greystone globes were pulled and weighed on the 3rd Decem-
ber," the swede3 on the 17th December. The average weight
of the plants, including tops aud tail?, but with all the earth
removed, was as follows :—

Average Weight.
Greystone Globes. Swedes.

12 inches apart 1-70 lb 2'50 lb.

9 inches apart „ 1'42 lb 1-95 lb.

6 inches apart 1-15 lb 1-54 lb.

When the weight per acre is calculated from these figures,
the result is the following :—

Greystone Globes. Swedes.

Tons. Cwt. Tons. Cwt.

12 inches apart 14 14 21 12

9 inches apart 16 7 22 9

6 inches apart 19 18 26 12

Where 6-inch intervals produce 100 pounds or tons of globes,
9-inch intervals, according to the above experiment, will pro-
duce only 82, aud 12-inch intervals 74. In the case of swedes
where 6-inch intervals produce 100 pounds or tons, 9-inch in.
tervals produce 84, and 12-inch intervals 81.

"The general conclusion from these experiments," says Mr.
Stephen Wilson, " is that intervals of about G inches between
the plants will afford the heaviest crop of all kinds of turnips.

It is a fact, partly brought out by the writer's experiments on
large and small seeds, that many seeds will produce only a
small bulb, however much space they may be afforded. To give
such plants 9 inches is a pure wasting of ground. It is to no
purpose that chemistry puts manure at the root of a seed which
is sterile in the property of bulbing : the botany of that seed,
could it be fully read, would point out conditions in the pro-
blem not to be neutralised by any application of manure .
More plants are wanted, not more manure." " Every farmer
may find out for himself the proper interval to give the heaviest
crop. If three or four tons per acre may be gained by leaving
the plants six inches apart instead of nine inches, here is a
large gain, not purchased at the price of expensive manure,
but simply by a knowledge of the botany of the turnip. If the
rent of the land lies between proper and improper singling,
the subject ought to secure attention."

The conclusions at which Mr. Wilson has arrived are cor.
roborated by the results of other experiments which have been
made in Aberdeenshire. Mr. George Bruce, Keig, experimented
in 1S72 on the leading varieties of yellow and white-fleshe<j
turnips thinned at intervals of 12 and 10 inches, with the fol-
lowing results, the weights given being those of the bulbs
only :—

Weight per Imperial Acre.
12 inches 10 inches

apart. apart.

Kind of turnip. Tons. Cwt. Tons. Cwt'

Early field yellow 24 3 27 12

Orange jelly 19 2 25 17

Pomeranian white globe ... 29 1 31 12

Norfolk red globe ... 26 11 30 0

Greystone globe ... ., 32 3 33 13

Eosterton hybrid 23 19 27 18

Aberdeen bullock yellow ... 22 12 27 17

Tweeddale purple-top yellow 22 2 26 13

Oldmeldrum goiden yellow 22 11 25 13

Here the advantage is uniformly on the side of the narrower

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

34**

interval, the excess of weight varying from 30 cwt. to ('>:} lous
per acrp ; an experiment made by Mr. Brace the same year
on swedes, however, gave discordant results. The intervals in
this case were 12 and 14- inches, and the result was as follows : —
Weight per Imperial Acre"
14- inches 12 inches
apart. apart.
Kind of swede. Tons. Cwt. Tons. Cwt.

Kinaldie bronze-top ... 18 12 16 2

Skirving's purple-top ... 17 It 15 3

Sheppard's bronze-top ... 17 19 16 18

Green-top 15 1 16 2

Here, except in the last case, the advantage is on the side
of the wider interval ; it does not follow, however, though
the weight of the crop is greater, that there is a larger quan-
tity of dry nutritive matter. Large roots are well-known to
contain more water than small roots ; a case has even been
investigated where one field yielded 20 tons of roots and
another 40 tons, yet the 40 tons of the latter field contained
no more dry matter than the 20 tons of the former, the ex-
cess of weight being water only.

In the experiments of the Aberdeenshire Agricultural Asso-
ciation the distance between each turnip was 10^ inches, while
the distance between each line of plants was 27 inches. " These
are probably commendable distances in the field," says Mr
Jamieson in his report, " where the land is ploughed up in
drills, and thus between each drill there is an empty space ;
but in the plots, where the turnips are sown on the flat, no.
such empty space is left, and the earth between the lines is
probably not sufficiently utilised. There being a few spare
plots at Cluny, I caused one of them to be sown on the square
system— i.e. the turnips about 16j inches separate in each
direction ; and the result was, that while the plots planted on
the 27 X 10V inches system yielded on an average 19 tons per
acre, and the highest was scarcely 25 tons per acre, the plot
on the square yielded 27 tons 11 lb. (cwt ?) per acre."

We have here a new line of inquiry. The width of raised
drills, varying from 26 to 28 inches, is fixed by considerations
of convenience in cultivation by horse power; but it is doubt-
ful, and deserves to be investigated, whether, at least in some
soils, the available space is sufficiently occupied with plants.
Experiments made in Erance on sugar beet show that it is
possible by increasing the number of plants to increase the
yield of sugar nearly 50 per cent., though the weight of roots
is only inconsiderably augmented. In carrying out these ex-
periments, a five-acre field was divided into five equal plots.
On each of the plots furrows were run 17 inches apart, and sugar
beets were planted in the rows at intervals of 10, 12,14-, 16,
and 20 inches respectively in the several plots. The following
table embraces the principal results which were obtained ; —
Distance. Yield per Acre. Percentage of

Inches. Tons. Cwt. Sugar.

10 28 0 1T62

12 27 12 11-21

14- 27 15 10 48

16 25 1 10-61

20 25 5 8'97

The yield of sugar with the plants 10 by 17 inches is thus
to the yield with the plants 20 by 17 as 3 to 2 nearly, but the
latter distance corresponds closely with that of plants 12
inches apart on drills 28 inches wide. Were turnips to follow
the same rule as beet in thi3 experiment, it would be possible
to increase the yield of the crop in nutritive matter 50 per
cent., by merely increasing the number of the plants. This

could be done by adopting the English system of sowing on
the flat with narrow intervals, as, for example, 20 iuche3 be-
tween the rows of plants. It is exceedingly probable that
there are circumstances under which sowing on the flat would
be found to be superior to sowing on raised drills. In dry
seasons, for instance, when the total failure of the crop is
threatened for want of the moisture necessary for the germina-
tion of the seeds, there is much less risk of such failure when
sowing on the flat is practised than with raised drills, the
soil being in the latter case much more exposed to the dryimg
influence of the atmosphere.

The moral we would deduce from the»e experiments is that
there is no finality in farming, that even in the culture of the
most commonly-cultured plants there is room for investigation
and improvement, and that improvements of great value may
sometimes be composed by the humblest instrumentality. They
show the importance of that attention to minute detail on
which, in a great degree, success in farming depends, and they
exhibit the importance of what is too little valued by many
farmers— a close and regular plant of turnips ; every blank in
which represents the loss of so much ground on which labour
and manure have been spent, and for which rent has been paid
for a twelvemonth without any return. — Aberdeen Tree Press.

PRESERVING MEAT.— At the Society of Arts, on Mon-
day evening, Dr. B. Richardson, F.R.S., delivered the second
of the course of Cantor lectures on " some researches on putre-
factive changes and their results in relation to the preservation
of animal substances." Having in the first lecture given an
historical summary, he now proceeded to describe some of his
original work. He had to bring forward a new theory, based
on experiment, and he hoped a new progress would ensue. His
work had passed through four stages, commencing with his
attempts in 1850 as a teacher to preserve specimens for ana-
tomical and pathological purposes. His later experiments on
the preservation of animal substances for foods had been
tested by sending preserved specimens to Rio and back several
times, and had caused an outlay of about £4,000. When he
commenced in 1850 he started with the popular theory, pro-
bably derived from Liebig, that decomposition was purely the
result of oxidation. He still believed that when decomposi-
tion is once commenced, it is oxidation that continues it,
though it cannot be said that it is oxidation alone that originates
it. But his earlier attempts were solely experiments on the
prevention of oxidation. Eor this purpose he tried the immer-
sion of portions of meat in vessels charged with negative
gases, in many cases with good result*. In preserving meat
for food the following characteristics must be maintained :—
Colour, odour, chemical reaction, the water of the tissues, the
consistency, the structure as seen by the microscope ; and the
colour and odour must be maintained after removal from the
preserving vessel. The odour and natural taste and flavour
must be preserved during cooking, and this has not yet been
accomplished. The following must be avoided: — The odour
of putrefaction, the odour of o'her taints, some of them, though
new, not always unpleasant, and acid fermentation. After a
long series of experiments, keeping these points in view, he
had come to this suggestive inference :— It seemed that de-
composition was first set up by the decomposition of the water
of the tissues, and the way to approach the question of pre-
venting decomposition is to consider the stoppage of the decom
position of water,

344

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CATTLE DISEASE AND THE MEAT SUPPLY.

The following is the principal portion of an admirable and
convinciug speech on the Cattle Diseases Bill delivered by
Mr. Jacob Wilson, of Woodhorn, Morpeth, at Whitley, on
Wednesday, April 10th :

I have seen thousands and tens of thousands of names to
petitions iu favour of this Bill and the contrary, and I ven-
ture to say there is not a legitimate consumer who ever pe-
titioned against the Bill unless he had been instigated to it by
a middleman. Now, really, when you hear the opponents of
this Bill talk you would fancy that the whole of this country
was supplied by foreign animals. Why, what do you think '
It simply is, that all that we ever get is 200,000 or 20i,000 head
of cattle per annum from abroad. If you calculate that, in com-
parisoa with the produce of this country, you will find that the
percentage of cattle is only 7£ per cent, of our own home
production ; and if you take cattle, sheep, and pigs, it is only
4|. Do you think under these circumstances, there is any
justice or consideration due to those men who stand up and
say, " We will deprive you of this boon which the Government
wish to give you ?" If Mr. Ridley stands here and demands
your support on behalf of the Government on the ground of
the Eastern Question, I stand here and demand your support
ou behalf of the Government ou the ground of a Bill which
has not had its equal iu domestic economy in this country.
We are told by many sorts of arguments, which I defy you to
prove, that foreign cattle cannot be killed on this side of the
water and carried aboat. We don't say to the foreigner
" You shall not bring your cattle to this country." We say,
"Bring all you possibly can, but don't bring us any disease."
AVhat is the fact? They tell you you cannot treat this trade
as you treat anything else. Well, now I take the town of
Hull alone as an illustration of what is done in this trade,
and I can tell you that iu the port of Hull one-third of the
cattle brought into that port was slaughtered in Hull and
consumed there. Another one-third was sent to the Wake,
field, Leeds, and other Yorkshire markets and consumed there ;
and the other one-third was killed and sent to London. This
dead meat trade is increasing in a way which you have a very
small idea of apart from the question of the American meat
supply. Take this northern line of railway, the North-Eastern
and the Great Northern, and I tell you that last year the trade
in dead meat had increased by 3,000 tons. In 1876 the
amount of dead meat sent into King's Cross station on the
Great Northern line was 18,000 tons ; in 1877 it was 21,000,
and if it goes on at the present rate I don't know what it will
be in 1S78. But we are told further that it is quite an im-
possibility that you can send this meat through the length and
breadth of the inland towns. Well, how do you reconcile
that statement with this fact, that iu the Metroplitan Market
in London last year it amounted to 175 tons, equal to 700,000
head of cattle ; and if they can send this dead meat, equal to
700,000 head of cattle, from the provinces into London,
surely we can manage 200,000 head of cattle which comes
from abroad. Well, we are told also, that in the case of offal
—that is a very important element which must not be over-
looked. Well, we admit that. I can assure you that the ar-
rangements are as perfect and complete with reference to the
transit of offal as they are with regard to the transit of the

animal itself. I was ia Berwick ou Saturday, and saw 1,100
carcasses of s'leep hanging there, ready to be sent off to Lou-

don, and the offal of every sheep there went to Leeds and
other towns in Yorkshire. There is only one misfortune
connected with this Bill so faras it relates to this country, and
at the present moment I am sorry to say, although I am not
not ashamed of it, I have met with a considerable amount of
abuse in consequence, and that is with regard to the neigh-
bouring borough of Newcastle, where this Bill has met with
some opposition. Now if you will trace this opposition, I
think you will find that it comes from the pocket. It is a
misfortune in one sense, that Newcastle has had to spend
£35,000 upon a sanitorium. It is the greatest blessing to
Newcastle in another sense, that it has spent,'£35,000. I have
it from the best authority — that of the Privy Council — that
there is no other town in the United Kingdom which has
facility for the slaughter of dead meit equal to Newcastle ;
and by spending £200,000 or £300,000 on the erection of
wooden slaughter-houses, you will find that when the Bill
passes, as I am sure it will pass, that Newcastle will be at the
head of the rest of the towns in this respect, and will get all
the benefit. We are told that American meat will not take
here. Why ? Because it is said it came last summer and
fell off in the autumn. But why did it fall off in theantumn ?
It fell off because our own prices went down so that they had
not been so low for some time. But as soon as ever, after
Christmas, they began to rise we found the American meat
coming in in greater quantities. Iu the first fortnight of 1878
we had no less than 10,000 quarters, equal to 4,000 head of
cattle, imported from America, and that is still coming ia
every day. It has been said there is now no Bill, for it has
been referred back to a select committee. The Bill has been
referred back on one particular point, and that one point
related to Ireland. It was only at the very last moment that
Canada was tacked on to it ; but I can tell you, from having
attended during the last three weeks every meeting in this select
committee-room of the House of Lords, the principle of this
bill has never once been touched upon. Speaking as I do in
the presence of a large number of consumers, [ do sincerely
trust that you will drive away all feeliug of jealousy on this
subject, and look at it in a straightforward manner as a great
national questioB ; and I believe the Government has a right
to ask for your thanks for this Bill, which they expect and
believe will be for your benefit.

At the Easter Quarter Sessions at Carlisle, recently,
Captain James, referring to the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Bill, said if it had been a measure for the pro-
tection of the farmers or of any special class interests he should
have had nothing to do with it ; but as it seemed to him to be
a Bill for the better provision of food for the people at large, it
might be thought desirable to take some action upon it. Its
object was to carry out the principle of stamping out cattle
disease. It kept measures for cattle plague in the hand-, of the
Government, but pleuro-pneumoniaand other diseases were left
with the local authority. Having had some experience of
cattle plague in this country, he believed it would be a workable
measure. To test the feeling of the Court, he moved that the
chairman of quarter sessions be requested to put himself in
communication with the other members for the county, with
the view of obtaining their support to some such Bill as that
now before Parliament, which the Court consiclered.it desirable

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

a45

should be passed ; also, that a copy of this resolution be seut
to the IYivy Council.

Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. He believed that the
Bill was in favour of the consumer quite as much as it was in
favour of the producer.

Mr. Allison, as an amendment, moved that the court pass
to the next business.

Mr. Allison's amendment, uot being seconded, fell to the
ground.

The Chief Constable said that in his report, submitted to
Sessions last July, he showed, on the best authority, that the
cost of foot-aud-mouth disease alone in the two counties had
been £301,-101 in the preceding seven years. Mr. Allison had
mentioned the disappearance of foot-and-mouth disease of
recent months, but that was owing, not to the operation of the
ordinary regulations, but to the stringent special measures
which the Privy Council took when there was an outbreak of
cattle plague in the neighbourhood of Hull about a year ago.
Those measures were designed to arrest cattle plague, but they
also stamped out foot-and-mouth disease. The Bill gave power
to the local authority to take etfeetive measures as soon as the
disease appeared. He had had a great deal to do in carrying
out cattle regulations in this county, and he believed that the
general feeling of the farmers, and of all those interested in
the protection of the community from the severe losses caused
by those diseases, was that such measures should be adopted,
however stringent, as might be necessary to restrain the spread
of the diseases.

Captain James' motion was carried item. con.

A meeting of delegates connected with the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Union of the Foreign Cattle Trade Association wa
held at Leeds recently, when resolutions were passe
strongly condemning the Duke of Richmond and Gordon's
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, and appointing repre-
sentatives from the different districts to attend in London when
the Bill comes before the House of Commons, in order to in-
fluence members of Parliament to do their utmost to secure the
rejection of the measure. It was stated that if the Bill passed
the price of meat would be increased Id. to ljd. per lb.

CATTLE DISEASES AND MEAT PRICES

At the meeting of the Manchester Statistical Society, at the
Memorial Hall, Albert Square, on the 10th April, Mr. H
Baker presiding,

Mr. John Hyde read a paper on " Contagious Diseases of
Cattle and their Influence on Meat Prices, with some remarks
on the Government Bill." He said it was doubtful whether
the country generally recognised the importance of the issues
involved in the passing of the Government Bill, which, if
passed in its present form, could scarcely fail to bring about a
complete revolution in the meat trade of this country. The
losses inflicted upon the country by the series of outbreaks of
coutagious diseases which had occurred since 1812 were com-
puted at an average of £10,000,000 per annum. This
appalling estimate he considered to be probably within the
mark, but one-ha'.f of it represented a total loss of £1SO,000,000
within a single generation. These losses accounted for the
present scarcity and consequent high prices of meat, and wa
could now underttind what was stated by the distinguished
economist, Mr. Cherbuliez, that during the period in which
the price of corn had risen in Western Europe in the propor-

tion of 1 to 2, the price of meat had risen in the proportion
of 1 to 10. He proceeded to make the following inquiries
1. Are rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, pleuro-pueumonia
and sheep pox undoubtedly of foreign origin, or are they, or
any of them, indigenous to these islands ? 2. Presuming that
they are of foreign origin, have they not obtained such a
footing in the United Kingdom that they would continue to
ravage our herds and flocks, ' notwithstanding the prohibition
of all further imports P 3. If they come only from abroad,
could not a better system of inspection be devised, which
would suffice to protect us from this introduction, and»
while admitting the cattle, keep out the plague ? 1. If absolute
prohibition of live cattle imports, or at least their slaughter
at the ports of debarkation, be our only effectual safeguard, is
'here not still some danger that the remedy would be worse
than the disease, or, in other word?, would not either of such
measures interfere so seriously with the meat supply as to raise
its price in a greater degree than freedom from disease had
reduced it? The diseases named, it was universally admitted,
were originally introduced into this country from the con-
tinent of Europe, and whenever they broke out in these islands,
after a period of intermission, they had almost always been
distinctly traceable to foreign importations. The question'as
to whether they had not become naturalised in the country was
a much more difficult one to answer. So far, at least, as
rinderpest, foot-and mouth disease, and sheep pox were con-
cerned, he thought it must be admitted that to abolish live
imports would be to pave the way to their complete and final
extirpation. With regard to his next inquiry, it seemed im-
possible to deny that the present sjstem of inspection was as
perfect as it could well be made ; but owing to the varjing
periods of incubation, many cases of disease must escape
detection. As to the fourth inquiry, he could not think of the
immense, quantity of meat sent to London from the country
every year, amounting last year to no less than 175,000 tons,
without coming to the conclusion that means would be found
for the proper regulation of the dead meat trade which, in the
event of the Government Bill passing into law, would take the
place of the present traffic in live cattle. In all probability we
should soon see every important town provided with its
public refrigerator. The erection of cold meat stores
would not only remove all difficulty out of the way
of the prohibition of live cattle imports and the move-
ment of English cattle during an outbreak of disease, bnt it
would give an immense impetus to the American dead meat
trade. That trade had been a precarious one from the first,
in consequence of the impossibility of the care exercised over
the meat duriug its shipment and transit being continued after
its arrival in this couutry. With a proper system of meat
transport established in the country, Parliament would be able
to give us a measure which in the course of a few years would
prob ibly free the country altogether from contagious diseases.
He meant the absolute prohibition of live cattle imports from
the Continent of Europe. So great were the meat-producing
capabilities of the United States, that the annual surplus in
that country already pxceeded the whole quantity consumed
in the United Kingdom. If the tradein American meat Mere
encouraged, and facilitated in the way he had indicated, we
should soon see a reduction in the price of meat, apart alto*
gethcr from that which our stock-raisers would bring about
when relieved from the burden which now oppressed them4
and which was in fact a tax upm meat. This was surely an
important question to a great community like that of Man-

346

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Chester and Salford, for (o them every penny saved in the i cattle were really the products of foreign importation, lie

price of meat amounted to upwards of £250,000 per annum.
In the discussion which followed, the Chairman said he
thought it required to be proved that the epidemics among

believed that much of these contagious diseases might
fairly charged to the want of proper situation, shelter, and
care of cattle in this country.

THE IMPORTATION OF LIVE STOCK.

Mr. Thos. C. Bootk, of Warlaby has written as follows
to The Manchester Examiner, in reply to Mr. Irwin of
London. We have not a copy of the letter to which Mr.
Bootk replies or we would give it also. But Mr. Booth's
letter is reprinted here, not as a part of a controversy,
but as conveying facts and figures in a condensed and
convincing, form : —

" As Mr. John Irwin, in his letter published in the Guardian
of the 10th inst, asks Mr. Ashworth and your readers to dis-
credit my statements, I must ask you in all fairness to publish
my reply. But first let me state that I have not seen the
letter of Mr. Ashworth's to which he alludes, and do not
know its contents.

" Now let us look at facts and figures that no assertion o
Mr. John Irwin can gainsay. The stock of cattle and sheep in
this country has been steadily decreasing since the outbreak of
cattle plague in 1865. In the last four years there hasbseu
a reduction of 500,000 head of cattle and 2,000,000 sheep.
It was proved befo'e the Parliamentary Committee last year
that this decrease is almost entirely 'due to the effect of dis-
ease in our flocks and herds. Whence do these d'seases
eome ? Again, I say, without fear of Contradiction, that
undoubted proof is given by the most eminent men before this
Committee that these diseases are of foreign orgin, and that
their introduction into this country can be accounted for.

" A return obtained by Mr. Elliot proved that in three years
preceding 31st March, 1877, 1,-158 cargoes of live stock were
found with disease on board out of a total ot 12,308 ; and such
being the case, it is fair to assume, knowing the period of
incubation of pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-mouth disease, that
mauy animals escaped into the country undetected, and were
the means of propagating disease. With such proof, can any-
one doubt the desirability of stopping the importation of
disease by slaughtering at the port of landing ? I would
answer that, to protect ourselves from disease, we have no
other course open to us. And having done this, Lt me try to
prove that we can stamp it out at home. Again I must put
evidence against assertion. No assertion can disprove the fact
— as proved in evidence before the committee — that under the
effects of severe regulations during the visitation of cattle
plague in 1865-7 foot-and-mouth disease almost disappeared.
Again, it stands on record that in the autumn of 1876 that
disease was making rapid strides. Professor Brown — no bad
authority— told me that we should have the worst outbreak in
1877 that we had ever known. C ittle plague was imported in
January of that year ; nearly the whole country was put under
strict regulations, and as it had been in 1865-7, so it was in
1877 — the promised outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was
checked, and it almost disappeared. Again, as Mr. John
Irwin is obliged to fly to one of his foreign friends for evidence,
I also would refer to a foreign witness, Count Danneskiold-
Samooe, who stated that foot-and-mouth disease was stamped
out in Denmark by restrictions and isolation.

" Now, sir, having proved that the cattle of this country are

year by year decreasing owing to diseases ; having proved
that these diseases are of foreign origin, and that we can stop
them at the port of landing ; and having proved that restric-
tions have on two occasions been the means'of reducing disease
in this country to a minimum, let us see how thiaB ill (which
will, I contend, do all that I have proved above) will affect the
future supply of meat to the consumers in this country. Now
I will not follow Mr. John Irwin's one-sided assertions, but
will again give facts. The stock of cattle in Great Britain and
Ireland by the last return was 9,713,000 head, of which all
parties agree that one-fourth goes into consumption every year.
This gives 2,433, against Blr. Jolin Irwin's 1,000,000 ; but
mine are facts. In 1876 we imported 271,000 head; in
1877, 201,000 head ; and these about 20 per cent, per head
less in weight than our own cattle. Where is Mr. Irwin's
27 per cent, of foreign imports ? But if we go further aud in-
clude sheep and swine, the total foreign importation of live
stock only amounts to 4'r per cent, of our home supply. Again,
in 1876 we imported dead meat to the value of £162,947
sterling; in 1877 the value was £1,266,280 sterling. So that,
although the importation of foreign cattle fell off, we were
really the gainers by dead meat. Mr. Irwin would like
to ignore the deal meat trade ; but he cannot ignore the
fact that during every week of this year we have seen enor-
mous quantities brought from America to Liverpool and
Glasgow, and that this 500 or 600 tons of meat per week
must go to feed somebody.

" It may be quite true that a succession of bad years has been
the means of reducing the stock of cattle in this country ;
and I hesitate not to say, that, whilst we have had losses from
bad crops, we have also had greater losses from disease, and
these losses have had the effect of decreasing the meat-pro-
ducing power of the country. I do not suppose for one
moment that anyone will believe that we cannot produce more
beef than we are doiug at present, or than we have done in
the past. I think — again calling the evidence before the
Committee of 1877 to my aid — there cannot be the slightest"
doubt that, with immunity from disease, we can very soon pro-
duce more than the small percentage of imports from abroad.
But, although we can undoubtedly produce more at home
than we are now doing, are we likely to lose our present im-
ports, even if they be slaughtered at the port of landing ?
Mr. John Irwin does not say so; he knows as well as I do
that the meat-producing countries of the North of Europe
mui' snnt their cattle here, because they cannot consume them
at home, and further, because they have no other customers
for their surplus stock. Therefore, sir, I take it as proved
that we can produce more meat in this country if we are free
from disease, and also that we are not likely to lose the foreign
imports for reason* just stated. Hence the consumer of meat
must be a gainer by an increased supply, whilst the producer
is also a gainer by immunity from disease and consequent
increased power of production.

Mr. John Irwin has alluded to the Duke of Richmond's
Bill as a " sop " to the agriculturists ; perhaps I may be per-

THE FARM UK'S MAGAZINE.

347

mitted to tell your readers whence come all his disinterested

endeavours on behalf of the consumers of meat. IM r. John
Irwin is secretary to t lie Thames Haven Wharf Company.
This company has been making large dividends out of the
importation of foreigu cattle. In 1876, 105, 204 head of cat-
tle, 1S2.627 sheep, and 235 swine were landed at their wharf.
When this Bill comes into operation, uuiess they adapt them-

selves to altered circumstance';, the whole of this trade will
l"j to Deptford, and Mr. John Irwin's occupation will be gone.
In conclusion let me ask your readers to contrast such " en-
deavours " with those of Mr. Edmund Ashworth — a man who
for upwards of forty years has been one of the foremost in his
country to promote the happiness and prosperity of his fel-
low men."

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

BEDALE .

A special meeting of the Chamber was held recently at
the Black Swan Hotel, Bedale ; Captain Clarke President of the
Chamber, occupied the chair, and there was a fair gathering
of members. The meeting was held for the purpose of con-
sidering the Ilighwry Bill now before Parliament. M\ J. G.
Robinson opened the discussion on the Bill. Having gone
through the various clauses, pointing out their application, he
said the main features of the Bill, of which he most cordially
approved, pointed to the decreasing of local authorities and
foredoomed Highway Boards. Boards of Guardians as now
constituted were too often ruled by cliques, and any one at-
tempting to interfere with the existing state of things is looked
upon as an intruder, and rapped over the head whenever an
opportunity offered ; but by increasing the powers of Boards
of Guardians as rural sanitary authorities a greater interest
would be awakened in their proceedings. Instead of being
regarded with indifference, new blood would be infused, and
thus by getting good local government a strong barrier
would be erected against the growing tendency towards
centralisation, one main cause of which has been

local misgovernment and clashing of local autho-
rities. One thing that he had against the Bill was
that, like almost all local nuasures introduced by the present
Administration, it was permissive in its character instead of
beiDg compulsory. Gentlemen who were members both of the
Highway Board and Board of Guardians for their district (as
happened last year) would be somewhat puzzled how to
vote shonld the dissolution of the Highway Board come upon
them when sitting as the Local Sanitary Authority, and
would almost feel as if they were asked to cut their own
throats. Let them have, if possible, uuiform areas and the
strongest and most thoroughly representative local authorities
that they could possibly get. Let them excite, if possible,
an intelligent interest amongst the ratepayers in all matters
of local expenditure, and all measures relating to local self-
government. Believing thoroughly in this, he welcomed the
County Boards Bill and the Highways and Locomotive
(Amendment) Bill of 187S as a combined step in the right
direction, and fervently hoped that, with a few necessary
alterations, they would pass into law before the conclusion of
the present session of Parliament.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

NORTH-EAST OF IRELAND.

The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Association
was recently held at the Secretary's office, Ulster Buildings,
Belfast, Rev. Joseph Bradshaw, J. P., in the chair. The
other members present were : — James Heron, J.P. ; George
Martin, J. A. Cochrane, David Patton, Robert Morrow,
David Corbett, Robert Smyth, J.P. ; Thomas Lindsay, John
Phillips, Claude L. Capron, Alexander Robh, and William J.
Davison, Esqrs.

The following gentlemen were proposed, seconded, and ad
mitted as members of the Association, viz : — Thomas M'Afee
Carrysiekan, County Antrim ; and Francis Robert M'lloberta
Ballyoran, County Down.

The Committee then proceeded to nominate judges for
the approaching show. Forty-six gentlemen, from various
parts of England aud Scotland, as well as Ireland, wereuomi
nated for the various departments. Mr. John B. Dunlop, of
Belfast, was unanimously re-elected ve,o"::-.j surgeon.

The program me of the show, embracing the appointment of
stewards of the several departments, was agreed to.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The annual examination of candidates for the Society'!
veterinary certificate, which is open to the students of any
veterinary school established under her Majesty's sign-manual,
was recently held. The number of candidates who

entered their name3 were thirty-four. Of these,
twenty-four had previously passed the minor or prelimi-
nary examination, six had formerly failed to pass that examina-
tion, and now presented themselves for examination, previous to
going up for the practical and clinical. On Monday the
students attended a practical examination of horses, cattle, and
sheep, at Mr. Buist's auction mart (kindly put at the disposal
of the Society for the occasion) and at the abattoirs. Each
candidate had to satisfy the examiners that he was able to take
the pulse, respiration, aud temperature of the various animals,
and to perform the necessary surgical operations. The con-
cluding portion of the theoretical examinations were held on
Tuesday and Wednesday.

The examinations resulted in the certificate being conferred
on the following nineteen gentlemen :— John Blench, Thornley,
Durham ; Frank Bottomley, Oldham ; Wm. Henry
Bridge, Oldham ; David Crabb, Panbride, Carnoustie ;
Joseph Darbyshire, Wigan ; Thomas J. W. Dollar, London ;
John Thomas Gregory, London, John H. Kirk,
Edinburgh; Edward Kitchin, Doncaster ; John Malcolm,
Woodside, Montrose; John G. Muir, Mauchline ; John
O'Riordan, Limerick ; Henry E. Poole, Toronto ; William S-
Pringle, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Adam Sievwright, Keith; J.
Simpson Walker, Kendal ; Patrick Walsh, Ballinrobe, Ireland ;
Geo. H. Watkins, Tredegar, Monmouth ; Thomas P. Young,
Edinburgh .

348

Practical Examination.-- The following having obtained the
best marks in the practical and clinical examinations on Mon-
day were selected to compete for the gold medal given by the
society for the best practical examination :— Frank Bottomley,
T. J. W. Dollar, Edward Kitchen, and John Malcolm. The
Examination took place at Mr. Cumming's, V.S., 83 Rose
Street, on Wednesday afternoon, nnd after a thorough and
painstaking trial, resulted as follows :—F. Bottomley obtained
25 marks out of a possible of 35 j E. Kitchin and J. Malcolm,
23 marks each ;;T. J.|W. Dollar, 22 marks. Mr. Bottomley was
therefore awarded the medal.

General Examination. — The following is the result of
the best general examination for the gold medal : — John Mal-
colm, 57 marks (medal) ; William Henry Bridge, 4i marks ;
John G. Muir, 43 marks j Edward Kitchin, 36 marks ; T. J.
W. Dollar, 30 marks.

At three o'clock the students and examiners, along with
several gentlemen, assembled in the hall for the purpose of
distributing the certificates, &c, to the successful students.
Captain Tod of Howden occupied the chair. There were also
present— Professors Williams and Walley ; Mr. Baird, V.S.,
and Mr. Rutherford, V.S.

The Chairman, in the course of his remarks on presenting
the medals, said he was sorry to observe in the Bill proposed
recently by the Duke of Richmond and Gordon that it was
made compulsory for veterinary inspectors to be members of
the Royal College of Surgeous. He had taken the opportu
nity of pointing that out to the chairman of the local au-
thority, and also to the directors of the Society ; and he hoped
that the wording of the clause would be altered before the
Act became law ; because if it was not, any person holding
the certificate of the Highland Society would be incapable of
acting as an inspector.

BOTLEY EASTER CATTLE SHOW..
The auuual Easter show of fat and horned stock took
place recently at Botley Cattle Market, and compared
favourably with previous years, both in regard to entries
and the quality of the stock exhibited, the competition in
several classes being very keen, and the judges iu some
cases had a difficulty in deciding on the respective merits
of the animals. The show of cross-bred aud Down lambs
was excellent, equal to those shown in the early history of
the show by Mr. Blundell, a proof that the 'quality has
not deteriorated, while that of Hampshire Down wether
tegs were remarkably good, Mr. W., Owton taking first
prize with a pen of ten, which one of the judges remarked
were the best that could be shown, and a credit to any
man. There was only one entry each in Classes 2 and 3,
Mr. John Gater taking first prize for ten best fat wether
sheep, and Mr. Jeffery^for a similar number of fat ewes, the
jatter also taking first prize for fat horned ewes, as well
as prizes in other classes. Mr. Walter Warner took first
prize for the ten best fat lambs, and second for fat horned
ewes. The first prize for the best boar and sow were
awarded to Mr. W. Smith, Mr. W. Warner being
second for the former, and Mr. F. Harris second
in the latter. Mr. E. G. Dalgetty took first prize for
the best fat ox or steer, and Mr. W. Warner
carried off Mr, F, Compton's 'prize for the best fat

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

steer. The judges were Mr. J. Stubbs, West Tisted ;
Mr. J. Allsop, Wellow, near Romsey ; and Mr. J. Salter,
Winchester.

LIST OF PRIZES.

Ten fat Iambs (excepting Downs), fed in the open field and
no restrictions as to feeding. — First prize, £5, W. Warner ;
second, £2, W. Jeffery.

Ten best fat Down lambs, fallen since December 1st, 1877.
—First prize, £4, W. J. Read ; second, £2, W. Owton.

Ten fat wether sheep.— Prize, £3, J. Gater.

Ten best fat ewe?.— Prize, £3 3s., W. Jeffrey.

Ten best fat horned ewes, each having yeaned and fattened
a lamb the same season, aud fed in the open field. — First
prize, £2, W Jeffrey ; second, £1, W. Warner.

Ten best fat down ewes, each having yearned and fattened
a lamb since j December 1st, 1877.— First prize, £2, Mr
Simpson ; second, £1, W. J. Read.

A hunters' prize of £15 and £1 0 for the shepherd, to th
tenant farmer within the district comprising the Hursley
H.H., and Hambledon Hounds, best pen 'pi fat wether tegs
" Hampshire downs." — First prize, W. Owton ; second, £3
Mr. G. Gray.

The best boar.— First prize, £1, W. Smith ; second, 10s.
W. Warner.

The best sow.— First prize, £1, W. Smith ; second, 10s
F. Harris.

Best fat ox or steer. — First prize, £5, F. G. Dalgetty
second, £2, W. H. Smith.

Best fat steer, calved since Jan. 1st.— First prize, £3 3s.
W. Warner ; second, £1, W. Owton.

Best fat heifer, calved before ^January 1st, 1876, never
having produced a live calf.— Prize, £3, W.Smith.

Best fat heifer, calved since January 1st, 1876. — First prize,
£2, H. Silvester.

Best fat cow. — Prize, £2, J. Gater.

Best Shorthorn or cross bred dairy cow or heifer, with her
own calf by her side. — Prize, £2, J. Gater.

Best Channel Island Dairy Cow. with her own calf by her
side. — Prizr, C. Perrott.

Best "fat calf, under four months old. — Prize, £1, W.
Jeffrey.
— Hampshire Advertiser.

BEDFORD STALLION SHOW.

The annual exhibition of cart stallions in connection with the
Beds Agricultural Society took place on April 6th, in
Mr. Harris's paddock, near the cattle market. His Grace the
Duke of Bedford's prize of £20 was awarded to Mr. Thomas
Stokes, of Caldecott, RockinghaD, for Young Drayman,
brown, five years, bred by exhibitor, who obtained for him
first place in Class 1 at Northampton last week. The Society's
prize of £5 was obtained by Mr. Geo. Horn, jun., KempstoD,
for Young Champion, black, nine years. Commended, Mr. R.
Pell, Orlingbury, for Sheet Anchor, iron grey, three years.
Also competed : Mr. G. Horn, sen., Clophiil, Young Champion,
4 years ; Mr. J. Bosworth, Marston, Baron Lincoln, five years ;
Mr. R. Ross, Thurleigh, Le Bon, two years ten months ; Mr.
J. Bandey, Clapham, Young Waxwork, 3 years; Mr. A.
Ac'.iurch, Duloe, Huntingdonshire, Wonder, two years eleven
months; Mr. Thos. Goff, Park Farm, Harold, Young Cham-
pion, six years (prize-winner at Northampton) ; Mr. J.
Walker, Godlington, Nonpareil, four years. Extra Stock:

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

349

Mr. .laiees Howard, Clapham Park, Columbus; the Duke of
Bedford, Chancellor; Mr. E. Dudley, Clultou, Sandy, a bay,
six years; Mr. J. Davis, Kempstou, a grey, eight years ; Mr.
G Horn, jun., Kempstou, a black colt, two years, which Mr.
Stafford sold by auction for £80 ; Mr. Macan, of Elston, ex-
hibited Moorlands ; and Mr. Field of Stratton, The Premier
nag horses.

TALGARTH STALLION SHOW.

The annual Exhibition of entire horses at Talgarth, held in
connection with the Horse Breeders' Association, took place
on Thursday, the ISth April (Fair day), when the following
prizes were offered — a prize of £15 for the best thoroughbred
stallion, calculated] to produce weight-carrying hunters or
carriage horses ; £20 loi] ihe best |stallion suited for getting
agricultural or dray horses, with a second prize of £10 in the
class ; and a prize of £15 for the best cob or roadster
stallion,

PRIZE LIST.

Thoroughbred stalliou calculated to produce weight carrying
hunters or carriage horses. — Prize, D. Earl, Maindy, near
Cardiff (Ladbroke).

Stallion for getting agricultural ordray horses. — First prize,
Mr. Powell, Moor Court, near Leominster (Defiance) ; second,
W. Dukes, jun., Hereford (Agriculturist 2nd).

Stalliou calculated to produce weight-carrying C3bs or
roadsters. — Prize, R. Evans, Cefueal, Llangeitho (Alonzo the
Brave).

CARMARTHEN STALLION SHOW.

The annual show of entire horses in connection with the
Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society was recently held at
Carmarthen. The judges were: —

Captain Williams, Wallog, near Aberystwith ; Mr. Bum-
hill, of Swansea ; and Mr. Price, of West House, Bridgend.
PRIZE LIST.

Thorough-bred stud horse which, in the opinion of the
judges, is best calculated to improve the breed of horses in the
county. — First prize, £5, Castaway, Mr. J. Rees, Berthllwyd ;
second, £2 Daluacardock, Mr. John Griffiths.

Stallion calculated for agricultural purposes. — First prize,
£5 (divided), King Tom, Mr. David Davies, Porth, Llansawel ;
and Young Topsman, Mr. Broad, Carmarthen ; second, £2,
Margam, Mr. T. Thomas, Trefelyn. Remainder of the class
commended.

Hackney stallion. — Prize, £3, Young Matchless, Mr.
William Morgans, Fedw Bettws Lsiki; highly commended,
" Cardinal Tuff," Mr. J. Lloyd, Tynllyn.

THE METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY.— The usual
monthly meeting of this Society was recently held
at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. C Greaves,
president, iu the chair. The discussion on waterspouts and
globular lightning was resumed and concluded, after which a
paper was read :— " On the Application of Harmonic Analysis
to the Reduction of Meteorological Observations, and on the
General.Methods of Meteorology," by the Hou.R. Abercromby,
F.M.S. The following is an abstract of the paper : — " The
meaning of harmonic analysis was first shown, in reference to
average daily barometric pressure, by tracing the geometrical
and physical significance of every step from the barogram till
the tabulated results are combined iu a harmonic series. It
is then shown that, whether we regard this series simply as

an algebraic embodiment of a fact or as a series of harmonic
components, as suggested by Sir W. Thomson, it is simply
a method of averages, and our estimate of its value must
depend upon an estimate of the use of averages at all in mete-
orology. It was then pointed out where averages are useful,
and their failure to make meteorology a science was traced
to three causes : — 1. That the process of averaging eliminates
the variable effects of cyclones and anti-cyclones, on which all
weather from day to day depends ; and on this was based
some general remarks on the use of synoptic charts not only
in explaining and forecasting weather, but in attacking such
problems as the influence of changes of the distribution of
land and water on cljmate, and the cyclic recurrence of rain or
cold. 2. That deductions from averages only give the facts,
and not the causes, of any periodic phenomena. The position
of diurnal and other periodic variations in the general scheme
of meteorology was then pointed out, and it was shown that
their causes can only be discovered by careful study of mete-
orograms from day to day. 3. That in taking averages pheno-
mena are often classed as identical which have really only one
common property. For instance, rain in this country is as-
sociated with at least three different conditions of atmospheric
disturbance, and it i3 necessary to discriminate between these
kinds before meteorology can be a science."

HEREFORD HERD BOOK SOCIETY.— A meeting of
Council was held at the Guildhall, Hereford, on Wednesday
the 12th April, under the presidency of Mr, J. H. Arkwright.
There were also present Messrs. J. Hill, II. Haywood, W.
Stallard, W. Taylor, T. Duckham. — The Finance Committee
reported that since the last Council meeting the Society had
been duly registered ; that the memorandum and articles of
association, prospectus, rules, and regulations had been printed
and ready for circulation; that a room had been secured at 20,
East-street for the SocietyVregistered office ; and that the
necessary fittings had been procured. The committee further
reported that they had received subscriptions to the amount
of £269 17s., namely from 42 life members, 25 annual
members, and two entrances. — The Editing Committee re-
ported that they had considered the proposal of Sir J. R.
Bailey as to the addition to Rule 3/ with respect to the pedi-
grees of animals to be entered in the Herd Book, and were
unanimously of opinion that it is desirable to adopt it. They
therefore recommended to the Council that the resolution be
printed in a separate slip, and added to the list of rules.
In the case of proposed entries where the cattle are pre-
sumably pure-bred aud where satisfactory reason can be given
for the want of the prescribed pedigree, it shall be left to the
discretion of the Editing Committee to admit the entries
without such pedigrees, in which case a note stating the
reason of such short coining shall be affixed to the volume in
which it occurs, which note shall be charged to the breeder
who has made the entry as one additional entry. The com.
mittee propose to publish the 10th Vol. with as little delay as
possible within the present year, and hope the members of
the Council will use every effort to induce breeders to make
their entries immediately. The committee have revise! the
entry forms in order to meet the resolution aforesaid, and they
will be ready for circulation within a week.— The following
members were elected :— Mr. G. Child, Court of Noke, Pem-
bridge ; Mr. J. Williams, Bull Farm, Dorstone, Hereford ;
Mr. J. T. Carwardine, Stockton Bury, Leominster, life mem-
bers ; and Mr. R. Bridgwater, Porthamel, Talgarth, Brecon-
shire; Mr. T. ravis, Claston, Dorrnington, Hereford,
animal members,

ill

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

PROFESSOR BROWN ON THE MEAT

SUPPLY.

f
The followiug is an extract from the annual Report o

the Veterinary Department of the Privy Council for the
year 1S77, which has just heen issued : —

" Excluding from the calculation dairy cows and store stock,
we may conclude that we lost altogether in 1877, from the
operation of the Orders which were passed in consequence of
cattle plague in Europe, and from causes which must have
affected exporting couutries quite irrespectively of any legis-
lation which took place here, in round numbers above 70,000
cattle from the Continent. Importation of cattle and sheep
from Ireland decreased in 1877, as compared with the imports
of 1S76, to the extent of nearly 17,000 cattle and over 56,000
sheep. The importation of swine increased by over 72,000.
The total number of animals imported into Great Britain from
all countries in 1877 were as follows : — From European couu-
tries we received 179,236 cattle, 84S.315 sheep, 18,745
swine. From the United States and Canada 19,187 cattle,
23,395 sheep, 810 swiue, From the Channel Islands we
received 2,638 cattle, and 2 swine ; and from other coun-
tries 5 cattle, 449 sheep, and 17 swine. From Ireland
649,441 cattle, 630,774 sheep, 585,427 swine. Making a
total ot 2,958,441 animals, against 3,226,948 in the previous
year. The supply of fresh meat from the Continent could
not have been sufficient to represent any considerable propor-
tion of the deficiency of foreign live stock ; in the first place
because the importation of fresh meat from Germany and
Belgium was prohibited from the end of January to the
middle of September, and next because it was not probable
that any special arrangements would be made by exporters to
meet what they naturally considered to be a merely temporary
disturbance of the ordinary system of trade. Cattle traders on
the Continent, as elsewhere, prefer conducting their business
iu their own way, and are not disposed to accommodate them-
selves to restrictions in such a way as to invite their con«
tinuance. It is admitted that the large consignments of fresh
meat which we received from America saved us from consider-
able embarrassment, and prevented any inconvenience arising
from the falling off in the supplies of foreign stock ; but
while the success which has attended the transport of meat
from America places beyond all doubt the possibility of sub-
stituting a dead meat for a live meat trade, it has not yet led
to any definite action on the part of the consignees to extend
the system in this country. Meat which reached our ports in
first-rate condition was dealt with as though it were an in-
destructible commodity, and as a natural result tons of
food have been wasted, whereas a modicum of the care which
was exercised in bringing the meat across the sea would
have sufficed for its safe transit all over England. In
connection with the prohibition of cattle from cattle plague
couutries and slaughter of imported live stock at the places
of landing, I advised the employment of repressive measures
in respect of contagious diseases of animals in this country,
notwithstanding the assertion that those diseases would die
out if not reintroduced. Pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-
mouth disease have existed in this kingdom for nearly forty
years, and they are certain to continue quite irrespective of
fresh importation so long as diseased and infected animals are
moved in all directions from one part of the kingdom to ano-
ther and new generations of susceptible subjects are constantly
being brought under the influence of the contagion. Epizootic

diseases naturally exhaust their force in isolated positions if
no new subjects are intioduced, but when a contagious affection
is established it may be kept np by a constant supply of healthy
susceptible animals without any fresh introduction of diseased
ones, and in this way pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-mouth
disease must have been kept up during the time when
foreign animals were not permitted to be landed in this country,
and iu the same way they may be continued for an indefinite
period. The comparison which has been drawn between
epizootic diseases and a fire may suffice for an ad captandum
argument ; but if the metaphor be analysed it will be found to
illustrate with equal effect both sides of the question. A fire
will die out when all the fuel is consumed, but it may be kept
alight by the addition of fresh fuel, without the introduction
of more fire, as certainly as by setting up an entirely new
centre of combustion ; if therefore it be determined to put the
couflagaration out, we must, at the same time that we forbid
the bringing in of fresh tire to the fuel, stop the supply of fuel
to the fire which now exists ; in short, to abandon the
metaphor, we must arrest the progress of epizootics, which
have become naturalised here, by the stamping-out system, if
we expect to gain any benefit from the slaughter of imported
stock at the landing places."

A SKETCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE.— Nature has given
Constantinople the bluest and clearest sea that can be imagined,
and vaulted over it the most exquisitely bright yet tender sun-
fnll of a delicious light that would be dazzling if it were not
so soft. She has drawn the contour of the shores and hills as
if with an artist's hand, the sweeping reaches of the Bospoh-
rns, the graceful curve of the Golden Horn, the soft slopes of
the olive clad heights behind Scutaria the sharp, bold outline
of the rocky isles that rise from the surface of the Sea of
Marmora ; and far away on the south-eastern horizon she has
raised into heaven the noble summit of th; Mysian Olympus
whose snows blush rose red under the morning sun. The sea
seems to pervade everything : turn which way you will it meets
you till you getconfused]amocg its winding arms. Its glittering
bosom is covered with vessels of every size and style, from the
long, dark, ugly ironclads, which the late Sultan bought from
the Clyde and Tyne shipbuilders with borrowed money, to the
sprightly feluccas and other odd little craft, rigged in a fashion
our language has no name for. During the day its surface is
seldom calm (for there is usually a breeze blowing, and when
this breeze comes up from the S.W. and meets the strong
current running down from the Black Sea, it raises in a
moment short, sharp waves, a kind of chopping sea that makes
the small boats vanish) ; the nights however are often still and
serene, and then under the brilliant moon the city seems to lie
engirt by a flood of molten silver. — Macmillarfs Magazine.

CHESTNUTS.— The chestnut forms the chief food of the
poor population of the central plateau of France and Corsica;
The production in 1874 amounted to over 14,000,0001b. In
our last volume, at p. 39, we gave some details of the surface
planted with chestnuts and the progressive yield. Improved
by cultivation, rendered larger and regnhrly rouud by its
solitary development in the involucre, it is known as the
marron, of which there are a great number of varieties, which
are obtained by grafting on the common chestnut. — Journal
of Applied Science.

A domestic advertising for a place announces as a re-
commendation that she " dresses beautifully."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

'JO i

NOTES FROM A CORNISH FARMER.

The weather daring the first quarter of the present year
has, in an agricultural point of view, been all that could
be desired ; consequently field work is ia a forward state
and cattle food is abundant ; nevertheless there is much
sickness and disease amongst cattle and sheep, an unusual
number of the former have died of " scour," and the latter
of rot, resulting;, no doubt, from the wet uugeuial sum-
mer of '77 when through lack of sunshine and warmth
agricultural produce generally was indifferent, and de-
ficient in those properties so essential to the health of farm
stock, especially young animals, in which tonic medicines
would be of great service if administered in the early
stages of disease — but these remedies are generally deferred
until they are useless.

The frost and snow with which we have lately been
visited is likely to prove beneficial, by checking vegetatiou.
Wheat, which is generally looking well, had in some places
become " winter proud." Nitrate of soda, although very
expensive, is at ill being liberally applied to the wheat crop,
and I would strongly recommend its being laid on in
small quantities ; ^ cwt. with 1 cwt. of salt is sufficient at
a time. That quantity may frequently be applied three or
four times to advantage, but large doses render the plant
unhealthy, while the grain becomes coarse and indifferent.
The extra expense of sowing the manure at different times
is not to be compared with the advantages likely to result
from the practice ; oue of paramont importance is, that
you can regulate the quantity according to the sea3on — a
much larger quantity may be advantagously employed in
dry than in wet seasons.

A great deal has lately appeared in your columns
relative to the winter feeding of cattle, the value of root
crops, straw, &c. These matters depend so much upon
circumstances that it is absurd to lay down a hard and
fast line. In the first place, if agriculturists generally were
to send their straw and roots to market the price would
become so low that it would scarcely be worth the ex-
pense of taking hither, as was the case with broccoli in the
Penzance district early this season. Producers should, there-
fore be careful not to overstock maikets. It may be pro-
fitable in Norfolk, Suffolk and other counties, (where soil
and climate is so congenial to the growth of first-class
malting barley, which fetches a higher price than wheat,
especially as these districts are ill-adapted to the growth
of grass, and the soil require the treading of sheep), to
sacrifice green crops and consume a large quantity of
corn and cake, besides for the sake of making manure,
but farmers occupying land iu the fickle, humid climate
of Cornwall would, I am persuaded, find great difficulty in
paying their high rents, rates &c, if they were to adopt
that system, " He who feeds fat oxen should himself be fat,"
i. e., should be in a position to lose money by the tran-
saction, appears to be the opinion and experience of a
number of your correspondents, and the lamentable fact
is borne out by the painful circumstances to which you
called attention in your last issue relative to the position

of Mr. Heath, who ha3 for a long period been one of the
highest — 1 wont say most successful — feeders in this
kingdom, I have no faith in very high feediug, nor in
giving much marketable grain or oil cake to cattle or
sheep. Had nature intended them to consume such con-
centrated food she would not have supplied such a large
paunch, but having profitably fattened a large quantity
of cattle &C., during the last forty years I will brielly
state my practice for the consideration of uninitiated
unsuccessful feeders.

The first and most important step is to propagate well-
bred animals, possessing abundance of leau flesh, which
is indicative of health and constitution. I breed Ilere-
fords of the " first water," believing that breed to be
calculated to produce the greatest quantity of good beef
from the ordinary produce of a farm. My calves are
suckled by their dams until about four months old; when
weaned they are fed on grass, roots, and hay. They run
iu pastures or yards with open sheds from infancy, and
are taught to work for their living, exercise and exposure
being conducive to health in all young stock; never get
any chaff or sliced roof, for I am certain that cattle do
best if permitted to masticate their own food, when gastric
juices are supplied for digesting it. I never have roots
cleaned with a knife, from a conviction that a certain
quantity of earth tends to assist digestion. My swedes
are cut up with a plough when the laud is dry, chain
harrowed, and in that state oecome soft by atmospheric
influence ; by adopting that plan much labour is saved,
economy of labour being of infinite importance in the
profitable fattening of stock. My mangels have the prin-
cipal part of the earth knocked off previous to earing,
and in that state they are given to cattle. I have a lot
of young cows tied up that had calves taken from them
last October; they have been fed on roots, straw, and
hay in the manner described— never had any corn or cake
in their lives — and they have long been fat enough to
command the best price in any market.

I do not^approve oQiouse or winter fattening of steers.
I have now a lot of ihree-ycar-old*, which for want of
house accommodation, have been iu openffields all the
winter, fed with straw and roots ou the grass ; they are
now in splendid condition, with their coats about them
— calculated to pay twice as much for eating gras3 as
delicate house-fed animals — and will I am persuaded be
fat enough to command the top price in any market before
harvest and pay me well for rearing and fattening, espe-
cially as we may not expect the highest price in hot sea-
sons, unfavourable to foreigu importation.

The treatment here described, and by which I make the
rearing and fattening of stock profitable, would be ill-
adapted to that pampered tribe of Duchess Shorthorns
so well pourtrayed by Mr. Sot ham a few weeks since inf
your columns How true is the adage, " An ounce or
practice is worth a hundredweight of theory."

Jp-il 12. T. 0.

35:2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

USE OF LIME IN AGRICULTURE.

Mr. J. Falconer Kixg, in his Report on the analytical
work of the year, has the following remarks on the use
and abuse of lime : —

Lime, as is well known, is required directly by all cultivated
plants as food, and therefore a soil which is totally devoid of
lime is simply barren, and the obvious remedy by which to
render such a soil fertile would be of course a dose of lime.
Such a case as this, however, is extremely rare. Of all the
suspicious soils which I have analysed I canuot recall one to
miud which was proved to owe its barrenness to being com-
pletely devoid of lime.

In most cases, therefore, in which lime acts beneficially
when applied to the soil, it does so either by supplying food to
the crop indirectly, or by destroying some noxious constituent
already existing in the soil.

The plant food which lime supplies indirectly may be divided
into two classes, first, mineral or inorganic; and secondly,
vegetable or inorganic.

The principal members of the first class seem to be silica
and potash. These substances, however, it should be borne
in mind, are not in any way contributed to the soil by the
lime — they are merely changed by its action from their hard,
6tony, insoluble nature into a condition in which they are
available to plants as food. These two substances, silica and
potash, are found in greater or less proportion in almost all
fertile soils, but in some soils they exist principally in an in-
soluble or locked-up condition, if I may use the expression,
and are therefore of no use as plant food until they have been
set free either by the action of lime or by some other suitable
agent.

The principal member of the second or vegetable class of
food materials which lime prepares for the use of plants is
nitrogen. Now, this substance nitrogen, as is well known, is
au indispensable and most valuable ingredient of plant food,
aud therefore any substance which cau supply it to plauts in
a readily available form is an agent of very great utility.
This office is performed, and performed very satisfactorily, by
lime. The lime does not, indeed, add or contribute any nitro-
gen any more than it adds potash to soils, but it converts the
nitrogen which, though it already exists in the soil, is present
in a comparatively inert state, into a form in which it is easily
assimilated by plauts. In these different ways, therefore, may
lime be used with great benefit, viz., on soils which contain a
large quantity of undecomposed mineral matter, and on soils
which contain an excess of vegetable matter.

Lime, however, is useful in another way, and that is by
destroying substances hurtful to vegetation, such as, for ex-
ample, certain compounds of iron and certain acids, which are
alleged to be the cause of the peculiar evil known as sourness.
A soil, it is well k nown, may contain all the ingredients
necessary for supporting plant life and yet be unfertile in con-
sequence of containing some deleterious or poisonous ingre.
dient. Lime may act therefore very beneficially on some soils,
not providing an increased supply of plant food, but merely by
neutralising or destroying some such hurtful substances which
may be present.

In all the instances I have mentioned, lime, we have seen,
acts beneficially ; and it now remains for me before concluding
this short note to point out in a very few words how lime
may act prejudicially — so act indeed, that its continued appli-
cation may not only be useless, but actually be hurtful. It is
an old idea that lime is a very exhausting substance, and that

its continued and extensive use must sooner or later greatly
impoverish a soil, or even reduce it to perfect sterility. This
idea is not altogether erroneous, but it is only true in a cer.
tain sense.

I don't mean, of course, to asseit that a soil may not be
over.limed. Such au occurrence, although not, I should
think, by any means a common one, is not impossible. It can
be done, and the immediate effect of over-liming is to cause a
great diminution in the amount of the organic constituents of
the soil, thereby rendering grain crops grown on it uncertain.
When I say, however, that there need not be much fear of
rendering a soil sterile by means of lime, I refer to the im-
possibility of destroying the natural or mineral constituents
of a soil, such as potash, silica, phosDhoric acid, sulphuric
acid, &c. When lime is added to the soil, it does not eliminate
or destroy these substances, it merely effects certain changes
by bringing some of them into a more valuable condition, so
that as long as we do not remove, by injudicious cropping, or
by some similar method, these valuable constituents of plant
food from our soils, we may apply lime as freely as is deemed
necessary without incurring any danger of thereby rendering
them sterile, at least of doing so by exhausting the
mineral food elements. The principal evil to be apprehended
from over-liming is too great a destruction of organic matter,
which, as I have already ponted out, unsuits the soil for the
growth of grain crops. It should also be borne in mind that
lime almost always produces the most profitable and marked
effect on new land, or on laud which has not beeu fully ex-
posed to the air, or on such land as is rich in organic remains,
as, for example, on peaty or boggy land, and that it may be of
very little use if applied alone to arable land which has just
been cropped. The greatest mistake, though, which I have
ever seen committed in connection with the employment of
lime is that of mixing it with manure before application. In
these days of enlightenment it is almost incredible that such
an egregious error as this should be committed, and yet I
myself have actually seen the perpetration of this species of
absolutely inexcusable wastry. When farm-yard manure, at
least after it has been kept for some time, is so treated with
lime it is almost entirely destroyed, and the value of many
other manures, by similar treatment, would be very much
lessened. Lime should never be allowed to come in contact
with the manure at all ; and if it could be arranged conveni-
ently these two substances should be applied to the land at
different times.

As I have been frequently asked to give an opinion as to
the value of waste products containing lime, such as the so-
called gas-lime, and the refuse lime from paper works, it may
be of some use if I state here that none of these substances
are of any great value except for the lime which they contain ;
and I should say further that neither of these substances
ebould on any account be used for agricultural purposes in
their fresh state. Gas-lime, when it is newly made, contains
certain compounds of sulphur, which are positively inimical
to plant life, and much the same may be said of the waste
lime from paper-mills, which, when it is new, is apt to
contain some caustic soda, a substance which may seriously
injure a plant, and even destroy entirely the vitality of seeds.
By sufficient weathering, however, the noxious constituents o *
both of these substances may be rendered quite harmless, and
either or both of them may then be safely used as a means of
applying lime to the soil.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

orro

♦- —

SHELTERED DWELLINGS.— The value of shelter is felt
by the gardener at this time of the yearlut he is by no means,
peculiar in his appreciation of it. When the east wind is in
season and the tender leaves and opening flowers are liable
to the shrivelling that makes them look as if they had been
burned we do not need any proof beyond our own feelings of
the value of shelter, and yet, perhaps, when the weathercock
veers rouud to the south, and mere existence becomes delight-
ful, we may forget resolves that were made when the east wind
was testing our endurance and, perhaps, finding us wanting.
But the value of shelter is not appreciated as it should be, if
we may compare what has been done with what remains to be
done, for the gardener is not [the only person whose interests
are jeopardised by the dry March winds. The health of the
community, without exception of age or sex, is in a great
degree imperilled by the keen searching winds that prevail at
this season of the year, and it is a matter of considerable im-
portance to consider how far it is in our power to mitigate
their injurious effects. It is well known that spring frosts
make havoc of all the products of farm and garden. They
spread blight in the wheatfield, they blacken the rising potato
shaws and debilitate the plant for the season ; they sweep the
young fruit from the walls and the orchards, they kill the
green braird in the seed-bed, and necessitate a second sowing
when it is too late for the, growth of a heavy crop ; and they
crush out of existence many trees and shrubs that a mild
winter encourages to make early growth, and that in conse-
quence become too tender to endure the assaults of spring
frosts. On the health of man the effects of the east wind are
sufficiently decisive. The young and vigorous rejoice in the
clear bracing air and the brightness of earth and heaven, and
do very well if reasonably cautious to avoid a chill after brisk
exercise. But the weakly ones, of ail ages and both sexes,
suffer in various degrees while the easterly spring breezes
blow ; the asthmatical and consumptive add to'the record of
mortality or are tided over the bad time with difficulty and
escape; in proportion to the advantages they enjoy in respect
of shelter, warmth, and other bodily comforts. It cannot be
doubted, therefore, that for the " practical " man, whether
architect, engineer, landscapist, or gardener there is much to
be thought of and done with a view to the mitigation of the
evils that accompany the east wind. The proverb says that
Providence temper the wind to the shorn lamb, but Providence
has given us some power to temper it in our own interest, and
of necessity the most ready and efficient agency is shelter'
about which very much may be said. — The Gardener's
Magazine.

ENTERTAINMENTS.— Let me say a word on two or
three things which sometimes check the agreeable course of
an entertainment. One is the bringing in of the children of
the household at dessert. The guests have shaken down to-
gether comfortably, conversation has become general and
lively, when all is interrupted by the incursion of little
Tommy and Mary, who ought to have been in bed, but who
enter wide awake, with an eye to sweets, which they are much
better without, anyhow at that time of night. They do their
innocent best to degrade the entertainment into a mere eating
business, since they naturally and importunately think and
speak of nothing else. Children should be introduced before,
not after dinner, aud thus do good service in promoting

speech, if not conversation, in that sometimes dull period
during which the guests are assembling. Another mistake —
I beg my fair readers' pardon — comes fiom the unconsciou8
persaasion that a feast must needs be supplemented by song.
Thus when the party is perhaps broken into several groups
engaged in pleasant chat all this is abruptly hushed by the
approach of a young lady to the piano. Here and there one
seasoned man goes on with his sentence or story till the voice
proclaims that it is a " song" and not a 'c piece" with which
the'eompany is to bo entertained. The song is sung ; a little
murmur of relief is accepted as a tribute of praise by the
performer, and people begin to enjoy themselves again. If a
girl can readily sing well she may at a judicious moment inter-
pose a song aud gratify the assemblage ; but occasionally she
cannot sing well, and perhaps injudiciously begins her per-
formance when conversation is in full buzz. I am almost
tempted to respect the hardened sinners who will talk when
the conventional song proclaims, after a few bars, that it is
not of that sort which agreeably surprises the audience, or
promises to creep into the heart by the ear. And even those
might be pardoned who feel scant pity for the youug lady
who is left to sing it to herself and to two or three who
chance to be sitting by the instrument and pose themselves in
an attitude of polite attention till the time is over. She may
have taken lessons from the singing-master, but the want of
general appreciation is not without being a useful " lesson in
music" of another sort. — Leisure Hour.

AGREEABLE PEOPLE.— In every society there are cer-
tain members who are the agreeable people par excellence,
whose presence makes the whole world shine with a kind of
reflected light, and by whom is ensured complete social success.
Sometimes it is a woman, beautiful, well-educated, graceful,
lively, and neither vain nor exclusive — neither a flirt demand-
ing the attentions of one man or many, nor holding herself
superior to the duty of helping to entertain. She brings her
personal loveliness and her suggestive toilette, her perfect
breeding aud her charming vivacity, as gifts which she scatters
to the crowd, her contributions to the circumstances of the
evening. When we hear that she is to be at such and such a
dinner, such and such an assembly, we rejoice. The deadly
deadness of the ordinary London gathering no longer haunts
us with its melancholy presage of bores and windbags — dumb
beasts that cannot be moved to speech and cackling geese who
cannot be reduced to silence. We know that we at least are
provided for in part, and that the evening will have for us its
allotted moments of brilliant enjoyment by which all the rest
will be illuminated. That man of many travels aud much
experience who does not stint his knowledge, but who lays
hiiosSlf out to amuse the frivolous and interest the thoughtful,
hi too is a godsend for whom hostess and guests alike are
baleful. When those who have been seated next him con-
fer together, they say among each other," What an agreeable
person he is !" and ;t AVhat a charmiug party this has been !"
And the anecdotist, the wit who sparkles and flashes like con-
versational fireworks, keeping every one alive with his droll
stories and quaint audacity, so that even parched dry souls
expand aud the logs of wood carved into the likeness of men
and women that sit about unmoved in chairs, are stirred into
such vitality as they possess, is he not a godsend equal in value
to the beautiful lady who throws so many social gifts iuto the
social treasury, to the man of many travels and varied ex-
perience who is a kind of encylopsedia of pleasantness by
which dense minds are enlightened and arid brains enriched ?

3^4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Yes ; the agreeable person has value and serious uses and is
not to be dismissed by a shrug by the serious as " a human
popinjay," " a mere person of society," something who is " all
very well but not the kind of thing to respect or really value,"
with all the other deprecatory qualifications by which people
who are not agreeable lower the pretensions of those who are,
and look at their light through smoked glass. — Queen.

NEW PRINCIPLE OF SASH WINDOW.— The
common sash frame is a fixture, and therein are its inherent
iel'ects. The new sash-frame— the production of Mr.
0. Brothers, a specimen of which may he seen in the Museum
■if Building Materials in Maddox-street — is slung on pivots or
hinges within a second outer frame, so that the whole of the
iash-frame, with the sashes complete, opens into the room like
:i door. By this means servants standing on the floor of the
ro^rn can, with the greatest ease and security, clean both top
and bottom sashes inside and outside. Painters, too, can
perform their work with the like ease and security, dispensing
sntirely with '.he use of either ladders oroverhaugiug machines.
The whole of the frame opening in this way allows free access
to its sides, so that the weights can be got at and the sashes
nung or rehung without taking out the beads or disturbing
any part of the woodwork. Sash lines of suitable lengths are
provided with hooks and eyes, so that any one can fit them.
When the window-frame is open the limit to which the sashes
can subsequently be raised or depressed can be determined by
a locking arrangement, effected by a master-key provided for
the owner or tenant of the house. Say an opening of four
or five inches is permitted, this will be too small a space for any
one to get access through from the outside, and thus no col
lusion with inmates would serve the purposes of the burglar.
At top an excellent adjustible ventilator is fitted, and on closing
the sashes they fasten themselves, thus superseding the ordi
nary catches andjntroducing the better.'principle of unfastening
instead of fastening the window. When the sash-frame is
shut on the outer frame, it is locked in place of the master-
key and becomes proof against tampering. The locking
arrangements on the sash-(astenings can be applied to any
ordinary window. During the past week the model, which is
8 feet by 4 feet, has been inspected by the Hon. Gerard Noel,
first Commissioner of Works, Mr. Charles Barry, President
of the Institute of Architects, Mr. Mitford, Mr. Taylor,
architect of the Board of Works, and other gentlemen of
eminence, by whom the most favourable opinions were
expressed . — Standard.

WHAT THE WOMEN OF ILLINOIS ARE DOING.—
Of lawyers^Chicago has at least three. Mrs. Myra Bradwell
was the first lady lawyer in that State. She is the editor of
the Chicago Legal News, which is an authority all over the
north-west. The beauty of its typographical execution is a
natural result of " the woman in printing," and the partnership
of Judge and Mrs. Bradwell in the legal professions is a refuta-
tion of some popular object to " woman out of her sphere.'
Miss Alta M. Hulett, of Chicago, who died of consumption in
California, where she went for her hea'th, was a young
lawyer of noble promise. She was admitted to the bar before
she was nineteen, and at the age of tweuty-three had attained
an enviable reputation, and a practice amounting to three
thousands dolkr3 a year. A number of youug women are
studyiug law, and Misses Perry and Martin are in successful
practice in Chicago. Of ministers there are not a few. Many
of these are licensed ; but a still larger number, recognising the
two-fold call of adaptation and success as more important than

any mere ecclesiastical permission, go forth upon their gospe
errand without official sanction. Illinois has a goodly array
of editors and journalists. Margaret Buchanan Sullivan
undoubtedly stands at the head, on accouut of her ability and
position. Sarah Hubbard is admirable as the literary and scien-
tific editor of the Chicago Tribune. Miss Annie Kerr is book
reviewer and fashion editor of the Times, and for her services
receives 2,500 dollars per year. Mrs. Virginia Fitzgerald,
news editor of the Inicr-Ocean, and for several years connected
with the New York Commercial Advertiser, is one of the be3t
trained routine newspaper workers in the city. Mrs. Derrick
is of the Post ; Charlotte Smith is editor of the Inland
Monthly ; Mrs. Rayne of Current Thoughts, and Mrs. Waite
of The Crusader. It would be impossible to enumerate the
large number of women prominent in literay work, authors of
books, literary correspondents, and the still larger class who
with steady perseverance are doing earnest work in the quiet
of home. A considerable proportion of women are engaged
in business. One of the largest photographic houses in the
West is owned and managed by a woman. Miss Ada B.
Sweet, who is barely twenty-three, is the Pension Agent at
Chicago. Since July, four agencies have been consolidated
into one, aud the disbursements amount to six hundred
thousands dollars a quarter. The Governruentjias not before
entrusted any disbursing office to a woman. Miss Sweet
ettends personally to the accounts and correspondence, aud
employs from twelve to fifteen clerks. Miss S. A. Richards,
of Chicago, has been a very successful insurance broker for
twelve years, six years in an insurance firm, and six by herself_
Miss Waite is engaged in the real estate business in Chicago. A
large number of young ladies are studyiug stenography, but
few as yet have become short-hand reporters. About twenty-
five do the work of an amanuensis, at salaries of from fifty to
a hundred dollars per month. Miss Alice C. Nute has been
engaged as shorthand Court reporter for the past two years
commanding 1,500 dollars the first year, and increased profits
this year as member of the firm of Scates and Nute. — Vic-
toria Magazine.

A NEW INDUSTRY.— A new industry, we areinformedi
has been started at Oakland, California, in which the entrails
of sheep are used in the production of what is pronounced an
exceedingly strong and durable article of belting. The process
of the manufacture is described as follows : — The entrails,
which will average about 55ft. in length, are first thoroughly
cleaned and then placed in vats of brine, where they remain
some days. When thus prepared they are not much thicker
than a piece of common cotton twine, and will sustain a weight
of about ten pounds. The next stage in process of manufac-
ture is to wind the prepared material on bobbing, after which
the process is ! he same as in making common rope. This
method is used to produce a round belt ; but where a wide,
flat belt is to be made, a loom is employed, and the five strands
are woven together, as in ribbon manufacture. The flat belts
are made of any size, and the round of sizes varying from
l-16in. up to ljin. in diameter. The round belts are made
either in the foira of a smooth cord, or as ropes with from
three to five large strands. The fin. rope is said to stand a
strain of seven tons, and is guaranteed to last ten years. Hemp
rope will last on 'an average not over three years. Three-
eights round cord, containing 150 stracds, will endure a
strain of about four tons. — Marti neau and Smiths'' Trade
Circular.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

S56

THE STALL FEEDING OF CATTLE.

At a meeting of the Blandford Farmers' Club, recently held
at Blandford, Mr. J. G. Fowler read a paper on the above
subject, as follows : —

In opening the discussion this evening I must tell you that
I have undertaken it more from a sense of daty than from the
slightest presumption to any qualification. I should certainly
mot have presumed to attempt such an undertaking, knowing
how many of our members are more capable of doing justice
to the subject than I am, had I not felt a strong desire to sup-
port the Club, feeling sure that members present would keep up a
good discussion afterwards, introducing numerous omissions of
which I shall be guilty, and I hope it will be the means of
inducing other young members of our Club to come forward
and give us their knowledge and experience on this and other
important subjects connected with agriculture in the same
spirit as I am doing. I need hardly dwell on the impoitauce
of this subject — the stall-feeding of cattle — not only to the
farmer who has the convenience for so doing, but also to the
community at large ; for, quoting from Swift, who says
" Whoever would make two ears of corn or two blades of
grass to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew
before would deserve better of mankind and do more essential
service to his country than the whole race of politicians put
together," so we, I think, may well say that he who fattens
two bullocks where only one was fattened before confers a
benefit on his country, and, we know, increases the value of
his manure. It has been thought by many that the introduc-
tion of so much American dead meat into our markets
would lower the price of our own produce ; that would be a
great benefit to the consumer, but a loss to the producer of
meat in this country, but I do not think we have yet found
H so for the best qualities. I quite endorse and agree with
a resolution passed by the Morayshire Farmers' Club a few
weeks since, after having had a discussion on " The American
Dead Meat Question:" — "That it was their opinion that the
American dead meat trade had not affected materially the
British farmer as to the price of the best British beef, but had
reduced somewhat the price of the secondary and third-rate
beef," which seem3 to show that the interests of the British
Farmer are to produce as far as can possibly bo accomplished
the very best quality of beef. I have no new principle this
evening on which to advise you to act. I shall merely give
you my own plan, hoping that in the discussion which will
follow I may be able to ascertain if the one I adopt is con-
demned or approved by those present. Now I must candidly
tell you, from the little experience that I have had, I do not
think we " hill farmers" can graze bullocks in the stall with
any great expectation of profit ; in fact, were it not for the
excellent yard manure that they make I question if we should
not find it a losing game, even after adding a percenta ge
for increased value of manure. It depends, of course, on cir-
cumstances, such as first cost, the price of their food, and
the state of the market when sold, prices depending on supply
and demand ; they can, of course, be fattened at a much less
cost on food produced from rich land than from our poor soils.
The first thing, then, necessary for stall-feeding is to have the
stall as well as the animal. The stall should be warm and
comfortable, free from draught, having conveniences for feed-
ing, with plenty oi room for the animals, that they may not

jostle and disturb each other when feeding, and if possible the
floor of the stall sufficiently raised to drain itself dry, but not
more so, the bullocks being thus more comfortable and
healthy. This is a most important point, for if the floor of
the stall be raised too much the bullocks will be far from easy,
as they prefer lying on a flat spot of ground. On the
premises 1 occupy is an excellent house for grazing, with
drains behind the bullocks, and tanks for receiving the liquid
manure, which I make a practice of pouring over my bones
aud ashes for the turnip crop of the next season, and with
good results, taking care not to use it too plentifully. Land-
owners will do well to see their tenants have good and
convenient premises, and they may be able to house and yard
their bullocks in the winter, consuming instead of spoiling
and wasting their surplus straw, so that instead of using so
much artificial manure they may be able to feed cake and com
making good farmyard manure, which, in my humble opinion,
is far better. This question of good premises is to the advan-
tage of the landlord quite as much as the tenant. When a
farm is to be let what are almost the first questions asked ?
Are the premises good or bad ? Conveniently or inconveniently
situated ? A farm is permanently improved by having good and
convenient premises erected on it. In proceeding with this
subject the next thing I have to offer to your notice is the
selection of animals for grazing ; size and aptitude to fatten
must be the great consideration, so as to produce the greatest
amount of flesh from a given quantity of food. The breeds
of cattle now found in Great Britain are almost as various
as the soils of the different districts ; each county seems to
have its own breed, which is sometimes difficult to describe,
but nevertheless suited to the soil and climate. Personally 1
prefer the Shorthorn, though many present possibly may have
a preference for the Devon or Hereford. The tendency of
the Devon to fatten is no doubt unrivalled ; the skin, not-
withstanding its curly hair, is exceedingly soft and elastic.
Graziers know there is not a more important point than this •
but the Devon [does not attain the height which some other
breeds do, but the quality stauds A 1 — just the beef for the
upper class. I think most will agree with me that the
Hereford fattens to a much greater height than the Devon.
The Hereford ox, steer, or heifer fattens quickly and at an
early age. But whatever differences of opinion may prevail
respecting the merits of our different breeds of cattle it must
be admitted the Sliorthorns possess a combination of good
qualities; t heir splendid frames and variety of colour. They
have in some instances realised for their owners and breeders
immense sums of money, asd are daily increasing in value and
request ; in fact, I consider this to be the breed to feed the
million. Sliorthorns of the right sort still command fancy
prices. Only a short time ago Mr. Henry Allsopp, M-P. ,
purchased from the Earl of Bective two Shorthcrn cows for
£7,500; he also gave £3,500 for four young Shorthorn
heifers, making a total of £11,000 for the six animals. The
Earl of Bective, too, gave, about four months sinoe, 4,003
guineas for one of Mr. Cochrane's Canadian heifers. There
is another breed, or rather crossbreed, which I should like to
mention, known as the Irish, or, as some would call them,
" the mongrel," the best of which have a good cross with
Shorthorn, and what pays better for good food than an Irish

D D

356

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

bullock P I scarcely know how we should get on i'' our supply
of Irish cattle failed. They arc purchased at our ports by
buyers from all parts of England, and in some counties it is
nearly their only supply. And what Hue carcases of beef you
see in the Islington market of this description ; This probably
is the sort of animal which you would see in my stalls were
you to favour me with a visit. I used to think that a good
three year-old steer when fat was worth at least one shilling
per score more in the market than heifers, but latterly I fancy
there is not so much difference ; a good heifer seems to sell
almost, if not quite, as well and as high. But as regards
profit I «hiuk we must look for it from the bull, which in the
generality of cases is tied up poor, and serves our heifers or
cows as the case may be, which we should consider pays for his
keep, and can be made to get fat at the same time, leaving a
profit. I will now turn your attention to the feeding of beasts
in the stall. The herdsman, if a good servant, is invaluable.
lie should be on good terms with the cattle he attends, rising
eirly and retiring late, He should find out what quantity of
food they require, taking care not to over-feed them ; it is not
go much the quantity of food which is given to a fattening
bullock that promotes the laying on of flesh as attention on
the part of the feeder. The food should be eaten rather
greedily. Should you perchance get a bullock off his feed
from being over-fed, an old and simple remedy, and one which
I have used successfully, will quickly set him right again —
namely, 6 oz. of Epsom salts, 2 oz. of sulphur, 5 oz. of ginger,
given in a little w-iter. It is sometimes necessary to use old-
fashioned remedies whilst waitiug the arrival of the veterinary
surgeon, who is often too far from the scene to be at once
available. We frequently hear and read of people feeding
their animals by weight, but I find some beasts, on account 0 f
their size, age, and breed, will eat considerably more than
o'hers ; but do not give too much at once, Utile and often is
h'.st, and, as I said before, early and late. I generally find it
necessary to house my bullocks, to be tied up, about the 20th
of October at the latest. What grass there is then left with
us has no proof in it. I first give them about three bushels
of cut turnips per day cut into finger-bits, not round thick
slices, which are likely to choke beasts. This, I know, is
rather more turnips than most people are in ths habit of
giving, and I hope it will be a poiut for discussion presently.
I believe farmers in Scotland give their cattle when fattening
them far more roots than we do in England. This s;ason,
however, unlike ourselves, they are short of roots, and the
usual number of cattle and sheep are not expected to be
fattened. Next we come to cake, of which I give three
pounds per day, mixed, half c:ttin and half liuseed, and half
a-bushel of msal per bullock per week with as much hay as I
en spare them two or three times. Oar hay on the hill has
little proof in it coaipar»d «'iHi that made by our friends in
the Vale. I may here mention that I hive the cike given by
itself and the meal shaken over the turnips. I prefer giving
eake and meal to giving all cake; the more change of food
beas's have the more they seem to me to thrive. After feed-
ing them in this way for about a month I change from cut
turnips to cut swedes, taking care of coursi that they should
be, thoroughly trimmed and ciein°.d, earth making them scour ;
then the 31b. of cake should be gradually increased to 51b. or
6!b., and again after a few weeks the half-bushel of meal into
one bushel. I have found it advantageous, in order to keep
the animals in health, to mix with their roots and their cake
a little, malt dust, also wheat -straw cut into fine chaff, or what
they will eat more greedily, barley-dust. I find my beasts

thrive considerably more when having barley-dust than when
fed on chaff. I remember when the price of wheat was so low
some three years since, I tried wheat meal instead of barley-
meal, but I did not consider the beasts did nearly as well on
the wheat as on the barley-meal. Some pigs also which I
was fattening at the time did not do at all on wheat-meal*
Towards the spring you will find it beneficial to give, if
possible, with the swedes a few mangels, but by this time
beasts should be fat or nearly so, and will not require or care
for anything like the amount of roots or hay as I have
previously named; if fed after the plan I have now specified,
by March 20th, unless below par at October 20th, you will be
able to commence selecting for the butcher. The cost of the
cake and meal which the beast will have consumed during
this time will amount to abjllt £7 per bullock ; to this must
be added the wages of the herdsman, with a boy to assist him,
and sundry otliT items, such as the value of hay, haulage of
roots, &c. I should, on the whole, estimate the total cost of
fattening to be from £0 to £10 per bullock. With regard to
giving beasts water when fattening them, of course it is
scarcely necessary where so many roots are given as I am in
the habit of doing, but when they only get three or four peck
of roots given them per day I should imagine they would
require a little water. Some people I know are in the habit
of turning their beasts loose to water every day. This may
be right, but I should prefer bringing the water to the
animal, as I always fancy it makes them a little restless and
dissatisfied turning them in and out of the stall. I think,
gentlemen, I have now said quite sufficient on introducing this
subject; the reading of a paper is secondary compared with a
good discussion, as it is merely individual ideas and experience.
In conclusion I would say, then, that I am of opiniou stall-
feeding on thin soils is of benefit to the laud, but on an
average of years leaves little immediate profit to the grazier.

EGGS AS FOOD.— Eggs of various kinds are largely used
as food for man, and it is scarcely possible to exaggerate their
value in this capacity, so simple and convenient are they in
their form, and so manifold may be their transformations.
They are exceedingly delicious, highly nutritious and easy of
digestion, and when the shell is included they may be said to
contain in themselves all that is required for the construction
of the body. It has bsen clamed for them that they may be
served in about 600 ways, although it is generally found that
the more simply they are prepared the more they are approved.
Although other eggs than those of birds are eaten, for instance,
turtles' eggs— it is generally agreed that the eggs of the
common fowl and of the plover possess the richest and sweet-
est flavour. The eggs of ducks and geese are frequently used
in cookery, but they are of too coarse a nature to be eaten
aloue. The eggs of the turkey and of the pea-hen are highly
esteemed for some purposes. The weight of an ordinary new-
laid hen's egg is from one and a half to two and a half ounces
avoirdupois, and the quantity of dry solid matter contained in
it amounts to about 200 grains. In 100 parts, about ten
patts consist of shell, sixty of white, and thirty of yolk. The
whits of the egg cont iins a larger proportion of water than
the yolk. It contains no fatty matter, but consists chiefly
of albumen in a dissolved state. Ail the fatty matter of the egg
is accumulated in the yolk, which consists relatively of a smaller
proport:on of nitrogenous matter, and a larger proportion of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

357

solid matter, than the while. Therefore, in an alimentary
point of view, the white and the yolk differ considerably from
each other, the former being mainly a simple solution of albu-
men, the latter being a solution of a modified form of albumen,
together with a quantity of fat. . . . flaw and lightly-

boiled eggs are easy of digestion. It is said that raw eggs
are more easily digested than cooked ones ; but this maybe
doubted if the (gg is not over-cooked. A hard boiled egg
presents a decided resistance, to gastric solution, and a consti-
patory action on the bowels. — CdSselTs Domestic Dictionary.

THE GRIEVANCES OF TENANT FARMERS.

At a recent meeting of the Vale of Clyde Chamber of Agri-
culture, held at the Crown Hotel, Mr. John Roberts, of Geinas,
read a paper on the above subject.

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I hope you will not ex-
pect a great deal from me on this subject, though I may now
venture to say that it is an open field for one and all of us to
discuss. I hope that what I will say will not cause, the least
offence to any landowner or other gentleman, as it is far from
my intention that it should do so, aud I would much prefer
making friends to making enemies. I am very proud to think
that we have some of the best landlords in the county as mem-
bers of our Chamber. But allow me here, sir, to ask you,
honoured chairman, Why have so few of our landlords disre-
garded the example of enrolling themselves as members of our
Chamber of Agriculture ? Much praise is due to Mr. Town-
send Main waring for the promptness with which he came
forward, not only to be a member, but also to undertake the
chairmanship of this useful Chamber. There is an old adage
that landlords and tenants ought to sail in the, same boat, and
I assure you, gentlemen, that I should not have ventured to
come forward in response to your solicitation to read a paper
on this important but somewhat delicate subject if I did not
myself live under one of the best, most liberal, and consider-
ate of landlords. Therefore I cannot s;iy that I have to suffer
all the grievances that some of my brother-farmers have to
contend with ; and the difficulty is very great to get farmers to
speak out their minds on this subject, as the landlord has his
tenant to such an extent uoder his power by those very strin-
gent clauses and conditions inserted in their agreements and
leases that he can on any day he pleases be very troublesome
to his tenant if he is so disposed. And the tenant is per-
fectly convinced that at the expiration of his lease or agree-
ment he will not get a renewal if he makes complaints and
troubles his landlord or his agent about the trespass of rabbits
wild (owl, &&, and that he is every day of his life obliged to
put up with the same ; and in my opinion it is one of the most
disheartening businesses possible for a farmer to start in life
with a capital of say £10 per acre without any security what-
soever for the continuance of his tenancy, but at the will of his
landlord. And if any disagreement occurs he receives six
months' notice to quit, and off he goes, leaving perhaps a large
proportion of his capital behind. I now ask you, gentlemen,
where is the " Agricultural Holdings Act," and how many
tenants in North Wales reap any benefit from that Act ? I am
afraid they are few, as that Act has been so loosely formed that
you could any d?.y drive through it with a coach and four, not
horses butjelephants ; but it may be argued, Why have so many
tenant farmers contracted themselves under the Act ? 1 reply
that because, if they refu-ed, they feared they might have lost
their homes and interest, and uuless tenants get better security
for their capital, Imdlords must not expect the best farming
such as will increase the value of their lands, inasmuch as
under the present state of things the tenants are absolutely at
their mercy. I will further endeavour to point out in as few
words as possible some of the grievances that tenant farmers

suffer under, and I believe that our landlords will thank me
for calling their attention to them, as most grievances are such
that they can easily rectify without in the least degree giving
up any of their own rights and privileges, and the removal of
which will to a great extent benefit their tenants. In the first
place I will call your attention to the rooks. Gentlem«n,
you will admit that we have ten times, yes, twenty times, as
many rooks in this country as are or can possibly be of any
good. We have about a score rookeries within a radius of
twelve miles to Denbigh. I admit that a limited number of
rooks are serviceable at some periods of the year to pick up
worms, grubs, &.?., but their number ought to be kept within
proper limit, and not be allowed to multiply so as to become a
nuisance and a plague, almost worse than the plague of frogs
in Egypt of olden ttmes. I believe I am not exaggerating iu
s&jiug that I myself have seen as mtny as 30,000 on one grass
field between Denbigh audS1'. Asaph. Again, though perhaps
in a smaller degree, the starlings are becoming rapidly a great
pest ; daring my own lifetime they as well as the rooks have
multiplied in this country fifty fold. Thirdly, I shall call your
attention to what I consider the greatest plague and pest we
have in this country, namely, the wood pigeons. I don't know of
anything more destructive to our crops, especially on our tur-
nips, cabbages, young seeds, clovers, and indeed all the green
food we have on our farms during the winter months, and es-
pecially on our peas and beans, and all our crops during a
month or two immediately before harvest. I think you will
all agree with me when I say that we have enough crows and
wood-pigeons in this country to eat up every ear of corn and
every pod of beaus and peas that we grow, were they allowed
to do so. And you must remember, gentlemen, that
these pests will not eat grubs and worms if they can
get corn, and I can confidently say that owing to our
having been obliged to sow a peck and a half or a
bushel more seed per acre than is necessary, and having to
pay men to scare these birds — for no boys are no* to be had,
as the School Boards take all the lads — and the loss we suffer
at harvest time, as well as the destruction of our clovers, tur-
nips, mangels, and cabbages, that our losses are reasonably
estimated at six shillings per acre over the whole of our farms.
Now gentlemen who are really responsible parties for the over-
preservation of these pests? To [speak plainly, I must say
that the responsibility rests with the landlords and their keepers
That they can be very easily destroyed from my o* n experi-
ence I can prove, for when I lived at Kelston, my lads, on a
holiday, in one day collected, in a wood near the house, over
one hundred young wood pigeons in a very short time, but
now, of course no one dare go into the covers for fear of the
keepers, and I am certain] if ail the keepers were to take them
in hand that they could destroy them in two seasons. We
all kuow that the keepers have plenty of spare time, to do it.
I shall say no more on this subject. I hope and trust what
I have already said will be the means of enlightening our
landlords to this very great g.ievauce. Now I come to what
is, perhaps, a more ticklish question, namely, the rabbit qvtes-

D D 3

358

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tion. By all means let the landlords exercise their legal rights
in a reasonable manner, but I myself cannot see that he has a
right to preserve and feed rabbits as a source of profit, on his
tenant's lands, seeing that he lets his farms to such tenants
to cultivate at what is supposed a fair rent, and to put in his
agreement those stringent clauses that his tenant is to pre"
serve rabbits and wild fowl, and to do the utmost in his
power to keep away all poachers. I am no friend of
poachers and not one shall ever come on my farm if I
can help it, for I always class the poachers and thieves to-
gether. I must say that it is hard times for respectable
tenants to be subjected to the espionage and, indeed, inso-
lence of keepers, who have often themselves been great
poachers, and who, I suppose, are selected on the principle of
" Set a thief to catch a thief." Very often these men are
placed above us, the tenants, and are armed with the powers
of petty inquisitors, and when their employers are from home
euconrage poaching by inviting their own friends to come for
a day of rabbit shooting over our lands — aud oh, what griev-
ance to the tenant ! In many cases however, I am glad to
say, the landlords are very careful in the selection of their
men, but I ana surry to say that a system has lately arisen
among some of our landlords of subletting the shooting to
others — some rich men from Liverpool, Manchester, or other
large towns — who is not careful of the tenants' fences or in
the selection of his keepers, and only cares to make his shoot-
ing pay. The evil of our game preservation is thus magnified
ten- fold more, two tenants for the same land— one a farming
tenant by the landlord, and the other a sporting tenant. The
first may farm his land on the most approved system of farmiug;
he saves no expense, and tries to grow two blades where only
one grew at his father's time. Oh I what a contrast between
the two tenants — one trying to grow as much corn and grass
as he can, and the other preserving as many rabbits as he pos-
sibly can to devour the other tenant's crops. If rabbit farm-
ing would pay best, why can't we tenants take our farms for
that purpose if we choose ? I venture to tell you that these
sporting tenants expect the rabbits to pay the rent of the
sporting ground, and also the wages of the keepers and
watchers, aud all other expenses to get their sport free, j
think it is not too much for us to ask our landlords, if they do
not shoot over our farms themselves, to let, or at least give
us, the offer of shooting for ourselves. In these cases the

landlord or his keepers or the sporting tenant pockets the
money, and has no sympathy whatsoever with the farmer who
suffers these vermin to eat and destroy his crops. These are
not the old race of sporting gentlemen, but they combine busi
ness with pleasure,and are the chief dealers in the market with
the poulterers and game dealers, and the tenant has no redress
of any kind from either party, and then he falls into a system
of from hand-to-mouth style of farming, which is the curse
of agriculture in North Wales, aud everywhere else where this
system is carried out. When I was young and beginning to
farm, the old sporting landlords would have considered it very
far beneath their dignity to let parts of their estates to strang-
ers to sport over in this manner and I consider the state of the
present time, as far as agriculture iscoucerned, is most serious
when we all know it is ouly by the greatest, energy, enterprise
and skill that the farmer can meet the rent, tithe, high rates,
and taxes which he has to pay. It does appear to me mon-
strous that the seed he commits to the ground, and his grow-
ing crops, on which his whole existence depends, should be
devoured in open daylight before his eyes without his having
the slightest, power to destroy these vermin, and without any
redress whatsoever for the damage which they do. Good and
profitable farming is entirely imcompatible and impossible
with the excessive preservation of rabbits and wild fowl. Gen-
tlemen, I shall not occupy more of vour time. I hope.l have
succeeded in calling your attention to one of the most serious
questions affecting agriculture in the present day. I hope
the landlords will take my remarks in as good part as they
are offered. The tenant-farmers of this country are very faith-
ful, and Welshmen are always notoriously loyal, both to their
Sovereign, and in all authority over them, and are very loyal
to their landlords, and are only too glad to see them get good
sport with the pheasants and patridges when they shoot over
their farms. In returuj am not asking you as a Chamber too
much in requesting you to join together in memorialising our
landlords to give such instructions to their keepers as will in
a very few years destroy nineteen-twentieths of those fowls and
other vermin that do so much injury to a very industrious
and persevering class of men, and by so doing make their ten-
ants more enterprising, more loyal, and more faithful than
they are at present, when both landlord and tenant will really
be sailing in the same boat and thus benefit in a ranch greater
degree than at present the whole community.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

BANBURY DISTRICT.

At a recent meeting of the above Chamber, held in the
Couucil Chamber, the Highways Bill was discussed, and the
following resolution was agreed to : —

" That, in the opinion of this Chamber, the provisions of
the Government Highways Bill do not provide that relief from
the heavy burdens thrown upon ratepayers by the abolition o'
the toll-gates which they hoped for, the charge of maintaining
the whole of the roads being thrown, as now, upon one kind of
property only. That the effects of the burden complained of
might be practically remedied by handing over to the County
Boards the carriage tax, as now collected, to be added to the
county road fund. That it is improbable that County Boards
in purely agricultural counties would apply the power given
them in Clause 14 of the County Government Bill to erect

new toll-gates and levy tolls on roads much used, and as the
fees arising from the power of such County Boards (see Clause
~1 oH'he Hghway Bill (would produce ouly a small amount,
it is desirable that County Boards should have power by bye-
law, to grant licenses for the use, on the roads, of other
vehicles than those already taxed, and the amount so collected
to be paid to the county road fund."

On the Cattle Disease question this motion was carried :—
" That the thanks of this Chamber are due to the Govern-
ment for having brought in the Contagious Diseases Animals
Bill, and further that this meeting approves of the suggestion*
made by the joint Committee of the Farmers' Club and the
Central Chamber, as mentioned in their Report of the 28th of
February."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

559

BRECON SHIRE.

At the last meeting of this Chamber the Con-
tagious Diseases (Auiinals) Bill was discussed, aud the
following resolution was agreed to: — " That this Chamber
approves generally of the Contagious Diseases (Auiinals) Bill,
but considers the amendments of the joint committee of the
Farmers' Club and of the Council of the Central and Asso-
ciated Chambers of Agriculture are desirable. With regard
to the fifth clause of the fourth schedule of Clause 30 this
Chamber thinks it is desirable that no animal should be
moved out of the quarantine station before the expiration of
not less than fifty-six days, iustead of fourteen days, as pro.
vided in the Bill."

CORNWALL.

THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BILL.

At a recent meeting of the member* of the Cornwall
Chamber of Agriculture, held in the Assembly-rooms, St.
Austell, to discuss the County Government Bill.

The Rev. A. Lawrence moved that the Board should con-
sist of two-thirds guardians and one-third magistrates, and to
be appointed for not less than three years.

Mr. N. Stephens moved that the whole Board be elected
by the guardians, and this was carried by a majority of four.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The Contagions Diseases (Animals) Bill was discussed at a
meeting of this Chamber, held recently at Gloucester
and the following resolution was passed : —

"That this Chamber while regretting that the Government
are unable to carry out the recommendations of the Select
Committee of the House of Commons last session in respect of
cattle from Russia and Germany, cordially approve the pro-
visions of the Bill no^ before Parliament brought in by the
Lord President."

On the question of " Highway Legislation," subsequently
debated, these resolutions were agreed to : —

1. " That power be given to the owners to close roadswhich
are pronounced by the county authority to have ceased to be
of public utility, and for which no contribution is to be
allowed out of the rates."

2. " That the County Board be empowered to order the
closing to the public of any road they think fit, subject to
such conditions and reservations as they think necessary."

SWINDON.

At a recent meeting of this Chamber, Mr. Pinni-
ger read a paper on " The Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Bill," aud the following resolution was passed after a discus-
sion had taken place : —

" That this Chamber approves generally of the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Bill, and is of opinion that che clause pro-
viding for the slaughter of foreign fat cattle at the port of de-
barkation, and the quarantine of foreign store cattle, must be
insisted upou if the Bill is to afford effectual protection to the
agricultural community, and at the same time benefit the
consumer."

WORCESTERSHIRE.

A meeting of the Council of this Chamber was held
recently, when some conversation on the Highways Bill
took place, and the following resolution was carried: "That

this Chamber feels disappointed that no relief is given t
the ratepayers in rural parishes by the Government Highwa
Bill, which might have been provided by subventions from the
Consolidated Fund, or by the application of taxes en oarriages,
&c, locally collected."

THE PETERBOROUGH STALLION SHOW.

This meeting, which is held in anticipation of the an.
nual show of the Society in July, took place recently
There was a capital show of horses. In tiie class for
stallions of any age Mr. S. Wilson, Wing's End, Wis-
beach, took the prize with England's Glory, a capital
dark-grey horse, with immense quarters in a compact
compass. This horse was subsequently awarded the So-
ciety's Champion prize for the best horso in all the
classes. Upou this decision, however, opinion was
divided among the spectators, as Mr. Kemp's Young
Britain, a fine three-year-old horse, with finely-developed
aud symmetrical quarters, combined with great activity,
and general good appearance, particularly in regard to his
fine masculine head and neck, was a great favourite.
Mr. Little's Marquis, four-years-okl, a very big horse,
but wanting in the symmetrical proportions of a prize
horse, was H. C. aud entered as the reserve number in
the event of the prize horse not qualifying. This quali-
fication, we may as well remark here, consists iu the con-
dition that each prize horse shall travel one day in the
week within the area of the Society's ground, which is a
radius of 30 miles around Peterborough. Mr. Walter
Kemp's Young Britain was first in the three-year-olds, as
we have indicated ; but in this class no reserve number
was nominated, as there was not sufficient merit ; so the
qualifying in this case is left open, and should it not
ensue, the award will lapse. The two-year-olds were a
splendid class ; they were all good in appearance. The
judges had accordingly a difficult taskto perform. The
first favourite walked well, but on putting him into a
trot, from some unaccouutable cause, he went "dead" lame.
This let in a very handsome young grey horse, Roy alGeorge,
sent by Mr. Tibbett, Doddington. Messrs. G. & T Neale's
very handsome and powerful bay, Royal Oak, was placed
as the reserve number. Iu the yearlings Mr. J.
Rowell's black colt, England's Glory, was an extra-
ordinary yousg animal. He had the apoearauce of a
three-year-old all over. If the horses that were at Peter-
borough on Saturday go again a year or two hence
this colt will probably hold hi3 own against any or all of
them; for it seems that <rrc it size and draught power
with fair symmetry very properly carry more weight now-
adays than less working capacity with more beauty. No
reserve number was named in this class. The thorouschw
breds and roadsters were only of local interest. The
judges were : — Thoroughbreds and roadsters : Mr. Lucas
Foster, Irthlingboro', Higham^Ferrers ; Mr. James
Harrison, Wansford. Cart-horses : Mr. F. Street,
Somersham Park, Hunts ; Mr. C. Marstcrs, Saddlebow,
Lynn ; Mr. John II. Plowright, Pinchbeck, Spalding.

JGO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FREE TRADE IN
No. V.

LAND.

" The following is Mr. Kay's fifth letter to the Manchester
Examiner : —

In No. IV., published on the 14th Feb. (31.L.E. March 18th),
I endeavoured to slate as simply ami calmly as I could some of
the consequences of the deeds and wills which bind an estite
lor so many years. I tried to show that —

1. They prevent estates being sold which would otherwise
come into the market.

2. They lessen due parental control.

3. They induce careless landowners to be tenfold more care-
less than they otherwise would be about the education of their
children.

4. They maintain in influential positions men unworthy o^
those positions.

5. They deprive many landowners of the means of properly
managing their estates.

6. They tend very greatly to retard the progress of agricul-
tural improvement.

In the present letter I propose to continue the consideration
of the consequences of these deeds and wills.

7. Tie power which our law gives to the landowners to
direct not only the succession to, but the management of, the
]and for so great a mi nber of years after their death renders
it necessary in preparing these deeds and wills tj raike them
very long and expensive. In them the landowner provides for
many circumstances and contingencies which may happen
during all the many years during which the deed or will con-
tinues ia force. For afer the deed is once made, or, in the
case of a will, after the death of the owner who made it, no
alteration or addition to meet new or overlooked contingencies
can be made, It is necessary, therefore, in framing thsse deeds
or wills to introduce numerous lengthy and ca-efully worded
provisions to meet all kinds of possible events which may hap-
pen after the maker's death. The obscurity that this some-
times— nay, often — introduces into these deed* or wills is
scarcely credible. It is no uncommon thing for them to be
laid before two or three of the ablest counsel, and for ea".h of
these learned gentlemen to give a different interpretation of
their meaning. Nothing then remains to the unfortunate
victim of this perplexity but to resort to litigition and to seek
the interpretation of the Courts, and very fortunate may he
count himself if he finds the judges themselves agreeing as to
the meaning of ths words. I have known cases where such
litigation has gone on for years and years ; and I knew one
such case where, the entire value of the estate having been
absorbed in the costs of the litigation, the only struggle which
remained was which firm of solicitors was entitled to the estate
in repayment of their costs.

8. This system of deeds, wills, long leases, and mortgages,
.all of which may bind the land for many years after they are
made, renders it often very difficult and very expensive for a
purchaser, even when he can fin 1 a small plot of laud for sale, to
ascertain what the real sta'e. of the title to suc'i property is.
It is often affected by so many ancient deeds, wilh, mortgages
and leases — these are often scattered in so many hands — it is
often so difficult to find out whether all the persons entitled
under the various deeds and wills are dead, or whether their

title to the property is extinguished, there being no registra-
tion office here, as in many foreign countries, where a pur-
chaser can ascertain at a glance from tlio registration book
every deed which affects the laud— that the mere inquiry into
the title of a small plot of land aud the legal expenses atten-
dant thereou are often quite sufficient to deter a man who is
not rich from venturing to agree to buy a plot of had which
he would otherwise have been glad to purchase. And such is
the confusion that sometimes exists that the examination into
the title of a small farm of five or six acres may be quite as
difficult and expensive, if not more so, than the examination
into the title of an estate of many hundreds. So lately as the
month of December, 1877, a po;r nun who purchased three
acres of glt-be land and £1 3 per annum of tithe rent charge
had to pay £117 9s. 2d. for the more legal expenses attending
the cxim'nation of the title and the deed conveying them to
him.

Of course, where an estate has been laid out for sale in
building plots, aud the title has been investigated once for ell,
and a proper statement of it prepared fur the use of all pur-
chasers ; or where an estate has been for genera' ions in one
family and has not beeu encumbered or affected by many deeds
or transactions, it may well happen, as I see stated in your
columns, that a fortunate purchaser may invest much money
in land, and yet have comparatively little to pay to the lawyers.
But a man must know little or nothing of the subject if he
supposes this to be the case with respect to the majority of
sales in the agricultural districts. There the legal expeuses
are often enough to deter a prudent man who wishes to pur-
chase a small plot of land.

But even when all this trouble has been taken, aud when
all this expense has been incurred, there is in very many cases
no absolute certainty that there is no flaw in the purchaser's
title, or that no undiscovered charge may be spruug upon him.
Such a thing is impossible in many foreign countries, because
there, before any deed or will or mortgage cai be rendered
binding or valid a short account of it must be written out
npoa the pa^e of the public registration book, which relates
to the particular piece of land. And if, when a man buys
land and gets his deed of purchase entered in the registration
book a farmer deed h;s been made but uot entered on the page
of the registry beok it will not affect the subsequent purchase
in any way, or be of any valility as against such purchase.
But it is not so here. If the vendor of land is a rogue there
is often no perfect security for the purchaser that he has dis-
covered all the prior charges upon the property.

As an ins'auce, I may mention what happened to a friend
0f mine. II 'purchased a small estate in the South of England.
Before purchasing, he made his solicitor institute a most mi-
nute search into the state of the title. He was informed that
he might safely complete the purchase, and that there was no
charge upon the property except those of which he was aware.
The purchase money was accordingly paid down. The former
proprietor executed the deed of conveyance, and my friend
thought he was safe. The former proprietor was insolvent
and left the country. A short time afterwards my friend was
informed that the estate he had purchased was mortgaged in

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301

£1,200 to another person, who produced the mortgage deed
and claimed the money due to him from the estate and my
friend was obliged to pay. In many foreign countries the
mere Icg'al formalities attendaut on the transfer of a plot of
land are very simple, certain, and inexpensive. It is quite as
simple as the transfer of a ship, or as the effecting of an in-
surance on a house, is with us. There is no need for a long,
costly, aud uncertain search into the title. The buyer has only
to go and look at a page of the registry book to liud out every-
thing about the title. There is no need for a long,uuintelligible>
and costly deed of conveyance, because such a deed would be
utterly useless, neither the seller nor the buyer being able to
tie up the estate for future years, and therefore having no
need and no power to swell the deed with provisions for all
sorts of possible future contingencies. A short, simple do-
cument costing a few shillings, settles the matter between
buyer aud seller. A copy of it is entered in the registration
baok, aud the whole matter is completed, and what is equally
'mportant, completed with perfect security for the rights of the
purchaser.

9. The benefits actually realised in South Australia from such
a system of registration are thus described by Sir Robert Tor-
rens the author of the measure, iu a work published by him,
and entitled " The South Australian System of Registration of
Title":—

" 1. Titles being indefeasible, proprietors may invest ca-
pital iu land, secure against risk of deprivation and the no less
harassing contingencies of a Chancery suit ; mortgagees having
also no further occasion to look to validity of title may con-
fine their attention to the adequacy of the security. 2. A
saving amounting on the average to 90 per ceut., or ISs. in
the pound sterling, has been effected iu the cost of transfers
and other dealings, irrespective of the contingent liability to
further expenses resulting from suits at law and in equity*
the grouuds of which are cut off by the alteration of tenure.
3. The procedure is so simple as to readily comprehended, so
that men of ordinary education may transact their own busi-
ness. 4. Dealings in laud are transacted as expeditiously as deal-
ings in merchandise or cattle, fifteen minutes being the aver-
age time occupied in filling up the form and completing a
transaction."

10. But let us proceed with the enumeration of the conse-
quences of these land laws. I have shown how they cause the
land more and more to accumulate iu fewer and fewer hands
aud on ever-increasing estates. 1 have shown that even ad-
vocates of the present system, like Mr. Froude, admit this. I
have shown how, for many years, they have been tending gra-
dually but steadily to absorb all the small yoeman freehold es-
tates on the great properties, and that even Lord Derby is
compelled to admit this. This has gone on until the old race
of small yoeman freeholders, who only a few years ago were
to be found all over our islands, has almost entirely disap-
peared. By doing this these laws have deprived the small
farmers, the shopkeepers, and all our vast number of peasants
of almost every chance of acquiring land, even in the smallest
portions, except small building plots in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of towns. These laws also promote more and more a
system of large leasehold farras,and lessen year by year the num-
ber of the smaller leasehold farms. They thus year by yearsepa.
rate the large peasant class more and more from the land aud
from the next step in the social scale. They render it more and
more hopeless for a peasant either to acquire land or even to
rent a small farm. They thus deprive him of all strong mo-

tives to exercise exertion, aelf-denial.or economy. They make
his future hopeless and condemn him to poverty. Take the
case of a young Norfolk peasant. The village school is often
only one conducted by a poor uncertificated woman teacher,
lie leaves this school at nine or ten years of age to add to the
small earnings of the family. He lives in the small crowded
cottage of his parents. At 21 years of agB he may earn 12
or 14 shillings a week; to hire a cottage for himself is most
difficult, for the number of cottages is kept as small as possi-
ble by the landowners, so as to avoid any surplus poor popu-
lation settling on their estates or near their mansions. Has
such a peasant by any number of years' prudeuee, saving, or
self-deuial any chance of buying or building a cottage, or of
buying a small plot of garden ground, or the smallest farm ?
The very supposition is ridiculous, from the utter impossibi-
lity of his doing anything of the sort. Can he obtain a cot-
tage and garden on lease? Certainly not. Must he, then,
remain a poor peasant all his days? He must, uniess he can
persuade some charitable person to enable him to emigratc,and
unless he can tear himself away from his relations and all
his old associations for ever. What has he to look forward to
in his old age ? Nothing but the workhouse if he is rendered
too ill or feeble to work and his children cannot support him.
Can this be considered a healthy or sound condition to which
to have reduced thennmerous peasantry of the Three Kingdoms ?
And all for what ? Solely to support in enormous wealth and
luxury a very small class of landowners.

It is difficult to make English readers who have no',
travelled understand how strangely different is the condition of
the small farmers and peasants in the greater part of Western
Europe. Throughout the Republics of Switzerland and France
the great empire of Germany, and the kiugdo tM of Italy, Hol-
land, and Belgium, the laws restricting the sale of land having
been abolished, at various periods sdnce the great French
Revola'iou of 1739, the land has been subdivided into est\tes
of all sizes — from the garden of a quarter of an acre, or the
small farm of three or five acres, to the larger estate of thou-
sands of acres. The consequence is that a small farmer, or a
small shopkeeper, or a peasant, if prudent, economical, and
industrious, may always look forward to the time when he may
buy his owu freehold, and start as an independent owner.
Blillions of small owners are to be found throughout the length
aud breadth of these conntries. Aid how different, how
strangely different, is their candition to that of our own depen-
dent and hopeless peasantry. I remember the case of an
educated, respeciable German peasant. I spent several autumni
n the villag'3 where he lived. Wh?n I fust went therein
was engaged to be married, and he was hard at work — at
peasant's work — during the day and at some handiwork in the
evenings, earning and saving with the intention of buying apiece
of laud and building his own cottage-house upon it, and he was
delajiug his marriage until he aud his betrothed could accom-
plish this. At my last visit to his village, some four or five
years siuce, he told us with pride that be had bought his laud,
bnilt his house, and married, and that he was doing well.
Such a history in England would be impossible.

11. But many and great as are the evils which this system
of land laws causes in Great Britain these evils are very
seriously aggravated in Ireland by the additional curse of ab-
senteeism. I showed in No. I that about one-half of the
whole of Ireland — i.e., one-half of 20,159,678 acres — wag
owned by on'y Til persons, and that two thirds of this vast
extent of land was owned by only 1,912 persons.

362

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

But, in addition to the fact that the greatest part of Ireland
is thus monopolised by so small a number of persons, an evil
as I think of vast magnitude, a great part of these Irish land-
owners do not live in Ireland, but in London, or on English
estates, or in foreign capitals. Their rents are collected by
agents in Ireland and are sent to England or abroad, to be
spent among strangers and to enrich them, instead of being
spent among their own tenants, farmers, schools, charities, anp
tradespeople to eniich them. This absenteeism deprives the
Irish people of the only compensation which renders the system
of land laws which produces these great estates excusable —
viz., the presence and the active good influence of a respectable
resident landlord. Such a man ought to be, and is supposed
in theory to be, the friend and eomforter of his poor tenantry,
the person to whom they can apply in need and in difficulty,
their adviser and protector, the encourager of all the local
charities and schools, the kindly entertainer of his neighbour-
hood, the magistrate who is ready to advise in local difficulties,
the general centre of the district. If he is not this, what is he
but the man who takes the larger share of products of the
earth, raised by the labour of others — a burden in fact, which
the cultivators of the soil must support without return ? But
worse than all this, the absence of these men throws the far-
mers and labourers of Ireland into the hands of agents, who
manage for the absent owners. How is it possible that these
agents can feel the same interest in the tenantry, with whom
their principal duty is that of extracliug rents and of rigorously
exacting the performance of the stipulated duties? The
natural tendency of the agent's work is to render him hard and
exacting. The temptation of his work is to be much more than
this, for his own ends and gain ; and what remedy, what
effective remedy, has the poor tenant, with the landlord at a
great distance and the agent with great powers close at home ?

Does an agent support the schools and religious ministers ?
Does an agent encourage and support the local charities ?
Does an agent perform the hospitalities of the hall ? Does an
agent sit on the bench and watch over the interests of the
neighbourhood ? Is an agent free to intervene without
a slow and olten forgotten application to the owner in
sudden casps of distress ? Does an agent interest himself in
the thousand and one works of charity and good which a good
landlord looks on as his simple dn'ies ? Is it not perfectly
well-known that in an agent-ridden couutry like Ireland, with
the owners separated by the sea, the contrary of all this is
generally the case? All this lias been most keeuly felt for
many generations in Ireland. O'Connell raised his powerful
voice against it. The leaders of the Irish people cry our
against it now earnestly and vehemently. But there is not
the slightest possibility of applyiug a remedy to this evil, ey
cept by repealing the laws which have produced it as one ol
the many bad consequences of our Land Laws.

Mr. Drummond, the Under-Secretary of Ireland, wrote to
the Irish magistracy those now celebrated words, " property
has its daties as well as its rights ;" but it seems to me that
the Irish absentee landowners forget their duties almost en-
tirely, while they are only too keen in the enforcement^ their
rights : and yet we English are surprised and indignant that
when we and our laws have produced this state of things in
Ireland — viz., an absentee class of landowners in a country
two-thirds of whose 20,159,678 acres are held by only 1,942
persons in this 1878— the Irish people should be discontented
and disaffected.

In my next letter I hope to explain some of the indirec
consequences of these land-laws,
I have the honour to be, sir your obedient servant,

Joseph Kai,
Fredley, Dorking, Surrey, Feb. 23.

ARE RABBITS "VERMIN?"

Some months ago Nathaniel Goslin, Excise officer, Annan
Dumfries-shire, charged Walter Brown, son of Robert Brown
tenant of Hilihead Farm, in that neighbourhood, for an alleged
offence under the Gun License Act. The case was raised be-
fore the local Justice of Peace Court. It appeared that the
farmer held a gun license, which entitled him to scare bird*
aud kill vermin, and to delegate one person to do this. He
accordingly employed his son for this purpose. The son held
no gun license, but was working with his father's. He killed
one rabbit and shot, at another, whereupon the officer of Ex-
cise raised the complaint of a contravention of the Gun License
Act. It was contended before the local court that the farmer's
sou was entitled to do what he did, seeing that rabbits are not
game to the tenant of a farm, and that, under the exemptions
in the Act in question a farmer having a gun license could
'nstiuct any one person to scare birds and kill vermin. So far
as t lie tenant farmer was concerned, it was urged that
rabbits were vermin unless they were specially reserved
to the proprietor in the lease. The local justices, taking this
view of the case, dismissed it. An appeal was ttaken to the
quarter sessions of the county. That body also dismissed the
case.

The quarter sessions, however, granted a case to the Court
of Session on the application of the Excise officer. Two
questions were laid before the superior court for judgment :
1. Whether, within the meaning of this exemption in the
Act, rabbits were vermin? 2. Whether the conclusion at which
the justices arrived was a question of law and not of fact;
and whether the fact that the respondent had killed a
rabbit was uot in itself sufficient ground on which the justices
should have found that he was carrying a gun for a purpose
other thau that in the exception of scaring birds and killing
vermin.

The Lord Justice Clerk (Mouerieff), giving judgment, held
that the justices were entitled to give the deliverauce they did
on the question of fact presented to them. True, the justices
did not explain the grounds on which they based their decision
but that would not warrant the court in overturning their
decision. Even assuming that rabbits were not vermin, his
lordship was not prepared to say that the mere fact of the far-
mer's sou having killed one rabbit and shot at another was
proof that he was carrying a gun for some other purpose than
that of scaring birds and killing vermin. His lordship was
clearly of opinion that the farmer and his sou were clearly
within the Act in doing what they did. It must be said he
kept in mind that, though the son was charged, it was really
the father in reality sued. The farmer had a right of killing
rabbits at conmou law because they were noxious and des-
tructive animals. The Excise, however, asked the court to decide
that there was one class of animals — viz., rabbits — to kill which
the tenant was not entitled to ask his son or servant to kill in
virtue of his own gun licence. The contention of the Excise
was that, in order to shoot those animals, the farmer must not
only have a gun license himself, but one for every party he

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363

might authorise to act for him. Ilia lordship held that that
was contrary to the piain object aud meaning of the legislature,
and that for the purposes of the exemption ingestion rabbits
were vermin.

Lord Gifford agreed with the Lord Justice Clerk, holding
that on the farm rabbits were just as much vermin as rats
were.

Lord Orruidale, the other judge on the, bench, dissented from
the finding of the court, lie did not think that rabbits were
vermin within the meaning of this exemption, nor could he sup-
port the justices' decision as a point of fact. By shooting one
rabbit and killing another, he In-U that the farmer's son did
more than he was entitled to do under the exemption.

By a majority, however, the court of sessions dismissed the
case. — Field.

THE LAND AiN D THE PEOPLE.

[From The Echo.)
No. III.— EXCEPTIONAL 11LGII FARMING.

In my last article I left unanswered the questiou how it is
that, if in exceptioual instances double the ordinary returns are
obtained from the land under our existing system of lanj
tenure such great results canuot be secured in all cases, excep
on game farms. Well, in most of the instances in which ex-
ceptional returns are obtained there is exceptional security for
the tenants' capital in one form or other. Some of the best
farming in England is to be seen in Lincolnshire, where a
system of compensation to tenants for their unexhausted im-
provements has existed for two or three generations, to the
great advantage of landlords, tenants, aud. labourers alike.
On some estates, again, as on that of the Earl of Leicester ia
Norfolk security more or less satisfactory is given to the
tenants by means of a long lease, which is commonly renewed
four years previous to its termination. In those parts of Scot-
laud where the highest farming is prevalent, leases of nineteen
years' duration are the rule. In other cases, the farmers who
cultivate their land and produce meat on an unusually liberal
scale are owners as well as occupiers. Lastly, there are a few
tenants who, at a great risk, farm well in spite of their utter
lack of real security. They are like gamblers, risking their
money, with the "odds" in their favour perhaps, but still
exposed to the constant danger of heavy loss or even. ruin.
Thus, in spite of our bad system of land tenure, one farmer in
fifty, perhaps, is, or fancies himself to be, in a position to im-
prove the laud which he occupies, so as to obtain from it what
we now regard as a maximum of produce. I say " or faucies
himself to be" because every now and then there is a terrible
warning to tenants who invest capital largely on insufficient
security, and such warnings effectually hinder the majority of
farmers from following a dangerous example. During the
past year there was an alarming exposure of wholesale farming
failures in the Lothians, the garden of Scotland. These
tenants, on the partial security of long leases, had invested
capital freely. Bad seasons came, the capital of the tenants
became exhausted, and they had to go out ruined men, leaving
their unexhausted improvements for the benefit of their land-
lords. Similar disasters often occur in Eugland, though they
are not usually made public, as ruiued men do not care for the
publication of their losses. I shall have more to say about
the insufficiency of leases, and the partial security upon which
exceptional high farming tenants often rely, when I come to
treat of the prevalent low-farming of the country. Remem-
bering the sub-title of this article, I must say something more
about exceptioual high-farmiug, for the present leaving the
question of insufficient security with the remark that, apart
from ownership or tenant-right, there is no sufficient incen-
tive or safeguard to tenants for the utmost development of the

resources of the land ; and that as long as tiiis is the case the
instances of double-produce farming will be few and far
between.

Lord Derby is commonly credited with the statement that
the land of this country might yield double its present pro-
duce; but I believe that in saying that, the noble lord only
endorsed what had previously been said by the Earl of Lei-
cester. Addressing a meeting of Norfolk farmers about seven
years ago the Earl said : — " Since I last met you I have tra-
velled through much of England, aud part of Scotland, and
taking into consideration the whole of the land I have seen
under cultivation, I think I may safely state that the produce
might be nearly doubled under a more perfect system of agri-
culture." Lord Derby left out the word " nearly " in his es.
timate, if he has been correctly quoted, and I think he was
fully justified in doing so.

In a paper on " Farm Tenancies," rem.l before the Social
Science Congress in 1873, Mr. James Ilowa: 1 of Bedford
commenting on the Earl of Leicester's estimate, suid:—
" Knowing as I do the greater part of the agricultural districts
of England and Scotland, without concurring lo the full ex-
tent in the opinions expressed by the noble Lord, I am sa-
tisfied that our productions ;:re susceptible of prodigious in-
crease. If we estimate the possible increase at only one-third
our fields and homesteads would yield more than they do by
£100,000,000 a year." Mr. Howard then proceeded to give
some instances in which the production of meat alone exceeded
in value that of the total ordiuary produce of the land per
acre. He said :

" To show what can be done in the production of meat by
farmers of capital, I may instance the fact that a leading far-
mer in this county of Norfolk, who is in enjoyment of security
of tenure, realised in the past two years by the sale of beef,
mutton and pork, no less a sum than £10,000, which was an
average of from £15 to £16 per acre of his occupation. De-
ducting from this sum £28,000 worth of animals bought ini
there remains a nett meat production of about £5 per acre ;
and this is by no means au uncommon instance. Upon my
own farms, aud npou those of my brother, Mr. Charles Ho-
ward, Biddenham, about the same amount is raised ; and some
farmers I have corresponded with exceed even this rate of pro-
duction. A farmer in the adjoining county of Suffolk, who
aiso enjoys security of tenure, informs me that his nett sale of
meat reaches £7 per acre per annum. Were the whole coun-
try brought up to the standard of the Norfolk farm I have
named, the produce of meat alone in Great Britain, to 3ay no-
1 thingoflreland.would amount to £150,000,000 to £160,000,000

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

a year, a quantity which, if the population could buy, it would j the practised eye, however, an inspection of the fields, the

find no difficulty iu consuming."

Mr. Mechi on:e estimated that a labourer who fattens a pig
on an eighth of an acre of ground 'produces meat at the rate
of 32 score pounds per acre, and he said that on his own farm
he seldom made less than from 10 to 13 score per acre in the
year, whereas the average produce of the country was less than
one score per acre. Now, we know that where such large
quantities of meat are produced, the yield of corn is also very
much beyond the average, so that the total returns in such
cases are considerably more than double the average returns
of the country. Successful farmers are naturally chary of
publishing the results of their enterprise, because if they are
tenants they will have a constant fear of a rise of rent before
them. Consequently, it is not possible to quote the precise
returns obtaieed from land, except in very rare instances, To

fold, and the cattle-sheds is sufficient, and a sufficiently near
estimate of the produce of one farm compared with that of
another can thus be arrived at. It is well known too that in
some parts of Scotland, especially where potatoes are exten-
sively grown, the returns are considerably more than double
the estimated average returns per acre of the whole of the
United Kingdom.

But, allowing for exceptional districts and scattered farms,
which are like little gardens in a desert, the instances of sa-
tisfactory farming are very few. Next week I shall show
more fully than I have yet done why they are so rare, and why
the make-shifts for a just system of legal security for tenant's
capital to which I have alluded are very poor make-shifts after
all. A Free Farmer.

THE HOME AND FOREIGN MEAT SUPPLY.

The following is an extract from a paper read by
Captain Delf, at the last meeting of the Essex
Chamber.

It must be well known to all interested iu the subject that
there were stringent restrictions on the importation of live
stock which might be attributable to the outbreak of cattle
plague during 1877. There was a considerable diminution
in the quantity of meat imported in live form, owing partly
to these restrictions, and partly to fresh channels for the
surplus stock on the Contiuent. The main question which
consumers have to consider is this, Did the diminution of im-
portation in any way interfere with their interest? In com-
parison with previous years, consumers have been gainers
rather than losers, as I shall endeavour to show, and it is so
far satisfactory that the deficiency in the imports of live stock
from abroad for 1877 have been more than made good by the
increase in the importation of dead meat. Mr. Pease, Mem-
ber for Darlington, said some time in February, " We have
been constantly hearing throughout the year of the large and
increased quantities of dead meat from America and other
producing districts arriving in this country; and that this
comparatively large supply has not equalled the falling-off in
the importation of live stock for meat." It may savour of
temerity on my part to call in question the statistics by which
Mr. Pease, who had evidently given much thought to the
subject, arrived at this conclusion. The statistics alluded to
deal with cattle and beef alone, and the lion, member does
not seem to have taken into consideration that the fact of the
decrease in the importation of live stock is chiefly made up
of cows and calves which do not add so much beef to the
consumer as oien. The arrivals of dead meat are given by
the Board of Trade under several heads, only one of which
has Mr. Pease brought into his calculations. The somewhat
surprising result thus presented to the public will not bear
very close inspection, the statement being that we had received
less meat by 18,232 cwt. from foreign countries in 1877 than
in the previous year. If Mr. Pease had investigated with
greater care the statistics [relating to beef and mutton he
would have seen that instead of there having been any such
deficit as he arrived at, this country had in fact received an

increase of about 102,953 cwt., a3 the followiug figures will

show ; —

Decrease. Cwt.

20,339 oxen at 6 cwt. each 122,034

33,110 cows at 5 cwt. each 165,580

13,926 calves 15,000

167,432 sheep and lambs at £ cwt 83,766

Deficiency insaltbeef 34,978

Total 421,358

Increase. Cwt.

Beef fresh salted 294,603

Ditto, meat unenumerated 39,850

Meat preserved 189,853

Total increase 524,311

Decrease 421,358

Balance 102,953

The consumers of this country have thus been provided with
considerably more meat in one form or another in 1877 than
in the previous year, owing to the large and increasing con-
lignments of dead meat. For the purpose of enabling you to
estimate the consumption of beef and mutton in this country,
and for the purpose of arriving at the extent to which we are
indebted to the foreigner, I think it better to treat of England,
Scotland, and Ireland collectively. In 1872 Sir H. M.
Thompson formed a calculation that one-fourth of the cattle
in the United Kingdom is killed annually, and the average
weight was 6001b. per head. But I believe that I am right
in saying that this estimate is too low, and that 6 cwt. or
G721b. is nearer the mark. Assuming that 6 cwt. per head is
a correct average weight, one-fourth of the 9,693,960 cattle
in the United Kingdom in 1877 at 6 cwt. per head woald
give 14,540,940 cwt. of beef. By inquiries made in various
directions, I arrive at the conclusion that the proportion of
sheep annually slaughtered is about 5-12ths, and supposing
that the average weight of the carcase is 701b., that would
give 8,372,484 cwt. of mutton. A great number of calves
and lambs are fattened off before the date of enumeration in

THE FARMER

June, of which I have taken no account, as I have made no
deduction for losses either in the herds or flocks. It is esti-
mated that in the shape of pork we have 4,953,403 cwt. con-
tributed annually to the home supply ol meat ; thus in beef,
mutton, aud pork our annual home supply is 27,871,832 cwt,.,
in addition jto which there must be an immense supply of
poultry and game, of which we lave no s'atistics.

Now let us see how the imports of live stock during 1S77
stand. I tiud that assuming the 14S,fil9 oxen to weigh 6721b.
each, the 25,404 coWs 5C01b. each, the 30,172 calves 1401b.,
the 874,062 sheep 561b. each, and the 20,037 pigs 1701b.
each, the total importation of live meat amounted to 1,523,535
cwt. It may occur to you that the weight which 1 have given
of sheep is too low when compared with the estimate of Eng-
lish sheep, but the fact that the proportion of lambs was
relatively higher in the foreign returns, inasmuch as they
represent a whole year, whereas a considerable proportion of
the lambs reared and slaughtered in the United Kingdom
disappear before the enumeration is made, from the fore-
going you will see that the Halted Kingdom obtamed
from abroad about 1 cwt. for every lSj cwt. supplied by our
own herds aud llocks.

In order that we may duly estimate the proportion in which
the importation of live stock for the year 1877 stands to the
meat supplied by this country, we must add to the meat pro-
duced at home all foreign importations dead or alive, not
excepting bacon, which forms a very large item, being no
less than 2,381,725 cwt., or more than the total of all other
kinds of dead meat. Assuming these calculations to be
correct, the quantity of meat cousumed in this couutry last
year was as follows : —

Cwt.

Home produce 27,871,832

Foreign live stock 1,523,535

Foreign dead meat... 4,389,488

Total 33,784,855

This quantity equally apportioned would give about 1101b. to
each man. womau, and child iu the United Kingdom. Thus
you will see, if you have been able to follow me iu the figures

S MAGAZINE.

305

which I have given, that during last year the meat consumed
iu this couutry imported as live stock was only about 4J per
oent. This may be regarded as being so small as scarcely
worthy of notice, yet it is the apprehended loss of a portiou
of this small percentage which has caused the salesmen and
butchers in large centres, headed by Mr. II. Gebhart and Mr.
Hall to so philanthropic <lly espouse tlie cause of meat con-
sumers. I am inclined to think that if statistics have auy
force, and that if consumers « ill allow their own common
ssnse fair range, they must see that by the greater restrictions
proposed to be imposed on the importation of live stock,
aided, as suggested, by uniform and stringent regulations iu
this country, they will be greatly benefited.

It is generally conceded by those who have given the
subject careful consideration, aud who are well qualified to
give an opinion, that the importation of dead meat will in-
crease in a degree which would soon render this country quite
independent of the importation of live stock.

Let us see what this couutry would lose, supposiug it were
entirely depiived of all the meat sent alive to us from abroad :
the result would be a diminution of 4£ per cent, iu our
supplies, that being, as I have shown, the proportion of meat
imported alive iu 1S77 ; but there is no ground for believing
that even this small percentage would be lost to the couutry
by the Bill now before Parliament. "We have been taught
that if tke prices obtained in this country are sufficiently
high to draw live stock from other countries the same induce-
ment will attract a large quantity of dead meat. But for the
sake of argument, let us suppose that the importation of dead
meat does not increase, aud the importation of live stock
ceases ; I am inclined to think that the result would not b,
so detrimental as at first sight might appear. In explanation
of this assertion 1 would ask you to bear in mind that to
make good the deficiency thus incurred it would be only
necessary that for every twenty-two animals reared and grazed
in the United Kingdom one more should be added. Such a
slight increase would surely be no difficult matter, when com-
parative security from disease is insured, especially when we
remember that the annual loss from disease has been far greater
than one iu twenty-two.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

In the pages of The Agricultural Gazette having re.
ference to the Australian sale of Shorthorns, at Mel.
bourne, on January 4th, when the prices fetched show the
game's alive, and that, despite all croakers and bad times,
the love of breeding in the human heart is as difficult to
kill as the nettleroot in the soil, there is an expressive
phrase used which I claim to he in accordance with my
teaching. The " stud " cattle are what brought the guineas
down for the obvious common-sense reason that unless some
one keeps a cask of the spirit there can be no strengthen-
ing of the light wines. Thoroughbred stud-stock there
must be of every domestic auiuial. Only conceive the
reign of a regular farm-yard mixture of every sort — mon-
grels, to use a term, the very sound and reading of which
fills one with horror ! It is by preserving sifted sort3
true to their type and distinguished for their style, whilst
moreover there is regard taketi of the natural merit of

the animal (as for instance milk no less than meat
should he a sine qitti no a in the cow, aud bone and
safe action in the horse) that men have »n ev«ry age
managed to attain to fame, the stock of their choice and
production proving further, if not always to themselves,
at least to their successors, a mine of prosperous issue.
" Ever improving" should be the rule of life. Of what
service, even iu grain, has the principle of selection been
found ? aud many a huudred farmers have to thank the
head and skill of him who discovered the superior value
of certain berries in the stem-head, and took pains to
preserve such seed in its purity. Iu continuance of this
subject, it has caught my eye that Lord Dunmore lately
not only took the most earnest pains to gather materials
for and publish a Stud Book of the Clydesdale breed of
cart-horses, to which his estate is neighbouring— not only
took upon himself the publication of the first volume —

366

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

but has siuce been at pains to procure the best samples
of the race himself to breed from, regardless of ex-
pense. £500 being named as the price given
for a single cart ma

The view I take of

the matter is this : bow it will stimulate, egg on, and
encourage every farmer in the district to improve, so far
as lie3 within his power, an animal of everyday use upon
his farm, of which so great a value has now been found.
We all heartily hope that Lord Dunmore will gather in a
heap of coin by this venture. It is not everyone who
would have conceived the idea — it is not everyone who
would have had the enthusiasm and method to work it
oui, and fewer still who would have ventured capital
sufficiently in the cause. There are lots of small men
who are capital judges who, now that they see their
chauee, can bring brains and experience to bear, and by
the help they will surely have in access to prime stallions
will rapidly lay up a hoard such as corn cau 9upply no
more. For noblemen and rich commoners to act as Lord
Dunmore has done is virtually to sink a shaft for the
public benefit in an unsuspected local field of ore. Don't
sink the rents. Let the idlers smash and vanish. Give
the intelligent and enterprising tenant-farmer and cottager
the means of expandiug a circle which has hitherto
been a belt in the immediate past too narrowing,
of iron texture. Replace the shrunken wood with a slate
table, and the autiquated rag cushion with the real india-
rubber, and you kuow not to what height of successful
figures the game of the studious may mount.
The Suffolk Stud Book, I am glad to find, in the hands
of such a reliable compiler as Mr. Hermann Biddell, and
shall become a subscriber to the historical volume, which
I hear is to inaugurate the issue, having had the happiness
not only to study the points of the matchless sires and mares
of the Catlin, Crisp, and Barthropp period, but having
moreover owned two of the not least famous, which, I
delight to think, left their uumistakeable and beneficial
mark in the distant country to which they were exported.

I have drifted on to another point. I beg pardon of Mr.
Sotham for having so long omitted to notice his playful
and yet serious strictures. The fact is, I am erratic and
irregular, and work by spurts. And now as regards his
remarks, I can easily show him several English herds
which are even and not " uneven " in character, the con-
stituent animals of which, too have been mainly bought.
That "speculation " should have occurred in the sphere of
Shorthorns, is not to be wondered at. Men will bet on
the flow of raindrops down a pane, when no better
excitement offers. Success will always leave the fungus
growth of gambling attach itself to it somewhere. I quite
agree that it is a false state of things where cows are
dried of natures' flow to allow their frames expansion,
whilst they are still credited with the fine offspring they
. have produced, for foster cows to rear for them. This
helps to sell a breed, and the cows come certainly as a
rule the sooner in season, and so it may be fairly argued
that a plurality of calves is worth more than an abun-

dance of milk. Such tactics imply a purse, too. But I
can show him lots of fiue Shorthorn cattle of ancient
liueage which do rear their own offspring most suc-
cessfully, and as regards his comparison of the Shorthorn
with the Hereford, how is it that I myself, living actually
in the county of the white faces, dispose continually to
my farming ueighbours of bull calves to cross with
their Hereford herds, as I am uuiformly told, because
it "gives them so much more milk?" I have just
sold a pair of Shorthorn heifers to a Herefordshire
squire who lately owned a capital native herd, because
his new bailiff has persuaded him to " go in " for a
" dairy !" And another rich neighbour — ODe of the
staunchest to ridicule my pedigree Shorthorn stock — is
obliged to import his cows for the house from Gloucester !
For miles around me the white, red, and roan dispute the
pasture with the pale face. And this is in Herefordshire
itself !

I will say no more than that one of the most successful of
Hereford breeders published in The Agricultural Gazette,
the other day, if a mau could afford it, the best thing to do
was to go in for the blue blood Shorthorns. How on
earth came he to such a conclusion ? I admire the Here-
ford cattle much, and, had I been a native, might have
taken pride in keeping up the sort. I should certainly
have aimed at more milk, and a year's earlier ripening.
It is here the cosmopolitan Shorthorn beats them. More-
over, the bald-faced Hereford doesn't do as a rule to
cross with — the issue is often so ungainly and plain .
whereas the Shorthorn rather improves the character of
all ordinary cattle that it may cross with.
Mr. Stratton's Shorthorn bull Protector has beaten
in competition, I believe, all the most famous Here-
ford bulls in existence. That is however,of small import.
There is no doubt that the Hereford of the show-yard is
unusually excellent. The beauty of the breed at the last
Tredegar show was something wondrous. Still, T ask,
Why do my Hereford neighbours take a Shorthorn cross ?
Mr. Sotham says he is seventy-six, but " if ' Vigil ' can
show him a herd uniform in size, symmetry, quality, and
substance " he will take a trip to England purposely
to see them. I cau only say that we should all welcome
the plucky visitor, and I cau assure him that there are
many home-bred herds of the highest fame which are at
least as competent to exhibit their collection of similar
qualities as oue has yet seen even to a gathering of
Renick's Red Roses, much as I personally admire that
tribe. But as I, " Vigil," have been made the butt of
these remarks I will undertake to show him, as soon as
he arrives, say, twenty of my own herd as like to
each other in conformation as Southdown sheep,
certainly as any Heieford cattle, and a neighbour shall do
thd same, and the whole lot of forty shall be one Short,
horn tribe. There are no nurse cows kept on my place — all
calves are reared by the dams. Butter and milk, more or
less, according to the season, are supplied to the house,
and the cows now done calving are fit to kill for the

THE FARMER'S

butcher to-morrow. One cow is nursing a huge bull-calf,
gives half her milk to the house, is in calf again, and has
a good depth of beef over her best points at this moment.
She has, certainly, about a couple of pounds of cake daily,
in addition to a chop of swedes anu indifferent hay, all
steamed. Her dam is alive, and, I hope, in calf, and
had been delivered of seventeen live calves at fifteen years
of age. But I will say uo more than that Mr. Sotharn
takes too much for granted against the pedigree Shorthorn
of England. When I spoke of " rotten bonds " my mind
wa9 in Turkey rather than America. I take this oppor-
tunity of observing, with regret, in reply to Mr. Sothnm's
observation, that " Jonathan has had the advantage" of
the old country in Shorthorn interchanges, that certainly
not all the importations from across the Atlantic have
been felt to be quite as superior to suspicion as C;esar's
wife.

ON COLIO IN THE HORSE..

At the London Farmers' Club recently this ailment
was referred to by several speakers, as well as by the essayist
Mr. Frederick Street, in his excellent paper on "The Breeding
and Management of Horses." And well might it receive
attention, for in one form or other — whether known as gripes,
wind, inflammation, &c, it is among the most fatal of diseases
to which horseflesh is heir. One authority puts it at 50 per
cent, of the deaths of horses by disease. But certain it is that
it is less fatal and less frequent now than formerly. Horses
are better treated as a rule, more frequently fed from the nose-
bag or otherwise, in recognition of the fact that he has re-
latively the smallest stomach of any of our domestic animals.

The symptoms once seen are readily detected. Mr. Arma-
tage, in his recently published work " Every Man his own
Horse Doctor" (a book that is cleverly illustrated by a Bed-
fordshire artist, Mr. Stannard, with cuts of horaes suffering
under various diseases), says, "The animal scrapes with the
fore feel, kicks at the belly, shifts about, turns round, smell*
the floor, crouches, puts the nose to the flanks, lies down, rolls,
remains for a time on the back, and breathes heavily through-
out. Gradually he slips over on the side, stretches out the
legs, when the signs abate as suddenly as they began : he then
rises, shakes himself, and the termination of the paroxysm is
known by his looking about for food."

As to the causes, irregular or unsuitable feeding, gorging
with cold water, liver complaint, &c, we have nothing to do.
But we venture to offer a word as to the means o'' relief and
cure. Happily the days of heavy purging and bleeding are
gone by. Our best veterinary surgeons go in for gentler
treatment and hygienic management. But the very sudden-
ness of the attack often finds one unprepared, and therefore
unable to cope successfully with it. A dose of linseed oil
or a strong purging ball tumbiQfcd with an opiate and a
mounted messenger sent off lor the farrier, are the everyday
methods adopted.

Now, we have to say, very emphatically, that there is a much
readier, a far safer, a more certain means of relief and cure
at hand in every homestead. Apply at once a horse cloth or
woollen rug folded into two thicknesses, wrung out of boiling

MAGAZINE. 86f

water, to the belly and up the sides, and cover tightly wit'1
another couple of cloths to retain the heat. As it cools,
renew as often as needful. A large bran Jpoultice, as hot as
can be borne, is equally effective and retains the heat longer.
Should there at the same time be a difficulty in staking, which
there often is, apply a similar hot cloth or poultice over the
kidneys, when the urine will be relieved. It is well also t°
give an injection of uwarm water, about blood heat, into the
bowels ; and if the case needs it a horn of hot water
with a teaspoouful of tincture of cayenne into the stomach
Lay the animal in a well-bedded loose box, darken
the window, and leave him for a quarter of an hour.
In an ordinary case, the clots or bran poultice will not need
above one renewal — in severe cases they may be shifted four
times within the hour, and a hot fomentation also applied to
the spine ; this has a wonderfully soothing effect. When re-
lieved, wash down with tepid water, dry well, cover up, give a
bran mash, and allow a day's rest to compensate for the Iower-
iugness that always supervenes. Now, whether the case is one
of simple colic, with a quiet pulse, or proceeds to inflammation
of the stomach or intestines {enteritis), with a bounding flow
of blood, the treatment is the same. It possesses the merit of
haudiuess, always ready, and of safety and certainty. You
simply relieve through the outer skin, instead of through
the lining membrane of the stomach. The outer skin
is the more reachable, it has millions of pores and countless
nerves to act upon, it brings the disease to the outside at
once, and it is perfectly safe. Animal life is the same both in
man and in the horse, and the same means of cure in disease —
warmth and moisture, applied locally or generally — will tell
a hundred times more effectually thau physicking or similar
methods.

For prevention, feed more frequently, and give water
oftener, and in smaller quantities. A handful of oatmeal into
the water, and the chill also taken off, is of incalculable
benefit. Neither must Joe be allowed to stay in the public,
house while the team s'ands shivering at the door. It may
be added that there is no curable disease of the horse to which
some modifications of the treatment referred to may not advan-
tageously be applied. Probation est. — T. Buwick $• Co.'s
Price Current.

WHY TUEY SMOKED.— In a Scotch town the lads of a
school acquired the habit of smoking, and resorted to the most
ingenious methods to conceal the habit from the master. In
this they were successful, until one evening, when the master
caught them puffing most vigorously. " How now p* shouted
he to one of the culprits, " How dare you to be smoking?"
" Sir," said the boy, " I am subject to headaches, and a pipe
cakes off the pain." " And you ? and you ? and you ? " in-
quired the pedagogue, questioning every boy in his turn. One
had a "raging tooth ;" another "cholic ;" the third a "cough" ;
in short, they all had something for which the wcxi was an
unfailing remedy. " Now, sirrah ! " bellowed the master to
the last boy; "pray, what disorder do you smoke for ?" Alas!
all the excuses were exhauated ; but the interrogated urchin,
putting down his pipe, and looking up in his master's face,
said in a whining, hypocritical tone, "Sir, I smoke for corns !"
— Ayr Advertiser.

68

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE AMERICAN STORM WARNINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE

Sir, — Allow me to call attention iu your columns to
the article iu the current number of " The Nautical
Magazine" on the above subject, by Mr. Robert H. Seott,
Secretary to the Meteorological Council. As the an-
nouncements occasionally in the newspapers " during the
past year have naturally attracted much attention on the
part of the public," the writer, therefore, ventures to
submit to the readers of the " Magazine" a notice of the
out-come of a private inquiry which he had " conducted
into the results of these warnings for the space of eleven
months, endiug December, 1877."

Passing over Mr. Scott's repetition of the grounds of
his own well-known prejudices on the subject, he very
fully and fairly gives in this article the results of his
observations on the success or failure of the occasional
storm warnings sent us by The New York Herald.
During the eleven mouths referred to, thirty-six telegrams
were received from New York giving warnings of forty
different disturbances. ' These Mr. Scott classifies under
four categories as follows : — A, absolute success ; ]?, par-
tial ; C, very slight ; D, absolute failure. From his
observations given in detail we find that the results
were : —

Class. No. of Instances. Percentage.

A

7

17'5

B

LO

250

C

6

150

I)

17

42-5

40

100-0

"These figures therefore show," Mr. Scott remarks'
" that not 45 per cent, of the warnings tan be considered
as really successful," or, as he fuithcr explains really
successful to mean, "that the information conveyed by
them was of real value to seamen iu British ports."

Without going into the question as to the value of
these storm warnings to captains at British ports, allow
me to say that it appears to me Mr. Scott here narrows
the usefulness of such warnings. There are other in-
terests in the Uuited Kingdom largely influenced by
changes of weather besides shipping interests ; those of
agriculturists for instance. I do not know how far
British farmers may have been benefited by them, but I
have been told by the manager of a well-kuown news
agency that its provincial clientele always call his atten-
tion to the fact when by any mischance these New York
storm warnings are not promptly sent to them.

That only 45 per cent, of the warniugs can be con-
sidered really successful, even by Mr. Scott, is not to be
wondered at when it is remembered they are not sent by
a competent authority. At first I understood they came
to us from the Washington Weather Signal Office through

MARK. LANE EXPRESS.

The New York Herald. Such I now find not to be the
case, but that they are based on deductions from the
storm warnings of that office which have reference only
to the American Continent — deductions made by th
" weather" editor of The New York Herald. That a
newspaper should have one of its staff specially detailed
to this work shows the interest felt in America in storm
warnings. Considering this fact, and without by any
means wishing to disparage the result of these amateur
attempts at transatlantic weather-warning, I would ex-
press the conviction that had they been sent by such
competent authority as that of General Meyer, of the
Washington Signal Office, the percentage of favourable
results might have been largely increased.

At the close of his article Mr. Scott t,ays that the
statistics he has given indicate that as yet the " attempts to
foretell weather by means of the Atlan'ic Cables have not
met with a very marked success," aud that " It will be
impossible to institute a thoroughly satisfactory testing of
the warnings until we have before us a long series of
synoptic charts of the winds and weather existing between
America and Europe similar to those now in process of
publication" — of course by Mr. Scott's own office. Is
that gentleman ignorant of the existence of Maury's wind
and current charts of the North Atlantic ? Is he aware
of the fact that so complete was the knowledge of that
part of the ocean possessed by the Washington Observatory
that it was consulted in March, 1857, by Mr. Cyrus W.
Field, on behalf of the Anglo-American Cable Company,
for the best route and time for laying its caoie? In reply
he was told by the late Lieut. Maury, after 200,000 days'
observations at sea had been investigated, " that the most
propitious time for their undertaking was the last of July
and the first of August," and that " the steamer with the
Western end of the telegraph cord on board would be less
liable than the other to encounter a gale ;" and the results
proved the information thus communicated to be strictly
correct. Is it necessary, therefore, to wait until Mr.
Scott's own maps of the North Atlantic are completed
before testing this important question of transatlantic
storm warnings? Why not turn to practical account
the observations aud information we already possess ? In
this way we can most speedily increase that information.
Had the Americans acted according to the principles upon
which our Meteorological Couucil is conducted, " we
guess" it would have been a long time before they would
have attained their present superiority in meteorological
science. With them theory and practice went together,
and so it should with us. Let us begin right by obtaining
our intimations of storms likely to reach our coasts from
such competent authority as exists in the Washington
Weather Signal Office. Mr. Scott's feeble attempt at
transatlantic storm-warning from " Heart's Content,'

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

369

Newfoundland, should not discourage him. No wonder
they failed, owing to unfavourable circumstances, as " the
site of the station was where no storm could possibly hurt
the cable," and that therefore there could be no storms
reported from that point. But information from Wash-
ington, where the progress of storms from West to East
across the American Continent arc noted, would be of
some value taken together with the information the late

Lieut. Maury has left ready at Mr. Scott's hand. No
a priori reasoning of the Secretary of our Meteorological
Council ought to satisfy us that some satisfactory results
might not immediately be obtained by adopting the means
which arc suggested in this letter.

I am, Sir, \c,

March 23.

A. M. D.

THE MIDDLE-MAN AND THE STOCK-DEALER.

It has often been complained that the middle-
man, the stock-dealer, runs away with a portion of
the farmer's profits, which the latter can ill afford
to spare. On the other hand, there are those who
contend that the dealer is paid by the consumer.
Without entering into this question, it must be ad-
mitted by all that the stock-dealer is a very useful
member of society, and that in some branches of
the cattle traffic it would be difficult to do without
him.

Those who rear stock for sale as stores in a distant
part of the country find the large dealer a very
useful middle-man ; but, probably, in the sale of
fat stock, most farmers might do very well without
him. Both in supplying local wants and in meeting
the requirements of large towns, the animals are
sold by rule of thumb. Why not by actual weight ?
Because it is the custom to sell by guess-work ;
there can be no other reason. But there are, we
think, many reasons why the custom should be
done away with, although it has lasted so long-
It is uncertain to buyers and sellers, however ex-
perienced they may be, and it affords scope for a
great deal of very unsatisfactory business being
transacted. The cost of a weigh-bridge would be
but a small item on a farm from which fat stock
is regularly sold, and would probably be saved in
other ways. In markets the outlay might be repaid
by a small toll for the use of the weigh-bridge. In
either case there is no real difficulty in the way.
Butchers and salesmen who are buying and selling
daily are doubtlessbetter judges than feeders who
ouly sell occasionally, and the farmer who sells in
a small way has very little chance, as a rule, with
the local butchers. The plan of selling by live
weight would not ensure satisfactory returns being
received by the consignor, because there would stil'
be the fluctuation of the market on the value per
lb. ; but the consignor would weigh his bullocks
before starting them, and would know the shrinkage
when the market weight was returned, and the rate
at which they were sold. We venture to think this
would be more satisfactory than the present system,

When the market price of a bullock is quoted at G*.
per stone it meaus, of course, that, when slaught-
ered, the carcase — after being trimmed of certain
portions of fat and lean in the neck, of some fat
elsewhere, if plentiful enough, and of the skirting,
and the lean kidney taken out — will be weighed
and paid for at 9d. per lb. That is to say, if the
animal is " sold by weight ; " otherwise, all this is
estimated and discounted, and the animal sold at
the supposed weight of his carcase when so mani-
pulated. This is what is called making 9d. per lb.
of a bullock. The hide, feet, head, internal fat,
heart, liver, lungs, tripes, melt, entrails, and blood
are not accounted for directly, but are supposed to
be paid for by the difference in the value which is
attached to the dressed carcase by estimation in the
live market over and above the rate at which it
would be sold per lb. in the dead market ; and this
difference is from Id. to lfd. per lb. So that in.
stead of this hypothetical carcase being worth 9d.
per lb. it is only worth, say, 7f d. per lb., and the
butcher by buying it nominally at 9d. has in reality
purchased the " offals " — an unknown quantity be
it remembered — by this difference in the value of
the carcase alive and dead. We consider this to
be'a wrong principle ; inasmuch as the weight is
estimated, not actually ascertained ; and when the
practice of " selling by weight " is resorted to, the
offals are still an unknown quantity, a factor in the
price which does not appear to the seller, but only
to the buyer. It may be objected that the old rule
of thumb has worked well, and that the producer
gets as much under the present system as he would
be likely to get under the proposed alteration. That
is an argument which cannot be proved without a
trial, and in selling by actual live weight the pro-
ducer would gain a certain amount of satisfaction
which cannot possibly form any part of the present
system, independently of any monetary advantage
which might accrue.

It cannot be said that a precedent is wanting,
inasmuch as the system we are proposing for this
country is in actual working in the United States,

370

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Americans sell their fat stock and their store stock
by actual live weight, at so much per pound for the
whole. The value of the former is according to the
percentage which the dressed carcase will represent.
The best of the animals which are slaughtered there
for our markets dress about 57 lb. of carcase to
100 lb. of live weight ; and, as they are estimated
to " dress," so is the price per lb. of the whole or
live weight determined. In this way the buyer
and seller have to estimate and agree upon the
percentage of beef there is in an animal, which cer-
tainly requires judgment ; but the seller, when the
rate of payment has been fixed on this estimate,
does not guess the gross weight to be paid for, but
actually weighs the animal. The different lots
are weighed and sold at per 1001b. — store cattle
as well as fat. The following quotation from an
American paper will show how values are estimated
in Transatlantic markets : — " New York, Feb.
11th, 1878. Some of the choicest steers were
taken for the city trade, and for export alive, at
11| to II5 cents (5§d. to 5§d.), to dress 57 lb. per
cental (100 lb.) ; prime selections, at 10^ to 11 cents
(5jd. to 5|d.), to dress 57 lb. ; medium to good
qualities, at 9^ to 10| cents (4§d. to 5|d.),
to dress 56 lb. ; and poor to ordinary grades,
at 7\ to 9 cents (3|d. to 4|d.), to dress 55 lb.,
four cars of Texans being taken at the latter figure.
Exporters took about 1,000 steers, mainly at 9| to
10^ cents (4|d.to 5£d.), to dress 56 lb. A year ago
prime steers were sold at 11 to 11^ cents (5^d. to
6fd.); two years ago at 12Jto 12| cents (6|d. to 6£d.)
to dress 57 lb. — Chicago. Good to choice steers, 4
dollars 25 cents to 5 dollars 12| cents per 100 lb.
(2|d. to 2 9-16d.per lb.); common to fair, 3 dollars ] very great.
75 cents to 4 dollars lOcents (l|d. to a fraction over j
2d. per lb.) feeders and stockers, at 2 dollars
50 cents to 3 dollars 85 cents (l|d. to say
1 15-16d. per lb)." Advices up to the
most recent date are about on the same scale
A very noticeable feature in the above American
quotation is, that the rates for a living
animal are expressed in fractions, which do
not enter into our calculations of the value of a
dressed carcase. But in America the cost of feed-
ing or finishing is greater than that of breeding
and rearing ; whereas in this country the cost of
producing the frame is greater than that of cover-
ing it with beef. So that our stores, if sold in
this way — and it would be a great check on the
jobbers and dealers — would be worth as much or
more per lb. of their live weight than when
finished for the butcher. Thus a fat bullock
weighing 1,400 lb. if sold at 5Jd. per lb. live
weight would realise £30 12s. 6d., and would
dress, say, 812 lb., or 58 per cent, carcase weight

or 101^ stones of beef, which at 6s. per stone, or
9d per lb., would amount to £30 9s. But a store
steer weighing 800 lb., if sold at 5|d. per lb. live
weight would realise £17 10s., and as the carcase
would probably not dress to more than 53 per
cent, of the live weight, or 424 lb., the 53 stones
of thin and inferior beef would represent a value
of nearly lOd. per lb. Such a steer at the present
time would be worth quite £17 10s. Therefore,
it is easy to see that stores are comparatively
dearer than fat cattle in this country ; but a refer-
ence to the market rates of American cattle at the
emporium of the trade, Chicago, will show that
the value per cental of the live weight of cattle
there is about double for a 1,400 lb. ox to what it
is for an 800 lb. steer. Judging from the quality
of the American meat which is put on our mar-
kets, and from the assessment of carcase weight
by which their values are determined when alive,
as shown above, it is probable that our best and
second best animals, as sent to the London market,
would range from 57 to 59 lb. of dressed beef to
the 100 lb. of live weight. Animals such as are
to be seen at our best fat stock shows would,
doubtless, in most instances, reach a considerably
higher percentage than this.

We trust these suggestions will commend them-
selves to the consideration of those who are feeders
of stock, and that we shall be supported in our
advocacy of a system of scales and weights as
against that of rule of thumb. The expense of
providing the requisite weigh-bridges in all stock
markets would be easily defrayed, and we think
the advantages to be gained from them would be

SPORT IN AUSTRI A.— England is always looked upon
as par excelence the country of sportsmen, but Austria does
not appear to be far behind us in this respect, j udging from
official statistics which have just appeared. According to
these there were killed or captured during the year ending the
31st of December, 1876, 54 bears (37 in Galicia), 10 lynxes
(5 in Galicia), 233 wolves (167 in Galicia), 23,606 foxes tell
it not in Leicestershire !), 7,113 martens, 9,327 polecats, 550
otters 5,390 wild cats and weasels, and 2,426 badgers.
Similar havoc seems to have been made with the winged
creation : 261 eagles, 916 owls, 66,925 kites, falcons, and
sparrow-hawks, and 12,411 crows having fallen victims during
the same period. Galicia, Bohemia, and Lower Austria are
the best huuting grounds of the empire. — Coming Events.

DESERTIONS EROM THE ARMY are reported to amount
to 5,000 per annum. It is not within our province to enter
into the general question of the terras of service and the
causes of desertion, but we may with consisteucy remark that
where soldiers are encouraged to devote their leisure time to
gardening, they are better every way in health, in habits of
life and in devotion to their tfaty. — The Gardener's Magazine.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

371

THE ENGLISH CART-HORSE STUD ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of this Association, which was formed after
the close of the last meeting of the Farmers' Club, was
recently held at the Caledonian Hotel, in order
to take the necessary steps for getting the Associa-
tion into working order. Mr. J. Brown, Chairman of the
Farmers' Club, presided, and among those present were
the Earl of Ellenmere, Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., Mr. Pell,
M.P., Mr. Chas. Howard, the Hon. E. Coke, Longford
Hall, Derby, Mr. John. Bradshaw, Mr. James Howard,
Mr. Joseph Martin, Mr. W. Little, Littleport, Mr. Chas.
Masters, Norfolk ; Mr. T. A. Spencer, Claveriug ; Mr.
S. B. L. Druce, Mr. John Linton, Mr- Sexton, Wherstead ;
Mri G. Street, Mr. T. Brown, Norfolk, Mr. Garrett
Taylor, Norfolk, Mr. Gorringe, Sussex, Mr. Sherborn
Bedford ; Mr. F. Street, who acted as Hon. Secretary,&c .

The Chairman said, having been requested to take the
chair he felt very great pleasure in doing so. He was
very glad that the Farmers' Club had at their last meeting
discussed a subject so well deserving the attention of the
farming community as that of the breeds of cart horses,
and he was quite sure that the result would be satisfactory
to all who were interested in such a matter.

The proceeding of the last meeting were only tentative,
but they were now in a position to go a little further.

Mr. F. Street, acting as Hon. -Secretary, then read a
Circular, setting forth in substance what had been done at
the prior meeting, and containing a list of gentlemen who
had been nominated as a preliminary Committee1
He also stated that 1,000 copies of this document had been
forwarded to different parts of the country, and that ad-
vertisements calling attention to the matter had been
inserted in papers connected with agriculture. The fol-
lowing are the names of the Committee included in the
first list : —

Mr. J. Brown, Chairman of the London Farmers' Club.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., Honingham, Norfolk.

Mr. Pickering Phipps, M.P., Northampton.

Hon. E. Coke, Longford Hall, Derby.

Mr. James Howard, Clapham Park, Bedford.

Capt. Heaton, Worsley, Manchester.

Major Dashwood, Kirtlington, Oxford.

Rev- L. Wood, Singleton, Lancashire.

Mr. Charles Howard, Biddenham, Bedford.

Mr. Finlay Dun, Hanover Square, London.

Mr. R. Leeds, Castleacre, Norfolk.

Mr. J. Dnckham, Ross, Herefordshire.

Mr. J. K. Fowler, Aylesbury.

Mr. W. E. Bear, Thorpe, Essex.

Mr. Joseph Martin, Littleport, Cambs.

Mr. J. F. Croivther, Mirfield, Yorkshire.

Mr. Lewis Curtis, Chatteris, Cambs.

Mr. J. Linton, Westwick Hall, Cambs.

Mr. C. Masters, Saddlebow, King's Lynn,

Mr. T. Rose, Melton Magna, Norfolk.

Mr. George Street, Maulden, Beds.

Mr, F. Street, Somersham Fark, St. Ives.

Mr. Street then read a letter written by Captain
Heaton on behalf of the Earl of Ellcsmerc, in response to
an invitation to his lordship to become President, in which
he said, " I am desired by Lord Ellcsmerc to iuform you
that he has great pleasure in accepting the office of Presi-
dent of the Shire Stud-Book Association."

The Honorary Secretary then said, that knowing the
interest Lord Dunmorc had taken in the formation of the
Clydesdale Stud-Book Association, he wrote to his lord-
ship, asking him to be kind enough to allow the Secretary
to forward to him the rules, &c, of that Association, and
that he had received the following reply : —

Windsor Castle, March 2(5.

Dear Sir,— Stud-Book for Shire-bred Horses— I shall
be only too happy to give you any assistance in furthering the
object you have in view, and with that view I have written to
our Secretary, Mr. Dykes, 194, Vincent-street, Glnsgow, in-
structing him to send you a copy of our Memorandum of Asso-
ciation, Rales, Regulations, and Bye-laws for your perusal.
In forming the Clydesdale Horse Society, I commenced by
enlisting the support and co-operation of landed proprietors
interested in agriculture, and I collected by personal canvass
over 100 names. Each of those gentlemen I called Life
Governors, and they gave in donations of £10 as Life Governors
and 10s. entrance fee into the Society. I then had £1,000 to
work upon, and immediately secured the services of Mr. Shep-
herd (Messrs. Harward and Shepherd, Solicitors, Stourbridge),
who had worked our Shorthorn Society, in the formation of
which I also took a prominent part. If you think of having
Life Governors at 10 guineas — and I strongly advise you to —
I shall be glad to become one. With regard to your question
as to Secretary's salary, it is ditticu.lt for me to give you a
decided answer, as its depends so entirely on what his work is
to be, and where. You have to consider —

1st. In what town your registered ollice is to be, and whether
your Secretary will have to give all his time to the Society or
not.

2. Whether you publish a retrospective volume for st il-
lions foaled up to a certain date, say 1st January, 1875,
and goi g back to the early part of this century. This I con-
sider more than necessary ; in fact it is indespensable, for it
will be from that retrospective volume alone that you can
make up your pedigrees for mares and their produce for later
volumes with any degree of certainty as to the authenticity of
such pedigrees. When breeders begin sending iu names of
stallions for registration you will fiud no doubt tiiat there
have been dozens of Honest Toms, but probably only one
celebrated one ; therefore when your stallions iu the ret;ospec-
tive volumes are numbered there will be the one Honest Tom,
say (212), bred by so and so, and his pedigree, and probably a
series of other Honest Toms with their numbers. But when in
future vols, you enter a mare with an honest Tom cross in her,
any one can tell at a glance, if it is the genuine Honest Tom,
the great prize-taker (212), or Honest Tom unknown to fame
(325), say.— I am working at the retrospective vol. of the
Clydesdale Stud-Book alone. It is my own idea, and I am
editing it at my own expense, and make it a present to the
Society. I have collected upwards of 1,400 horses, pedigrees

E E

372

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

and I have uo hesitation in saying that without it we could
do nothing for subsequent vols. We pay our own Secretary
£135, and we pay £75 for an office. We have now a Clerk at
£50 besides. If there is any further information that I can
give you, I shall be always glad at any time to do so.
I remain, yours faithfully,

Frederic! Street, Esq. Dunmore.

Mr. F. Street also read a letter from Mr. Hermann
BiddeH, relating to the Suffolk Stud-Book Association,
entering into various details, and the following one from
Mr. Wood : —

Singleton Vicarage, Kirkham, Lancashire, March 25.

Dear Sir, — I regret very much that your meeting is
fixed for a Monday, for my professional engagements on the
previous day put it out of my power to reacli London in time
to be present. Your movement has all my sympathies. I
believe it to be a most important one, and I trust that the
opportunity now afforded by the recent discussion at the Far-
mers' Club for the establishment of a Stud Book will be turned
t> good account. It is a subject to which I have given much
thought and attention during the last few years. I will not
waste time in discussing the desirability of such a work ; that
is fully established by the expressed opinion of many speakers
at your meeting, and I believe is fully shared by the most
important breeders in all parts of England. The difficulty
will be in deciding on the principle upon which the first
volume of such a work could be compiled, and, in my opinion,
that difficulty will be mainly found, not in the scarcity, but in
the copiousness of the material that would be offered. We
in the present day, are in a very diiferent position, and a far
more favourable one for arriving at the truth of the pedigree
of any animal of note than the originators of the Stud Book
for Thoroughbred Horses or the Herd Book for Shorthorns.
We have the records of all the most important agricultural
shows in England for ihe last 20 years to refer to, as a safe-
guard to a certain extent against imposition, as a guarantee
of the correctness of the pedigrees of any animals that have
been exhibited at those shows, and I think this may be made a
most important instrument in the hands of the Committee. My
own opinion is that the value and future usefulness
of this work will largely depend on the care that is taken in
the compilation of the first volume ; this satisfactorily accom-
plished, the rest will follow in an easy train. I do not think
a safer principle could be adopted for qualification for entry
iu the first instance than a reference to the winners of prizes
—male and female — at the principal shows in England for
the last ten, fifteen, or even twenty years. I would make those
winners the starting point from which our work began, and
every animal that could trace direct descent from them should
be entitled to admission into the first volume of the Stud Book
The committee must have in their hands some security against
false pedigrees or the work would be a snare and an encourage-
meat tofalsehood ; and I know not through what oMier channel
t'a i the records of the show-yard reliable information conld
be obtained. I know full well that this principle will meet
with much opposition and may be the means of excluding
some valuable animals, but an indiscriminate en'ry at the will
of owners would be a far greater evil. A work staited on this
limited scale would in a very shorl time assume very large
proportions; for whereas the breeding of thoroughbred horses
is limited to a comparatively small number, the breeding of
cirt horses is in the power of every farmer. Many details will
lure to be considered which I think it would be impossible for

a council or general committee to deal with, and I woul
suggest that a small committee of practical men, say five or
seven, should be appointed to prepare materials to submit
from time to time to the general committee, and a fund should
at once be raised for the payment of their travelling and hotel
expenses. I think it a question whether London is the best
quarters for the preliminary work. 1 should say some town
iu the Midland Counties, such as Birmingham or Derby, would
be more central. I cannot close this letter without expressing
my perfect coincidence with your remarks on the weakness of
the prize list issued by the Royal Agricultural Society. The
breeders of English draught horses never received at the hands
of that Society the encouragement they had every right to look
for ; this year they are almost left out in the cold. Until the
members generally have a voice in the election of the council
I fear there is little prospect of amendment. Could you adopt a
better name than a Stud Book for the " English Draught
Horse?" Pardon my expressing my views at such a length ;
if anything I have written is of the smallest practical value in
helping the good work pray use it as you think be3t.
Yours truly,
Frederick Street Esq. Leo. Ciias. Wood.

The following letter was subsequently read from Mr.
Reynolds, of Liverpool, who, the Hon. Secretary observed,
had had a larger experience in reference to such matters
thau almost any one else.

Municipal Offices, Liverpool, 14th March.

Dear Sir, — The fact of having read a notice iu The Field
of a paper presented by you to the Farmers' Club, upon the
management of cart horses, must be my apology for writing
this letter to you. I am gratified to learn that as a result of
your paper it is projected to form a Society and to publish a
stud book for shire horses. You may not be aware that about
twelve months ago I wrote to The Field advocating that step
and have felt considerable disappointment that the project did
not appear to meet with encouragement. I sincerely hope
that now the subject has been taken up it will be carried to a
successful issue ; indeed, I had determined it should do so, and
for a long time I have been engaged in collecting and arrang-
ing in tabular form the pedigrees of cart horses, which I in-
tended to publish as an initial volume of a stud book. I have
found the task one of considerable magnitude, and have spent
a great proportion of my leisure time upon it. It is a work
too extensive to be undertaken by one man, and I shall be
glad to place the results of my labour at the service of the
Societies' Committee. I have upwards of 1,000 horses, pedi-
grees, ranging from the commeucement of the present century
to last season. I am afraid my business engagements will
prevent my being present at the proposed meeting in London
on April 1st, and I shall wait with anxiety to know the results
which possibly you will favour me with in due course, and if
in the meantime you desire further information as to what I
have done I shall be glad to communicate with you. Amongst
my friends in this district I am sure I can, if desired by your
Committee, increase the numerical strength of the Society,—
I am, dear Sir,

Faithfully yours,

Mr. F. S'reel. Richard Reynolds.

On the motion of Mr. C. S. Read, seconded by Mr.
W. Wells, the minutes of the last meeting were con-
firmed.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

373

The Earl of Ellcsmcre having been elected President
of the Association, Mr. Brown thereupon vacated the
chair, and was succeeded in it by his lordship.

The President said, iu taking the chair, he wished to
thank tho meeting for the houour which had bcew-.on-
fcrred upon him, and to say how proud he was of occu-
pying the position of President. The letter from Lord
Duuniorc which had just been read showed what an
amount of trouble his lordship took in forming the
Clydesdale Association, lie was afraid that he could not
give as much time, and he certainly did not possess the
same powers, but he could only say that he would do his
best to promote the success of the Association.

The next business on the Agenda being that of choosing
a permanent title for the Association,

The President, Slluding to the title adopted tempo-
rarily, said it seemed to be rather doubtful what was the
exact meaning of " Shire-bred horses,'' and he had really
not sufficient knowledge to define the meaning of the
term, Perhaps some gentleman was prepared to make a
proposal on that subject.

Mr. James Howard said, having taken it upon himself
to correspond and confer with a great many persons who
felt interested in the matter, he had found that the title
which was most generally approved was " The Old English
Shire Horse Stud-Book Association." That title had
the recommendation of carrying with it tho weight of
antiquity, and as they were going to establish a stud-
book which would give the pedigrees of horses, that was
an important point. Shire horses had existed for many
generations as a distinct breed.

Mr. C. S. Bead, M.P., said he strongly objected to
the word " Shire" being retained. In Norfolk they had
three or four distinct breeds which would not be included
in the word " Shire." He would prefer as the com-
mencement of the title " The Old English Cart Horse."

Mr. T. Brown said he also objected to the title
9Ugge3ted by Mr. Howard. He did not know wThat it
meant, or whether or not it would include horses bredin
the fens. He strongly approved of the formation of an
Association for cart horses, but he thought the title should
be wider. He did not see why there should not be a
stud-book for all cart horses.

| Mr. G. Street hoped that Mr. Howard would assen
to the words "The Old English Cart Horse." He objected
to the words " Shire-horse," because although it was known to
those who took an interest in their national and other shows,
it was not universally known among farmers. He did not
believe it was known to 50 per cent, of the farmers of this
country, and he ventured to say that 80 or 90 per cent, of
Englishmen would not at all understand it. Another
objection was which there appeared to be very good cart
horses which were bred out of the shire. Until he read his
brother's paper the other day he never knew what was
meant by a " Shire-bred horse."

Mr. F. Street said it appeared from his correspon-
dence that the term c' Shire " was very generally known,
and he believed that nine-tenths of the dealers in London

knew the horses to which it applied by no other name, lie
thought the word " English " might he omitted, but he
could conceive no better title than " Shire-bred horses "
or the " Draught-horse." Shirc-bred horses were to
be found in Scotland and he did not wish the horse3 in
the book to be confined to either country.

Major Dashwooi) said Mr. Raymond, to whom ho
mentioned the matter, said he disapproved of the term
• Shire-bred horses," and suggested the words " The
English Cart-horse,"

Mr. Lupton said he had met with several people who
did not appear to understand the term " Shire-bred,"
and one gentlemen said he never heard of such a thing.
(Laughter).

Mr. W. Wells thought the question depended very much
upon whether there were any other cart-horses whose
existence was likely to interiere with the use of the word
" Shire-horses," and as they would not like to see a sepa-
rate stud-book for other cart horses, he would prefer
the words " The Old English Cart-horse."

Mr. Charles Howard said he felt that the term
" Shire-bred" was of too rigid a character. "What they
all want was to improve the race of cart-horses, which
were fit for the whole kingdom, and that being the case
he would prefer the words " The Old English Cart-
horse." lie thought that the adoption of the term
'' Shire-bred" would create a feeling which would tend to
deprive them of support, lie knew a3 a fact that there
were good Essex bays that might well be included, and if
the term " Shire-bred " was adopted they would not be
admitted into the Stud Book. He wanted the Associa-
tion to open its arms so widely as to embrace the whole
country.

The Hon. E. Coke sail they must not forget the re-
trospective objections which might be urged by gentle-
men who took special interest in the Clydesdale horse.
One of those gentlemen had appropriated to himself the
title of " the cart-horse." They also had the " cart-
horse," and why did they not adopt the title of " the
English Cart-horse."

A gentleman observed, that it appeared to him that if
they adopted the title just suggested, it would not follow
that Clydedale horses and Suffolk horses could not be
entered in the book.

The Chairman said, some gentlemen seemed to fear
lest they should uol open their arms widely enough. He
did not think that if the words " cart horse " or " draught
horse " were adopted there would be any difficulty with
Clydesdale or Suffolk horses, because it would be for the
committee to consider on what terms horses should be
admitted to the Stud-Book. He thought that would meet
any difficulty which might arise between the Association
and the Clydesdale men and the Suffolk men. For his
own part he was inclined to advocate the thing being made
as open and wide as possible.

Mr, JoSIPH Martin said when he entered the room
he was iu favour of sticking to the Shire- horse, but he

EE2

,;, i

T&E FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

now concurred in the opinion that the Association should
be as wide as possible.

Mr. James Hoavard said he thought it was very de-
sirable that they should endeavour to be unanimous at
starting (cheers), and as there appeared to be a strong ob-
jection to the word " Shire-bred horses " he would sub-
stitute for it the words " Old English Cart-horse,"
and he hoped that that would remove all difficulty. That
wa3 not a new term, being found in the works of most of
the old authors who had written on the subject, ari\d it
had the advantage of being euphonious ; he moved there-
fore that the title of the Association should be " The Old
English Cart Horse Stud-Book Association."

Mr. C. S. Read said he had great pleasure in second-
ing that proposal, and he was very glad to find that his
friend Mr. James Howard was so conservative, (laughter).

Mr. T. Bkown (Downhatn, Norfolk) said that title
sounded too long. The Thorough-bred Stud Book was
called "The Stud-Book." He did not wish then-
title to be qvite so short or aristocratic as that, but he
thought they might very well call it " The Cart Horse
Stud-Book Association," and he would move that tha
be the name.

Mr. Morton seconded the amendment.

On a division the numbers were, for the amendment
18, against it 13.

It was then agreed that the decision of the question
should be left to the President. Mr. J. Howard concurred
in this arrangement, and the result was that his lordship
declared himself in favour of the title, " The English Cart-
Horse Stud Association."

Major DashWood then moved, " That the Society shall
consist of life members paying ten guineas, and of annual
members paying one guinea."

The resolution was then adopted.

Mr.F. Street expressed his confidence that there would
soon be 500 annua] members.

Captain Heaton thought that the Council list did not
sufficiently represent the country, our great object being
to get as many persons as possible to take an interest in
the Association, and proposed the addition of the names
of Mr. Henry Overman, Mr. Garrett Taylor, Mr. William
Wells, and Mr. Reynolds, of Liverpool, observing that the
latter gentleman, who was a member of the Corporation
of Liverpool, had tabulated the pedigrees of a number of
horses which had lived during the last 100 years, and
probably knew more about the history of cart horses than
almost any other man living. He would also suggest the
name of Mr. Townley Parker for the Council.

A discussion ensued, in which itwas explained that the
list of the Council which had been published was not a
final one, and Captain IIeaton's proposal was withdrawn
on that understanding.

On the motion of Mr. James Howard, seconded by
Mr. J. K. Fowler, it wa3 resolved that a meeting of the
members of the Association should be convened for the
first Monday in May, at the same place.

Mr. F. Street agreed, at the request of the meeting,
to continue to act for the present as honorary secretary,
and the President, Mr. J. Howard, Captain Heaton, and
Mr. T. Brown were appointed as a temporary committee
to act with Mr. Street in making the necessary pre-
liminary arrangements.

On the motion of Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., seconded by
Mr. J. Howard, a vote of thanks was given to the Earl
of Ellesmere for taking the chair on that occasion, and
for accepting the office of President.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

ROYAL OF ENGLAND.

Monthly Council, Wednesday, April 3rd, 1878.
Present— Col. Kingscote, C.B., M.P., President, in the
chair ; Earl Cathcart, the Earl of Lichfield, the Earl of
Powis, Lord Chesham, Lord Vernon, the Hon. W. Eger-
ton, M.P., Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., M.P., Sir M-
Lopes, Bart., M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart.})
Mr. Aveling, Mr. Aylmer, Mr. Booth, Mr. Bowly
Mr. Cantrell, Mr. Chandos Pole-Gell, Mr. Davies,
Mr. Dent, Mr. Druce, Mr. Evans, Mr. Frankish, Mr-
Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Howard, Mr. Leeds, Mr. Mcintosh
Mr. Martin, Mr. Pain, Mr. Randell, Mr. Ransome, Mr. •
Rawlence, Mr. Sanday. Mr. Shuttleworth, Lieut.-Col.,
Turbervill, Mr. Jabez Turner, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Wells,
Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wise, Professor Simonds,
and Dr. Voelcker.

The following new members were elected : —
Arkwright, William, of Sutton Scarsdale, Chesterfield.
Birch, Robert W. P., of 3, Westminster-chambers, S.W.
Blundell, Fredk. J., of 24, Portland-street, Southampton,

Chandler, Cornelius, of the Vails, Haresfield, Stonehouse.

Dalton, George, of Soho Foundry, Leeds.

Darley, Mrs., of Barmoor, Kirby Moorside, York.

Davis, James Charles, of Tregonan St. Ewe, St. Austell.

Fry, James Collings, of Oldfield, Marshfield, Chippenham.

Golden, William, of Huddersfield.

Harding, Benjamin, of Colehurst Manor, Market Drayton.

Hatt, Richard, of Queensford, Dorchester, Wallingford, Oxon

Hoddinott, Francis, of Waterhatch Farm. Winchcombe.

Hylton, Lord, of Ammerdown Park, Radstock, Bath.

Inskip, Wickham, of Caldecote, Baldock.

Jeffryes, Robert, of Ormskirk.

Nicholl, Mrs., of Merthy Mawr, Bridgend.

Parnell, Alfred, of Walls Court, Stapleton.

Peck, John Henry, of Wigan.

Piatt, William, of Wigan.

Rickards, Robert, of Castleford, Cardiff.

Robinson, James, of West Pinchbeck, Spalding.

Rush, Joseph A., of East Haddon, Northampton.

Seddon, R. B., of the Firs, Hindley, Wigan.

Simpson, Henry L., of South Lea Farm, Datchet, Windsor .

Slater, George, of Park Farm, Dalton-in-Furness,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,.

37C

Slater, William, of Park, Dalton-in-Purness.

Veruon, Arthur, of Hi^h Wycombe.

Watuey, Norman, of Queeuswood, Beddinglon, Croydon.

Wyer, llichard Henry, of Wyke, Much Weulock, Salop.

FINANCES.

Colonel Kingscote, M.P. (Chairman), presented the
Kepovt, from which it appeared that the Secretary's
receipts during the past mouth had been duly examined
by the Committee, and by Messrs. Quitter, Ball, and Co.,
the Society's accountants, and found correct. The
balance in the hands of the bankers on March 31 was
£1,239 Cs. 5d., and £3,000 remaining on deposit. The
quarterly statement of subscriptions and arrears to March
31, and the quarterly cash account, were laid on the
table, the amount of arrears being £482. The Committee
recommended that the names of thirty members,
whose addresses cannot be found, or whose subscriptions
from other causes are not recoverable, be struck off the
books. Arrears, amounting to £184, have been recovered
by Messrs. Garrard, James, and Wolfe, at a cost to the
Society, including two County Court cases (iu both of
which the Society was successful), of £30 9s. 6d'. The
increased and still increasing operations of the Society
have led the Committee to consider whether Mr. Jenkins
is adequately lemunerated for the additional labour and
responsibility involved in the performance of the duties
of Secretary and Editor, and they recommend, as an
acknowledgment of the high sense entertained by the
Council of the ability and energy shown by Mr. Jenkins
in the performance of those duties, that an addition of
£200 per annum be made to his salary.
This report was adopted.

Journal.
Mr. Dent (Chairman) reported the recommendations
of the Committee with reference to obtaining reports on
the Paris Exhibition, and on the exhibition of live stock
and implements, and the trials of sheaf-binders in con-
nection with the Bristol Meeting. The Editor has
suggested a list of subjects having reference to French
agriculture, which were deserving of notice in the Journal,
and the Committee recommend that he be empowered to
obtain the necessary information, and to write a series of
papers on such subjects. This report was adopted.

On the motion of Mr. Dent the Council granted a
vote of 100 guineas to defray the expenses of a report on
the agricultural features of the Paris Exhibition,

CHEMICAL.

Mr. Wells (Chairman) reported that the Committee
had received with regret a communication from Mr.
Lavves, informing them of his intention to retire from
taking any part in the conduct of the experiments at
Woburn, and they recommended that the thanks of the
Council be given to Mr. Lawes for the trouble he had
hitherto taken in the conduct of these experiments . Iu
consequence of the retirement of Mr. Lawes they had
drawn up, and now recommended for adoption, a memo-
randum in connection with the management of Crawley
Parol, and the carrying outof the experiments at Woburn,

Iu reference to the Committee's report, presented to the
Council at their last meeting on the subject of the esta-
blishment of a laboratory on the Society's premises, they
recommended its adoption, subject to the approval by the
Couucil of the plan and specifications now produced, and
in case of its approval thoy asked that the Secretary bo
authorised to refer the plan to the district surveyor and
the sanitary authorities.

Mr. Wells, in moving the adoptiou of this report
paid a tribute to the exertions whieli Mr. Lawes had
made iu establishing and carrying out the existing scheme
of experiments at Woburn, and stated how great a loss
the Committee felt they should sustain by Mr. Lawes's
withdrawal. The Committee, however, felt that it would
be their duty to endeavour to render the experiments as
reliable as possible in the future, notwithstanding the loss
of Mr. Lawes's services.

The Earl of Lichfield, in seconding the adoption of
the report, dwelt especially upon the vote of thanks to
Mr. Lawes, and stated that he quite agreed with the
Chairman of the Committee in his expression of the great
regret with which the Committee had received Mr. Lawes's
resignation, and of the disappointment that they had felt
that the efforts of the leading members of the Committee
to induce Mr. Lawes to reconsider his decision had proved
unavailing. The loss to the Society of his great and well-
known experience iu these matters could not be over-
rated, but at the same time he felt that the Society could
place reliance upon the skill and knowledge of their own
chemist, whom he firmly believed would be able to con-
duct these experiments to a successful issue.

This report having been adopted, it was moved by Mr.
Aveling, seconded by Mr. Charles Howaed, and
carried unanimously, that Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart.,
be placed on the Chemical Committee and the Wohurn
Sub-Committee.

The Committee presented the following quarterly
report, which they had received from the Society's con-
sulting chemist ; and, on the motion of the Chairman, it
was ordered to be published in the agricultural news-
papers : —

1. A sample of cake, sold as the " best Pure Linseedcake
that can be made," was sent to me for analysis and opinion on
the 15th of January, 1878, by Mr, Martin Pate, Ely, Cam-
bridgeshire, and was found to have the following composi-
tion :—

Moisture 9'94<

Oil 1025

*Albuminous compounds 26-56

Mucilage, starch, and digestible fibre 37-14

Woody fibre (cellulose) 'J-70

Mineral matter (ash) G-41

100.00
*Cuntaiuing nitrogen 4-25

The cake was poor iu oil, aud had been made from anything
but clean linseed, for it was contaminated with buckwheat,
broken corn, and small weed seeds, hi this and the two fol-
lowing cases no further information could be obtained in

576

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

answer to the usual inquiries respecting the sellers of the
cakes, 'Sec.

2. Mr. E. C. Clarke, Manor Farm, Haddenham, Thame,
Oxon, sent a sample of linseedcake for an opinion as to its
genuineness. The examination showed that it was not a
"enuine linseedcake, but an adulterated or inferior compound
linseedcake, containing, amongst other ingredients, in addition
to linseed, cotton cake and locust bean meal.

3. A sample of oilcake was sent by Mr. Josh. MackiDder,
Peterborough, who specially requested me to test it for the
presence of rape or other seeds.

The cake, which was branded [l] Pure, had the following
composition : —

Moisture S-01

Oil 11-15

"Albuminous compounds 24-44

Mucilage, starch, and digestible fibre 37'52

Woody fibre (cellulose) 1103

^Mineral matter (ash) 7 So

lOO'OO

^Containing ni'rogen 3-91

jTncluding sand 2-80

This cake was made from dirty linseed, containing, in addi-
tion to nearly 3 per cent, of sand, rape, wild mustard, polygo-
num, and numerous other small weedseeds, which usually occur
in badlj-screened linseed. Moreover, it was an old stale cake,
slightly mouldy at the edges, and had a disagreeable rancid
smell like old oil paint, and certainly was not a cake which
should have been sold a3 pure linseedcake and branded [l]
Pure.

4. In the last quarterly report reference was made to a sam-
ple of linseedcake, sent by Mr. Lister, Upper Morion Grange.
Retford, which wa9 sold as pure, and found by me to be an
inferior linseedcake made from badly-screened linseed.

A letter has since been received from Mr. Lister, who informs
mc that the matter has been settled, he having obtained a re-
duction in the price nearly to what I stated should be made by
the dealer — a reduction, Mr. Lister says, he should not have
received had it not b?eu for my analysis and report.

I have also to direct attention to the occurrence of castor-
oil beans, which 1 detected by the microscope, in a sample of a
compound feeding-cake that proved injurious to cattle.

C. The following is an analysis, showing the composition of
a sample of a " Meat and Bone Manure," sent by Mr. Clement
Baguley, The Oldflelds, Tulford, Wrexham :—

Moisture 20-17

*Organic matter 23-96

Oxide of iron and alumina * 8-73

Phosphate of lime -87

Carbonate of lime 5-68

Alkaline salts and magnesia 5-39

Insoluble siliceous matter (sand) ... 29-20

100-00

*Containing [nitrogen 1-98

Equal to ammonia 241

The manure was thus very wet, and contained 29 per cent.
of sand, and about 20 per cent, of other mineral matters of no
intrinsic fertilising value. It yielded only 2$ per cent, of am-
monia, and although sold as a "Bone and Meat Manure" did
not contain quite 1 per cent, of phosphate of lime. It was

scarcely worth £2s. 2s. a ton. Mr. Baguley bought 10 tons,
at £5 10s. per ton, from the manufacturer. Not finding the
bulk, on delivery, equal to the sample by which it was bought,
Mr. Baguley went to the works, and wrote to me that he was
satisfied with the appearance of things, and finally arranged to
pay according to my valuation. Mr. Baguley also put into my
hands the following letter, which he had received from the
vendors : —

Dear Sir, — Yours of the 8th instant is only to hand this
morning. If the sample was fairly taken, the manure is cer-
tainly not worth what I have charged you for it.

There is no mistake in the article sent that I can find out,
and I cannot account for its inferiority uuless the fact of its
being the face of the heap, the first sent out, and the long ex-
posure to the atmosphere at the doorway, may account for it
in some way.

Its not having been put (through the disintegrator, and,
through being screened, possibly the richer part and pieces of
bone may have been left out, may also have something to do
with it.

However, as the manure as supplied is not of the value
charged — that is, if sample sent to Dr. Voelcker fairly repre-
sents the bulk — and as Dr. V.'s valuation is below what I can
sell it at to manure-makers. I think the fair course for both
parties will be for you to return it to me, and to charge rae with
all payments you have made, and I will replace it with some
of what 1 am now sending out.

I shall be glad if you will call upon me next time you are in
Liverpool, and I will let you see what manure-makers are pay-
ing for it, and also let you see the article now we have got
half-way through it.

Was sample taken from each or only from some of the bags ?
— Yours truly, * * *

C. Baguley, Esq.
The Oldflelds, Pulford, Wrexham.

The precediug letter was accompanied by the following
note addressed to me :—

The Oldflelds, Pulford, Wrexham, 14, 3, 78.
Dear Sir, — In answer to your last, I beg to enclose filled
up form, likewise Mr. * * *own explanation, which I am in-
clined to believe.

I had sown the manure before receiving this, on the agree-
ment that he returned the deficiency, if a ny, in value between
price paid and your valuation. He now writes to say that he
has forwarded 2 tons blood manure, value £9 per ton, which
he thinks will amply repay the deficiency. It is possible that
I may ask your opinion of that same.

I remain, yours respectfully,
Dr. Voelcker. Clement Baguley.

7. A sample of " Nitrophosphate Manure "for grass, sent by
Mr. George Wigham, Laverick Hall, Cramlington.soldat £9 a
ton lets 12s. for cash, on analysis was found to have the
following composition : —

Moisture 1729

^Organic matter ... ... ... ... 9.15

Phosphate of lime ... .., ,,, ... 1-61

Oxide of iron and alumina ... ... ,.. 4-66

Carbonate and sulphate of lime ... ... 2-49

Alkaline salts and magnesia ... ... 2-85

Insoluble siliceous matter (sand) ... ... 4395

^Containing nitrogen
Equal to ammonia ,.

100
•49
•59

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

377

This manure contained only about 1^ per cent, of phos-
phate of lime and loss ammonia than common farm-yard
manure. It contained 41 per cent, of sand, much carbonate or
lime and other earthy matters of no intrinsic fertilizing value
and was scarcely worth as a manure 15s. per ton.

Mr. Wigham bought three tons at £9 a ton, from the Ceres
Nitrophosphate Compauy, Ceres Works, Stratford, London, E.,
payment to be made to the order of Mr. Otto Schleicher.

The Ceres Nitrophosphate Company's circular embodies
printed certificate of analysis by Mr. F. Sutton, analytical and
consulting chemist to the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture,
showing the following composition of the Company's grass
manure :

Moisture ... ... ... ... ... 13"

Organic matter ... ... ... ... 35-10

Biphosphate of lime 8-70

Equal to tribasic phosphate of lime ... 13-70

Insoluble phosphates
Sulphate of lime and alkali

3-91
13-57

2 5-2

3-06

12-24

Fbamois Sutton.

Nitrogen

Equal to ammonia

Equal to sulphate of ammonia
(Signed)

The manure was obtained through Mr. Joseph Arm-
strong Herdoian, High Horton, Cramlington, a farmer's son,
who in answer to an advertisement in one of the New-
castle papers was appointed agent to the Company a short
time ago.

The invoice was sent to Mr. Wigham direct from the Ceres
Nitrophosphate Company's Works, Warlow Road, Stratford,
E., with the following notice : —

Our forwarding cleric omitted to pay the carriage here, and
we should therefore take it as a favour if you would kindly do
so at your end, and deduct it from invoice.

Yours truly,

Ceres Nitrophosphate Co.,

Otto Schleicher.

Mr. Wigham had to pay £4 2s. for carriage — that is a great
deal more than the three tons of this so-called grass-manure
was worth.

8. Another sample of grass-manure, sold at £8 10s. a ton,
by the same Ceres Nitrophosphate Company, was sent to me
by Mr. William Bannister, farmer, Westdeau, Lewes.
It had the following composition : —

Moisture 18-10

*Organic matter ... ... ... ... 7"15

Phosphate of lime ... ... ... ... 1"04

Oxide of iron and alumina ... ... ... 4 77

Carbonate and sulphate of lime 24-20

Alkaline salts and magnesia ... ... 2*21

Insoluble siliceous matter (sand) 42-53

♦Containing nitrogen

Equal to ammonia

A comparison of the composition of the samples sent to me
by Mr. Wigham with that of the sample sent by Mr. Ban-
nister shows that both samples may be considered practi-
cally to be the same. Like the sample sent by Mr. Wig-
ham, the sample analysed for Mr. Bannister is scarcely worth
15s. per ton.

Mr. Bannister obtained the manure through the Ceres
Nitrophosphate Company's agent?, Messrs. J. and N. C.
Bull, Newhaven, Sussex, who, Mr. Bannister informs me, were
only appointed a few months ago, and who likewise Btate that
they have no liability, not being allowed to receive payment,
and whose commission, by their own confession, is £1 per
ton.

Having had previous transactions with Messrs. Bull, ami
being much pressed for an order, Mr. Bannister at last con-
sented, on condition that the manure should be analysed.

The invoice was sent to Mr. Bannister direct from the
office of the Ceres Nitrophosphate Company, Warlow lload
Stratford, and curiously enough, with the same intimation
which Mr. Wigham received, namely : —
Mr. W. Bannister.

Dear Sir, — Our forwarding clerk has omitted to pay
the carriage here, and we should therefore he gl-.id if you
would kiudly do 30 at your |own end, and deduct it from in-
voice.— Yours truly,

Ceres Nitrophosphate Co., Otto Schleicher,
general bristol.
Mir. Shuttlewortii reported that the improvement
of the road by the " Black Boy," leading to the show-
yard, will be completed by the time of the show; that
the Bristol Local Committee will uot be disposed to incur
the expense of a band : and that the goods manager of
the Midland Railway ha3 been requested to send to the
Secretary a tariff of charges for the conveyauce of stock
and implements from the Clifton Down Station to the
showyard. The Committee recommended that the grand
stand be 300 ft- long and five seats in depth, with en-
trance at each end ,- and that the charge for a daily ticket
to the grand stand he one shilling. This report was
adopted.

judges' selection.
Mr. Brandretii Gibbs presented a list of gentlemen
whom the Committee recommended should be invited to
act as judges of implements and stock at the Bristol
meeting. The recommendation of judges for Devon Long-
wools, Somerset, Dorset, Dartmoor, and Exmoor sheep,
as well as for butter and cheese, had been referred to the
Bristol Local Committee. This report was adopted.
House Extension.
Earl Cathcart (chairman) reported that the com-
mittee had had under their consideration the proposal
to build a laboratory at the back of the Society's house
aud the suggestion that the Society should obtain more
commodious premises than they now occupy. They
recommended that, pending the result of the proposed iu
quiry of the local authorities as to the practicability of
building the laboratory, the consideration of the question
referred to them by the Couucil be deferred. This report

was adopted.

Showyard Contracts.

Mr. Brandretii Gibbs reported that the contractor
had been instructed to put up notices on the hoardings of
the showyard at Bristol to the effect that the Society-
would not be responsible for any injuiy arising to
persons walking, riding, or driving about 'the sh.wyard
during the progress of the works. The Committee

3/8

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

recommend, that the Surveyor be instructed in several
matters of detail relating to the Bristol showyard ; and
that the Secretary be empowered to make the usual con
tracts for the supply of refreshments. The Committee
had received the report of the Surveyor, which showed that
the progress of the showyard works was very satisfactory.
This report was adopted.

The following letter from the private secretary to the
Lord Mayor, conveying resolutions passed at a public
meeting held at the Mansion House, on March 13th, was
laid before the Council : —

The Mansion House, Loudon, E.C.

March 22, 1878.

Dear Sir, — I have the honour to communicate to you, for
the information of the lloyat Agricultural Society of England,
that, at a meeting held here on the 13th inst., under the pre-
sidency of the Lord Mayor, it was unanimously resolved that
it was desirable to promote the holding of a great agricultural
exhibition in London next year under the auspices of the
lloyal Agricultural Society of England. At the same lime a
committee of noblemen and gentlemen was formed to carry
out that object, to collect subscriptions, and, generally, to co-
operate with your Council. That Committee has since met at
the Mansion House, and appointed some of their number to
act as an executive body, the Lord Mayor being its treasurer
and Chairman. 1 hey have also determined to leave to the dis-
cretion of the lloyal Agricultural Society the question of the
site of the proposed exhibition.

The Lord Mayor lias made a public appeal, through the
Press, for co-operation and support in the work of the Com-
mittee, and he has every confidence in the success pf the move-
ment.

The Mansion House Committee will look to your Counci
for advice aud assistance in carrying cut the objects entrusted
to them, and will be glad to adopt any suggestions which the
Royal Agricultural Society may make to ensure the successful
result anticipated.

I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

William J. Soulsby,

H. M. Jenkins, Estj. Secretary.

A letter was read from Mr. Fleming, thanking the
Co incil for his election as an honorary member of the
Society.

A letter from the Home Secretary, inquiring what
had been the effect of legislation in reference to the adul-
teration of grain, was referred to the Seeds and Plant-
Diseases Committee.

A letter was read from Mr. Smith, of Woolston, on
Steam Cultivation.

The President reported that the following noblemen
and gentlemen would represent the Society at the Agri-
cultural Congress to be held at Paris from the 10th to the
20th of June inclusive.

The President.

Duke of Bedford.

Errl Cathcart.

Earl Spencer.

Lord Chesham.

Hon. W. Eserton, M.P.

Si.- A. K. Macdonald, B:irt.

The following list was prepared of members of
Council who retire by rotation, but are desirous of re-

Mr. James Caird, C.B., F.R.S.

Mr. J. D. Dent.

Mr (Jhamlos-Pole.Gell.

Mr. Brandreth Gibbs.

Mr. W. Wells.

The Secretary.

election, showing the number of attendances at Council
and Committees of each of such members during the
past two years, in accordance with the following section
of Bye-law No 13 : —

A list of the members of Council who retire by rota-
tion, but are desirous of re-election, showing the number of
attendances at Council and Committee meetings of each
of such members during the past two years, shall be prepared
at the April Council, and published immediately in at least
two agricultural papers. Any two governors or members
may nominate in writing to the Secretary before the first day
of May following a member or members of the Society desir-
ous of being nominated for election on the Council ; these
nominations, with the names of the proposer anl seconder
shall also be added to the previously published list, and the
entire list shall be published in the same agricultural papers
immediately after the May Council, and be also printed for
the use of members at the general meeting in May.

Attendance, peom the Rising of the BiBiiiNCtnAMMiiEiisa

IN 1876, TO THE PEE8ENT TllIE.

Names.

Amos, Charles Edwards, 5, Cedar's Road,
CUpharn Common, Surrey

* Ark wright, J. Hungerford (elected March
7th, 1877), Hampton Court, Leominster,
Herefordshire

Booth, Thomas Christopher, Warlaby,
Northallerton, Yorkshire

*Bowly, Edward, ^Siddington House,
Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Davies, David Reynolds, Agden Hall,
Lymm, Cheshire

*Druce, Joseph, Eynsham, Oxford

Edmonds, William John, Southrope
House, Lechlade, Gloucestershire

Egerton, The Hon. Wilbraham, M.P.,
Rostherne Manor, Knutsford, Cheshire

*Frankish, William, Limber Magna,
Ulceby, Lincolnshire

"Hemsley, John, Shelton, Newark,
Nottinghamshire

Lawes, John Bennett, Rothamsted, St.
Alban's, Hertfordshire

Leicester, Earl of, Holkham Hall, Wells,
Norfolk

Lindsay, Colonel R. Loj-d, M.P.,
Lockinge, Wantage, Berkshire

Masfen, R. Hanbury, Pendeford, Wolver-
hampton, Staffordshire

Musgrave, Sir R. C, Bart., Edenhall,
Penrith, Cumberland

Odams, James (elected March 13th, 1878),
The Grange, Bishop Stortford, Hert-
fordshire

*Randell, Charles, Chadbmy, Evesham,
Worcestershire

*Rawlence, James, Bulbridge, Wilton,
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Sanday, George Henry, Wensley House,
Bedale, Yorkshire

Shuttleworth, Joseph, Hartsholme Hall,
Lincoln

Stratton, Richard, The Duft'ryn, New-
port, Monmouthshire

Turbervill, Lieut. - Colonel Picton
Ewenny Abbey, Bridgend, Glamorgan
shire

■Welby-Grcgory, Sir William Earle
Bart., M.P., Newton House, Folking-
ham, Lincolnshire

* Whitehead, Charles, Barming House
Maidstone, Kent

Wise, George (elected March 13th, 1878),
Woodcote, Warwick

Mon. | Committees

Coun-
ci18' |No. of]

r°taHMeet,-
14, , ings.

At-
tend-
ances.

Thoso gentlemen have attended Special Councils (total 1)

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

rs

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society was
recently held in their chambers, No. 3 George IV. Bridge
Mr. Smith, Stevenson Mains, in the chair.

The directors having expressed their deep regret at the loss
sustained by the Society by the death of the Right lion. Sir
Wm. Gibson-Craig of Riccarton, Bart., treasurer of the Society,
and of Mr, Eliott Lockhart, of Bortliwickbrae, a former mem
ber of the Board, it was remitted to the Secretary to draw up
resolutions of condolence previous to the next general meeting.

On a letter being- read from Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, C.A.,
asking the directors to conjoin with him iu the ollice of auditor
to the Society the name of his partner, Mr. John Turnbull
Smith, C.A., the directors unanimously agreed to the request,
and appointed Mr. Smith accordingly.

Copies of the report on the present state of the agriculture
of Scotland, arranged under the auspices of the Society, to be
presented at the International Agricultural Congress at Paris
in June next, were submitted ; and the Secretary stated that
the copies intended for the Society of Agriculturists of France
would be despatched by the earliest post.

The Board resolved to issue the report free to members of
the Society, but that those wishing to have the publication
must make application to the Secretary, No. 3, George IV.
Bridge, Edinburgh.

The Secretary intimated that the annual examination of
candidates for the Society's veterinary certificate was fued to
take place on Tuesday and Wednesday the lGth and 17th
current, between the hours often and four; and that the prac-
tical examination would be held in Mr. Buist's auction mart,
Lauriston, on Monday the 15th, at 10 a.m., candidates being
required to enter their names with the Secretary on or before
he 12th eurrent.

The secretary reported that the competition of thoroughbred
stallions had taken place at Dumfries on the 20th ult., when
the prize had been awarded to Mr. Michael Teenan, Lochside,
Dumfries, for his stallion " Loaf Sugar." Letters to the con-
veners of the counties connected with the show and to the
Provost of Dumfries, as to the nomination of the local com-
mittee, were submitted and approved of.

The Board approved of letters being addressed to the cod.
veners of the counties in the district of the show in regard to
the auxiliary subscription.

At a meeting of the Society's Council on Agricultural
Education, held on Wednesday, Mr. John Turnbull Smith, C.A.,
was appointed joint-examiner, with Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie,
C.A., in book-keeping and accounts. The report of the ex-
aminations was afterwards submitted, from which it appeared
that the written examinations were held on Monday and
Tuesday, and the oral examination on Wednesday, and resulted in
the following passing : —

Fou DirLOMA. — John Henderson, East Elrington, Iiaydon
Bridge.

Primrose M'Connell, Castle Mains, New Cumnock.

William M'Cracken, Blackball, Kirkwhtlpiugton, New-
castle-on-Tyne.

John Edward Nounen, Degeberg, Tidkoping, Sweden.

Robert WaJbce, Auchenbraek, Tynron, Thornhill.

John Bramwell, Blackaddie, Sanquhar.

Robert Carr, Felkington, Norham, Bcrwick-ou-Tweed.

John Johnstone Sharp, Leiiston, Upper Keith.

For First-Class Certificate. — William Malcolm Au-
derson, Deuchrie, Prestonkirk.

For Secoxd-Class ( lktuicate,— John Malcoin Aitken,
Crielf.
James Gillespie, Half Mark, Corsock, Dalbeattie.
James Spencer lnuos, 22, Fettes-row, Edinburgh.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AND
MANURE ANALYSIS IN SCOTLAND.

The agricultural experimental spirit in Scotland has not
been idle for a year or two back. Three years ago a few
leading agriculturists in the north-east, beaded by the Marquis
of Huntley, having failed to get the Highland and Agricul-
tural Society to move as they wisjjed in the matter, subscribed
for about £1,200, and pluckily started five experimental
stations in different parts of Aberdeenshire, the crops grown
on which have as yet been turnips. Last year, about the time
that the Highland Society's scheme for the conduct of two
agricultural statious in the Lothians was approaching maturity,
the recently-formed Chemical Agricultural Association for
Scotland resolved to carry on experiments with the various
kinds of artificial manures on a small but carefully-arranged
scale. The chemist to the Association, Mr. Falconer King,
Edinburgh City Analyst, undertook to conduct the experi-
ments. Accordingly early iu 1877 ground was secured at
Golden Acre, luverleith Row, near Edinburgh. Originally it
was intended to grow oats on some of the plots, and turnips
on the rest. The former, however, owing to the backward
season, were abandoned. Five different kinds of artificial
manure were employed on the turnips, which were of the
purple-top yellow variety, were sowu on the 6th of June, and
thinned on the 27th of that month, The results of the ex-
periments have been published in Mr. King's annual report
just issued to members of the Association, and are as fol-
lows : —

Weight of
Plot. Manure. Cost. Turnips.

»{

*{

Nothing

Peruvian guano, 3| cwt... "i
Dissolved bones, 5 cwt.... J
Mineral Superphosphate,"}

7 cwt /

Sulphate of ammonia, 3 t

cwt >

M. Superphosphate, 7 cwt.
Nitrate of soda, 4 cwt
Bone-meal, 10 cwt. ..

Bone-ash, 7 cwt ")

S. of ammonia, 2 cwt. ... j

4 4 9 20 6

18 6 19

Lb.

11

0 26

wt. ■)

4 11

6

IS 5

0

26

4 2

0

16 19

0

0

4 :;

G

20 9

2

4

The best result so far has been obtained by the use of bone-
ash and sulphate of ammonia, which Mr. King says he did no
quite expect. This manure was not the cheapest of the v arious
mixtures, but it has evidently been the most efficacious.
Pretty close, however, on it came No. 2, composed of Peru-
vian guano and dissolved bones, but the price in this case was
a little higher. The bone-meal alone, as might have been ex-
pected, did not yield satisfactory, but it should tell On the
succeeding crops. There is uothiug better for putting heart
iu the land, and giving quality both to grain, root, and grass
crops, than bone-meal, but it of course requires a stimulant,
for the lirst year at any rate. The yield has been the same
from nitrate of soda added to miueral superphosphates as
from sulphate of ammonia added to the superphosphate, only
the price is slightly against the nitrate, because 1 owt. mote

330

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of it was allowed per acre than of sulphate of ammonia. In
neither case, however, were the results so good as from bone
manures applied in conjunction with more stimulating material.
This supports the general experience of Scotch farmers who
have not so much faith in mineral superphosphates and nitrate
of soda as in bone manures. The plot where we got nothing
had a wonderfully good crop. Next year experiments are to
be conducted on the plots with the view to test the lasting
effect of the various manures.

The laud on which the crops were grown is of very equa,
quality, and was thoroughly trenched in the spring of last
year. The main objects of the experiments are to ascertain
whether common old ruauures, such as Peruvian guano and
dissolved bones, though dear at first sight, are not, in the end
the cheapest article ; whether dissolved or undissolved phos-
phates are best for a root crop; and whether nitrogen,
derived from nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, is the
best. — Field.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

CENTRAL.

The ordinary monthly Couucil Meeting was held
recently at the Rooms of the Society of Arts, Adelphi, Sir G.
Jenkiuson, M. P., the President occupying the chair.

After the usual preliminary business, the meeting proceeded
to consider the first report of the Joint Sub-Committee of the
Central and Associated Chambers and the Farmers' Club on
the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill.

Mr. Adkins moved the followiug resolution on the Agenda
paper :_« That this Council cordially approves of the Con-
tagious Diseases (Animals) Bill; and, while thanking Her
Majesty's Government for their prompt introduction of the
measure, trusts that no material alteration may be made in its
provisions, and that it may speedily become law." lie said
he felt very great pleasure in proposing that motion. Looking
a\i the character of the Bill, he thought they would all agree
in thanking the Government for bringing forward such a
measure ; and he felt that the able report of the Joint Sub-
Committee comprised all that need be said about its provisons.
Under the existing law very great difficulty had been ex-
perienced by many farmers in getting licenses necessary for
the removal of their animals, and that was a very great draw-
back to the value of the licensing system.
Mr. T. WillsON seconded the motion.
Mr. Stoker, M.P., agreed with Mr. Adkins as to the
difficulty the farmers had experienced in obtaining licenses,
but thought that difficulty would now be entirely done away
with, and that the views of the Joint Sub-Committee would be
met by the proposals of the Government. He would suggest
that members of the County Boards about to be established
should have power to grant licenses. In his opinion such
power should not be placed in the hands of clergymen, because
they had not the same kind of experience as agriculturists, and
were, therefore, not likely to exercise the same care and
judgment.

The resolution was then adopted.

Mr. T. Duckham moved, " That this Council deprecates
any attempt being made to exempt from slaughter at the
ports animals from certain countries, considering that such a
course would greatly increase the risk of importing disease,
while a uniform treatment of all foreign animals would
secure a steadier trade and more uniform price." It must, he ob-
served, be obvious to every one who reflected on the matter that
the preservation of the health of their herds and flocks was essen-
tial, not only to the prosperity of the country, but to secure;meat
being oifered at a reasonable price to the consumer. He knew
that great efforts were being made by interested parties to
obtain, by means of gross misrepresentations, very serious
alterations in the provisions of the Bill, and even to induce

the Government to set it aside altogether; but the c:untry
had had sufficient experience to put .it on its guard against
such attempts in the severe loss that had been sustained year
after year through the introduction of diseases of foreign
origiu. It was evident that if a pernicious virus continued
to be brought into the country they would never be free from
it. Under the regulations for the stamping out of the cattle
plague that was imported in 1S65* the country became free,
not merely from cattle-plaguej but also from pleuro-pneumoni i
and foot-and-mouih disease, and when the same kind of
regulations were carried out last year there was a similar
immunity. Such facts ought to convince the nation that their
herds and flocks would soon right themselves if good aDd
judicious regulations were adopted to prevent the introduction
of those diseases which had been so disastrous for many years
to the English farmers. If shiploads of people were being
brought into this great metropolis while they were suffering
from small-pox, or scarlet fever, or typhus, or any other conta'
gious disease, the public would be unanimous in saying, "Don't
bring such people here." That represented what farmers
wanted for the security of their flocks and herds. In these
days of ready transit the evil was much greater than it was
formerly. Then animals had to travel much slower, and the
virus became proportionately weakened ; now diseases were
brought in, as it were, fresh amongst them, and sent through
the country rapidly, and the results were much more disastrous
than they were 30 or 49 years ago, when there were not the
same facilities for spreading disease.

Mr. Lywood, in seconding the resolution, said, as a large
flockmaster, he felt very strongly that there should be every
kind of protection that could possibly be afforded to their flocks
and herds. One thing which he had not seen mentioned in the
newspapers, and thus brought before the mind of the consumer,
was that part of their prize animals were withdrawn from this
country, and that some of their offspring were afterwards
brought here. Considering that they sent away some of their
very best blood for the purpose of breeding, they should surely,
even on that ground, do what they could to secure adequate
protection against the importation of disease.

The Chairman said, perhaps it might be well here to
mention that the First Report of the Joint Sub-Committees
had been submitted to the Duke of Richmond, and that a reply
had been received.

The SecaETARY then read the following reply :—

" Veterinary Department, Privy Council Office,

44, Parliament-street, Westminster, S.W.

" Sir,— I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the

12th instant, forwarding first report of the Joint Sub-Corn-

mittee of the Farmers' Club and the Council of the .Central

and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, on the subject of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

381

the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, now before the House
of Lords, and to state that it shall be submitted to the Lords
of tlie Council. 1 am, Sir,

" Your obedient servant,

" Chas. Peel."

The Chairman said he wished to express a hope that the
Select Committee of the House of Lords, which was now
sitting on the Bill, would not in any material degree alter it
Its provisions appeared to him to be on the whole good, and
he hoped it would speedily come down to the Lower House
and be passed into law without having undergone any ma-
terial alteration. He was sure that it would operate benefi-
cially for the consumer as well as the producer. There was
one main point which ought never to be lost sight of, but
should be repeated again and again, namely, that the restric-
tive measures which had hitherto been established and en-
forced, and which had been so much complained of, had not
affected the priee of meat or made meat dear ; and so long as
that was the case he did not think any oue could complain
justly of their claimiug protection against disease for their
herds and flocks.

The resolution was tlieu agreed to.

Mr. T. Willson said a great deal of the best grazing laud o .
his county was in the open fields, there being often from 100 to
120 bullocks grazing together in one field, and he saw nothing
in the Bill which would enable the owners of such animals
in the event of a diseased animal being discovered among the
herd, to remove the sound animals till after a period of 28
days — a state of things which threateued destruction to the
whole of them. In order to provide for that case lie would
move the following •. " That the local authorities should have
power to permit the removal, for the purposes of food, shelter,
or isolation of apparently sound animals which have been
herded or brought in contact witli diseased auimals.

Mr. St. John Ackers, in seconding this proposal, said he
believed the Committee desired to avoid throning any obstacle
in the way of passing the Bill, and therefore had only sug-
gested a few alterations which might help to make it work
more smoothly. They strongly wished to see the Bill pass >
and would rather see it pass without any alterations than
press amendments which might endanger its passing. He had
however, no doubt that the amendment now proposed would
be cordially accepted by those who had charge of the
measure.

Mr. J.vbez Turner thought it would conduce to the better
understanding of Mr. Willson' s resolution if he mentioned
that the Bill transferred powers which were now vested in the
local authorities to the Frivy Council, aud among these
powers was that of prohibiting or sanctioning the removal of
sound animals in such cases as Mr. Willson referred to.

The Chairman said no doubt some provision was required
to meet such cases ; but he thought it would be rather
dangerous to pass such a resolution as that now proposed, be-
cause if it were carried out there would be nothing to prevent
auimals from being removed to a distance of ten miles. There
should at all events be a stipulation that animals should not
be removed beyond the farm to which they belonged (Hear,
hear).)

Mr. J. Howard siid it appeared to him that under the
Bill as it stood there would be no difficulty in removing cattle
from one part of a farm to another part. The question
turned on the definition to be given to the word "place;''
and if an inspector had declared a particular part of a farm,
or a particular cattle shed to be infected, it would not follow

that the owner would not be allowed (o remove animal* to
another part of his owu farm.

The Chairman said the main thing which farmers had
pressed for was the necessity of isolation, and if they asked
that this matter should be taken out of the hands o1 the
Privy Council and left to the local authorities they might be
told that they were blowing hot aud cold.

Mr. Se.vrby (Lincolnshire) contended that the Bill pro-
vided so well for the requirements of owners of cattle that it
would be best to leave the matter in the hands of the Privy
Council. They all knew that there would be great difficulty
in passing the Bill, and by suggesting alterations they would
of course be increasing the difficulty. He thought they
should be contented with the resolution already passed (Hear,
hear).

The Chairman thought that such an alteration as that
under consideration would be most properly discussed in a
Committee of the House of Commons.

Mr. T. Willson said that was the reason why he had pro-
posed it.

Mr. Herman Biddell remarked that "farm was a very
vague term, and might include all the roads connected with
the farm.

Me. G. F. Muntz was afraid that they were getting on very
dangerous ground (Hear, hear). They had asked for very
stringent resolutions with regard to foreign stock, aud now it
was proposed that they should ask for a relaxation of the
proposed resolutions in the case of home stock (Hear, hear).
Mr. Hicks said the majority of the Council did not seem
to perceive the bearing of the resolution before it. It applied
principally to Leicestershire and some other midland counties,
and the question was how the difficulty was to be met. He
would suppose that, there being a herd of 100 bullocks in a
field, disease broke out at Michaelmas, and that oue animal
after another fell. Christmas was come, aud what was to be done
with the animals which had uot been attacked ? They could
not be removed, the grass was gone, and there was no shelter,
and unless there were some power to authorise their removal
into yards they must all perish. The object of the resolution
was to enable them to be removed from oue field on the farm
to another for the purpose of food, shelter, aud isolation, and
it was not a resolution providing that the animals should be
removable, but simply one suggesting to the promoters of the
Bill that the case should be adequately provided for, and he
did not think such a suggestion could endanger the passing of
the Bill.

The Chairman said he knew very well the whole of the
land which Mr. Willson had spoken of, having hunted in that
part of the country ; but it seemed to him that what was pro-
posed would open a dangerous door, there being nothing in it
to prevent a drover or dealer who had a hundred bullocks,
some of which were diseased, from obtaining permission to
remove them to another part of the same county. Was it
likely that such a Bill would pass into law when they them-
selves began to discuss the removal of restrictions which they
had all along declared their willingness to submit to? (Hear,
hear). He was of opinion that the best course would be to
leave the question to be raised in the Committee of the House
of Commons by Mr. Read or Mr. Pell, or some other member
who was in favour of the Bill.

Mr. Storer, M.P., said he did not believe that any local
authorities were at all likely to give diovers or dealers power
to remove cattle under the circumstances and in the manner

382

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE.

which had just been mentioned. It should, however, be borne
in mind that one great thing which they had asked for was
uniformity, and the giving local authorities a discretion in
such cases would tend to prevent uniformity (Hear, hear).
He felt quite sure that upon proper representations being
made in such cases as Mr. Willson referred to the Privy Council
would within a few hours give the requisite authority for
removal (Hear, hear). Considering the great difficulty there
was in passing such a measure as that, as well as others which
were interesting to the agricultural community, he thought
that the wisest and safest plan would be to throw as few im-
pediments in the way of legislation as they possibly could
(Hear, hear).

Mr. J. Howard said, having just before looked through
the provisions of the Bill, he was satisfied that the loca1
authorities would have power to deal with such cases as that
to which the resolution applied. At page 5 of the Bill it was
provided that if the local authorities were satisfied of the cor-
rectness of a statement they might act accordingly, and pre-
scribe the limits of the phce affected by pleuro-pneumonia or
foot-and-mouth disease. It would also be competent to them
to declare not merely oue farm but all the farms in a parish
infected, and they would have amp'.e power to sanction
removal not only from one farm to another but also to an
adjoining farm.

The Chairman expressed a hope that Mr. Willson would
withdraw his resolution, especially as he must see from the
feeling manifested that, if put, it was certain to be rejected,
and the fact of itd rejection there would be unfavourable to
his object in another place.

The resolution was then withdrawn.

Mr. Jabez Turner said he now stood before the meeting
under rather peculiar circumstances. The Cattle Diseases
Committee had had before it that morning two or three reso-
lutions, as it was intended to submit to the Council in the
usual manner suggested alterations in the Bill, and now the
Council appeared to be of opinion that no resolution should be
proposed that would in any way alter the Bill. [A. Member :
<:Not alter it materially."] Under these circumstances he
felt some hesitation in moving what he held in his hand ; but,
as it did not affect the principle of the Bill, but was only a
matter of detail, he would do so, and he thought the proposal
was one that must commend itself to the common sense of the
Clumbers of Agriculture and of agriculturists generally. It
relates to the compensation to be paid for animals that were
destroyed by order of (he local authorities. The Bill provided
that three-fourths of the value of the animal should be paid
to the owner

Mr. Hicks (interposing) observed that the resolution that
Mr. Turner was about to move was not agreed to by the Com-
mittee.

Mr. Jabez Turner said it was placed in his hands to pro
pose. The Bill provided, he said, that when an animal had
been slaughtered on account of pleuro-pneurepnia compensa-
tion should be paid to the extent of three-fourths of its value
immediately before it became affected, but that the compensa-
tion should not in any case exceed £30. What he proposed in
jieu of that was "That the compensation should be paid upon
three-fourths of the actual loss rather than three-fourths of
the value of the animals." As the Bill stood an owner might
receive more than the value, and there could be no danger or
disadvantage to anyone in consequence of what he proposed.

Mr. Hicks repeated that the resoluti n thus submitted was
not sanctioned by the Committee.

Mr. Jabez Turner went on to say that he would propos
it on its own merits, leaving the Council to decide. Before
sitting down he wished to say a word or two on the genera
principle of the Bill, to which he thought sufficient prominence
had not been given by preceding speakers. It was, he felt,
necessary to impress on the Government and on the community
at large the falsity of the views which had been expressed by
a considerable number of persons as to the tendency of that
Bill to diminish the supply of food for the British public. A
large amount of industry had been employed in disseminating
false opinions on that point ; but it was a well-ascertained
fact — there was abundant authority for this statement — that
the supply of home-bred cattle only required a very smail in-
caease to make-up for the whole amount of the foreign impor-
tation. Agriculturists had been taunted [in some of the
daily newspapers with wishing to revise the system of protec.
tion in the case of cattle ; but they had no such object, and he
would like it to go forth to the whole country that the only
protection they wished for was that protection against foreign
disease to which they were entitled as Englishmen (Hear
hear). It had been clearly shown that an increase ot 7 per
cent, in home-bred cattle would completely cover the imports
from abroad, and the late Sir Henry Thompson, who was for
many years a leading member of the Council of the Roya
Agricultural Society, estimated that an addition of 2 per cent'
would be sufficient for that purpose.

The Chairman deprecated the Council's entering into such
a discussion after having passed two such resolutions as it had
done in the early part of the proceedings ; he thought that by
discussing details of that kiud they would place themselves in
a false position before the country. Moreover, to provide that
compensation should be paid for three-fourths of the actual
loss would be to open a door for very great demauds, as some
animals had been sold for thousands of pounds.

Mr. Gurdon (Norfolk) sail the Chamber which he repre-
sented was unanimously of opinion that it would be better
both lor the owners of a diseased animal and for the rate-
payers to proceed on the plan which had been followed in his
own county of the owner being recouped to the extent of
three-foutths of the actual loss. They considered that the
owner was the person who was most likely to get the best
price obtainable, aud that he should be allowed to sell, and be
recouped to the extent lie had mentioned.

Mr. Duckham contended thac it would be best to leave
the question to the committee of the House of Commons, and
moved as an amendment the previous question.

Mr. Nevett seconded the amendment.

A desultory discussion ensued, in the course of which Mr. C.
S. Read, M. P. /remarked that in Norfolk between four and five
thousand pounds a year has been paid for salvage, and that he
beiieved what Mr. Turner advocated would prove advantage-
ous to the ratepayers and encourage owners to give notice of
disease. The resolution was ultimately submitted in the fol-
lowing amended form, " That in cases of pleuro-pneumonia the
compensation should be paid upon three-fourths oi the actual
loss rather than three-fourths of the value of the animal,
subject to the maximum precribed by the Bill."

On a division the numbers were, for the previous question
21, against it 4.

The subject of Highway Legislation was afterwards fixed
upon as the principal subject for consideration at the meeting
in May.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

On the motion of Mr. DuCXUAM, seconded by Mr. I,y
wood, it was afterwards resolved that a copy of the resolution
that had been passed in relation to the Contagious Diseases

(Animals) Bill should be forwarded to the Puke of Richmond
and Gordon, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of
thanks to the ChaIeman.

FARM WORK IN HARVEST.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Central Farmers'
Club was held receutly, at the Club Rooms, Caledoniau
Hotel. Mr. J. Brown, chairman for the year, presided
The subject for discussion was " Farm Work in Harvest,"
the introducer being Mr. T. Roso, of Melton Magna,
Norfolk.

The Chairman said : — Gentlemen, — The subject put
down for discussion this evening is one of considerable im-
portance. In the present day harvesting is not what it
used to be thirty or forty years ago. With the different
appliances which we now have for preparing the sheaves
for harvesting the work is done much quicker than it
used to be. In olden times we used, I believe, to be
satisfied if we finished harvesting in about six weeks, but
now, I think, most farmers are dissatisfied if they cannot
get it dona in something like half that time. It is very
important that we should know what are the best and
most economical methods of meeting the new state of
things, and I feel sure that the paper about to be read by
my friend,, Mr. Rose, will give us some valuable instruction
on that point. I will not detain you auy longer from
hearing what he has to say, but at once introduce him to
the meeting (cheers).

Mr. Rose then read the following paper :

The subject I have to bring before your notice this evening
is " Farm Work in Harvest," or, in other words, we are met
to discuss the advantages we out/Jd to derive from the intro-
duction of labour-saving machinery into our harvest fields.
Machinery is undeniably an expensive thing to buy in the first
instance; and in the second, there is a constant expense for
necessary repairs to keep it in working order. For these
reasons, therefore, some farmers object to its use. They do
not deny that it may have its advantages so far as work is
concernad, but object to the outlay as being proportionately
greater than the advantages derived from it. It is, then, for
us to consider whether we cannot make efficient use of the
time and labour saved, by executing other work contemporan-
eously with that of harvesting, and which otherwise may have
to be deferred until the short uncertain days of winter. As a
matter of course, every good practical farmer best knows how
to ingather his own particular corn crop ; for of necessity
different localites have varying requirements, so that by no
possibility can any one law be laid down " warranted to suit
all parties." The farmer must adapt himself to the circum-
stances of soil, seasons, and climate, in his harvest operations
and a general knowledge of agriculture cannot be gathered
from the practice of any one man. Yet I must confess, a
doubt exists in my own jnind whether the general system of
occupying'all our time aud attention solely with harvest work
(let the weather be what it may during that season) is not
susceptible of improvement ; and the question naturally arises
— Are farmers jnstified in devoting all their own and their
employes' time and attention to the actual ingathering of the
corn crop, permitting their men— should the weather prove

unfavourable for harvest operations— to lay by and do nothing
a3 if the land, on which the corn has grown would never be
wanted again for other crops ? The impossibility of inducing
a band of harvestmen to execute other work is a frequent
assertion ; yet it seems unreasonable for a man to object to
turn to other employment when it is clearly to his own
pecuniary advantage to do so. The ingenuity of our agricul-
cultural machinists has provided us with what are intended
to be labour-saving machines. Yet, surely, either their in-
ventions are worthless, or we cannot have made the best
possible U3e of them, if, notwithstanding their assistance, we
have not contrived to carry on " golden autumn tillage," or
other desirable work during the spare harvest hours, caused
by rain, heavy dews, slow ripening of corn, and other hin-
drances.

In November 187G, it fell to my lot to prepare a paper for
the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture on " Harvesting Corn
Crops," and I then made suggestions which I determined to
verify by my own practice during the harvest of 1877, and I
trust you will not think me egotistical if I here ask permission
to give you mj experience of the benefits derived from the use
of machinery during last harvest.

I have both reaping machine and elevator, and with the
help of eight full-priced men, two youths, three boys' ten
horses, and an itinerant thatcher, I last harvest cut and
oarried 132 acre, of corn, and cut 12 acres ofsanfoinin
twenty-six working days, including wet days, and in addition
to this, with the aid of two old men past harvesting, I con-
temporaneously carried- on other work. As soon as the land
was ^clearjd of sheaves, and the gleaners had picked up the
stray ears, I put the ploughs to work and ploughed 17 acres
of wheat stubble for mangel, and nine additional acres of
wheat stubble, which I drilled with one peck of mnstard seed
per acre ; this produced a good piece of feed, on which I kept
110 ewes from about the second week in October until the
24th day of December. This I consider a fine preparation for
my ensuing mangel crop. The ewes had a fresh fold every
afternoon, and were well supplied with hay and corn chaff,
besides having four or five hours' exercise every day on grass
or turnip land, which had been cleared for hoggits.

In another field I ploughed (during the twenty-six days of
harvest) 3 acres of wheat stubble land, which I drilled with
Sutton's rapid growing grass seeds, the ground being of course
harrowed and rolled sufficiently well to form a good seed-bed.
The grass soon made its appearance, and is now invaluable
as spring feed for the ewes and lambs.

In addition to this, after having it forked by a gang of boys
I harrowed and prepared 13 acres of wheat stubble, which I
sowed with one peck of trifolium and two pecks of Italian rye
grass per acre. This also promises to be a valuable auxiliary
to my stock of spring fed. I could not, I am" convinced,
have achieved the extra work without the aid of reaper and
elevator. Some old farmers will tell us wheat stubble should
be ploughed in winter, but my own experience is, that at the
end of harvest I found nearly all my autumn cultivation —
■ Golden Work" as it has been called— was done ; and it is

384

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

generally admitted that the earlier we can plough light and
mix soil lauds, the less weeds we have in our root crops and
as a natural consequence the better crop of roots we shall
obtain. The same argument applies, even more forcibly,
to heavy land, which derives other material advantages from
early tillage viz., that it can be worked in the spring with half
the labour, consequently at less expense, while the surface
water can more freely filter down, leaving its valuable
manurial properties in the top soil, where it otherwise would
be stagnant, injuring, nay, even poisoning the fertilizing
power of the soil. If this work, the early performance of
which is acknowledged to be so beneficial, can be performed
during harvest (and I think I have fully proved that, with
lair management, it can be), it will redound, not only to the
armer's credit, but also greatly to his advantage in everyway.
Granted, it may not be possible in all cases to induce men to
do the extra work, but this I know, my men did it. I paid
them by the hour for it, and in justice to them feel bound to
say they worked with a will, and appeared as anxious to get
over it as I could be myself,

A short time since, a popular banker, very well known in
the eastern couuties, asked me if I thought that in these hard
times a farmer was justified in purchasing mowers, elevators,
or reapers. Would it not, on the contrary, be wiser to avoid
such outlay by continuing the use of the scythe, which has
done such good service in time past ? This is my reply : — It
may be feasible to adhere to this implement on small farms>
in certain districts, provided labour is plentiful ; but, however
suited to tbe requirements of a past generation, it can only,
under special conditions, be adequate to present day needs in
these high pressure times. Even on small occupations where
no mechanical assistance is rendered, of necessity more manual
labour is required, or higher wages must be given to those
employed, with the very probable result of a four or five weeks'
harvest, while other work, such as smashing up stubble land
(which I contend is of equal importance), cannot be carried
on simultaneously, but must be shiftlessly left until some
future opportunity, which, in all probability, may be long in
coming, and at a time, perhaps when vegetation is slow.
Meanwhile the weeds are luxuriating on the nutriment of the
soil to the prejudice of roots or other succeeding crops. If any
one thing tends more than another to increase the food supply of
this country, it is early autumn cultivation.

The agricultural history of even the last quarter of a cen-
tury justifies the belief that the introduction of modern agri-
cultural implements has been of use in the economy of labour
and this is supported by the fact, that farmers are now more
alive than at any previous time to the important aid which
the agricultural machinist is capable of affording them ; for-
merly the village blacksmith or carpenter were the only
mechanical assistance the farmer deemed necessary or could
command." Unquestionably the advantages derived by the
use of machinery in expediting harvest work cannot well be
over-estimated, for the cheap labour of a few years ago is not
now obtainable; therefore on many farms mechanical aid has
become an indispensable adjunct. Some persons" even in the
present day talk loudly of thew and sinew and condemn the
use of grass-mowers, reapers ]or elevators. These objectors
are, however, becoming few and far between, and I fancy the
time is not far distant when the scythe and the fag-hook will
become as obsolete for general harvest purposes as is the
serrated sickle, Time was, when small tradesmen, artisans,
and other towns-folk turned out to do their harvest. This,

however, is rarely the case now, for these classes have largely
migrated from the purely agricultural districts to the large
manufacturing towns. Again, in days past, when
agricultural labour and harvest wages were not so
expensive, farmers could afford to employ more hands ;
b'sides, since the Education Act came into force, it is almost
impossible to obtain cheap lad labour, while in many
districts, where women formerly worked in the
fields, glad to contribute their share towards the family main-
tenance, they now prefer to remain at home, and endeavour in
this way, I suppose, to make the best use of their husbands'
increased earnings. All these facts show that cheap labour is
not now within our reach as formerly. Therefore the assist-
ance of harvesting machinery becomes indispensable in order
that we may be enabled to make the best use of the productive
capabilities of the land, and in this way indirectly, if not
directly, make its application profitable.

To illustrate more fully, if it is possible, the advantages ob-
tained by the use of harvesting machines, let us take the case of
a farm where a hundred and forty acres of corn are grown.
This in the eastern counties, would, generally speaking, consist
of seventy aeres of wheat, and seventy acres of barley, or there-
abouts. To harvest this crop advantageously it would be
necessary to employ twelve able-bodied men and a lad or two.
As such a company could not, however, average to cut, tie
aud stook, more than nine acres per day, it would take fully
eight days to cut the crop of wheat ; while on a farm of the
same area, growing the same acreage of corn, if a good sheaf-
delivery reaper and an elevator were used, ten men, with the
aid of a boy or two, would be sufficient and by keeping the
reaper at work, the average quantity cut per day, may be
estimated at thirteen acres, and the wheat would be down in
five days, thus saving two men's wages, which may be put at
£15. a fair interest on outlay for reaper and elevator; besides,
weather permitting, the wheat could he cut and carried with-
in the eight days mentioned as being necessary to cut it by
hand which leaves a clear gain of three days available for
early autumn tillage. An estimate for larger or smaller farms,
must, of course, vary with their acreage. Possibly other
circumstances, too, might have to be taken into account. A
saving on a 300-acre farm of two men's wages, representing a
sum of at least £15, is not a despisable interest on an outlay
of £80 ; but a far greater gain, and even a more important
one, is that of the time thus rescued for the immediate culti-
vation of the cleared corn land. If, by the aid of machinery,
ten men can perform the work of twelve, and perform it
better and more quickly, the product of their labour is as much
increased as if they had really suddenly become much stronger
more industrious, and, it may be added, more skilful. I know
of no subject more deserving our attention than that of har-
vesting machinery.

There is no question but that the sickle was the reaping
instrument of antiqaity. It is mentioned in both the Old and
New Testaments, and from statements we find in the Bible
concerning it, we are led to infer that this implement was
used for reaping both fruit and grain by' hand, and not as
part of a machine. It is evident, from the sculpture on some
of their tombs, that the sickle, with either smooth or serrated
edge, was used by the ancient Egyptians ; and, so far as we
can ascertain, the sickle and scythe are the only harvesting
implements used by the industrious though " Heathen Chinee."
The first account of a machine to reap grain appears to be
that given by Pliny the Elder, born a.d, 23, who, in writing

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385

of the various methods of reaping in use in his time, mentions
that in the extensive fields of the lowlands of ancient Gaul,
large vans were used, which he describes as having wheels on
either side, although shaped somewhat like a wheelbarrow
with projecting teeth (resembling a reaping machine knife of
the present day) fixed ou their front edge. This machine was
driven through the standing corn by an ox, yoked in reverse
position, whilst a man walked by the side and pulled the ears
of corn towards the teeth, or knives, with a smali wooden
instrument similar inform to a hoe. In this manner the ears
were torn off, and fell into the van. lie further states that
although in some places the sickle was used, in others the
corn was pulled up by the roots, those who adopted the latter
method ailirmiug that by so doing they loosened the soil as
they proceeded. Thus it appears that people in those early
days had some idea concerning the benefits of tillage simul-
taneously performed with harvest work. They also reaped the
additional advantage of being able to use the long straw to
thatch their houses, the shorter straw being only useful as
litter. Barley straw they reserved, as being the favourite
fodder of oxen. In some parts the Gauls gathered
their corn ear by ear with a hand comb. Iu
some places the grain was separated from the
straw by means of drags, on a thrashing floor ; in others it
was trodden out by horses, and in some cases it was thrashed
out with flails. They also held, that the later wheat was
reaped the more abundant was the yield ; the earlier, the
finer and stronger was the grain. Their maxim was, " Reap
before the grain hardens, and as soon as it has acquired its
proper colour." " Tis better to reap two days too soon than
two days too late." As we sell our corn by weight and not
by measure, we have in the present day every iuducement to
begin cutting our wheat early. For many years past I have
felt convinced that as a general rule we do not cut our wheat
so soon as we might or ought to do. I believe harvest opera-
tions might be commenced at least a week earlier than is the
general custom. If we trusted the maturing of the grain to
the moisture contained in the stem, the weight per acre would
not be diminished, although we might not perhaps get so much
measure ; while the consequent thinner skinned grain would,
I doubt nor, meet the approbation of the millers; for in these
days the question of quality obtains over that of quantity.
Then, again, the corn would not shed so much, as if it were
dead ripe, and more time would be left at our disposal for
other work.

Whatever theoretical opiuions may be entertained in the
matter by speculative men the use of machinery in aid (or, as
some contend, instead) of human labour, is rapidly increasing,
and cannot be restrained. The influence of machinery is of
two kinds : first, as it affects the production and consumption
of commodities ; and secondly, as it affects the employment of
labour. Viewing it as it affects the employment of labour, I
do not say that iu all cases it would be wise to reduce our
number of hands, and for this reason — that by employing on
a given quantity of land the same number of hands as hitherto,
we ought, with the additional aid afforded by machinery, not
only to perform more efficient work, but onr production
should also be vastly greater. Perhaps it may be asked, how
then do we derive benefit by saving labour ? Well, during
harvest or very soon after, autumn cultivation would be
finished, then comes wheat sowing, and storing of root3 ; this
finished, those of us who farm pasture, marsh or meadow land,
could, I am Bure, advantageously employ all hands at odd times
during winter in carting soil, compost, &c.} uuto them. This

class of land, has not, I think, as a general rule, been greatly
improved of late year. Siucc the price of labour has advanced
a false economy has induced many to neglect the renovation
of old grass lands, and they have refrained from cutting down
aud destroying thistles, and other rank injuriou? weeds. But
since the meat question has become of such paramount impor-
tance to the agriculturists of this country, we r.eed more than
ever to turn our attention to solving the great problem of
" growing two blades of grass where only one has grown
before." There can be no question but that with the aid of
machinery we are enabled to accomplish our harvest work
more rapidly, and in this way reap a benefit by being at leisure
early to till our laud, 30 as to grow a green crop on our
stubbles for sheep feeding, thereby discouraging the growth
of weeds, and the spread of that most injurious and trouble-
some of plants — couch-grass ; as well as smashiug up stubbles
or mangels, beans, or wheat-stubble barley. If we cannot do
this we do no more than our .forefathers accomplished with
ordinary scythe aud sickle. Not only are the weeds killed by
early and deep cultivation, but the vegetation of the seeds
is much hastened, the soil also becomes disintegrated, and, as I
said before, the winter rains are thus enabled to pass
through, iustead of remaining in a state of poisonous
stagnation, while the aerated land more readily ab-
sorbs and retains the treasures of the air and san.
In fact, as Mr. Mechi says, " the particles of earth should be
rendered accessible to air by cultivation and drainage. We
should have a surface kept open, loose, and porous, instead of
what we too often see, a dense, unmoved, pasty covering, in-
accessible to aeriform fertilisers." As must be the case when
cultivation is performed late in the season, the pasty consoli-
dated soil cannot absorb the treasures of the air, sun, and
rain, viz., oxygen, ammonia, and carbonic acid. Early culti-
vation has also other advantages. By breaking up the corn-
stubbles early the growth of weeds is checked : these, if allowed
to grow, must and do impoverish the soil. Again, if there is
any couch-grass, it is much more likely to be killed by being
exposed on the surface than by the uncertain and expensive
method of spring hand-picking. It is not until after the land
is cleared of corn that weeds of this kind have room and air
to encourage their growth. Again, by inducing the seeds o
annuals to vegetate early much trouble and expense are saved
in the matter of spring hoeing ; for it is a matter of fact that
late-ploughed lands always produce more weeds than those
ploughed early. If a heavier root-crop results from the prac-
tice of harvest tillage (as undoubtedly it does), this alone
should induce agriculturists to adopt it. A larger crop of
roots, being interpreted, means in great measure the ability to
keep a larger quantity of stock, and this signifies a larger
supply of home-grown meat for the consuming public, as well
as a larger quantity of home-made manure for the production
of succeeding crops. The landowner, also, would reap benefit
in having his property better farmed, freer from weeds, and
consequently improved in condition and value. Given that
it may not always be possible to perform harvest or early
cultivation by horse-power, then comes forcibly to our notice
the assistance to be obtained from the use of the steam culti-
vator and digger. Almost every human invention from the
earliest times has had for its object the saving of labour, ag
well as the increase of production. At length the giant power
of steam has caused the world to be filled with inanimate
slaves, which do man's work faster and better than he ean do
it himself, even with the greatest labour and most ingenious
tools.

386

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Until comparatively a few years ago the scythe was in
general use in our own country for corn-cutting, and was
doubtless considered a vast improvement on the old-fashioned
system ; but, even with the assistance of this wonderful imple-
ment, although the corn was cut more rapidly, little or no
attempt was made to get on with other work during the harvest
month. Of late years, since the ingenuity of engineers and
mechanics has been brought to bear on this subject, and when
after much labour and expense they have gradually brought
harvesting machinery to its present high state of efficiency, so
that the hard work is shifted from the men to horses or steam-
engines, I contend that we have not as a general rule made
that remunerative use we might have done of their ingeaious
inventions ; for, in how few cases have the extra hours and
spare labour thus gained been utilised by proceeding with
autumn culture. Ought not this important work to be carried
on to a certain extent during harvest time, now that we pos-
sess the aid of so much efficacious machinery? Up to the
present time, however, the, employed, not the employer, have
reaped the benefit of its use ; but notwithstanding this, the
actual manual labour, such as stooking, stacking, and thatch-
ing, is not so well or neatly performed as it formerly was.
Since the introduction of machinery has entirely altered
harvest operations, it is only right that farmers on their own
part should, while at the same time benefiting their men,
consider in what way its introduction can be made profitable to
themselves.

Formerly the wheat crop was the crop of the year, the
farmers' mainstay, and all agricultural operations were directly
or indirectly conducted with a view to obtain it. Roots were
in a great measure grown as a preparation for it. A portion
of the root crop then, as now, was fed off on the land by sheep,
and the rest was brought home to be consumed by cattle in
the yards. Theshcep-taithe on the land was considered all
that was requisite to produce a barley crop. No expense of
extraneous -fertilisers was then deemed necessary, and the
stock in the yards were expected to supply sufficient manure
for the wheat crop. The production of meat is now the great
object of the farmer. Our population is larger, and wages
being higher the working classes can afford, and do consume,
more animal food than formerly. Years ago, in country dis.
tricts, those who could afford to eat meat subsisted principally
on pork, and the artisans and labourers in towns fared equallj
roughly — therefore the manufacture of beef and mutton was
not of the importance it now is. I contend that the wheat
crop does not really pay in the present day ; at the same time
we cannot do without it as an accommodation crop, for its
straw supplies the best bedding for our cattle and the grain is
useful in providing us with ready cash. In the vicinity of
large manufacturing towns the wheat-grower has an advantage
over his brethren in the purely agricultural districts, that is, if
he has power to dispose of his straw, which commodity com-
mands a high and remunerative price in the present day. In
Norfolk and other counties, however, where the four-course
system, and other useless, vexatious, and obsolete restrictions
are still in vogue, the tenant farmer labours under the serious
disadvantage of being prohibited from using his own judgment
as to the disposition of this important item of his produce.
„. In arable and grazing laud districts, grass andfroots are now
the most important of all crops, as from them we derive materials
for the manufacture of meat and wool. After the root follows
the barley crop, the quickest-growing and certainly the most
remunerative of all cereals, and on no land can it be grown

more successfully than on early cultivated wheat or barley
stubbles.

I have said that in our day the wheat crop is not the main-
stay of the British agriculturist, while I have endeavoured to
prove, and I think, conclusively, that harvest work of all agri-
cultural operations wants to be sppedily effected, so as to enable
us to till the land for ensuing root or other crops ; for in this
lies the secret of growing roots and stubble-land corn to per-
fection. I hold, therefore, that a really practical 3elf-binding
reaper is yearly becoming more and more an imperative neces-
sity. The self-binders already introduced, although a decided
step in the right direction, do not in one essential particular
altogether meet our requirements, and until some method can
be perfected of binding the crop with its own straw I do not
think these machines will meet with general acceptance at the
hands of the agriculturists of this country. Mr. Walter Wood's
machine appears to be the best and most practical yet intro-
duced; but it binds with wire. It is said 3,000 of them were
at work in America, Australia, and New Zealand, during the
last harvest, which fully demonstrates the appreciation in which
they are held by our Colonial farmers. I believe I am right
in saying, however, that only two of these machines were in
use in the United Kingdem — one on the farm of the late Lord
Kinnaird, at Maggotland, Inchture, N.B., the other on the
farm of Mr. R. Neilson, Halewood, Liverpool. This gentle-
man speaks most highly of it, and says the machine does its
work at the rate of an acre in a little under the hour, picking
up every straw from the ground, and firmly tying every sheaf,
so that not one came loose in carting from the field, nor after-
wards in taking them from the thrashing machine where, with
the hold-fast nippers, the wire was cut and held securely, drawn
from the sheaf, and dropped safely behind the man with the
nippers, without a single piece being carried forward with tin
sheaf, which could only occur from wilfulness or gross negli-
gence. He further says, he considers that the binder saves
the labour of at least six hands, if not more. And in a letter
I received from the late lamented Lord Kinnaird, dated Rossie
Priory, October 23, 1876, he mentions, " having imported from
America a machine which cuts, and lifts, and binds at once ; a
very perfect invention, not liable to get out of order. Th
sheaves are bound up with wire, which is twisted at the end
and cut by a simple contrivance, the end being left ready for
the next sheaf; provision is made for the different lengths of
straw and size of sheaf, which latter is regulated at the will of
the driver ; and they can be bound either tightly or loosely —
but better loose, the wire not slipping off. The machine being
light of draught, is woiked easily with a pair of horses — whith
in the case of our fast-stepping Clydesdale horses, can cut, o
standing corn, from ten to twelve acres per day of ten hours
The cost of the machine is about £-ka, and the saving in
wages for extra hands will soon pay itself."

Mr. John Scott, farm manager to the late lord, also expresses
much satisfaction with the working of Wood's machine, and
with the saving of labour consequent on its use. Many noted
firms have, I know, been turning their attention to the subject
of self-binding reapers, and doubtless some of the results of
their labours will soon be placed before the public. Messrs.
Howard, of Bedford, are, I believe, about to exhibit one at the
Paris Exhibition of this year, and as this eminent firm has for
its head a sound, practical man, we may look forward with
confidence to the result.

The real objection to the use of wire by a self-binding reaper
is not the danger of damage to the thrashing machine (that is
nil), but it is the palpable fact that, in spite of special provision

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387

in the way of shears or scissors, accidents will occur, and men
are liable to be careless. What is more likely than that in
requent cases the wire bauds would be drawn through the
drum with the straw, get mixed with the chaff, and so be
accidentally consumed by the cattle, eventually causing their
death. String also does not at present seem to meet our re-
quirements as a binder, and like wire is an expensive method.
It still, therefore, remains for us to persevere until we shall
obtain a machine which shall bind the crop with its own
straw; aul whenever this is achieved I venture to predict it
will come into rapid use. And here I should like to make one
suggestion, viz., that this important Club, assisted by its
oountry cousins, should offer prizes for the most practical self-
binding reaper, having regard to cost as well as binding
material used. High-priced machines are not within the reach
of the many, although I cannot imagine a greater boon to the
farmers than a machine that will set at liberty many haud9
that otherwise must needs be occupied in tying corn. Barley
tying would in all cases then be possible, even in counties
where such a tiling is now deemed impossible. The hands thus
83t at liberty must be utilised in some manner. Economy
demands it. The labourers' welfare demands it. Our own
interests deoiand it.

It would be foolish on our part to make a great and perhaps
ill-afforded outlay for machinery which is profitless to us. Each
must prove to his own individual satisfaction that he can in
some way reap substantial advantage from ir, and this, as far
as I can see, can only be done by employing the men on other
work, alike remunerative to their employers and themselves.

The colonists of South Australia and California have in
general use a machine which, by a simple process, reaps and
thrashes the wheat at one at the same time. An implement
of this kind can of course only be used in a dry climate, and
where the grain is allowed to ripen and harden in the ear_
Still I am inclined to think that in some modified form it
might in many seasons be practicable to use it in some parts
of our own Island, and thus greatly reduce our harvest expen-
ses, and thrashing bill. I hold the opinion, that we shall
never see wheat dear again, unless indeed there should be a
general European war, and that I trust will no'* take place in
our time. When I find that even in time of war Russia can
send us wheat, notwithstanding the vast requirements of her
armies in the field ; that India can export large quantities of
this grain, even while suffering from a most fearful famine;
and that we have ever increasing quantities imporied year by
year from the rapidly extending cul'ivalion of the waste land
of our Colonies ; as well as large cargoes sent from Egypt
and America — I think I have good grounds for eutertaining
such an opinion. Therefore it is absolutely necessary for us,
to turn our attention to the best means of successfully com-
peting with the meat importations from America aud from
the Continent, and nothing will i think, tend more to increase
the production of home-grown meat than early autumn cul-
tivation.

One thing is certain, viz., that the earlier the land is culti-
vated the better, and if possible ahould be done immediately
the corn is removed from the land, let the ensuing crop be
what it may.

In a lct'er received from Mr. Edmonds, after commenting
on the assistance rendered by machinery in harvest operations
he says : —

" Under this new state of thiugs I was enabled to use my
steam plough last harvest throughout the time (excepting

when stopped by rain), and during the past few years 1 have
only stopped four or five days. We are rarely able to break
up stubble-land to any extent in harvest time. There is
generally some land to prepare for wheat ; but I should not
hesitate, indeed should be very glad, to break up stubble-land
once through if possible, and then return to it in a fortnight
or three weeks to give it another stir, in order to kill the
growth of wheat, weeds and seeds." lie adds: "A sheat-
biuder will be a great boon to farmers, whenever it can be
made to do its work well. At present there is a great deal of
litter from improper binding."

Mr. Charles Howard writes to me —

"That he devotes all his strength to the ingathering of the
harvest, but immediately that is ended, he smashes up his
stubble by steam-power. Some who own steam-tackle on
large farms break up their stubble as soon as cleared ;
while others engage hired tackle, the work then being done
independently of the men employed on the farm. This is not
however, done to any great extent, but will doubtless increaso
year by year."

Iu order to be in a good place with our work when harvest
time comes, we must all the year be carefully preparing for
it, aud always aim to be in advance of our treacherous seasons.

If we are really inclined to get on with early tillage we
must have no turnip hoeing or other back work to make up ;
moreover, much may be done prior to its commencement to
facilitate actual harvest work. Nothing should be left to be
done at the last minute. Supposing, for instance, all stack,
bottoms were laid beforehand, in places carefully selected near
the homestead, so as to avoid winter straw-carting as much as
possible — this might easily be done at odd times ; let all ma
chines, carriages, forks, rakes, &c, be put in going order, all
knives sharpened, with an extra blade or two iu case of break-
age, ropes on waggons or carts, let the elevator be placed
against first stack bottom, the first field be got ready for imme-
diate start. All these things may appear trivial,but they take up
valuable time when left to be done by the harvestmen. With
reference, to the beer question, I would say give the men
money as a gift rather than beer, which is a wasteful expendi-
ture, for nowadays they do not need it as formerly ; they fare
better all the year round, and harvest work is not nearly so
laborious.

In grass-land districts there is an impression that the after-
math, does not spring either so well or quickly after tle,
machine, as after the scythe. I agree with Mr. Scriven is
thinking this may in a great measure be attributed to neglect
iu keeping the kuives with a good sharp edge, so that the
grass gets bru ised, and torn, instead of being shaved off; for
given mau as the motive power, he finds it to his own interest
to use a keen blade, whereas it is entirely a different matter
when a man has a machine and horses to use. It may be
said, this bears little or no affi lity to my subject, but I think
it of so much importance that I have ventured briefly to notice
it, for I fear mauy of us are likely to be careless about keeping
grass movers and reapers in good repair.

I consider the first corn cut marks the commencement of a
new agricultural year, and from that time our watchword
should be, " Forward I" And as regards the duration of the
harvest, this also might be materially lessened if our landlords
will only recognize our wants by aiding us iu the erection of
suitable stack-sheds. These would in many ways be a boon to
the tenant, and would soon repay their original cost iu the
saving effected. They would not on'y make us more or lesH
independent of the weather and save the thateher's bill, but

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

we should hear no more complaiuts (as we so frequently have
done lately) of sprouted stack-roofs. Tenants occupying good
holdings would without doubt be willing to pay a fair percen.
lage for this very desirable accommodation, and I doubt not
there are many landowners who would erect such buildings for
good tenants. Mr. Charles Howard, in a valuable paper read
before the Bedfordshire Agricultural Society, ably advocates
tliis important matter, and _it is one which farmers generally
would do well to take seriously into consideration. Harvest is
often delayed by having either to wait for the t hatcher or to
lessen strength by taking a man from his company. And
besides all this, sucli buildings would render us independent of
weather when thrashing time comes, also of the incidental ex.
penses of broaches, thatching, binding, and frequent re-
thatching during winter months. When, however, a land-
owner is indisposed, or unable to meet the views of his tenant
on this point I feel sure it is possible to erect inexpensive
portable stack-sheds, which could be moved from one field to
another as required. I am by no means an advocate for land-
owners being required to spend money on buildings of any
kind merely for the sake of obliging or satisfying the whims of
a tenant, in fact, it would be unfair to expect them to sink
money unless they themselves reap a just advantage from it.
but where a real benefit accrues to a good tenant, and he is
willing to pay a fair percentage on the cost, I believe the
'audowners of England will as a body be willing to meet this
and other desirable requirements. A slovenly, bad farmer who
does not care to improve his holding, who is qui'.e satisfied
with the " one blade of grass," cannot justly expect recogni-
tion of any claims he may think proper to urge. Iu short, I
would ask, does he deserve it ?

After referring to covered yards and the Cattle Diseases Bill
Mr. Rose proceeded —

It will be already understood ray principal argument is, that
we devote too much of our time and attentioa during harvest
to actual harvest work. I am fully aware that an objection
may be raised. In order to cultivate our stubble land during
harvest we must either keep more horses than we require in a
general way or we must employ steam, which over-day farmers
consider expensive work. Well ; as we have not time now to
argue this matter, let them for the present hold their opinion
unmolested. Most of us now present are, I am convinced,
fully alive to the merits of steam culture, and doubtless the
time will come when farmers will co-operate in the joint use
of such expensive implements, and so avoid overweighting
their cost of production, the farmer's only salvation now being
largely-increased produce, at a cheaper cost. This is the
problem we have to solve. Let us glance, then, at the ques-
tion of keeping more horse-pawer. First I would say, let the
axtra animals be mares. I know of no animals that pay better
for breeding than good cart horses ; it need not be a first-
class foal to be worth £25 at six months' old, but if at that
age £i0 can be realised for a good one it amply pays th-3
breeder for any trouble and expense he may be put to iu keep-
ing an extra mare. Is is well known that farmers' profits are
at best but small ; therefore I contend, that the breeding of
cart horses, suitable for draught work in London, Manchester,
Liverpool, and other large towns, might be made remunera-
tive by the arable land farmer, and if judiciously done, would
be a undoubted source of profit. In my own county, at any rate,
this branch of farming has, I am sorry to say, been greatly
neglected. It is not a question of district, for I dare assert I
never yet saw horses too large for lightland, especially since

portable steam-engines withtheirdrums,doubleand triple furrow
ploughs, reaping and mowing machines, and other heavy farm-
ing stock, unknown to our forefathers, have come into use.
Therefore, to return to our subject — if we would attain the
great object of" golden" early autumn culture, I can see no
objection, but, on the contrary, an advantage, in keeping extra
mares, so that work can be done immediately ou the removal
of the coru sheaves from the land ou which they have grown.
By growing a larger breadth of laud with mangels we might,
I think, in some measure facilitate harvest work, for by grow-
ing more of this valuable root the farmer must of neoessity be
in a forward place with his culivation, besides gaining an ad-
vantage iu being compelled to hoe them early in consequence
of their early sowing. We also get more time between the hay
and corn harvest for carting and spreading manure for wheat
and for trimmiag fences, all which work, I thiuk, might gene-
rally be got over before harvest commence?. Iu speaking of
early-sown roots as being important for us to grow so as to
have all possible work completed before harvest, that we may
be enabled to give all spare time and attention to early autumn
cultivation, I would not wish to omit making mention of kohl-
rabbi, a most valuable root for feeding purposes, which should
be sown early, and succeeds well on good land. There are even
now some persons who cannot believe it is right to grow more
than a third of the root land with mangels, and in many of the
Norfolk leases there still exists an absurd restriction as to this
matter; therefore, supposing 60 acres of land come for roots'
about lCjacres of mangel would be grown, the rest planted
with swedes, and a few acres with white turnips for early and
late feeding. Now, however, many of the best farmers of that
county are to a great extent discarding the growth of white
turnips either for early or late use, and it is an undispnted
fact that mangels are far more nutritious and better in every
respect for either purpose than white turnips are. In di f-
ferent counties varying methods must, and will, obtain with
regard to letting the harvest, each too well known for me to
enumerate here. The complicated system of cutting, binding
stooking, and carting at separate prices per acre cannot be so
desirable as the plan of giving a certain sum per man for a
company, allotting each man a given number of acres,to include
all necessary work. In this case, should the weather be ad-
verse to the prosecution of harvest work no opportunity
should be lost in pushing on early autumn cultivation. Some
employers have a written harvest contract with their men, a
wise precaution which others would do well to follow j for
certain it is that in all agucultural transactions commercial
principles have hitherto been sadly lacking, both as regards
landlord and tenant, master and man. Mr. Charles Howard,
has kindly forwarded me his last year's agreement, a copy of
which, with his permission, I have laid on the table for in-
spection : —

HARVEST OF 1877.
For 12s. per acre the men employed by Charles Howard
engage to tie, cart, drag, thatch, pare, and clean up all the
coru, and perform all other harvest operations in the best
manner, at Biddenhara aud Bedford, all hands to be charged to
the men, except the men on the reaping machine.

The barley at Biddenhara to be mown by hand, and should
Charles Howard require any to be tied, such is to be done.
The barley at Bedford to be cut by machine and tied, the
machine to be charged at the rate of 2s. per acre.

If the beans at Bedford are cut by machine, 2s. per acre is
I also to be charged for its use. The wheat to he shocked as

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389

the drills run, tea sheaves iu a shock, the shocks to be set up
once after.

The barley to be turned twice, if necessary ; it more to be
paid for. — C. II.

If desirable, a clause might be inserted which would insure
the men's assistance in other work during harvest. My ex-
perience has, of course, been mostly gained in Norfolk, but I
have also seen much of farming in other counties, and am con-
vinced that, although details ditfer, main requirements are
eally one and the same. We are living iu high-pressure
imes, and present-day utility must be considered in all our
undertakings, so that we may not be found lagging behind iu
the race. There can be no question but that we are at the
present time passing through a great crisis iu agriculture ;
which will in the end in many respects be completely revolu-
tionized. Labour-saving machinery, uot only for harvest, but
also for every possible kind of agricultural work, is rapidly
becoming the rule and not the exception. Hitherto-existing
farming laws, leases, and agreements, with their obsolete
restrictive clauses, must eventually be placed on a footing to
eusure security and freedom for production aud sale, in order
to bring capital, confidence, and enterprise into British hus-
bandry. More capital per acre is now required than formerly
in order to farm advantageously, and when the Education Act
has had time to prove itself, aud our future generation of
labourers shall have become the present, we may reasonably
expect that they will be endowed with the higher powers and
more enlarged ideas which they will need, as the machinery of
the future will undoubtedly require intelligent minds, technical
kuowledge, and skilfnl fingers for its manipulation. Aud here
I would wish to acknowledge the kind assistance all'orded me
by many of our leading English agriculturists : the prompt
replies of those to whom I have written, and the valuable
information conveyed in their letters, deserve my best thanks
aud, as will be perceived, I have embodied much of their
individual experience in the foregoing remarks.

I fear I have not done my subject justice, but have comfort
in reflecting, that it is not altogether the actual lecture which
is valuable, but the discussion which ensues. This ventilates
a subject, and causes its merits to be analysed.

If 1 am called a theorist for thus strongly advocating my
conviction of the good results obtained by early autumn cul-
tivation during harvest, I can best reply by using the words I
read in an old book the other day : " Theory is the soul,
practice the body." Theory facilitates by causing a subject
to be analyzed, and by giving a comprehensive view of science.
It accelerates progress by proposing subjects for investigation,
but without the aid of experience it conveys no positive in-
formation.

Mr. Frvnk Sherborn (Bedfont) said that, listening to
Mr. Rose's paper, he certainly expected to hear more infor
mation as to the proceedings on the farm during harvest time
As far as he could gather, much information to the point haj
not been given. Mr. Rose appeared to have assumed that
many farmers sat down and did nothing, but his own experi-
ence was that farmers had not let the grass grow under their
feet. Autumn cultivation and the ensuing cultivation were
necessarily prosecuted with the utmost vigour between whiles,
as soon as the field was cut and shocked, and as soon as there
was a preparation for the plough or, rather, the broadshare.
But he should be glad to hear from Mr. Rose the expense of
getting in his harvest. Having adopted a plan, which ap-
plied pretty much to himself alone, he would, with permission
of the meeting, explain the system he had adopted with re-

gard to the cutting and carrying of his com. Ho cut it all
with a reaper and paid the men the usual wages — general
harvest wages, viz., 4s. a day, and 4d. an acre extra for all
they did. For labour of that kind the average would be
about 2s. an acre for the manual labour, quite exclusive of
the cost of the horses.

Mr. C. Howard : What do the men earn a]day P
Mr. Sherborn said that the men earned Gs. 6d. a day
He found the horses aud the boys to drive. There was a set
of six men employed to cart the corn and staok it, and that
was all they did. He gave them no beer. In 1874 he gave
the men 3s. an acre. That was his first experience, but he
found the price he paid was unnecessarily high. In that year
they carted twelve acres a day, and earned 5>. 10£d. a day. In
1875 they carted 12$ acres a day, and earned 5s. 4d. But he
gave no beer. In 1S7C they carted 16.j acres a day, and
earned (is. 8d. a day. That was reaped at 2s. 6d. an acre.
In 1877 he paid them 2s. an acre, and they cut 1G£ acres a
day, and earned 5s. 4.Vd. each per day. These he deemed good
wages. He was quite satisfied with the plan he adopted. He
got more work done, and much more efficiently, too, than by
the old plan. He was relieved of a great deal of superinten-
dence, for they required very little looking after. The more
work they did the more they earned ; and all he had to do
was to see that the work they did was done in a proper man-
ner. He had been very much astonished t'.iat though he had,
told his neighbours of this plan, not one of them had adopted
the same practice, which did not say much, he thought, for
their intelligence (Laughter). Mr. Rose had, he thought,
rather departed from his subject in many respects, and ha
should have been pleased to hear more on the subject of the
paper. Nevertheless, Mr. Rose had given the meeting a good
paper, aud it was to be hoped it would be well discussed, and
more information be given on the subject.

Mr. R. Russell (Court Lodge, Horton, Kirby Dartford)
said there was no man he would follow with greater pleasure
than Mr. Frank Sherborn when he was in the country at
Windsor, and therefore he would presume next to him to give
his own ideas of " farm work in harvest." Mr. Sherborn had
given some figures from papers,)buthe(Mr. Russell) must speak
from memory. His idea was the same as that of Mr. Sher-
born, as to the economy of labour, both in hay and corn
harvest aud everything else — viz., that everything ought to be
done by machinery and piece work. Iu his case everything
was done by machinery aud by horse ; and he gave his men
4J. a day for cutting extra ; but he gave no beer. He found
the horses, aud the corn was all cut for a very small item-
he had not gone exactly into the figure. If it was hay it came
to about 5s. to cart and stack an acre, Howard's reaper. As
he allowed no beer, there were no drunken men about.
The men farmed their labour to the best advantage they could
Then in harvest time they put on three horses and worked
with them all day, not having any change or any putting on
two horses in the morning and two iu the afternoon. A little
boy rode the fore horse, and they cut 8 acres every day, and
did not come home till they had done. That was the most
economical way of cutting corn. He had farmed 1,500 acres
for the last ten years; and for the last four or five years it had
been done as he had described. He paid about 4s. 0d. sn
acre for binding; and for two or three years the whole of the
corn had been carted and sacked for 3s. an acre, by allowing
the men who would not be doing anything else to go with
the waggons, two horses to the waggon. He went down to

1 I? 2

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Bamet fair the other day, and took a roan to whom he
iaid, " How did you get on ?" and the reply was, " I never
had such a pleasant harvest ; nobody got drunk and there was
no quarrelling, and I think we earned Is.. 6d. a day more than
we ever earned." That was the most economical way. The
farmer who used to pay 10j. or 12s. per week now paid 18-<.,
but with the improvements in machinery he did not think
they were much worse off; and if rent had not risen 25 per
cent, he believed they would have been as well off as they
were before. He gave the men who cut down the corn 4d. a
day extra in addition to the general pay. [Mr. C.
Howard : How about the horses ? They bite occasionally.]
He did not charge the horses. Farmers now cut the corn
cheaper than they did before.

Mr. C. S. Head, M.P. : Do you bind all yout corn ?

Mr. Russell : Yes, everything.

Mr. Read : What wages do you pay ?

Mr. Russell : 4s. 6d. for binding after the machine.

Mr. Read: But altogether ? 4s. Od. for binding?

Mr. Russell : And 3s. for carting and stacking everything
— wheat, barley, and oats.

Mr. John May (Framlingham, Kent) : I think I can
explain.

Mr. Russell: Mr. May is a great potato-grower and can
tell you how to grow potatoes (laughter).

Mr. May said the subject was " work in harvest," which
had nothing to do with potato-growing. Mr. Russell was a
neighbour of his, and he thought he could explain a little
what did not appear to be quite understood. What Mr.
Russell stated was that he had paid 3s. an acre for carting and
stacking the corn. For the cutting he employed reaping
machines, and paidthe men 4d. a-day extra, employug his own re-
gular horses and men, and giving them that sum in addition
to the regular weekly pay. This was what he (Mr. May) did
himself; and his average cost for five or six years past had
been 3s. an acre for carting and stacking. For tying of course
the cost varied with the crop. They did not suppose they
would pay for half a crop the same prices as a full crop ; bat
taking the average he had paid about 5s. or 5s. 6d. for bind-
in". In regard to the paper, there was no doubt that as soon
as they could get the land cleared there was nothing like
steam. Steam and machinery were the things that must then be
adopted.. He had nearly all his work doue in that way long
before even Mr. Russell had begun (laughter). Mr. Russell
went on, like a good many more, until they begin to see that
steam aud machinery were the things that were wanted.
They cut corn in his neighbourhood several years before
other people', not far off begin to do so. Corn had been
partly cut by machine for twenty or thirty years, but it had
not come into general use in his coui.ty till the past ten
years. No doubt in Scotland it was done long befireitwas
done in Kent. Many people supposed that in Kent they
stood first, but in his opinion they were a great way behind
the people in the north. He had often told Mr. Russell that
half the farmers iu Kent were a set of antediluvians (laughter),
and though Mr. Russell was his neighbour, aud a very good
neignhbour, he must also tell him that he also was one of them
(renewedlaughter),thoughnotineverything,for there were some
things in which Mr. Russell was ahead of most of them.
Some might know more than others, but through the meeting
of this Club the others would in time arrive at the know .
ledge of what was best. No doubt the saving of time in
harvest was of great importance. The great thing was the
achinery, and the beginning early enough, as the paper

stated. There was a vast amount of loss through not
beginning soon enough (Hear, hear). As soon as they
could get the corn carted there was nothing like steam for
breaking up the land, and the sooner it was broken up the
better. Mr. Rose had alluded to covered sheds and cattle
sheds. What sort of sheds would he have? [Mr. J.
Howard : There is one at Luton.] It was a question what
he would have the cattle shels covered with. He could give
the Club his idea of what they should be covered with. This
was, as they knew, a subject that had heen much ventilated
of late. No doubt cattle would do a great deal better under
cover thau they do without it. He knew several places
where they were covered, but iu his opinion they were
covered with the wrong material. He thought the covering
of cattle sheds should be half glass. Possibly such a thing had
never entered into farmers ideas ; but lie had had experience of
it ; and lie ventured to say that the cattle on the side where
the sunlight got on to the shed would do h.ilf as fast again as
the cattle on the other side. No doubt in a f e i years we
should have covered yards for cattle, and the subject would
require a good deal of consideration. His own opinion was
that the sheds should be partly covered with glass. [A
Member : Would it not be too hot in summer ?] They did
not want the cattle iu the sheds in the summer time. [A
Member : Would you have them on the sunny side of the
yard, or on the other?] They might have them on whichever
side they pleased.

Mr. B. Hodges (Vincent Margate) rose on account of the
discussion lagging, although he came from the same couuty
as the two previous speakers, and it might be thought they
were occupying too much of the time. HovveT r, "antedilu-
vians" though they might be, they had not, in his county,
shut their eyes to modern improvements, but had paid some
attention to steam-tillage in harvest. Wherever it was con.
sidered profitable or desirable to grow a second corn crop
that object was very much forwarded by steam-tillage, and
the growth of a secoud crop of barley or wheat had been suc-
cessfully carried out, with the aid of steam cultiva'ion, to a
much greater extent than would have beeu possible under the
old system, because, although the laud was of a light and
friable nature, the climate was very dry, and the soil extremely
hard after harvest — too hard in many seasons — to allow any
success by horse cultivation. But the steim plough broke it
up, and it then remained throughout the whole of the winter
months, ready to receive a dressing in the spring and surface cul-
tivation as early as January ; and it would then secure a finer
and better return in a crop of barley after the wheat crop. They
were generally left to make those arrangements as they deemed
most profitable and advantageous. The restrictions as to the
cultivation of the land were few. There were few cases in
which freedom of action was not availed of by the farmer to
his own advantage, without the smallest damage to the land-
lord's property. He thought this ought to be known ; and
that it was a course which ought to be encouraged thoughout
England, so that the hands of the occupiers of the soil should
not be tied by restrictive arrangements as now. Another
matter alluded to was that of "binding." He had mentioned
the circumstance he wished now to state once before in this
room, and it was received with some incredulity, viz., the
price he paid for binding. It had been the invariable prac.
tice for years to bind all the corn crops in his district. For
the last twenty -five years he never remembered any corn to
have been carted loose from the field. The present payment
for binding was higher than anything he had heard men-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

3al

*y ed in this room. It amounted to 8s. Gil. an acre for the
wheat and barley crops after they had been cut and delivered
by the reaper. That was the price which had been paid daring
the last two or three years in that district pretty generally.
It included, he might say, binding the Takings as well as the
main crop. He did not know that they Had had any other
considerable improvements, except in getting the steam-plough
into the fields as quickly as possible after the corn had been
removed. In light soils he thought there should be some
judgment exercised if the plough were used. In certain sea-
sons a disadvantage followed a very early use of the plough
viz., wheu we got a mild wet winter it caused the self-sown
-grain to sprout in the furrows, and a good deal of annua
weed also i( tho spring happened to be a moist one. Tlii
did not frequently happen, but it did happen sometimes, and
it had led to the users of the steam plough not being quite
so urgent in ploughing the land so quickly after the removal
of tie corn as they had previously been. Where it was in-
tended that another crop should be sown tills argument did
not apply ; and iu that case as soon as the sheaves were out
ot the field the steam plough might go in and the soil be
dressed down with rape or mustard. He was speaking, how-
ever, of the land that was intended to remain the whole of
the winter, and then be sown with another corn crop ; and in
this case, perhaps, a little abstinence would give a better op-
portunity of dressing the laud, and surface- work it, and getting
a really good seed-bed, than where the work had been too
quickly done, after the removal of the previous corn crop.
These were some of the details which had come out in experi-
ence of the use of steam ploughs in the district in which he
farmed, and lie thought, perhaps, as Mr. Rose had encouraged
the application of the steam plough immediately upon the
removal of the crop, that it might be useful to some who
farmed on similar soils to know these little facts.

Mr. Pell (Olenbury) said not being a member he felt
somewhat out of place iu rising ; but he wished to say that he
felt rather disappointed in the paper, which might fitly be
called a paper " On steam cultivation in the autumn," whereas
he had come there hoping to hear something about the best
way of getting in harvest crops. He hoped still to hear some-
thing about the best manner of getting in crops cheaply.

Mr. T. Dupkiiaji (Baysham Court, Ross), said he though1
their thanks were due to Mr. Rose for his very carefully
prepared paper ; but at the same time he felt that great
differences must necessarily exist in different parts of the coun-
try as regarded the cultivation of land an 1 farm work in
harvest. It might be very well on stiff-clay soils to expose the
land to a hot burning sun in August or September ; but
his experience of light and dry soils was rather against that
practice. He liked to cultivate his land in such a manner
that he would not have much of that great enemy " couch" to
deal with, and he had found that when persons in his imme-
diate district attempted autumn cultivation, unless the season
were an extremely favourable oue, they made a great many
roots out of one. As to the cost of harvesting work in
different districts, it must be almost as variable as the soil upon
which the harvesting was done (Hear, hear). They had just
heard from two or three very excellent farmers accounts of
very different prices. While their friend from the Isle of
Thanet told them of a very heavy expenditure, another gentle-
man from the same county made another kind of statement.
His own experience lay a little between the two. He had now

used reaping machines for a good many years. The first that
he purchased being worn out, and another had done some
years' service. He gave Gd. an acre for cutting, unless he put
a man on day work — he, of course, finding the horses. Iu tint
case he did not give Wagea as well. Ho turned all the wo uen
and all the hands on the. farm that were capable of binding
to the work of getting in the corn as quickly as possible, and
the general cost varied, according to the crop, from 5s. to 5s.
6d. an acre for binding and stookiug. Although his county
was a cider one, he did not give cider any more than beer,
haviug fouud it best to mike an arrangement to give his men
so much more per acre for what they would have in the form
of ci ler. Further, he had fouud it advantageous to pay the
carter a shilling an acre for pitching and loading ; and his
experience was that from 10s. to lis. an acre was about the
total cost by the time when the corn was stacked. Of course
very much depended on the crop. As soon as the harvest
was over he carted the manure upon the stubble and ploughed
it in, preferring that to any attempt at cultivation in the shape
of scarifying, for the reason to which he had alluded before.
He farmed upoa a different course to that of most people, as
he had mentioned before at a Club meetiug at the Salisbury
Ilo'iel ; and he would repeat iu a few words his process and
the advantage of the system which he had adopted. He went
on the five-course system instead of the four-course, lie grew
wheat after roots, and barley after wheat, and eceded the
barley. Then, of course, wheat followed clover, and roots
followed wheat. He then manured on the wheat stubble for
roots, u?ing 3 cwt. of Proctor's turuip manure for the roots
iu addition to ten loads of larmyard manure. The 3heep ate
cake and corn while consuming the roots, which were princi-
pally consumed on the land ; and the young clover he also
manured as quickly as possible after harvest, using the same
quantity of manure. In the course which he adopted he
preferred putting two dressings of ten loads per acre to apply-
ing an excessive quantiiy for any particular crop. Having
adopted that system some fourteen or fifteen years ago, he had
had no reason to repent the change which he made at that
period. As regarded the cultivation of land during the harvest
he thought they would want an increased number of hands for
that purpose. He had found that in ordinary seasons he had
quite enough to do in getting in the haivest when it was
ready, and it was not till after that was done that he turned his
attention to the cultivation of the soil.

Mr. E. M. Major-Lucas (Mercer's House Rowsham,
Aylesbury) wished to say one or two words with regard to
what had been called in his part of the Country Dutch barns,
in other words covered sheds. Some years ago he spoke about
£1 )0 in erecting several of these barns, and he had found
jt exceedingly useful, and profitable. In the year 1S70 the
farmers iu his district got in their harvest very successfully,
but on account of the dryness of the season and the want of
straw they required to thrash very early, but the rain pre-
vented and the result was very disastrous. His own cor
beiug covered in he got on very comfortably. No doubt
was to a great extent a landlord's question, because it was
not at all likely that tenant farmers would put up roofs for
the possible benefit of others. (Hear, hear.) Many tenants,
who did not possess the advantages which he did in that
respect, would be glal to pay a fair percentage on the outlay,
and it would be a matter for calculation what to allow for
insurance and decay, lie was sorry to say that this year
very little corn and straw had been grown in his neighbourhood

302

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

and he had put a haycock undei' one of them. The sheep were
sometimes shorn under the same protection.

A Member asked what materials were used for the roof
ing?

Mr. Major-Lucas : Slate, with spouting.

Mr. W. E. Bear (Thorpe, Colchester) said, as regarded
the self-binding reapers alluded to by Mr. Rose, he thought
there could be no doubt that the use of those machines
was likely to introduce greater economy in farm labour than
almost auy other machine than had ever been invented. When
he first went into business he got a one-horse reaper, thinking
it would be a great improvement upon the old Crosskill. He
had found that in a wet season the three-horse reaper could not
be worked, and he had also found that a one-horse reaper
worked in such a manner that he would prefer the old-fashioned
scythe. When a machine of that kind got out of repair, or
even when a bolt dropped out, the men were kept standing for
some time, and nothing was done. The two-horse reaper was,
of course, a very great improvement, but he had seen great
mischief done by the use of that machine in a wet harvest
through corn being cut and left untied. Self-binding reapers
would enable farmers to harvest their crops with their ordinary
staffs of men. Apart from loss of time, he thought the
experience of all farmers was that the employment of extra
hands was, in some respects, a very great nuisance, He did
not agree with Mr. Rose that the best thing to tie with was
straw ; in his opinion what did best for that purpose was
string. Mr. Rose said he hoped that within two or three
years they would find sheaf-binders in general use. He (Mr,
Bear) hoped that before the next harvest they would see a
good supply of both string-binders and wire-binders, so that
farmers would be able to choose which they pleased. As
regarded the beer question, he felt that there had uot been a
sufficiently strong protest against the assumption of the leaders
of the agricultural labourers that they had a grievance in the
case of beer. Farroprs had often been represented as tyrannical
persons who forced beer upon the labourers in their employ,
whereas everyone in the room would agree with him that, as
a body, farmers were anxious to do away with the allowance of
beer, and that it was the labourers who were opposed to it.
(Hear hear.) The system of giving beer appeared to him very
hard upon men who did not wish for half as much beer as other
men got, and who had no corresponding advantage offered to
them. He would be glad to see the beer system done away
with altogether, the men being offered money instead of beer.
Mr. C. Howard (Biddenham, Bedford) said he agreed with
preceding speakers that the Club was very much indebted to
Mr. Rose for his carefully prepared and very comprehensive
paper, embracing a variety of questions of considerable interest
to the farmers of this country. Mr. Rose had put autumn
cultivation in the foreground ; his paper gave prominence to
it rather than harvest operations. His opinion as an ordinary
farmer was that as the results of the year's operations were
s^en in the harvest they were bound to throw all
their energies into those operations. (Hear, hear.) They
should, he thought, first see that those eggs were secured
in the basket, and then apply themselves to steam cultivation.
There, is great advantage derive 1 from stirring clay land as
soon as you could after harvest, but it was a question whether
there would be the same advantage in steam cultivation at
that period in the case of light lands. Mr. Rose touched
upon green crops, in other words catch crops. Having had
c&nsiderable experience With regard to light lands for a num-

ber of years, he must say that he had, however, tried such
crops, aud he had done so on many occassions, without being
satisfied with the result. If they could keep their lands clean
aud in a good state of cultivation, they had better rest satisfied
with one crop. He had been induced by what he had read in
various papers and periodicals, in reference to such matters »
to try first one thing and then another, and had come to the
determination that, unless he saw something much more
advantageous than he had ever seen yet, he would not to any
extent try what was called a catch crop again. He did not
think auy real advantage was to be gained by it. Of course he
spoke then of the land of his own farm. To go back to the
harvesting, he must say he regretted that Mr. Rose had not
mentioned the practice in Norfolk. Every one knew that the
county had earned a high character by the mode iu which its
farming operations were pursued, and, from all he had seen, it
would appear deservedly, and he regretted that they not heard
the experience of several Norfolk gentlemen whom he saw in
the room. It was not yet too late, and he hoped that appeal
would not be in vain, and that before the discussion closed
they would hear something about the customs of that county-
Several important questions had been raised that evening,
especially in reference to self-biDders. He was not himself
quite clear as to the necessity for them. He thought if they
could get their com cut they could always get people to tie
up. Further the corn was not always ready to be tied when
it had been cut. It was sometimes cut with the dew upon it,
and they were obliged to leave it until fit to tie. These
self-binders being worked in connection with the reaping-
machines tied the corn as it was cut. He would advise
farmers to hesitate before spending much money upon them.
They had not of late realised profits which would justify them doing
so. As regarded beer he agreedjwith Mr. Bear that farmers gene-
rally had, to the best of their ability, put a stop to the system;
but he did not think it could be done with the present genera-
tion of labourers. It would be best to begin with the boys ,
and he advised all gentlemen present who were in the habit of
supplying the boys employed on their farms with beer to tell
them that iu future they did not intend to allow them beer, afc
the same time letting them understand that they would receive
an adequate consideration for that at the end of harvest.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said Mr. Charles Howard had
expressed a hope that some one connected with Norfolk would
»ay a few words with regard to the most usual mode of har-
vesting corn in that great arable county. He did not at all
wonder that some gentlemen had felt disappointed at Mr.
Rose's paper because he did not enter more into the question
of harvest work. He himself, when he first read the notice,
thought that it referred merely to harvesting, but when he
looked at it a second time he found that it included all farm
work, and he was quite sure that Mr. Rose had carried out
legitimately the intention with which the notice was given
from his own point of view (Hear, hear). With regard to
harvesting in Norfolk he would remark that the usual custom
there was that a certain number of men and boys were paid
so much to secure the corn crops that were grown upon the
farm. The men as a rule were paid from £7 to £8, and the
usual duration of harvest was certainly under a month, so
that the wages appeared exceptionally high ; but during that
time the men no doubt worked exceedingly hard and for k
great many hours. For his own part he did not follow that
practice. He put out all his corn at so much per
acre, he providing the reaping machine and cleaner. He

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

393

paid so much per acre for saving the crop and
for the thatching, and the price generally varied from
128. to 15s. per acre. That was, he believed, considerably
less than the average of the county ; excepting those districts
where the land was exceedingly light, and there was a very
short straw crop. As a rule the labourers; in Norfolk never
thought of doing any other work during harvest. In wet
weather they went away to a public house, and spent a great
part of their time in jollity, and when they came back to'work
they were not all so steady as one would desire to see them.
He thought Mr. Rose was quite right in a local point of view
in urging that at harvest time something must be done besides
getting in the corn, and that other agricultural operations
ought not be neglected at that period. He believed that on
a great number of small farms in Norfolk as much as £1 per
acre was paid for the ingathering of the crops. That was a
most extravagant rate, aud the work was often slovenly as well
as expensive, and the barley was never bound. Tor such
wages the harvest was not got in nearly as quickly or as well
as it ought to be. As respected Kent, he had seen some of Mr.
Russell's crops, and although that gentleman might be an
antediluvian in some respects, in others he had proved quite
up to the mark. One gentleman belonging to Kent has told
them that he could secure his crop for Ss. per acre. He sup-
posed there was an extra shilling for thatching, but the amount
would then be only 9s. They ought to go to Kent, and take a
lesson from that antediluvian county. Mr. Sherborn told them
very much the same tale.

Mr. M.vy said he believed that 10s. an acre was about the
average, adding that men never earned less than from 6s. to
7s. a day.

Mr. C. S. Read continued— that meant nearly three-
quarters of au acre per day and he thought that Norfolk men
would not always do that during the time they were harvest-
ing. As regarded beer he could quite agree with Mr. Bear
and Mr. Charles Howard that farmers ought not to give beer ;
but he had found to his cost that if he did not give beer he
did not get the same amount of work done. The wet groat
went farther than the dry shilling. Of that he was positive.
He had made a determination not to give beer but always to
give money instead, and he knew that his neighbours who
gave beer and did not give anyone extra money got their work
done cheaper and better than his was done. Mr. Charles
Howard said he had tried catch crops, and would not grow any
more. He (Mr. Read) would have tkought that if there was
any county that was adapted for the growth of catch crops
Bedfordshire was such a county. Such a declaration on the
part of Mr. Howard was most serious, because that gentleman
was a great sheep farmer, and because he also farmed such
light land at Biddenham. He did not suppose anybody
who was not a born fool would think of growing green crops
on land of an opposite character, and he presumed it was such
crops that Mr. Howard ment by " catch crops." (Mr. C.
Howard: "No, no.") He had thought that by "catch
erops " was incnt rye, vetches, trifolium, and rye grass, grown
before roots, which were fed off by sheep, lie understood Mr.
Howard, however, that he would not grow such crops after
harvest in order that they might be fed off by sheep in the
spring. He grieved to hear such an experienced agrieul
turist as Mr. Howard say that such crops would not pay, his
land being exceedingly wrell adapted for them and he being
also a great flockmaster, and so good a farmer.

Mr. C. Howard : My land is clean.

Mr. Read said no doubt that led him to remark that to
move light clean land about in. the autumn simply for the
purpose of stirring it was, in his opinion, prejudicial to that
laud rather tliau the reverse. Mr. Rose referred in the
course of his discursive and comprehensive paper, to the
question of providing covered yards. Whatever else that
term might embrace, it was not intended to embrace yards
covered with glass. (Hear, hear.) Glass might be a very good
material for vines, but it would be too hot for cattle even in t
early spring. The best covering was dry pantiles, being so
that there would be perfect ventilation: and if anyone advo-
cated glass as a covering he must tell him that his experience
in reference to such matters must be very limited. A covered
yard was a great saving ot litter, and cousidcrably enhanced
tha value of manure. It was because Mr. Rose had intro-
duced so many topics into his paper that he had been led to
make these discursive remarks.

Mr. Rose, in replying, said he must remind Mr. Sherborne,
who found fault with him for not stating the actual cost of
harvesting work in the connty of Norfolk, that he had nothing
at all to do with the cost or the method of harvesting, or any-
thing of the kind, his subject being " Farm Work in Harvest."
He had advocated in his paper the execution of farm work
contemporaneously with harvest work, and he still did so. As
to the complaint that he had deviated from his subject, he
acknowledged that, and apologised for it in his paper, and he
thought the importance of the question of contagious diseases
of cattle formed some palliation for it. He also introduced
the subject of covered yards on account of its great import-
ance. In his county they had not anything like provision
enough for the covering of their cattle.

Mr. J. K. Fowler, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr
Rose for his valuable paper observed that for two or three
years past he had cou^ac/ed to let the whole of his harvesting
work at a certain amount, and in the last year the entire cost,
including thatching and stacking was 15s. per acre. After
he had engaged the men to do 200 acres, they immediately
ordered 400 gallons of beer. He was quite sure that Mr .
Head was right in stating that a wet groat went, as regarded
the work done; quite as far s>.s a dry shilling.

Mr. Finlay Dunn, in seconding the motion, remarked
that all who read Mr. Rose's paper would find that he had
adhered pretty well to his subject, and had given a great deal
of important and valuable information (cheers).

The motion was then put and earned, and

Mr. Rose briefly returned thanks.

Mr. T. Willson, in moving a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man, remarked that his harvesting had been done for lis. 6d.
an acre ; adding that for the last thirty years he had given his
labourers malt and hops instead of beer.

Mr. F. Street seconded the motion : As regards the beer
question he thought 'a great deal depended on the custom
of the neighbourhood in which you lived. While he livbJ in
Bedi'ordshue he was obliged to give beer, but after removing
into Huntingdonshire he did not give a single pint, but made
money payment instead, and he believed that if he were to go
back to Bedfordshire next year he would not be able to carry
out his present plan very successfully.

The Chairman, in returning thanks, said he had abstained
from making any remarks on the paper because he felt that
the subject had been very fully discussed ; but he wished to
allude for a moment to another matter. At the last meeting
a very able paper was read by Mr. F. Street; and, after tht!

394

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

discussion had closed, the meeting resolved itself, as it were,
into a committee for the formation of an important associa-
tion of great importance. lie was glad to be able to state
that in pursuance of what was done last month, a meeting
had been held, the proceedings of which were of a very great
interest to the breeders of cart horses in this country ; and
t must be very satisfactory to them to know that although
the new association formed no part of that club it was
originated on it, and the club was made a sort of nucleus by
which that important project was set afloat. (Cheers.) He
wished just to add that there would, perhaps, be some little
variation from the words of the paper the next month.
Whereas the subject on the card was " Local Government,

with special reference to Local Districts," it was probable that
the discussion would turn very much upon the Government
Bill relating to local government which was now before Par-
liament. That Bill was a most important one, and that he
hoped that there would be a large meeting, and that the whole
question would be thoroughly discussed. He held that in its
present shape the Bill would be found totally unworkable, and
would not be acceptable to the country, and that if it was to
be passed it must be weeded and amended to a considerable
extent. He had thought it desirable to mentionthat the subject
would come before them in a different form from that in
which it appeared on the card.
The meeting then separated.

FARMERS' CLUBS.

UPTON-ON- SEVERN.

Recently, a meeting of the members of this Club
was held at the Star Hotel, Upton-on-Severn. The chair was
taken by Mr. G. E. Martin, Vice-President.

The Secretary expressed regret at the absence of the Earl
of Coventry and Sir Edmund Lechmere, Bart., M.P„ and then
explained the object of the meeting. He said it was called in
connection with a resolution passed on the occasion of their
meeting to hear the lecture of Mr. Bailey Denton. A preface
to the resolution had been prepared, but it was thought there
ought to be some modification of it, and this was what they
had to take into consideration that day.

The Chairman read the resolution passed on the occasion
of Mr. Bailey Denton's lecture, as follows : — " That the atten-
tion of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society be
respectfully called to the expediency of their taking such steps
as may induce the Committee of the Privy Council on Educa-
tion to include amongst the extr.i subjects to be taught in
rural schools the elementary principles of practical agricul-
ture, including the operations of farm labour ; and that the
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society be further requested
to prepare and issue 3imple text books and charts, illustrating
agricultural subjects, and especially mechanics as applicable
to agriculture, with a view to their being adopted in elementary
schools in agricultural districts." This resolution, Mr.Martin
went on to say, was recently brought before a meeting of the
committee of the club, and a kind of preface to it was drawn
up by Sir Edmund Lechmere in consultation with Prebendary
Brerton (who was also present when Mr. Bailey Denton's
lecture was delivered). The preface was to some extent
explanatory of the resolution ; and what he understood to be
the general feeling of the members of the club was that this
preface should be slightly modified. He had seen Sir Edmund
Lechmere once or twice since the committee Bieeting, and had
mentioned the matter to him. Sir Edmund told him that he
did not wish for a moment to lay any great stress upon what
was said in the preface ; he was only anxious that the com-
mittee of the club should deal with the matter as they thought
best. For himself (the speaker) he thought the resolution
was very explauatory in itself, and he did not think much
would be gained by adding a very long preface.

The preface was then read by the Secretary, It was as
follows :—

" Some disappointment prevails in the agricultural districts,

particularly among the employers of farm labour, at the results

of elementary education as tested by the value of the labour

of those who have enjoyed the full benefits of the improved
schools. One inducement to the more liberal support of
elementary "schools through taxes, rates, and voluntary sub-
scriptions has been the hope that with improved teaching not
only learning would spread but that earnings might be raised,
through the increased skill and intelligence of the educated
labourer. It is found, however, that this is not generally the
result, and whether or not the present schools are preparing
children for other spheres, it is generally lamented that they
fail to fit them for the most important of rural industries —
farm labour. If tiiis complaint is warranted — and it is cer-
tainly very prevalent — some effort should be made to counter-
act, or, at least, to mitigate, the evil. It is thought that
something might be doue by introducing into the schools
lesson-books and illustrations which would have a direct
tendency to awaken an intelligent interest in the observation
of plants and animals, and the chief processes of agriculture.
It is also thought that in connection with the training of
teachers a csrtain amount of scientific acquaintance with
agriculture might be required, and particularly it is believed
that by some modification of the present educational system
more inducements might be held out to the sons of farmers
and other employers to enter the profession of schoolmasters,
and so bring about a more economical appreciation of the
ultimate value of skill and industry. It is thought that the
council of the Royal Agricultural Society might consider it
within their province to inquire into this matter, and to press
itsimportance on the educatiojal authorities of the country.
The question has been raised by the Upton-on-Severn Farmers
Club in Worcestershire, at which, after a veiy well attended
raeetiug and full discussion (preceded by a paper read by Mr
Bailey Denton, which has since been published), the following
resolution was unanimously adopted." (Resolution given
above.)

A brief discussion ensued as to the desirableness of modify,
ng the preface with a view to its curtailment, the general
opinion of the meeting being that its length, together with
the resolution, would prevent its being inserted in the
Royal Society's journal, and other agricultural newspapers, as
desired.

The Chairiian mentioned to the meeting that Mr. Bailey
Denton had decided to publish his lecture in full, in the shape
of a pamplilet, with a view to lay it before the Royal Agricul>
tural Society, and to ascertain whether they would insert it in
their Journal. He thought a shorter preface than the one
' before them would be more likely to gain the object they had

THE EARMEK'S MAGAZINE.

395

in view. The subject of Mr. Denton's paper was down lor
discussion at a meeting of tlie Royal Agricultural Society.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by Mr. WORK-

MAN, that portion of the preface from " It is thought" to
i< the educational authorities of the country '' was struck out,
aud the other portion unanimously adopted.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

BOROUGIIBRIDGE.
A quarterly meeting of the Boroughbridge Agricultural
Society was held recently, at Boroughbridge, when
Mr. T. S. Mason, Founlainhall, read a paper on " The Capital
Required in Agriculture." He said that the subject was one
for serious consideration, particularly at the preseut time,
when farmers were suffering from a succession of bad seasons.
He was of opinion that a farmer must depend on his own
power of calculation in fixing the amount of money he would
require for the farm he was about to occupy. In making his
calculations, lie had had in mind a mixed farm in that neigh-
bourhood of 300 acres, in fair couditiou — two-thirds arable
and one-third grass, rented at 35s. per acre. Such a farm he
calculated would require a capital of from £12 to £17 per
acre. The half yearly rent and rates he estimated at £1 Is. per
acre, valuation as tenant-right ISs., machinery and imple-
ments at 30s., horses £1 5s., stock £5, cake and artificial
manure £1 5s., labour £1 5s., furniture and housekeeping
£1 10s., repairs 3s., and os. per acre in addition, made up
£14 per acre. With regard to the valuation as ]tenant-right,
the sum he had set down was low, for it would undergo con-
siderable change, according to the manner in which a farm
had been carried on, and according to the nature of the hold-
ing. Few but those who had had it to do could estimateTthe
cost of putting a farm in good condition which had been
allowed to run back. Time and capital had to be expended
which outweighed any amount of tenant-right. It was most
essential that a correct idea of the value of the tenant right
should be known before a farm was taken, so that no miscalcu-
lations might cripple the after management. Then
machinery and implements were a great expense in the
first year, but without them no farmer could make head-
way in the present day. This expense would be propor-
tionately heavier on a small farm than on a large farm.
He thought he had given a moderate estimate of the
amount required for cake and artificial manures. The con
sumption of cake was, perhaps, the one grand feature in high-
farming, and the more stock they could keep ia an improving
condition, the better for themselves and for the land. The
item of repairs was sometimes forgotten, and although it was
not a large payment, yet if it came without being calculated
upon it was sure to be troublesome. They must bear in mind-
that this capital which was invested was only returned at long
intervals, and some times they had to wait for better seasons
and improved markets before they secured the whole of their
capital with interest. It was in this waiting that the mau
without capital came to grief. No doubt there were instances
where men with small means had been fortunate enough to
meet with an exceptional season, and thereby raise money
enough for the continuance of the farm, but these instances
were raTe. It was not to be understood, however,'that capital
was the only thing requisite. It must be coupled with prac-
tical knowledge and sound judgment. The want of practical
knowledge and sufficient capital were the two great causes of
agricultural failure. With regard to the question, does farming
pay ? he answered not at present. But it would pay when
properly conducted. With freedom from imported disease, an"

the evidence of that consideration which agriculture would
really claim, the capital would not be wanting to improve the
producing power of the land. If was in the public interest
that the country should produce largely, aud anything which
hindered that production was an injury to the country.

Mr. Bennett thought that the estimates set down in the
paper were a little too low ; but the cost depended very mueh
on the locality. Most of them were of opinion that farming
did not pay at present ; but he did not think that that was
owing to deficiency of capital. There were other reasons
which accounted for it. Still, farmers were apt to take faring
too large for their capital, for they did not consider, when
taking them, that a very heavy tenant-right put so much per
acre on the rent of the land.

Mr. Brogden thought that an estimate of £12 per acre was
rather under than over-rating the cost. His own impression
was that £15 an acre was required.

The Rev. C. H. Sale thought there was not so much more
capital required for farming now than formerly, as many
people supposed. If there was more required for machinery
and implements there was a recompense in the work being
better done ; and though there was no doubt a heavier ex-
penditure for cake aud artificial manure?, yet the farmer of
the present day had the advantage of quicker returns.

The Chairman agreed with the last speaker that farmers
in the present day could turn over their stock much more
quickly than was the custom thirty years ago.

Mr. T. Scott said that profitable farming meant high farm-
ing. But the question of quick returns was not a matter of
capital, but of profit. If they turned out this stock at an
earlier age than was the custom formerly, yet they had to get
them into condition by artificial means, and therefore there
was the same amount of invested capital as if they kept the
stock three or four years.

ROYAL JERSEY.
This show was held on April 4th and 5th, and was quite Up
to the average, though in the opinion of some of the judges
the cattle, taking them altogether, were not so fine as last
year. Two yearling bulls exhibited were perfect pictures, and
that it was a very near thing between them in the judge'
opinion, is evidenced by the equal number of points awarded
to each, viz. : 89. Mr. J. Le Brocq's brown yearling Snap,
obtained the first prize, and a parochial prize, and his cousin,
Mr. Francis Le Brocq, the second prize, the first herd book
and a parochial prize. Mr. W. Alexandre's bull, Grey King,
took the first prize in the two-year-old class, and was a very
meritorious exhibit. There were only two entries in tht
three year old class and Mr. Pr. Le Masurier took the first
prize with his fawn bull, Bobbie. A fair number of horses
were shown, but the quality was not first-class, though some
useful animals were exhibited. The pigs were up to the
average, Messrs. Vercoe and Gumbrell showing some very
nice animals. The attendance was very fair, and the prize
winners attracted not a little attention at the hands of the
■ cognasceuti, the yearling bulls holding quite a levee of their
admirers.— Jersey Times

396

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

I was under the idea (an idea that at least has been
pretty well shared by others) that Mr. Bowly proposes
to sell, on April 23th, only dairy stock, or at least things
that he has casually picked up at stray sales, where he is
ever so generous a bidder. Having just inspected his
stock I am glad to be able to say that it is nothing of
the kind. He has come to the conclusion, which many
others hold, that one or two tribes of this essentially
composite (the Shorthorn) breed of cattle is quite as
much as a breeder can satisfactorily handle, unless
he has several bulls to suit the various sorts. He
has consequently thinned down everything to his
excellent Gazelle tribe, in the main (keeping, of course,
a few of his own peculiar Musicals and Rubies),
for the origin of which that famous authority, the
Rev. H. Berry, stands responsible. Of the Gazelles
his reserved herd includes some very beautiful cattle, not-
ably Gazelle 28th (the dam of Lord Fitsclarence 24th in
the sale), a cow that is a model for youngsters to study
and which I hope no one will visit Siddington without ob
serving. They will be all in a meadow at hand. He
was averse to putting any of these pets up for sale, but
when he'found that they might be looked for, with charac-
teristic chivalrous pluck he at once decided " Well, then
I'll put in the best bred one I have," and so he has done !
The Musicals hung fire for some reason last year. Let
those who doubt their merit about to go first view the
faultless White Minstrel 2nd in the reserve, and then go
to her daughter, Lot 17 (Minstrel 8th),in which they will
find a roan youngster by 3rd Duke of Clarence,
having a beautiful bead, fine soft hair, and
great width over loin and crops. Lot 23 (Musical
18th) has a wonderful back. What a depth of Duchess
crosses they have too ! His Asia cow has slipped calf,
and will not be included iu the sale. Minnie, the second
lot (of Hubback hue), had been long before going to bull.
What she can breed Lot 29, Minnie 3rd will amply
show, being an admirable heifer. The old cow is very
stylish iu character. Clove is a massive, deep cow, and
as they require at Kingscote an excellent milker, the
Dido lots being very level, and bearing the impress of
the clever Weston Park management, should be secured
by our buyers. Now that bulls of this test quality are
so plentiful, new hands should secure good females,
of the same family if possible. Climb as far as you can
on the shoulders of others. Ever improving should be the
rule of life. Remember some thirty years since the
Wildeyes cows were worth about 30 guineas a-piece only,
and yet hundreds of guineas had long before been paid for
various other cows. And those admirable Silences, now
worth a-piece about the orthodox three rings of ruby,
diamond, and sapphire (which so many ladies covet, and
so few can wear), why, these cows quite lately fetched less
than £50 a-piece ! In the future, with an increasing de-

mand, and an ever-widening ]ove ot the pursuit, you know
not what may come to the front. Get hold of the good
well-descended cows now as chance offers, nurse your
selection well, and the future you may regard with more
than hope. By this same rule one buyer ought
to secure the Lady Weston's, lots 15, 24, and
25, all very taking heifers, and of good blood
too. For the dam of lot 26 Mr. Bowly gave
100 guineas, and at the time was held to have bought a
bargain. I was there to see. This roan daughter is
capital all over, but especially about the quarters and
twist. Such is but a fair account of Mr. Bowly's con-
tingent.

Mr. Denis de Vitre sells the same day a fine
Charmer cow, a very valuable auimal also in Grand
Duke's Butterfly, and a treasure in Siddington 10th.
He, as Mr. Bowly, is thinning his herd to one sort
maiulyr, and that is the celebrated Barmpton Rose tribe,
of which he has now perhaps the best in the world, having
assiduously gathered them up at Towneley itself, and
wherever else he could. Siddington 10th is a remarkably
handsome cow, very lengthy and low, has a beautiful
head and full eye, is round-ribbed, has long quarters, and a
greenish-white horn. She is a sweet specimen of the breed,
and moreover is a heifer-breeder, having had three heifers
out of four calves, one, now by her side, which her owner
cannot make up his mind to part with. The only sister
to this unhappily died, when well grown, from a chill
The cow is in calf to 2nd Grand Duke of Kent (28759)^
whose stock was so much admired at the Underley sale.
Sir Joseph (39124), got by 2nd Grand Duke out of
a pure Barmpton Rose cow, the daughter of the well
known Rose of Lancashire, is a grandly grown young
bull, roan in colour, and mellow to handle. He will be
exhibited at Oxford, and it must be a good one to beat
him I anticipate. This sale, then, is not quite a second-
rate affair after all. Mr. Bowly has a large dairy farm
well stocked with shapely cows, but there
are none of them included iu this published list _

Being upon the track, I proceed further to say that I
have had recently the opportunity of inspecting the
Rushden Hall herd, to be sold May 31st. Its owner,
Mr. F. Sartoris, is well known in connection with the
Surmises. It was he who put May Duke on the Silence
tribe. It wras he too who selected for the Duke of Man-
chester at the Dunmore sale in 1872 Princess (Lot 1)
of this very tribe, and who has done wonders, having
had lovely offspring of the Kimbolton herd. Mr.
Sartoris is fond, as he naturally would be from hia
comparative neighbourhood to the celebrated kine of
Fawsley, of Knightley blood, and has managed to com-
bine Bates and Knightley, with more equable and better
effect than any one I know, except Mr. Sheldon of Brailes.
Their systems however, has been similar. They have bred

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

397

in and in, and so well mixed the elements, which do not al-
ways blend quite kindly at first, any more than a spoonful
of Gregory's powder in a tumbler of water. Mr. Sartoris
has, amongst many other eood cows, a very grand Sur-
mise, a couple of excellent Waterloos, aud three of the bes4
Gwynnes one has seen anywhere. Beginners should lick
up these. They will have to travel far to find better.
There is a fine stylish Waterloo bull for sale, Lord Cla-
reuce Waterloo by 3rd Duke of Clarence, aud for the
purpose of those who are wisely trying to keep Fawsley
cattle in their former fashion there remains at Rushdcu
a bull as like old Touchstone in hue aud general character
as possible. Born in 1S71, roan, and got by no less than
7th Duke of York (17754), out of Polython, who was by
4th Duke of Thorudale (17750), cut of the memorable
Polytiut, one of the best cows ever bred at Fawsley, he
is very distinguished in appearance, is long and meaty,
and should be secured by a breeder of Knightley cattle.
A better chance of a bull for such use can seldom occur.

The 7th Duke cross alone is worth a goodly pearl, and the
Rosy foundation of his dam a whole string of such.

Disasters seem to run in cycles. There was last year
great complaint of cows "turning" on the bull. There
is now much heard of abortion, and untimely births.
Sometimes a deep watering place, sometimes being chased
by a dog or young donkey, sometimes bad smells, some
times the eating of mangels will do it. Anyhow, re-
move the sufferer as soon as possible, for the mischief is
very contagious. Wash her with weak chloride of lime
and water, aud scatter disinfecting fluid all around. The
ewes which some weeks since took to straining out their
wombs quite gave over when removed to short keep. Too
plethoric a state is bad for anything with young. Sows
especially should be kept lean as rakes. It is the only
way to save the litter. Peed well as soon as the youngster3
cau notice and take care of themselves.

Vigil.
Jan. 13.

THE BRINDLB COLOUR IN SHORTHORNS

In " Vigil's " interesting " Live Stock Notes,"
published in this journal on March 18th, he remarks, as
a curious fact, that the old " yellow-red " greatly prepon-
derated in the colours of the young Shorthorn bulls
recently exhibited for sale at Birmingham. He observed
that the roans were, in nearly every instance, yellow or
chestuutty about the heads. "Reading the cafalogue back,
wards," he continues, " out of 126 calves under twelve
months old, 51 were decidedly yellowish or yellow ; whilst
of G8 'exceeding twelve and not exceeding fifteen months
old ' there were 45 which could not have been painted
without the artist using a considerable proportion of yellow
ochre, or some kindred pigment, in his com •
pound. Mr. John Outhwaite's handsome winner, very
suggestive of the best Warlaby form, and handling superbly
was in colour nothing more nor less than a dark ehes/n/d
brindle." "Vigil " considers this to be the more remark-
able in consequence of the known aversion which
some breeders entertain to this colour ; and
that it is difficult to understand how much
more it has forced itself to the front of late years.
" Like murder, it will out," he very suggestively remarks'

This is a most interesting subject, and the facts related
above were not likely to escape the observation of such an
ardent admirer of Shorthorns as " Vigil." Although he
has challenged an expert to reply, and wondered what the
wise would have to say about it, the interest taken in
the subject by a plain observer like myself, who does not
pretend to be either wise or expert, will, 1 trust, be con-
sidered an excusc for my presumption in offering a sugges-
tion with regard to it.

I scarcely think "Vigil" attached any importance to
the influence of light, and of climate, to which he alluded
in connection with crops, and the variation in colour
which has been noticed in breeding fowls. That light will

influence colour may be taken for granted; and that cli-
mate will determine the character and growth of hair is
also an ascertained fact ; but the variation in colour men-
tioned by "Vigil " would seem to call for a very different
explanation. Arguing from analogies there appears to be
good ground for attributing it to "reversion." Those who
have studied Mr. Darwin's work on the " Variation of
Animals and Plants under Domestication " will be familiar
with the facts recorded therein respecting the tendency
of mules, bred between the ass and horse, to exhibit
stripes on the legs and shoulders, and with the deduction
made therefrom by the great naturalist that the common
progenitor of the horse aud the ass was striped ;J also
with the arguments used in the chapter on " Reversion,"
and throughout the volume, as to the reappearance of
latent characters both in cultivated plants and domestica-
ted animals. Mr. Darwin says : — " The cases of reversion
may be divided iuto twa main classes which, however, in
some instances, blend into one another; namely, first;
those occurring in a variety or race which has not been
crossed, but has lost by variation some character that it
formerly possessed, and which afterwards reappears. The
second class included all cases in which an iudividual
with some distinguishable character, a race, or a species
has at some former period been crossed, and a character
derived from the cross, after having disappeared during
one or several generations, suddenly reappears. . .
When two distinct races are crossed it is notorious
that the teudeucy in the offspring to revert to one or both
parent forms is stroug, aud endures for many generations.
I have myself seen the clearest evidence of this in crossed
pigeons and with various plants. Mr. Sydney states that,
in a litter of Essex pigs, two young ones appeared which
were the image of the Berkshire boar that had been used
twenty-eight years before in giving size and constitution

308

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE.

to the breed. I observed in the farmyard at Betley
Hall some fowls showing a strong likeness to the Malay
breed, and was told by Mr. Toilet that he had, forty
years before, crossed his birds with Malays ; and that,
though he had at iirst attempted to get rid of this strain,
he had subsequently given up the attempt in despair,

as the Malay character would reappear

But we must be careful not to coufound these cases
of reversion to characters which were gaiued by a
cross with those under the first class, in which
characters originally common to both parents, but lost
at some former period, reappear ; for such characters
may recur after an almost indefinite number of
generations. The law of reversion is as powerful with
hybrids, when they are sufficiently fertile to breed together,
or when they are repeatedly crossed with either pure
parent-form, as in the case of mongrels." The old
yellow chestnut-brindle colour which " Vigil" speaks of
as coming so persistently and uuwelcomely to the front,
must be a reversion of the seeoud class if a reversion at
all. The case in point does not necessitate the bold flight
of a naturalist's imagination to discern an extinct parti-
coloured ancestor in the far-distant pre-historic past, but
simply a hark back to the pre-Collings era, or to the time
prior to the advent of the orthodox Shorthorn Adam —
Avhoever he may have been— to the time when the com-
mon progenitors of the Shorthorns were the best Durham
or Teeswater cows which could be found. It will be
admitted that one old and distinct breed of cattle, the Long-
horns, arc conspicuously of a brindled colour, and would
require a large proportion of yellow -ochre or some kin-
dred pigment to depict them faithfully. It will have
been noticed, too, that the West Highland cattle are not
uufrequently brindled ; and, perhaps it will be conceded
that brindle is a very common colour amongst common
mongrel-bred cattle. The most bigoted partisan will
scarcely refuse to admit that the Shorthorn breed is made
up of heterogeneous elements ; and this may account for
the fact that the purest, "grandest old," blood of the
most fashionable strains does not include within its pre-
potency the faculty of producing definite colour in the
offspring. There is a great diversity of colour amongst
Shorthorns ; and, to my mind, a great diversity of
character as well. At all the shows of pure-bred cattle
I have ever attended this diversity of character has
invariably attracted my attention. Take for instance the
bulls " Sir Arthur Ingram" and " Telemachus 6th" at
Liverpool, both as to colour and character, and contrast
" Snowstorm" with " Rear Adir iral," and " Lavangro"
with " General Fusee ;'' each possessed the typical Short-
horn form, but the character was as diversified as the
colours. This diversity of character may, perhaps, be
accounted for by ascribing it to that " fashion" in breeding
which has eliminated the characters of certain fancy
strains with great pertinacity, and jealousy of pedigree,
whereby the etchings, as it were, of the great masters
have been carefully filled in ; but the diversity of colour
can, I think, only be accounted for by ascribiug it to the ,

hetcrogoucous elements of which the breed has been built
up, and which entered iuto the composition of its early
progenitors. The prepotency of the Hereford breed
inter se is of a nature to determine both form and colour
in a very pronounced manner; the very outline of the
white markings is tolsrably constant, and the occasional
appearance of a " grey" Hereford shows an erratic rever-
sion to an element which at one time must have been
more common to the breed , but there is very little
diversity of character. Herd after herd of bullocks may
be found " all alike," and this cannot be said of the
Shorthorns. The Devons, again, are very true to form
and colour, but the climate of South Devon has modified
the form, size, and colour of the typical North Devon >
still, there are no markings. The West Highlanders are
true to form, and there is little, if any, variation in
character ; but the colour varies within certain defined
limits. Here, again, is a marked difference to the Short-
horn breed, in which there is little limit to variation in
character, and, apparently, none whatever as to colour ;
excepting, perhaps, in respect of actual black. There-
fore, the hated brindle colour which crops up, like original
sin, amongst their refined descendants, may also be due
to a preponderance of that colour in the common stock
from which those ancestors were selected. The question
may thus resolve itself into a simple case of reversion to
the markings of " old brindle' after many removes,
"Vigil" will not take this as a reflection on, or detraction
from, the merits of Shorthorn blood. But the fracture of
a polished stone will reveal the nature of the rock from
which it wa3 hewn.

If th\. /acts which " Vigil" has so carefully observed
and described can be interpreted correctly by ascribing
them to reversion, there are interesting deductions to be
made from them. " Vigil" — who by his writing must be
admitted to speak with considerable personal knowledge
of Shorthorns, and an intimate knowledge of their pedi-
grees— distinctly states that the " old yellow-red" colour,
which I take to mean a brindle with the markings more
or less distinct, has occurred amongst highly-bred Short-
horns so frequently of late years that it has become
noticeable. It is evident, too, that he does not consider it to
be a desideratum with the generality 'of breeders ; they do
not try to obtain it. On the contrary, they would conceal
it like murder; but it " will out." The actual brindle is
commouly supposed to indicate an unkind disposition or
bad back-breeding, and the objection to it on the part of
Shorthorn breeders may possibly be explained by this
phase of vulgar taste, which may be mere prejudice.
Long accepted agricultural prejudice, however, is generally
based on generalisations of facts, which, after^all, are some-
times misunderstood. But " Vigil" states distinctly that
in one instance a decided brindle was in point of form and
quality all that could be desired, and I wish to be under-
stood in making these remarks not to imply that the
quality or intrinsic value of these objectionably coloured
animals is necessarily lessened. To resume the argument,
it may, I think, safely be assumed that if the variation of

TIIE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

309

colour is due to reversion, it does not stand in the position
of a casual and erratic cropping; up of a long-lost element,
but in that of a regular and definable roturn to latent
character. If this is so — I do not say that it is— but if it
may be considered to be so, there should be something to
be learned from it.

I have noticed, as '•' Vigil" has doubtless noticed, that
when a pure-bred sire of one breed is used to a pure-bred
dam of another breed — say a Shorthorn bull on an Angus
cow — the offspring is different to either, and often a better
butcher's animal than either ; in other words a direct
cross — figuratively speaking, neither oil nor alkali, but
soap. The offspring of such offspring would be very un-
certain ; in fact would revert to the latent characters of
both sire and dam. But if a pure-bred sire be put to a
mongrel-bred dam, the offspriug will show striking and
typical likeness to the sire, apparently in inverse propor-
tion to the admixture of blood of the same strain which
the dam possesses. As a case in point T may mention
Qircumslances which have occurred within my own expe-
rience of breeding cross-breds and of breeding inter se.
I used a pure-bred Hereford bull, purchased from the
herd of one of the best breeders, on an out-of-distriot
herd of Hereford cows; and this particular bull on the
rank and file of the common dairy cows of the district.
As bull calves were not reared from these, dairies, I pur-
chased all the males of his get which I could obtain to
rear a3 bullocks. Out of twenty-six of these calves
twenty-five were marked true to the Hereford type of
colour, red with white faces, most of them of a lighter
shade lhan the Hereford red, and most of them of Here-
ford type, but showiug some character derived from the
dam ; that is to say, they were true to the colour type
but not to the breed or form type of the sire.
These calves came out of all sorts of mongrel-
bred cows. Only one of tho calves showed
irregular white markings on the body ; this calf I noted
very particularly as Laving for a dam one of the best bred
yellow-and-white Alderneys in the neighbourhood. Here,
then, the prepotency of the sire was not so great ; the
blood of the dam was as pure as that of the sire, and the
result was a direct cross in which the colour type of the
sire was scarcely maintained, though predominant
and the form type was nearer that of the dam.
Now, with respect to the influence of this
bull on the Hereford cows, which were of a
lighter shade of colour than he was, aud had been closely
inbred — the offspring inclined iu point of colour more to
the dams than to the sire. In the matter of colour, then,
the prepotency of this bull, which was absolute in the
case of the mongrels, but subservieut to that of the
dams of the same breed as himself. These facts I care-
fully noted at the time as beiug highly interesting.
Whenever an opportunity has offered, I have paid par-
ticular attention to prepotency in its influence on colour
as well as on type. I have noticed generally, that, when
sire and dam are of about equal prepotency there is a
tendency in the offspring to re'ert to some type of form

or colour which is latent iu one or both of the parents. I
have remarked this iu animals which are not closely re-
lated, or not related at all. But when a certain stage of
close or in-and-in breeding has been reached I have no-
ticed what ha3 appeared to me to be a return to first
principles, occasionally accompanied by malformation.
As a case in point 1 may cite the iustauce of a breed of
pigs which came recently uuder my observation. A gen-
tleman founded a breed on the bases of Chinese and
Eisex blood ; and these pigs, by being closely inbred,
established a type which proved highly prepotent on the
male side when the boars were used on other breeds and
varieties. But after some years of continual interbreed-
ing not only did they lose type of form, but became whito
— marked iu a manner which seemed to indicate that the
breed was resolving itself into very early elements, of
which there was no indication whatever in the material of
which it was formed.

Taking " Vigil's " account of the Birmingham Sale,
there appears to have been no noticeable deterioration iu
the form and quality of the exhibits. On the contrary,
he states, " After a brief survey, we arrive at the conclu-
sion, which others seem generally to share, that it is the
best lot of young bulls ever yet exhibited for sale here.'
Speaking of one particular auimal in which the brindle
colour was very prominent, he says it was handsome, and
suggestive of the best Warlaby form, " handling su-
perbly." So that there is nothing in " Vigil's" account,
to which I must strictly adhere, which will warrant an
assumption that, iu point of form or character — which he
distiuctiy states to have been " more even" throughout — >
there was anything detrimental connected with the ten-
dency toward the particular colour of which he took such
careful notice. He does certainly say " It was not the
best-bred ones which showed the best ;" but he at once
explained that untoward circumstance by pointing out
that the best breeders could not be expected to expose
anything but the "' culls of their herds " to the conditions
of the sale. I am quite prepared to accept this explana-
tion as correct ; but there is a rumour abroad — which is,
possibly, merely the ill-natured slander of the enemy —
that the culls from fashion-breeders' herds are sadly out
of all proportion to the successes. But in respect -to
colour, at Birmingham, " Vigil " says the judges
were quite regardless of it, aud " went altogether for

shape and quality, and the winners in several

cases verged absolutely on the hue of the Galloway." There
is an old saying that a good horse cannot be a bad colour,
and, in tho light of Birmingham events, there would ap.
pear to be a possibility of the adage being adapted to the
necessities of bovine as well as equine reputations.
" Vigfl" tells us that nearly one-half of the bulls at Bing-
ley Hall had the brindle element more or less strongly
developed; and in the absence of any statement to the
contrary, it will be fair to assume that these animals were
from diversified families of Shorthorns, which would
be a direct confirmation of his statement that this
colour " is forcing itself to the front." Now, the qnes-

400

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tions which naturally suggest themselves from this view
of the subject are :

1. Do Shorthorn breeders admit that this brindle
colour is showing an increased tendency to develope itself
from all the families, generally, or from certain families
particularly ; or is this Birmingham circumstance merely
a coincidence, and the tendency disputed ?

2. If admitted, generally or particularly, can it be cor-
rectly explained by attributing it to reversion ?

3. If attributable to reversion, other than of an erratic
or accidental character, can it be shown in general or par-
ticular cases to be the result of close interbreeding ?

4. Is the reversion to an elemental type of colour (if
admitted) accompanied by any reversion to an elemental
type of form or character ?

As the subject can scarcely fail to be interesting and
instructive I hope some one will reply.

Observer.

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

{From the Echo.)
No, IV.— rREVALENT LOW FARMING.

The average value per acre of the produce of the farmed
land of the United Kingdom is estimated by the best judges
to be from £5 to £5 10s. On land well farmed, and even over
the whole of exceptional districts, the amount is probably
double ; so that, if we take these out of the sum, we must set
the average of the remainder at even less than the low one of
£5 per acre. This is a conclusive proof of the prevalence o
inferior farming. But no one who knows anything of crops
and cultivation needs an array of figures to convince him of
this fact. A drive through any county, or even a flying jour-
ney in a railway carriage, shows him land foul, half cultivated,
half covered with crops, and altogether poverty-stricken, with
only a few oases in the desert ; and the pasture land is every
bit as bad as the arable. An objector argues against the
fallacy of thinking that it is necessarily an evil that we send
gold out of the country to buy com, and contends that, as
farming is the least remunerative of our industries, it is best
that we should let our corn be produced abroad, and turn our
labour to a more profitable account. T endorse no fallacy of
this kind ; but at the same time I maintain that to he obliged
to import what we can profitably produce at home, while our
labourers are leaving our shores by thousands annually,
and thousands more are only half employed, is a dead loss.

This brings me to a greater fallacy than the one mentioned
by the objector referred to. It has been taught by political
economists, and accept' d as an axiom, that the cost of produc-
ing a great crop is more in proportion than that of producing
a small one. In a country where land can be had for next to
nothing this may be true ; but it certainly is not true of a
country like England, where rents and all other expenses are
high. To show this clearly, let us take the case of a farmer
who buys a poor farm. I must take such a case, unfortu-
nately, because under our atrocious Land Laws a yearly tenant
who improves his farm is liable to be rented on his own ex'
pended capital, and a leaseholder the same, if he keeps on
farming well up to the end of his term. But suppose that the
purchaser of the poor farm mortgages it up to its full value,
so that interest will stand in place of rent. The farm is in
such poor condition that it grows on an average only five
sacks of wheat per acre. Now, what will it cost the farmer to
make it grow ten sacks ? If it does not require draining, he
will only have to keep sufficient stock, feeding them partly on
purchased food. The stock, we may fairly suppose, will pay
for all the food they consume, the cost of attendance, and in-
terest on the capital invested in them, leaving their manure as
the only profit to enrich the soil. I am assuming

that the farmer keeps stock of all kinds — not merely
fattening stock, which will not always pay expenses. In a
few years the crops on the farm will be improved. The change
will be gradual, and it may take six years to arrive at the
doubled produce of wheat. That makes no difference to my
argument. Take whatever stage in the progress of improve-
ment you please, and what do you find P The rent (interest)
aad the tithe are the same ; the tradesmen's bills are no larger ;
the cost of horses is no greater; no more seed.corn has been
used; and the miscellaneous expenses and the farmer's living
(call it manager's salary) are no greater. Rates are a little
higher; there is interest on a larger amount of capital to
charge ; and the cost of labour in harvesting, thrashing, and
sending out the crop ha3 increased to the extent of a few
shillings per acre. Th? general labour has been rather less
than greater, for it is well known that heavy crops cost lesi
to keep clean than light ones. Now, anyone can see that the
cost of producing the extra five, three, or two sacks of wheat
per acre is less in proportion than the cost of growing the
five sacks that were obtained by low farming. I am not here
assuming that all the land of the country could be made to
yield ten sacks of wheat per acre in an average of years.
On the contrary, there is some land so "hungry"
that it would swallow up auy quantity of manure
put upon it. Even such land, however, would be wonder.'ully
improved by the " golden hoof" of the sheep, and whatever
extra yield was obtained from it, I maintain, would be got at
less proportionate cost than what is grown in the ordinary
way. But in the case I am supposing it is not the corn crops
only that would be increased. The roots, clover, grass, and
other feeding crops would all be grown in greater abundance,
thus producing more meat, and affording more home-grown
keep for horses ; so it is not in all cases necessary to double our
corn crous in order to double our total produce. If my
example-farm required draining — as land capable of producing
ten sacks of wheat per acre and only growing five probably
would — the profit on the high farming would of course be
diminished; but as the draining would add to the value of the
fee-simple, only the interest on its cost would have to be
charged, and this would amount to no more than from four to
seven shillings per acre.

Nor does the assertion that high farming pays better than
low farming rest on any hypothetical case, however fairly
drawn. It is the common teachine of experience. Wherever
you find the best farming there, as a rule, you find also the
best-paying farms. Unfortunately, however, it is not always

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

401

tlie improving teuant who reaps the fruits of his enterprise.
Too frequently tho landlord appropriates the results of his
tenant's spirited and judicious outlay in the form of increased
rent. Take the best-farmed districts of Scotland, for example.
There high farming has undoubtedly paid well ; but who has
it paid P The tenants, sometimes, but not as a rule, I fear ;
as it is said to be the exception, and not the rule, for a tenant
in Scotland to farm out his lease; and the recent farming
failures in the Lothians and other districts tell a sad tale.
Still, it has paid the tenants sometimes — and the landlords
always. The rise in rents in Scotlaud during the past fifty
years has been enormous. Tenants have taken farms on lease,
have expended capital freely in good farming, and then have
got into ditliculties, having to leave their farms and their
capital (and other people's as well but too often) sunk in the
land, thus enabling the fortunate landlords to charge higher
rents to the next comers. The Law of Hypothec is to a
great extent responsible for this deplorable state of affairs.
Under that abominable law a landlord is sure of bis rent, and
can safely accept any "man of straw" as a tenant. Thus
men with insufficient capital take land, spend their money, and
get iuto difficulties. Tradesmen, merchants, and bankers
suffer ; but the landlord is secure. The tradesman's imple-
ments and other goods, the merchant's cake and manure, the
banker's cash — all is fish that comes into his net. Let the
galled jades wince ; his withers are unwruug. The Law of
Hypothec holds him secure from all loss. It goes without
saying that to tempt tenants to risk their capital on the
chance of good seasons setting them well on their legs there
must have been prizes gained by others before them. No doubt
there have been, especially in that speculative business potato-
growing. But there is far too much of the gambling spirit
about this high-farming in Scotland, and only the landlords
" stand to win." Lincolnshire supplies us with a more favour-
able instance of the advantages of high farming. There a
system of tenant right has prevailed for many years, aud
nowhere in England will there be found more prosperous
tenants.

Go, on the other hand, into the worst-farmed parts of the
country, and there, as a rule, you will find the poorest tenaats,

The farms to let by the score, at greatly reduced rents, at the
present time are not the farms where the most capital has been
expended, hut those where low farming has been the practice.
It is comparatively seldom that a farmer who farms well, and
who has capital enough to enable him to stand against a sue-
cession of bad seasons, fails to pay his way, unless he is over-
rented, or c: eaten up" with game. 'Why is it that, although
high fanning pays better than low fanning, the latter chiefly
prevails, I explained to some eutent in my last letter. Until
the capital of farmers is made more secure,[eitherthrough|their
becoming their own landlords or by means of a compulsory
law of compensation for unexhausted improvements, low farm-
ing will continue to prevail. It is not enough to show that
those who farm best as a rule succeed best, in spite of the
lack of security. Every now and then there is a warning
which shows that to expend freely without legal
security is unsafe, and capital, proverbially shy,
skrinks from such a risky investment. Confidence
in a just landlord is generally justified as long as the landlord
lives ; but confidence, at its best, is not security, aud the most
honourable of landlords is mortal. An improving tenant is
almost ture, sooner or later, to be rented on his own improve-
ments, and although before the rise takes place he may have
recouped himself liberally, the risk is too great for the majority
of men to incur. A long lease is a security for liberal farming
during all but the last few years of the term — that is, if the
tenant is sure that bis capital will hold out over a few succes-
sive bad seasons ; but, unless it is renewed at the time when
the prudent tenaut would begin to " farm to leave," the con-
dition of the land becomes rapidly worse until the end of the
lease, and the next term of years has to be begun with a farm
in low condition. To a limited extent, however, leases un-
doubtedly encourage good farming. This is proved by the fact
that farms held on lease usually let for more than those held
from year to year. But it has been estimated that three-fourths
ofthe land in England is let from year to year without any
security to the tenants for the value of their improvements. It
is no wonder, then, that low fanning chiefly prevails.

A Free Farmer.

IS BRITISH AGRICULTURE DECLINING?

Is the agriculture of tins country declining ?
We fear we must admit that it is, though every
one must hope that the retrogression is only a
temporary one. A correspondent of The Times
recently called attention to the fact that the crop

this fact that our climate has " permanently
changed for the worse," as some one has suggested.
Before now there have been cycles of bad seasons*
as well as cycles of good ones, and uo one can tell
that the next term of ten or thirteen years will

returns of The Mark Lane Express for the last not be one of the most favourable on record. But,
ten years show a great preponderance of " under- allowing that the prevailing bad seasons account
average" yields,and a contemporary abouta year ago | to some extent for the preponderance of deficient
suggested that it might be necessary to lower those \ crops, it has yet to be admitted that they do

estimates of what constitute " average" crops. Now
everyone connected with agriculture knows that the
seasons for the past ten — we may say for the past
thirteen — years have been generally unfavourable.
During the thirteen years under review we have
not had more than three decidedly favourable to
cereal crops. It is not necessary to conclude from

not fully explain the deficiency. A number of
seasons can hardly be bad for all kinds of crops
alike, and those who take the trouble to examine
our summaries of crop returns will see that every
one of our crops has been deficient in a large
majority of harvests since, say, L863. Besides
this statistical evidence, we have the opinions of

402

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

numbers of experienced observers, who tell us
that farming as a rule is not so well done now as
it was twenty or thirty years ago, and that the
condition of the land generally is obviously poorer
than it was then. We may make a little allowance,
perhaps, for the halo with which imagination
surrounds all things connected with " the good old
times ;" but, having taken off the discount, we
still have to admit with regret that the compari-
son, as stated, is in the main a true one.

What are the causes of this decline in our
agriculture ? With greater kuowledge of the
science of farming, with mechanical contrivances
greatly improved, and with immensely increased
facilities for obtaining extraneous manures and
feeding-stuffs, an advance instead of a decline
might, by the outside observer, be looked for.
Those, however, who are " behind the scenes "
know that there are various reasons for a falling-
off in the cultivation of the soil, though they by
no means all agree as to particular causes which
have exercised the greatest influence. Some
attribute the decline to bad seasons, others to loss
of capital, a third party to the diminution of live
stock, a fourth to the use of artificial manures, and
others to the sale of straw and roots, or to other
causes, or to a combination of those named. Now,
we have already remarked that bad seasons alone
will not account for the decline of agriculture, and
even if we take with them the loss of capital, as
partly their result, we are still unsatisfied in oui
quest for a sufficient explanation of the unfortu-
nate state of affairs which we are considering.
No doubt a series of bad harvests diminishes the
farmers' capital more than any other cause, and
thus tends to perpetuate the evil by wasting the
resources which should be applied to prevent its
repetition. For this reason we consider the cycle
of unfavourable seasons that we have experienced
as the most important in the series of causes of
the evil we deplore ; but we must give due weight
to other influences. The diminution in the num-
bers of our live stock is partly the cause and partly
the effect of the farmers' loss of capital, and as far
as it is a cause it tends, as bad harvests do, to per-
petuate itself. A farmer gets short of money, and
cannot buy as many bullocks or sheep as he has
been accustomed to keep. As a consequence, he
makes less manure, or manure of an inferior quality,
his farm suffers, and his crops are smaller. But it
is quite as legitimate to put this part of the ques-
tion in another light. Farmers lost capital
through the devastations of cattle disease, and so
had to do with fewer animals, and otherwise to
spend less in farming ; or, again, they were deterred

from keeping as much stock as they had been
accustomed to keep by the fear of contagious
diseases, their manure-heaps got smaller, and their
crops smaller also, in consequence. As to the use
of artificial manures, we need only point to Mr*
Lawes's experiments, extending over thirty years
or more, in order to prove that the judicious use
of these manures not only does not diminish the
fertility of the soil but, on the contrary, increases
it. Where straw and roots have been sold off, and
an insufficient quantity of artificial manures has
been returned to the land, the result has, no doubt)
been disastrous ; but it must not be forgotten that
from only a very small number of farms compara-
tively have straw and roots been sold. Amongst
the other causes of poor farming not enumerated
above some have mentioned the expense at which
the farmers of the present day live, compared with
that of the same class in former times. It is said
that a farmer with a holding of a given size,
although he possesses no more capital than his
father had, spends a great deal more in household
and personal expenses, and so has less to spend on
the land. There may be something in this, but we
think not much. Our forefathers probably wasted
nearly as much as our extra expenditure amounts
to : and when we call to mind the tales of the
'• three'' and " four-bottle men," and of the two or
tkree days spent " on tho spree" at the frequent
fairs then held, we are not inclined to feel very
sure that our personal expenses are greater than
theirs. The necessary expenses of farming have
greatly increased, while the prices of our crops, on
the average of a series of years, are about the
same ; and only the prices of meat and dairy pro-
duce have greatly advanced. The rise in the
wages of labourers, and still more the unpleasant-
ness which has recently been brought about in the
relations of employer and employed, may be said
to account for the foul state of a large proportion
of our farms. This state of affairs, however, has
not been of long enough duration to have con-
tributed very materially to the decline of agricul-
ture, which has been gradual, extending over
several years. It ma}' be said, generally, that
expenses have increased out of all proportion to
any increase in the returns, where that has existed,
and this fact alone would account for a gradual
loss of capital ; but whether, under favourable
conditions, farming, like many other branches .of
production, would not have risen superior to such
adverse circumstances is another and a deeper
question. That losses have been retrieved, and
extra returns produced permanently to meet in-
creased expenses, the experience of the successful

THE FARMER'S MA^A/J.NHJ

farmers who, after all, are not yet extinct, proves.
Whether their experience would not have been
general, instead of so lamentably exceptional as it
is, if the conditions under which farming has to
be curried on iu this country had been more advan-
tageous is, as wo have intimated, a deeper ques-

ts

ii"ii. ind one on which there <xists an even greater
difference of opinion than on the more palpable
c mses of a temporary decline of agriculture which
we have been discussing. The consideration of
that question we must reserve for a future
occasion.

IS THE FOLDING OF SHEEP ON TURNIPS THE BEST AND MOST
ECONOMICAL SYSTEM ?

We give a long-delayed abridgment of Professor
Sheldon's paper, read at a meeting of the Knigseote
Agricultural Association.

Processor Sheldon said : — The question of folding sheep
on turnips is a difficult one to handle in a satisfactory mannei,
because the circumstauces under which sheep are kept are so
very various, and the variation is still further increased by the
almost infinite variety of soils which this island contains
Consequently I shall not express dogmatic opinions of my own
against this, that, or the other system of feeding sheep ; but I
will content myself with giving my own impressions on the
points I may take up, in quoting the opinions and experience
of various practical men, and in throwiug out suggestions
which will lead to a discussion of this importsut ques-
tion. One of the chief reasons why sheep are foiled on
turnips, and it is a reason in favour of which a great deal of
sound argument can be used, is that the consumption of a
root-crop on the land is one of the best methods of manuring
the land, and that if the turnip crop itself does not pay in the
sheep it pays in the crop which follows. I do not iuieud to
say a word against this position in reference to really light,
dry, porous soils of any kind, especially sandy soils. On
these soils the folding of shepp on turnips is not ohjpctionabl -
n any sense, because they never become wet and muddy, like
the heavy soils, with the trampling of the sheep on them It
is moreover a great advantage to many light soils that they
should be well trodden and solidified by some, meaus or other,
and sheep folded on the laud perform this office in a very

that the fattening of sheep on turnips in winter time.especially
when the weather is wet and where the land becomes sticky
and muddy with rain, is a great evil ; but as yet no remedy
has been found or, rather, adopted in this country which is
not an expensive or laborious one. On farms which have
more or le<s permanent grass-land the sheep may be more
satisfactorily kept on the pastures and meadows, having the
turnips brought to them ; but on this system there is the
trouble of carting the turnips off, which is no slight matter.
It is, however, not an awkward thing either to cart an extra
quantity when the weather is dry, to serve du-ing rainy
weather, or to have the roots pitted near to Jone or other
of the farm roads, or even inside tiie grass fields themselves,
in which case the labour and mischief of travelling the carts
over the turnip land in a wet time is avoided ; aud under any
circumstances turnips are always better pitted whilst they are
dry ; and if they are carted at all before pitting, it is as well
to deposit them in some place which is convenient for feeding
them to the sheep under the most, favourable circumstances.
Mr. Beardall, of Bestwood Park, Nottingham, in a letter to
me says: "On strong land I think the best plan is
to cart all off by the middle of December, and wha
roots are intended to be eaten by sheep should be consumed on
the grass land, which would be very much improved by this
practice. In fact I consider it one of the most effectual ways
of improving poor grass at a cheap rate. To the best of my
knowledge there is an increasing indisposition to fold sheep
on turnips at all on strong land — the turnips are either

satisfactory manner. The manure/question, as attached to the carted uff or are not grown." On this point I quote also

folding of sheep on turnips, is pretty much the same in refer-
ence to all soils on which sheep are folded at all, but the
trampling of the soil is a very differeut thing; on s >rae soils,
which are of a naturally deuse and sticky chancter, the
treading is a very great injury ; whilst on others, which
are very dry and light, the treading is |an iraportaut advan-
tage. There are, between these, other soils called medium
soils, which, though they may be none the worse for ihe
treading, are certainly none the better for it. Therefore the
manuring of the land '.in all cases, and the treading of it in
many, include all the benefits which the land itself derives
from the folding of sheep on turnips. I need not take np
your time now by describing how the manure part of the
question may be obviated by the use instead of artificial
manures, to the crop which follows the tnrnips, even though
not a single turnip is cousumed on the spot where it is grown.
And as for the treading, this is of less importance if a barley

from a letter received a few days ago from Mr. Henry Smith,
of Bingham, Nottinghamshire : " With regard to folding
sheep on heavy lands my opinion is there is nothiog got by
it. The sheep do but little good on turnips on strong land ;
and if the weather is wet, and in fact if it is not, I find the
following crop suffer very much from it. I see no reason
why heavy-laud farmers are obliged to grow turnips and fold
sheep on them. I once grew an excellent crop of turnips ou
some strong land, and they were all eaten on the ground, with
cake, in a very dry latter-end of the year : of course
I expected a large crop of barley, but to ray great disappoint-
ment. I had a very poor -me. It is impossible for sheep,
either hogs or wethers, to do any good when knee-deep ia
mud, and uuable to rest. To my mind much of the land now
sown with turnips would be far better without them;
but, if the land is clean, I am a great advocate for sow-
ing tares and feeding sheep upon them in summer. It

crop is taken after the turnips, aud the treadiug can in some J is inueed distressing to see the poor animals standing
measure be done on the succeeding clover root, just before about on turniP lHa(i 'n wet weather: they look as if
breaking up the land again. This, however, is a matter on tlley were in tne last 8ta8e of misery and despondency, on the
which all farmers will be guided by what they censider their Pou,t of committing suicide if they had something at hand to
laud requires. People generally seem to be agreed on this — I do '* wil''» and kaew how< I' >■ crue' enough in all conscience

G G

4 04

THE FARMER'?! MAGAZINE.

to pubfiHing-shppp on turnips under «u"h circumstances, and
these are receiving a considerable quantity of corn all the
time, which mends matters very much , but it is far more
ciuel and wasteful to have in — lamb ewes in turnips and in

• like conditions of weather. Morton ■s.nd others have calculated
that a breeding ewe will con nine, about one-fourth of her live
weight of turnips, or 30 lb. to 30 lb. a day, of which more
than nine tenths are waler. In wintertime this food is little
above freezing point, and it is not difficult to conceive tha> the
temperature, of the animal's body will be very much reduced

' in con' timing such a quantity of those deadly cold turnips ;
and that much heat wil lie absorbed, and cons°quently much
food wasted, in raising this vo'ume. of water to the tempera-
ture of the animal itself. And raised it must be, or it will re-
duce the animal temperature down to its own Wei, in which

• cise death would soon ensue. Uuder any circumstances,
therefore, the conni nsptior. by sheep of l»rge quantities of

v turnips, especially in wet and- cold v/eather, is sure to result in
waste and not uncommonly in death ; and even if the ewes

: themselves do not die they are far more liible to abortion, and
all this means serious loss 'to the farmer. Sheep
are not naturally great drinners, they seem to re-

■ quire a 'proportionately smaller quantify of moisture
than most other animals, and when feeding on good

i grass in sr.mmer time they seldom if ever drink water at all,
unless the weather be hot. And if they require little if any

■ :noisture in summer time beyond what they derive from suc-

■ culent grasses, it cannot but be an unnatural thia ^ to force
them to eat a large quantity of turnips in the cold weather of
antumD and winter. It is a subversion of nature, in fact, and
this is inevitably followed with more or less disaster. It
seems to roe that there is no room to deny the fact that the
blood derived from such food as turnips is poor in quality

■ compared with that made from good, sound, healthy, dry food ;

■ and it is in the case ofin-lamb ewes that this fact is more
distinctly traced in lire results. The hlood being of a poor
quality, all the fi.-.nctirws of the system are weakened and
debilitated instead of 'being strong and vigorous. The lamb
in the womb derives its nourishment from ttie blood of its
mother, and if that" bloc* is weak or impure, and deficient in

• vital power, the lamb fails to obtain the nourishment it needs,
loses its vitality, dies, and is finally expelled from the womb,
having in the failure of the course of nature become neither
more nor less than a foreign body, which must be get rid of

> if the parent's life is to be spared. Thus abortion is one of
tbe disastrous results of a food which, ined too freely, becomes
unnatural. Many of you wil] no doubt have read th<s excel-
lent lecture whiohwas delivered ou the 2St.h of May last year,
by Mr. Henry Wood, of Morton, agent to Lord Walsingham,
on "Abortion and Mortality amongst Eves." The large
amount of evidence obtained by Mr. Wool from a large
number of fl ockruasters and shepherds throughout the
country proved unmistake.ihly that the great bulk of
deaths and abortions amongst the sheep are fairly
attribu'able to turnips. "Mr. Wood's opinion is to the f ffect
that turnips now-a-days are less healthv than they formerly
were as food for sbeep, and this appears to be owinr to the
turnips being grown with si<per-}ti;nspkate and other artificial
' in inures instead of with farm-yard manure as they lormerly
were. As a matter of course fnttening sheep are much lesss
liable than in-lamb ewes to disaster when on folded turnips.
They are liberally supp ied with hay, or chaff, or corn, having

■ a.* much of the dry food as they care to eat, and eating turnips
.mote from choice than necessity. It is ol conrse strictly true

that sheep wil! fatten well an-1 qu;ckly under these condition*
providng the weather ds furl, good and the laud sound. But,
it the weather is wet and boisterous it is equally true that the
fattening process is retarded, and g >es on much slower than it
does under favour-hie conditions; and a great deal of food is
wasted iu suppMng the warmth which is reduced so mnch by
the evaporation which is continually going on from tbe
animals' sk'ns in a wet time. Shelter from the elements, dry-
ness and warmth are of great importance to cattle ot all kinds,
to horses and to sheep alike.

Mr. Robert Russdl, of Kent, in a paper read before the
Central Farmers' Club, in April last, says : — " After the ewes
have lamped they require le'-s anxiety, only plenty of food. I
find thousand-headed kale the best thing tor them. I have
not had a sheep or lamb out of health for two m mtbs. Lambs
do not require bou-ing long, as they take shelter under the
kale, every lamb having, as it were, his umbrella, and so they
lie quite dry." -I think there is very little doubt respecting
the superiority ol cabbage or kale over turnips as food for
sheep and catle alike. Cabbage is well adapted for carting
ofi° the land during autumn to any place where it may be
required ; and in all. probability it would stind the winter in
this dry climate as well, if not better, than swede turnips ; at
all eveets, the thousand-headed kale stands the winter well. 1
am not aware that any one has tried the experiment of pitting
ox cabbage after the manner of turnips, but I think the ex-
periment would be successtnl — stripping off some of the outer
leaves, and piling the " hearts" upside down, when they are
dry.

In March of hst year I was in North Germany, and during
my stay there I visited the fine estate of Graf von
Schlieffen, in Mecklenburg. The Graf has large
flocks of sheep, winch are mainly kept on the
rotation grasses during summer, in the autumn
on vetches, cabbages, See., and in tbe winter every sheep is
under cover, in huge sheds. At one of the Count's farms
there were no fewer than 1,160 sheep housed in one vast
b«'lding ; they had been there throughout the entire winter,
and I never saw sheep looking better, healthier, or more cheerful
than they did. They are plentifully bedded in rye straw, and
they eat pea straw from racks which ran across the building,
and a little corn and chuff from troughs which are placed at
convenient intervals. These sheep seldom go out of doors during
the winter, except into the yard for exercise on fine days. A
portion of the yard is hurdled off for this purpose, and well
littered with straw. The sheds are exceedingly well ventilated,
and though the atmosphere inside was warm, it was not by
any means oppressively or unpleasantly so. Tfou may say that
the c'imate in North Germany is much colder than ours; true
enough this, but it is not more oppressive or damaging to stock
than our winters frequently are, for it is drier than our climate.
Now, the-Germans would as soon think of allowing their dairy
cattle to be out of doors, exposed to the chiiting blasts and
rains of winter, as they would their sheep. And, indeed, their
sheep are not delicate ones, they are small and hardy, very
much resembling some of our larger mountain sheep. When
I was in Mecklenburg the sheep were dropping their lambs,
and I was much surprised to find their lambs so strong, big,
and vigorous-; and in addition, they were as cheerful and fn»ky
as if it was the montli of M-y. The system was a self-evident
success ; and I think we may make onr minds easy on
the score of its economy, for the Germans study economy
in farm practice quite as much, if not more than we da.
This turnip hobby is surely ridden to death. It is time their

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

405

true value as food was understood. I maint in that sheep —
young ones particularly -ahead, by hook or by crook, be
wintered on gra»» lund ; a tew turnips carted out to them
would then do some lit lie good ; they would waste less hay by
trampling it under loot around the racks ; and a much
sum ler quantity of dry food and corn would earn them satis-
factorily through '.he wiut. r ; aud the.) would come out iu
•pring wot'lt shillings a head more, while th« mortality
amongst them would be reduced to a minimum. There is
mi ely great need o a reform in the way sheep- are wintered
on arable farm*." Shortly afterwards B received, trom Mr.
Liichannan, of Chipp ng Campdeu, a letter, of a portion of
which the following is a transcript: — " I have justread your
graphic and truthful description of the misery endured by
sheep when hurdled ou roots, where the land is heavy or
sticky, aud as I- have spent a good deal of time a«d thought
in deviling some kind of remedy for this acknowledged evil, I
take the libert. of writing you a few lines oh ihe subject,
Four or five years ago 1 was iu the habit of keeping a flock ol
j. ting sheep on roots du ing the winter months, but it was a
most unsatisfactory business, not only because the number ol
d- aths was- large, and the cous.quent cruelty very
great eveu to those which- survived till spring, but
aso beiause in wet winters my sheep were of' en
1 aner at the end of February than they had beeu
i-i October previous, and the land, beiirg heavy, was some-
ti ues worse rather tlian better for tne roots and corn being
e ten on it. I have therefore kept a few scores ol tegs ru nuing
on pastures through the winter, of late years, and wi h a little
d y fool fouud them do fairly well ; still eveu on the grass
lands I fiud the heavy, rains and storms very injurious to heavy,
coated sheep. The remedy, however, which I mentioned, and
which seems to meet mauy of the evils you describe, is a port-
able iron-house which 1 designed last summer. 1 have used
it for the last two months on the turuip-land, and my bailiff
and shepherd both think the tegs are doing very well iudeed^
and fattening fast ; and I attribute 10 ihe fact that they can
get shelter from wet. or other storms thus they wish. 1 tuaj
add that the shed will be of great service either in winter or
dimmer, because being moveable, it can be moved daily and

kept on the poorest parts of the fields, win re the sheep's drop-
pings will be. ruost needed. Again, in summer especially, sheep
will lie under it instead of boring under hedges as at present,
seeking shelter from the heat, or under the trees, when these
are available, where the grass is soured aud spoiled by their
dung. When sheep are on. vetches, clover, &c, they can eat
'hem uuder cover, aud there is ample arrangement for currents
ol air wiiii li c-<n be increased or diminished as may be
eijuired. The shed is ako a good shelter for new-
born sheep, and' it will be a good iambing-slied.'*
It cannot be denied that shelter is a most important matter iu
he well being of all kinds of stock, and thai it stands in the
nlace of a given quantity of food. Mr. Sheldon, of Weston
Underwood, near Derby, iulorms rae that lie bought sixty
hoggets iu the autumn of 'G8, wlien they were low in price
owing to the dry summer of I hat memorable year. O. these
hoggets some were weakly, :o he picked out ftlteen of them,
leaving the remainder a good lot. All the sixty received ex---
aetly the- same kiud of tood — as much of it as they could eat-
but the fi'teen had a shed to shelter uuder and in which they
were fed. Mark the result — the fifteen^ when spring came
»ere the best hoggets of the lot ! and this was owiug to the
shelter they had ami to thataloae. They soon learned to go
into the sheu of their own accord, aud they continued to resort
'o it during the following summer, from pure choice, when the
sun was hot. An instauce is given by no less an authority
than Mr. Childers, M.P., in the fir-t vol. of the Journal of the
Royal Aijrknliural Soiie/y, of an experiment made by bimsi if
with forty hoggets, twenty of which were led under cover aud*
the remainder folded on turnips. The lots were weighed at
he commencement and at the end of the experiment; the shed-
nogs weighed at the beginning an aggregrate of 183 st. 3 lbs.-
and the folded ones 184 st. 4- lbs. , at the end, the first weighed-
333 st. 9 lbs., and the second 2i0 st. 12 lbs. The shed hogs
had increased 56'st. 6 lbs in the interval, aud the folded ones
36 st. 8- lbs , showing a gain in favour of shed feeding of 19 s'.,.
12 lbs. And in addition to this extra gaiu in weight, Mr.-
Childers says the shed hogs "consumed nearly one-tilth lesi-
food, and- made one-third more progress" than the folded-
ones.

SWILL-FED CATTLE E X P 0 RT ATI ON SI

TO THE EDI10R OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — -There is so much interest taken by the English
agricultural districts respecting me.it exportations fr m this
continent, aud so many inquiries are addressed by people
on your side to persons resideut here as to the probable
future of this new business enterprise, that I venture to
send you some particulars bearing ou tb.2 subject likely to
uiterest your numerous readers. As regards exportations
from the United States, I am disposed to agree with the
conclusions adopted by the painstaking special correspon-
dent of Tlie Scotsman, and other investigators, that the
probable competition, so far as the best quality of pro-
duct (such as Euglish agriculturists produce, aud
English consumers iu general will alone use) has been
much over estimated. Ft is certain that nothing but the
best quality of beef will meet with favour, or prove remu-
ucraliTe. iiat llie ordinary or " common " btcf ot

America does not come under this category, aud there-
fore is uot suitable for English markets. A.s my expe-
rience, however, lies more with this colony thau with the
States, aud as I have paid attention to the meat question
in this quarter since it presented- itself, I'. address my
remarks specially to the Canadian situation.

If the competition to which the English producer atid>
butcher are likely to be subjected by the meat capabilities
of the United States has been considerably overrated, it
has beeu far more exaggerated respecting Canada ; in-
deed, the exportation question in this eolouy may be said'
to have little or no interest for the mass of our farming
population, for the simple reason that they have no live
or dead meat to import. Ssme of the few large breeders -
we have, and a dozen or so speculative dealers, take an
latciust iu it; but Ike section of !i#s community wluudu

406

watches the American meat exportation business most
closely is not the agricultural. It is the numerous and
astute clas3 which has a constant eye on Britain for the
introduction here, by hook or crook, of capital and la-
bour. Canada, it must ever be recollected, is a borrowing
country, and a country which, on account of the great
aunual exodus of its population — native and imported — to
the States and elsewhere, would be numerically sta-
tionary, or even retrogressive, if it could not eoutrive,
somehow or other, to fill up the gap. Mr. Charlton,
M.P., an influential member of the House of Commons,
in his place at Ottawa, not long ago, estimated that
500,000 Canadians left this couutry from 1860 to 1870,
without reckoning the thousands of British settlers who
had followed in their steps. Indeed, both in the
Dominion and Provincial Parliaments, as weil as in the
iudependent Press, there are frequent ironical comments
on the " delusion and dishonesty " of keeping up an
enormously expensive Immigration Bureau by a couutry
which "cannot find employment for its own people."
but this sort of talk is locked upon as simple heiesy by
the "'interests" concerned in the introduction of capital
and cheap labour, as well as by the Government, which
never relaxes a moment in its efforts to secure immi-
grants, and so to order matters that — to use one of the
official stereotyped phrases — " Cauada shall stand well
•with England." This is the cardinal principle here regu
latiug all official and emigration literature. " To obtain
immigrants," said the Government organ some time ago,
" it is indispensable that Canada be always made to stand
well in the estimation of people in Britain."

Nearly every important work in Canada is carried on
by loans or joint-stock shares floated in Bugland — as too
many British investors are painfully aware. Nearly all
the hard labour of the colony is done by imported hewers
and drawers. These facts (perfectly understood here) are
necessary in explanation of what follows. The emigra-
tion to Canada is at present at the lowest point it has
been for many years. It was only about 11,000 in
1877 (though by a little statistical cookery it has been
made to figure officially as 2? ,000). The whole country,
in fact, is full of destitute and unemployed people. In
Toronto alone, with a population of only 65,000, no less
than 15,000 people — men, women, and children — got a
dinner, or were otherwise assisted, on Christmas Day by
the benevolent societies or charities. The prisons are
so full of people (who, in the absence of a poor-law, have
to be committed and maintained as "vagrants") that a
Bill has just been passed by the Ontario House autho-
rising the municipal bodies to set these destitute unfor-
tunates to work on the streets, &c.

Last year 6,000 emigrants returned to Britain from
Canada. Their representation of the state of matters,
and of the unreliable and deceptive statements of the paid
agents and lecturers, has further depressed the importa-
tion exhibit ; in fact, immigration is in extremis.
Under these circumstances the Government agents, leav-
ing for awhile, or compelled to relax in their efforts to

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

iuduce mechanics and labourers to emigrate, hare got

instructions specially to devote themselves to " small
farmers" ahd " moderate capitalists," on whose behalf a
special kind of emigration " literature " has been de-
vised and exteusively circulated. One ingenious moduis
operandi is engaging people here to send letters to
papers known to circulate largely in the English agricul-
tural districts, which, if inserted, are cut out and re-
printed by the Government and shipping agents in
England, aud circulated broadcast over the country. I
have of late seen various letters of this kiud in the
Euglish journals, aud sincerely pity any British farmers,
large or small, who may accept as gospel the specious,
one-sided representations they contain, ignorant as the
readers must be how they are got up and cii dilated, and
that the authors of them are all in collusion with the
immigration interests aud officials here. Further, the
agents in England now write little paragraphs, chronicling
the arrival of every solitary pound of Canadian meat, keg
of butter, box of eggs, &c, which they forward to such
leading journals as will take them, ostensibly as articles
of news, but intended, by constant iteration, aud "keep-
ing Canada continually before the public," to impress
gradually on the minds of English small capitalists the
idea what a fertile and prolific country Cauada must be,
and what a fine field it must present for agriculturists and
others ! These paragraphs, in fact, are like the ten or
twenty supernumeraries who, by marching off and on the
stage over and over again are made to represent a great
army. Therefore such of your readers as may have seen
of late almost innumerable references to " Another ex-
tensive importation from Canada," or, " Great increase
of the Canadian produce trade," and have been led to
conclude that a prodigious supply of Canadian beef was
pouring all last year into the English market, may be
greatly surprised to learn that the whole year's exporta-
tions did not compute probably more than about
7,000 head, and that this supply, largely consisting of
" swill-fed " beasts, is about the length of the Canadian
exportation tether.

1 will endeavour, in a future letter, to say more on the
question of Canadian cattle capabilities, as well as on
Canadian farming and farmers, and ou Cauada as a field
for English farmers. But at present I confine myself to
the important point raised in the following paragraph
from the Toronto 3Ionetamj Times, the leading fiuaucial
journal of Ontario, and conducted with much ability and
impartiality : —

The Board of Health in New York is making a great effort
to put a stop to the use of swill-milk. A law has been passed
forbidding the use of distillery refuse. A cow fed on ihis
stuff will give four quarts a day more milk than when fed ou
healthy food ; but the quality is so bad that it is reckoned
unfit for human food. When a can of this milk stands for
suaie time in a warm place it becomes very offensive to the
smell. Swill milk is freely sold in the Toronto district, and
much beef is fed on disiillery grains and swill.

The Mo-ieta'ij Times, after referring to the serious
damage the fact of the introduction of swill-fed aniuaa ■

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

4.07

must cause to the Canadian trade with Rutland iu beef
ami cattle, advocates a scientific iuvestigatiou of the
effect upon the milk and n>eat of distillery refuse, with a
view to preventive legislation if necessary. One cannot
deuy that a point of vast saui'ary importance is raised by
your Canadian contemporary. That the opinion current
iu New York is correct seems a prio i established by the
pernicious effect of " swill " upon the secretions of the
cow which partakes of it ; indeed, years ago, in England,
Mr. Rugg, a Member of the College of Surgeous, after
commenting on the injury to the system, and the many
diseases which are so>vn in the tirst instance from milk
adulterated or yielded by cows not iu a sound condii ion
instanced specially the evil effects of distiller's wash or
"swill," both ou the health of the cow and on the quality
of her milk. Swill, Mr. Rugg points out, renders the
milk not only watery but corrupt, stimulates the blood
to an inflammatory and fevtrish condition, disorders the
liver, and changes the milk into a fluid resembliug matter,
and smelling most offensively. The disease of the liver
produced by the swill in cows is, he shows, aualagous to
the disease in the liver of a man who partakes too much
of spirituous liquors. The swill cisterns also, he avers
give out most foul exhalations — a statement amply borne
out by the action of the municipal corporation of Toronto,
which has a by-law prohibiting the swill-carts from pass-
ing along any save the back streets of the city. The swill
traffic of Toronto — where there is a whiskey distillery said
to be the largest in the world — is enormous. Iu The
Toronto Telegram of December 17th last I noted the
following item : —

There are now about 2,fi00 head of cattle being fed at the
distillery byres on slops. They are held by two firms for
export to England.

The same paper reports, on January 7th this year

Tue distillery slop sold daily to the owners of cows in and
about the city realises 300 dollars a day. Over 60,000 gallons
are thus disposed of, in addition to furnishing sufficient to
seed about 2,500 head of cattle at the byres.

The smell from these cattle byres is, I may note, one
of the chronic grievances of the residents, and I have
frequently read complaints on this subject in the Toronto
papers.

It will be seen, therefore, that with only about 7,000
head of cattle to export yearly, and thousands of these
not treated and fed on the careful, systematic scientific
system prevalent in England, on healthy succulent food,
but driven up, in a more or less lean condition, to
Toronto in the Fall, there confined in close and often
offonsively-smelling sheds, and gorged with distillery
swill, till the opening of navigation permits their ship-
ment to England, ( Canada, at any rate, canuot, or should
not," be a source of much apprehension to English agri-
culturists. I never touch the milk of swill-fed cows
here myself. If I cannot get any other kind I go without,
and it has for some time been a question with me whether
the heavy infant mortality iu Ontario — a mortality which
the Registrar-General says must " at once strike every

reader of the death returns " — is not largely due to the
vile stuff the cows produce, as ceriilied by Mr. Rugg,
ami, indeed, evident to the eye and nose. Certainly, as
The Monetary Times well says, a thorongh investigation
should be made iu a matter so vital to the health of both
Canadian and English consumers. The cattle in the
Toronto byres are fed partly with hay, but the swill they
largely consume is undoubtedly most prejudicial ; and
when we consider that, to quote from an Ontario
paper, " 100,000 gallons of refuse a day are con-
converted, at the Toronto whiskey distillery into beef
and mutton, thereby adding another branch of trade to
Cauadian enterpi ise," we cannot shut our eyes to the
fact that this " enterprise " is an important matter to
English consumers of those two products.

And here arises another important query. The
Cauadian official papers are indiguaut at the proposition
for slaughtering all imported cattle at the port of de-
barkation ; for, say they, Canadian beasts are notoriously
healthy, and Canada canuot be called a " foreign " country,
and so ou. Tnis, however, seems a somewhat untenable
position. Cattle kept through the long Canadian winter
in close, confined, and offensively-smelling sheds and
stalls, and fed on hay and distillery wash until they
astonish the natives on your side of the water by their
gross uuwieldy proportions seem to me to be just the class
of animals likely to be subject to and impart disease.
According to a speech receutly made at public meeting
here, by a promoter of the trade, the " cattle sent to the
Euglish market are taken from the farmers in a lean
state about the end of October, and placed in stalls till
June." No doubt they take on flesh speedily, while
treated to swill, &c, in the Toronto byres ; but as the
correspondent of The Scotsman has pointed out, while the
chief ambitiou of producers on this side seems to be to
bring heavy cattle into the market, this piling ou of flesh
in a short time, after a period of leanness, impairs the
animal's constitution, and also injures the quality of the
meat.

But whether Canadian cattle are brought under legis-
lative restrictions and slaughtered when disembarked or
not it is clear that the healthily-treated English animals,
fed on turnips, grain, linseed-cake, beans, oats, &c., in
the winter, and in the summer on good succulent
pasture, or fresh-cut grass, and good artificial food,
can easily hold their own against their less healthy,
less scientifically treated, " swill "-blown- Canadian
competitors. At least that is the conclusion I have
come to after studying the subject, and, I may add,
after years of painful experience of the tough, stringy, ill-
mixed flesh which is sold by Canadian butchers for .con-
sumption here. You lately hinted that it would be as
well to teach our Indian fellow-subjects to eat wheat in-
stead of starving at home while exporting it. And
certainly, I think Canadian farmers and dealers should
give us good meat and butter for our own use befar«
volunteering to supply distant localities.

Ontariol Feb. 15

I am, sir, &c3

Hampshire.

403

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THB EARTHW 'RM IN RELATION TO
THE FERTILITY OF THE GROUND

■From observations extending over a number of years, M.
Heuseu has been led to the conclusion that infertile undersoil
is rendered va'nable by the action of worms iu two ways, viz.,
by the opening of passages for the roits into the deeper parts,
and by the lining of these passages with humus. This will be
more fully understood fro n the folio *ing facts regarding the
life-habits of the worm (Liimbricus terrestris) given in M.
Hensen's paper in the Zeituchrijt fur lyisseitsohaftlicke
Zool yie.

It is known that the adult animals in wet weather come up
to the surface by night, and, with their hinder end in the
tub.j, search the ground round about. Tiiey then draw what-
ever vegetable materiil they can find into their tubes — falling
stems anl leaves and small branches. In the morning one
then Amis little heaps of plant-fragments projecting at various
parts of the surface, and each of them penetrating the tube of
a worm. On closer examination it is found that the leaves
hive each been rolled together by the worm, and then drawn
i .to the tube in such a way that the leaf-stalk projects. Tne
portion of the leaf in the tube is moist and softened, and
only in this state are plants consumed by the worm.
Tuere are distinct indications that the worm gnaws them
and after some days the meal is ended. The food is never
dra vn deeper down iuto the ground. In digging the ground
at various seasons it was onl\ very rarely that plaut remains
were found in tne subsoil, and probably they got there by
accident.

With reference to the structure of the worm-tubes, some
interesting facts were established in these researches. In
humus tbeir character is difficult to make out, owing to the
1 oseness of the mass. In sand they proceed almost vertically
downwards 3, 4, or even 6 feet, whereupon they often
extend some distance horizontally ; more frequently, however,
they terminate without bending. A.t the end of the tube the
worm is found with his head upwards, while round about him
the tube is lined vith small stones. On the sandy wall of the tube
one observes more or less numerous black protuberances which
m'ke the sand fertile. These are the secretions of the worm,
which, after being removed out of a tenanted tube, are found
next morning replaced by fresh matter. They are observed
af'er a few days, when a worm is put in a vessel with clean
sand, and allowed to make a tube for itself. Older abandoned
tubes are pretty regularly lined with the earth formed by the
worm, and some passages are denselv filled with black
earth. This black substance appears to diffuse somewhat iuto
the sand.

In about half of the tubes, not quite newly made, M.
Hensen found roots of the plants growing at the surface, in
fie most vigorous development, running to the end of the tube
and giving off fine ro >t-hairs to the walls, especially beautilul
in the case of cereals. Indeed, such tubes must be very
favourable to the growth of the roots. Oice a root-fibre has
retched such a tube it can, following the direction of gravity,
grow on in the moist air of the passage, without meeting with
the least resistance, and it finds moist, loose, fertile earth in
abundance.

The question whether all roots found in the undersoil have
originally grown, in the tubes made by the worms cannot be

a iswered with certainty. It is- certain that the roots of some
plants penetrate themselves the saud, but uot to great depths.
M. Hen-en is of opinion that the tap-roots, and in general
such root-iorm* as grow with a thick point, can force a path
for themselves, while the fine and flexible suction-roots have
difficulty iu obtaining a path into the depths other than what
has been previously made for th»ra. Roots of one year's
growth especially can penetrate deep iuto subsoil only where
there are earth- norms.

A, microscopical comparison of the earth deposited by the
worm shows that it is like the two-year leaf-mould prepared
by gardener- for the filing of flower-pots* Most of the plaut-
cellsare destroyed ; still there are present some cells
and- shred* of tissue, browned aod friable, mixed with
many sand grains a«id brown orgauic fragments. The-
chemical composition of the earth-worm shows much
similarity to that of fertile humus ground. Its fertility, there-
fore, cannot be doubted, though direct experiments with it
are wanting.

With regard to> the numerical value of this action of the
earthworm, the lollowing observations by M. Hensen offered
some information.

Two worms were put into a glass pot 1^-foot in diame'er>,
which was filled with sand to the height of \\ foot, and the
surface covered with a layer of lallen leaves. Tlie worms were
qu'ckly at work, and after \\ mouth many leaves were do*n
three inches deep in the tubes ; the surface was completely
covered with humus, I cm. in heiglv (rather less than half-
inch)1, and in the sand were num rous worm-tubes partly fresh,
partlj with a humus wall 3" mm. thick, partly quite filled with
humus.

Counting, when an opportunity offered, the open worm-
tubes in his garden, M. Hansen found at least nine in the
square foot. Iu 0.15 square metre two or three worms were
found in the deeper parts each weighiug 3 grammes (T
gramme — 15 grains): thus in the hectare (1 hectare =2^
acres nearly) there would be 133,000 worms with 400 kilos,
weight. The weight of the secretions of a worm in twenty-
four hours was 0.5 gramme. Wuile these numbers aie valid
only tor the locality referred to, they yet give an idea of the
action of this worm in all places where it occurs.

The assertion that the earthworms gnaw roots is not proved
by any fact ; ro its gnawed by worms were never met. with,
and the contents of the intestine of the worms never included
fresh pieces of plants.

The experience of gardeners that the earth-worm injures
pot plants may be based on the uucovering or mechanical tear-
ing of the roots.

" Let us take a retrospective glance," concludes the author,
"over the action of the worm in relation to the fertility of the
ground. It is clear that no new manure material cau be pro-
duced by it, but it utilises that which is present in various
ways. 1. It tends to effect a regular distribution of the
natural manure material of fields, inasmuch as it removes
leaves and loose plants fro n the force of the wind and fixes
them. 2. It accelerates the transformation of this material.
3. It distributes it through the ground. 4. It. opens up the
uudersoil for the plaut roots. 5. It makes this fertile. —
'Nature,

TFTE FARM Kll'S MAttAZINE.

•10{l

FARM AGREEMENTS AND LEASES.

At a recent meeting of the Ixworth farmers' Ciuh
M-r. W. Matthew, of Knettishall, read a paper on
■the above subject, after which there wa9 au
interest in 2; discussion, which is very fully reported in
The Bury Post. We can only find space for a copy of a
farm agreement read and commmted on by Mr. U infield.
It is meaa and unfair enough, but not so une nn n >n ia
the<e respicts as some present appeared to think. It is
as follows : —

TriE ROlffifUM FARM AGREEMENT.

M-monndum of Agreement maae the eleventh day of
O 'tober, 1877, betweeu the Uonble. Htrbord Harb rd, of
Gua'on, in the caunty of Norfolk (hereinafter called the
Lessor), as R-ceiver appointed by the High Court of Justice,
in the action of Bennet y. Bennet, .1875,3 251, uuder an
order dated the '27th day of May, 1876, in respect of the
Bennet estates for himself or his successors of the one part,
and of

ia the county of SuftVk, hereinafter called the Lessee for
him, or himself their executor*, and administrators of the
•other part.

The Lessor hereby agrees to let, and the L°ssee to hire,
from the llth day of October, for one year, and so

on from year to year so long as the parties hereto uuy agree>
a'l that Messuage, Farm Bud lings, Staples, and Outh u-es
with the several pieces cf land mentioned in the sch dale
hereto, containing altogether acres, or thereabouts,

situate in the parish of in the

coun'y of Suffolk, and known as Farm,

with the appurtenances thereto belonging, at the yeaily rent
ot , to be paid by the Lessee by equal hal'-year!y

piynipn's, on the 6th day of April and the llth day of October
iu each year, without any deduction except in respect of land-
tax and landlord's property-tax. The Lessee to pay all taxes
rates, tithe rent-charge, and all other outgoings which shall,
during his occupation of the farm and lands, be charged,
assessed, or imposed thereon, or on the Lessor on Lessee in
respect thereof, except as aforesaid. The Lessee to farm and
cultivate all the arable lands hereby let in a good and husband-
like manner in a proper four years' course or shift of
husbandry, according to the custom of the country, and as
farms and lands are usually farmed and cultivated on the
estates, and so leave the same at the end of
the t°rm, and not to plough or break up any of the pasture-
land without the consent in writing of the Lessor, and to
stack all the corn grown thereon duriug the terra on some
convenient part of the lands, at lea«t 50 yards from any public
road, and consume thereon all the hay, straw, (odder, and
turnips, roots, or green crops grown thereon, being paid for
all the unconsumed hay, turnip and root crops left at the end
of the term, according to valuation in the usual manner, and
according to the custom of the country. The Lessee not to
part with the possession of the lands and premises, or any
part thereof, under the penalty of immediate forfeiture by
him and his assignee of his and their term and interest
therein.

The Lessee to keep in repair all the ga'es, posts, rails,
fences, drains, and water-courses on the land, and all the
bolts, bar»( locks, keys, windows, and all such matters and
t hiugs on the messuage and premises as are usually kept in

repair ny tenants and so leave the game at the end of 'he
term, being allowed by the Le.sor sufficient ro igh wood
fencing stutf, and rough materials for doing such repairs.

The Lessor to have the exclusive tight to all the game
rabbits, snipes, woodcocks, wild fowl, and fiih on the pre-
mises, and also the right of entering upon the premises at all
times lo cut down, take and carry away the timber, trees, a> d
wood-growing thereon, to get and carry away gravel and all
other minerals, and to veiw and see the state and condition
thereof, and also to have the exclusive right of shooting
and sporting in, over, and npon the said lands and premises
at ail ti nes during the term. And it is hereby agreed that in
case the Lessee shall depart this life at any time after the
llth day ot October in any year and before the llth day of
October in the following year during the term, the executors,
administrators, or other the representatives of the Lessee
shall give up the possession or occupation of the lands and
premises to the Lessor on the llth day of October succeeding
the death of the Lessee, in the same manner in all respec's as
if the said term had been then determined by due notice to
quit. But that £5 per cent, shall be allowed to the Lessee for
all artificial and other manures bought and used during the
year of his departure, likewise the covenant price for farmyard
manure per load.

And it is further agreed between the said parties that this
contract of tenancy shall remain and be unaffected by the
Agricultural Holdings (England) Act, 38 and 39 Victoria, c 92
Witness the hands of the said parties the day and year first
above written.

C3TTINGH \M HORSE SHOW.— This annual show was
recently held. The weather was very fine, and there was
a large attendance of spectators. 1 he following is the prize
list :— Hnnting stallions.— Mr. H. Troweli, Skidby (Pearl
Finder) ; 2, Sir T. C. Constable, Bart. (Mountain Deer).
Coaching stallions. — Mr. Fewsoo Roos ; 2, Mr. George
Holmes, Beverley, Richmond. Roadster stallions. — Mr. J
H. Burnham, Frodingham Hall (Lord Derby the Second) ;
2, Mr. W. rlayton, Shearme (Pluto) ; 3, Mr. Sonsett. Market
Weighton (Weighton Merrylegs). Carting stallions. — 1, Mr.
Robert Barrett, Hessle Common (Master of Arts) ; 2, Mr.
Dickens, Shipton (Honest Tom). Stallions, not exceding Ho-
llands.— 1, Mr. G. Scott, Cottingham. Hunting mare or
gelding. — 1, Sir T. C. Constable (Pearl). Hunting mare or
gelding. — 1, Mr. Nicholson, Walton Grange (Lady Anne); 2,
Mr. Cook, Hull (Porteus). Pouy mare or gelding, not ex-
ceeding 13£ hands. — 1, Mr. John Robinson, Hull; 2, Mr,
James Wrehitt. Pony mare or gelding, not exceeding
13 hands, Walter Bailey Hull ; 2, Miss Wilson, Tranby
Crofr. A whip for the best rider was awarded in this
clas9 to Mas er Osgerby, of Beverley. The following were the
judges:— Mr. W. Wright, Humbleton Hall; Mr. Jos.
Thompson, Aalaby ; Mr. Frank Jackson, Wawne.

A LITTER. — Mrs. Jolly, the wife of a steel-worker in
Barrow-in-Furness, has just presented her husband with a tidy
little family all at once, having given birth to four children
iwo boys and two girls. They are all living, and all healthy.
Triplets have become so common it is hardly worth recording
them now. — Echo.

410

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

JftiStfM StlVMHS..

A MODEL WIFE— ZichaTy Hodgson was not naturally
an i i 1-tempered man. It was want of reflection, more than a
•corrupt and ungenerous heart, that led him to consider his wif
in the light of an inferior being, and to treat her more like e
slave than an equal. If tie met wi'h anything abroad to ruffli
kit temper his wife was sure to suffer when he came homee
His meals were always i 1-cooked and whatever the poo
■woman did to plefi.se him was sure to have a contrary effect.
She bore his ill-humour in silence for a long ti ne ; but finding
it to increase she adopted a method of reproving him for his
unreasonable conduct which had the happiest effect. One
day, as Ztehary was geing to hio "Usual avocation after break-
fast, he purchased a large cod-fish, and sent it home with
directions to his wife to have, it cooked fer dinner. As no
yurticular mode of cooking was prescribed, the good woman
well knew that whether she boiled it, or fried it, or made it
■in*o a stew, her husband would scold her when he came home,
Sut she resolved to please him for once, if possible, and there-
fore cooked portions of it in several different ways. She also,
<with some little difficulty, procured an amphibious animal from
a brook at the b<ck ol the house, and put it into the pot. In
due time her husband eime home.; some covered dishes were
placed on the table, and with a frowning, fault-find ng look,
the moody man commenced the conversation.

" Well, Sally, did you get the fish I bought ? "

" Yes, my dear."

" I should like to know how you have cooked it — I will bet
anything that you have spoiled it for my eating. '{Taking off
the cover) I thought so. Why, in the name of common sense,
did you fry it P I would as soon eat a boiled frog."

" Why, my dear, I thought you liked it best fried."

"You did not think any such thing. You knew better. I
never liked fried fish — why didn't you boil it? "

" Mv dear, the. last time we had fresh fish you know I
boiled it, and you said you liked it better fried. I did it
merely to pit a^e you but I have boiled some also." So saying
■he lilted a cover, and lo ! the shoulders of the cod, nicely
boiled, were neatly deposited on — a dish ; a sight which would
have made an epicure rejoice, but which, alas ! only added to
the ill-nature of her husband.

' A. pretty dish this! Boiled fish? Chips and prridgeP
If you had not been the most silly of woman-kiHd you would
have made it into a stew."

His patient wife, with a smile, immediately placed a tureen
before him containing an excellent stew.

" My dear," said she, " I have resolved to please yaa.
There is your favourite dish."

" Favourite dish, indeed," grumbled the discontented hus-
band ; " T daresay it is an unpalatable wishy-washy mess. I
would rather have a boiied frog than the whole of it."

This was a common expression of his and had been anli
cipated by his wife, who as soon as the preference was expressed
uncovered a large dish at her husband's right arm and there
was a bull-frog of portentous dimensions, and pugnacious
aspect, stretched out at full length ! Zachary sprang from his
cfuir, not a little frightened at th« unexpected apparition.

" My dear," said his wife, in a kind, entreating tone, " I
hope you will at length be able to make a dinner."

Zachary could not stand this. His snrly mood was over-
come, and he burst into an immoderate fit of laughter. He

the* acknowledged thnt his wife was Tight, and declared she
should notag.ii!! ha»e reason to complain of him; and he faith
fully kept his word. — Aneidu/es uf the Family Circle.

"THE HOLY RABBIT."— A friend of the Anti-Qame
Law League, who lives in a game-ridden county, has printed
and circulated an illustrated ffy-eaf called " The Holy
Rabbit." At the top is a rabbit surrounded by a glory ;
below, a cro^s, with this inscription, " Cuiiian 'us supra Chrisli
crucem'" The body of the leaflet is as follows : —

"The first duty of a Christian gentlemau to his country is
tl>e preservatioa of the game.

"The second duty of a Christian gentleman to his country
is the able destructien of the game,

■"The first duty of tenant-farmers and labourers is the pre-
servation of the game.

"The second duty of tenant-farmers and labourers is to
avoid destroying "the game.

" All else is vanity

"In these are contained all the Game Laws and the profits.''

LAMENT GF THE PRINCE GF CHOSfilN GN
THE DEATH Of HIS WIFE.

3FROM THE JAPANESE.

Waking at midnight when the world is still,

Alone I seem to drift upon a tide

Of dreary waters, while the d)ing moon

Sinks slowly, gathering all her tender rays,

And leaving the dark-visaged night forlorn;

Moans the wild wind, the air is filled with frost;

My eyes are dull, but solitude and cold,

Like cruel-throated watch-dogs, scare away

The timid traveller, Sleep.

I cannot rest ;

A dear face shines upon me like a star

Through death and darkness. Poor, sweet, lonely love !

Oh ! I would be the stone upon her grave,

Or the least flower th-t blossoms on her dust,

But for the blessed hope that I shall meet

My darling somewhere in the silent land.

The rock of death divides the rushing wave,

But the twain streams shall surely meet again.

Through the dim world the village temple bell

Touches my ears, and every solemn sound

Repeats her name whose pensive thoughts were prayer.

My arms are empty, but my heart is full,

And shall be full of her for evermore.
— Japan WeeMy Mail,

SELF-CONCEIT. — How many people are there wh
worship the god of self-conceit! That is what JEsop meant
when he gave as the following fable : — Mercury, having a
mind to know in what estimation he was held by men, dis-
guised himself as a traveller, and going into a sculptor's
workshop, began asking the price of the different statues he
saw there. Pointing to an image of Jupiter, he asked wha.
was the price of that? " A drachma," said the image-maker
Mercury laughed in his sleeve, and asked, " How much for
this of Juno?" The man wanted a higher price for that.
Mercury's eye now caught his own image. "Now will this
fellow," though he, " ask me tea times as much for this, for I
am the messenger of heaven, and the source of all his gain.'
So he put the question to him, what he valued Mercury at
*' Well," says the sculptor, " if you will give me my price for
lhe other two I will throw y ou that into the bargain ! "

THK KARMEIfS MAGAZINE.

4ii

AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY IN INDI\

Mn.h lias hem wiUten lately upon the progress of had been destroyed or damaged, 181 lives had been lost,

apiculture, especially of corn-growing, in India, and and 1,949 head of cattle and 826 sheep and pigs had

official reports, when they come to hand, are often rather been drowned. In British Ilnrmah the rains in most

stale, though the information which they contain is too places were both early and excessive, and there were vast

valuable to be overlooked. The last official report of the inundations in the deltaic districts of the Peger division,

progress of our lndii.li Empire devotes a portion of its which rendered large tracts of laud unculturable; while

contents to the agricultural operations over that vast the area already planted was so long submerged as to

area where the harvests are mainly affected by the abund- destroy all hoiies of harvest.

ance or paucity of Uie raiufall in the different districts Tile model farms temporarily established in Bengal, in
The difficulties that await the cultivators in the pursuit consequence of the expense and the trifling beneficial
of their calling may be understood from the description influence, have been closed. The Poosah estate has been
of the season 1875-6 aid its effects. In Bombay the retained, but is not used for purposes of general agri-
rainfall was considerably abore the average, but was culture; tobacco experiments r re to be conducted there,
irregularly distributed, both as to time aud locality. On and possibly an agricultural college for Behar will be
the coast the monsoon opened with a fuller fail than established on it. The latter scheme is in abeyance, as an
usual ; but in the interior, while the early crops had to industrial school which has been opened at Patna will
be re-sown in many of the western districts, owing to perhaps be found to supply in some measure the want of
the first sowings having been destroyed by floods, further technical education in Behar. In Madras the Sydapet
east the land remained unsown for want of moisture. | farms, while not a commercial success, are considered to
After the first falls a more or less prolonged drought was , nave produced very valuable results in the way of agri-
experieuced in some parts till September, when a very cultural experiments, which can be utilised for directing
heavy storm passed along the coast districts and over the operations in the Presidency generally. It is intended
Guzerat country, flooding the rivers, and destroying the gradually to open similar farms in the districts. A
standing crops. school of agriculture has been established at the experi-
The rainfall 1S75-76 in the Punjaub was a very extra- mental farm, with a view to the scientific and efficient
ordinary one. It amounted in depth to 37 inches, being training of young men. The lectures will be open to the

12 more than in the previous year, and 10 more thau the
average of the five preceding years ; and this extraordin-
ary increase was confined to the months of August and
September. The effect was in some respects beneficial,
and in others the reverse ; while on the one hand there
was great destruction of crops, cattle, and house property,
on the other hand the abundant autumn rains rendered a
large additional area of land available for the ensuing
spring crop. In the southern districts and in the Derajat
there was a large increase in wheat cultivation. The year

public, and the course of instruction will extend over
three years. As yet the Bombay Government has taken
little active share in the introduction of higher farming)
confining itself rather to experimenting on valuable crops
and then recommending them for cultivation, a plan
which has had marked success in leading to the improve-
ment of the sugar-cane and the cottou plant. But, at
no inconsiderable expense, this Government maintain three
farms — one in Sind, one in Khandesh, and the third in
Dharwar — for the purpose of trying new manures and

was a very unfavourable one for agricultural experiments, P,ants uPon Indian soils, of ascertaining the ordinary
and the attempts made to popularise new staples met , yieW of various crops per acre, of distributing selected
generally wi.h little success. The season in the north- seed> and of endeavouring to secure workable machinery
west provinces was not altogether unfavonrable, but in Dv adaptation of mechanical appliances to the rude agri-
north-westerly districts the rains commenced too late, and : cultural instruments of the native farmer. An attempt
Sowings were therefore retarded. In the autumn the t na9 also been made to receive and train apprentices at
heavy falls of rain did a great deal of damage to cotton these farms, and by their means and the issue of popular
and Indian corn, but then rains were favourable for the manuals, for which these farms are collecting materials,
sowings of the rubbee (winter crop), and the harvests some good may be effected. But if the farms merely
were generally satisfactory. In the Allahabad district a distribute large quantities of prepared seed they will
6erious calamity occurred in the flooding of the Jumna, amply repay their cost to the country, and as more el-
and of a mountain stream called the Tons. The con- : perience is required, they may do this and yet cover their
flnence of the Jumna with the Ganges heaped up the working expenses. The three model farms are considered
waters of both to a height uuknowu before, which covered to have done some useful work during the vear. At the
the lowlands of the station and entered the City of Salaru farm, in Siod, an acre was manured and ploughed
Allahabad; and only by increasing exertions were they with the English plough, and sown with Sind cotton in
prevented from extending much further. The floods March or April, and the yield was 1,88-tlb. seed cotton
•ubsided rapidly, and it was then found that 772 villages ' or 6281b. cleaned. Much injury was done to all the

• M H

41 -2

TRK KAifMER/S MAtJAZtNtt.

cotton by the green fly. Tt is stated that I he d.flYrence
between fi. Ids ploughed with the English plough and
those ploughed wit 1 1 the unlive implement is VeTy marked
the latter rreverheiug free from grass.

■ The number of cattle and sheep in Bombay was
maintained, but there was no improvement in quality
The disinclination of the natives to 'destroy life, and the
neglect of gelding, led to the country being over run with
inferior animals. The horses are rather better, but they
have in great measure lost their value since freebooters
and intestine troubles have ceased, and also iu consequence
of the large importation of foreign animals. Seven horse
thows were held during the year, four of which were con-
sidered fairly successful. The scarcity of fodder at the
beginning of the year, the destructi/e floods of August and
September, and the general prevalence of cattle disease
combined to make the season iu thePir jaub an unfavour-
able one for live stock. Attempts were made to improve
the breed of sheep and horned cattle by the introduction
of superior rams aud bulls from the Hissar Farm. A new
■cattle fair was established at lfoshiarpur, with tolerable
success. The horse fair held at Rawalpindee was much
larger thau in any previous year, whh-h showed that good
results weie being gradually developed. A great draw-
back in the Punjaub to the improvement of the breed is
that the excellence of the provincial horses leads to a very
early and rapid sale of the young stock out of the province.
"While this stimulates production, it removes much of the
material from which improvemeut might be obtained. The
Bhow of mules at the fair was remarkably good. Mule,
breeding is carried on exclusively iu the Punjaub, and
supplies a great want in connection with the mountain
train batteries. The live stock of British Burmah con-
tinue to multiply, although cattle disease was very
prevalent in three districts, 'Buffaloes iucreased from
•630,708 to 643,665. Horses are rare in the country, and are
■ used exclusively asarticlsof luxury ; but pouies iucreased
by 640, and arab stallions were imported to improve the
-breed. Agricultural shows were held at ten stations, and
were fairly successful. The scheme, however, had not
yet come to be understood by the natives, aud each, com-
petitor expected a prize.

The extensive forests scattered throughout the
Peninsula form one of the most important branches for
the Indian administration, for upou their existence the
Tesources in timber, one of the most valuable production,
of the country, and. the humidity of the atmosphere, de-
pend. In Bengal, while further progress was made
during the year under review in the formation of reserves,
atteutfon was principally bestowed on the improvement
•and working of the forests. The area added amounted to
1,118 square miles, making altogether 2,585 square miles.
The teak plantations in Chittagong were reported to be very
promising. Two experiments were made in Darjeeling:
Hjne was the rearing of a number of seedliugs of the
'ficm elastica ; and the other, the laying out of a small
bamboo plantation, with the object of ascertaining whether
tke bamboo eah be successfully cultivated as a material

for the mannfacture of paper. Considerable pToe»re8s "Wftg
made iu the demarcation of boundaries. The measures
taken tor protection from fire were iu some cases thwarted
by the excessive dry weather which prevailed during the
early months of 1876. A case is mentioned of a nmsery
being entirely destroyed through a burning lea*', which
dropped upon it in the presence of three forest officials,
whose utmost efforts to check the conflagration were of no
avail. It was decided to establish a school of forestry for
training the natives of Bengal for this work, which, in
respect of climate, is better suited to tliem than to
Europeans. No natives will be employed iu forestry
except those who have pissed through this school. Lu
Assam two great dangers to which forests are exposed are
''jhooning" and fire. The first- of these is a method of
cul'ivation adopted by the natives, namely, the application
as manure to the fields of the ashes and charcoal from
burnt wood. Nearly a whole reserve, and portions of two
others, were consumed by fire iu the Gowhatty division
The extent and luxuriant growth of grass make fire-
protection a peculiarly difficult task. The fires just
referred to came from outside, burning for miles, and could
have beeu extinguished by the villagers loug before they
reached the reserves, indeed they would probably never
have happened were not the villagers extremely reckless
in letting fires spread from their fields or graziug grounds.
The small establishments of the Forest Department were
very active throughout the province, and in one or two
instances the people from adjoining villages did their
utmost to put out the fires, but iu the majority of cases
protection was effected by resort being had at the last
moment to the extreme measure of setting fire to the grass
outsidrf the fire strips, and burning away from the forest.
In the Berar districts the protection of forests from fire
is said to have brought about a decided change in the
climate, the excessive cold being now very trying to young
plantations ; but this is more than compensated for by the
increased facilities for natural reproduction.

A SUFFOLK (JURE FOR WHOOPING-COUGH.— I was
told of a wonderful cure for whooping-cough lately by a
woman in this place : Cut a slice of bread, wrap it up in ■&
pieceof rag, aud bury it. When it has been buried three days
take it uu anJ eat it. This woimn had buried three slices on
three different days, and wnea the last one was buried she
took up the first and gave it to her child, sopped in milk with
sugar. The bread has an eirthy taste, which " does a deal of
goid." I wished to experiment oa a black oat, who is
affl cted with a bad cough, but N. said it was a foolish
remedy, and moreuver savoured of necroaiaucy. — Ipswich
■Journal.

HOPS.— A return has jost been issued of the quantity of
hops imported into the United Kingdom in the year ending the
30th of September, 1877, and of the quantity exported from
the United Kingdom during the same period. The quantity
of hops imported was 103,618 cwt., of which 65,475 cwt. came
from the United Statea, and 22,077 cwt. from Belgium The
quantity of fore ign hops exported was 11,463 cwt., while of
British hops the quantity was 20,431 cwt., of which 7,657 cwt
were sent to Australia.

T71E KARMKHS MAGAZINE

413

BREEDING D-TFFERBNE SEXES. — According to
promise, I give you my observations and experience in
breei ing the different kinds of live s ock generally kept, and
raised by formers, as regards the question of sex in offspring.
When I vonnneiiced farming my intention was to raise all
ht-i er calves, and in particu'ar those cropped from- the best
milch cows, lint, to my great astonishmeut, those cows which
gave the most milk during the whole year usually dropped
ball c*lvis. I' inquired ot my neighbours and was informed
by those who bad more experience that t lis result in their
herds was the same, but uo cause could be given. Next I
noticed that the earliest broods o! chicken's raised hy most o'
my neighbour* had from eight to ten males in every down'
and lattr in the season the reverse. In pigs there was a stil
greater d ffvrence lo b* observed. 1 have seeir sows with a
litter of eight to twelve pigs and only a single female among
th-em, and she was lar in-tenor in sue to all thereat. At other
times these saiiw sows would breed quite differently ; often,
times the greater number were females. The same was
noticed in the canine family, and all other live stock kept in
my neighbourhood. I made an endeavour to find out the cause
but I could receive no information that appeared to give any
satisfaction. I learned by experience that a natural
law governs in breeding sexes, and that law ean be controlled
to a great extent by man. If for instance feed is abundant al
the year round this law will have the tendency to increase
the consumers by producing more females. It the reverse i8
true, as when feed is short, or not nutritious, the increase wil
always be males by a heavy majority, and thereby diminish the
consumers. The male parent should be kept in condition fully
equal to the dam, but the dam governs the sex more than the
siFe does. A well-fed sow will always bring more females at
the first litter than at the second. Poor sows are sure to bring
male p'gs. A flue fitch is always fat, but she will not bring
m-any male pups, fowls kept on tcaniy feed will raise from
eight to ten male chicks- iu every dozen during spring months
but later in the season, or from the middle of J une till Fall, the
reverse. The reason is because feed is abundant then on
farms. With poultry 'anerers, where feed is abundant al|
tire year round, the first broods will nearly always average as
many males as males and sometimes more. — W. G. H. in
Albany Count i'jf Gi ntleni'in.

IUD LANGUAGE A Z.-iSPURGEON.— Mr. Spurgeou's
re.cent suggestion that the foul mouthed who wished " to come
out strong, should use some big Greek or L-ttin word, which
would relieve their feelings and do no harm," is likely to bear
fruit, on account of its extreme practicability. We have pro-
bably only to wait till the next Great Peace Demonstration
eo nes off in Hyde Park to hear some beautiful specimens of
classic expletive. Won'i. they sound something like this? —
First Jingo : Well, I'm Xenophoned ! here's a hydrostatic sal
Atiicuiu of a Peace Party ail hy hisself, with a decandriau rag
of a nil desperandum Ru-sian flag ! Second Jingo : Let's go
for the monstrum horrenrlum, and give 'im a posse comitatus
prop in the caput mortuum. First Jingo: SVlp me, hepta-
gynous Alcibiades ! he's dropped me a modus opeiaudi on the
currente calamo. Medical Student : Smash him over his
pterodactyl j*w ! Pickpocki t : Slo^ 'im till I Ft loponnesus well
collar his bruiuiu fulniru ticker ! Peace Party (rising, and '

collecting his fragments) : Well, strike me- dum vivimua
vivainus, ifever I come acrosl such a zygomatic set ol Sopho-
e'e^ (E ipus Tyr minis in all my ( ;isar de Polio Gdlieo ! Hoi
polloid if I did! — Funny Folks.

1 NEVER LOVED TILL NOW,
1. Maiden.
I woo and win her by the brooklet-side ;

I watch her p'aiting wreaths of wild white flowers :
We listen to the babble of the tide,

Which wends and winds through little coves and bower* »
So sit we Two ; my tinkers twine her hair :
Ah ! never was on earth a maiden so fair.
With a full heart, I vow —
I never loved till now !
IT. Wife.
Sweet village bet's ring out our wedding chime; .

S*eet little birds sing, ratting in the trees ;
The world, all smiling with a golden clime,

Seems rich in sweet as honey. yielding bees..
For we are One; to live a blended life:
And when alone I clasp my blushing wife,
With fuller heart, I vow —
I '-never 'loved till now !
III. Mother.'
On our own hearth we talk, in lamp-light hours',

Of coming motherhood to my sweet queen ;
I watch her needle stitching wild white flowers,

Wherewith to deck her babe, as yet unseen.
" We shall he Three," she saith, " some happy morn :"
And wheD, at length, to us a chi'd is born,
With fullest hpart, I vow —
I never loved till now ! "

— St. James' Magazine.

SOLID HOOFED PIGS —It is stated by Dr. Cones, of*

the U.S. Survey, that a breed of solid-hoofed pigs has app ~-
rently been established in Texas. The terminal phalanges oN
the toes are united to form- a single broad phalanx ■; above
this, however, fhe oilier two phalanges of each of the Uo
principal digits remaiu-perfeetly distinct. The hoof is perfectly
solid, and ou its sole there is a broad angular elevation of
homy substance, which is curiously like, the. frog of a horse's
hoof. T.e breed is so firmly established that no tendency to'
revert to the urigiual and normal form is observable. It is*
fnrthpr stated that in the cross of a soliJ-hoofed boar with a-
! sow of the ordinary type a majority of the litttr- have the.
peculiarity of the male parent.

THE AROMA OF BUTTER— A better plan for im-
proving the aroma of butter, in use in many parts of S ut/.er-
|aud, noted for good milk and fine butler, is as follows: Tne'
milk, as soon as it is drawn, and while yet warm, is filtered1
through a sprig of washed fit tips, the stem of which-is inserted
loosely and upright in the holo of the funnel. The milk-
deposits hair*, ski is, olois, or gelatinous slimiuess on the .

aves. It has imparted to it a most agr( eable odour, and dies
not readily turn sour. A fresh sprig should be used each
time. — Set ' rican.

THEOMfi L'HING NEEDFUL.— SfcabfemM) of Sporting
Rec or. — " I 'ear Master's hadvertised for a Curate. Must be.
hoith'idox — whatever that means."

Groora of ditto.— " Means ? Why, that 'e must know &■.
thing or i «■■> about 'osses, in course ! He'd never anil Mastea
if he aidn-t." — _/'•-.,. A.

414

THE P'ARMER'S .MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE,

FROM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 22.

Although variable weather lias prevailed daring
Hie past weok, aDd a good deal of rain Las fallen,
the temperature has been mild aud favourable to
the rapid growth of vegetation, which has re-
covered from the temporary check it suffered from
the recent spell of windy days aud frosty .nightf .
The heavy soils have greatly benefited by the
increased moisture, which Las improved the con-
dition of the laud and favoured the development
of winter and spring-sown cereals. Grass, too, has
made a fresh start after remaining nearly
S-ationary for two or three weeks, and the pastures
a a beginning *o furnish a more nourishing bite
f ii" cattle. The return of spring has been accom-
piuied by occasional thunderstorms, the occurrence
o which at such an early period cf the year is
CJnsidered by some to augur unfavourably for the
continuance of seasonable weather, as it by no
means unfrequeutly happens that electrical dis-
turbance during spring is followed by a variable
but generally wet summer. Little reliance can, it
'is true, be placed in weather forecasts in this coun-
try ; nevertheless it is sincerely to be hoped that
the agricultural outlook being more promising than
has been the case at the corresponding time for
some year3 past, farmers will not experience such
weather during harvest as will disappoint the
hjpes raised during seed-time. Some damage has
undoubtedly been done to the fruit-trees by the
rocent east winds, especially in the Southern
counties, but it is satisfactory to observe that, from
reports which have come to hand, the injury has
not been so general as was anticipated. At the
same time a warm temperature, with alternate
6 mshine and shower, is what is now wanted, as
any return of harsh weather could hardly fail to be
disastrous. Scotland has been visited by some
heavy snowstorms, which have checked spring-
sowing in the North, but this operation has been
fortunately brought to a close in the central and
southern districts, where farmers hive been busy
preparing the Turnip land and planting Putatoes.
Tue winter-sown Wheat crop looks well, aud the
plant has recently thickened considerably, tillering
having taken place early and well, especially on the
highly-farmed laud of the home counties. At the
commencement of the week, it must be confessed,
appearances were not in favour of Wheat holders,
the weather having become more seasonable, and
the prospect of higher prices rendered dubious by

the increased granary stocks, aud the prospect of
large arrivals during the spring. There was,
however, more steadiness iu the trade than might
have been anticipated, although it was no doubt to
some extent due to the presence of a large number
of millers, who were obliged to attend market to
make purchases, which the return of the Easter
Holidays, and consequent cessation of business at
Mark Lane, would prevent their doing for a week
to come. Owing to this cause, there was a steady
retail demand at prices which, if not quite equal
to those of the previous Monday, were somewhat
better than were obtainable on the preceding Fri-
day. Business was, however, limited to the supply
of immediate wants, and on Wednesday trade
ruled very dull, although at the close of the day
some important political news transpired which
had the effect of strengthening the views of holders.
Barley, Maize, and feeding corn, with the exception
of Beans, which have again slightly favoured
sellers, have sold slowly at rather less money, but
sales have not been forced of any article, as the
opinion still obtains that politics may at any mo-
ment exercise a hardeniug tendency on prices.

The sales of English Wheat noted last week
were 36,319 qrs., at 51s. 5d., against 38,264 qrs.,
at 52s. 4d. iu the previous year.

The imports into the kingdom for the week
ending April 13th were 640,521 cwts. Wheat, and
129,156 cwts. Flour.

On Monday last the market showed a decided
recovery from the inactivity which marked the
trade, especially for Wheat, at the close of the
previous week, and although millers did not seem
inclined tooperateas freely as holders desired, there
was nevertheless a firmer feeling apparent, and
some portion, at any rate, of the decline of Is. per
qr. which was quoted on the preceding Friday
was recovered. The week's arrivals of Fnglish
Wheat amounted to only 1,039 qrs., and for the
small supplv fresh up to market, factors asked the
full prices of the previous Monday, but were only
able to obtain them for the choicest parcels, second-
ary qualities being neglected, and the turn lower
to sell. The imports of foreign slightly exceeded
20,000 qrs. , a more moderate supply than for some
mouths past, and somewhat remarkable from the
fact that it included no arrival of American Wheat.
Germany furnished about one-half the total
quantity, the remainder consisting of Russian and

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

415

Australian grain. The week's exports were again
heavy, in all 9,362 qrs., although when compared
with the exceptional return of the previous week,
they indicated a decrease of 0,452 <jrs. in the out-
w.ird in ivement. 0>ving to the near approach of
the Easter Holidays the market was well attended
by millers and country buyers, and a steady con-
sumptive demand was experienced at about former
price*, the intervening decline of the previous
Friday being in some instances partially recovered.
These were 2,210 qrs. of ho.ue-growu Barley, aud
4,143 qrs. of foreign. Malting varieties were
iii inly held, aud occasionally the turn dearer, but
grinding sorts could only be moved at a reduction
of 0d. per qr. The arrivals of Maize amounted to
81,564 qrs., about one-half of which was from
( Viessa. Old corn, from scarcity, maintained former
currencies, while new gave way Od. per qr. on the
week. The imports of Oats were 47,427 qrs., aud
the demand was inactive at a decliueof 01. to Is.
per qr , tiie full reduction being felt chietiy on
inferior descriptions. On Wednesday there w.re
100 qrs. of English Wheat, and 22,203 qrs. of
foreigu reported. The weather was wet nearly all
dav, and the market badly attended, but with some
return of political apprehensions at the close,
sellers preferred to hold rather than accept a re-
duction, aud a light retail business was done at
about Monday's prices. On Friday the corn ex-
change was closed, as customary on Good Friday.

The imports of Flour into the United Kingdom
for the week ending the 13th of April were
129,150 cwt., against 159,788 cwt. in the previous
week. The receipts were 15,201 sacks of English
and 4,449 sacks and 9,040 barrels of foreign. A
sufficiently steady tone has prevailed in the trade,
but sales have nevertheless progressed slowly,
quotations being nominally unaltered for both sacks
and barrels.

The week's imports of Beans were 46,434 cwts.,
and of Peas 37,078 cwts., showing an increase of 27
cwts. on the former, and 17,098 cwts. on the latter.
Last week's extreme prices have been maintained
in both instances, and sellers have occasionally
obtained Is. per qr. more money for Beans.

The deliveries of Malt were 18,5)37 qrs., and the
exports 021 qrs. Prices have undergone no alter-
ation, and no fresh feature for comment has mani-
fested itself in this branch of the trade.

A fair retail demand has been experienced for
agricultural Seeds during the past week, aud pre-
vious prices have been, as a rule, maintained.
Trefoil has, however, given away Is. per cwt., but
there has been some inquiry at the reduction-
With the exception of so.viug Mustard and Rape-

seed, which have bden in better request, all other
varieties- have sold slowly at former currencies.

Supplies have been rather more liberal tb in of
late at the country markets, but provincial trade
has ruled dull, and in some instances Wheat his
receded Is. per qr. At Eiverpool, on Tuesday, the
market was well attended, and there was a large
demand for Wheat, especially Red American
descriptions, at fully previous currencies. Flour
was steady, and Miizein fair request, at 20s. 3d-
for dry mixed American, while Barley and Beans
were the turn easier. The trade generally has been
stea ly, but transactions have been to a great extent
of a consumptive character. The week's imports
included 50,000 qrs. of Wheat and 41,000 qrs. ( f
Maize. At Newcastle there has been very little
business passing in grain, and Wheat and Flour
have given away Is. per qr. and sack respectively*
Maize has been firmly held, while Oats have beau
purchasable on rather easier terms. At Hull no
alteration has taken place in the value of English
Wheat, but foreign has slightly receded. Feeding
corn generally has maintained last week's cur-
rencies, witu a sluggish demaud. At Peterborough
the supply of Wheat from the growers has been
fair for the season, and witu a quiet trade prices
remain unaltered for all articles.

At Ediuburgh on Wednesday the market was
fairly supplied with grain from thb farmers, and
both Wheat and Spring Corn sold slowly at last
week's prices. At Leith the weather has been
showery, but favourable for the growiug crops.
The Wheat trade has ruled quiet but in the mode-
rate amount of business passing, previous cur-
rencies have been fairly supported. At market on
Wednesday Scotch Wheat moved off quietly at
former rates, while foreign was neglected, and a
slight concession would have been necessary to
effect sales. Flour was dull, aud grinding Barley
the turn cheaper, but other articles were unaltered.
At Glasgow the week's arrivals from abroad have
been very light of Wheat, but fair of sack and
barrel Flour. Maize on the spot being rather
scarce, 31. to 6d . per qr. more money has been
obtainable for mixed American, but with this
exception the trade has ruled dull for Wheat and
feeding corn, at nominally late rates.

At Dublin there has been rather more activity in
the grain trade, aud the Wheat market has been
firm at last week's extreme prices. Maize has met
an improved inquiry, and quotations have advanced
0 1. perqr. At Uork the trade remains in an un-
settled state, owing to continued political uncer-
tainty, and a reduction of 0d. to Is. per qr. has
been necessary to effect sales of Wheat. Maize has

416

THE FARMKR'S MAGAZINE

receded slightly, lauut scarcely quotably,-$s there has
beeu a Luge consumptive demand, which has
checked the downward ten leucy.

The following are the Reports from Mark Lane
during the past mouth :

Monday, April 1.

The arrivals duri 'g the past week have been : English
"Wheat, 2 5A6 qrs. ; foreign, 56,1 18 qrs. Ex-ports, 7,915-
qrs. English Wheat was again ill short supply, and sales
progressed slowly at an advance of 2s. per qr. on the week;
of foreign the arrivals were fair, and with a good attend-
ance of millers the trade ruled quiet at a similar im-
provement, some portion of last Friday's- advance having
been lost owing to. the rather more peaceful aspect of
politics.

Country Flour, 17,163 sacks; foreign, 1,980 sacks and
31,640 barrels. In moderate r< quest at Is. per barrel
and 2s. per sack more money.

English Barley, 2,358 qrs. ; Scotch, 87 qrs. ; fjreign
13,607 qrs. Malting sorts ru.ed steady at fully late rates,
while grinding qualities recovered 6d. to Is. per qr. of the
recent decline.

Malt: English, 17,866 qrs. ; Scotch, 340 qrs. Exports
376 qrs. The trade ruled quiet at last week's currencies

Maize, 7,087 qrs. Exports, 2.518 qrs. Very firm, at an
advance of Is. per qr. on new, and 31. to 6d. per qr. on
old corn.

English Oats, 533 qrs. ; Scotch; 43 qrs. ; foreign
22,404 qrs. All descriptions were Is. per qr. dearer
than on this day week, while the advance on fine Orels
was occasionally rather more.

English Beans, 373 qrs. ; foreign, 3,633 qrs. In
moderate demand, but fully as dear.

Linseed, 9,351 qrs. Exports, 370 qrs. In good
request, and 3s. to 4-t. per q'\ dearer ou the week.

Monday, April 8.
The arrivals during the pasu week have been : English
Wheat, 2,344 qrs. ; foreign 37,200 qrs. Exports, 15,814
qrs. There was a small supply of home-grown Wheat at
market this morning, and the trade ruled quiet at last
Monday's prices ; of foreign the arrivals were to a fair
extent, and with a good attendance of millers and bril
Kant weal her, a slow sale was experienced for nearly all
de criptions, at about late rates. Indian varieties, how-
ever, from scarcity, realised Is. per qr. more money..

Country Flour, 13,978 sacks; foreign, 3," 02 sacks
and 22,722 barrels. The trade was inanimate, and prices
ruled the turn against sellers for both sacks and barrels.

English Barley 1,429 qrs.; Scotch 1,207 qrs.; foreign
1,064 qrs. Malting descriptions were dull, andgriudiug
sorts the turn cheaper on the week.

Malt, English 14,187 qrs. ; Scotch 570 qrs. Exports,
1,365 qrs. Quotations were unchanged, with a very mo-
derate amount of business passing.

Maize 14 703 qrs Exports, 177 qrs. Old corn was 6d.
to 9d. per qr. dearer on the week, and there was a fair
demand for new at fully late rates;

English Oats, 1,023 qrs. ; foraig.n, 39-,337 qrs. Ex.
ports. 39 qrs. The trade was quiet for all description*,-
and prices as a rule were the turn in buyers' favour.

English Beans, 487. qrs.; foreign, 4;028 qrs. A dull-
gale at about former currencies.

Linseed, 11,072 qrs. In moderate request, but not-"
quotably cheaper.

Monday, April 15?

The arrivals during the past week have been < *'
English Wheat, 1,939 q.s. ; foreign, 20.627
qrs. Exports, 9,362 qrs. English Wheat was
again in short supply at market this morning, and-
factors held for last Monday's prices, which were, however,
only obtainable for the choicest samples ; of foreign, the -
arrivals were light,, andwitha good attendance of millers-
a moderate consumptive demand was experienced at an
occasional decline of Is. per qr.

Country Flour, 15, 20L sacks ; foreign, 4,449 sacks and'
9,040 brls. The trade wa-t dull for both sacks and barrels
and last week's currencies were barely supported.

English Barley, 1.801 qrs. ; Scotch, 409 qrs.; fo-
reign, 4,143 qrs. Malting descriptions ruled slow, at
about late rates, while grinding sorts gave way 61#
per qr.

English Malt, IS. 707 a/s. ; Scotch, 230 qrs. Exports,.
621 qrs. The trade was quiet, and no quotable change
occurred in prices.

Maize, 81,564 qrs. 0!d co'-n, being very scarce,,
maintained last Monday's prices, but new could only be
moved at a reduction of 6H. per qr.

English Oats, 802 qrs. ; loreren, 47-427. In limited'
request at. an all-round decline of Is. per qr.

English Beans, 12 qrs. ; foreign, 226 qrs. A quiet but
steady demand at fully former currencies.

Linseed, 2;208 qrs. Exports, 2G0qrs. Dull, and Is.
per qr. cheaper to sell.

Wednesday, April 17

The arrivals of English Wheat since Monday were 100-
qrs., and the trade ruled slow without alteration in prices.
The imports of foreign amounted to 22.200 qrs. ; and the
market was very thinly attended, but Monday's currencies
were obtainable in the limited amount of business passing,
and at the close of the day holders showed increased firm-
ness, their views being strengthened by the less pacific
aspect, of po'itical affairs.

There were 2,310 sacks ard 13,680 sacks of foreign
Flour reported. All descriptions were held for Monday 's-
quotatious, but the sales eff( ctcd were not numerous.

The supply of Barley consisted of 870 qr-*. of home-
grown, and 2,lr20qrs- of foreign. Grinding descriptions
favoured buyers, but malting sorts were fully asdear.

The imports of Oats amounted to 23-610 qrs., and sales
progressed slowly at Monday's decline.

The return showed 19.680 qrs. of Ma:ze, and new corn
was in moderate request at barely late rates, while old-
being very scarce commanded full prices.

Tlie Malt trade ruled dull at former currencies.

There was no fresh arrival of Beans, but 420 qrs- of
Peas were reported-, both articles ruling steady, at fully late
rates.

Linseed was dull and the turn cheaper to self.

The Agricultural Seed trade was quiet but steady, with'
a moderate retail demand for alt the priucipal varieties at
uualtered prices.

1'riuted by tlAZtLL, WArXSOJN, & Vim.!, 2(J5, Strand, London,

THE FA BMBffS MAGAZINE.

C O N T K N T S

MAY, 187B.

Plate.— A, COTSWOLD YEARLING- RAM.

Description of Plate.

Thk Land and tiik Pkoplb

The Flesh "f Diseased Animals as Food

Experiments in Turkic Growing

Preserving Meat ....

Catile Disease and the Meat Supply

Cattle Diseases and Meat Prices

The Importation of Live Stock

Chambers of Agriculture

Agricultural Societies

Botlky Easter Cattle Show .

Bedford Stallion Show

Talgarth Stallion Show

Carmarthen Stallion Show

The Meteorological Society

Hereford Herd Book Society. , ..

Professor Brown on the Meat Supply

Notes from a Cornish Farmer

Use of Lime in Agriculture .

Miscellaneous ....

The Stall Feeding of Cattle

Eggs as Food . . ...

The Grievances of Tenant Farmers .

Free Trade in Land — No. V. .

Are Rabbits "Vermin?"

The He me and Foreign Meat Supply .

Live Stock Notes ,

On Colic in the Horse

The American Storm Warnings

The Middle Man and the Stock-dealer

The English Cart-horse Stud Association

Agricultural Experiments and Manure Analysis in Scotland

Farm Work in Harvest ....

Farmers' Clubs .....

The Brindi.k Colour in Shorthorns .

[s British Agriculture Declining?

Is the Folding ok Sheep on Turnips the Best and Most Econ

Swill-fed Cattle Exportations

The Earthworm in Relation to the Fertility of the Ground

Farm Agreements and Leases

Agriculture and Forrstry in India . . .

Rhvikw of the Corn Trade ....

mical System?

Pa«e

. 339
339, 363, 400
. 341
. 342
. 343
. 344
. 345
. 346
847, 358, 3«0
347, 374, 395
. 348
. 348
, 349
. 349
. 349
. 349
, 35o
. 351
. 3f2
353, 410, 413
. 355
. 35 *j
. 357
. 360
. 362
. 364
365, 3^6
. 367
. 368
. 369
359, 37l
• 379
. 383
. 394
. 397
40 1
403
405
408
409
411
414

TUXFORD & CO.,

Wine Importers,
48, PENCHURCH STREET, E.C.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

PORT

24s.,

30s.,

36s,,

42s.

per

dozen &

SHERRY

18s.,

24*.

i

30s.,

36s.

?>

MADEIRA

80s.,

36s.,

42s.,

48s.

i,

(As supplied to the wounrte 1 in the East.)

MARSALA

20s.,

24s.,

28s,,

32s.

ii

CHAMPAGNE ...

30s.,

36s..

42s.,

50s.

OLAHET

12s.,

15s.,

lbs.,

24s.

>>

BURGUNDY

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

Ditto (Sparkling)

36s.,

42s.,

48s.,

54s.

>>

MOSELLE

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

>>

Ditto (Sparkling)

32s.,

38s.,

44s„

50s.

HOCK

20s.,

24s.,

30s.,

36s,

n

HOCK (Sparkling)

32s.,

38s„

44s.,

50s.

ii

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24s.,

30s.,

36s.

ii

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38s.,

42s.,

48s.

>i

WHISKY

38s.,

42s.

RUM

40s.,

42s.

ii

GIN

30s.,

32s.

PORT in Quarter Casks of 28 gallons, from £]

L4 14s.

SHERRY in Quarter Casks of 27 ga

lions,

from

£10 10s

Sole Agent for Rousseau & Cie Reims Champagne,
Rivaz & Cie Cognac Brandies.

TUXFORD & CO.,

Wine Importers,
48, FENCHURCH STREET, E.C,

ESTABLISHED 1847.

SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

ALL GOODS FORWARDED CARRIAGE PAID.

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k CO..

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 1846.
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ADVERTISEMENTS INSERTED

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TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE,

This Manure, after six years' trial, is unapproached in its results by

any other Manure. It is suitable for all soils, and permanently

improves the fertility of even the poorest. It provides all the

7^\ necessary foods for plants, creates a vigorous growth without over*

*! stimulating, and increases the produce. It is a powerful insecticide-.

5| It has been used with perfect success on

CEREALS, ROOTS, GRASS,
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HOPS.

TRIALS OF THE MANURE ARE SOLICITED IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER MANURES.
Write for Particulars—

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79, MARK LANE, LONDON, E.G.

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and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10u. 4d. per annum.

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No. 6, Vol. LIL] JUNE, 1878. [Third Sbkieb.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

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■■- ■ • . - - . .

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ESTABLISHED 1805.

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Marquee, Tent, and Plag Makers to the Royal Family,

MANUFACTURERS OF

RICK CLOTHS, VAN TILTS, SACKS, ROPES, NETS, TWINES, &e.

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;

'

418

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

be considered as Ireland's indirect contribution to
the British meat supply. But the figures which
will appeal directly to consumers are those by which
it is shown that Ireland -sent to Great Britain in the
year 1877—240,698 fat cattle, 431,129 fat ebeep,
199,645 lambs and 508,912 fat pigs. The great
bulk of these imports was consumed in the crowded
industrial centres of the north of England and the
south of Scotland, the numbers finding their way to
London being comparatively small. Thus the direct
contribution of Ireland to the British meat supply
goes to meet the wants of manufacturing districts,
where it is most needed. Taking the store and fat
stock together, we find that Great Britain received
from Ireland 1,865,642 animals during the year
1877.

Now, turning to another set of tables in the Re-
p irt, we find it stated that there were imported into
GreatBritain from foreign countries duringtheyear
1877 198,428 cattle, 872,159 sheep, and 19,572
pigs. These tables are evidently carefully compiled
" from weekly returns furnished by her Majesty's
Customs," and show the countries from which the
animals were sent as well as the British ports at
which they were landed. These numbers, however,
do not quite agree with the Official Accounts of the
Imports and Exports of the United Kingdom for the
year ending December 31st, 1877 ; but the dis-
crepancy may no doubt be accouuted for, and is not
material to our purpose. Nevertheless, it will be
necessary to give the figures as they stand in the
Official Accounts to show how the corresponding
item to the 198,428 u cattle " of the Report is made
up. Thus we find the numbers in the Board of
Trade returns to be as follows: —

Foreign Imports in 1877.

&

Oxen and Bulls

Cows

Calves

148,619
25,404
30,172

Total Cattle 204 195

Sheep and Lambs 874 062
Pigs 20,037

Declared value 3,243,125

„ 444,456

130,132

2,107,378
87,599

Total Animals "1,098,294 Total value 6,012,690

Setting aside the discrepancy of 5,767 in the num-
bers, as not affecting our argument, it will thus be
seen that the 198,428 foreign "cattle" of the Re-
port are represented in the Trade Returns by
204,195 head of neat stock made up of oxen, bulls,
cows, and calves. The figures representing the
" cows " must include the ten to twelve thousand
•dairy animals, which, according to the evidence
gwen before the Cattle Plague Committee, are es-

timated to' be imported yearly. Taking the lowe
figure, to be on the safe side, we find that after
adding the then remaining 15,404 "cows" to the
148,6 19 "oxen and bulls" we have but 164,023
imported foreign butcher's beasts to put against
246,698 imported Irish butcher's beasts, also made
up of fat " oxen, bulls, and cows." The following
table will show the details of the Irish live stock
importation in comparison with the details of the
foreign live stock importation already given. The
figures are taken from the tables in the Report
which are compiled from "Returns furnished by
Professor Ferguson, Director of the Veterinary
Department, Ireland " : —

Irish Imports in 1877-

tat animals.
Oxen,Bnlls,&Cows 246,698

Sheep '431,129

Lambs 199 645

Pigs 508,912

'Total "1,386,884 Total

STORE ANIMALS.

Store Cattle 356,249

"Other Cattle"... 7 706

Calves 38 788

Pigs 76 515

479,258

United Totals, 1,865,642 Animals.

In order to contrast the total Irish import of live
stock with the total foreign import of live stock
we give another table : —

Total Irish Imports
in 1877.

Cattle 649.441

Sheep 630.7741

Pigs 585,427

Total Foreign Imports
in 1877-

Cattle 204 195

Sheep 874,062

Pigs 20.037

Totals 1,865,642 Totals 1,098,294

Excess of Ikish Imports over Foreign Imports
767,348 Animals.

Tu this table the Irish imports are necessarily
taken from the Veterinary Report, and the foreign
imports from the Official Trade Returns, for the
sake of uuif orrnity with the preceding statistics.

It will thus be seen that the item of imported
foreign " cattle," as it appears in the Veterinary
Report, conveys an erroneous idea ©f the consum-
ing value of the animals so designated. The " de-
clared" money value of the foreign imports of
stock is but an official estimate, and, so far as we
are aware, the requisite data for forming anything
like a correct estimate of these money values do
not exist. The quality and weights of foreign
stock, both as regards cattle and sheep, vary ex-
ceedingly; and, unless a trustworthy return of
actual prices realised were made by salesmen to
the authorities, we do not see how such values are
to be assessed. Nevertheless, from the breeding
and finish of the Irish cattle — for the production
of which good English sires are largely used — we
do not hesitate to estimate them as being, unit for

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

4l9

unit, of greater money value, and also of greater
consuming value than the Continental cattle. But,
lairing- tlie cattle units to bo of equal value only, we
find that Ireland contributes as nearly as possible
oue-third more fat cattle directly to the British con-
sumer than is supplied from all foreign sources put
together, the numbers being, as before stated,
246,698 Irish fat cattle as agaiust 1G4,02:J foreign
fat cattle. Comparing the units of the total
animals in each case those of the Irish im-
ports are out of all proportion more valuable
than those of the foreign imports. We leave
our readers to judge from these facts and
figures concerning Ireland alone, whether or not,
if the United Kingdom were freed from the losses
and the dread of losses due to contagious diseases
of animals, our home stock-producing industry
would not of itself easily suffice to supply an
equivalent to the entire foreign import of live
animals.

In connexion with the subject of foreign im-
ports of live stock, we have compiled, from the
figures given in the Veterinary Report, the follow-
ing table for the purpose of showing the numbers
and description of stock imported from each foreign
country iuto Great Britain ; but the totals in this
ease do not quite agree with those furnished by
the Official Trade Returns, as previously pointed
out: —

Importation or Foreign Live Stock During the
Year 1877-

marked * in the table, have, with the excep-
tion of Russia, sent us a large number of
sheep ; also to show that those countries marked
t in the table, which are scheduled and their stock
admitted for slaughter only at the ports of lauding,
have sent us very freely both cattle and sheep
under those very restrictions to which Denmark, one
of the free countries, declares she will bo unable
to adapt herself if the Contagious Disease
(Animals) Bill becomes law. We think the patent
evidence afforded by our importations of sheep from
Germany, cattle and sheep from the Netherlands,
and cattle from Schleswig-IIolstein, under the re-
strictions, as shown by the above figures, sufficient
to indicate that slaughter at the ports of landing
will not tend to diminish our foreign supply of
meat.

Cattle.

SHB

EP.

Figs

Denmark

50140

Germany

426905

Netherlands

11413

Netherlnd

f44950

Netherlnds

263264

France

4922

Schleswig-

Belgium

61481

Denmark

1759

Holsteii

f34112

ScMeswig-

Canada

584

Spain

27255

Holsteir

50661

Sweden

480

Pomigal

14582

Denmark

42646

(J. States

226

U. Slates

11538

U. States

13120

Spain

73

Canada

7649

Canada

10275

Germauy

41

Sweden

4756

Sweden

1545

Belgium

27

France*

2804

France

1517

Russia

19

Belgium*

372

Uruguay

448

Africa

9

Germany*

155

Portugal

158

Norway

7

Norway

110

Russia*

124

India,

5

Malta

3,

Norway

7

Guiana

3

Argentine

Con- 1

Spain

4

Turkey

2

federation 2

Turkey

3

Portugal

1

Malta

1

Italy

1

Total

198428:

Total

S721o',)| Total

19572

ROYAL

AGRICULTURAL BENEVOLENT

INSTITUTION.

The list of subscriptions and donations to
the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution,
recently issued for the current year, is in-
teresting as showing- in what proportion the
different counties contribute towards the sup-
port of this excellent charity. In the number
of subscribers Essex stands first — her list
filling 18 pages of the volume — followed by
Middlesex, Hampshire, Kent, Norfolk, Northamp-
tonshire, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Herts, Lei-
cestershire, Monmouthshire, Berks, Suffolk, and
Gloucestershire, about in the order thus given.
Bucks, Cambs, Cornwall, Surrey, Wilts, and
Hunts come next, all having about the same
number of subscribers. Lincolnshire is rat lea-
low down in the scale for a great agricultural
county, having only about as many subscribers as
little Bedfordshire ; while Sussex has fewer, and
Oxfordshire fewer still. Dorset and the Isle of
Wight come next, with four pages each. Here-
ford shows up poorly, perhaps because in that rich
grazing countv the farmers have no fear of being
candidates for the bounty of the Institution.
Worcestershire is not much more liberal ; while
gigantic Yorkshire is a mere dwarf of a contri-
The animalsshown as imports from the countries J butor. Tiny Rutland stands out nobly with
which are printed in italics in the table are pro- more than a page of subscribers — just about as
bablv nothing more than surplus ships' stores. ! many as rich Somerset produces. Shropshire has
Schleswig-Holsteiu is given separately from the ' onlv a few more names, and Staffordshire about
rest of Germany. Our chief object in arranging the same number as Rutland. Going lower still-
the figures in the above form is to 3uow at a we come to mighty Lancashire, with only 28
glance that those countries from which the im- subscribers, Notts with 16, Cheshire with only 15',
portation of cattle is [prohibited, which are Derbyshire with but 10, Cornwall with 7,

H II 2

4£0

Cumberland and Durham

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■with 3 each, and
Northumberland with 2 ! In Wales there are 16
subscribers, in Scotland 2, in Germany and
Guernsey 1 «ach, and in- Ireland none.

FOREIGN LIVE STOCK AND FOREIGN
MEAT.

In the four months January, February, March, and April
of ths present and last two years we have imported live
foreign animals as follows : —

Animals.

Oxen and bulls

Cows

Carves

Total cattle

Sheep and lamb
Swine

First foui

months ul

1876.

40,60S

11,522

7,561

59,091

298,716

7,927

Four

months of

1877.

33,170
8,657
5,406

47,2*3

277.85J
3,15.

Four
monthsof

35,543
9,790
4,913

5D.246

235.255

3,795

As compared with 1876, the arrivals for four months are
less by 4,865 oxen- and bulls, 1,732 cows, 2,648 calves, 63,461
sheep and lambs, and 4,132 swine. And computing these at
average dead weights of the oxen and bulls at 46 imperial
stones, the cows at 40 stones the calves at 7 stones, the sheep
and lambs at 4 stones, and the pigs at 8 stone-,, the decrease is
equivalent to 74,812 cwt. of meat.

What has been the course of the trade in dead meat in the
same time ? This shown by the following figures : —

Fresh meat imported.

Four

months of

1876.

Four

months of

1877.

Four

mouths of

1878.

32,585
45,855

64,529
18,830

1 81-, 445
52,947

153,732

7,219

193,648

Fresh mutton.principally

Meat preserved otherwise

than by suiting

64,582

126,629
7,198

161,799

398,343

392,057

Salted meat imported.

Four

months of

1876.

Four
months of

1877.

Four

Eionthsof
1878.

98,572

1,066,415

115,308

144,953

81,000

1,002,359

170,950

138,762

98 819

1,454,781

302 121

178,882

Total, cwts

1,425,217

1,393,071

2,034,603

Total dead meat ini-

1,587,046 1,791,414

2,426,660

Thus the increase in the four months of the present year, as
compared with the sr.me period of 1876, has been 230,258 cwt.
of fresh and preserved meat, and 609,356 cwt. of salted meat,
or a total increase of 839,614 cwt. of dead meat. This does
vastly more than compensate for the falling off of 74,812 cwt.
of jurat from iive animals imported — indeed, the increase in
-Is of fresh meat alone, being 230,258 cwt., is more than

triple what we lost by diminution in the number of foreig
live animals impoit-d in the same time.

When will people, now led by the nose by parties interested
in the pieseut line of traffic W'i ^European countries, leave off
making misrepresrntnnon* *x) the vital importance ol the
live animal trade and the preca iOUs and pioblematical charac-
ter of the trade in dead n.eatP — Chamber of -Agriculture
Journal.

AND

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS
CHARITY LANDS.

Recently, a deputation from the Na'ional Agricul-
tural Labourers' Union waited upon Mr. Cross to urge
him to use his influence to stop the sale of chan'y lands by
local trustees, and to make it compulsory upon the trustees to
let such lands to the labourers in allotments, provided the
labourers paid for them as good rents as are now obtained Irora
the present tenants. Mr. G. Shaw-Lefevre, M.P., introduced
the deputation, which consisted of about twenty labourers and
officers of the Union from different parts of the country. Mr .
Lefevre dweltspecially upon the case of Burghclere, in Hants,
where the local trustees propose to sell more than 70 acres,
with the sanctiou of the Charity Commissioners, although the
uifjority of the labourers of the parish are opposed to such
sale. From the statements made by Mr. Joseph Arch and Mr.
Howard Evans, who subsequently addressed the Home Secre-
tary, it appeared that the Allotments Ac (Win. IV. cap. 42)
is so wide in its phraseology that, if it was fully carried out, it
would enable the labourers to rent many thousands of acres of
local charity land now in the occupation of large tenauts, aud
that the charities themselves would benefit by an increase iu
the rents. The local tru tees, however, throw every possible
difficulty in the way o' the men,- and the Charity Commissio'iers
construe the Act in question iu the narrowest possible -sense.
The only remedy at present is by a mandamus in the Court of
Queen's Bench, which is too expensive to be of any use. The
speaker urged upon the Home Secretary either to enable the
labourers to compel the trustees to let t* the poor the lands
which are their own property, or, at any rate, to stop any sales
till the labourers had votes, when they would deal with the
question themselves. Mr. John Todd, farmer, Cottenham,
then detailed the obstacles thrown in the way of the men in
his parish by the. local trustees and the Charity Commissioners.
Mr. Charlwood (Chipstead, Surrey) said that recently land had
been sold in that parish, in spite of the protest of the men, who
offered an increased rent ; and Mr. A. James, of Burghclere,
spoke of the feeling of the men in that parish on the proposed
sale. Mr. Cross, in reply, expressed a general syrap athy with
the system of field-gardens, but intimated that the representa-
tions made to him ought more properly to have been made to
the Duke of Richmond as President of the Council. He ad-
tised that the deputation should represent their views to the
duke.

IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN ANIMALS TO GREAT
BRITAIN. — The total numbers of animals imported into
Gi eat Britain from all countries in 1877 were as follow :—
From European countries, 179,236 cattle, 848,315 sheep,
18,745 swine. From the United States and Canada, 19,187
cattle, 23,395 sheep, 810 swine. From the Channel Islands
2,638 cattle, and 2 swine ; and from other countries 5 cattle,
449 sheep, and 17 swine. From Ireland 649,441 Cottle,
630.774 sheep, 585,427 swine. Making a total of 2,958,441
animals, against 3,226,948 in 1876.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

421

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

ROYAL OF ENGLAND.

The annuul meetiug of this Society was held
recently, in Hanover Square, Colonel Kingscote,
M.P., presiding. Among those present were the
Earl of Powis, Lord Fitzhardinge, Mr* J.- Torr, M.P.,
Mr. Neville-Grenville, Sir J. Heron Maxwell, Mr. W.
Botley, Mr. D. R Davies, Mr. T. Aveling, Mr. T. C
Booth, Mr. James Odams, &c.

After the usual preliminary business,

The Earl of Powis said the meeting was aware that it
was proposed to hold the Show nest year in the Metro-
politan district. The site chosen for it was near Willes-
den, where it would be easily accessible both by railway
and by carriage from the Metropolis itself, and the Council
trusfel that it would attract a considerable number of
spectators and visitors and prove worthy of the Society
and of the country, both in animals and implements.
Under the:,e circumstauces the Society would naturally
desire to secure for itself a President in whom the whole
nation would place confidence, and hence it was a great
satisfaction to him to be able to announce that Hi's Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales had intimated his willing-
ness to accept that office (cheers). His Royal Highness
had already been pleased to favour the. Society with his
services as President in the year in which the Show was
held at Manchester, and in the present year tr. ey had all
heard of the hearty good-will and satisfaction which his
presence as President of the British Section of- the Paris
Exhibition had created among their neighbours across the
Chanuel (cheers). It was quite unnecessary^ that he-
should say anything further in support of such a motion.
He would, however, remind them that for the London
Meeting they must endeavour to provide prises- of [a
higher character than usual, both as regarded number and
quality, so as to attract animals from all parts of the
United Kingdom and to stimulate the makers of impls-
ments and machines to assist in adding interest and
dignity to the Show. There would, probably, be a con-
siderable number of exhibitors and competitors from
abroad, and the Council wished to offer prizes which would
in some measure remunerate many of them for the trouble
and risk of sending their cattle and implements to this
country.

Mr. T. C. Booth said he had great pleasure in second-
ing the motion. When His Royal Highness was Presi-
dent before, he observed with great pleasure the interest
which he took in everything connected with the welfare
of the Society, while as regarded the Paris Exhibition he
believed the Prince was going to it next week to super-
intend, if he might use that word, the exhibition of 6tock,
which was looked forward to with great interest by many
exhibitors belonging to this country. He (Mr. Booth)
hoped that the great National Exhibition to be held j a

London next year would excel all the meetings which the
Society had hitherto held, not excepting that held at
Battersea in 1862. Personally he felt great interest in
the Exhibition of 187'J, and he hoped to see there cattle
from all parts of Europe, and even from America. As
the question of the supply of food for the people of this
country was agitating men's minds so much, it would bo-
a great advantage to have an opportunity of seeing what
had been done in other countries, and if they could con-
vince foreigners that there were breeds of cattle in Eng-
land which were superior to their own they might thus
be led to endeavour to improve their own cattle, and thus
to improve the quality of the animals v/hich were ex-
ported to this country (Hear, hear).

Mr. W. Botley supported the motion and it was.
agreed to.

The Trusteesand Vice-Presidents having been re-elected,;
the meeting proceeded to the election, through the usual
Conn of voting- papers, of 25 members of the Council,
the result being that two vacancies, arising from the
resignation of Mr. D. R. Davies and Sir R. Musgrave,
were filled up with the names of Mr James Howard and
Mr. W. Sheraton.

The Secretary (Mr. H. M. Jenkins) then read the
Report of the Council, which was as follows : —

The Council of the Royal Agricultural Society have to-
report that, since the last General Meeting in December the-
following changes have taken place in the list of members —
2 Governors and 42 members have died, Hi members resigned'
in the coarse of 1877, and the names of 37 others have been-
struck off tbs list by order of the Countil. On the other hand,
189 members .and 3 honorary members have been elected;
so the Society now consists of: —

81 Life governors,
72 Annual governors,
2,328 Life members,
4,130 Annual members,
23 Honorary members.

Total - - 6,637
The Council announce with great regret the death of »c
valued colleagues, namely, Mr. T. Horley, Junr., of The-
Fosse, uaar Leamington, and Mr. Richard llornsby, of Spit-
tlegate, Grantham. These vacancies in the Council have been-
filled by the election of Mr. George Wise, ot Woodcote, War-
wick, and Mr. James Odams, of the Grange, Bishop Stortford,.
The Council have to report that they have elected Mr^
George Fleming, »ete.rinary surgeon, 2nd Life Guards, Pro-
lessor G. T. Brown of the veterinary department of the Privy.
Council, and Dr. Burdon-Sanderson, F.R.S., Professor-Super-
intendent of the Brown Institution, honorary members of the
Society in recognition of their eminent services to veterinary
science. The accounts lor the year 1877 have been examined
i.ud certified by the Auditors and Accountants of the Society,
aid have been published in the last number ol the Journals ,

422

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■ti »j^i '.her wi'h the statement of receipts and expenditure eon
iiee'ed v\ii !i the Liverpool Meeting. The funded property o
the Sjciety renaius the same as at the last General Meeting
namely, ^£26,511 lis. 5d. new three per cents. The balance
of I lie curreut account in the hands ol the bankers on the 1st
instant was £3,638 12s. 8d., and £3,000 remained ou deposit ;
tl es>- sums will eventually be required to meet the expenses of
the Bristol Meeting. The increased and still increasing opera-
tions of the Society have led the Council to consider whether
the Secretary and Editor is adequately remunerated for the
additional labour and responsibility invol.ed in the perfor-
mance of his duties ; and as an acknowledgment of the high
sense entertained by the Council of the ability aad energy
shown by Mr. Jenkins in the performance of those duties, they
have resolved that an addition of £200 per annum be made to
his salary. The Bristol Meeting will be held on Durdham
Diwn, on July 10th, and four following days, and will be dis-
t nguibhed by an exhaustive trial of dairy appliances, the
i uprovement of which is annually becoming of more impor-
tance to the English dairy-farmer, both on account of the
great scarcity and increasing cost of skilled labour, and in
consequence of the improved quality of foreign dairy products.
The encouragement of dairy farming will also be promoted by
the competition for the prizes offered by the Local Committee,
not only for cheese and butter, but also for the best managed
dairy farms in Gloucestershire, East Somerset, and North
Wilts, for which theie are 15 entries. For the prizes offered
for arable farms in the same district only 3 entries have been
made. The district assigned for the country meeting of 1879
comprises the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Hun-
tingdon, Bedford, Buckingham, Oxford, Heitford, Essex, and
Middlesex. At a public meeting held at the Mansion House
under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, it was unanimously
resolved that it was desirable to promote the holding of a great
Agricultural Exhibition iu London next year, »nder the
auspices of the Society ; and an influential committee was
appointed to carry oat that object and to co-operate with the
Council. The Council have therefore decided that the meet-
ing of 1879 shall be held in the county of Middlesex as near
Loudon as possible, and that it shall be planned on an extended
basis and assume an international character. Under such
d's inctive and favourable circumstances His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales has intimated his willingness to accept
the Presidency of the Society for he ensuing year. Duiing
the past half-year the Chemical Committee have had under
consideration two special subjects of the greatest importance
to the members of the Society. With regard to the first of
these — the experiments at Woburn are being carried on satis-
factorily, and a report of their progress has been lately pub-
lished in the Journal. The Council regret that Mr. Lawes
has retired from active participation with Dr. Voelcker in the
management of the experiments, but they are happy to say
that they will not be deprived of the great advantage of his
advice and assistance. An expression of the Council's regret
at Mr. Lawes's resignation, and a vote of thanks to him for
the labour and time he had bestowed on the initiation and
superintendence of the experiments was unanimously pasW e t
the April meeting. The Chemical Committee, wiih the sanc-
tion of the Council, have drawn up some rules for the future
management of Crawley Earm, and of the Experimental Field,
the former being under the management of a Sub-Com.-nittee,
the latter uuder that of Dr. Voelcker, and both under
th.! control of the Chemical Committte. The second subject
refers to the members' privileges of chemical analysis. The

Quarterly Reports of the Chemical Committee have demon.
Btrated the necessity of purchasing artificial manures auj
feeding Btulfa by guaranteed analysis, and of checking the
quality of the bulk as delivered, by sending a sample ol it to
a qualified chemist for analysis. This practice, however,
must entail an additional cost, which to the small purchaser
would be an appreciable addition to the price of his raanares
aad feeding stuffs. The Council therefore refer it to the
Chemical Committee to consider at what cheaper rate than at
present analyses of manures, feeding stuffs, and other sub-
stances usea in agriculture could be made by the Consulting
Chemist lor the bona fide and sole use of members of the
Society, if the Soeiety provided the Chemist with a laboratory
and staff entirely devoted to that purpose, and what additional
cost such a plan would be to the Society. The Chemical
Committee thereupon drew up a comprehensive plan, which
has been adopted by the Council subject to its practicability
being ascertained, whereby a laboratory and ail its adjuncts
will be provided for the Consulting Chemist in the Society's
house, and the fee3 for analysis to be then charged to mem-
bers of the Society will be redRced to about one-half of their
present amounts. The experiments with respect to pleuro-
pneumonia have been continued at the Brown Institution ; and
an exhaustive paper on the Pathological Anatomy of the
disease, by Dr. Yeo, was published in the last number of the
Journal. The improved method of inoculation for pleuro-
pneumonia, with reference to its preventive efficacy, is about
to be tried on a larger scale than has hitherto been possible,
and in districts in whieh disease actually prevails. With this
view the Council trust that owners of stock will co-operate
with them by allowing their uninfected animals to be inoculated
by the Society's officers, it being understood that compensation
will be made by the Society for any losses arising directly
from the inoculation. The Council have to report that four
candidates competed for the Society's medals and prize
offered to members of the Royal College of Veterinary Sur-
geons for proficiency in the pathology, causes, symptoms, and
treatment (preventive and curative) of cattle, sheep, and
pigs. The successful candidates were : — Mr. M. Hedley, 14,
Kiry Street, Stranraer, N.B.; Mr. T. Chambers, Nuneaton,
Warwickshire ; Mr. Robert E. Hoile, Lympne, Hythe, Kent.
They have also to report that six candidates presented them-
selves last month for examination for the Society's Senior
Prizes and Certificates, including the Life Membership of the
Society. Of these, Mr. James Mollison, of the Agricultural
College, Circencester, was the only one who passed ; and he
obtained a first-class certifica'e; the Life Membership of the
Society, and a prize of i;25.

By order of the Council,

H.M. JENKINS,

Secretary.
Sir J. Heron Maxwell, in moving the adoption of
the Report, expressed his regret at the resignation during
the year of 114 members, and at the necessity which had
arisen for striking off 37 others, though the aggregate
number at the end of the year was, he believed, about the
same as that at the close of the preceding year. In view
of the great national Exhibition of next year he hoped
that mauy of the leading capitalists of London would give
large subscriptions iu order that it might be thoroughly
successful. He had no doubt that the Bristol meeting
would prove a success, especially as the Bath and Bristol
Society was the parent of all the great agricultural

Societies of the country ; but he especially congratulated
the meeting on the prospect of a grand Show in London,
and as it would be within two or three miles of the
central parts of Loudon, aud there would be ample
railway and other travelling accommodation to the
vicinity of Kensal Green railway station, he felt confident
there would be no lack of " gate " money. Many wealthy
persons connected with the City of London i seemed to
imagine that if they put down their names for subscrip-
tions the money would be asked for at once ; but that
was quite a misapprehension, the word of a London
banker or merchant being quite as good as his bond.
Although Mr. Lawes had retired from the Chemical De-
partment of the Society he had no doubt that he would
still render kiud assistance to the Couucil when it was
required. He was glad to hear what was said in the
Report about improved methods of inoculation for pleuro-
pneumonia, and he trusted the result would be that, as in
the case of small-pox, the Couucil would be enabled,
through those who acted on its behalf, to meet and
conquer the disease. They all knew how much English
Owners of stock had suffered from pleuro-pneumonia,
aid he must say that the man who made an important
discovery for checking it deserved a wreath from his
country (cheers).

Mr. W. Botley, in seconding the motion, and
alluding to the increase of the Secretary's salary, men-
tioned in the Report, remarked that it was warranted even
by the improvements of the JouKnal^ adding that after
ten years' valuable services had been rendered by Mr.
Jenkins he rejoiced to see such an addition made- -to his
income.

Mr. Neville-Grenville, in supporting the motion,
also bore testimony to the interesting and useful character
of the Journal, and referred to some recent articles as
proving its practical value.

Mr. Moore, who in reply to the Ghairman said he
was a veterinary surgeon, explained in minute detail
the system of inoculating cows which had been carried
out under the sanction of tue Council, and advocated the
passing of a Bill which would compel every owner of
stock to have young animals inoculated within three
months after they were born.

The Secretary observed that if Mr. Moore read Dr.
Burdon Sanderson's Report he would find what had been
done clearly explained.

The Chairman added that the Gouncil were obliged
to entrust such a matter to others, and they had had the
benefit of the services of some of the cleverest medical
men in London.

On the motion of Mr. Thornton, seconded by Mr.
Frankish, a vote of thanks was given to the Auditors-
Mr. D. R. Davies then proposed a vote of thank3
to the President of the Society (Col. Kingscote), not
merely, he observed, for taking the chair that day, but
also for the able and efficient manner in which he had
presided, over the proceedings of the Council- They all

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE. 423

knew, he said, the value of the assistance which he wa8
always ready to afford not ouly iu connection witli that
Society, but in relation to all important matters which
pertained to agricultural matters generally (cheers).

Lord FrrziiARDiNGE seconded the motion, which on
being put by Mr. Davies was carried by acclamation.

The Chairman, iu rcturniug thanks, said he was
always prepared to do anything which lay in his power on
behah of that great Society, which he regarded as a very
important one to agriculture aud to the couutry. What
the Society especially needed was a large increase of the
income arising from annual subscriptions. If it were not ae-
.dependent -on shows the Council would often be enabled to
expend money more beneficially for agriculture than could
be done under the present state of things. The Society
had, however, caused a good deal of enlightenment among
agriculturists, especially during the last few years, and had
been instrumental in the carrying out of many improve-
ments in different branches of farm operations. The
experiments at Woburn were particularly valuable, and
he had no doubt that they would be continued in a satisfac-
tory manner, lie coincided in the hope just expressed, that;
notwithstanding Mr. Lawes' retirement from the Chemical
Department, the Council would continue to receive valuable
assistance given him. As regarded the Bristol meeting
he regretted that there were only three entries for the
competition iu arable farming, but he believed that the
deficiency would be made up for by the interest attached
to the competition in dairy fanning. With respect to the
London Exhibition, the Council desired to obtain liberal
contributions from the Mansion House Committee and the
Corporation of the City of London. He must say that
he was astonished at the very keen . interest with which
the project was taken up when it was brought forward in
the City. They now wanted numerous and liberal sub-
scriptions to enable them to make the Exhibition far more
successful than any preceding one, and he had no doubt
that with such aid, if the world was only blessed with
peace and good will among all men, it would prove a very
great success (cheers). The Report mentioned the fact
that four candidates had u competed for the Society's
medals and prizes offered to members of the Royal Col-
lege of Veterinary Surgeons, for proficiency in the patho-
logy, causes, symptoms, and treatment (preventive and
curative) of cattle, sheep, aud pigs." That appeared to
him a most valuable part of the Society's work. Although
he did not wish in the least to throw any slur upon the
veterinary profession generally, yet he must remark that
they were ail sensible that in many parts of the country
competent veterinary surgeons, especially as regarded a
knowledge of cattle, sheep, and pigs, were often very hard
to find ; and, therefore, anything which that Society
could do to increase the amount of proficiency by offering
prizes for it must be a step in the right direction (Hear,
hear). He sincerely thanked the meeting for the manner
in which the vote of thanks had been received (cheers).
Tbx meeting then separated,

424

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

DEVON COUNTY.

Annual Show.
(Abridged from The Western limes.)

The seventh exhibition of the Devon County Agricul-
tural Association was opeued on Wednesdiy at lioniton,
uiuler ii rather brighter sky than recent weather chauges
promised. The stock of all sorts displayed on the Ileath-
titld iuclosure bore striking witness not only to the im-
provements in agriculture and the enterprising spirit of
1 1 e modern farmer, bnt to the mechanical genius which
has been at work in contriving the endless variety of
machines and implements not merely for the saving of
nianu tl labour, but operating on the soil in a fashion
that could scarcely be accomplished by hand.

Devonshire men, as a rule, feel the greatest interest in
the special breed of the county, and it 19 a matter of
pride to all breeders of Devons to find that they this year
make the largest show in the exhibition. Quality is in
n > degree second to quantity, for take the whole of the
el tsses together we never saw a better lot. The only
approach to a weak class is that of the old bulls, where
tiere are but three entries. First honours are taken by
Major Duller with an animal bred by the late Mr. Duller,
and one which last year stood second in the you ger class.
Tuough of large size, yet he is not altogether handsome,
for his sides are Hat, and there is a deficiency in the hind
quarters. He, however, is of excellent quality, and has
a better barrel than Viscount Falmouth's Sirloin, a very
compact beast, but not well enough up in the shoulder.
Messrs. Leigh win third prize with a bull having a grand
shoulder and fore-quarter, but he is hard fleshed and
lacks form. The bulls between two and three years of
age are a magnificent class, and the judges had a great deal
o: trouble in coming to a decision.

The first honours were given to Mr. W. Farthing for
his Royal Aston. Major Buller won the second prize
with a good and level bull, but, taken altogether, he is
hardly up to the form of the Somersetshire beast, and has
a rather awkward walk. The bulls between one and two
years were an equally good lot, and they promise to pro-
duce stock of the highest form. The judging of the female
classes in the Devons created a great deal of interest, and
t'ie judges had a very difficult task before them in making
their awards to the cows. Eventually they brought to
the front Mr. Walter Farthing's Pretty Face, a cow that
look second prize last year, Mr. Smith's Rosalie being
second, and Mrs. Laugdon's Actress third, the reserved
animal being a cow of Mr. Corner's which last year won
third prize. The young heifers and the heifer calves
were altogether wonderfully good classes. Mrs. Laugdon
was first in each class, and both classes were com-
mended. Altogether it will be difficult for any future
exhibition to beat the present show of Devons.

The South Devon cattle are not numerous, but they are
still on the course of progress, and as a whole they form a
very commendable show. The chief honours are taken
by Mr. L. N. Oklrieve, and in the bull and heifer calves,
as well as iu sea of heifers, he carrier oil the first

prizes. Mr. Peter Vosper, however, is the possessor of
the best animal in the classes — a six-year-old cow, Voting
Beauty, which takes the first prize, and i9 undoubtedly
the finest animal of the breed ever exhibited.

The Shorthorns make a good show in every exhibition,
and they are now no exception to the rale. The judges
expressed their opinion that the animals brought before
them were a splendid representation of the breed, and
that those entered for the Royal and Bath and West of
Englaud Shows will find no difficulty in holding their
own. The old bnll class now includes some who last year
were but " youngsters," and among these is Oxford Duke
10th, sent by Mr. J. Crnse, of Brandiscorner, and which
last year was first in the class not exceeding three years.
He is a rongh-coated, rather angular, and not altogether
attractive-looking animal, bnt a close examination shows
him to be a ball of magnificent proportions, one haviug a
grand framework aud every indication of a good, useful
beast. He accordingly now wins first prize, passing the
very handsome Gallant Gay of Mr. Bult's, which was
first in this class last year, aud also a Baron Wild Eyes,
shown by Mr. Dunning, of Taunton. Among the bulls
between two and three years Messrs. Hosken's substantial
and nice-looking roan takes the lead, aud second to him
is Mr. Acker's Prince Georgia, which was last year first
in the class under two years.

The Channel Islands Cattle attracted much attention,
and there wa9 a good deal of interest felt in the awards.

The Sheep classes are all well filled, and this depart-
ment is spoken of as highly as the other branches of the
exhibition. The Loice9ters are a fair lot ; there are some
very good rams, but the ewes are hardly 90 good. Some
Leicester breeders were complaining that size rather than
form seemed the chief feature in the eyes of the judges.
The South Devons are better in the male than in the
female classes. The Devon long-wools are a most extra-
ordinary show ; they were the fittest lot ever seen in the
exhibition, and the hogg rams and ewe hoggs especially
were the admiration of every one.

The Pigs do not make a very large show, but they
deserve mueh attention for their excellent quality. In
dealing with the large black breed the judges were placed
in a difficulty in consequence of Berkshires and the
ordinary long blacks appearing together, aud we believe
that the Stewards will recommend that next year the two
breeds be divided- The prizes were given to the Berk-
shires, but the whole class was commended. In the small
black breed the boars were the best, and Mr. Partridge,
of Bow, succeeded in taking all the prizes. The white
breeds are not popular in Devonshire, and the competition
wa9 confined to two exhibitors- — Mes9rs. Duckeriug and
Mr. Spencer, the latter a new exhibitor at this Show.

The Horse-ring was throughout the day the centre of
attraction, but the Grand Stand was hardly 90 largely
patronised ?9 in 9ome previoug years. The agricultural
borse9 are, as usual, of but moderate excellence, and there
was a noticeable lack of anything above mediocrity in the
clusi of stallions foaled before 1875. The younger stal-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

425

lions included the animal that was spoken of as the
truest- made horse ou the ground — Young Sampson,
owned by Mr. Nathauiel Cook, of Tiverton, ami which
ran away with the honours of his class without any
troahie j at the same time Mr. Powkshiud's Young
Prince, which won the second prize, is a very fair animal
The best mare in foal is Mr. Powell's, of Crediton, and a
very nice geldiDg is shown in the 187t class by Mr.
Evans, of Poltimore, and a tine hay colt of Mr. Cook's
takes the first in his class. The hacks and hunters
are altogether a very high-class lot. In the
class for mares exceeding fifteen hands a re-
markably nice one shown by Mr. Ashley, of Houiton, is
first, and an exceedingly useful mare, shown by Mr. Joe
Gould, and exceeding the first in size aud power, to
some extent rather lacking quality, takes the second prize.
Iu the class under fifteen hands a very good mare, belong-
ing to Messrs. Irish, of Totnes takes the honours. The
mares and geldings over fifteen hands brought out as
prize takers a black gray aud a dark brown gelding,
shown by Mr. G. P. Batlams, of Tavistock, both of them
remarkably fiue hunters. Iu all the classes of hacks and
hunters there was a good competition, many exceedingly
handsome animals being shown. The cobs aud galloways
and ponies were equally deserving the commendation
passed upon them, aud the prize ponies were remarkably
clever and with fine action.

The following is the prize list of the horses, cattle,
sheep, aud pigs : —

PRIZE LIST.
JUDGES. — Aguicultukal Houses: Mr. J. Chick, Maiden
Newton ; Mr. H. Biddeil, Ipswich ; Mr. H. Whipped, Bar-
ton, Exeter. Hacks and Hunters : Mr. G. Turner, jun.,
Northampton ; Mr. J. H. Hutcliinsou, Catterick ; Mr. J.
Homsby, Grantham. Devon Cattle : Mr. T. Potter,
Thorverton; Mr. E. Bannton, Dorchester ; Mr. J. Tapp,
Soutlunolton. South Devon and Channel Island
Cattle : Mr. F. Coaker, Kiogsbridge ; Mr. W. Te leman,
Yealmpton ; Mr. J. Rende.ll, Newton Abbott. Shorthorn
Cattle: Mr. W. Finlay Dun, Portland Place, London;
Mr. J. B. Lythall, Birmingham ; Mr. W. H. Hewitt, Taun-
ton. Leicester, Exmoor, Somerset, and Dorset Horn
Sheet and Pigs: Mr. T. Cornish, Teigumouth ; Mr. R.
W. Cresswell, Ashby-de-la-Ziuch ; Mr. W. Hoie, Cullomp-
ton. South Devon, Dartmoor, and Devon Long Wool
Siieef: Mr. J. Venn, Exeter; Mr. R. May, Tavistock ;
Mr. J. Cleave, Cullompton. Wool : Mr. C. J. Upcot, jun.,
Cullompton. Sheet Shearing: Mr. G. Turner, Bowley,
Tiverton ; Mr. J. Mortimer, Barnstaple ; Shoeing Smiths :
Mr. D. R. Scratton, Newton Abbot ; Mr. J. A. Collings,

Exeter.

HORSES.

TOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.

Stallions foaled before the 1st January, 1875.— Prizes £15,
£10, £5.-1, Mr. Beedell, Newton St. Cyres (Vulcan) ; 2, J.
Powlesland, Okehampton (Model) ; 3, J. Rew, Cullompton
(Young Protection).

Stallions foaled ou or after the 1st of January, 1875. — Prizes
£10, £0, £3.-1, N. Cook, Tiverton (Young Sampson); 2,
J. Powlesland, Okehamptuu (Youug Prince); 3, G. E. Elliott,
Devon (Iron Duke).

Mares in foal, or having a foal by their side. — Prizes £10,
<£(>, £3 — 1, J» Powell, Crediton (Diamond) ; 2, T. Gjdlree,
liuniiun (Frolic) ; 3, W. Pile, Branaeombe (Duchess).

Geldings or fillies, foaled in 1 371.— Prizes £3, £5.-1, J.
ETvins, Poltimore (Darling) ; 2, J. Could, Broudclyst, Devon
(l)uchess).

Geldings or fillies, foalcl in 1875. — Piizes £3, £5, £:i. — 1,
J. Tidboald, Honiton (Short) ; 2, J. Tidboald, Honiton (Loft)}
3, G. Arden, Devon (Madame).

Colts, geldings, or tillies, foaled in 1877- — Prizes £8, £5,
£3.-1, N. Cook, Tiverton (Young Noblemm) ; 2, C. Norris,
Exeter (Beaconsfield); 3, T. Yro, Barnstaple (Princess Maria).

Extra stock. — Viscount Sidmouth, of lipottery Manor,
Honiton, a chesnut gelding, Champion, aged 8 years, and a
cheanut mare, Darling, aged 8 .ears.

HACKS OK HU.NTKRS.

Mares in foal or having foal by side. — Pr ices £12, £6. — 1
E. Ashley, Honiton ; 2, Joe Gould, Broad<dyst (Nut Girl).

Mares in foal or foal by side. — Prizes £12, £(>. — 1, J. and
T. Irish, Totues (Charlotte) ; W. Shapiand, Northmolton
North Devon (folly).

Mares or geldings, over 4 years old, exceediug 15 hands
high.— Prizes £12 £0, £1.— 1, G. Bland Battams, Tavistock
(Ring Tail) ; 2, G. Bland Battams, Tavistock (lirowu Stout) ;
3, T. H. Newman, Lewdon.

Mares or geldings, over i years old, not exceeding 15 hands
high.— Prizes £12, £6, £4.— 1, A. E. Gould, Poltimore (Little
Lady) ; 2, H. C. Barrett, Totues (Victory) ; 3, T. Yelvertou
Ottery St. Mary (Duchess).

Geldings or fillies, foaled iu 187L— Prizes £12, £0, £1.—
1,G. Bland Battams, Tavistock (Look Sharp); 2, J. Cole,
Bidelord (The Czar) ; 3, W. Trist, Exmiuster.

Geldings or fillies, foaled in 1875.— Prizes £12, £6, £1.—
1, G. Bland Battams (Lady Jane) ; 2, E. A. Sauders, Exeter
(Post Haste) ; 3, W. Trist, Ivybridge (Folly Perkins).

Geldings or fillies, toaled in 187d. — Prices £10, £0, £L —
1, T. Mortimer, Ken (Rhone) ; 2, E. G. L»gg, Dorset (Haw-
thorn) ; 3, J. and T.Irish, Totnes (Phautoiu).

Colts, Gldiugs, or fillies, foaled in 1877.— Prizes £10, £6
£1. — 1, Rev J. G. Copleston, Honiton (Gentle) ; 2, A. C.
Saudoe, Bodmin ; 3, VV. Smith, Whimple (Lady Peel).

COBS AND GALLOWAYS.

Cohs or galloways, o f any age or sex, not exceeding 14
bauds high.— Prizes £8, M, £2.-1, C. P. Dyke, Lyme Regis
(Otto) ; 2, J. Pethick, Plymouth (Bay Tommy).

I'ONIES.

Ponies not exceeding 13 hands high. — Prizes £3, £-1, £2.—

1, D. Bower, Ottery St. Mary (Aaron) ; 2, F. Finch, Bladon,
Exeter (Tally) ; 3, F. Swabey, Axmiuster (Fauuy).

CATTLE.

DEVONS

Bulls exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1S78 — Prizes
£15, £8, £L-1, Major R. H. BulJer, C.B., Crediton; 2,
Viscount Falmouth, of Tregolhnan, Probus (Sirliou) ; 3, U.
and T. Leith, Sidmouth (Charlie).

Bulls above 2 aud not exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June
1878— Prizes £15, £8, ££.— 1, W. Farthing, Bridgwater
(Royal Aston) ; 2, Major R. H. Buller, C.B. ; 3, W. Rolles
Fryer, Dorset (Sultau),2 years and 1 month, bred by himself.

Bulls above 1 and not exceeding 2 years old on the 1st June
1878 — Prizes £15, £S, £1. — 1, Viscouut Falmouth, Probus;

2, Viscouut Falmouth ; 3, W. Farthiug, Bridgwater (Cherry's
Duke).

42G

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Bu'ls not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 mouths old ou the
l»t June, 1878— Prizes £10, £6, £4.— 1, W. Holies Fryer,
Dorset (Pasha) -r 2, Major R. H. Buller, Creditoa ; 3,
Vi-couut Falmouth.

Cows exceeding 3years old, in calf or having had calf — Prizes
£10, £6, £4.— 1, VV. Farthing, Bridgwater (Pretty Face) ; 2
W. Smith, Whimple (Rosalie) ; 3, Mrs. M. Laugdon, North-
molton (Actress 8th).

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old, in calf or having had calf
—Prizes £8, £5, £3.-1, W. Farthing (Lidybird) ; 2, W.
Smith, Whimple (MaUge) ; 3, Mrs. M. Langdon, North-
molton (Temptress Sth).

Heifeisnot less than 12 months nor exceeding 2 years old
—Prizes £8, £5, £3.-1, Mrs. M. Langdon, Northmolton
(Cherry 10th) ; 2, W. Farthing (Pretty Face 2nd) ; 3, Jack-
man and Bickle, Launceston (Violet 2nd).

Heifers not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 months old —
Prizes £6, £3.-1, Mrs. M. Langdon (Temptress 12th) ; 2,
W. R. Fryer, Poole (Kalraia).

SOUTH BEYONS.

Bulls above 2 and not exceeding 3 years o'd — £15, £S,
£4. — 1, J. Adams. Ivybridge.

Bulls above 1 and not exceeding 2 years old — £15, £8,
£4.-1, G. Dewdney, Plympton (He .o) ; 2, J. B. Oldreive,
Dartmouth; 3, R. Cocks, Pennycross.

Bulls not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 months old — £10,
£6, £4.— 1, L. N. Oldreive, Dartmouth; 2, G. Dewdney,
P.yrapton (Napoleon).

Cows exceeding 3 years old, in calf or having had calf —
£10, £6, £4.-1, W. P. Vusper, Plvropton (Young Beauty) ;
2, W. Harvey, Barnstaple, (D iisy).

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old, in calf or having had
calf— £8, £5, £3.-1, J. B. Oldreive, Dartmouth (Crocus
3rd) ; 2, W. Harvey, Barnstaple (Rose).

Heifers not less than 12 months nor exceeding 2 years old
— £8, £5, £3.— J. B. Oldreive, Dartmouth (Hilda 2nd) ;
2, G. De/vdney, Plympton (Daisy).

Heifers not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 months old — £6,
£3. — 1, J. Browse Oldreive, Dartmouth (Garland 5th) ; 2
W. P. Vosper, Plympton.

SHORTHORNS.

Bulls exceeding 3 years old— £15, £8, £4.-1, J. Crnse,
Brandiscorner, North Devon (Oxford Duke 10th); 2, J. S.
Bult, Kingston, Taunton (Gallant Gay) ; 3, J. H. Dunning,
Taunton (3ri Baron Wild Eyes).

Bulls above 2 and not exceeding 3 years old— £15, £8,
£4.-1, W. Hosken and Son, Cornwall (Oxford Beau) ; 2,
Mr. Benjamin, Gloucester (Prince of Georgia); ;|3, J. W\ PaulL
Ilminster (Lord Townsend).

Bulls above 1 and not exceeding 2 years old — £15, £8, £4.
—1, D. R. Scratton, Newton Abbot (Lady Hillhurst) Duke
2nd ; 2, W. Hosken and Son, Cornwall (Arch Duke) ; 3,
J. S. Butt, Taunton (Duke of Hazlecote).

Bulls not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 months old — £10 ,
£6, £4.— 1, S. T. Tregaskis, Cornwall (Masterman) ; 2, W.
Hosken and Son (Lord Wild Eyes 2nd) ; 3, B. St. John
Ackers, Gloucester (Knight of the Diadem).

Cows exceeding 3 years old (in calf, or having had calf
within 4 months preceding the first day of Exhibition) — £10,
£6, £4.-1, W. Hosken and Sons (Carnation 4th) ; 2, R. W.
Pollard, Paignton, Lady Oxford 2nd ; 3, W. S. Gibbs, Taun-
ton (Kentish Girl).

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old (in calf, or hiving had
calf wiihin 4 months preceding the first day of Exhibition)—
£8, £5, £3.-1, J. S. Bult, Tauniou (Annette); 2, J. S.
Butt, Taunton (Bertha 3rd).

Heifers not less than 12 months, nor exceeding 2 years old
— £8, £5, £3.-1, W. Hosken and Son (Sylvia 4th); 2, W.
Hosken and Son (Countess of Oxford 7th) ; 3, S. T. Tregaskis
(Queen of the Meadow).

Heifers not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 months old — £6,
£3.-1, W. Hosken and Son (Rose of Oxford 3rd) ; 2, S. T.
Tregaskis (faith)

CHANNEL ISLANDS : JERSEY OR. ALDERNEY.

Bulls exceeding 1 year old— £6, £4.— 1st, T. D. Eva, Corn-
wall (Tinker) ; 2nd, C. P. Dickson, Newton Abbot, (The Em-
peror).

Cows exceeding 3 years old (in-calf, or having had calf
within 5 months preceding the first d*y ot Exhibition — £6, £4.
— 1st, W. Hood Walroud,Topsham (Beauty); 2nd, Lord Polti-
raore, Exeter (Beauty).

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old (in-calf or having had
calf)— £6, £4.— 1st, Lord Poltiraore (Hawthorn) ; 2nd, G.
D. W. Digby, Sherborne (Primrose 2nd).

GUEKiUSEY.

Bulls exceeding 1 year old— £6, £4 — 1st, T. D. Eva ;
2nd, W. H. Wairond (The County).

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old (in calf or having had
calf)— £6, £4.— 1st, R. N. G. Baker, Exeter (Crocus) ; 2ud,
R. N. G. Baker (Lady Jane).

SHEEP.

LEICESTERS.

Yearling rams — £10, £6, £4. — 1st, J. Rosewarne, Hayle
Cornwall; 2nd, J. llosewarne ; 3rd, G.Turner, Tiverton.

Rams of any other age— £10, £6, £4. — 1st, T. Potter,
Thorverton ; 2nd, J. llosewarne ; 3rd,G. Turner.

Pens of five yearling ewes — £6, £3, £2. — 1st, J. Rosewarne ;
2ud, J. Broom, Sidbury ; 3rd, J. Broom.

Pen of five ewes of two years old aud upwards (to be shown
in their wool and suckling their lambs) — £6, £3, £2. — 1st
G. Turner-.

SOUTH DEVONS.

Yearlingjraras— £10, £6, £4.— 1st, J. Fairweather, Kings-
bridge ; 2nd, J. Fairweather; 3rd, J. Fairweather.

Rams of any other age— £10, £6, £4. — 1st, J. Badcock,
Kingsbridge ; 2nd, P. Stooke, Plympton ; 3rd,. H. Paine,
Kingsbridge.

Pens of five yearling ewes (to be shown in their woo!) — £6,
£3, £2—1, W. P. Vosper, Plympton ;_ 2, R. B. Trant,
Menheniot ; 3, G, Dewdney, Plympton.

Pen of five ewes of 2 years old and upwards (to be shown
in their wool and suckling their lambs) — £6, £3, £2 — 1, J. S.
Hallert, Plympton.

DEVON LONG ■WOOLS.

Yearling Rams— £10, £6, £4—1, Sir J. H. H. Amory
Tiverton ; 2, W. Cook, Tiverton ; 3, Sir J. H. H. Amory.

Rams of any other age— £10, £6, .£4—1, W. Drakes,
Launceston ; 2, P. Venn, Ottery St. Mary ; 3, W. Drakes, Laun-
ceston.

Pens of five yearling ewes— £6, £3, £2— 1, C. T. Ford,
Exeter; 2, J. H. Amory ; 3, R. Corner, Williton.

Pens of five ewes of two years old and upwards (to be
shown in their wool and suckling their lambs)— £6, £3, £2
— 1, C. Norris, Exeter j 2, Sir J. H. H. Amory ; 3, 11. Leigh,
Siimton.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

427

Pens of five D von Long Won! yearling ewes (to be shown
in l heir wool, and to have been bred by the exhibitoi within
14 miles of llouiiou) — £5 5s. — 1, C. Norris, Exeter.
DARTMOOKS.

Yearling rams to be shown iu their wool — £10, £<i, £4 —
1 and 3, J. Breiu idge, Okehampton ; 2, R. Palmer, Bea-
worthy, Exnourue.

Kains ot any other age— £10, £(>, £4—1, J. L. Bremridge,
Okehampton ; 2, W. Squire, Bndestow ; 3, J. Knapman, Oke.
hampton.

Yearling ewes — £9, £3, £2 — 1, J. L. Bremridge, Okehamp-
tou ; 2, J. Knapman, Okehampton ; 3, W. Squire, Bridestow.

Pens of five ewes of two years old and upwards, to be shown>
suckling the ir lambs — £6, £3, £2 — 1 and 2 J. Knapman
Okehampton.

EXMOORS.

Yearling rams— £10, £6, j£4.— 1 and 3, Lord Poltimore,
Exeter; 2, Mrs. Langdon, Northmolton.

Uams of any other age— £10, £6, £L— 1 and 2, Mrs.
Laugdon, Northmolton ; 3, Lord Poltimore.

Pen of five yearling ewes — £6, £3, 2. — 1, Lord Poltimore •
2, Earl Fortescue ; 3, C. Williams, Barnstaple.

Pen of five ewes, two years old and upwards ; to be shown
in their wool and suckling their lambs — £6, £3, £2. — 1, Lord
Poltimore ; 2 and 3, Earl Fortescue.

SOMERS T AND DORSET HORNS.

Yearling rams— £10, £6, £4.-1 and 2, H. Farthing,
Bridgwater; 3, J. Culverwell. Pridgwater.

Rams of any other age— £10, £6, <£4.— 1, 2, and 3, H.
Farthing.

Pen of five yearling ewes— £6, £3, £2.-1 and 2, J. Mayo,
Dorchester; 3, W. S. Gibbs, Taunton.

Pen of five, ewes of two years and upwards ; to be shown
iu their wool, to be certified to have produced lambs the pre-
ceding season— £6, £3, £2.-1, W. S. Gibbs.
PIGS.

LARGE BREED (BLACK).

Boars not less than sis mouths— £5, £3, £2.-1, C. Wil-
liams, Barnstaple ; 2, Benjamin St. John Ackers, Gloucester-
shire ; 3, N. Berjafield, Dorsetshire-
Sows of any other age in farrow or exhibited with their
litters— £5, £3, £2.-1, N. Benjafield, Dorsetshire; 2 and 3,
B. St. John Ackers.

SMALL BREED (BLiCK).

Boars not less than six months — £5, £3, £2. — 1, 2, and 3,
J. Partridge, Bow.

Sows of any age in farrow or exhibited with their litters —

£5, £3, £■! 1, Rev. W. Hooper, Dorchester.

SPECIAL LOCAL PRIZES.

DEVON BULLS.

Devon Bull not exceeding 2 years and 6 months, to be kept
for twelve months within the Honiton Union district — 1, £10>
W. Rolles Fryer, Poole, Dorset (Sultan).

Ditto, to be kept for service for twelve months within 3
miles of Honiton. — 1st, £10 10s., John Jackman and Bickle,
Hex worthy, Launceston (Palmerston).

Devon long wool yearling ewes bred within 14 miles of
Honiton. — 1st, £5 5s., C. Norris, Exeter.

JUMPING PRIZES.

Mare or gelding exceeding 15 hands high (the cleverest
jumper).— 1, £10, C. F. Rew, Bradninch (Royal George) ; 2,
£o, Mr. White, Taunton (The Monk).

Mare or gelding not exceeding 15 hands (adjudged to be

the cleverest jumper). — 1,£7, J. A. Collings, Exeter (Putty) ;
2, £3, W. Cook, Tiverton (L'olly).

SINGLE-HARNESS HORSES.
Mare or gelding not under 14 nor exceeding 15 hands (cle-
verest single. harness horse). — 1, £10, G. Davy, jun., Barn-
staple ; 2, £5, J. Moore, Exeter (Speculation).

BUTTER AND CREAM.
Judges. — Mr. C. Ewins, Axminster; Mr. S. W. Lendon,
Exeter.
21bs. of Devoushire butter and \!lbs. of Devonshire clotted
cream. — 1, £5, the Hon. J. F. CI ll'ord Butler, Shobrooke,
produce of Jersey cows ; 2, £3, W. Hood Walrond, Topshtin,
produce of Uunrusey and Alderney cows; 3, £2, Wm.
Harvey, Barnstaple, produce of South Devon and cross-l.red
cows.

WOOL.
The prizes in three classes were awarded on Thursday—
these were two competitions for unwashed wool, and there
was a sheep shearing contest. The prizes for ileeces of long
wool (D-irtmoor excepted) brought out half-a-dozen competi-
tors, but there was only one lot shown in the special Dart-
moor class, and consequently only second prize was awarded.
Seven sheep-shearers were at work. The judge of the wool
was C. J. Upcott, of Culloiuptou, and the judges of the
shearing were Messrs. G. Turner and G. Mortimer.

UNWASHED WOOL.

Three fleeces of long wool other than Dartmoor — 1, £5,
F. Doble, Uffculme; 2, £3, C. Norris, Motion, Exeter;
and 3, £2, J. Stooke, Plympton — all showing fleeces of
Devon long wool. Dartmoor wool — £3, J. Knapman, South
Taw ton.

SHEEP SHEARING.

Shearing a pen of three sheep entered for the wool com-
petition—1, £2 10s., Robert Bessant, Motion, Exeter; 2,
£1 10s., Win. Morgan, Payhembury ; 3, Mr. Tucker, St.
Germains,

HORSE SHOEING.

In the ring in which the Devon cattle were judged on
Wednesday the smiths were today at work. The competition
lasted a very long time, there being nearly 40 competitors ;
the prizes were not awarded when the Yard was closed for the

FARMS IN NEW ZEALAND.— In the public interest we
are pleas-d to learn that the proprietors of the Wantwood and
Caroline Estates, Southland, consisting of eighty thousand
acres of freehold, have determined to subdivide them into con-
venient-sized farms, with suitable dwellings and offices erected
thereon, and to let them for 14 and 21 years at moderate
rentals to agricultural tenants, which we feel assured, if pro-
perly understood, will not fail to attract the attention of a
good cl ss of tenant farmers in Great Britain, where young
men entering into that pursuit require a very considerable
capital, have to pay a high rent, and receive a very inadequat6
return for their toil. — Otago Times.

EMIGRATION TO QUEENSLAND.— The ship Sir
William Wallace 986 tons, Captain Colvtlle, sailed from
Gravesend, on the 18th May, bound for Townsville, Queens-
land, and had on board the following number of emigrants,
viz. : — 39 married men, 38 married women, 133 single
men, 52 single women, 58 children between the ages of 12 and
1, and nine inlauts, making a total of 328 souls.

428

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ALEXANDRA PARK HORSE SHOW.

The anthor of the history of the gradual development
of the coach makers' art from Paradise to Long Acre says:
" To oue great principle iu our nature which impels us
n ver to be satisfied with our present state, but ever to be
seeking foreign aid and appliances is due the invention
of breeches." Directly man pulled on a pair of breeches
and found the pockets empty, to fill them invention fol-
lowed invention, till at last he was obliged to make
roads and conveyances to move them, and as our
roads improved the sous of Nimshi increased the
pace, but they could not keep it up without
blood, consequently many heavy-hair — heeled
nags have gradually been metamorphosed into those
a* fine in the leg as Eclipse himself, while the wheelbar-
r >w that Adam fetched home his washing with and took
Eve out for an airing in has at last taken the form of
that bijou of a carriage in which one of her fairest de-
scendants, " a lady of transcendent beauty," so gracefully
lounges. And to this " one great principle in our nature"
and breeches' pockets" we are indebted in the height of
the London season for the Alexandra Park and Agricultu-
ral Hall Horse Shows We place them thus, as Alexandra
for her sixth annual show opened the gates of her park
on May 24th to the 29th, a week or two before, instead
of, as in previous years, two or three weeks after, the agri-
culturists had held theirs. That Londoners do not rush
to witness the judging and scan the points of the horses,
and in fact care little for anything but " the fun of the
fair," the jumping, cannot be wondered at considering
that every morning during the season — Sundays excepted
— there is to be seen in Hyde Park the grandest show of
hacks in the world, and in the afternoon the grandest
show of carriage horses, while on Monday and Thursdays
Messrs. Tattersall and Pain continually do cry over some
crack stud of hunters, " Going ! The last time 1
Run him down ! Mind he'll kick yer !" Besides all this
does not the Queen hold divers drawing-rooms in these
months, on which days we can quietly and calmly scrutinize,
as they stand drawn up in line for our inspection from St.
James's to Grosvenor Place, horses, harness, servants,
l.veries, nosegays, carriages, armorial bearings, lovely
women, jewellery, fine dresses, uniforms, and cocked hats?
Then, if we wish to study the thoroughbred horse, cannot
we get a peep at the sires, dams, and youngsters at the
yearling sales of Elthara, Hampton Court, and Cobham p
and if we want to see him in racing trim is not there the
paddock at Epsom ? Then, for all sorts and conditions of
horses, from those of Barclay and Perkins to the pony in a
basket carriage, have we not the streets ? In a word,
" there is no place like London," and we may add no
prettier site for a horse show than Alexandra Park. But
the sixth show of horses was poor indeed, the weather on
the opening day wretched, and the attendance but so so.
Let us hope that the weather will change to set fair, and

that Messrs. Bertram and Roberts will be amply
rewarded for their liberality, if not for chopping and
changing A little after ten o'clock Messrs. E. Paddison,
Lincoln, W. Young, Beverley, and J. Coates, Yorkshire,
took in hand the judging of the thoroughbreds and
roadster stallions and the hunting classes in one ring, and
Messrs. R. Howard, Lincoln, \V. H. Gaunt, Yorkshire,
and W. Beever, Retford, the hacks, horses, cobs, and
ponies in and out of harness in another ring
and on the drives in the park. Scarcely ever
have we seen so few country friends round the ring. What
is the cause ? Is it that they begin to find that mindiug the
shop pays better than gadding about ? Or is it due to the
general slackness of trade, to meeting the same horses
year after year, or was not the alteration in the time of
holding the Alexandra Park meeting properly advertised ?
If we may judge by the getting up of the catalogue we
should say it was the latter ; for the gentlemen who super-
intended that must have as much idea of giving the
pedigree of a thoroughbred horse as a thoroughbred horse
has of giving his. It commences with that grand old
Sultan and show-goer, *" Citadel, ch., 19 years — his dam
Sortie by Mtlbourne. ' Then we have "Newry, 6 years —
by Lycades, dam Blanchette ;" and "Amsterdam, 6,aged,
by the Flying Dutchman." We presume that
Citadel's sire is thoroughbred and Blanchette's, and
that Amsterdam had a dam, and she a sire, which are
to be found ia the Stud Book; otherwise Citadel, Mewry,
and Amsterdam had no right to compete as thorough-
bred stallions. What pains have we taken to teach secre-
taries and managers how to set about it, and how often
must we repeat that the whole duty of a secr«tary and
manager is not strutting about the ring, as he can always
get a man with a whip and a bell tongue for a few shillings
a day ! Mr. Parriugton, that model secretary and mana-
ger of the Great Yorkshire, is seldom or ever to be aeen
in the ring, and when we pay a shilling for a catalogue of
50 pages, containing 193 entries of horses, and many of
these to be found in two and some in three classes to swell
it up to that number, we expect to gain a little in-
formation from it. But time flies, and we
must stick to the horses. There were only
nine thorough bred stallions to eighteenlast y ear, and of these
the great Citadel, the three cornered Fandanguero, the
coaching-lookiug Claudius, with no place for a saddle,
and pinned elbows, the corky-looking Amsterdam, whose
well laid shoulders and withers Claudius wants to make a
prize horse of him, Higl^ander, who reminds of the
Melbournes and the days when we were young, and the
elegant but French looking Barb: Hon, are all old stagers-,
and we thiuk have shown before at Alexandra Park, if
not there at some shows. The others were Newry,
a strong compact built horse, and very taking, with good
limbs but rather beefy shoulders, which were

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE

420

loaded at their points — a moderate • looking ches-
nut five year old by Fortuaio dam Miss Osborn («e
have not time to look in the Si ml Book to make perfect
these pedigrees) and Chivalrous, achesnut by Adventurer,
out 01 Auld Acquaintance by Irish Birdcatcher, one of
the most taking nags of t He lot, which carried himself
well, and although small to the eye at (irst glance, is full
of muscle, and iu a word, "a little big'un," very compactly
made and hardy-looking, two things which should not be
lost sight of in breeding. Citadel, it will be seen, is not
iu the prize list, for the first time (we think) since he
was victorious at Islington, the judges having discovered
a*, last, like many a very big man, that with all his great-
ness be is only lit for a caravan. The roadster stallions
of fifteen hands two inches high and upwards were not
an imposing lot, the red rosette going to Great Shot, a
red loau by Great Gun, and a horse of fair form and
action, that we set down as the nest best to that grand
mover and neat roadster old Fireaway the Second, who,
with his stout-built runner in knickerbockers picked up
their feet from the slush in capital style ; while Dexter
which beat him for second honours, was not grand in
form, but could step. Perfection, the representative of the
Stand Stud Company, is more showy than useful, and is
slack iu his ribs, and has not roadster action ; and Lord
Lyon, the commended of an entry of eight, though by
King Charlie, dam by Lord Derby, does not look like a
patrician. Of roadster stallions under fifteen hands two
inches high, eight very fair ones, out of an entry of nine,
made their appearance in the lists, the absentee being that
well known clipper of the Stand Stud Company, Star of
the East. Mr. Groucock sent Prickwillow the Second,
by Prickwillow, out of a mare by an Arabian, which is
very handsome and can move ; Mr. Bearts, Eclipse, a dark-
brown three-year-old of promise ; Mr. N. S. Brough, a
very clever cob, Sultan, by Triffett's Fireaway ; Mr.
Harrison, Yorkshireman, by Landseer, another stepper of
good form ; Mr. Rennison, Sir Edwin's by Roan
Napoleon, a neat cob with action ; Mr. Grouo, Honesty,
a very showy four-year-old cob ; while Mr. Holmes's, of
Scarborough, Young Fireaway, was disqualified, being
six years old instead of five, as entered. Sir Alfred, natty
iu form, with nice action, belongs to Mr. Wilberforce.

The four-year-old hunters did not meud matters, though
some of them were promising, as many had mistaken their
calling. Mr. Newton's Golden Drop, a chesnut four-
year-old, of neat huuting- like form and action, showing
breed as a nag much smaller than the Golden Drop which
won at Islington, but like him dropped in for the pounds;
while True Blue, in close attendance, a nimble little ches-
nut, played second, the third being a useful bay, Graffham,
by Young Touchstone. We recollect two or three of that
name serving mares about the country, and a venerable
groom taking us up in his arms and placing us on the
back of a bay horse with black legs, stauding sixteen
hauds high — of whose grand form when we see a print of
Orville we are reminded — and saying, "There, sir, you
cau now say that you have beeu on the back of Master

Henry ;" and on looking at our catalogue we think it
possible and probable that some persons may
not know that be was the sire of Banter, the dam of
the horse for which the Marquis of Westminster
asked the American dominions, showing that he, poor
man, had his share of " the first principle of our nature "
and coveted more dominion than he already possessed —
for money is power, a thing which people at the present
time seem very loth to part with— at least so the dealers
tell us. The commended Snapdragon with his
shoulders anl pace put us in mind of the " slow bhilling"
as much as True Blue did of " the nimble ninenence."
Star of the East by Omen, dam Nelly Baker, was a
blood-looking horse of nice, but not exactly hunting
form ; still he would leave a great many behind in a run
if he has any notion of crossing country — he went
through the dirt well. Mr. Saunders' Nelson and Mr.
Severne's shelly-looking Colonel could also go, which is
the great thing ; for a grand-looking horse without action
is like a rich man without liberality — which is a perora-
tion worthy of a Dean. Thus endeth the class. The
five-year-old hunters and upwards, up to not less than
12 stone or more than 14 stone, looked as if things were
going to mend, as of the fifteen entries, not all in the
flesh, the galloping Gleugyle and that sweet mare Rosa-
mond, looking more beautiful than ever, and adorning
the turf she trod, as with grace in every motion she re-
minded us of the poetry, were among the first to enter
the arena, and though far be it from us to say a word
against Messrs.Allen and Haines's nice hunting-like horse
Salem, possessing as he does form, breed, and actions,
still we really think, without theie was something beyond
our ken, as many more did, she ought to have been
asked to take a higher place. The mare
never showed better, for she aras as handy as a glove.
The commended Trade Wind by Lightning, dam by
Revenue, and bred in America, was very peacocky to look
at, and we thiuk that Messrs. Allen and Haines, neat, but
shelly-brown-Luxury should have been before him and Mr.
R. Gardner's King of Trumps. Wonders will never cease ;
forinthe five-years-old and upwards class, up'to not lessjthan
14 stone, was Tavistock, a horse of immense power, aud
that walked, trotted, and galloped well. He is by that
unlucky horse Gemma de Vergy, but not a bit like him,
which was once the property of Palmer, the poisoner.
As he is a young giaut, but five years old, he will take time
to furnish and fill out, when if some very great man
should pay Edwiustowe a visit in his caravan Mr.
Bayly will be able to give him a mount,
and should Tavistock happen to fall on him the Edwin-
stownians will never want pancakes. Of course there are
different opinions ; onegreat man likened him to Palmerston
aud another said he was " a magnified Beckford," aud
many who wish to agree with every one said he was very
like both, which remiuds us of the late Lord Brougham,
when there was such a rush to hear Irving preach at
Hatton Garden. His Lordship said, " Irving was a very
good likeuess of the 'apocalyptic angel,'" aud many of

430

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the multitude who had not the slightest idea of its mean-
ing said they quite agreed with his lordship "Irving was
indeed very like an ' apoplectic angel.' " The next to
him, Tavistock, and not the apopletic angel, was Mr
Newton's c. h. g. 6 years old, a nice horse of some breed
but not grand in form, nor did he move quite to our mind
with his hind legs. Then came Mr. Smith's Statesman, a
Tery handsome huntiug-Jike horse and a capital galloper,
which in the stiff going on Knaves' mire last year, beat Mr.
Newton's crack bay four-year-old Sir George. So that if
these were not a grand lot there were some plume9 worth
picking out. To these we may add the Duke of Hamilton's
Winder, who for make and action, we have said before, is a
model of a weight-carrier ; but, by the side of Tavistock one
looks like up to so many stones and the other tons of weight.
Then Mr- J. Booth's Bald6rsby has thickened and
improved wonderfully, and we must not be surprised if
he does not move quite in so gay a manner as some of the
others, as when his owner is up he has a steadier on his
back, as he walks in his shoes 16 stone 41b. "What a
treat for tender toes should the Squire of Bedale happen
to make a false step. The best of the others were Mr.
Budgett'sKing Lear, a well-built horse, but not up to the
■weight, Mr. Hetherington's Prince Regent, and Mr.
Hogg's Duchess. For the cup for the best horse in any
of the hunting classes, Golden Drop, Glengyle, and
Tavistock competed, and when we came from the hack
ring we were told that it had been awarded to " Muster
Bayly's big 'un." In the hacks, harness horses, and
pony classes, mustering in all, absentees included, seventy-
four, there were some few remarkably good animals,
many very middling, and some of the reserved numbers
that the judges would not give a commendation to. In the
hack and roadster classes Sir George WombwelPs very
clever nag Sunbeam, having been riddeD in Rotten Row
and become accustomed to the usage of polite society,
where nothing tells so much against man or horse as bad
manners, settled down quietly in his paces and beat
Charles the Second and Nobleman, which did not
show like he did at Bath, where he trotted in
grand style — in fact he would have been all the
better for a week's schooling in Rotten Row ; still
with the park hacks and ladies' horses he cantered nicely
«nough to carry off first)honours. Lady Anne in the hack
and roadster class, up to not less than 12 stone, not
under 14. 2 or over 15.3 hands — what a condition
for protests and wrangles — was a showy goer, but
her head was badly set on, with the jowl too much
into her neck, especially when handled. Lady
Haytou was a compact strong-built one ; Queen Adelaide
was not up to the form of Mrs. Frisby's clever little nags
Eclipse and Echo ; Lottery and Matchless were also good ;
Expedition astonished a great many when set going, as
did Patriarch, which was beautifully handled. There
were some very good single harness horses exceeding
14 hands and not exceeding 15 hands, Vanguard,
from Seymour Place being a very strong and remarkably
fast goer, and Mr. Wilson's Fireaway knew the use of

his legs too, and Matchless, though overmatched, as we

have said before, was very nice. Half-a-dozen decent

ponies bring us to the jumping, which we did Lot see,

as there was none on the first day, and we commend the

management for settling the business before larking

begins.

PRIZE LIST.

Thoroughbred stallions. — First prize, £50. H. W.
Freeman, Newbridge Hill, Bath (Claudius) ; second,
£20, G. Groucock, Hayward's Heath, Sussex (Newry) ;
third, £10, the Duke of Hamilton, Easton Park,
Suffolk (Barbillon).

Roadster stallions (15-2 kands and upwards). —
First prize, £30. J, Tibbett, Doddington, Cambridge
(Great Shot) ^ second, £15, J. Hetherington, Red
Hill, Edgware (Dexter) ; third, Enfield Stud Company
(Fireaway the Second). Commended: N. S. Brough
(Lord Lyons).

Roadster stallions (under 152 hands). — First prize, 630,
N. S. Brough, Londesbro' Wold, Market Weightou
(Sultan) ; second, £15, G. Renuison, vScoresby, Rexby
(Sir Edwin) ; third, £10, M. Harrison, Galtou, Drif-
field (Yoikshireman). Commended : G. Wilberforce,
Pocklingtou, Yorkshire.

Hunters (four years old). — First prize, £30, F. P. New-
ton, MaUon (Golden Drop) ; second, £15, T. L. Skip-
worth, Howsham, Brigg {True Blue) ; third, J. T.
Blott, Great Houghton, St. Neots (Graffnam). Co n-
mended : J. T. Dauiell, Scarborough (Snapdragon).

Hunters 5 years old and upwards, up to not les3 than 1
stone or more than 14 stone. — First prize, £40, T. H.
Hutchinson, Manor House, Catterick (Glengyle) ;
second, £20, Messrs. Allen and Haines, Seymour
Place, Bryanston Square (Salem) ; third, £10, W.
Wright, Wollaston, Nottingham (Rosamond). Com-
mended -. F. M. David, New Club, Brighton (Trade
Wind).

Hunters 5 year3 old and upwards, up to not less than 14
stone. — First prize, £50, T. H. Bayley, Edwinstowe
(Tavistock) -; second, £20, F. P. Newton, Malton (ch.
g. 6 years old) ^ third, -£10, J. Smith, Humberton,
Helperby (Statesman). Highly commended: The Duke of
Hamilton (Winder).

Cup for the best hunter in any of the classes. — T. H.

Bayley (Tavistock).
Hacks and roadsters up to not less than
12 stone or more than 14 stone, not under
14 2 hands and not over 153 hands. — First prize, £20,
Sir- G. Wombwell, Portman Square, W. (Suubeam) ;
secoud, £10, J. Robinson, Cleveland House, Hull
(Charles II.) ; third, £5, W. H. Cranswick, Burton
Agnes, Hull (Merrymaid). Highly commended : J. Grout,
Woodbridge, Suffolk (Lady Hayton).
Hacks and roadsters up to not less than 14 stone, not
under 14 2 or over 153 hands. — First prize, £20, T.
Nicholson, Walton Grange, Hull (Lidy Anne) ; second,
£10, J. Grout (Lady Hayton). Highly commended :
J. Addie, Preston (Wonder).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

431

Park hanks and ladies' horses — First prize, £20, T. H.
Bayly (Nnblem.au) j second, £10, B. Holt, Saville
Row, W. (Lady Adelaide) ; third, £5, G. II lines,
Scarborough (br. g. 5 years old).

Cobs or ponies not exceeding 14 2 hands. — First prize,
£15, Sirs. Frisby, James Street, Buckingham Gate
(Q-ieen Adelaide) ; second, £10, T. S. Green way,
Bolsover Street, Euston Road (Elastic); third, £5, II.
J. Hopkins, Colon Guilsboro' Northampton (Sambo).
Highly commended : Lady E. S. Churchill, Man-
chester Square (Lottery.)

Ponies, not exceeding 12 2 hands high, to carry children.
— A. Ashton, Park Field. Middleton (Tommy) ; second,
£5, J. Walby, C idicote, Welwyn (Violet).

Pairs of ponies in harness (not exceeding 14 3 hands). —
First prize, £20, Mrs. Frisby (Eclipse and Echo) ;
second, £10, Lady E. Churchill (Lottery and
Matchless).

Single harness horses, four years old and upwards, exceed-
ing 15 hands. — First prize, £20, Stand Stud Company,
Whitefield, Manchester (Expectation) ; second, £10,
B. Holt (Patriarch) ; third, £5, P. Wyatt, York Gate,
Regent's Park (Charlie). Highly commended : Miss I.
Moffatt, Collingham Road, South Kensington (Violet).

Single harness horses, four years old and upwards, ex-
ceeding 14 and not exceeding 15 hands. — First prize,
£20, Messrs. Allen and Haines (Vanguard) ; second,
£10, C. Wilson, High Park, Kendal, Westmoreland
(Fireaway) ; third, £5, Lady E. S. Churchill (Match-
less). Highly c jminended : The Duke of Hamilton
(chesnut mare).

Ponies in harness, not exceeding 14 hands. — First prize,
£10, Mrs. Frisby (Queen Adelaide) ; second, £7, J.
Wilson, Forley Hill, Enfield (Polly) ; third,£3, L. J.
Diew, Victoria Street, S.W. (Polly).

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
LABOURERS' CONFERENCE.

The seventh anuual Council of the National Agricultural
Labourers' Union was held iu the Lecture Hall of the Weigh
House Chapel recently, under the presidency of Mr. A.
Macdonald, M.P. Delegates were present from the various
unions throughout tiie country.

The General Secretary presented the annual report,
which stated that the Council regretted to have to record a
slightly diminished number of members. The past year had
been an exceptionally trying one to working men ; the extreme
depression of trade in all brauches had told greatly against the
tradps, and as a natural consequence the agricultural class had
suffered considerably, though, perhaps, not to the same extent
as other classes who have been out of employment. Shortly
after last harvest the 'armors of some parts of Norfolk, taking
advantage of that circumstance, attempted to reduce the wages
of their men, and the Committee feeling that if that was sub-
mitted to it would iu all probability be followed by a second
reduction before Christmas, determined to resist, and several
hundreds of men had been out of work all the winter, thus
making great demands on thj funds of the Union. The prompt
action taken prevented a general reduction. The Committee

regretted the constant struggles, the effects of which were
disastrous to both masters and men. The present number of
members, so fur is could be ascertained, was rather mire than
42,000. The basis for sickntss benefits, introduced at the
last Council, had proved accep'able to a considerable number
in many districts. About £5,784 19«. Id. had been expended
jn relief, migration, and emigration during the year, and £77
6s. had been voted to other Societies in special need of help.
The Committee bad taken two or three small plots of land,
and had made temporary arrangements for the working of a
farm of 146 acres. With reference to the Eastern Question,
the Committee felt that they should take some step, and they
elicited an unanimous feeling throughout the country in favour
of peace. The Conference held in London lately on the subject
was a success. The Committee hoped that they discovered in
the most recent actions of her Majesty's Government signs of
a moat peaceful policy, and if peace was established on a firm
basis they believed it wonld be due entirely to the course taken
by Mr. Gladstone, and rejoiced that the farm labourers had
been able to render him a hearty assistance in his magnificent
struggle.

The Chairman, in some few remarks, referred to the rece t
riots in Lancashire. He suggested that the Labourers' Union
should draw up an address to the working men of Lancashire
and advise them to keep peace and order, and if the dispute
was to be continued it should be continued in a sensible and
constitutional form. He thought it was a blot on their system
that such a thing should have taken place. He did not be-
lieve that it was the industrious working men who had caused
the riots, but the roughs and the lower classes. He had a
very strong opinion as to the cause of the riots. They had
been taught within the last few months to look upon riot as
patriotism, and that all they had to do was to shout for a
cert un Prime Minister whose name was a mystification and a
mystery. Referring to the increase of wealth in the country,
he said it was not to be supposed that in a Christian country
the labouring men should remain silent when they saw the
wealth going into the hands of the few. He advised them to
maintain their position and uphold their Society.

The Conference then proceeded to transact the business upon
the paper, and the first question was with regard to Tha
English Labourers' Chronicle, and a proposition was made
" That the Union dispose of the proprietorship of The English
Labourers' Chronicle for any sum above £2,000.'

This Conference met on Wednesday for the second time at
the Weigh House Chapel, Fish Street Hill. Mr. Chamber-
lain, M.P., presided, and in opening the proceedings said he
regarded the Conference as the labourers' Parliament. Referring
to the proposal that this organisation should be subdivided,
and that in their several districts a lund should be appropriated
for local wants, he said that seemed to him a sort of agricul-
tural Home Rule, which was open to the same objection as
Imperial Home Rule — namely, that it weakened the Empire.
If the suggestions which he had heard were carried into effect
their local treasurers would soon be bankrupt and uuable to
maintain a strike. He hoped they would soon be in a position
to send their own representatives to the Parliament of the
nation. He did not expect, nor did he wish, that the Tory
Government should deal with the matter, because he doubted
whether the Government would deal with it in a maimer
satisfactory to him or to themselves. The whole of the Liberal
party, with a few exceptions, were pledged to support the claims
of the agricultural labourers, and the next Liberal Ministry

422

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

which came into power — and that event, he believed, was not
so far disttnt as their opponents imagined — was certain to
concede their rights and satisfy the justice of the case. The
Government had introduced the County Hoards Bill, but it did
not give what was necessary for the labourer. If the Bill
went ieto committee he wjuld endeavour to remedy this by
proposing that the Boards should be elected directly by house-
hold suffrage. Hitherto he had had very little support in this
matter from the other side o>' the House, nor did he expect
much more in the future. With regard to the Eastern Ques-
tion, the Prime Minister had told them on Monday night that
the policy of the Government had been directed chiefly to the
preservation of peace. It was not pretended that any direct
interest of England was threatened, nor was it ever pretended
that our Eastern possessions were in danger, because all danger
to India vanished before the fact that in the moment of the
greatest peril the Government found themselves able to reduce
the Indian garrisons and bring troops into Europe. If we
went 1o war it would be for some undefined aud undefinable
purpose, and for some graudiloqnent phrases about law and
order which had no meaning whatever, and for objects which
in any case would not be worth the sacrifice of peace, pros-
perity, and valuable lives, and of hundreds of millions of the
treasure of this country. He hoped they would lose no op-
portunity of clearing themselves of the responsibility of war,
if it should ensue, aud of claiming some voice in the decision
of an issue in which they were so deeply concerned. The
Conference then proceeded to the discussion of the purchase of
land on the basis of co-operative farming. After a protracted
discussion the following resolution was unanimously adopted .
— "That this C onference, having heard the opinion of the
solicitor to the Union, declares that the funds of the Union are
not in future to be applied towards the hiring or taking of
land, but considers that it is desirable that a Society should be
formed, in accordance with the Industrial Provident Societies
Act, 1876 for the purpose of hiring land to be farmed on the

co-operative or allotment principle." The Conference then
adjourned.

On Thursday morning the conference resumed it8
proceedings at the Weigh-house Chapel, Fish-street-hill*
under |the presidency of Mr. John Banbury, of Woodstock.
The first business discussed was a proposed grant of £30 to
the distre-sed operatives in Lancashire, which was carried
unanimously. The Conference having decided the previous
day that a new Society should be formed under the tV/vidmt
aud Industrial Society's Act, 1876, with a view of purchasing
land for the Labourers' Uuion, to be worked on the co-
operative principle, a committee was appointed to carry the
scheme into effect. The committee has since recommended,
■ind it has been uninimousy approved, that the Society should
have a nominal capital of £100,000 in shares of 10s. each.
When this decision was announced 400 shares were taken up
ou the spot. The raising of so large an amount among so
poor a class as the agricultural labourers might, at first sight,
seem somewhat remarkable, but it must not be forgotten
that the Uniou has 20,000 members. It has alwavs been the
object of the Union to gain posses-ion of land which might be
cultivated for the benefit of the general body, but various
obstacles have hitherto prevented the execution of this
design. An experiment was, however, made last year, when a
farm of 14 acres was purchased. The resul', as stated by the
committee, was a complete success, as out of the year's profits
o. the farm they are able ti buy as many more acres. It is
well known that the agricultural labourer.) have a strong de-
sire to become landowners. In the present scheme they believe
they have every facility for accomplishing their object. They
consider, moreover, that this is one of the best and most satis-
factory methods of settling the much-vexed land question, and
that it will commend itself to the support of the bulk of the
agricultural labourers of England. The remainder of the
business was of a routine character.

TOTAL NUMBER OF HORSES, CATTLE, SHEEP, AND PIGS IN GREAT BRITAIN,

ACCORDING TO THE AGRICULTURAL RETURNS TAKEN IN EACH OF THE YEARS 1866 TO 1877 INCLUSIVE.

Horses.

Cattle.

Sheep.

Years.

Other Cattle

Tigs.

Cows.

One year and
above.

Under
one year.

Total.

Two years
and above.

Under
two years.

Total.

Mar. 5.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

1866

June 25.

1867

1,883,522

1,298,514

1,603,800

4,785,836

15,538,438

6,509,843

22,048,281

2,477,619

2,038,092

1,266,753

1,688,189

4,993,034

18,449,005

10,470,096

28,919,101

2,966 979

1868

2,143,895

1,356,159

1,923,927

5,423,981

19,707,705

11,003,691

30,711,396

2,308,539

1869

1,461,061

2,135,070

1,359,369

1,819,034

5,313,473

18,985,541

10,552,600

29,538,141

1,930,452

1870

1,266,709

2,161,804

1,355,993

1,885,520

5,403.317

18,410,250

9,987 339

28,397,589

2,171,133

1871

1,254.450

2,091,433

1,356,777

1,889,549

5,337,759

17,571,552

9,54S,017

27,119,569

2,499,602

1872

1,258,020

2,105,127

1,421,900

2,037,967

5,624,994

17,960,967

9.960,540

27,921,507

2,77 1,7 19

1873

1,276,441

2,237,514

1,419,789

2,307,246

5,964,549

18,777.756

10,649,879

29,427,635

2,500,259

1874

1,311,739

2,273,797

1,509,624

2,342,070

6,125,491

19,418,730

10,865,211

30,313,911

2,422,832

1875

1,340,129

2,253,241

1,585,213

2,174 370

6,0L2,824

18,774,734

10,392,704

29,167,438

2,229,918

1876

June 4.

1877

1,374,576

2,226,367

1,567,641

2,050,133

5,844,141

18,258,352

9,924,599

28,182,951

2,293,620

1,388,582

2,207,017

1,464,317

2,026,599

5,697,933

18,145,205

10,015,959

28,161,164

2,498,728

Statistical and Curumercial Department, Board ol Trade, May loth, 1878.
Note —In 1866 the acreage returns were only collected in Great Britain from occupiers of and above 5 acres of land,
which was considered to he a limit low enough to include all laud used for agricultural purposes. In 1867, as the acreage and
live stock returns were both collected at the same time, it was necessary, in order to ascertain the number of live stock, to
abandon the limit of 5 acres, aud to collect the returns of both acreage and live stock from all occupiers of laud. The number
of pigs is exclusive of those kept in town and by cottagers with less than a quarter of an acre of land.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

433

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

ROYAL OP ENGLAND.

Monthly Council, Wednesday, May 1, 1878. Present :
Colonel Kingseote, C.B., M.P., President, in the chair ;
the Earl of Feversham, Earl Cathcart, Earl Spencer,
E.G., Lord Chesham, Sir A. K. Macdouald, Bart., Mr
Aylmer, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Cantrell, Mr. 1"). R. Davies,
Mr. Dent, Mr. Druce, Mr. Prankish, Mr. Bowen Jones,
Mr. Leeds, Mr. M'lutosh, Mr. Odams, Mr. Chandos-
Pole-Gell, Mr. Randell, Mr. Ransome, Mr. Stratton, Col.
Turbervill, Mr. G. Turner, Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Wells,
Mr. Whitehead, and Professor Simonds.

The following new members were elected : —
Battams, George Bland, of Kilworthy, Tavistock.
Bayly, Robert, of Torr Grove, Plymouth.
Bickerton, John E., of Sandford Hall, West Pelton, Salop.
Booker, Josias, of Wessington Court, Ledbury.
Booth, John, of Ilasliugtou, Crewe.
Bowerman, Alfred, of Captou, Williton, Taunton.
Calmady, Vincent Y., of Tetcotl, Holsworthy, N. Devon.
Canning, Wm. Browne, of Elston Hill, Devizes.
Castle, Abercrombie, of The Oaks, Burgess Hill, Susses.
Clark, John, of Ox-close House, Shadforth, Diirkam.
Connell, Thomas, of Sunk Island, Hull.
Corner, Richard, of Torwsstou, Taunton.
Cruickshank, Edward, of Lethenty, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
Cuffe, Joseph P., of 11, Mountjoy Square, Dublin.
Davies, Mospu, of Llanfyllin, Mont.
Farrer, Oliver Cooke, of Binnegar Hall, Wareham.
Green. Daniel Abbott, of East Donyland, Colchester.
Hardwick, J. D., of Stoke St. Milborough, Ludlow.
Harrison, Jonathan, jun., of Brandesburton, Hull.
Hughes, Owen, of Bodycetyn, Ruabon.
Hett, Charles Louis, of the Androlme Foundry, Brigg.
Lewis, Jacob, of Radyr Farm, Llandaff.
Marshall, Frederick, of Broadwater, Godalming.
Micklethwait, Frederick Nathaniel, of Taverham Hall,

Norwich. '

Nettleingham, Frederick B., of 4, Marine Parade, Gravesend.
Perry, Peter James, of The Nurseries, Banbury.
Peter, John, of Kingseote, Wotton-under-Edge.
Redgate, William, of Scarthing Moor, Newark.
Richardson, John H., of King's Standing, Burton-on-Trent.
Roberts, James Herbert, of Fenn's Wood House, Whitchurch.
Sheppard, Osborne, of Rhesla, Neath.
Sheriff, Alexander Tom Arthur, of Crogen, Corwen,
Smith, E. Bremner, of Oswestry.
Southard, Arthur, of Fern Lodge, Brackuell.
Spencer, Joseph E., of Foumon, Cowbridge.
Sutton, Martin John, of Reading.
Thomas, George, of Riga, Russia.
Tinning, William, of Blue Gates, Ipswich.
Walker, of Newnham Grounds, Davcntry.
Walmesley, Vivian Oswald, of Wolverton, Pershore.
Wearmouth, Charles T., of Old Wingate, Triradon, Durham.
Williams, William, of Splott Farm, Cardiff.

FINANCES.

Mr. R.vndki.l presented the report, from which it
appeared that the secretary's receipts during the past t

month had been examined, and found correct. The
balance in the hands of the bankers on April 30th was
£3,068 12s. 8d., £3,000 remaining on deposit at interest,
This report was adopted.

BENEEAI BBISTOL.
Mr. Randell reported the recommendations of the
Committee that 12.000 stock catalogus and 0,000 imple-
ment catalogues of the Bristol meeting be printed ; that
advertisements not exceeding 50 pages in extent be ad-
mitted at the end of the stock catalogue ; and that both
the implement and stock catalogues be bound separately
in a stilt' wrapper. The usual arrangements were made
with reference to the engagement of police, and to adver-
tising the exhibition ; and an application to fix a telephone
in the show yard was acceded to. A proposition made by
Messrs. Fox, Walker, and Co., to work a steam tramway
in the space between the implement sheds and the
machinery-in-motion sheds was recommended for adop-
tion, provided that the regulations considered necessary
by the stewards for the protection of the public were
acceded to, and that the charge to the public for using the
steam car did not exceed two pence per head for each
journey. The committee had prepared a programme for
the Bristol meeting, which they recommended for adop-
tion. This report was adopted after a conversation in
reference to the absolute necessity of preventing the
danger of accidents to the public from the use of a steam
tram car in the show yard.

CHEMICAL.

Mr. Wells (chairman) reported that the Committee
had received a communication from Dr. Voelcker A-ith
reference to the Wobura experiments and the appointment
of a Superintendent of the Crawley Farm.

In consequence of the favourable opinion expressed by
Dr. Voelcker, the Comcaittee, under the power given them
by the Council in March, had decided to appoint Mr,
Maiden, jun., to be Superintendent at Crawley Fa'm. The
Woburn Sub-committee had reported that they had made
arrangements for the cropping and cultivation of certain
fields ou the Crawley farm, and that Mr. Charles Howard
and Dr. Voelcker went over the farm, with Mr. Maiden,
jun., and his father, to give the former an insight into his
future duties. Mr. Lawes having expressed a wish that
the experimental field should be inspected by the Com-
mittee before his resignation of his joiut superintendence
it was proposed that on Saturday, June 1st, a visit of
inspection be paid, in which any members of the Com-
mittee were requested to join. The Committee had re-
ceived some suggestion from their surveyor for modifying
the plans and arrangements for a new laboratory, but
before coming to any decision on the subject they recom-
mended that the secretary cammunicate the fact of the
proposed scheme to Lord Ilarewood, and offer to give any
explanation of the plans to him or his surveyor. Thi3
report was adopted.

K X

434

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

SEEDS AND PLANT-DISEASES.

Mr- Win ikiii-aii (Chairman) reported that the Com-
mittee hud carefully considered the proposal made by Mr.
Bowich at the lasl general meeting, an 1 resolved to request
Mr. Bowick to submits definite statemeut as to the manner
in which he proposes that the object he has in view should
be accomplished, so as to benefit the agricultural com-
munity at large and not individual members or traders.
A communication from the meteorological office in refer-
ence to the weekly weather reports was considered.
While recognising the great importance of these reports, the
Committee resolved to defer any recommendation with
regard to them until they had before them the results of
one year's observations. With regard to a letter from the
Secretary of State for the Home Department, asking for
information as to the effect of legislation in the matter of
the adulteration of seeds, the Committee resolved
to reply that very few cases of adulteration of seeds,
had come under the notice of the officers of the
Society since the passing of the Adulteration of Seeds
Act, until recently. Late proceedings in the police-courts
had shown that a flaw in the Act had been turned t o
account by dishonest traders ; but it was hoped that legis-
lation now in progress would give the necessary security
to the purchasers of seeds.

The Committee had received the followiug report from
the Consulting Botanist : —

" I have met with no cases of ' doctored ' seeds in the
samples submitted to me for examination by the members
of the Society. Nor has there been any ease requiring
special notice.

" Among the clovers several samples were examined in
which the geminating power was very low — in some cases
as low as 70 and ?5 per cent., but the seeds that failed
to geminate had not been tampered with, their state
being due either to bad harvesting or to their age.

"Among the samples of wheat submitted I met in one
case wilh ears infected with vibrios, and two samples in
which specimens of bunted ears occurred.

''Several samples of Italian rye-grass seed have been
examined by me that have been carelessly unclean, having
a considerable portion of weeds that could easily be
separated by any of the machines in use for cleaning
seeds.1'

This report was adopted.

SIIOWYARD CONTRACTS.

The Surveyor reported that the contractor was en-
titled to payment £1,500 on account of the works
connected with the Bristol shovvyard, which were
being satifactorily proceeded with. This report was
adopted.

JUDGES SELECTION.

Mr. II. Chandos-Pole-Gell reported the recom-
mendations of the Committee as to the nomination of
judges of Dorset and Devon long-wool sheep, and of
cheese and butter, for the Bristol meeting which had
been received from the Bristol local committee; also
their recommendations of jurors for cattle, sheep, pigs

and poultry, at the Paris exhibilon, at the request of His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, President of the
Royal British Commission. This report was adopted.
metropolitan sites.

Professor Simoxds reported that the Committee had had
an interview with Messrs. Clnttous. who are agents to
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, with reference to the
proposed acquisition of a piece of land at Brondesbury as
a site for the metropolitan exhibition next year. The site
comprises ninety -one acres, and it is bounded on the
north by the North London Railway, on the south by the
London and North Western main line, on the east by a
road now in process of construction (which will soon form
a driect line from Edgwarc Road, to Kilburn Lane, and
eventually to the Harrow Road), and on the west by a
road leading from the Harrow Koad to Kensal Green
station on the North Loudan line. To secure easy access
to the site from the Kensal Green station it will be
necessary to rent a held, Si acres in extent, in addition
to the site itself. The Salisbury Road station, on the
North Western Railway is also nearly contiguous to the site
on the opposite side. The Committee recommended that
subject to the sanction of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners,
the Secretary be empowered to enter into an agreement
(to be prepared by the Society's solicitors) with Messrs.
Cluttous for the use of the land just mentioned.

This report was adopted, after a conversation as to the
cost of the site and other additional expenses to the
Society which the metropolitan meeting will involve
being recouped by the subscriptions now heinf raised by
the Mansion House Committee-

Education. — Mr. Dent, Chairman, reported that nix
candidates had presented themselves for examination tor
the Society's senior prizes and certificates. Of these, Mr.
James Mollison, the only one who passed, is entitled to a
first-class certificate, the life membership of the hoeietv,
and the first prize of £25.

The examiner in agriculture (Mr. Charles Howard)
reported that the whole of the papers were highly credit-
able, four of them being most excellent, and reflecting
great credit upon the training of the candidates. The
viva voce examination was most satisfactory with all the
candidates. He particularly mentioned Mr, Mollison,
who, although he did not answer some of the questions in
his paper, was found upon examination to be well ac-
quainted with the subject, and had he answered all the
questions in the same style he would have commanded a
very high position. Although the Society might he con-
gratulated upon the general excellence of the candidates
of this year, it was somewhat discouraging that so many
of the young men who are being trained to agricultural
pursuits should neglect so fine an opportunity of distin-
guishing themselves by competing for the Society's prizes
and certificates. The examiners in chemistry (Professor
Liveing and Dr. Voelcker) reported that the candidates
had not done well in this examination as a whole. The
failure of the candidates, except Mollison, in general che-
mistry, was conspicuous, and they had not made up for

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

436

tlicr deficiency in this respect by much proficiency in the
more technical part of the subject. Professor Twisdeu,
the examiner in mensuration and surveying, and in me-
chanics and natural philosophy, reported that all the
candidates obtained the qualifying minimum in the former
subject, but only two in the latter. This could not be
regarded as a satisfactory result, but it was rendered
necessary by the sort of answers that were sent in. Every
question was attempted, and for the most part by all the
candidates ; but the answers were only partial, aud often
incorrect. The omissions were the most numerous in the
paper on mechanics and natural philosophy, but the failures
in it were due not to omissions but to the inaccuracy of
the answers that were sent in. However, Mr. Mollison's
answers were fairly good, aud showed a certain acquaint-
ance with the elementary parts of the subject, aud some of
Mr. Puzo's answers were accurate aud clearly expressed.
The examiner in botauy (Mr. Carruthers) reported that
the papers were not very satisfactory, the two candidates
who passed not having secured very high marks. Profes-
sor Siinouds, the examiner in anatomy, reported that not
one of the candidates had obtained anything like the num-
ber of marks constituting the pass number. This was
certainly surprising, considering that the questions were
by no means difficult ones ; and, indeed were, in his
opinion, much too simple. Professor Morris, the examiner
in Jgeology, reported that of the four candidates who
presented themselves for examination, three might be
considered to have passed satisfactorily, the answers gene-
rally indicating a fair knowledge of the subjects. With
regard to the practical knowledge of the specimens sub-
mitted to them, they were not quite so suoccssful.

The fcllowiug tabular statement gives the marks assigned
by the examiners to the work done by each candidate who
passed in the several subjects : —

Subjects.

Maximum number of
Marks.

James Mollison*

JOo

148 132
105 1 *

105 107

8 5

>>

d

>,

>,

a

~P.

ri

03

|

rj

o

n

cs

<J

H

100

100

100

60

7*

*

772

SE

7li

*

*

_

*

*

*

70

•

*

.'

*

* First class certificate, life membership, aaad first prize

* Failed. — Did not attempt.

The Committee recommended that the thanks of the
Council and the usual honorarium be forwarded to the
examiners. This report was adopted.
Selection.
Earl Cathcart (Chairman) reported the recommenda-
tion of the Selection Commutes that H.RH, the Prince

of Wales be recommended to the general mectiug, on
May 22nd, as President of the Society for the OOSU
year, and that the President (Col. Kingacote, M.F.) be
requested to communicate with li.lt. I L. in reference to
the recommendation. The resignation of Sir Richard
Musgrave from the Council aud therefore as a steward of
live stock was received aud accepted ; and Mr. White-
head was recommended as stoward of live stock in his
place. The Committee recommended that Professor G.
T. Brown aud Dr. Burdon Sanderson, 1°. U.S., be elected
honorary members of the Society, in recognition of their
eminent services to veterinary science. This report wag
adopted.

The following list of members of Council, who retire by
rotation, and the nominations which have been received by
the Secretary, in accordance with Bye-law 13, Sec. «,* w*s
laid before the Council x

Attendance, from the Rising ob the Birmingham Mhetinc
in 1876, to the Present Time.

Mon.

Coun-
cils,

Total
14.

Committees.

Names.

No. of
Meet-
ings.

At-
tend-
ances.

Amos, Charles Edwards, 5, Cedar's Road,

1

6
11

9

1
7

6

9

10

11

1

2

3

6

4

11
6
11
13
9

9

8

7

31

3
87
32

9
35

42
41
59
20

19

43
30

49
9
53
47
38

45

37
65

5

fArkwright, J.Hungerford (elected March
7th, 1877), Hampton Court, Leominster,

3

Booth, Thomas Christopher, Warlaby,

69

tBowly, Edward, JSiddington House,

13

Davies, David Reynolds, Agden Hall,

tDruce, Joseph, Eynsham, Oxford

Edmonds, William John, Southrope

House, Lechlade, Gloucestershire

Egerton, The Hon. Wilbraham, M.P.,

Rostherne Manor, Knutsford, Cheshire
fFrankish, William, Limber Magna,

2
10
28
28

tHemsley, John, Shelton. Newark,

41

Lawes, John Bennett, Rothamsted, St.

13

Leicester, Earl of, Holkham Hall, Wells,
Norfolk

Lindsay, Colonel R. Loyd, M.P.,

Masfen, R. Hanbury, Pendeford, Wolver-

12

*******

Odams, James (elected March 13th, 1878),
The Grange, Bishop Stortford, Hert-

4

tRandell, Charles, Chadbury, Evesham,

30

tRawlence, James, Bulbridge, Wilton,

Sanday, George Henry, Wensloy House,
Shuttleworth, Joseph, Hartsholmo Hall,

33
31

Stratton, Richard, Tho Duffryn, Ncw-

16

Turbervill, Lieut. - Colonel Picton,
Ewenny Abbey, Bridgend, Glamorgan-

31

W elby-Gregory, Sir William Earle,
Bart., M.P., Newton House, Folking-

21

fWhitehead, Charles, Banning House,

42

Wise, George (elected March 13th, 1878),

* {a) A list of the Members of the Council who retire by
rotation, but arc desirous of re-election, showing the number
of attendances at Council and Committee Meetings of each
Of such Members, during tho past two years, shall bo pro-

KK2

436

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Candidates proposed for the Council :

James Howard, proposed by Earl Cathcart, seconded by Mr.
G. Turner.

The Lord Moreton, proposed by Colonel Kingscote, seconded
by Mr. W. Wells.
" Mr. W. Sheraton, proposed by the Earl of Powis, seconded
by Sir Watkin W. Wynn.

The Earl of Ellesmere, proposed by Colonel Kingscote,
seconded by Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell.

On the motion of Mr. Dent, seconded by Mr. Bowly, it
was decided to hold the country meeting for the year 1878 in
the county of Middlesex. It was also resolved that the
country meeting for the year 1880 should be held in the
dsstrict comprising the counties of Northumberland, Durham,
Cumberland, and Westmoreland.

A letter was read from the secretary of the Tunbridge
Wells farmers' Club, inviting the Society to hold a show in
that neighbourhood at an early date, and the secretary was
instructed to reply that the district including Tunbridge
Wells would come in rotation in the year 1882.

A letter from the secretary of the Upton-on Severn
Farmer's Club, with reference to the agricultural education
of children in rural districts was referred to the Education
Committee.

The Report of the Council to the general meeting to be
held on the 22nd inst., was prepared.

The Council then adjourned to Thursday, June Gth, at 12
o'clock.

A Y RS HI R E .
ANNUAL SHOW AT AYR.

This important exhibition of farm 9tock, &c, wa9
recently held, and it has been altogether a most
successful meeting, It was anticipated with a
lively feeling of interest as the first great show of the
season.

The show on Wednesday was one of the most inter-
esting that we have seen in any part of the country.

The judges of Ayrshire stock began their arduous
work at nine o'clock with the Derby class. They had to
select thirty-five prize animals out of a show of eighty,
and as the cattle were more equal in merit than in former
years the work required time. None of the class
equalled the leading animals in 1S76 and 1877, but the
selected lot as a whole was probably superior to the prize-
winners at any former Derby. The first-prizes were
taken by farmers who have dairies of moderate extent —
the Duke of Buccleuch being only sixth on the list,
notwithstanding the extensive purchases of his skilful
overseer. Nobody grudges, however, the numerous
prizes which are taken by the noble Duke, as he is a

pared at the April Council, and published immediately in at
least two agricultural papers. Any two Governors or
Members may nominate in writing to the Secretary before
the first day of May followihg a Member or Members of the
Society desirous of being nominated for election on the
Council ; these nominations, with tlie names of the proposer
and secondor, shall also be added to the previously published
list, and the entire list shall be published in the same agri
cultural papers immediately after tho May Council, and be
also printed for the use of Members at the General meeting
in May. Bye-law 13, See. a).
t These gentlemen haye attended Spegial Councils (total 1).

most liberal patron of successful breeders. The first
prize for the cow in milk was carried off by the Duke
with the Derby winner of last year, after a close competi-
tion with a veteran Ayrshire exhibitor, Mr. Wilson, Carn-
gillan, The cows in calf were a choice class. The first
cow was the winner of the Derby in 187G, and she is
perhaps as fiue an Ayrshire cow as ever has appeared at a
show. Some onlookers thought she was iu rather high
condition. The second, also a superb cow, was second in
last year's Derby. The two were bred respectively by
Mr. Brown, Cartleburn, Kilwinning, and Mr. Andersen,
Barneil, Kirkmichael, and are now both in the famous
Drumlanrig dairy. Class after class was scanned with
care in the judges' riug, and amongst much that was
noteworthy many spectators will recall to memory the lot
of five in the fourteenth ckss which carried the sweep-
stakes to Drumlanrig. The show of bulls was the best
we have had in Ayr. The first three aged bulls were
exceptionally fine, and the show of two year olds was
extensive and exceedingly good. The young cattle in all
the classes give promise of excellence at future shows.

The Clydesdale horses are next in importance and
general interest to the Ayrshire stock, aud they were
wonderfully well represented. A few choice brood mares
were shown, and there was a grand class of three-year-old
fillies. The two-year-old fillies were also very superior.
It is said that Mr. Picken paid £300 for the winning
three-year-old, and we dare say large sums would be re-
quired to induce the owners of some of the two-year-olds
to part with them.

The show of fat cattle is never extensive at Ayr, but
some remarkable animals were brought forward yesterday.
The three-year-olds exhibited by Lord Galloway were
objects of great interest, and Mr. Bryce Wright 9howed
what may be done with an Ayrshire cow. People were
disinclined to believe that she was a pure bred Ayrshire,
but we understand that the fact is unquestionable. She
has been 9hown formerly as an Ayrshire dairy cow.
Certainly the finish approached perfection. The yearling
cross-bred cattle belonging to Messrs. Bone, Challoch
Park, are likewise worthy of special notice. Skilful men
are really doing wonders in the way of bringing fat stock
to early maturity. The prize hoggs gave good evidence
of this fact. Better cross-bred hoggs than Mr.
M'llwraith's are rarely seen, and other pens belonging to
Mr. Bryce Wright and Mr. Cross of Knockdon reached
the highest order of merit.

The blackfaced sheep made a fine show, as they have
leng done in Ayr, though they were not specially good
this year. After long waiting there is an improvement
in Cheviots, but the show is indebted to the Southern
counties for the best specimens. In the Leicesters, how-
ever, the credit of Ayrshire is stoutly upheld by Mr.
Wallace, Auchenbrain, Mauchline, who carried all before
him iu those classes.

The pigs were fewer in uumber than we like to see at
a large show in this great dairy county, but they were
of the right sort. The old coarse breeds have disappeared

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

437

from the show-ground, and are yearly becoming fewer
in number throughout Ayrshire. Farmers know that
the fine breeds economise food, and leave a profit upon
their management.

JUDGES.— Ayrshire Dairy Stock : Section I.— A. Allan,
Carbarns, Wishaw ; Hugh Kirkwood, Glasgow ; John Maikle,
Seafield, Bathgate. Dairy Stock : Section II.— J. Fleming,
Strathaven ; W. Fleming, Dumbarton ; Jas. Hamilton,
Carnwarth. Horses (Mares and Fillies) : J. Young,
Paisley; T. Kerr, Sanquhar; D. M'Gibbon, Campbeltown;
A. Pollock, Renfrewshire ; 0. Brown, New Galloway ; J.
Park, Glenshinnock ; A. D. Tait, Kilmarnock; W. Baird,
Ayr ; Col. Hay Boyd, Symington ; W. Stewart, Ayr ; G.
Stoddart, Netherton. Blackfaced and Cheviot SiiEEr :
J. Watson, Kilmarnock; J. Greenshields, Lesmahagow ; J.
Craig, Strathaven. Shorthorn Cattle, Leicester and
Crossbred Sheep, Fat Stock, and Pigs : A. Smith,
Gilford; J. Lees, Haddington ; Deans, Dalkeith.

AYRSHIRE CATTLE.

The Derby of April, 1878.— First piize,£21, A. Steel, Burn-
head, Darvel: second, £1S, R. Caldwell, Knockshoggle, Stair.

Aged cow, in milk, and aged cow in calf on day of exhibition.
—First prize, £14, and the Highland Society's Silver Medal>
Duke ofBuccleuch; second, £10, H. Wilson, Carngillan,
Tarbolton.

The following premiums were for those in calf: — First
prize. £7, Duke ofBuccleuch ; second, £4, Duke ofBuccleuch

Three-year-old cow in milk, and three-year-old cow in calf
on day of exhibition. — First prize, £6, A. Steel, Burnbead
Darvel; second, £-4, R. Caldwell, Knockshoggle.

In-calf. — First prize, £3, Duke of Buccleuch ; second, £2,
Mrs. Douglas, Kilmalcolm.

Lot of three cows from one dairy, three-year-old and up-
wards, the property of and bred by the exhibitor, in calf or
iu milk on day of exhibition. — First prize, £15, J. Howie,
Galston ; second, £5, J. Ritchie, Coylton.

Pair of aged cows in milk, being the bona fide property of
the exhibitor. — First prize, £5, J. Howie ; second, £2, H.
Wilson, Carngillan.

Pair of three-year-old cows, in calf or in milk on day of
exhibition, being the bonA fide property of the exhibitor. —
First prize, £5, D. Hunter, Guiltreehill ; second, £2, Win.
Brown, Cartleburn.

Aged bull, above two and not exceeding eight years. — First
prize, £6, and the Highland Society's Medium Silver Medal,
D. Keir, Bucklyvie, Stirling ; second, £3, D. C. Willison,
Sanquhar.

Two-year-old bull. — First prize, £9, W. Hunter, Craighead,
Abington ; second, £6, P. Coul, Wattieston.

Bull stirk. — First prize, £8, W. Boyd, Bougaug ; second,
£6, D. Parker, Broomlands.

Pair of two-year-old qaeys, neither in calf nor in milk.—
First prize, £8, Duke of Buccleuch ; second, £5, A. Allan,
Munnoch.

Single two-year-old quey, neither in calf nor in milk.— ■
First prize, £3, Duke of Buccleuch ; second, £2, R. Meikle,
Clockston.

Pair of quey atirks. — hirst prize, £3, J. Murray, Carston ;
second, £2, J. M'Cartney, Wrighthill.

Single quey stirk. — First prize, £3, J, Allan, Westmains ;
second, £2, J, Murray.

TARISH SWEErSTAKE COMPETITION.

Five cows, Ayrshire breed, any age. — First prize, the whole
of the stakes, Duke of Buccleuch ; second, Silver Medal, J.
Howie.

SHORTHORN BREED.

Bull under iivc-years-old. — First prize, £3, 11. F. P. Camp-
bell, Craigie ; second, £1, T. F. Kennedy, Dunure.

FAT STOCK.

Three-year-old ox or heifer, pure or cross. — First prize, £5,
Earl of Galloway; second, £3, J. Cunningham, Trees.

Two-year-old ox or heifer, pure or cross. — First prize, £5
Earl of Galloway ; second, £3, R. Jack, Hoodston.

Fat cow of any age of the Ayrshire breed. — First prize,
£4, B. Wright, Dowhill ; second, £2, J. Boyd, Girvan.

Two-year- old ox or heifer of the Ayrshire breed. — First
prize, £4, R. Cadzow, Lanark ; second, £2, W. Kay, Moss-
end.

Pair of one-year-old bullocks or heifers, pure or cross, in-
tended for feeding purposes, and bred by the exhibitor. — First
prize, £2, M. and J. Bone, Girvan ; second, £1, R. F. F.
Campbell.

HORSES.

Brood mare for agricultural purposes, in foal, or having
had a foal in the season of 1S78.— First prize, £10 and silver
medal, J. Cunningham, Tarbreoch ; second, £7, L. Drew,
Merrytown.

Yeld mare for agricultural purposes, four years old and up-
wards.—First prize, £4, H. Crawford, Kilbarclian ; second,
£2, D. Cross, Knockdon.

Three-year-old mare for agricultural purposes. — First prize,
£5, J. Picken, Craigie ; second, £3, J. Howie, Langtowu.

Two-yeai-old lllly bred by and the bona jbh property of the
exhibitor on the day of exhibition.— Prize, £10, D. M'Kiunon,
Poteath.

Two-year-old filly for agricultural purposes. — First prize,
£7, D. M'Kinnon, Toteath ; second, £5, S. Hunter, Whiteleys.

One-year-old filly. — First prize, M, A. Montgomerie, Bor-
land; second, £2, A. Montgomerie.

Sweepstake competition, open to members wherever resi-
dent. Pair of agricultural mares or geldings for agricultural
purposes. (Stake, 10s. for each entry). First prize, two-
thirds of the stakes, and £1 10s., L.Drew, Merryton; second,
one-third of the stakes and £1, D. Cross, Knockdon.

Gelding for agricultural purposes, four years old and up-
wards.— First prize, £3, C. Campbell, Glasgow ; second, £2,
D . Robertson, Paisley.

Ihree-year-old gelding for agricultural purposes.— First
prize, £3, M. Heuderson, Ardrossan ; second, £2, J. Wyllie,
Gallowberry.

Two-year-old gelding for agricultural purposes. — First
prize, £2, R. F. F. Campbell, Craigie ; second, £1, J.
Templeton, Carnochan.

Two-year-old entire colt bred by and lonajlde property of
exhibitor on the day of exhibition.— Prize, £15, A. Archibald7
Cleaves.

Two-year-old entire colt. — First prize, £10, aud silver
medal, J. Johnstone, Lochbirnie; second, £5, A, Archibald,
Cleaves.

One-year-old entire colt. — First prize, £5, J. Greig, West
Kilbride ; second, £3, T. Lindsay, Craigie.

Sweepstake Competition. Pony, exceeding twelve and
a-half, and not exceeding fourteen and a-half hands. (Stake
10s).— First prize, two thirds of the stake, J. Clelland,

43S

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Kuockiulaw, Kilmarnock ; second one-third of the stake, W.,
Kay, Mossend.

Sweepstake competion, not limited to members, l'ony, not
exceeding twelve and a-half hands. (Stake, 10s.) First prize,
two-thirds of the stakes, J. Dunlop, Bringan ; second, one-
third of the stakes, C. Hendrie, Ayr.

Sweepstake competition, open to members wherever resident.
Saddle horse (mare or gelding). (Stake 10s.) First prize, two-
thirds of the stakes— A. Gemmell, Ayr ; second, one-third
of the stakes, W. C. Graham, Broom.

Yearling colt or filly, likely to make a good hunter (and
got by a thoroughbred horse), having been the property of the
exhibitor from the 1st of January, 1878, to the date of com-
petition. First prize. £5, J. Williams, Wishaw ; second, £$,
T. Andrew, Monktou.

Two-year-old colt or filly, likely to make a good hunter (and
got by thoroughbred horse), having been the property of the
exhibitor from the 1st of January, 1878, to the date of com-
petition. First prize, £5, J. Williams, Wishaw; second, £2,
J. Hutchison, Ayr.

Three-year-old colt or filly, likely to make a good hunter
(and got by a thoroughbred horse), having been the property
of the exhibitor from the 1st of January, 1878, to the date of
competition.— First prize, £5, R. Dykes ; second, £2, W.
Wilson, Sanquhar.

Three-year-old colt or filly, got by a thoroughbred horse,
and bred by a farmer.— First prize, £10, R. Houston, Lugton-
ridge ; second, £1, B. Dykes, Hillhouse.

Colt or filly having the qualities of a good hunter, four,-
years-old and upwards (and got by a thoroughbred horse)f
having been the property of the exhibitor from the 1st o,
January, 1878, to the date of competition.— First prize, £8
lion. G. B. Vernon, Auchans ; second, £4, A. Gemmell, Ayr.
Mares capable of producing first-class hunters or saddle
horses, having been the property of the exhibitor from the 1st
of January, 1878, to the day of competition. Must be in foal,
or have had a foal in 1878, or be, or have been, intended for
breeding from in 1878.— First prize, £10, S. Beattie, Annan ;
second, £5, J. Williams, Wishaw.

Weight-carrying hunter, suited to carry about 14 or 15
stones. Competition open to a'l comers. — First prize, £10,
W. Baird, Ayr ; second, £5, D. Biddell, Paisley.

Light-weight hunter, suited toj carry about 11| stones.
Competition open to all comers. — First prize, £10, Lord
Oranmore and Browne, Kilmarnock; second, £5, F. E
Villiers, Closeburn.

Weight-carrying or light-weight hunter. — First prize, £10,
W. Baird, Cambusdoon ; second, £5, Lord Oranmore and)
Browne.

SHEEP.

J3LA.CKFACED.

Aged tup.— First prize, £5, F.Thomson, Muirkirk ; second
£2, J. London; Overmore.

Two-year-old tup.— First prize, £3, D. Craig, Barr;
second, £2, T. M'Min, Wellwood.

Tup hogg.— First prixe, £3, J. Craig, New Cumnock;
second, £2, D. Craig, Muirkirk.

Five ewe hoggs. — First prize, £3, 3. M'Kersie, East
Glenbuck ; second, £1, J. Loudon, Overmoor.

CHEVIOTS.

Aged tup.— First prize, £2, D. C. WillisOn, Dalpeddafj
Sanquhar ; second, M. S. M'Kerrow, Dumfries.
Two-year-old tup.— Prize, £2, M. S. M'Kerrow.

Tup hogg. — First and second prize, £2, D. C. Willison
Dalpeddar.

Ewe hoggs. — First prize, £2, B. M'Gregor, Bellridding
second, M. S. M'Kerrow, Dumfries.

LIECESTERS.

Tup, two-year-old and upwards. — First prize, £3, R. Wal-
lace, Auchenbrain ; second, £2, \V. Todd, Auchness.

Tup, one-year-old. — First and second prize, £3, B. Wallace,
Auchenbrain.

Two ewes, not exceeding five years old, with their lambs.—
First and second prize, £2, B. Wallace, Auchenbrain.

CROSSES.

Five wedder or ewe hoggs, a cross betwixt the Cheviot and
Liecester. First prize, £4, D. Cross, of Knockdon; second,
£2, B.Wright .Girvan.

Five wedder or ewe hoggs, a cross betwixt t he Blackfaced
and Leicester. — First and second prize, £4, J. M'llwraith,
Ayr.

Five wedder or ewe hoggs, of any cross. — First prize, £2,
B. Wright, Dowhill ; second, D. Cross, Knockdon.

FIGS.

Boar of any breed. — First prize, £4, J. Duncan, Benmore'
Kilmun ; second, £2, Capt. Hamilton, Bozelle, Ayr.

Breeding sow of any large breed, in pig, or not in pig.
— First prize, £4, R. Wallace, Auchenbrain ; second, £2. B.
Wallace.

Breeding sow of any large breed, with her pigs receiving her
milk at the time of competition. — First prize, £4, B. Wallace;
second, £2, B. Lees, Carngillan Tarbolton.

Breeding sow of any small breed, in pig, or with her pigs
receiving her milk at the time of competition. — First prize, £5,
R.. Wallace ; second, £3, J. Duncan, Benmore. — Ayr
Advertiser.

ROYAL DUBLIN.

SPRING SHOW.
It is not to be denied that the exhibition of young bulls
under the wing of this pre-eminently useful institution is
more numerous than it has ever been before, is capital
throughout, but deficient of any one startling constellation
The way to decide it is this : There was no one animal of
the male sex shown in which you could fail to observe at
least a fault or two. Well, if there be animals in which you
can find no fault at all, formiug instinctively your judg-
ment as you unconsciously do on fixed principles, why ,
then it follows that the stock exhibited must in the one
case be superior to that in the other. Bulls we have
seen in which you could spot scarcely auything, if indeed
anything at all wrong, but this was not the case here to"
day. A yearling heifer there was of Mrs. Pery's, who
is going into Shorthorn breeding with a woman's pluck
which could fairly challenge censure, aud come out of the
fire scatheleess. She is calculated to run Mr. Kennard's
fatuous team hard, and we hope to see her in
the arena at Bristol. She may certainly in the
interval be sold, for there were sundry shrewd ones with
an eye to business after her, and we heard of two hundred
guineas being offered for her to no avail within a few
moments of her being pronounced the best in a good class,
although she was many months younger tha,n her compete

THE FARMER'S MAUAZlNU

439

tors. Her frame was deep and full, and evenly round as
a garden-roller. Her head and eye were pleasant and
intelligent; her front wide ; her carriage graceful. One
hopes that her owner may decide to keep her and manage
to win many prizes with her yet. It will he shortly
known. The cows and heifers throughout were greatly
superior to the bulls, of whom the aged class was out and
out the best. Staudiug at case in a row they did not at
first so much impress you, but wheu they came to pace
grandly round the ring you saw at once their merit and
stature. The champion bull here is Anchor, a mellow-
yillow roau, bred by Mr. Chalouer, got by King James,
dun, Alma the Second, and the third bull
is Royal Arthur, also bred by Mr. Chaloner, also got by
King James, grand dam Alma the Second. This bull
won the Challenge cup last year, and the year before,
Anchor having won it the year before that and this year,
so that it is a case of honours divided, Mr. Chalouer fail-
ing to recover his cup, which as the breeder of both he
still more than deserves. The rough starvelings you see
in your railway passage across Anglesea exhibit thoroughly
the waut which this exhibition of noble improved .bulls
has supplied and continues to supply throughout the
length and breadth of Ireland. The Ilcrefords were few
in number, the old bull especially good, got by the livc-
huudred-guiuea Horace, so celebrated in his native district.
The Kerries were dear little lawn pets, superior iu every
way to goats. It is a race yet capable of personal im-
provement, although a cow or two and the prize bull were
quite models of a miniature race. Tin judges took every
possible pains, and their decisions were generally acquiesced
in, although stock looks very different in the stalls and on
parade. The aged Shorthorn cows were a lot of hand-
some relics, and must have been excellent iu their best
day. The pigs were mainly white Yorkshire, what we
call middle breed, and Berkshires ; not a single aboriginal
" jintieman who pays the rent '' to be seen. The poultry
pens are empty, and a glass, porcelain, tweed, &c, busi-
ness fills the galleries beside them.

PRIZE LIST.
JUDGES.— Shorthorns : II. W. Beauford, Sudborough
House, Thrapston ; L. C. Crisp, Hawkhill, Alnwick; J.
W. Cruickshank, Sittyou. Hereeords and Mixed
Breeds: G. Bedford, Pembridge, Herefordshire; J. F.
Bomford, Garadice, Kilcock ; J. Keating, Moyualty.
Kerries and Dexters : B. Ilayden, Grenagh, Fossa ;
L. Christy, Carrigans, Limerick ; G. Hewson, Eauismore,
Listowel. Fat Cattle : II. Shepard, Oatlands, Wicklow ;
J. Simson, Cloona Castle, Ballinrobe; A. Darker, Burn
Hill, Clonsilla. Pigs : A. Warburton, Kill, Straffin ; A-
Darker, Clonsilla ; J. Bruce, Charleville. Tweeds : G.
Sykes, Dame street ; S. M'Comas, Lower Sackviile-street.

CATTLE.
The Chaloner Plate, value £155.— T. K. M'Clintock, Bun-
bury, Lisnavagh, Tallow, county Carlow ; Shorthorn roan
bull (Anchor.)

Challenge Cup, value 10 guineas, for the best Hereford
bull over two years and under six years of age — Captain Kear-
ney, Milltown, Clonmellon ; Hereford bull (Truro) ; also
winner of the Society's £3U prize,

Best of all the fat oxen, £5. — Marquis of lleadfort, The
Lodge, Virginia ; fat bullock.

Best of all the prize fat cows, £5— Lieutenant-Colonel J. S.
Tighe, Rosatina, Ashford, couuty Wicklow ; Shorthorn cow.

Best of all the prize fat heifers, £5 — \V. P. Rauclilf, Heud-
lestown, Kelts, county Meath ; Hereford.

BREEDING CATTLE.

Shorthorn bull, calved in 1877- — First prize, R. J. M.
Gumbletou, Glauatore, Waterford (Lord Beaconafield); secoud
F. W. Low, Kilshauc, Tipperary (Sunrise).

Shorthorn bull calved in 1876. — First prize, E, Chaloner,
Moyualty (Whiteboy) ; secoud, B. J. Greene, Lecarrow,
Roscommon (Prince Rupert) ; third, A. S. Montgomery,
Kilmer, Meath (Rascal).

Shorthorn bull, calved in or prior to 1873. — First prize, T.
K. M'C. Bunbury, Tullow (Anchor) ; second, EarlFitzwilliam,
Coollattin, Shillelagh (King Lud).

Shorthorn heifer, calved in 1877. — First prize, R. J. M.
Gumbletou, Glanatore, Waterford (EmmaOpoponax) ; second,
D. Gibson, Roscrea (Dewdrop the Third).

Shorthorn heifer, calved in 1876. — First prize, Mrs. P.
S. Pery, Foxford, Mayo (Lady Violet) j second, H. Smith,
Mountmellick (Queen of Castleback).

Shorthorn cow, of any age, either iu calf or having had a
living calf within twelve months preceding the date of the
show. — First prize, B. llannan, Riverstown, Killucan (Jenny
Lind the Eighth) ; second, A. Bole, Tashinny (Ruby the
Second).

Hereford bull, calved in 1S/7.— First prize, G. N. Purdou,
Lisnabin, Killucan.

Hereford bull, cdved in 1876.— -Prize, G. A. Stephens
Greenwood, St. Dolough's (Royal Duke).

Hereford bull, calved in or before 1875.— Prize, Captain
Kearney, Clonmellon (Truro).

Hereford heifer, calved in 1877.— Prize, G. A. Stephens,
Greenwood, St. Dolough's (Pet).

Hereford heifer or cow, either iu calf, or having had a living
calf within twelve months before the date of the show. — Prizes
Captain Kearney, Clonmellon (Cherry Blossom).

Polled Angus bull, calved in or before 1875- — Prize, J. A.
Farrell, Moyualty.

Polled Angus heifer or cow, any age, either in calf, or
having had a living calf within twelve months preceding the
date of the show.— Prize, W. Owen, Blessington, Wicklow
(Black Bess).

Ayrshire heifer or cow, of any age, in calf, or having had a
living calf within twelve months before the date of the show.
—Prize, J. D. Paul, Ellenfleld, Dublin.

Kerry bull, any age. — First prize, J. Robertson, Malahide
(Busaco) ; second, same (Dardanelles).

Kerry heifer, calved in 1S77- — Prize, Earl Clonmel,
Bishopscourt.

Kerry heifer, calved in 1875, giving milk or in calf.— Prize,
J. Robertson, Malahide (Rosebud).

Kerry cowr, either in calf, or having had a living calf within
twelve months before the date of the show. — First prize, Earl
Clonmel ; second, same (Mistletoe).

Dexter heifer, calved in 1875, giving milk, or in calf. —
Prize, llev. F. C. Hayes, Rahcny, Dublin (Xelly).

Dexter cow, either in calf or having had a living cal^
within twelve months before the date of the show. — First
prize, Earl Clonmel, Stralfau; second, W, 0, Henry, Sandy*
mount, Dublin (Gyp).

440

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

West Island heifer or cow, of any age, either in calf or
having had a calf living within twelve months before the date
of the show.— Prize, W. P. ftadcliffe, Ilindlestown, Meath.

Alderney (or other Channel Island) bull, of any age.— Trize,
C. W. Wise, Cahir, Tipperary (Emperor).

Alderney (or other Channel Island) heifer, giving milk or
in calf.— Prize, G. A. Stephens, Greenwood, St. Dolough's
(Daisy).

Alderney (or other Channel Island) cow, of any age, either
in calf or having had a living calf within twelve months before
the date of the show.— Prize, G. A. Stephens (Lady Alice).

FAT CATTLE.

Shorthorn ox, calved in 1S76. — Prize, Major H. L-
Barton, Straffan Station, Kildare.

Shorthorn ox, calved in 1875.— Prize, H. P. Truell,
Clonmannon, Ashford.

Shorthorn ox, calved before 1875. — Prize, Sir C. H'
Coote, fiart., Mountrath.

Shorthorned cow, of any age. — Frist prize, Lieut.- Col
J. S. Tighe, Ashford, Wicklow (llosanna) ; second, Earl
Caledon (Vesta).

Shorthorn heifer, not exceeding four years old. — First
prize, Earl Caledon (Verboua) ; second, Marquis of Drogheda.
Monasterevan (White Rose).

Hereford cow, of any age. — First prize, R. W. Reynell,
Killynon, Killucau (Cherry) ; second prize, 11. W. Reynell
(Ashtou Maid).

Hereford heifer, not exceeding four years old. — First prize,
W. P. Radcliff, Kells, county Meath.

Devon cow, of any age. — First prize.G. A. Rotheram, Kil-
bride, Meath, Devon.

Kerry cow, of any age, — First, Earl Clonmel, Straffan ;
^econd prize, N. Hone, St. Dolough's.

Kerry heifer, not exceeding four years old. — First prize,
Earl Clonmel.

Ox, of any other pure or cross breed (not included in the
foregoing sections), calved prior to 1876.— First prize, Marquis
of Headfort, Virginia ; second prize, F. O'Reilly, Kells.

Heifer of any other pure or cross bred (not included in the
foregoing sections), calved prior to 1876. — First prize, G. .N
Purdon, Killucan.

Pair of fat oxen, of any breed that have been fairly and bona
fide worked as plough bullocks up to May, 1877. — First prize,
H. B. Truell, Clonmannon; second prize, Lieut.-Col. J. S.
Tighe, Rosanna, Wicklow.

BREEDING PIGS.

N.B. — The ages of pigs are to be computed up to date of
the show. Coloured breeds.

Boar, six months, and not exceeding 1:2 months old.— First
prize, Lord Clermont, Newry ; second, J. Molloy, Dublin.

Boar, exceeding 12 months and not exceeding 2i months
old. — Prize, H. Waterhouse, Claremont.

Breeding sow in pig, or having had a flitter within six
months. — First prize, J. Molloy, Dublin; second, Earl of
Erne, Newtownbutler.

Litter of not less than six pigs, not exceeding five months,
accompanied by sow. — First prize, Captain Thompson, Holly-
woodrath, Dublin ; second, H. Waterhouse, Killiney.

WHITE BREEDS.

Boar G months, and not exceeding 12 months old. — First
prize, J. L. Naper, Loughcrew, Oldcastle ; second, Earl of
Clonnell, Bishopscourt, Straffan.

Boar exceeding twelve, and not execediug twenty-four months
old. — First prize, J. L. Naper, Loughcrew, Oldcastle ; second,
T. W. Webber, Huntingdon, Portarlington.

Boar exceeding twenty-four, and not exceeding thirty-six
months old. — Prize, Earl of Clonmel.

Breeding sow in pig, or having had a litter within six
months. — JFirst prize, J. Molloy, Dublin ; second, Earl of
Wicklow, Arklow, Whklow.

Three breeding pigs, of the same litter, under ten months
old. — First prize, J. Peake, Monaghan ; second, Earl of
Clonmel.

Litter of not less than six pigs, not exceeding five months
old, accompauied by the sow. — First prize, Earl of Wicklow,
Arklow, Wicklow ; second, J. L. Naper, Loughcrew, Old-
castle.

COUNTY OP CORK.

The spring show of this Society was held on Friday,
Feb. 12. The entries consisted af 30 Shorthorn bulls
and 12 stallions. From the little interest which this show
appears to excite we fear it is going down. Some of the
entries were not brought forward, in particular some bulls
from Ashfield. The judges were : Mr. Fox, Cumberland ;
Mr. Allen. Unicarville ; and Mr. Luke Clements, Carrigan,
Croom. Mr. Power's York took first prize in the class
of thoroughbred stallions ; Mr. Irvine was the winner in
the Clydesdale class ; and Mr. Heffernau in the class of
cart stallions of any other breed than Clydesdales. The
following are the names in the bull sections : —

Yearling bulls. — First prize, Francis W. Lowe, Kilshane
Tipperary (Wideawake 2nd) ; second, R. J. M. Gumbleton
Curriglass, Co. Cork (Lord Beiconsfield).

Two-year-old bulls. — First prize, Fitzwilliam Welsh, The
Chalet, Nenagh (The Major) ; second, William Hutchinson
Massy, Mount Massy, Macroom (Red Wood).

Aged bulls. — Prize, Marmaduke Coghill Cramer, Rathmore'
Kinsale, Co. Cork (King Alfonso). — Irish Farmers' Gazette.

RIPLEY.

The eighth annual exhibition of horses, cattle, poultry, &c,
under the auspices of the above Society, was held on the
Easter Fair Day (Wednesday) at Ripley. The existence of
the show is due to an effort made by some gentlemen living
in the neighbourhood who viewed with regret the decline of
the Easter Fair, and amongst the numerous expedients sug-
gested to revive it they adopted the plan of forming an agri-
cultural society, and offering prizes to exhibitors as an induce-
ment to them to send their horses and cattle to the fair. The
effort has been so far so successful that the annual meeting
seems to be fairly re-established, whilst the Association has
the satisfaction of seeing its exertions meet with a greater
degree of success as years go on. The show this year ex-
ceeded by far its predecessors in the number and quality of the
exhibits. The horses were confined chiefly to those of the
agricultural class, and although the numbers were not large,
there were some animals of fine appearance and substance on
view in the Market-place. In the landlords' class for cattle
there were some excellent specimens of Shorthorn bulls and
cows. In other departments were to be seen sheep of superior
quality and numerous pigs.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

441

PRIZE LIST.
CATTLE.
Landlord;.' Class. — Best bull, any age. — l'rizc, C. Cham-
berlain.

Best milking cow. — Prize, C. Chamberlain.
In-calf cow. — Prize, C. Brewer.
Best heifer. — Prize, C. Chamberlain.

Pair of stirks. — Prize, C. Brewer.

Yearling calves. — Prize, C. Brewer.

Tenant's Class. — Best bull over two years. — First prize, A.
Taylor ; second, T. Evans.

Bull under two years. — First prize, A. Taylor ; second, P.
Clarke.

Milking cow.— First prize, A. Taylor ; second. Geo.
Evans.

Iu-calfcow. — Kirst and second prizes, A. Taylor. Highly
commended : Mr. Atkinson and J. Briddon.

Heiler. — First prize, A. Taylor; second, J. Briddon.
Highly commended : Atkinson and T. Evans.

Stirk. — First prize, W. Taylor ; second, A. Taylor. Highly
commended: N. Bennett (2), Mr. Atkiusou, J. Briddon, T.
Evans, W. Bostock, and G. Evans.

Yearling calves. — Prize, A. Taylor.

Cow calf. — Prize, W. Smedley.

Bull calf.— Prize, W. J. Caudwell.
SHEEP.

Ram. — First prize, H. Ilepworth ; second, Mr. Atkiuson .

Ewe and lambs. — First prize, II. Hepworth; second, J.
Briddon.

Hog. — First and second prizes, J. Webster.
PIGS.

Boar. — First and second prizes, W. J. Caudwell.
• Sow and pigs. — First prize, J. Briddon; second, W. J.
Caudwell.

In-pig gilt. — First prize, W. Fletcher ; second, M. Chal-
linor.

HOUSES.

Landlords' Class. — Pair of agricultural horses. — Prize, C.
Chamberlain.

Nag-horse. — Prize, C. Chamberlain.

Tenants' Class : Pair of agricultural horses. — First prize,
W. C. Haslam ; second, J. Briddon.

Nag-horse. — First prize, T. Webster; second, James
Flanders.

Pony, 13| hands and under. First prize, H. Webster ;
second, A. House.

Brood cart mare. — First prize, W. Ford, Denby ; second, J .
Rooth.

Tradesmen's horse. — First prize, J. Outrain ; second, M,
Challinor.

Any class entire horse.— Prize, J. H. Kyte.

Entire roadster. — Prize, J. Nix.

—Derby Reporter.

SHORTHORN.
A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's rooms, 12, Hanover-square, W. Present :
Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell, in the chair, Colonel Kings-
cote, C.B., M.P., Mr. B. St. John Ackers, Mr. Hugh
Aylmer, Mr. Edward Bowly, Mr. J. W. Cruickshank,
Mr. D. Mcintosh, Rev. T. Stainforth, and Mr. G. Mur-
ton Tracy.

The following new members were elected :

Briggs, David Grant, Kelstern Grange, Louth.
Harker, Robert, Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland.
Harvey, Frederick, Churcham House, Gloucester.
Robinson, J. Salkeld, Mount Falinge, Rochdale.
Stopford Sackville, Mrs., Drayton House, Thrapstouc.
Scott, Sir William, Bart., Ancrum, Jedburgh, N.B.
Wheeler, A. C, Upton Hill, Gloucester.
Williamson, Colonel D. R., Lawera House, Crieff, N.B.

Editing Committee.— .Mr. II. Ciiandos-Pole-Gell
reported that the Committee had had before them the
pedigrees of several animals sent for insertion in volume
24 of the Herd Book, and had directed the Secretary to
send suitable supplies.

This report was adopted.

General Purposes Committee. — Mr. D. McIntosii
reported that the accounts for the months of March and
April had been examined by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and
Co., and the Committee, were found to be correct; that
the Secretary's petty cash account hai been examined
and passed, and showed an expenditure of £16 12s. Sd.
during the past two mouths, that the receipts for the
same period had been £186 l*Js. 6d. ; the balance of the
Society's current account at the banker's being £592 12s.
Id., and £700 on deposit ; and that the Committee re-
commended that cheques be drawn for various accounts
amounting to £275 las.

That the Committee suggested that at the Council
meeting in June, the list of retiring members of the Coun-
cil and a list of a like number of life members of the
Society proposed by the Council to fill the vacancies,
should be settled ; and a copy sent to each member of the
Society, as provided in article 22 of the Articles of Asso-
ciation.

This report was adopted.

A letter of thanks from Lord Polworth, on his election
as a Member of the Council was read.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday,
June 4th, at 3.30 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM SEWAGE FARM.— In accordance with
the decision of the Birmingham Sewage Board, a set of
Messrs. Howard's steam-ploughing tackle has been purchased
for use on the Sewage Farm, with a view not only to deeper
and more efficient cultivation, but to the saving of some
hundreds a year in manual labour. A deputation, consisting
of the engineer, farm manager, and a member of the Council
visited a few days ago Messrs. Howard's works and steam-
cultivated farms at Bedford, and also went to see a set of their
tackle at work in the fens, under conditions similar to those
existing on the Sewage Farm. The tackle purchased is on
the well-known roundabout system, and combines a specially-
constructed plough, cultivator, harrow, and roller, as well as
Messrs. Howard's new patent self-moving anchors, which
work automatically, and save the expense of two men in
working,— Midland Counties Herald.

442

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

DEVONSHIRE.

A meeting of the members of this Association was held
recently at the Half Moon, Exeter. Mr. J. Veun (vice-
chairman) presided.

Rev. T. B. Meliiuisii read a paper on the new Highway
Bill, in the course of which he pointed out what appeared to
him to be the defects in that measure. It appeared to him
to form really a part of the proposed County Board Bill than
an ammeuded Highway Act. In the first place it contained
unsatisfactory provision for the building of bridges, and so
far was highly defective. Leaving out of the question the
large bridges which came under the class of county bridges,
any new Act should contain provision for building smaller
bridges, it might be desirable that it should be compulsory
on each Highway Board as a district charge, to build one or
two in each year, and in this way in a few years, and at a
very gradual cost, a great inconvenience and frequent source
of danger would be removed. These bridges could not be
built by the individual parishes on each side of streams, but
must be a district charge, and where parties specialy interested
subscribed one-half of the cost they should be entitled to
claim that such bridge should be one of those to be built in
the year. A discussion ensued but no resolution was passed.
The next business was to consider the valuation of
Property Bill, which Mr. C. T. D. Acland had engaged to
read a paper upon, but the Chairman informed the
meeting that Mr. Acland was unable to attend, and the
subject was adjourned.

NORFOLK.

A meeting of this Chamber was held recently, to
consider the Highways Bill. The Chairman (Mr. R. T.
Gurdon) moved the following resolution : — That this Cham-
ber approves generally of the two Highway Bills before Par-
liament, and hopes they will be passed forthwith ; but at the
same time emphatically regrets that no provision is made in
them for meeting the injustice by which the whole expense of
the maintenance of the highways is thrown on real property,
and declares it will never be satisfied until some material
a'teration is made in that direction.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said that while generally agree-
ing with the Government measure, he regretted that personal
property as well as real property was not to be taxed for the
maintenance of the highways. He thought that some taxes,
and paticularly the tax upon locomotion, should be given to
the counties to assist in maintaining the main thoroughfares
of a district. He also thought that the receipts from the dog
tax and from gun licences should be paid to the local autho-
rities in England, as was done in the case of the dog tax in
Ireland. He further contended that quarries and mines, the
products of which caused considerable damage to roads in
their conveyance from place to place, should be assessed at the
same rate as agricultural land. After some further discussion
the resolution was adopted.

SOUTH WILTS,

A meeting of the members took place recently
at Warminster, Mr. W. Stratton, of Kingston Deverill}
President for tfie year, in the chair, Mr, Stephen

Bracuer introduced the subject of the Contagion
Diseases (Animals) Bill, now before Parliament, remark-
ing that the grass was growing rapidly, and dealers were
bringing foreign beasts into the South Wilts district from
various quarters. His great fear was that as those beasts got
distributed disease would be extended, and that in the course
of a very few weeks. Feeling strongly as he did that the
proposed Bill would be of great advantage to them all. he
begged to move " That this Chamber cordially approves of the
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, and while thanking Her
Majesty's Government for their prompt introduction of the
measure trusts that no material alteration may be made in its
provisions, and that it may speedily become law." Mr. Willis
seconded the resolution. Viscouut Folkestone said that the
subject of cattle disease had been so thoroughly discussed on
many occasions that it was unnecessary for him to enter fully
into the details of the measure now before Parliament. He
believed that both Houses were agreed as to the necessity of
its speedily becoming law. Those who had read the Newspaper
reports of the proceedings in the Lower House would have
perceived just before the recess his lion, friend Mr, Chaplin,
his brother-in-law, made iuquiries as to the time when the
Bill would be proceeded with, Mr, Clare Sewell Read had
another measure before the House in which they were al
interested. The answer of the Government was that they" were
fully prepared to press forward the Cattle Diseases Bill as
quickly as possible, although the other measure was entitled
to precedence. The Government appeared to be as fully alive
to the necessity of the one as the other ; and from the fact of
the Cattle Diseases Bill having already been fully discussed in
the House of Lords, where it was introduced, it was not likely
to take a great deal of time in the House of Commons. Prom
the little he himself knew of the feelings of the Government
he had no doubt an effort would be made to pass it before the
end of the session. Many material alterations were not likely
to be made in it, but looking at the present constitution of
the House of Commons a certain amount of opposition would
doubtless be offered to some of its clauses. The general feeling
of the House, however, was such, he believed the Bill would
eventually pass in a form that would meet with the almost
unanimous approbation of the agricultural interest. Having
carefully looked into the Bill, as well as the report of the Select
Committee appointed last year, he was of opinion the measure
would prove to be of the greatest utility not only to the pro-
ducers, but also to the consumejs of meat in the country _
He therefore cordially approved the resolution. The
resolution was then put from the chair and carried unani-
mously. It was resolved " That this Chamber is of opinion
that in the event of any new Highway Bill being passed
it should direct all roads to be arranged in two classes — viz.,
main roads and parish roads ; that separate accounts be kept
of all moneys expended upon the two classes of road
respectively ; and that the supervision and maintenance of the
same be entrusted to one administrative authority, with oue
staff of officers for the same area as at present," and " That
this Chamber is further of opinion that in order to effect an
equitable and efficient maintenance of the main, or national,
road, a contribution of some sort from the national wealth is
indispensable, thereby placing the cost of those roads in some

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

degree ou the national purse, rather tliau entirely on oue class '
of property as at present." A discussion ou the prospects of
British agriculture followed, the subject being introduced by
the Chatrman, and several influential members joining in the
debate.

FARMERS' SONS.

TO THE EDITOR OV THE MARK LANK EXPRESS.

Sir, — My father is a gentleman farmer, and I as his
son of course am not allowed to work — to do any manual
work whatever— upon the farm. Well, my question is,
What are those uufortuuate creatures who arc sons of
gentlemen farmers to do P Unless they have some tan-
gible work to do — some real employment — it would be
much better for themselves and their belongings if they
did the customary work of the farm rather than ride
about and follow the hounds, as is the wont of youngsters
now-a-days.

It must be allowed that any legal employment is better
than no employment at all, so that some may argue that
hunting, &c, are legal employments ; but one thing is
oertain, namely, that it is one's duty to work for our own
sustenance, and not to allow others to work while we
spend our time upon empty pleasures. Hunting, &c,
are all very well to those who have plenty of money
themselves to spend without encroaching upon the re-
sources of others much more wrorthy of their little earn-
ings than themselves ; but what are they to do with their
time? — walk about the fields, and take notice of all
things done upon the farm ; also go through all the stock
upon the farm. " Sheep especially require looking after
very often, at least twice a day, in fields where there are
furrows," says one ; but the duty of looking after stock
is already filled by the master, and it seems as if it was
work in vain for others to go afterwards. Then you are
there as a cypher, uot allowed, even if able, to meddle
with anything in the concern. If one should have the
temerity to try, he would see by the looks of the men in
what position they view him ; and unless his heart is of
adamant, and his face of brass, he will be covered with
shame by the thought that he is really very much inferior
to them in knowledge of their work. Knowing this, they
sneer and say, " What can this young cockney do ? And
yet he stalks about here and there as if there was no one
but he, when he knows naught but riding and driving ;
can neither plough nor harrow, much less sow, nor has he
ever done an honest day's work in his life — and still he
must come and look after us." Well, when you come to
consider that all that is true about yourself — though of
course they do not say it in words — you must be very
barefaced if you can face it without wincing. I know of
no other constant employment but the workmen's cus-
tomary manual work upon the farm for sous when at
home to perform ; so that I should recommend gentlemen
farmers, in spite of all fashion, to make their sons when
yet young perform every routine that their strength will
allow them to go through, and I am sure in after time it
will be a source of much profit to them.

I am, Sir, &o., Wintee.

WAR AND THE LAND TAX.— "A Radical Parson," in

a letter to The Echo, arguing that those who make our battles
should pay for them, goes ou to say : — " I venture, therefore,
humbly to suggest that a War-tax, according to high principles
of liuauce, should not he an Income-tax on the production
classes, but a Laud-tax ou the unproductive. There was a
time, we cannot forget, in the history of England, when the
country gentlemen personally did most of the nations' necessary
lighting. Indeed, it was only in consideration of their due
performance of that obligation that the original title to their
lands was held. The landlords of England are not, strictly
speaking, landowners at all, but landholders, tenants- iu-fee,
holding the soil in trust for the people, and on condition of
military service. It is true that they succeeded, in the reign
of Charles II., in relieving themselves for a time from that
condition, throwing the burden of military expenditure on the
industrial classes by means of a general excise. At the
Revolution in 1G88, however, the obligation was once more
fixed on the right shoulders by the imposition of a tax on the
land of 4s, in the pound, considered at that time, to be the fair
equivalent for the personal military service which the original
terms of their tenure imposed. The landlords, however, have
not been slow to wittle down the effects of that measure. In
the first place, owing to their paramount influence in Parlia-
ment, they succeeded in getting the tax levied as a fixed
valuation, assessed by themselves. This valuation, made in
1692, has ever since, notwithstanding the enormous increase in
the value of land, been retained, so that the nominal 4s. in the
pound does not in reality at the present time mean much more
than one penny. The annual tax last year yielded a little over
£1,000,000. A real 4s. in the pound would yield over
£39,000,000."

THE ORIGIN OF NITRATES IN THE SOIL.— In a
recent number of Nature Mr. Tvobert Warrington supplies a
highly interesting resume oi. the recent researches of Schlocsing
and Miintz on this question. Artificially nitre is produced by
putting ammoniacal matters, such as stable-manure, onto soil,
when the ammonia becomes oxidised, and the nitric acid so
formed unites with the potash in the soil to form a nitrate.
When manure is added to the land a similar process of nitrifi-
cation takes place. All this is well known. The diltieulty has
been to give a rational explanation of the why and wherefore.
No perfectly satisfactory account has been given, and the one
now brought forward by Scbloesing is so startling that, though
by no means a priori improbable, yet it will need to be very
thoroughly investigated before it can be accepted as more than
hypothesis. Nitrification, according to the chemists we have
uamed, is no mere chemical process ; it is the work of a living
organism, which thus acts in bringing about a chemical change
just as the yeast plant does in promoting the fermentation of
saccharine solutions. Substances and forces which are inimical
to living beings, it is stated, stop nitrification ; thus chloro-
form, boiling water, brat, bisulphide of carbon all stop the
process, while on the other hand the addition of a small
quantity of the nitrifying body ((he ferment) is sullicient to
effect the process. At Rothamsted a solution of ammonium
chloride, potassium phosphate, tartaric acid, and calcium
carbonate was completely nitrified in a few weeks by the
addition of a small quantity of mushroom spawn — that is to say >
of soil taken from the fairy-rinjj of a meadow. It is impossible
to over-estimate the importance of these researches, which
bid fair to modify alike the theory aud the practice of manuring.
Gardeners'1 (Jhroniele,

444

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE CULTIVATION OF ROOTS.

At a recent meeting of the Maidstone Farmers' Club,
previously referred to, Professor Wrightson read a paper
on the above subject. He said that in root cultivation
it was always better to bear one principle at least in
mind, and that was that it should be undertaken at
certain periods in the rotation of crops. They generally
considered that it was the foundation of a rotation or
succession of crops, audit occupied the same place in the rota-
tion as the old fashioned, though still occasionally used, bare
fallow. It might properly be called the fallowing period — the
period during which the cultivator liked to perform two impor-
tant functions, to clean the land and bring it into an airified
and fertilised condition. Any system of root cultivation which
did not fulfil that condition and did not bring the land into a
healthy state for the next crop would not, therefore, meet
their requirements. He then came to his second point —
that the root crop, although it might perhaps be one of the
most important crops or class of crops grown, had, in some
cases, serious disadvantages to combat. There were certain
disadvantages in the growth of roots, at all events upon the
heaviest class of clay soils. In the first place there was a great
expense in working the land, then the cultivation was very
critical, next there was the difficulty in getting in the crop,
and finally it was very doubtful whether the crop, if grown,
did not, after all, injure the land instead of preparing it for the
succeeding crop. It therfore appeared to him very doubtful
if it was advisable to grow roots — at all events turnips and
swedes — upon stiff clay soils. That was one side of the ques-
tion. But while, as they supposed, heavy soils were not well
adapted for the growth of many roots, yet they were especially
adapted for beans, as while it was expensive and critical to
grow other roots, a clay field was easily worked for beans. He
had for many years held the opinion that if a farmer could grow
40 bushels of beans, it was better to do so than to grow 20
tons of mangels, for the latter contained 00 per cent, of water,
with only 10 parts of solid, while beans had at least 80 per
cent, of solid matter of peculiarly rich character. While they re.
cognised the disadvantages of turnip cultivation upon clay lands
they could not but see the immense importance of the growth
of turnips and swedes on suitable soils, for thus, at a compara-
tively small expense, they could grow a very large quantity of
valuable food, which might be characterised as both meat and
drink. When supplemented with a little cake or corn, what
could be better for sheep or cattle than a reasonable propor-
tion of turnips, swedes, or mangels ? Grown under favourable
circumstances the value of rootcrop3 could scarcely be overrated.
Then, too, root crops acted as excellent preparatives of
the land for the succeeding crop, while they enabled the
growth on light sandy soils of crops which otherwise
could not be grown. The question of root cultivation J
could not, however, be handled as a whole, and it was
necessary to make a difference between mangels and other root i
crops. Mangel wurzle was a crop particularly suited for '
strong clay lands, as it did not require that exceedingly fine
state of tilth which was necessary for turnips. Then, partly
on account of its hardihood of habit, it could bear drought
well, and it was, therefore, little to be wondered at that in
such a district as their own, where they had a great deal of
clay land, mangels should be more esteemed tha,n either swedes

or turnips. It gave a very heavy weight of food per acre,
30 or 40 tons being grown, while, if they believed advertise-
ments, as he supposed tiny ought to, as much as SO tons per
acre could be produced. That could not be done with turnips,
but in the North they obtained perhaps 30 or 40 tons of swedes
or turnips. The importance of growiug a variety of root crops
was another point upon which something might be said. The
value of the adoption of sucb a course was at once apparent
when they remembered that plants took their food in different
proportions from the land. Wheat, barley, and oats, while
they took much the same constituents from the laud, yet
removed them in slightly different proportions. As there was
no greater enemy to a wheat crop than a preceding wheat crop,
so there was nothing more hostile to a root crop than a crop
of the same sort. A variation of root crops was, therefore,
attended with much advantage, as the constituents of the soil
were thus absorbed in more equal quantities, while the farmer
was further benefited by being able to supply his stock with a
variety of food during a loug period of the year. Those who
had a succession from white turnips to swedes, and thence to
maugels, and kept up a rotation, having a variety every season,
diminished the risk of a bad crop, for weather which did not
suit one would perhaps be advantageous for another. There
was yet another reason for cultivating a variety of crops, and
that consisted in the division of labour. If a farmer attempted
to grow a great breadth of swedes or mangel wurzle alone, he
had a crush of work at one particular period of the year
whereas if he had a variety — if he grew mangels, kohl rabi,
swedes, white and yellow turnips, and cabbages, the labour
would be distributed over along period of the year. If, there-
fore, they took into account the advantage of the change of
food for their stock, the better preparation of the laud for the
succeeding crop, and the division of labour, they found a very
good reason for cultivating roots in greater variety. There
was still another question of importance, and that was the
very frequent combination of forage with root crops. That
was a system more prevalent in the South of England than
in the North. The vetches having been consumed, the
land was ploughed up and swedes or turnips sown, aud
this was, to his mind, a very excellent system. In the
farm he had taken, all the wheat stubbles were sown
down after harvest with rye, vetch, trifolium, &c, to be
followed with roots. The system, though in many re-
spects excellent, was open to objection, when pressed too far,
and pursued whether the land was clean or dirty. But in his
neighbourhood it was not infrequent to take two root crops
in succession, and then two white straw crops. Thus, if the
roots went in a little foul after the catch crops, the second
root crop taken the succeeding year would probably remedy
the defect and bring the land clean. It was trying to do too
much, and they were likely to keep the land foul, if they first
took forage crops and immediately went on to roots. Those
were some general considerations on root cultivation which
han presented themselves to his mind, but he thought they
might perhaps like to discuss the best method of growing
roots. There were difficulties to be combated — some under
and some beyond their control. The most important was
climate, for if that was against them it was impossible to
grow with any success. He remembered remarking in that

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

445

room two years ago upon the difference between the climate
of the North and that of the South of England, and it was
generally admitted that while that in the North was suitable
for the cultivation of swedes and turnips, that in the South
was not, aud manure as they would, the Southerners could
not beat the Northerners in the weight per acre, for they
wanted that cooler, damper atmosphere prevalent in the
North. In the next place they must endeavour as far as
possible to suit the soil to the crop. For example, light soils
should be sown with white turnips ; on the somewhat heavier
or medium loams they might place swedes; the stiller soils
were suited to mangels ; and the heaviest of all might be
devoted to kohl-rabi or cabbages — especially cabbages, for
they could be consumed on the land at the dry season of the
year. There was something in cabbage especially worthy of
the attention of farmers. It might be sown about the last
week m July in a seed-bed, and it would be germinating while
the ground it was to be placed in was still occupied with, per-
haps, a wheat crop. As soon as the wheat was harvested, the
broadshare, plough, and dung-cart should be put ou the laud,
and about the middle or last week of September the cabbages
might be planted out. What could be better than that ? The
clay lands never worked more kindly than at that period of
the year, and the cabbages then occupied the ground .until
about the month of June, when the sheep could go on for
perhaps three months. He considered that to be a combina-
tion well suited to a stiff clay soil, as the land could be worked
for the crop when it was dry, aud it could be fed off also in
the dry season. There was no other crop which could be
treated in the same manner. The preparation of the land lor
the root crop was a subject on which he wished to make a
few remarks. Supposing they were dealing with a pliable
turnip soil and it was clean he really thought that the less
they cultivated it the better, as when once it was in a proper
condition it surely was a waste of time to continue cultivating
it. They might well wish to follow the example of an old
friend of his own in the North of England who ploughed
the land after harvest, and never touched it again till
sowing time, ploughing in the morning and putting the
seed in in the afternoon. But they were unable to do
that, and the preparation of the soil for turnips and swedes
often involved a great deal of pulling about either with
the broadshare or the plough — he preferred the latter.
Then there was harrowing and burning the couch, which
unless it was got off immediately after harvest, grew deeper
into the ground and gave a great deal of trouble. Then after
all these operations had been performed they had the dung-
cart in, next they got a furrow as deep as the land would allow,
and they often had to give it further cultivation. He was
opposed likewise to spring ploughing — not ploughing at this or
an earlier period of the year, but late spring ploughing. They
should plough in the months of February, March, or April,
when a good rainfall might be expected to follow, but it was
altogether a mistake to plough land for roots iu May or June,
as it only dried the soil, and what was known as the sap evapo-
rated. They had better cultivate light land than plough it in
the spring, and the practice would apply equally well to stiff
toils, because in the latter case the finer soil was buried and
the rough brought to the surface. He scarcely ever remem.
bered meeting a go-ahead farmer but who held the same
opinion, and yet they saw the plough too much used. Pro-
fessor Wrightson then proceeded to deal with the best method
of preparing the land for the crop. The soil should be fine,

moist, and clean, in order to make a good seed bed, while care
should be taken in the choice of seed. He had lately had
some correspondence with reference to the latter point, and
although he was, perhaps, travelling a little way from his sub-
ject, he might state that he found practical men differed consi-
derably with reference to the seed question. Not long since he
sold a rather poor sample of barley, and the purchaser merely
asked— Will it grow? He told him that he thought it would
and that he had better try, aud the sale was then effected.
Now, that seemed to him to be a wrong system to go on in the
purchase of seeds. Many people indeed merely looked at the
seed iu that way, aud if it would grow, however thin or poor
it might be, they considered it to be sufficient for their pur-
pose. But they did not pursue the same course in reference
to their stock ; they liked the animals they intended to breed
from to he good ones. They did not, however, appear to be
quite so far advanced iu the matter of seed purchase as that
of stock buying. Aud what was true as to wheat and other
cereals applied equally well to mangels and other root crops,
for with bad seeds they would never obtain good results. In
the case of turnips he had seen them growing with double
tops, thick necks, and very little at the bottom ; these were
the results of ill-selected seeds. In the month of May, when
sowing, they should remember the December root shows, and
base their choice of seeds upon the results of those exhibitions.
The method of sowing was also very important. Generally
speaking in the South the sowing was done upon the Hat ; he
thought that that was better than upon the raised ridge sys-
tem. It might be different with mangel, but he really thought
they were wise to 30W on the flat, because the moisture was
thus kept in the ground, whereas if they raised the land into
ridges the surface open to evaporation was increased in extent.
He had been very much struck with the difference which a
few hours made in the sowing, and he believed that a cool
period was better for the purpose than the sultry hours of an
exceedingly hot day. He had no doubt that a large farmer
would not care to stop his teams for a few hours during the
sowing season, but still seed put in when the sun was not
scorching the land did better than that sown under other cir-
cumstances. He had paid some attention to the question of
manuring, and that was a subject almost sufficient for consi-
deration in one lecture. Manuring might be considered under
two heads— manuring with artificial manures and with farm-
yard dung. With reference to the latter the farmer naturally
kept the dung as near as possible to the homestead, and
the roots treated with it were likely to be carried back
home. If a farmer had a wide-lying farm it was better
to keep the dung within a radius of one mile of the homestead,
and the fields beyond that distance might be treated wifu
artificial stuffs and by feeding the sheep off the land. He had
known cases where farmyard manure had done harm to the
crop instead of good, but that was when it was applied in the
spring. If put in too late it rendered the land hollow, and it
should therefore be applied as much as possible before or
during the winter, so as not to run the risk of having to
plough it in during the dry months. The application of
artificial manures was a very difficult matter indeed, because
every district, he found, required to settle that question for
itself. In the Cirencester district a number of experiments
were tried, and they came to the conclusion that about three
hundred-weight of superphosphate should be applied to the
acre. In the North a much heavier weight was put in, and
sometimes half a ton of mixed guano and superphosphate wa3

446 ,

applied. In thai district the result was, however, quite com-
mensurate, tor upon asking one of the best Northumberland
farmers why he put such a heavy dressing, he replied that lie
grew the roots at a cheaper cost per ton by so doing. The
same system would not answer in the Cirencester district, and
he was sure that if it were introduced into Kent it would he
considered most wasteful. He did not know what amount
was considered advisable in this couuty, but he would not be
surprised to find that it ditfsred but little from that deemed
sufficient in his own neighbourhood. Their Chamber of Agri-
culture tried a number of experiments in order to enahle them
to arrive at some conclusion on that matter, and some definite
results were generally accepted as reasonable for the;district.
Another point was the method of applying the manure. Some
years since he laid down an acre of swedes, dividing it into
equal parts. On one piece he gave a top dressing and harrowed
it into the ground, but lie did not get anything like an equal
crop to that obtained in another piece which he drilled with
the same manure. In Shropshire it was the custom to top
uress most manures, harrow them into the land, and then drill
the seeds in, hut he believed the more reasonable plan to be
partly drill and partly apply it broadcast. It wes not necessary
to put the manure exactly under the plant because the roots
naturally spread, and if they were to sow an acre, and apply

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

3 cwt. top dressing, drilling iii one cwt., he thought the results
would be better. It wculd thus be seen that root cultivation
involved a great deal of labour ; they must prepare the land,
manure it, and sow the best seed, and then, uuless great pains
were taken with the after cultivation, the crop would probably
after all become a failure. Therefore they must attend to the
hoeing at the right time, and they must not allow their plants
to become spindly, while they must attend to the distance be-
tween each root. Swedes should be a foot apart, but nine or
ten inches would be a sufficient distance between white turnips.
They could thus prevent thorn from growing to too great a
size. The men employed in thinning them out should leave
the best and not the worst and poorest plants in the ground ;
the soil around should be moved, and plenty of horse-hoeing
should follow. In the Worth great stress was laid upon this,
and, strange to say, even in droughty seasons the ground was
well moved between the roots, while iu Lincolnshire especial
cire was taken to use the harrow effectively when the root was
growing. Therefore, in order to produce a really good crop
it was necessary to he very attentive to it during a long period
of the year. If they selected their seed and manured with
judgment, and in addition looked well to the after cultivation,
they might with, the blessing of Heaven, hope to attain good
results at last.

SHEEP FARMING IN AUSTRALIA.

At a meeting of the Midland Farmers' Club,
on Thursday, April 4th, Mr. A. Hodgson, of Clopton,
delivered a lecture on his experience as an Australian
sheep farmer.

Having asked the indulgence of his hearers if, in narrating
his experience, he appeared to be egotistical, Mr. Hodgson
referred to the early history of the Colony of New South
Wales, the first Governor of which, Captain Arthur Philip,
R.N., landed in January, 1787, on the shores of Port Jackson,
better known for many years by the dreaded name of Botany
Bay, but now called Sydney, one of the finest harbours iu the
world, with a city of 100,000 inhabitants. The voyage, which
then occupied eight months, can now be accomplished in
forty-five days. The first census taken gave 1,030 men,
women, and children; of whom 700 were convicts ; and the
remainder Government officers, soldiers, and their wives and
families. The live stock consisted of five head of cattle, six
horses, twenty goats, twenty-nine sheep, and seventy-four pigs;
and, at the end of 1793, 3,700 acres of land had been trans-
ferred to free settlers, not convicts. In the following year
(1791), wheat was 10s. 'a bushel; maize, 7s.; the value of
a Cape of Good Hope ewe, was £6 ; of a she-go it, £8 8s. ; a
hog, £3 10s. ; and an English cow, £80. In 1797 the live
stock in the Colony consisted of 81 horses, 327 head of cattle
4,250 pigs, 2,450 sheep, and 2,300 goats. To Capt. John
Macarthur, a late Captain in the 102nd Regiment or New
South Wales Corps, Australia is indebted for the importation
of a class of fine-woolled sheep, which have proved a source of
inexhaustible wealth ; and it might truly be said that that
officer, by his energy and foresight, established, against much
opposition, the pastoral interests of our Australian colonies.
The growth and development of the Australian fleece might
be traced indirectly to a nobleman who possessed a good estate
in a neighbouring county, the sixteenth Lord Somerville, uncle
of the last lord, who introduced the Spanish Merino sheep into

England, and, after winning the highest prizes at the Royal
Agricultural shows — notably at Bath — made a present of part
of his flock to George III., and disposed of the remainder by
auction, realising for 237 sheep £10,000, or an average of £45
per head. His Majesty, George III., was pleased to receive
Captaiin Macarthur at Windsor Castle, iu 1803, on his return
from New South Wales, and to present him with twelve of
the above flock ; but a great difficulty stood in the way of their
acceptance, owing to the discovery of an unrepealed Act of
Parliament prohibiting the exportation of live sheep from tlio
United Kingdom, on pain of death, without benefit of clergy.
But with a tact equal to that displayed by Lord Nelson at
Copenhagen, the Custom. house officers applied the tariff glass
to the blind eye, and declared that they could not see any
sheep on board Captain Macarthur's ship, and it was permitted
to quit these shores witli the Royal gift. On returning to
Australia he crossed these Spanish Merinos with long-woolled
sheep from Bengal and the Cape of Good Hope, and he (Mr.
Hodgson) now placed before them the astouuding results made
up to the latest dates. The approximate number of sheep iu
the Australian colonies, including New Zealand, was sixty-four
millions. Last year 821,000 bales of wool, valued at six mil-
lions sterling, were imported from those colonies into England,
and the production had risen from thirty-two million pounds
in 1855 to one hundred and sixty million pounds in 1870.
Notwithstanding this rapid increase, prices had been main-
tained, the average price of unwashed Australian wool
having been 13|d. during the period ending in 1S76, as
against 12J4. in 1855. These prices referred only to
clothing wool, which increased more rapidly than combing
and carpet and blanket wools. About one-half of the
clothing wool from Australia was taken for the Continent,
and the progress made by Continental manufacturers had
more than kept pace with the production. Prance, for
instance, in 1855 took onlyten millions, as against eighty-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

147

nine millions in 1876. Tlie proportion of Merino wool now
grown in Australia was diminishing, owing to a desire to
increase the weight of fleece, and a consequently reduced
demand lor short line wool. At the public auction sales held
in London in August last 18 per cent, of wool offered was
cross-bred. The average weight of a Merino wether, fed upon
natural grasses, did not exceed 501b., and the weight of lleece
31b., washed on the sheep's hack ; while the weight of a cross-
bred wether averaged from G51b. to 791b., with a weight of
fleece i.\lb. The cross of a Leicester, Lincoln, or llomney
Marsh tup with a Merino ewe had been largely and' satisfac-
torily adopted. He emigrated to Sydney thirly-nine years
ago witli the intention of becoming a settler ; but finding
that that was impracticable, owing to the English (Govern-
ment having, two months previous to his arrival, advanced
the price of land from 5s. to 12s. per acre, he turned squatter,
sad accepted an invitation some 300 miles in the interior,
where lie was most kindly and hospitably entertained for
nearly twelve months, giving his services, and obtaining what
was called " Colonial experience," but which had a totally
different meaning. 1 laving described a squatter, and quoted
the opinion of a late Governor (Sir George Gippe) respecting
that class, the. Chairman sketched the mode of depasturing
his squatting friend's flock of about 20,000 sheep, and added
that he himself was not long in discovering that the judicious
crossing of sheep for their wool, of culling them for breeding,
and the management of men, were the main considerations,
and that the lambing and shearing were the busiest times of
the year. The plan adopted for shearing upon a large and
well. managed sheep establishment was sketched, and it was
stated that twenty. four to thirty men would easily shear on an
average seventy sheep a day. The price of shearing varied,
but at present it was 3s. a score, with rations. Mr. Hodgson
also described the mode of washing the sheep, and sorting
and packing the wool, and " dumping " the bales on board
ship, and remarked as to the dumping that he had been unable
to ascertain whether any damage accrued to the wool from
that process, although some of his friends willingly paid an
increased freight for the conveyance of the bales to England
uudumped. Mr. Hodgson went on to say that after a twelve
mouths' residence in the colony he started fur himself, and
having been most fortunate in securing a partner, purchased
sheep, oxen, horses, waggons, tools, &c. After travelling
four months they found themselves — thanks to a friend and
shipmate of his own, who had preceded him by a few weeks,
and blazed the trees on his track — in a beautiful pasture
land, about 600 miles north of Sydney and 150 miles distant
from the nearest squatting station. There they pitched their
tents, and there he spent the best and happiest years of his
life. No white man had previously seen that portion of the
country, which consisted of open downs, rich alluvial soil,
well watered, and well clothed with grass and herbage. It
was like one unlimited wheat-field, and such it remained to the
present day, save during the period of a drought, from which
the colony was now recovering. When he discovered the
country it was in the colony of New South Wales ; but it
was now in Queensland, a colouy which was still in her teens,
having lately* entered on the nineteenth year of her existence,
during which period her population had increased from
28,000 to 200,000 ; and to a pastoral settlement with which
she made a start agriculture might now be added, some
100,000 acres of land being under crop, 40,000 of which were
under maize ; and sugar-planting had developed into an im-

portant and permanent industry. There were about seven
million sheep in Queensland, and the value of the wool
exported last, year was one million and a-balf. There were
two millions of cattle in that colony, and the value of the
hides exported last year to England was £80,000. There
were three modes of disposing of cattle in Queensland — home
consumption, sending them to the southern markets (Sydney,
Melbourne, &c), and preserving or tinning beef and mutton
for the English market, instead, as formerly, of boiling down
excellent sheep and cattle for the sake of the tallow, as he
had often done, tc to keep the. pot boiling." After quoting
from a letter of a friend of his at the Thompson River station,
who had recently sold 410 head of cattle at an average of £10
each, although their value a few months previously was from
£3 to £3 10s., Mr. Hodgson referred to the wonderful
development of squatting to the North West of the colony of
Queensland, into the boundaries of South Australia, \}\f
country being described as splendid, and blocks of 10,000
square miles having been applied for and granted by the
Government of South Australia, on loan of 25 years, at an
annual rental of 6d. per square mile. A friend of his, the
son of a nobleman reading in Staffordshire,,had recently re-
turned from a successful exploring expedition in Northern
Queensland, where he discovered new country of considerable
extent, and excellent pasture. lie must have had a rough
time of it, having been short of rations, occasionally short of
water, and constantly on the watch day and night, against an
attack of the native blacks. The Anglo-Saxon blood being
strong in his veins he surmounted all the difficulties, and as
an original discoverer it was his privilege to stand godfather
to many spots in his travels, and he was not unmindful of his
English home when he reproduced the names of Teddesley,
Hatherton, Cannock, Margaret's Well, &c, names which
would be handed down to posterity and assist to fulfil the
prophecy, that

"Australasia floats with flag unfurled,
A new Britannia in another world."

Mr. Hodgson then adverted to the rapid disappearance of the
native blacks, who, in his early days, were very troublesome,
and mentioned that the race, which was once very nuraoroug
and vexatious in Tasmania (Van Dieman's Land), had there
become extinct. Professor Flower assigned to these natives
the lowest scale in the human race, not excepting even the
Hottentot of Southern Africa. Here Mr. Hodgson introduced
an amusing incident which occurred at one of the meetings of
the Royal Geographical Society which lie attended in 1863,
when the statement of Mr. Landesborough, the well-known
Australian explorer, that the country which he had discovered
within the tropics was admirably adapted to the growing cf
wool, was challenged by Mr. Crawford, who declared that it
was impossible to grow wool in the tropics, as it would turn
to hair. Mr. Landesborough turned the tables on his opponen
by asking him what grew upon the heads of the natives o
Central Africa, and receiving the reply that it was wool, no
hair. In the Australian climate there was something so
favourable to the growth of wool that it grew there of a fine
quality m a much lower latitude than in any other part of the
world. The lecturer next passed in review some of the enemies
unknown in England, with which sheep had to contend in
Australia, laying stress on droughts, native dogs, eagle hawk.- >
crows, grass-seeds, worms, and, of late years, kangaroos and
wallabills. Speaking of droughts, the greatest difficulty which
the Australian grazier has to encounter, Mr. Hodgson pointed

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out the ravages of the drought which had prevailed during the
last twelve months iu all the Australian Colonies, and at the
Cape of Good Hope, which is iu the same latitude ; and quoted
the opinion of Mr. Druce, the Government Inspector of Sheep,
that from March 31, 1877, to December, 1877, in the Colony
of New South Wales, three million sheep died, exclusive of
lambs which had not been reared and had died of starvation.
The total loss of sheep by the drought throughout Australia
was estimated at eight millions. Mr. Hodgson regarded the
" Myall dingo," or native dog, as the second greatest enemy of
Australian sheep. To these dogs, which frequently hunt in
packs, he gave a place between the English fox and the prairie
wolf — being about the size of the latter and having the brush
of the former. With regard to kangaroos and wallabills, he
read an extract from a letter of his friend whom members of
the Club might remember having met at Clopton, in July,
1876, when they honoured him with a visit— Mr. Rolleston,
Auditor-General of the Colony of New South Wales — and who
suggested that the marsupial pest iu Northern Queensland was
almost as bad as drought. Mr. llodgsou also read a very
spirited sketch of a kangaroo hunt, supplied by his son, and in
which that gentleman took an active part, in January last.
The eagle-hawk — of which one of his partners now residing in
Gloucestershire had killed sixteen in a day — was a noble bird,
but killed a good many lambs. The crows — 60 of which his
partner shot in a day — were so thick on the ground that, but
for poison, half the lambs would have been lost at one lambing
season. No crows' nests had been found in Australia. The
spear, or feather-grass, which caused great destruction in the
Colony, was excellent for early feed, but soon ran to seed •
and, if sheep were allowed to go through it in that stage, the
seeds entered the wool, penetrated the skin, liver, and intes-
tines, and he had seen thousauds of these seeds inside a sheep,
producing dreadful pain and death. Worms, so called in
Australia, were not of long standing, and were produced by the
poorness of the new grasses which had taken the place of the
old, original, nutritious grasses destroyed by over-stocking.
The remedy was to remove the sheep to new pastures and give
them plenty of Liverpool and rock salt. In the squatting
districts sheep were not supplied with any artificial food save
salt; and there were no lambing sheds, the covered yards,
mentioned by Mr. Howmau, iu his able and valuable paper, being
at present unknown. Coming to the disease among sheep in
Australia, the President spoke particularly of catarrh, red-
water, and foot-rot. The contagious character of catarrh
rendered the destruction of the whole flock, saving the skins,
the best mode of treatment on large sheep establishments. He
had known as many as 10,000 destroyed on property adjoining
his own ; but the disease was then stamped out. The terrible
scourge of scab — from which a friend of his lost 60,000 out of
80,000 sheep in two years — could only be cured by dipping
sheep soon recovered from red-water. Foot-rot was
prevalent iu rainy seasons, in a mild form, and English
remedies were adopted, with the additional advantage
that they were not hampered for room ; on an average an
acre and a half were allotted to one sheep. On many
large sheep establishments iron wire fencing, largely imported
from Wolverhampton, had superseded hurdles. There were
190 miles of iron fencing on Eton Vale, the property in which
he was largely interested, and which lie so named in conse-
quence of finding in the camp of the wild, native blacks a
knife marked, " Rogerson, maker, Eton,*' and he, as an old
Etonian, regarded that find as an augury of good luck. The

number of sheep on his property varied from 90,000 to
100,000, were enclosed in thirty large and smaller paddocks,
and overlooked by mounted overseers, who resided in diftersnt
parts of the country. He and his partner had secured by
purchase from the Crown 60,000 acres of land, the remainder
being under lease. They had improved the breed, from time
to time, by purchasing Saxon Merino rams, which he and his
partner selected from celebrated flocks in Germany, and prin-
cipally from Mr. Steiger, a well-known flockmaster, residing
about 2i miles from Dresden. When landed in Queensland
their rams cost them an average of £105 per head, but they
well repaid themselves. The management of men was often
a difficulty, especially in the distant interior, where there were
no magistrates or police, and consequently they had occasion-
ally to take the law into their own hands, disputes between
masters and servants having, in olden times, often been settled
in a very summary manner. He could truly say that duriug
many years as a large employer of labour some of his best
ma!e servants were, or had been, convicts. At the date of jthe
gold discoveries in Australia, in 1849, the graizers for a short
time considered themselves ruined, and when it was rumoured
that a shepherd in the western district of New South Wales
had found, at the foot of a gum tree, a nugget of gold, which
he sold at Balhurst for £78, they fea;ed that their flocks
would be left in the hurdles or turned out into the bush from
want of shepherds. They were, however, agreeably disap-
pointed. As a rule, shepherds were not so easily allured to
the gold fields ; and in the meantime agents, who were sent
to China, brought back a large number of Chinese, of whom
he employed eighteen as shepherds for upwards of five years,
and his sheep were never better tended than they were by the
Chinese shepherds, who proved to be honest, sober, intelli-
gent, and, .had they been accompanied by their wives, they
would have become valuable colonists ; but Chinese women
were not permitted to leave the country. Chinamen in
several thousands were now employed on the Australian gold
fields ; aud, after pocketing their hard-earned gains, they
returned to their native land. His Chinamen agreed to serve
him for five years, at £9 for the first year, and increasing to
£27 for the fifth year. With the exception of one, who died,
all of tham completed their agreements, and some of them
rsmained with him many years. With Chinamen for cook
aud man-servant he hadihehonour of entertaining Sir Charles
Eitzroy, the Governor of New South Wales, who was, he be-
lieved, none the worse for the fare which he placed before
him. In illustrating the success attained by some of the
earliest pastoral tenants of the Crown, Mr. Hodgson briefly
sketched the career of Mr. Petre, one of the earliest and most
successful squatters of New South Wales. In his concluding
remarks, he said that if he had kept back any information
which might enable members to judge of the results of his ex-
perience as a Queensland sheep-farmer, it must be remembered
that his partners might object to the publication of profits
which accumulated during a partnership extending over ten
years. He endorsed the remark of his friend, Sir Daniel
Cooper, in an admirable paper which he read in February last
before the members of the Royal Colonial Institute in Lon-
don, to the effect that the opportunities to make fortunes in
the Australian Colonies existed now as they did at any former
period. It only needed pluck and perseverance to make the
start. He had watched the marvellous progress of those
Colonies, possessed the strongest belief in their future, and
considered there was no better or brighter laud to live in, and
felt satisfied many generations yet unborn would say the same.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH AND IRISH MILLERS.

The inaugural meeting of this Association ha9
lately been held at the New Market Sale-room, Corn
Exchange Hotel, Mark Lane. The chair was taken at
half-past three by Mr. J. Christie, of Chelsea, and the
meeting included a good representation of the millers of
the metropolis and of the provinces. Mr. W. C. Hepburn
and Mr. D. G. Tepper, the honorary secretaries, were both
present.

The minutes of the preliminary meeting held on the 18th
of March for the formation of the Association having been read
by Mr. Tepper and confirmed by the meeting,

Mr. Samuel Smith, of Holtwood, Sheffield, suggested
several alterations of a verbal and a formal character, which
were ultimately referred to the Council for consideration.

Rules 3 and 7, the most material of the whole, as submitted
to the meeting, were as follows : —

Rule 3 : — " The objects of the Association shall be the
promotion of the interests of the milling industry and its
members by —

(1.) The advancement of common interests by the legitimate
combination of means aud efforts which may be deemed
most suitable for that purpose.
(2.) The collection of information bearing upon all depart-
ments of the trade, technical, practical, and commercial!
with a view to improve the quality of its products and
increase the ratio of its profits.
(3.) By encouraging the exchange of information on all
subjects relating to the manufacture of flour, the
machines and processes used in the work of manufacture
and the various commercial and financial questions con.
nected therewith."

Rule VII. : — " The Council shall consist of twenty-eight
millers, who shall be chosen from among the members of the
Association, five to form a quorum. It shall, in conjunction
with the officers of the Executive, the President, Yice-Presi
dents, and Treasurer, fix the dates of the general and specia
meetings of the Association, appoint technical, statistical, and
commercial committees, whose duty it shall be to examine and
estimate the practical value of new machinery and new pro-
cesses in milling, collect information with regard to the grain
harvest prospects at home and abroad, and such other statistic3
as may be deemed useful to the Association, and to make sug-
gestions with regard to the best methods of dealing with snch
subjects as sales and purchases, credits, weights aud measures,
sacks, insurance, patents, &c, &c, &c. It shall also be the
duty of the Council to consider and adopt the best means for
the formation of Branch or District Associations in all parts
of the country, and to accomplish their affiliation with the
National Association, and to appoint corresponding members
for the purpose of securing the inter-communication of infor-
mation relating to the milling interest between the Associa-
tion aud kindred Associations in all parts of the world. As
occasion may require, the Council shall make bye-laws, which
shall be in harmony with the general rules, but such bye- laws
shall only have provisional effect until confirmed by a general
meeting of the Association. The Council shall be responsible j
for the general management of the Association through its j
duly appointed office bearers, aud one-third of its members shall

retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election. The
President, Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer of the Association
shall retire annually, but be eligible for re-election, and shall
be members of the Council e.cojficio."

By Rule II. it is provided that all the subscriptions of mem.
bership shall be one guinea annually, payable in advauce.

Subject to the consideration of the suggestions made by Mr-
Smith, tiie rules were adopted by the meeting.

The following gentlemen were chosen as the Council : —

Mr. John Allen, City Flour Mills, Gloucester.

Mr. F. Ashby, Steam Flour Mills, Croydon.

Mr. Ashley C. Barrett, Ratcliffe Corn Mills, London.

Mr. Chas. Brown (C. Brown and Co.), Wadilon Flour
Mills, Croydon.

Mr. Chitty, The Mills, Dover and Deal.

Mr. J. Christie, Chelsea.

Mr. Denny (Messrs. Denny), Battersea Mills, London.

Mr. Downing, Crayford, font.

Mr. Eisdell (Eisdell and Soundy), Abbey Mills, Reading.

Mr. Edwd. Evans, Axton Brook Flour Mills, Birmingham.

Mr. Harvey (Messrs. Harvey and Co.), The Mills, West
Ham.

Mr. Horsnaill (Messrs. Horsnaill and Catchpool), Star
Mills, London, and Bulford.

Mr. Jas. Huntington (Messrs. J. and J. Huntington),
Toxeth Mills, Liverpool.

Mr. Henry Ibbotson, Britannia Mills, Alma Street, Shef-
field.

Mr. William Jeffery, Palham, Chichester.

Mr. George Lunt, Soho Flour Mills, Soho Street, Liver-
pool.

Mr. W. Marriage (E. Marriage and Son), East Mills, Col-
Chester.

Mr. Mumford (Messrs. S. and P.Mumford), Greenwich.

Mr. Peter Mumford, Royal Flour Mills, Vauxhall.

Mr. George Pimm, Upper Mills, Wandsworth, London.

Mr. Proctor, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Mr. J. W. leaves, Bicktou Mills, Fording bridge, Hants.

Mr. Simrnonds (Messrs. Simmouds and Morton), London.

Mr. Smith, Victoria Mills, Sheffield.

Mr. Soundy (Eisdell and Soundy), Abbey Mills, Reading.

Mr. John Westley (Joseph Westley and Son), Blisworth
Mills, Northampton.

Mr. Chas. Whit worth, Turvey Mills,' Bedford.

Mr. Richard Wigfull (Joshua Wigfull and Son), Sheaf
Steam Mills, Forge Lane, Sheffield.

A list of Vice-Presidents, comprising about sixty gentlemen
residing in different parts of the kingdom, were also read,
these all being ex-officio members of the Council.

Mr. Alderman IIadi.ey wa3 appointed President, and Mr.
Henry Robinson Treasurer of the Association ; after which
Mr. Christie vacated the chair, and was succeeded in it by the
President.

The President, on taking the chair, after expressing his
sense of the honour which had been conferred upon him,
observed that the objects for which that Association was
formed had occupied the thoughts of many millers for a great
number of years. The millers constituted one of the most,
important commercial interests in the countrv, and he wa

LL

450

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

glad to see them ut last organising themselves for mutual
support, protection, and guidance. Iu these days of progress
and advancement n any ol them, he feared, had not sufliciently
realised the necessity of improvement; and he was glad to
find that what appeared at least like apathy was passing away,
and that they were now preparing to avail themselves
of the advantages afforded hy science and inven-
tion. There was scarcely any other important
part of the community which had not long since associated for
ts own advantage ; millers had hitherto remained disunited,
and that movement was certainly not hegun one day too soon
(Hear, hear). Although the millers were a powerful body,
and wielded a vast amount of influence, they were not organi-
sing' themselves with the idea of doing anything detrimental to
the interest of the rest of the community (Hear, hear). They
were not forming themselves into an Association in order that
they might exercise a monopoly, or do anything which would
injure any other body or any individual; but their object was
simply to take steps for the proper protection of their interests,
lie wished that to be distinctly understood. It had been
stated that the millers, being a body which manufactured the
most necessary part of th«s daily food of the nation, were form-
ing an Association iu order that they might be able to control
prices, and use their influence to the injury of the rest of the
community. That was not their object (cheers). It was not
monopoly that they were seeking ; their object was to secure
justice for themselves, to remove abuses which existed among
them, and to enable their body to work together with more
harmony and certainty than it could do at present. Having
been appointed President, he assured the meeting that he would
do everything in his power to promote the objects which the
Association had in view, and to make it successful (cheers).
Among the matters which would require the consideration of
the Council-were purchases, credit, sacks, and porters, and
also the improvement of the status of millers. Capital, build-
ings, and machinery would also have to be carefully considered,
as would likewise insurance, witli regard to which they had as
a body been greatly oppressed ; and he believed that nothing
lmt good to themselves and others could arise from their being
placed in the positiou which such an important interest as the
milling interest of Great Britain and Ireland ought to occupy
(cheers). He concluded by urging that millers generally
should at once pay the guinea subscription and he enrolled as
members of the Association.

Mr. Wigfull (Sheffield) inquired whether the Council
contemplated the formation of local associations.

The Chairman replied that steps would he taken to secure
the formation of local associations throughout the kingdom,
which would be affiliated with the National Association in
London, so as to render the whole system perfectly har-
monious.

Mr. M'Dotjgal (London) strongly approved of the general
formation of local associations. He also thought that many
matters connected with the London trade required to be super-
vised, and that eight or ten London millers should meet
together to discuss the subject. In fact, there ought to be a
London Association, as well as one in Sheffield, Newcastle,
and many other towns in the country. Unless the chief millers
in London united together as an Association it would be impos-
sible to do much good. His brother, who had carried on
business as a miller for many years in Manchester, had told
him that if the London millers would do away witli the system
of long sales and adopt improved arrangements with regard to

sacks, thty might double their profits. Long sales were a very
gross evil, and he believed many of the more respectable
bakers were opposed to them. He would, indeed, like to see
some bakers iu the Association. So far as London was con-
cerned he would be glad to see a strong London committee.
Many persons in the metropolis who called themselves bakers
were, in fact, nothing but sharks, running about among the
millers and ringing the changes upon them (laughter). Whe n
lie had been cheated of teu sacks of flour it would be some
consolation to him if something could be done to prevent the
person who did it from getting credit of any oue else.

The Chairman said, as a London miller, he concurred in
the main in the remarks of Mr. McDougal, having suffered
himself for want ol what that gentleman advocated. It was
intended, he believed, to form a London Association to be
connected with the National one, so that the metropolitan
millers might meet as a body, and make the necessary im-
provements in their trade in accordance with the view* ex-
pressed by Mr. McDougal. Whether it would be wise for the
millers to include in their Association bakers was another
question (Hear, hear). It appeared to him doubtful whether
it was advisable that those who purchased from them, and
who manufactured their manufactured article should be ad-
missible as members of such a Society (Hear, hear). He
knew something about the manner in which the credulity of
millers was often imposed upon, but lie thought that by
adopting a more rigorous system of trading, avoiding feeliugs
of jealousy, which he was sorry to say existed to a large ex-
tent among millers, and by frequently interchanging thoughts,
they might greatly diminish that evil. They would thus make
their own trade more sound, and improve bakers as a class.
He would be happy to join an Association formed for the pro-
tection of the London millers.

Mr. Smith (Sheffield) thought the success of that move-
ment would depend in a large degree on the formation of local
Associations, each of which would, in its own locality, collect
information which would be gathered, as it were, into a focus
iu the National Associations in London. No doubt it was
desirable to get the wise heads of Loudon to act together, but
they should also aim at co-operation between them jand the
country millers.

Mr. Ibeotson (Sheffield) thought that if there were an
Eihibition, including mill machinery, in England it would
prove very valuable to millers generally. Millers who wenj
to the Vienna Exhibition saw what was worth 50 gs. a year
to them in their trade. As regarded the bakers, lie believed
the promoters of that Association had no animosity towards
them, aud he felt certain that short sales would be an advan-
tage to the best of them, and would do good by lessening the
tendency to gambling.

The Chairman referred to Rule VII., to show that one object
contemplated on the framing of the rules was " the formation
of Branch or Distrrict Associations in all parts of the country,"
adding that, no doubt, the Council would render all assistance
in their power for that purpose throughout the kingdom.

Mr. Joseph Westley (Northampton), said as regarded
the bakers lie might observe that soon after the last meeting
a paper was distribnted by one of them in which the millers
were charged with uniting together to raise prices. He denied
that there was any foundation for that (Hear, hear). He felt
certain that with proper care they could produce a better
quality of flour, aud if some were unwilling others would try
to do it. What was done at Vienna and Buda-Pesth con-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

451

vinced him that they conld make flour 2s. a 3ack better in
quality, and of the same weight, by means of different ma-
chinery and a different process from the present one (Hear,
hear). As regarded sacks, lie might mention that last Satur-
day, being a wet day, he saw scores of sacks on people's
backs, with the names of a number of millers upon them.
Those sacks would no doubt afterwards be thrown down any-
where aud left to rot, and it was the millers who would suffer.
In concluding be earnestly contended that all millers must
derive practical and pecuniary benefit from such an Associa-
tion, and urged the adoption of American and Austrian im-
provements as essential to British and Irish millers keeping
ahead in the race.

The Chairman, alluding to the suggestion that mill
machinery should be exhibited, said he was a member of the

Committee which was preparing for the Exhibition of th9
Royal Agricultural Society in Loudon next year, and promised
to introduce that point at the next meeting of the Committee,
adding that in his opinion it would be a very useful addition to
the objects previously contemplated.

Mr. Richardson (Sunderland) expressed a hope that
the formation of that Association would create better feelings
towards each other among the millers throughout the country.
He did not see why they should not manufacture the finest
flour in the world. As they obtained the finest wheats it would
be their own fault if they did not (Hear, hear).

A number of gentlemen then paid the members' subscrip-
tion, and the proceedings terminated, it having been previously
announced that the Council would meet that day fortnight.

MR. MILLER'S BREEDING FARM AT BEECHER, ILLINOIS,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JIARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — As the rage for Shorthorn speculation is some-
what abated, prices sadly depressed, aud the prospect for
Herefords much improving, I think it will not be out of
place for me to give you a description of the best breeding
farm iu the United States, consisting of Hereford cattle,
Cotswold sheep, and Berkshire hogs — that of Mr. Miller,
at Beecher, Illinois. Mr. Miller, being tired of city life,
purchased this large farm of 1,200 acres, which he was
determined to improve; then studied for a long time
what course to take to make it pay. He looked upon the
Shorthoru mania as very dangerous to engage in, read
different authors on cattle, and took a wide survey of the
country to examine the different breeds most popular,
and, after a thorough examination, came to the conclusion
that the Herefords are not only the best cattle but those
most promising to pay. He was very discreet in his
purchases, not led away by excitement, but determined
that whatever breed he did adopt he would support it
with energy. He says he has not regretted the course
taken, and feels assured that he shall triumph over the
boasted Shorthorns, notwithstanding the predictions of
prophets, the extravagance of fancy men, and the delusions
of fashion. His good judgment kept him on the night
track, and I fully believe he will reap a just reward. I
know the value of the Herefords, and am fully aware of
the prejudice and abuse they have received from Shorthorn
speculators in this country. They, also knowing their
value, did not scruple to do them all the injury they
possibly could, and, having a large capital to support
them, they bad great power and influence. Having this
advantage, it led them into the mania that about ruined
half of thera, and has brought the other half to a more
sober aud discreet sense of good breeding. Mr. Miller
has now upwards of 100 head of breeding cows, and they
may be safely pronounced breeders, for he has but one
cow hopeless, the others all regular aud in order. There
are now about 50 calves (as many more to come), and to
see them in their different divisions, with their clean
white faces, symmetrical bodies of quality, covered with a

thick mellow protective hide as a safeguard to constitution,
i9 a sight to behold. These are characteristics of the
whole herd, and to see their white faces at the head of
each division would cheer any unprejudiced breeder
Breeders of Shorthorns have always been fearful of these
white faces, made them a strong objection, and when I
brought them to this country I was considered an inno-
vator, and they set at me with a determination to drive
me to perdition, if their money and the power it gave
them could do it. But as I intend to write the history
of the Herefords in this country, and the struggle I have
had with them, I will rest here and briefly discuss the
position they now occupy. Mr. Miller's first object was
to build a barn, and, having the capital to do it, he did it
substantially and extensively, for the underground stable,
well ventilated, contains 140 beasts of different ages. On
the top of the barn is a double-headed windmill — that is,
two mills iu one. This power thrashes his grain, cuts
the chaff and the roots, and pumpi the water from a
never-failing well. Over this stable is space for upwards
of 600 tons of hay, and a granary for 0,000 bushels of
grain. The barn is 100 feet by 132, thus giving room
in the stables for wide passages, with sufficient space to
drive a waggon and team, from which the manure is
drawn away daily and applied to the soil, according to
the discretion and judgment of the owner. This barn
cost Mr. Miller 10,000 dollars, aud he preferred to build
it instead of a new house at the same cost, with an addi-
tion of 10,000 more of fanciful fashionable furniture. He
is perfectly contented with a snug cosy cottage, containing
every comfort, with a most exrellent wife to administer
it, and, haviug plenty of the necessaries of life, happiness,
and prosperity, is satisfied. Such examples are patterns
to society and benefactors to theu* country. To see the
white faces in each division as they are out in the lots, or
yards, so uniform in good character, is a picture that no
man can realise unless he sees it. Then we go to the
sheep yards and sheds where the Cotswolds are kept.
They have access to the sheds when inclined, which is the

LIS

452

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

true way to keep sheep in winter. None can be healthy
under close confinement. Hen many Cotswold breeders
make great mistakes ; keeping their sheep in close con-
lined quarters they think they are doing them kindness,
while they are not only destroying the profits of the sheep
but producing disease and death, which occasions them to
become discouraged, and to condemn the breed for the
lack of their own experience. Such men are apt to be
proud in their ignorance — are generally guided by men no
better informed than themselves, though equally proud —
and nothing is more intolerable than proud ignorance.
Here I found 100 ewes, many of them imported from the
best flocks in England. I think it would be difficult to
find a better flock even there. The ram at the head of it
is as good a specimen of a true Cotswold as I have ever
seen in this country, and, what is more to his credit, he
was bred here. Mr. Clark, Mr. Miller's neighbour, bred
him. His sire and dam were imported by Mr. G.
Morgan, who is now the superintendent of Mr. Miller's
establishment. I saw these animals when first imported,
and mnst say that I never saw a better lot of 15 on this
side of the ocean. When the 30 ewe lambs, which are
very superior, go into this flock, and 30 of the cull ewes
are drawn out, I think the flock will be equal to any in
England. All the lambs from a week to ten days old are
out in the pasture with their dams, without shelter,
looking healthy and thriving finely. They are fed with a
little grain, which keeps the old and new grass they are
feeding on together, keeping both ewe and lamb in a
healthy state.

We then went to the Berkshires, where we found
about 30 breeding sows, now pregnant. Their pens,
though not extravagant, or built for display, are exceed-
ingly comfortable ; and are convenient to the steamer
with which the food is cooked. He had some of the best
imported families, and I think one sow and her litter of
six sows and three boars are a hard family to excel,
whilst others are not behind them. Mr. Miller is deter-
mined to get the best Berkshires he can find, if he cannot
keep the stock up of his different families without breeding.
The whole establishment is carried on with system, dis-
cretion, and good order.

I come now to the policy of showing at fairs. Mr.
Miller knew he had a strong current to contend with in
Shorthorns, pampered and nursed to extremes, so as to
destroy breeding aptitude and constitution ; he at length
made up his mind to meet them with flesh, as there was
no alternative, his rivals being encouraged by societies,
with more numerous premiums. Notwithstanding this
was an arduous undertaking; he resolved on the venture,
even if he had to sacrifice some of his best animals in it,
and as the Society of the State of Illinois had offered
liberal premiums in herds and sweepstakes for all breeds,
he went there with a determination to try his fortune.
Every animal he showed, of sufficient age, was a regular
breeder, although considered fleshy. Here, their thick
mellow hides, with quality, gave him the advantage over

his opponents. His animals, having the constitution to
support the flesh they carried, were able to contend as
breeders, and show. how capable they were of maintaining
their offspring, and he was eminently successful. He
took first prize for a bull, and for five of his get, with his
single herd against ten herds of Shorthorns from Illinois
and other States ; second for bulls and five cows ; second
for five calves ; second for cow. This was the most
extensive and best show of Shorthorns ever held at any
State fair in Illinois. At the Northern Oh\ Fair at
Cleveland, in competition with all breeds aud open to the
world, he took first sweepstakes premium for the best
bull and four cows or heifers bred and owned by the
exhibitors ; first sweepstakes premium for best bull and
five of his get, male or female. This was another tri-
umph against the Shorthorn speculators, and with the
animals Mr. Miller is now preparing for show, he will
be able to prove that the Herefords are equal if not supe-
rior to Shorthorns. I have been thus convinced from
my youth, and no man living can voluntarily believe con-
trary to his convictions, or doubt when he is convinced.
If he affects to do otherwise he deceives himself. Now,
gentlemen of Executive Committees of State Societies, do
your duty, give Herefords a fair chance under unprejudiced
judges ! Mr. Morgan is the best feeder to keep cattle in
condition and retain their breeding qualities I have ever
met with. He never allows animals to go down and
up, but keep them at one standpoint, which is the
greatest secret. I am Sir, &c,

Wm. H. Sotham.
Bescher Illinois.

TRIBUNALS OF ROOKS.— Rooks (says Mr. Diarraid)
like men, have not all the same nice sense of justice. Some
of them are honest, obliging, and industrious, others knavi»b
idle, aud mischievous. In the spring months in particular
when they are all busy building nests or repairing old ones,
certain evil-doers invade their neighbours' store of sticks to save
themselves the trouble of collecting materials in a more
laborious and lawful way. This to some may appear a very
venial crime, but what a plank is to a carpenter a twig is to a
crow, and to pilfer the one is as bad as to purloin the other.
But as often as offences of this kind are detected, a complain
is made to the proper quarter, and the delinquent tried and
punished by his peers. Some veteran bird acts as chief justice,
anl from the bustle that goes forward, the cawing of some
rooks and the silence of others, it is plain that the court pro-
ceed upon system, though I cannot subcribe to the startling
opinion that they examine witnesses and empanel a jury
The presiding rook, who sifs on a bougli above all the others
is heard croaking last of all, and when sentence is pronounced
punishment follows very promptly. Either the culprit it
seized and pecked most severely, or the nest containing the
ill-gotten twigs is pounced upon and demolished, until not one
stick is left upon another. — The Wbru. of Wonders.

THEIR WAY OF PUTTING IT.— An Am erican paper
classifies births, marriages and deaths under the headings
" Cradle," " Altar," " Tomb," another under those of
"Hatched," ''Matched," "Despatched,"

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

453

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

{From

VI. and VII.— TENANT RIGHT.

First amongst the reforms of our land system I deal with
Tenant Right, because nothing would so quickly bring capital
in abundance to work upon the neglected soil of this country
as a law securing to tenants a right to compensation for their
unexhausted improvements. Other reforms, such as the re-
peal of the laws which restrict the sale of land, aud allow it
to be tied up in the hands of those who, through settlements,
have neither the power nor inducement to do justice to it,
would, no doubt, in tune work wonders ; but a iust and ef-
'ective system of Tenant Right would at once set the capital
and energies of men to work upon the land without the ne-
cessity of waiting for changes in our system of land-ownership
to be brought about. By Tenant Right I mean a tenant's
right 1o compensation for his unexhausted improvements,
secured by means of a compulsory law. Nothing short of this
would be effectual. Those who understood the relative po-
sition of landlord and tenant in this country did not need the
failure of the Agricultural Holdings Act to prove this to
them. Indeed, I am not prepare! to say that the failure of
that Act does prove it iu a very satisfactory manner, because
the measure is intrinsically objectionable in other points than
that of its permissive character. Its adoption would cer-
tainly involve costly litigation : in many ways it restricts the
tenant who desires to improve his holding ; and its conditions
are in several respects unfair and inadequate to the attainment
of its assumed object. It would take up too much space to
explain fully in what particulars the Act is unsatisfactory.
That it is so is sufficiently shown by the fact that many
tenants who have had the option ot coming under it have
declined — a fact which, however, by no means exonerates
from the charge of illiberality and injustice the vast majority
of landlords, who have refused to let their tenants have the
choice of farming under an Act of Parliament which would
afford them a small modicum of security for their capital.
Almost any tenant would prefer a lease of moderate duration
to an agreement under the Act. And at times like the pre-
sent, when farms are at a discount, a tenant should be able to
bargain for far greater advantages than those which the Act
would afford.

On many estates rents have become depreciated some
twenty, thirty, and even fifty per cent. ; and in some districts
there are extensive areas of land for which no tenants can be
found. Under such circumstances one might think that
tenants could make pretty well their own terms ; yet I have
not heard of a single case in which a tenant has successfully
insisted on the negotiation of an agreement which will secure
his capital by giving him a legal claim to the value of all his
unexhausted improvements on quittiug. This fact affords far
more conclusive evidence of the need of a compulsory Act
than does the failure of the Agricultural Holdings Act. If
tenants, at a period of agricultural depression like the present,
cannot — or at least do not — obtain security for capital to be
invested in the land of their landlords, it is obvious that there
is no near prospect of the laud of this country being let on
terms advantageous to all concerned in its improved culture
without a compulsory law.

If anyone asks why, when there are possibly more farms

the Echo.)

to let than there are eligible tenants to hire them, the latter
cannot make good terms with landlords, my answer must be
twofold : Eirst, the habits of subservience which are ingrained
'n the nature of the British farm tenant, by long usage, and
almost by inheritance, are not to be got rid of in a day ; and,
secondly, a farmer may make an agreement which is, or which
he at least thinks to be, advantageous to himself, without any
such terms being insisted on as are indispensable to the best
farming, and therefore to the advantage of the nation at
large. There is no class in the country as subservient as that
of the agricultural tenants. They are not always uncomfort.
ably subservient, though they frequently are so, especially
when domineering agents and spying gamekeepers make them
feel their dependent condition sorely. But as a class they are
subjects of a survival of feudal sentiments ; they regard their
landlords as lords of something more than the acres which
they till ; and they have been too much in the habit of look-
ing to these lords for indulgences rather than rights, for ex-
emptions rather than the satisfaction of just claims. The
landlords, for their part, fight hard for the maintenance of
their old superiority and privileges, even at the cost of a great
pecuniary sacrifice. They will accept lower reuts, if need be •
but they will not give up their domineering pretensions, their
interference with the mode of cultivation of the land, or their
precious game. Thus we find rents lowered, but not Tenant
Right granted, or game given up.

Only the other day one of the most atrocious of farm agree-
ments was read at the Ixworth Farmers' Club; audit was not
an old agreement, but one recently issued by the receiver for
an estate in Chancery. Last week, again, The North British
Agriculturist called attention to the terms of some extremely
illiberal and tyrannical leases still curreut in different parts of
Scotland, and to the hard case of a tenant who felt obliged to
give up a farm which he had long held, and had greatly im-
proved, rather than submit to be tied hand and foot in the
transaction of his business, and eaten up with game without
compensation. In this case, too, it is notable that the old
tenant offered a higher rent, but declined to submit to the
abominable conditions of letting, and that a new tenant, who
was more subservient, was accepted at a lower rent under
those conditions ! If, however, the need of Tenant-Right
were merely a question between landlord and tenant, I, for
one, should be inclined to let them fight it out between them-
selves. English and Scotch farmers are not poor and helpless
men as most of the Irish tenants are, and they have quite
sufficient political power to enable them to stand up for their
rights if they chose to do so. They might be left to work out
their own emancipation, as in time they probably will if no
one interferes.

I am disposed to go even further still, and to admit that the
farmers have sufficient power t) take care of themselves to in-
validate the plea for interference with freedom of contract as
far as it is demanded in their interests only. But, as already
stated, they are by no mean* the only people concerned in the
proper cultivation of the soil, and they may be able to make
conditions satisfactory to themselves which was anything bu
advantageous to the public at large. For instance, a farmer
may hire a farm at such a low rent that, although he will

454 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

not dare to invest capital freely, because his agreement gives
him no claim to compensation if he dies or quits before he has
taken out what he had put into the land, he may yet do very
well on the hand-to-mouth system of farming. He may even
take a game farm — though that is very difficult — on such
terms as to lose nothing, though the hares and rabbits eat
more than he sells. Again, he may hire his occupation for a
long term of years, with a right secured to his executors to
carry on the farm or dispose of the lease if he dies before the
term expires, in which case he will have security for farming
well during a portion of the term. Now, in none of these
supposed cases i3 the interest of consumers, or even of farm
labourers, secured, though those of the tenant may be to a
limited extent. There is no inducement to invest the utmost
amount of capital that can be remuneratively applied to the
cultivation of the land . Though the tenant lives, the land may
be starved, the labourers half employed and ill-paid, and the
consumers short of meat and dairy produce, though not of
foreign corn. The demand for compulsory Ten ant-Right,
then, i« a question of public interest.

Can anyone believe that there would be a lack of capital
for the due development of the resources of the land of this
country if there were not some special reason for the defi-
ciency to which I have called attention ? It used to be roughly
estimated that farming paid a profit of ten per cent, on the
•flpital invested in it ; and although of late years that per.
centage has been greatly reduced — below zero in too many
cases— there is no reason why a recovery should not take
place. In a previous article I have given my reasons for
holding that extra capital employed in high-farming yields a
higher return than the minimum amount commonly used in
the prevalent low-farming of the country. Nor is this all.
Even if it be admitted that corn-growing can never again be
expected to pay as well a3 it paid in past times, before the
enormous productive resources of America and India were
developed, there are other branches of agricultural production
in which it is strange indeed if Englishmen cannot compete
with the whole world in their own markets, at least. Take
dairying, for instance, and consider the high prices which its
produce brings. The prices of milk, butter, and cheese are
nearly double those of a generation back. If, then, dairying
was not a losing business for our forefathers, it must be a very
lucrative one now, and, as a matter of fact, we know that it
pays well. But the French have beaten us in the production
of first-class butter and fancy cheese, and the American in
cheese of a medium quality. The improvement of pastures,
the purchase of a liberal supply of extraneous feeding stuffs,
the careful selection and improvement of dairy stock, invest-
ment in the best dairy implements, and in many cases, better
buildings — all these are needed to make our dairy farming
what it ought to be, and all require capital. The breeding of
horses, cattle, and sheep, again, pays better now than it has
done at any previous period, and this requires capital in abun-
dance. The fattening of stock does not give so good a direct
return as breeding does ; but the prices of meat are higher
than ever, and there is no doubt that the production of meat
would be pursued on a much more extensive scale than it is now
if the combined preventives, shortness of capital and the fear
of loss by disease, did not stop the way. Of the production
of eggs and poultry I will say nothing, because I am not sure
that in our climate it would pay as a largely-dfeveloped busi-
ness ; but many people think that we might produce all that
we coHsume, instead of importing a large proportion of the
quantity.

There is, indeed, a wide field for profitable agricultural
advancement, and nothing but an abundance of capital— of
course judiciously used — is wanting. Now, in this country
we have capital actually running to waste — in foreign loans,
reckless speculation, and bogus companies. It flows freely
enough to the fee-simple of land, although that form of in-
vestment only pays from 2 to 4 per cent. Surely, then, it
would not be withheld from farming, which pays more than
double, if reasonable security were afforded to it ? Of course,
as farming, like all other branches of business, is more or less
speculative, the tenant's capital can never be as safe as that
of the landlord ; but the extra profit quite compensates for
the extra risk, as far as that is involved in farming as a busi-
ness only. There is, however, under our existing system of
land tenure, a risk of quite another kind, the risk of confisca-
tion by the landlord,and that scares capital away from farming •
The difficulty of framing an equitable Act of Parliament for
securing to tenants their invested capital, as far as its value
exists in and on the land, has been enormously exaggerated.
To an outsider it may seem no easy matter to assess the value
of unexhausted improvements so as to do justice to landlord
and tenant alike ; but to an experienced valuer the case
presents very little difficulty. It is true that there are differ-
ences of opinion as to the value of improvements ; but no one
expects to have these assessed to within a pound or two of
their value ; and two valuers, with the services of an umpire
when they could not agree, would render justice in the vast
majority of cases. The landlord would be in no greater
danger of having to pay too much than the tenant would of
having to receive too little, while both classes would derive
very great advantages from a system which would conduce to
continuous good farming. So advantageous to both parties
were the tenant-right customs of Lincolnshire and portions of
adjoining counties considered to be by Mr. Pusey's Parliamen-
tary Committee, which sat in 1848, that the members of it
avowedly abstained in recommending compulsory legislation
—to which the evidence brought before them otherwise would
have led them — on the gronnd that the Lincolnshire customs
were so beneficial to landlord and tenant alike, that they
would be sure to spread gradually over the whole country.
Those customs have not spread to any appreciable extent from
that time to this, so jealous are landlords of their power, and
so retentive of their unjust privileges, whilst the tenants have
not been strong enough to insists upon their rights.

It is for the people to insist on the reform of the system of
letting land. If they wait till the farmers " work out their
own salvation" they will probably have to wait a very long
time ; and even then, as I have shown, the farmers' "salva-
tion" may not be theirs to an adequate extent, though it is
undoubtedly true that the farmers' utmost interests and those
of the public are one and the same. But, at any rate, the
people cannot afford to wait, for the land has been too long
neglected already. They need to take action at once, and, to
do so effectually, they must first get rid of what, in this case,
is the stupid prejudice "against interfering with what is called
freedom of contract. Real freedom of contract between land-
lord and tenant in this country does not exist, as what has
been previously stated sufficiently shows ; but if it did exist
it would not be satisfactory. The land is not the personal
property of either the landlord or the tenant. It belongs to
the State — that is, to the people ; and neither the steward,
the landlord, nor the sub-steward, the tenant, has a just claim
to do what he likes with it. The right of the nation to inter-
fere with the management of the land is only limited by what

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

455

Js fair and expedient. It would be perfectly justified in taking
possession of all the estates in the country after giving their
fair value to their present holders ; but it would probably be
inexpedient to do so. Agaiu, the State might rightly draw
up rigid forms of agreement for landlords and tenants, if it
were good policy to do so. But we all know that it is best to
leave human energy to work with a fair and proper amount
of freedom. Self-interest is the strongest motive force, and,
where it does not conflict with the general interest, it is the
wisest policy to leave it alone. In England we understand all
this quite well, and there is no fear of any unwise or unfair
interference with what are recognised as the rights, or the
harmless privileges, of property. Hitherto, however, the
State has interfered too little with the tenure of land, and
the decline of agriculture, which we now, unhappily, witness,
renders interference more than ever desirable.

A few years ago a rare opportunity was offered to our rulers
for putting the conditions of land tenancy on a satisfactory
basis. The Landlord and Tenant Bill, introduced to Parlia-
ment by Mr. James Howard and Mr. C. S. Read, was a just]
workable, and thorough measure. It was welcomed with de-
light by the more intelligent of the tenant-farmers throughout
the country, as calculated to do them justice ; and I do not
hesitate to affirm that it would not have wrouged a single
landlord to the extent of a sixpence. Indeed, its effect would
have been advantageous to all classes immediately concerned
in the ownership and cultivation of the land, and to the con-
sumer! of agricultural produce as well. It would have dis-
turbed some landlords' privileges, but it respected all their
rights. It would have given security to tenants' capital, and
then have brought wealth to the land for the benefit of all.
Even its opponents hardly had the effrontery to say anything
against it, except that it interfered with freedom of contract.
That was its chief merit, but by no means its only one. In
its detail it was vastly superior to the Agricultural Holdings
Act. It a fforded more liberty of action in improving, and
fairer compensation to tenants, and it involved no recourse to
litigation in the settlement of disputes. If it had been
passed, I do not say that it would have prevented the present
agricultural crisis, but I do say that it would have rendered
that crisis far less disastrous than it is. It would not have
stopped bad seasons from coming, but it would have brought
both pecuniary resources and confidence to the farmers, to
enable them to stand up against the pressure of a period of
adversity. What is needed now is to have the Agricultural
Holdings Act made more like the Landlord and Tenant Bill
in its details, and to have it made compulsory also. In its
present form the Act is nearly a dead letter, and is likely to
remain so to the end of time. It is for tho public to insist on
its being thoroughly amended and made to become au active
power for good. The labourers, or at least their leadeis, are
fully alive to the necessity of having this great reform brought
to pass, and that speedily ; and when they get the franchise
we may expect to see the question once more brought before
Parliameut. But the question is one for the people of the
towns as well as for the fanners and their workmen. The
power of the landlords and their allies, the plutocracy, is
great, and a great effort is ne«ded to overcome their resolute
and united opposition. Will the people of the towns join
the free farmers and the labourers in their efforts to override
lMhey cannot remove" it ?

VIII.— FREE TRADE IN LAND.
Even recognised abuses often live long and die hard ; but
't mny well be doubted whether in the history of the world an

instance can be fouud of equally long tolerance by a free and
sovereign people of an abuse at once so gigantic and so gene-
rally condemned as that of our British Land system. That
branch of the system which concerns the tenancy of land has
been too commonly regarded as a matter of interest chiefly
to landlords and tenants, if not to those classes only ; but it
has always been generally recognised that the ownership of the
soil is a matter of important interest to the nation at large.
It is true that our laud system in all its intricacy has not been
fully understood by the public ; but its evils have long been
known and felt. That the great bulk of the land is owned by
a few ; that a large majority of these are limited, and many
of them embarrassed, owners ; that land is difficult to pur-
chase when required, and that its transfer is tedious aud costiy
— all these things have long been known and complained of.
In short, the knowledge of the evils of the system has been
general and correct ; and it is only with respect to the causes
and remedies of these evils that some misapprehensions have
been rife ; nor have these misapprehensions heen of very great
importance, as they have chiefly consisted in the attribution
of an undue share of the mischief caused by our Land Laws
as a whole to one law, and too little to another. The laws
which sanction Entail and Primogeniture have been, until
recently, the chief subjects of attack, and the law which allows
of the settlement of estates for unreasonably long and in-
definite periods has not received its due share of considera-
tion. But then if it had not been for Entail aud Primogeni-
ture the vast system of settlements would never have been
devised. Our whole land system has heen expressly devised
with the intention of preserving the power and prestige of a
comparatively few families, and some of its worst evils, as far
as the public are concerned, have arisen from attempts to
diminish the hardship which a rigid adherence to the custom
of Entail aud Primogeniture had been found to iuvolve in the
cases of the families and connections of the owners of real
estate. It has been the fashion lately to deny that there is a
Low of Primogeniture, but this is a mere quibble. The law
does give to the eldest son, or to the nearest male heir, the
whole of the real estate when there is no will to the contrary.
Such a state of the law sanctions a pernicious and unjust
custom, and cannot fail to exercise a great influence, although
it is seldom left to take its course. Similarly, it has been
urged that no serious public disadvantages necessarily arise
from the creation of au estate in tail ; and this is true,
because the owner of an entailed estate is not necessarily a
limited owner, but may, in the absence of other limitations,
sell or give the estate to anyone. As a matter of fact, how-
ever, suck o.her limitations upon t'.ie power of an owner of
an entailed estate almost invariably exist, being often era-
bodied in the deed by which the entail was created. Thus>
while it is true that the law-sanctioned customs of Entail and
Primogeniture are not by themselves alone accountable for
the accumulation of land in the hands of a few, or for its owner-
ship by those who have no interest in its improvement or
power to dispose of it, those customs are nevertheless the
causes of the manifold evils which have arisen in connection
with them. The Law of Primogeniture should be abolished,
because its direct effect is mischievous when it comes into
effect, and also because its indirect effects are to sanction gross
injustice on the part of fathers towards their families, and to
keep land out of the market ; while the power of Entail
should be limited to lives iti being.

So many able writers have dealt with the nature and ei ils
of our Land Law« that it would be mere repetition to go

456

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again over the entire field, even it I had sufficient space at my
command in which to do so. There is absolutely nothing
new to be said on the subject, and those who have not studied
it, and desire to understand it, may well be referred to such
works as Cliffe Leslie's " Laud Systems," "Systems of Land
Tenure," published by the Cobden Club ; Mr. Wren Hoskins'
" Catechism of the English Land System," and an able series
of letters still in course of publication— at unfortunately wide
intervals— in the Manchester Examiner, by Mr. Joseph Kay,
Q.C., which, I am informed will be reprinted in a volume when
completed.

The public are by this time sufficiently familiar with the
gist of the information so imperfectly conveyed by the
publication of the moderu "Domesday Look." That return
is not only incorrect, it is misleading, as it includes amongst
owners leaseholders of 99 years and upwards, whilst amongst
those which figure as small proprietors a considerable propor-
tion are merely owners, or leaseholders, of building-plots-
The return requires a through revision ; but such as it is it
conveys some important facts. Some excellent summaries of
the return are published in The Financial Reform Almanack
for the present year, from one of which it appears that 2,181
individuals hold 38,875,522 acres of land, or 2,815,542 acres
more than half the reported acres of the United Kingdom,
exclusive of the metropolis ; while 421 persons hold
22,880,755 acres, or 4,850,705 acres more than a fourth part
of the total area. Such an accumulation of landed property
in a few hands is not to be found in any other country under
the sun, and there can be no reasonable doubt that the cause
of it is our peculiar Land Laws, which have been only too
luccessfully devised to keep large estates intact. These laws
are described as follows by Mr. Kay, in one of the letters
above referred to : —

"I. The laws whieh allow a landowner, by his deed, or
by his will, to prevent his laud being sold or seized, or
lessened in size, either during his life, oi for many years after
his death.

"2. The law which, if the landowner does not avail him-
self of his power to make such a deed or will, gives all his
land, without diminution or charge, and in one undivided
estate, to the landowner's next ' heir.' This is the law of
Primogeniture.

"3. The laws which allow the landowner, without selling
any portion of his estate, to let portions for long terms of
years, from 99 to 999 years, and to subject them to all kinds
of covenants, which affect these portions for generations
after the death of the landowner, and after a change
of all the circumstances under which the leases were
made."

Upon land so tied up by means of these laws the most
burdensome settlements may be made, and the extent of what
are called the " powers" which British law confers upon a
landowner are such as no one but a lawyer can fully compre-
hend. After referring to marriage settlements on wives,
marriage portions for daughters, rent charges, payments of
annuities, and mortagages, and various other charges on
estates, Mr. Kay says: — " I am far from having given any
complete idea of the powers which our law confers upon the
landowner. It not only permi's him to leave the surface of
his land to one set of persons so tied up that it cannot be
sold, but it allows him to leave the minerals under the surface
to another set of persons, and the timber on the estate to a
third. So, he may give the legal ownership and manage-

ment of the land to one set of persons, without any right to
use for themselves any portion of the rents, and he may give
the rent to another set. So, he may give the legal owner-
ship of the estate to one set of persons, and give them a right
to pay rents to any person or persons they may select. So,
he may direct that the land shall go to one set of persons
after his death, and that if some indicated event happens it
shall go to another set of persons. So, if lie finds his son has
got into the hands of the money-lenders he may, if the land
is not already settled by one of these deeds or wills, settle the
land upon that son's child, so as to enable the child of the
unworthy son to come iuto the ownership freed from every
embarrassment. All t'iese and hundreds of other strange
powers are given to the owner of the laud by our law,
although such privileges and powers would not be endured by
the law of any other civilised country.

Thus land is trammelled in almost every conceivable way,
the obvious intention being to resort to any expedient to
raise money upon it other than the proper one — that of the
sale of a portion of it. The utmost ingenuity of the lawyers
has been exhausted to push such expedients to their ntmost
legal limits, although it would be difficult to say what class
but that of the lawyers themselves benefits by the continuance
of such a cumbrous system. A little reflection will convince
anyone that the landowners cannot fail to be heavy losers by
such a costly, and, in all respects, uneconomical system. In
my next article I shall have something to say as to the effects
of the system upon the interests of other classes.

IX.— FREE T1UDE IN LAND (Continued).

Since I wrote the article which appeared last week
Mr. Joseph Kay has published another of his excellent letters
in the Manchester Examiner. In it he sums up his previous
statements as to the result of our Land Laws thus : —

" I endeavoured to show that these Laws —

" 1. Prevent estates being sold which would otherwise
undoubtedly come into the market.

" 2. Lessen due parental control,

" 3. Induce careless landowners to be tenfold more careless
than they otherwise would be about the education of their
children.

" 4. Maintain in influential possitions men unworthy of
those positions.

" 5. Deprive many landowners of the means of properly
managing their estates.

" 6. Tend very greatly to retard the progress of Agricultu-
ral improvement.

•' 7. Render it necessary to make the deeds and wills very
long and expensive.

"8. Pender it often very difficult and expensive for a
purchaser to ascertain the state of the title of a plot of land
he may wish to purchase.

" 9. Often leave the actual title to a plot of land uncertain,
»pite of all the labour and expeuse bestowed on its careful
investigation.

" 10 Deprive the small farmers, the shopkeepers, and the
peasants of almost all chance of buying land.

<-ll Aggravate all the above-mentioned evils in Ireland by
the curses.of absenteeism and agent management."

Thcie evils undoubtedly result from the existence of our
abominable Land Laws ; and surely they; constitute a sufficient
indictment against these laws, and prove what I stated
last week, that no class is really benefited by such a land
system as ours, unless it be that of the lawyers. There is

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

457

very little laud iu tin; country tree from the blighting influence
of these laws, and probably nearly three-fourths of the total
area is subject to the full force of that influence, as it has been
estimated that upwards of 70 per cent, of the hind is in the
hands of limited owners, holding under settlements — that is to
say, in the hands of landlords who have a direct interest iu
getting all they can out of the land, and spending nothing
upon it. To a great extent, it is the long continued
existence of this state of affairs which has given
rise to the demand for Tenant Right. By far the
most valuable improvements that tenants need compensati in
for when they carry them out are those which should be made
by the landlords. Buildiug, draiuing, and many other
improvements which permanently raise the value of a farm
shall be carried out by the rent-receiver, and not by the rent-
payer, although it wculd be manifestly advantageous to render
it safe for either to execute such improveinemts without the
risk of their benefit being appropriated by someone else.
But, as already observed, on the vasl majority cf estates it is
directly contrary to the interest of the rent receiver — just
because he is that only, and not an owner iu the true sense
of the term — to spend any money on his land. Every shilling
of his own that he sinks in the estate is so much out of the
pockets of his younger children, and goes to swell tha already
unequal portion of the eldest son. It is true that he can
borrow money for the purposes of improvement, and almost
the only good that the Agricultural Holdings Act has dons is
to afford facilities to limited owners to charge their estates
with money so expended ; but even in doing this there are
vexatious limitations and conditions, while the rates of interest
and expenses charged by loan companies are together almost
prohibitory. At the best, improvements carried out by a
limited owner are done under a difficult aud cumbrous aystem,
at greater expenses than they would cost an " absolute " owner
and without full liberty to execute them as lie pleases. When
in addition to such discouragements to improvement by
landlords, those which similarly affect tenants are considered
the infatuation of the makers and cobblers of our Laud Laws
strikes one as perfectly astouuding. Not satisfied with
allowing land to ,be so tied up that the great majority of
owners were virtually prohibited from doing their duty by it,
those Unwise Men of the West made it law that everything
affixed to or put into the soil by the tenant should, in the
absence of agreement to the contrary, become the property of
the landlord without compensation. Of course I do not
charge one set of law-makers with the whole of these acts of
folly, nor pretend to be following a chronological
order in making the above statement. Our Land System was
not built up in a generation, and tenants' disabilities preceded
some of those which affect landlords ; but, from the first
framer to the last patcher of the laws to which 1 am refering
hardly one is free from blame, and the best that can be said of
them collectively is that they could not possibly foresee the full
mischief of what they were doing. Our strongest reprehen-
sion, however, should be reserved for those of our law-maker8
of the present day who knowing the evils of the Land Laws
resolutely oppose reform.

Mr. Kay has not in the slightest degree exaggerated the,
bad results of our Land Laws in the summary quoled above.
As a lawyer he can appreciate much more fully than I can
some of those results ; but, unless he is a farmer also, I venturc
to thiuk that he cannot adequately realise others. Take his
sixth result for an instant of the latter, and everyone will
admit that it requires an intimate acquaintance with agricul-

tural requirements to estimate it in all its bearings. In
previous articles I have shown how a short period of agricul-
tural adversity has brought upon this country a collapse of the
farming interest, felt directly or indirectly by us all, and
culminating in a decline o! our agriculture, which will have
an impoverishing effect upon the nation at large for many
years to come. 1 have also endeavoured to show that this
cri is is by no means attributable solely to a succession of bad
seasons, but that, on the contrary, its severity is to a great
extent traceable to the land-starving effects of our Land Laws-
effects which, it has also b en remarked, are only tou plainly
visible at the best of times. And — if I may use a convenient
though not very appropriate metaphor — just as a few squalls
have had power to bring the thip British Agriculture to a
state of partial wreck, because of iier waterlogged condition
io when winds are lair again will her progress be retarded by
her general unseaworthiness. Throughout the length and
breadth of the land the great need of agricultural improvement
is sadly visible to the appreciative spectator. Farm buildings
requiring repair and addition; new cottages wanted; land
" water-slaiu " for the want of drainage, or sour from the lack
of chalking; and sea-walls, water-courses, fences, roads, all
demanding attention. The waste in fattening stock and in
preserving manure, due to the waut of covered yards, alone
amounts to an enormous annual loss to the country ; yet
neither landlords nor tenants build them. It is the landlord's
part to put them up, charging interest to the tenant, who in
nine cases out of ten would gladly pay a small increase in rent
for so great an advantage. But if a limited owner borrowed
the money of a loan company to build with, he would require
to charge too much to the tenant, merely to hold himself free
of an annual loss, and profit would be out of the question.
It is the same through the whole range of the many improve-
ments that are so urgently needed on the vast majority of the
estates of this country ; the landlord, as a rule will not execute
them because he has no interest in doing so, and the tenant
dare not. The farmer's workmen and his cattle are alike
badly and inconveniently housed in consequence of this state
of affairs, and the workmen in additisn are sufferers by
the hindrances imposed on all kinds of farming enterprise. It
remains yet to refer to other grievances of our peasantry,
which result even more directly from the want of Free Trade
ia l™d. A Free Farmer.

" CAPPING" IT.— This may not be quite new, but it has
a fresh flavour about if. A Yorkshireman and a man from
Leicestershire were bragging about the respective merits of
their counties. " In Leicestershire," says one, " if you put a
horse into a field of short grass over-night it '11 be as high as
his knees in the morning." " In my county," says the other
" you may put a horse into a field where there is not a blade
■)( grass over-night, and in the morning you won't be able to
see him at all." They sometimes steal horses in Yorkshire —
I arid.

POLYTECHNIC-DIVING BELL.-The following has
been sent to us and vouched for as a fact ; — A well-dressed
man a few days ago paid his fee to go down in the diving bell.
He entered, but just as it was swinging off he called out "Stop !
stop ! " and bundling out, had only just time to make his exit
ere the bell reached the water. " What's the matter ? " said
Anderton, the attendant. " Matter enough," replied he •
" think I'm going to trust myself in there ! The 'tarnal thing's
got no boltwti '."—-Public Opinion,

458

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FREE

TRADE

IN

LAND.

No. VI.

After another long interval Mr. Joseph Kay has published
his sixth letter iu The Manchester Examiner. We
append only that portion of it which belongs strictly to
the subject of Free Trade in Land, not having space for
the whole : — ■

In No IV., published on the 14th February last {M.L.E.
March 18), and in No. V., published on the 28th February
la3t {M.L.E. April 1), I endeavoured, without mentioning
names, or making any attack on individuals for what I con-
sider the faults of a system of laws, to point out, as shortly
and clearly as I could, some of the direct consequences of our
English land laws, which permit an owner to bind an estate
by deed or will for so many years after the owner's death.

I endeavoured to show that these laws : —

1. Prevent estates being sold which would otherwise un-
doubtedly come into the market.

2. Lessen due parental control.

3. Induce careless landowners to be tenfold more care-
less than they otherwise would be about the education of their
children.

4. Maintain iu influential positions men unworthy of those
positions.

5. Deprive many landowners of the means of properly
managing their estates.

0. Tend very greatly to retard the progress of agricultural
improvement.

7. Render it necessary to make the deeds and wills very
loug and expensive.

8. Render it often very difficult and expensive for a pur-
chaser to ascertain the 3tate of the title of a plot of land he
may wish to purchase.

9. Often leave the actual title to a plot of land uncertain,
spite of all the labour and expense bestowed on its careful
investigation.

10. Deprive the small farmers, the shopkeepers, and the
peasants of almost all chance of buying land.

11. Aggravate all the above-mentioned evils in Ireland by
the curses of absenteeism and agent management.

In this letter I propose to show what are some of the less
direct, but the no less certain, consequences of our English
system of land laws. But before I do this I feel obliged to
notice a lecture recently delivered by an able gentleman, Mr.
Arthur Arnold, who has written much upon the subject of
these letters.

The report of his lecture is headed, " Mr. Arthur Arnold
on Free Land," and I notice that in his lecture he uses the
term of " free land" no less than fourteen or fifteen times.
I have read and re-read his lecture several times, as I have
nearly all his other writings on this subject, and I fail to
understand what he means by the term, which he employs so
constantly. Sir Henry James, Q.C., M.P., one of our ablest
lawjers, said at Taunton that he did not in the least under-
stand what was meant by the term. And if an able lawyer
jike Sir Henry is puzzled by the term, what must be its effect
on minds ignorant of all laws, and especially of this really
difficult subject of the land laws ?

Is it not a grievous pity for earnest men, who desire to

promote reform on this subject, to make use of terms which
are capable of the most obnoxious and injurious interpreta-
tions, and which are certain to strengthen the doubts and
opposition of enemies, and even of hesitating friends ? " Free
land" may mean land freed from all law whatever ; or that
land should belong to those who are strong enough to seize
and hold ; or that all land should belong to the State, who
should divide, or let, or lend it as it wills ; or that it should
be freed from all claims and titles at present affecting it; or,
as the agricultural labourers' journals are now seriously, but
alas ! how ignorantly or wickedly, arguing, that every peasant
should have a plot of land granted to him out of the great
estates ; or, in fact, many other equally obnoxious significa-
tions. And in truth, be it my own fault or not, although I
have read and re-read Mr. Arnold's lecture with the greatest
care, I fail to understand what specific reforms he desires, or
how the reforms he mentions could effect the object he has at
heart.

But what I am most anxious to urge upon all land-law
reformers is this — we have enough opposition without in-
creasing it by using vague and alarming terms, which only
serve to create opponents, without even teaching or enlighten-
ing friends. Land-law reformers are already sufficiently mis-
understood, and the difficulties of the subject are already
sufficiently great without our increasing them by language
which is only calculated to alarm, without being capable of
instructing. At any rate, I cannot say too often or too
strongly that I am not to be numbered among those who
desire " free land " in any sense which can be reasonably
attached to the term. I wonder, as was snggested to me a
few days ago by a thoughtful and intelligent friend, where
the free-trade question wonld be even now if its advocates had
gone about discussing vaguely " free corn."

Neither do I in the least understand whatMr. Arnold means
by registration. To pass a law meaely requiring registration,
without more, would only add to the already vast difficulties
and expense and intricacies of titles, and would be a real curse
xnstead of a blessing. This has again and again been pointed
out, and commented upon by the opponents of reform with
truth and justice. And when Mr. Arnold speaks of " the sub-
stitution of transfer by registration of title for transfer by deed
of conveyance " I really do not understand what he means, or
how such a thing could be accomplished, except by rendering
sale and transfer almost impossible.

It is most truly to be deplored that these vague expressions
should be used by an able and earnest man, when there are
plenty of legal opponents to seize upon them, and use them as
instances of the wildness of the schemes which are being
proposed by the supporters of reform.

But to pass to the more immediate subject of this letter,
which is the continuance of Nos. 4 and 5, I will now con-
sider

WHAT ABE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THESE ENGLISH LAND
LAWS P

Few persons who have read or thought at all will need to
be told by me that for many generations the clas3 of the land-
owners has been the most powerful class in the State, or that
*hey have almost monopolised the power of one House of our

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

459

Legislature, whilst they have been, when united, the pre-
dominant and by far the most powerful section of the other, or
lower House. It is not, therefore, matter for surprise, knowing
what wc do of human nature, that they should have used, or
that they should still use, their opportunities in the promotion
of the power and interests of their own class, however patriotic
and honourable their couduct may have been where their own
class iuterests were not particularlj concerned, or not more
concerned than the general interests of the community.

I propose, therefore, to explain, as simply as 1 can, some of
the advantages and privileges which the landlord class has
secured for itself, merely remarking that if the land laws I have
described had not bound them together by a strong sense of
common interest and supported them in a position of great
wealth and power they never would have been able to retain
so long the exclusive privileges which, in days of greater
ignorance and of less general wealth, they created for them,
selves.

12. The Law of Distress.

If a Manchester merchant were to hire from a jobmaster a
carriage and pair for two years, at £400 a year, and at the end
of the first year were to inform the jobmaster that he was un-
able or unwilling to pay for the first year's hire, the only
remedy which the jobmaster would have in order to obtain his
£400 would be to commence an action to recover his £400, to
go to trial, to recover a verdict and judgment, and then to
instruct the sheriff to seize so much of the merchant's goods,
&c, as would be sufficient to satisfy the claim for £400 and
the costs of the action and other proceedings. If, while these
proceedings were pending, the merchant should become in-
olvent, the jobmaster would be only able to come in with the
other creditors and to obtain as much for each pound that was
owing to him as the other creditors obtained. Surely all this
is fair and equitable. The merchant might be able to show at
the trial that he ought not to be called upon to pay, on account
of the fraud or misconduct of the jobmaster, or by reason of
the terms of the original agreement, such as, for instance, that
the jobmaster was not to be paid if the carriage or horses did
not answer certain stipulated requirements, &c. &c.

But the powerful class of landowners long ago secured
themselves against the delays and expenses and uncertainties
of law, and so arranged the law that they should have a 3hort
easy, and summary remedy in their own hands for obtaining
their rents, freed from all necessity of applying to lawyers.

If a farmer take a farm for, say, two years, at a rent of
£400 a year, without a word being said about " distress" or
anything of the sort ; and if, like the merchant, he is urAble
at the end of his first year to pay his rent of £400, the land-
lord is enabled by the law, by means of his agents, and without
the trouble or expense or delay of an action, or trial, or judg-
ment, or execution, to enter upon the farm, and to seize enough
of the cattle, stock, furniture, &c, as wili, when sold by public
auction, suffice to satisfy his claim for rent and for all the
expenses of entry, seizure, taking care of the property seized,
the sale, &c. Nay more, if the farmer proves to have many
more creditors and to owe much more than £400 to each of
several other creditors for the very cattle, stock, and furniture
so seized, the landlord may disregard these unfortunate credi-
tors, and, even if the farmer has been made insolvent and his
affairs put into the Bankruptcy Court, so that his property
may be divided equally and equitably amongst all the creditors,
as in the case of the merchant, the landlord may still seize so
much of the farmer's stock, cattle, furniture, &c,, as will-

satisfy his £400 and all the costs he, the Iandlord,ihas been
put to.

If this is a fair law for the landowners, why should it not
be also fair for the jobmaster and for all men of business ?
Why should not the Manchester merchant be able to distrain
on the calico printer for the value of the cloth lie has sent to
be priated, or upon his customer for the goods he has pur-
chased from him P why should not the shopkeeper be allowed
to distrain upon the customer, who has carried off a large
amount of goods on credit and who does not pay when that
credit has expired ?

Why should the landowner, in short, be allowed to take the
law into his own hands, and to be favoured more than the
rest of the farmer's creditors, when all other creditors except
landlords are compelled to resort to expensive legal proceed-
ings to make out their claim, and, in case of the insolvency
of the debtor, only to take their proportion of what remaius
to be divided ? The only reasonable answer is that the land-
owning class has been rendered by the land laws so strong
and so united that they have been able to obtain these laws in
their own favour, and to defend and keep them after they were
once obtained.

This law of" distress" was originally derived from the
ancient feudal law, and after the power of the Church and
Crown had been greatly diminished, and after Parliament
became, as it did after the expulsion of James II., mainly
the representative of the landowning class, this law was
rendered more stringent against the tenants by many Acts of
Parliament.

13. THE LAW OF FIXTURES.

Another extraordinary landowners' lav/, which was esta-
blished in feudal times, and which the landowners have been
strong enough to retain down to the present day, though not
in all its original severity and unfairness, is the law relating
to what are called in legal phraseology " fixtures."

In the feudal times it was settled that the law should be,
that whatever a tenant of land (whether tenant only from
year to year or tenant under a lease) annexed to the land
during his tenancy, should belong from that moment to the
landowner, and not to the tenant, who had paid for it and
annexed it. All the tenant's legal right to such annexed
thing, however costly it was, ceased from the moment it was,
annexed.

But might made right in the feudal days, when these laws
were first enforced, and might makes these same laws, though
somewhat modified, right now. The trading classes struggled
from the earliest times against this landowner's law, and
gradually obtained exemptions in favour of " trade fixtures,"
or those erected for the purpose of trade and business, but
the law has always operated, and still operates, most severely
against agricultural tenants, though some very insufficient and
unsatisfactory modifications, subject to conditions which seem
designed to render them nugatory, have recently been granted
to them, to satisfy the growing discontent— a discontent which
accompanied, and was the result of, growing intelligence.
To show how hardly this law presses upon the tenant, who
most probably knows nothing whatever about it when he com-
mences his tenancy, let me give a few instances.

If the tenant erect a conservatory on a brick foundation,
he cannot remove it at the end of the tenancy, however short
that tenancy, or however much the conservatory may have
cost him, but it becomes, as soon as erected, the property of
the landowner. So, too, if the tenant erect greenhouses in

400

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

his garden, or a veranda to the house, or wind or water-mills,
or storehouses, they belong to the landowner as soon as
erected, and cannot be removed. I give these merely as in-
stances of what seems a mo-.t unjust and inexpedient law.
And it must be carefully borne in mind that the law is equally
stringent even if the " fixture" can be removed without doing
the least injury to the property to which it is affixed, and it is
equally stringent no matter what the cost or value of the
"fixture" may have been. It is no answer to say that the
tenant when lie took the house or farm knew the law, and,
therefore, knowing the law, chose for some reason to go to
the expense. As every lawyer kuows, and as the thousands
of cases litigated on this subject show, not one man in ten
thousand kuows anything about this law ; it is scarcely ever
mentioned in leases, and even where it is it is only with
reference to the " fixtures" already on the premises ; and it is
certain that few lawyers even, without consulting the great
tomes on landlord and teuant law, and on " fixtures," would
be able to say off hand whether a particular article were a
"fixture" or not, or were subject to this strange power and
privilege of the landowner.

It is a law which has existed at least since Edward I.'s
reign. It emanated from the power of the great landowning
class. It is sustained by the same power now.

Of course, if a valuable " fixture" could not be removed
without injuring the premises to which it was attached no
such removal should by law be permitted until ample com-
pensation had been made to the owner of the premises for all
such injury, whether prospective or otherwise. And it must
be remembered that if this law were repealed to-morrow it
would always be open to the landlord, before letting his
premises, to make it a term of the agreement that the tenant
should put up no fixture and make no alteration iu the premi-
ses during the tenancy, and that if he did he should pay heavy
compensation, and that the fixture should beloug to the land-
lord. In such a case, each party would be fairly and fully
warned instead of a tenant being trapped, as now, by ignor-
ance into a heavy expenditure, all of which goes to the benefit,
not of himself, but of the landlord.

PRESERVATION OF ANIMAL

SUBSTANCES.

Recently Dr. B. W. Richardson, F.R.S., delivered
one of the course of Cantor lectures before the Society
of Arts on " Some researches on putrefaction, and their results
in relation to the preservation of animal substances." He
said it was necessary for the perfect preservation of animal
substances to retain the colour, odour, reaction, water, con-
sistency, and microscopical appearance, and, if the substance
be for food, the continuance of natural colour and odour after
removal from preservative in comparison with a fresh speci-
men. It was important that animal substances should con-
tain taste and flavour after cooking. To obtain this result it
was necessary to avoid odour of putrefaction, odour of other
taints, odour of preservative, fixation of preservative, escape
of water, gaseous infiltration, fatty change iu muscular sub-
stance, gelatinous changes, and fermentation and alkaline
reaction. The question was often asked, how it was that the
living substances were preserved while the dead animal sub-
stances passed into a state of putrefaction. It was incorrect
to say that the living animal substauces did not undergo
change; but they did so iu a way that was not presentable to
he human vision. The cause of the speedy putrefaction of

dead substances was owing to the jelly substauces of the body
decaying. The water in the dead body soon became in a state
of putrefaction, and at once decay rapidly set in. The jelly
substances were chiefly found in the nervous and muscular
membranes and portions of the liver which were loosely held
together. If the organs were pressed immediately after death
and the water removed, they would be more easily preserved.
With respect to gases and vapours, they might be used at the
present time for preserving food, but the action of heat was so
powerful in them that in warm climates the bottles often
burst. He believed that the day was not far distant when all
preserved foods would be prepared by gases ; but there were
still discoveries to be made by which many of the most valu-
able gases would be rendered not dangerous to life as at
present. One of the most valuable gases that we had was the
coal gas, which played an important part as a preservative.
Still it was not a pure antiseptic, though he hoped yet to be
able to make it so.

SOCIAL EMIGRATION.

Mr. F. A. Binney, of St. Ann's Square, Manchester, advo-
cates the following plan of co-operative or social emigration : —

I propose that instead of emigrating singly, all persons of edu
cation and refinement whose thoughts are turning in this direc-
tion— and these are just those persons who can best endure the
loss of home comforts and assocations — should combine to-
gether and purchase an estate iu a genial climate, within easy
reach of England, and settle on it, near to one another — in
fast, to form a model and select English colony. It is needless
to point out that joint emigration by a large number of Eng-
lish families, with congenial tastes, taking out with them all
their home surroundings, transplanting many of the habits of
life of the old couutry, and going out to live (reside) on an
estate of the kinds suggested in tasteful homes previously
erected according to designs of their own selection, must neces-
sarily be robbed of all its terrors, and might easily be rendered
extremely attractive. Persons with small capital would find
their incomes doubled by reason of their being able to invest
their money on mortgage at much higher rates than prevail
here; whilst the necessaries of life could be had at much less
cost. These are material advantages to persons of limited
means which it is needless to enlarge upon. Lastly, as a lover
of my country, I would suggest that it be made a distinguish,
ing feature of such an undertaking to re-produce a thoroughly
representative English town — retaining all that is good in our
social life, whilst avoiding the narrowness and uncharitable -
ness which the too artificial life of the old country lias in many
instances engendered. By co operation the colonists could re-
tain complete control over the land, and could reject all unde-
sirable additions to their society, and it is needless to poin tout
that drinking and gambling saloons and their habitue would
be readily excluded from such a colony by the proper applica-
tion of regulations such as the members could agree on. In
this view of the matter a self-governing colony could be planted
in America, or elsewhere, and be quite as British in love,
feeling, and habits of life as any English county town, since
no one could intrude without permission of the proprietors of
the soil. I might enlarge upon the immense advantages such
a colony could offer to parents who might not themselves care
to emigrate, but who could thus, at a comparatively small cost
secure comfortable homes and prosperous careers for their
sons, with fir less uncertainty than is possible in the mother
country, and without subjecting them to the objectionable
risks of being sent out to an unknown colony.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

4C1

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

GLASGOW.
SUMMER SHOW OF LIVE STOCK, ftlo.

The Glasgow Agricultural Society recently opened their
twenty-lhird annual summer show of live-stock, dairy produce,
and implements, in the public recreation grounds at Cross-
bill. The weather was of a moat disagreeable character, a
piercing east wind sweeping through the show-yard. There
was, nevertheless, a numerous attendance of visitors, and over
£G00 was collected at the gates. The arrangements of Mr.
Mark Marshall, the secretary, gave every satisfaction. The
proceedings were enlivened by a selection of airs rendered by
the band of the 79th Regiment. On the entries for the
various classes there was, compared with previous years
a great increase, as will be seen from the following
table :—

1872. 1873. 187L 1877. 1878.

Cattle 228 228 19(3 195 217

Horses 255 310 330 -100 491

Sheep 100 63 107 81 ' 73

Swine 32 30 39 9 28

Ayrshire cattle, of which there was a finer display than ha8
ever before been witnessed, were as usual assigned the first
position in the catalogue. The principal prize for a cow in
milk was awarded Mr. A. R. Storry for the beautiful brown
and white " Duchess," which has recently secured all the
honours at local exhibitions. In the class for three-year-ol 1
cows in milk, the Duke of Buccleuch obtained the chief place
with the white "Beauty of Druralanrig." The Duke also secured
the Derby sweepstake with this fine animal. Of the two-year-
old queys in milk the principal prize-taker was the brown
" Ruby" of Mr. Robert Frame. The Duke of Buccleuch was
awarded the first prize in the classes for cows bred by the exhi-
bitors with an animal which received the silver med \l presented
by Sir E. Colebrooke, Bart., M.P. ; for cows in calf, four years
old and upwards with another which obtained '-he £20 silver cup
given by Sir M. Shaw Stewart, Bart. ; and for three-year-old
quey in calf with a third representative of his celebrated herd.
The blue ribbon in the section for two-year-old queys in calf
was carried away by a sweet little animal owned by Mr. Frame,
Blantyre Park, which had never been shown at any previous
exhibition. The Duke of Buccleuch monopolised all the
honours in the section for two-year-old queys yeld and not in
calf. The pretty brown " Avouside III.," of Mr. Allan, "West
Mains, was recognised as the best of the one-year old queys.
The well-known old bull, ''The Rival of Dnimlaurig," of the
Duke of Buccleuch, who bore away the gold medal at the
Highland Society's Show at Edinburgh, and the first prize at
the Glasgow Exhibition last year, again maintained his posi-
tion as the finest of his class. Of the two-year-old bulls, the
brown and white " Prince Charlie" of Mr. D. C. Willison,
Dulpeddar, received the premier award.

The Clydesdale horses were admitted a fine show — the best
probably which has ever been seen here. The first place
among the brood mares, which were au exceptionally good
division, was gained by the black " Alpine," which Mr. Rus-
sell, Wishaw, recently purchased at Mr. Drew's sale. In the
yeald mare _clas3 Mr. Baird of Urie was first with his

taking bay " Jess." In the class of three-year-old fillies
the bay "Damsel" of Mr. Martin, Aucliiudennan, was
placed first. The " Effie Deans," also a bay, of the same
owner, headed the class for two-year- old fillies, and the Black
Diamond ol Sir M. Shaw Stewart received a similar honour
among the younger animals. The £20 silver cup was awarded
Mr. Baird for his exhibit already mentioned. Of hunters
jumpers, roadsters, and ponies there were some remarkably
good specimens. The Derby sweepstakes for yearling Clydes-
dale cdts and fillies has been postponed until this forenoon. On
the whole there was a highly satisfactory display of sheep. The
Leicesters were on the average very good. Of the blackfaced
variety there was an excellent show, the ewes and ewe hoggs
being extremely fine. It may be mentioned that one of the
first prize ewes dropped three lambs in the pen a little before
she was visited by the judges. The swine both of the large and
small breed, made a highly creditable appearance. Of poultry
and dairy produce there were also excellent displays. On the
field a large number of imlpements were exhibited, but none of
them presented any feature of uovelty calling for special com-
ment.— Scotsman .

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this society was
recently held in their chambers, George IV. Bridge.

At the meeting of the board on the 3rd of April, Mr.
Walker of Bowland, C.B., and Sir Graham Montgomery
Bart., M.P., were respectively nominated to the offices of
treasurer and honoray secretary, rendered vacant by the
death of Sir William Gibsor-Craig and Sir William Stirling-
Maxwell.

Letters were submitted from Mr. Walker and Sir Graham
Montgomery accepting office, aud expressing their deep sense
of the compliment done them.

The half-yearly general meeting of the society for the
election of members aud for other business was fixed to be held
on Wednesday the 5th of June, being the week previous to the
opening of the Agricu.tural Congress at Paris, at which
the directors had instructed the secretary of the society to be
present .

The report of the examinations for the society's veterinary
certificate on the loth, lGth, and 17th ult., which has already
appeared in our columns, was submitted.

Lstters were submitted from Mr. H. Gordon, clerk of supply
Dumfries, and from Mr. R. M. Gordon, clerk of supply, Kirk-
cudbright, sending the names of the gentlemen appointed by
the Commissioners of Supply to represent Dumfriesshire aud
the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in the General Committee Of
Management of the general show to be held at Dumfries in
July and August next ; and Mr. T. F. Smith, Provost of
Dumfries, sending the names of those appoiuted to represent
the town of Dumfries.

A letter was read from the Rev. Mr. Gillespie, presenting
volume I. oi the Galloway Herd-Book, containing pedigrees of
pure-bred Galloway cattle, published by the Galloway Cattle
Society. The Secretary stated that he had, in name of the
society, thanked Mr, Gillespie for the book.

462

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The Secretary submitted a letter from Mr. Alexander Ram-
say, Banff, sending a copy of the contents of a History of the
Society written by him, and shortly to be published. Mr.
Menzies informed the board that the work contains a narra-
tive of the society's entire operations in the ninety-five years
of its existence, including accounts of the successive general
shows of live stock, &c. ; that he had read a considerable

portion of the book, which has been prepared at great labour
from authentic sources ; and that he felt sure it would be very
interesting, not only to the members of the society, but to the
general public.

The directors agreed to subscribe for thirty copies of the
work.

CHAMBERS OF AGRICULTURE.

CENTRAL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was
held recently, at the Society of Arts, Adelphi, Sir
G. Jenkinson, M.P., in the chair.

Mr. A. Pell, M.P., as Chairman of the Local Taxa-
tion Committee, read the following Report : —

"The Local Taxation Committee desire to call attention to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer's reply to Mr. Clare Read
that priority will be given to the County Government Bill
over other English bills now before Parliament. It is satis-
factory to have the assurance that this important measure will
be pressed forward, and that the way will thus be cleared for
the consideration of other dependent reforms connected with
highways, valuation Rectification of union areas, and the better
utilisation of superfluous workhouse accomodation. The
Highways Bill, to which your Committes referred in their last
Report, was read a second time without discussion on the 12th
ultimo ; but its further progress must, of course, depend on
that of the general county measure. The promised Valuation
Bill introduced at the beginning of the session, has not yet
been printed. A second reading has, however, been accorded
to the competing measure brought in by Mr. Ramsay, with a
view to assimilate the English practice of valuation to that
which has been found to work satisfactorily in Scotland for the
last five-and-twenty years. Both the local and imperial
Budgets were submitted to the House of Commons on the 4th
of April. Your Committee have always wished to see the
figures of these two statements made equally available for the
annual financial discussions. They are disposed, however, to
question the advantage of taking both Budgets on the same
day, when this entails the postponement of the local state-
ment to a very late hour, and prevents the notice it deserves
being given to it, either in Parliament or in the Press. Beyond
making due provision for the new charge on the taxes of tne
country necessitated by the transfer of the prisons to the State —
finally accomplished on the 1st ultimo — the Chancellor of the
Exchequer made on tins occasion no further readjustment of
burden between taxpayer and ratepayer. It is now, however,
worthy of remark that in the estimates for the present financial
year an aggregate sum of £4,962,000 is stated to be required
to meet the Treasury grants in aid of, or in substitution for,
Local Taxation. It is true that several of the items of this
sum are erroneously reckoued subventions, while an excessive
proportion goes to Ireland. Excluding, however, payments
to reformatories and industrial Schools, and one or two other
matters which are in no proper sense local relief, upwards
of £2,500,000 is now contributed by the Treasury to English
localities ; and £1,500,000 of this amount — a sum equal to a
rate of 3d. in the pound — may beregarded as the actual relief
to English ratepayers from their recent policy of transfer

and subvention which has been advocated by your
Committee. The President of the Local Government
Board places the entire amount levied by rates in Eng-
land during 1876-7 — the last year for which complete accounts
are rendered— at £23,617,500. This is a net advance of
£918,000 over the figures of the preceding year. Beyond
£541,000 more of metropolitan and urban sanitary rates —
chiefly devoted to remunerative town improvements — the only
material addition to local taxation during the year has been an
advance of £443,000 (fully 75 per cent, increase) in the rates
levied by School Boards. Highways authorities have increased
their rates by £23,000, rural sanitary authorities by £21,000,
while £20,000 more county rates appear to have been required.
On the other hand, poor rates proper (applied to Relief) have
decreased by £146,000, and one or two other small reductions
are apparent. In comparing the rates now accounted for
with those returned in 1871-2, a net increase of over £5,500,000
appears in the last five years. Fully ten- ome

£5,000,000— of these additional rates are mainly due to im
provements, or sanitary works, undertaken in metropolitan and
urban districts. Various minor increases in rural sanitary,
highway, and county rates make up the remaining £500,000.
In these five years a remarkable reduction of more than
£1,000,000 has been effected in the rates levied for the relief of
the poor, but this remission of burden has been almost exactly
balanced by the new charges entailed upon ratepayers by the
Education Act of 1870. The rapid growth of local debt was
prominently noticed as well in the speech of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer as in that of the President of the Local
Government Board. Largely increased amounts have been
recently advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners
under the special Acts, which entitled localities to loans at com-
paratively low rates of interest out of public funds ; while still
more largely have the sums borrowed in the open market in-
creased under recent circumstances. During 1877-8, Mr.
Slater-Booth states that £11,000,000 of new local debts were
created, nine millions and a-half of this amountjbeing required
for purely urban purposes. Much of this debt is represented
by purchases of water, gas, and similiar properties, or by other
local enterprises undertaken by municipalities under the belief
that they will ultimately prove remunerative, but a consider-
able portion is due to the Public Health and Education Act
The entire indebtedness of English local authorities now reaches
£112,000,000; and it would appear that nearly one-sixth of
this sum has been advanced by the State. Of the amounts
borrowed in the past year, £4,307,000 was obtained through
the Public WorksLoan Commissioners, while the Public Works
Loan Bill now before Parliament provides for a further issue
of £6,000,000 of public money in the current year. Alarm
has been expressed lest these large advances of public money
under special Acts should expose the Treasury to ultimate
' 'oss. Except in certain cases however, such as the Harbours

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

4m

and Tolls Act of 1801 and the Education Act of 1870, these
H|iccial Acts do not appear to limit the rate of interest to an
unrcinuncrativ. point. A remedy in other eases can the*efore
be applied at the discretion of the Treasury. YourCommitte
are quite prepared to advocate the closest scrutiny over local
borrowing, the reduction of unreasonably lengthened periods
for repayment, and the establishment of a better control over
debts sanctioned by Local Acts. They believe, however, that
a clear distinction should be drawn between capital outlays
incurred by localities under statutory compulsion and those
which are voluntarily undertaken . The sums of public money
which have already been required J'rom the 1'ublic AVorks Loan
Commissioners for School, Boardjpurposes alone in Englandand
Scotland amouut to no less than £11,308,000 and practically
represent the whole recent increase in the advances made out
of public funds. If auy loss should in this instance occur to
the general taxpayer in consequence of the fixedjrate of 3£. per
cent, which is here chargeable, it should be remembered that
this was virtually the only concession secured in the Act of
1870, which, for an object, essentially national, unfairly imposed
large and growing burden ou the local ratepayers. Among
the measures affecting rates which have claimed attention
during the present session in the Blind and Deaf Mute Chil-
dren (Education) Bill, to which amendments will be proposed
by the Chairman of the Committee. The Training .Schools
and Ships Bill being resisted, has not yet come under discus-
sion ; while the terms of the Public Health Act Amendment
Bill have been carefully revised and restricted by the operation
of a Select Committee. — Albert Pell. Chairman."

Mr. Pell having moved and Mr. Caldecott seconded the
adoption of this Report,

Mr. D. Long (Gloucestershire) said he could wish that the
efforts of the Committee had been more successful. He had
seen a statement that 3d. in the £ had been contributed, by
means of subventions or otherwise, for the relief of local taxa-
ation ; but even if that were the case he believed no sensible
relief was felt by the ratepayers. In his own district, indeed,
owing to the enormous increase of local taxation, they were
paying Is. 3d. on the £ more — that was Is. for roads and
3d. for education. He had hoped that the County Govern-
ment Bill would afford relief to real property, and prove a
panacea for the evils of the present system of local taxation,
but he regretted to say that in his perusal of it he had in
vain sought to find anything of the sort.

Mr. H. Neild (Manchester) believed that he expressed the
Bentiraent of the local Chambers when he said that they dasired
to see. the Couuty Government Bill passed into law this
Session. He observed that notices of amendment had been
given for the Committee on the Bill which covered 25 pages
of the business paper of the House of Commons, and he felt
that it was the duty of the Chamber, to the extent of its
ability, to assist the Government in carrying the measure
without unnecessary delay.

Professor Willis Bund concurred in this view, and re-
minded the Council that the Bill creating the Local Govern
ment Board was within a half-sheet of foolscap. In fact ij
first established the Board and afterwards gave it powers.
Let that precedent be followed in this case. First get the
Couuty Government Bill, and then invest the new authority
with the necessary powers.

Mr. Caldecott said that although they might not yet have
gained much, yet the result of passing the Prisons Bill last
year would be to reduce the expenditure and save a penny
in the £ of the county rates,

Mr. Pratt (Devonshire) would like to have seen a mor °
earnest p*rt taken in discussions on the Government: County
Bill by members of Chambers who had seats in the House of
Commons. He owned that he felt greatly disappointed with
the speecli of the hou. member for South Norfolk (Mr. C. S.
Head) on the second reading of the Bill. Down in the West
people regarded that gentleman as par excellence the farmers'
representative, and Hhey therefore read all he said with the
greatest interest ; but he could not help quoting the remark of
a friend, that he thought it time to take off the lion, member's
shoes and send him to grass ("Oh !" and laughter). He would
press upon lion, members that they should endeavour to
eliminate the union as the representative area for the Bill.
If that area were adopted the elective members would in a
great measure be simply magisterial ; for the returning officer
was generally the magistrate's clerk, who again, was usually
the steward of the largest landowners in the neighbourhood.
He left the Chamber, therefore, to draw their own conclusion.
Further, he preferred direct to indirect representation ; but he
was content to let that pass for the present, in his earnest
desire that the Bill might become law this session.

Mr. C. Gurdon (Chairman of the Norfolk Chamber) said
that Mr. Pratt would not have made the reference to Mr. Read
which he had done if he had seen the earnestness with which
that gentleman had laboured in the cause, especially during
the last six mouths. True there was apathy among some hou.
gentleman, but it could certainly not be imputed to Mr. Read
(cheers).

Mr. Lywood (Wilts) complimented Mr. Pell and-the Local
Taxation Committee on the very clear view which they had
taken in all their Reports of the fiscal measures which bore
upon the interests of the ratepayers. That was the case,
especially in their present Report, than which he had never
read a better or an abler one.

Mr. Pell, in thanking Mr. Lywood for his flattering
allusion to the work of the Committee, paid a graceful com-
pliment to Capt Craigie, their Secretary, for his valuable
services in the preparation of the Reports.
The motion was then adopted.

The next subject ou the agenda being Highway Legislation!
Mr. W. Stratton moved the following resolution:—
" That this Council, while expressing its approval of the ex.
tension of area liable for the maintenance of main roads as
proposed by the County Government Bill, regrets that no
adequate remedy is offered for the injustice of charging the
whole cost of such roads upon one description of property
only." He said the Bill proposed several importaut altera,
tibns in the existing highway laws. One of these was the
throwing the charge for the repairs of general highways over
the whole district, instead of each parish paying the cost of
its own roads. That was following the precedent set in the
Union Chargebility Bill. A few years ago every parish had
to pay the cost of maintaining its own paupers ; but under that
Bill the charge was thrown upon the whole area of the Union.
Iu the present measure of the Government it was proposed to
adopt a similar course with regard to the cost of highways,
and in his judgment that was a step in the right direction. It
might, and no doubt would, inflict hardship upon some
parishes; but the probability was that such parishes had
hitherto been enjoying the use of roads which were mainly
supported by their les3 fortunate neighbours (Hear, hear).
This provision, then, would be for the benefit of the public
generally. It was further proposed that roads should be of
two classes, and that the cost of repairing main roads should

■464

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

be divided between the owners and occupiers of rateable pro-
perty. Such a division of charge was very desirable, and he
believed the Chamber would approve it. Another important
provision was that which related to the movement of loco-
motive engines on common roads. The present law respecting
it was vexatious and unsatisfactory, and it appeared to him
that the proposed change would be a great improvement.
The law now provided that these engines should consume
their own smoke, but as that had turned out to be utterly im.
possible, the Bill only enacted that engines should be so con-
structed as to consume their own smoke, and not that they
should be obliged to consume it. Iu fact, the Bill assimilated
the law relating to traction engines to that applied to loco-
motive engines employed on railways.

Mr. D. Long, iu seconding the resolution, condemned as
unjust the continuance of the charge for the maintenance of
main roads upon real property alone. As it was the public
who used those roads, so it was the public who ought to bear
the expense of maintaining them. In his district — the neigh,
bourhood of the City of Gloucester — the main roads cost 9d.
in the £, and he contended that it was an injustice that one
kind of property should have to bear the entire charge. He
questioned, too, whether the proposed extension of the high-
way area would not be an injustice ; for, whereas at presen^
the roads near Gloucester cost 9d. iu the £, and those on the
Cotswold Hills but 3d. in the £, by the extension of area the
cost in the neighbourhood of Gloucester would be decreased,
whilst that in the Cotswold Hills would be increased. Thus,
to the people of Gloucester tlm arrangement would be a
benefit, while to the people of the Cotswolds it would be an
injustice.

Mr. Lywood thought that, though there would be an ex-
tension of the area for the maintenance of the main roads
tliey should bear in mind that the mileage in the county
would be the same as before, and that the rateable property
was to supply the funds to maintain them. As to the liability
of landowners to contribute towards the main roads as pro-
posed in the Bill, it was not so large as some imagined)
because it was really but one-half of one-half, which meant
one-quarter; and when a main road was repaired, half the
expense would come from the county fund and half from the
highway district. Then, by another clause, the owner was to
pay one-half the rate collected for the repairs of the main road ;
thus he came in for half of a half. With respect to the equity
of a tenant making his landlord contribute to rates which he,
the tenant, had undertaken to pay, he (Mr. Lywood) must say
that he could not, as an honest man, make such a request to
his landlord. In the case of a lease they certainly could not
in fairness ask the landlord to pay any portion of the rates.
On the other hand, lapsed turnpikes had been thrown in a
great degree upon the rates, which in some instauces had
been doubled, in consequence of the increased mileage cast
upon the local ratepayer ; and there, he thought, they would
have a fair claim upon the landowner to contribute. Then,
with the more frequent use of locomotives running from rail,
way stations to various places, they might hope to have under
the Bill a better system of main roads throughout the country
for the use of travelling traction engines. And here, again>
the landlord might justly be called upon to contribute to such
roads. As to the latter part of the resolution, which spoke
of the unfairness of placing the entire cost of main roads upon
one description of property, that was an argument for putting
on the public a certain duty which evidently they were bound

to contribute ; and, looking at the extensive use which was
made of the main roads by brewers, manufacturers, builders,
timber merchants, and contractors, he considered that it was
time to give the Government some help from the Imperial
Exchequer, or through the medium of taxes, towards the sup-
port and maintenance of such roads.

Professor Bund proposed, as an amendment : — " That
no legislation on the subject of highways can be regarded
by this Chamber as worthy of support that perpetuates
the injustice of charging the whole cost of the repairs
of roads upon one description of property only." He ob-
jected [to the proposals in the Government measure because
they did not provide a remedy for that injustice. They
were, in fact, a beautiful jumble, and gave no relief at all!
whilst the charge on the landowner was a delusion and a snare-
With regard to the classification of roads, the Chamber bad
decided iu ita favour, as a good thing in the abstract ; but the
classification in the Bill was not deserving of thsir support
By Clause 9 of the County Government Bill it was proposed that
the roads disturnpiked prior to 1874 should be deemed to be
main roads. Surely, if the new County Government Board
was to be trusted, it should be its function to say what were
main roads. Under the new system, too, they would have to
pay one rate for the repair of the highways, one rate for half
the main roads, and another for the repair of their neighbours'
roads. Iu that he saw no relief at all, and in the end they
would probably have to pay more than they did at present.
He was at a loss, indeed, to discover one farthing of relief given
by the Bill. Then, as to the landlord, the Government thought
to sweeten the matter by pulling in a clause relating to him ;
but that was a greater humbug than the other. That clause,
the 16th, made the landlords pay a rate, but its effect would
be to make him determine existing contracts and enter into
fresh ones ; and if that were done where was the advantage t°
be derived from the landlord ? AVas the Chamber prepared'
then, to stultify itself by accepting such a proposal as that ?
Moreover, it was only the tenancies existing at the time of the
passing of the Act that would be affected by this provision ;
any new ones entered into next year would be exempt from its
operation. Again, with regard to the classification, he objected
to it as bad in fixing a hard and fast line. One of the most
important clauses in the Bill was the 10th, which threw the
expenses of the highways upon the district funds ; but he did
not see the advantage of that. As he understood the working
of highway boards, at present the difficulty was in having suffi-
cient control over them, and in seeing that the money was
properly spent ; and if the highways were repaired out of a
common fund they would have even less control than at present,
and highway boards would be encouraged in extravagance.
On the whole, he thought that the proposals of the Govern-
ment would increase rather than diminish the expense ; for they
would con'inue the highway boards, and there would be the
same establishment charges. Moreover, by Clause 31 of the
Government Bill it was provided that if additional duties were
given to the couuty officers they should have additional rewards,
and that would be done under the Bill. Thus they would have
a double set of charges — one for main roads, and another for
highways. For his part, he had entertained the hope that
the County Government Board would have to take the entire
control of all highways, because he considered that there were
too many boards at present, and he could not see why they
should keep up, as proposed, highway boards for one class of
roads, and county boards for another class of roads. He would

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

4fi5

say, f lieu, let the county boards take over all the roads. They
would work them by committees, aud tbus save establishment
charges.

Mr. H. Biddell (East Suffolk) seconded the amendment,
as being in conformity with the previous resolutions of the
Chamber, and on the ground that the extension of men would
only be a transference of burden, aud be no relief in the end.

Mr. Neville (Staffordshire) supported the amendment,
because the original motion was scarcely distinct enough, lie
could not approve of the highway legislation of the Govern-
ment ; and his main objection was that it made no other pro-
vision than that of rates for maintaining the great through
roads of the country. The question was, not whether they
should pay the cost of these roads out of a county or a parish
rate, which, in his opinion, was simply transferring the burden
from one pocket to another, or whether they should divide
the cost of maintaining the roads between landlord and tenant,
which came to pretty much the same thing, but whether the
landed property of the county was to be charged with the
maintenance of through roads for the benefit of the commer-
cial and manufacturing interests, without the latter being
required to pay one tittle of the cost. The Chamber should
bear in mind that this was a new charge on landed estates>
The Government turnpike roads were originally maintained by
the users of those roads, and that was the fairest plan ; bnt by
the abolition of toll-gates the cost of the main roads had been
thrown upon the lauded estate of the county ; and he held that
the lauded estate, whether owner or tenant, was not in such a
flourishing condition as to justify this burden. On all hands
they saw farms being let at reduced rents aud others remaining
unoccupied : Was that a time, then, for increasing the taxation
on landed estate ? In his judgment they ought not to be
satisled with any measure of highway legislation which did
not provide something else than rates for the repairs and
maintenance of the through roads.

Mr. Pell reminded Mr. Neville that the roads were always
a charge upon the land until the first Turnpike Act was passed
and that neither that Act nor any subsequent Act had absolved
the land from its liability. In fact it was an old obligation
which the land had never shaken off. He had heard much
about the easrmous increase of the cost of maintaining the
roads, and nearly the whole of that increase had been ascribed
to the turnpike roads being thrown on the rates. No doubt
that accounted for part of it ; but, in his opinion, the most
serious part of the charge was the result of mismanagement.
As a rule there did not appear to be any preliminary inquiry
as to the capacity of the surveyor to discharge the important
duties resting upon him. It was fortunate for the travelling
public that railway directors did not appoint the raeu who had
charge of the permanent way on the principle on which the
highway authorities appointed the person who had charge o f
the permanent ways ; for if they did there would not only be
much waste of money, but much bloodshed and consequent
damages ; and he thought thai Highway legislation should
provide for securing the appointment of competent persons to
take care of the roads. For this they had a precedent in the
case of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, where the authorities only
appointed persons who had had a special training for the work.
In this country, however, persons were appointed too gene-
rally without reference to their knowledge or experience ; the
consequence was that the roads were repaired, not according
to certain principles, but the general idea of the surveyor for
the time being, influenced by local pressure, and theu there
was a want of uniformity inlhe various parishes.

Mr. Bsa.CS, M.P., remarked that it was quite true that in
ancient times the maintenance of highways was charged on
the land, but theu the roads existed for local use. The trusts
were now fast expiring, and this, ,io doubt, had produced an
anomalous state of things that urgently required alteration,
but he did not think that any satisfactory change in the pre-
sent system could be made without Imperial funds contributing
something in aid of main roads. It was always understood
that there were certain roads which it was not fair to support
out of local resources; but it would be hopeless to ask for
aid to support roads that were used for local purposes only.
He would, therefore, divide /oads into two or three
classes, aud ask for aid for the superior class of roads, though
at the present time it would be useless to appeal to the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer with that object. Under these cir-
cumstances he would defer highway legislation upon any large
scale until a more favourable opportunity. With regard to
the division of rates between owner aud occupier, that had
often been discussed, and he must say that he did not con-
sider it any relief at all. It might be a temporary relief to a
few persons, but in the end would be none whatever. It was
a shifting of burden from the shoulders of one to those of
another for the time being, but would eventually resolve itself
into the old system. On the whole he was inclined to support
Professor Bund's amendment in preference to the resolution.

In the course of subsequent discussion the amendment was
opposed by Mr. Pratt, and supported by Mr. DUCEHAH
(Herefordshire).

Mr. Neild had no doubt that the highway and other
matters would be better regulated by a County Government
Board than by any other body. In Lancashire great injustice
was inflicted by a large amount of traffic which they could not
tax going over the roads, whereby the rates were augmented
two, three, and even four-fold without the possibility of a
check. This, he contended, was a serious hardship ; and their
object should be to charge the traffic which passed along the
roads with a share of the cost of maintenance.

Mr. W. Biddle (West Suffolk) was disposed to think
better of the Bill than some of the speakers. It was a right
principle to charge the roads on the district, inasmuch as
hardly any distant traffic now came upon them, but was carried
off by the railways, and in nineteen cases out of twenty the
traffic was of a purely local character. The parish was, how-
ever, too small a unit for taxation ; but if they had good-
sized districts under the charge of competent surveyors, he
saw no hardship in each district being required to keep up its
own roads. With regard to two provisions in the Govern-^
meut measure.he could not accept as relief either the proposal to
tax one man for the maintenance of the roads of another 50
miles off, or that other proposal to divide the rates between
landlord and tenant. As to the classification of roads, he did
not think that anything of the sort was required, and was
glad to observe that no argument had been adduced in the
course of the discussion in favour of reviving the exploded
system of toll-gates.

Mr. Treadwell (Buckinghamshire) looked npon the
Government measure with approval, for the simple reason that
it would leave his county, where they had no highway districts,
pretty much alone, and the new County Government Board
would have to take charge of the roads without any extra
expense ("Oh !" and a laugh). The Bill was very good for
the circumstances of Buckinghamshire, where it was generally
approved of. Parishes would be compelled to keep up tliei

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466

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

roads which now faiied ia that duty; and if the Governmen

would only give them soi^e assistance from Imperial sources
there ivould be nothing to complain of (laughter).

Mr. Gurdom agreed with Mr. Biach that neither this year
nor the next was there the least chance of their getting any
aid from Imperial funds. That being the case the Chamber
would be stultifying itself if it adopted an amendment which
practically declared tint becauss they could not get money
from Imperial taxation they would not take anything else.

Mr. Head, M.P., wished the Chamber not to forget that
legislation was for the whole of Euglaud and not for the agri-
cultural districts exclusively. It was possible that in Norfolk
and Suffolk, and in couuties strictly agricultural, there was
no particular reason why they should have more than one
class of roads ; but when they went into the manufacturing
districts it became essential to have some means of making
those who used (he roads pay for their support ; and he
believed that in districts like that which was represented by
Mr. Neild it would be almost impossible to do this unless by
the resuscitation of tolls, for which he hoped there would,
throughout the kingdom, be no necessity. The legislation
proposed by the Government was, in his view, fair and rea-
sonable, going as it did, in great measure, upon the line which
the Chamber had always advocated. True it did not give
them Imperial aid, and he should never ask for Government
subvention in aid of higway rates, for that would entail both
wasteful expenditure and vexatious inspection ; moreover he
was sure that it would uevef be granted. At the same time
they might press for certain local licenses being transferred from
Imperial to local sources, though at the present moment there
seemed little chance of getting even that small modicum of
relief. In reference to the subject of a common fund, Mr.
Read proceeded to say that if they had highway districts,
they ought to have a common fund. Once they took the
administration of the funds of a parish away from a parish and
placed it in a highway board there should be a common fund
for general expenses. In certain districts, as in his county,
where there were large tracts of heath and marsh land,
it would not be right to place all descriptions of land
upou the same level ; but this was provided for in the Bill.
The great defect of previous highway legislation was that there
was no cheap and ready way of making people obey the law.
That was especially the case with the old Highways Act, which
in itself was a very good measure ; but what was wanted was
the provision of a cheap and ready way of compelling parishes
which persistently neglected their roads to repair them. The
indictment of a road was a costly proceeding, and if there
were an easy way of insisting upon district authorities repair-
ing their roads it would be a most valuable feature in the pro-
posed legislation. They could not expect to have mathematical
accuracy and justice in applying rates ; but the old turnpike
roads when they became chargeable to individual parishes were
very frequently a heavy and unjust bnrden, and, as at present
administered in highway districts, were equally objectionable.
In one case the whole burden was borne by the unfortunate
parish, and in the other case it was taken off the parish and
thrown upon the district. Both were wrong, and he should
say that the proposal in the Bill was about the right one ;
namely, that taking the great turnpike roads generally, at
least half the traffic was local, and the other half thoroughfare
traffic, for which the immediate district was not responsible.
One word in explanation on the subject of licenses. The
other day in the Norfolk Chamber he stated that he thought
those licenses, including the tax on locomotion, might be

transferred from Imperial to local authority ; and, u conse-
quence of what he said, he had been assailed by almost every
railway company in the kingdom, as desiring to allocate the
passenger duty, than which, lie could assure them, nothing
was further from his thoughts.

Mr. Mansfield objected to the proposed extension of area
on the ground that it was a mere shifting of burdens, and inti-
mated that he was equally opposed to the original resolution
and the amendment.

Captain Ckaigie supported the original resolution, which
he regarded as more in harmony with the already recorded
opinions of the Chamber than the amendment ; whilst the
proposals contained in the County Government Bill and the
Highway Bill were substantially fouuded upon resolutions
agreed to there

The Chairman, before putting the question, expressed a
fear lest, if they got a County Government Bill and a High-
ways Bill that only transferred the burden from one set of
shoulders to another, they might be told hereafter that they
could not re-open the subject. He would, therefore, prefer
waiting a year or two for legislation, until that part of the
question could be satisfactorily dealt with. They could not
ask for aid from Imperial resources ; but the appropriation of
local taxes, locally raised for local purposes, such as the duty
on carriages, dogs, and gun licenses, would not be receiving
aid from Imperial resources. It was rather stopping these
duties from reaching the Imperial Exchequer for general pur-
poses aud applying them to local purposes. To harass the
Government for any aid at the present time, however, would
be useless. They were already sufficiently harrassed and
badgered by other people, aud if they were asked for aid it
would not be given. On the whole, he was inclined to think
it would be wiser to wait for highway legislation than proceed
to legislate in a hurry.

Mr. W. Stuatton, during a brief reply, pointed out that
the Miuisterial proposal went upon the lines the Chamber had
hitherto taken its stand upon, and that the effect of the amend-
ment would be to throw the Bills over.

On the question being put from the Chair, the amendment
of Professor Bund was rejected by a majority of two to onej
and the original resolution agreed to.

Mr. H. Neild then moved, aud Mr. Adkins seconded,
" That this Council desires that licence duties which are
locally collected, such as those on carriages, dogs, and guns,
should be applied toward the maintenance of main thorough"
fares, and that the principle of licensing as proposed by the
Bill, with respect to the wear of roads by traction engines or
extraordinary traffic, should be extended."

This Mr. Duckham proposed to amend by striking out the
words " applied towards the maintenance of main thorough,
fares," and in lieu thereof to insert, " transferred from Imperial
to local authority."

Mr. Neville seconded the amendment, which was opposed
by Mr. Neild aud Captain Craigie, and eventually negatived.
The sitting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

G L 0 UCES T E R.

At the last meeting of this Chamber the matter set down for
discussion was the Highways Bill, but this being so intimately
connected with the County Government Bill, which does not
seem likely to pass this session, no resolution was come to on
the subject. The Upton-on-Severn Farmers' Club had for-
warded a resolution which they had adopted in reference to
education in the agricultural districts, aud asked this Chamber

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

407

for its approval and support. Tho resolution urged the Royal
Agricultural Society to take measures to induce the Privy
Council on Education to 'include, as an extra subject Uuglit
in school, the elementary principles of agricultural, including
farm labour, and that they should prepare and issue small
text books and charts to be used in the teaching. General
approval was expressed of the suggestiou, it being advocated by
several members as highly desirable that childreu should be
taught the first principles of agriculture, at the same time that
they were instructed in the ordinary routine of school work
in order that when they left school they might be fit to go t
work, instead of, as was too often the ease at present, being
being quite unqualified for it.

Mr. DANIEL Long proposed a resolution to the elfect that
industrial training in schools was equally desirable in agricul-
tural districts as ordinary education.

Mr. W. Lawrence, however, moved as an amendment that
the subject be postponed, it being toe important to be dealt
with, except after full consideration and discussion. The
amendment was carried, audthe Chamber adjourned.

LEICESTERSHIRE.

A special meeting of the Leicestershire Chamber of Agri-
culture was held at Leicester recently, for the- pur-
pose of considering the Government Highway Bill. Mr.
J. Glover presided, among those present were Sir A. G.
Hazlerigg, Sir Henry Halford, Sir A Palmer, Mr. A Pell,
M.P., and Mr. W. U. Hey gate, M.P. After a long discussion,
a resolution condemning the proposal of the Government in
toto was withdrawn in favour of the folio wing,which was passed
unanimously: — <: That in the opinion of this Chamber, the
Highway Bill, and the clauses referring to highways in the
County Goverument Bill, fail to preside the necessary relief
from the injustice and the pressing burden thrown upon the
owners and occupiers of real property by the entire mainten-
ance and repairs of dis.turnpiked roads."

STAFFORDSHIRE.

A meeting of this Chamber was held recently, Mr.
T. Neville presiding.

It was resolved that £5 be subscribed towards the funds of
the Home Cattle Defence Association.

The Chairman said he thought there was very little pro-
spect of highway legislation being dealt with during the
present session of Parliament. The block of foreign business
in the House of Commons was such as would, he feared,
delay all home legislation, and be thought it would be with
great difficulty that the County Government Bill would be
got through both Houses of Parliament. After some further
remarks, lie submitted the following resolutions to the
Chamber: — 1 "That this Chamber considers that a far more
comprehensive scheme of highway legislation is required
than is shadowed forth in the proposed Bill." 2 ''That
enlarged areas should be arranged for highway management
go as to enable highway boards to employ competent sur-
veyors to superintend the work." 3 " That turnpike and
other main roads should be maintained from other source,
other than from rates as are now raised from real property
only."

The resolution was carried unanimously.

WARWICKSHIRE.

A special meeting of the members of this Chamber was held
on May 3rd, in St. Mary's Hall, Coventry.

The Highway Bill was discussed, and Mr. BURBERY. pro-
posed: "That the preseut system of maintaining highways
pressed very hardly on the occupier ; and that any future legisla .
tion ought to extend the area of payment, so that occupier8
alone should not bear tho onus of repairing turnpike roads
recently abolished."

Mr. Brierly seconded the proposition, which was carried.

The last matter on the agenda was : " To suggest subjects
for discussion." The only one suggested was by the Chair-
man, as to agreements between landlord and tenant.

The Chairman considered that the last Act passed on the
subject of tenants' holdings was an insult to tenant-farmers-
He wished to see fair and equitable agreements between land -
lords and tenants.

Mr. Kemp regretted that there was not greater unity
among tenant-farmers.

Mr. R. Robbins supposed that farmers had had a very
severe lesson during the last three or four years.

Mr. Kemp : The farmers are the. most disunited class on
earth. They have so many jealousies.

The Chairman : They certainly are not united.

Mr. Caldecott : If the wives are, not jealous it does not
siguify much about the men.

Mr. Kemt : The labourers can unite.

The Chairman considered that the subject he had sug-
gested would draw both sides together.

No one having undertaken to introduce this or any other
subject, the conversation ended without any result.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

A general meeting of the members of this Chamber was held
at Worcester recently, at which the County Government
Bill was discussed.

The following resolutions were passed :—

" That this Chamber feels disappointed that no relief is
given to the ratepayers in rural parishes by the Government
Highway Bill, which might have been provided by subven-
tions from the Consolidated Fund or by the application of
taxes on carriages, &c. locally collected."

" That this meeting approves generally of the provisions of
the County Adminstration Bill, but is of opinion that the
clauses relating to highways should be eliminated from the
Bill, and that the proposed County boards should not be em-
powered to grant loans to local authorities for local purposes.'

YORK.

A meeting of this Chamber was held recently at
the Queen Hotel, Micklegate, Mr. J. Dunn, of Ketfield, pre-
siding, when the Government Highways Bill was taken iuto
consideration.

The Chairman, after a discussion, having commented upon
the remarks of the various speakers, moved a resoluticnas
follows: — "That this Chamber approves generally of the
highway legislat on proposed by Her Majesty's Government
with the County Government Bill and Highway Bill, and
trusts they will be passed into law this session."

Mr. Illingworth, Haxby seconded, and the resolution was
carried unanimously.

MM2

4G8

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FRENCH DAIRY PRODUCTS AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

(Translated from Les Debatt for The Mark Lane Express.)

The Agricultural Editor of Les Bebals notices with
satisfaction the superb display at the Paris Exhibition of
butter and cheese, aud comments upon the fact that in
such form is contained the strongest essence derived from
the milk of the cow and the goat, and in a manner the
most easy for transportation to the important centres of
population. Normandy, as hitherto, holds the first rank
in the dairy products, owing to her luxuriant meadows
and excellent breed of cows.

In the Calvados there are four principal varieties of
cheese manufactured — the " Font l'Eveque," the
"Livarot.'' the " Camembert," and the " Mignot." At
an early period, so far back as the thirteenth century,
these cheese enjoyed a great reputation, since they are
mentioned in the " Romance of the Rose ;" and later
again, in 1002, a poem complete was devoted to a descrip-
tion of the cheese of Pont l'Eve'que, then known under
the name of " Angelols," from the valley of the Ange,
where they were made.

At the present day there are three qualities, and the
variety intended for general use requires, whilst in the
cellar, three or four months of miuute attention, varying
according to its size and firmness. For a cheese of
If. 50c. four litres of sweet milk are needed ; five to six
litres for one of 2f. ; eight to nine litres for one of
2f. 50c. to 3f. ; aud a good cow yields on an average
3 5 Of. annually, aud daily two cheese of ordinary size.
Each year the production from Point l'Eveque amounts
to l,500,000f. The most serviceable cheese is the
,: Livarot," owing to the length of time that it can be
preserved, and the ease with which it can be transported
to a distance. This cheese derives its name from the
market town of Livarot, near Lisieux. The produce of a
cow employed for the purpose of cheese-making at Livarot
is valued at 300f., and in a thoroughly well-managed
cowhouse 350f., and even more. The sales of the
Livarot bring a total of nearly five million francs. The
Camembert has effected an entire economic revolution
in the rentals of pasture-farms, and the substitution of
the best milkers for inferior animals. A farm, for in-
stance, letting for 23,000f., has suddenly risen to
35,000f. ; another 3,000f. to 6,800f. ; S.OOOf. to 12.000f.
The whole production realises for the Calvados two mil-
lion francs annually. The " Mignot," which derives its
name from a family residing about a century ago in the
department, has only a limited importance. There are
about 24,000 dozen of these cheesi manufactured, repre-
senting not less than 100,000f.

The three descriptions made in the department of the
Seine-Inferieure are the " Neufchntel frais," the " Neuf-
chatel raffiue," aud the cheese called the " Fromage de
foin." The " Neufchatel frais " has the form of a little
cylinder about eight ceutimetres in height aud five in

diameter. This is obtained by adding some cream to
the sweet milk in about the proportion of one-half of the
milk when condensed by pressure. The " Neufchatel
frais " includes the " Malakoft's," and the cheese called
the double cream — so widely known aud esteemed — that
proceed from the two great factories of M. Gervais, near
Gournay, and of M. Pomel, at Goumay itself. MT.
Gervais receives daily, from the farms in the vicinity, the
milk of 3,000 to -1,000 cows ; and M. Poiuel utilises the
milk of 1,500 cows. The factory of M. Pomel produces
annually cheese to the value of S00,000f., which find
a sale in the Seine-Tnfi'rieure and the contiguous de-
partments. The factory of M. Gervais expedites every
evening to Paris a waggon containing the " pate a
fromage," aud the fresh cream which ought to be mixed
with the " pate." These substances, arriving at midnight,
are transported at once to the establishment in Paris,
where the work immediately commences. The manufac-
ture is effected by the aid of a machine which works up
the " pate," to which the cream is added, and puts the
cheese into moulds At five o'clock in the morning boxes
containing each six or twelve cheese are delivered to the
retailers at the rate of 2f. 40c. the dozen. M. Gervais
employs daily 150 workpeople, and produces about six
million cheese, valued at l,200,000f.

The principal of the Neufchatel cheese of the " raffine "
quality is the one called the "Fromage a toat bien,"
produced from the natural milk, unskimmed. The fabri-
cation demands the greatest care aud longest experience.
Upon an average four or five months are occupied in
making a Neufchatel cheese "a tout bien," which weighs
about 125 kilogrammes, and sells for 12f. 50c. the huu-
dred. Ordinarily from 2,500 to 3,000 cheese are obtained
from each head of cattle, which b.ings the produce of the
cow to 350f. upon the average. The " Fromage de foin "
(thus named because it is usually wrapped in hay) is
made with the milk from which the cream has been
skimmed. This cheese greatly resembles the Livarot. It
i3 low-priced, aud inferior in quality. Upon the whole
the cheese industry is very considerable in the Seine
Iufc'rieure, and couuts for about seven million franca
annually.

It is well known how much the production of butter
enhances the wealth and adds to the glory of the Cal-
vados. At first commenced iu the environs of Bayeux,
the excellent methods adopted have penetrated gradually
to the different parts of the department. The Isiguy
butters are produced by the numerous pastures which
cover the lands of the cantons of Bayeux, of Trevieres, of
Isigny, and extend also over a great part of the cantons
of Reges and Caumont. The fabrication of butter enjoys
a role so important in the agriculture of the Bessiu, and
the development of pasture has been carried to such, an

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

469

extent in the majority of the farms, that the com grown
does not suffice for the maintenance of the persons en-
gaged. The cows which furnish the Isigny butter
belong to the Cotcntine race. At two years of age they
are considered lit for calving, and the largest proprietors
endeavour to maintain a regular supply of milk in order
that the same quantity of butter may be made throughout
the year.

The animals are left out abroad as much as possible if
the weather be not too inclement, and during the winter
frosts people are employed to carry dry fodder to the
pasture ; for, notwithstanding the most assiduous care,
the butter of cows couliucd in the stables is always
inferior to that of animals living at liberty in the
meadows.

Every traveller who has passed through tho Calvados will
remember the picturesque aspect presented to the eye
by the immense verdant plains enlivened by the magnili-
oent cattle of the Coteutine or coloured breeds. Twice or
thrice upou each day the milkmaids proceed to these
pastures to draw the milk from the cows into yellow
copper vessels, kept iu a state of perfect cleanliness, called
cannes, Thereupon begins the work of the dairy, a
veritable piece ile luxe on the farms of this rich part of
France, and where the temperature is kept at the point
most suitable for the risiug of the cream, that is to say,
between 10 and 12 degrees. The churning, skimming,
washiug, and other processes complete the manufacture

of the butter. In the country it is reckoned that 25 to
2S litres of milk are required for 1 kilogramme of butter,
and the production is, for one cow, from 123 to 150 kilo-
grammes of butter per annum. The kilogramme selling
for 3f., 4f, and sometimes 5f., the annual produce of
the animal exceeds I00f. This is nett profit, since the
small milk which serves for the rearing of the calve3 and
pigs, with the dung, gives an equivalent for the cost of
feeding and attendance.

The sales of butter iu the Calvados amount annually
to nearly seven million kilogrammes' weight, which, at
an average price of 3f. 20c, makes about 22
million frauc3. These figures, nevertheless, do not, by
any means, complete the whole of the transactions, since
they only represent the sales at the public markets re-
corded by statistics. To such must bo added the fresh
butters sent by the railways, the butters prepared for
export, and the butters consumed iu the department,
whereupon we reach a complete total of 23 million kilo-
grammes, equal in value to SO million francs
(£3,200,000). In 1SG7 the butter industry of the Cal-
vados only realised 30 millions, and the enormous in-
crease which has since taken place may be attributed to
the adoption of improved methods iu the manufacture,
the extension of the pastures, the adoption of the rail-
way facilities for transit, and more especially to the ever-
growing and deservedly excellent repute which the French
butters have acquired in foreigu countries.

ENGLISH CART-HORSE STUD ASSOCIATION.

An adjourned meeting in connection with the establish-
ment of the above Association was recently held in
the room of the Farmers' Club at the Caledonian Hotel,
Adelphi. The Earl of Ellesmere, President of the Asso-
ciation, occupied the chair, and there was a large attend-
ance.

Mr. Frederick Street, Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, read the
minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. He
also stated that since the last general meeting the sub-
committee had met at Bedford, and in regard to the elec-
tion of a Council they decided to seud out voting papers
eontaining 60 selected names from which the members of
the Association might select 30 members of Council. That
had been done. Of those originally selected, however,
some had declined to stand, as, for instance, Mr. C. S.
Read, M.P., Mr. Curtis, Mr. Page, Mr. Martin, and Mr.
E. Tattison.

Mr. Street next read the following recommendation
from the sub-committee: —

That until it is more fully ascertained the number of mem-
bers likely tojoin the Association, and the amount of the annual
income, they deem it desirable to postpone taking any steps
which would commit the Association to financial obligations ;
and, after the appointment of Council to refer to that body the
eonsideration of the constitution and rules of the Association
and the mode of conducting the business,

Mr. Read, M.P., asked if the adoption of that recom- i

mendation would not preclude them from clectiug a
Treasurer or Secretary.

Mr. Street replied that they were not yetiu a position
to say what salary they could pay a Secretary, and, more-
over, the rules and constitution of the Society had not yet
been decided on. When the sub-committee met a few
days since they had then only 50 members. He was gla,i
to say many more had come in since then ; but at that
time the sub-committee thought it would be impolitic to
elect a Secretary without defining his duties and stating
what his salary should be. They therefore thought the
matter had better be left to the Council.

Mr. Read said that might be all very well, but he
thought the election ought to be in the hands of the
members generally (Hear hear).

Mr. C. Howard entirely differed from Mr. Read, and
pointed out that iu most similar associations the appoiut-
ment of Secretary was left to the Council.

Mr. C. Marsters said there was a well qualified gentle-
man in the room who was prepared to accept the ollice of
Secretary, and to work it without salary for the first year.
He would therefore propose that Mr. Sexton be appointed
secretary.

The noble Chairman, however, thought they ought to
proceed with the election of the Council before coming
to any decision about a Secretary. If the recommendation

470

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of the sub-committee should be adopted it would hardly
be competent for them to elect a Secretary to-day.

The subject was then deferred as suggested by the
Chairman.

Messrs. Robert Leeds, R. Newton, and Taylor were
appointed Scrutineers to examine the voting papers and
report the result of the election of members of Council.
They retired to another room to perform the scrutiny.

The Hon. Secretary reported that up to that morning
49 life and 93 annual members had given in their adhesion
to the Association. Thirty or forty others had given in
their names a3 members since the commencement of this
meeting. 3,000 circulars had been issued since the last
meeting. He had received a great many letters expressing
disappointment at the prize-sheet of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society in regard to cart horses, particularly as no
prizes were offered for yearling cart colts and fillies (Hear,
hear). Earl Spencer had written accepting the office of
Vice-president of the Association (applause).
Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., then moved,
That the consideration of the rules and constitution of the
Association be referred to the Council, with a request that they
should prepare rules and submit the same to a general meet-
ing to be called afterwards for the purpose.

Mr. C. Howard seconded, and the motion was
agreed to.

Mr. Trethewy thought they might now proceed to
the election of a Treasurer. He understood a gentleman
from Cambridge had offered his services, but it might be
desirable to consider whether they should not have some
one in London.

The Hon. Secretary, in reply to Mr. Read, said that
Mr. Foster, the gentleman who had offered to act as
Treasurer, had a branch in London.

Mr. Read : Then he would open an account there for
us.

The Hon. Secretary : I don't think any other firm
would serve the Society so well.

It was then resolved that Mr. Foster's offer to act as
Treasurer should be accepted with thanks.

Mr. F. Dun thought this would be a proper time to
Ventilate the question whether the head-quarters of the
Association should henceforth be in London or in any of
the provincial towns. Perhaps, as the members resided
in so many different parts it might be as well that their
meetings should partake of an itinerant character.

Mr. Overman thought London would be the best place
for their meetings. Every one had other business to
bring him to London, but few men had anything else to
go to Leicester for.

The Chairman thought this was a question that might
be left to the Council, who would be most affected by the
decision.

Mr. Read, M.P., said the Council could, of course,
fix their own meetings, but he would move that the
ordinary and general meetings of the members should be
held in London.
Mr, Rose seconded.

Mr. Tom Brown suggested that the Council should
have power to call a special meeting in connection with
the Royal Agricultural Society's Show wherever that
might be held.

Mr. Wells supported the suggestion.
Mr. Read pointed out that his motion would not pre-
clude such special meetings being called, as it only applied
to the ordinary general meetings.

The resolution was then agreed to as a recommenda-
tion to the Council.

Mr. Trethewy reverted to the question of the elec-
tion of a Secretary, which he thought should be proceeded
with at once.

Mr. George Street thought it would be premature
to do so, as the number of members was at present limited.
They did not yet know their financial position, or whether
or not they would require a Secretary to give up the
whole of his time to the work of the Association. He
thought it would be infinitely better that the matter
should be left over for the consideration of the Council,
who would represent the general body of members.

Mr. Overman and Mr. Read strongly urged that the
election of a Secretary should take place to-day, as
otherwise their being called together was simply a waste
of time. Ultimately Mr. Read moved,

"That the election of the Secietary shall rest with the
members of the Association rather than with the Council."

Mr. C. Howard moved as an amendment that it be
referred to the Council to advertise for a Secretary to
make a selection of suitable persons, and to issue voting
papers to the members.

On a show of hands the amendment was lost, and Mr.
Read's motion was agreed to.

Mr. Thompson (Thorpe) then proposed, and Mr.
Treadwell seconded, that the election take place to-
day.

The Chairman said seeing the present state of the
Society, and after hearing the recommendation of the
sub-committee, he for one would not feel prepared to vote
for a Secretary that day.

Mr. Rose moved as an amendment to Mr. Thompson's
motion,

That the election of a Secretary be by voting papers to be
forwarded to all members.

They ought to be very careful how they proceeded in this
important matter (Hear, hear).

Mr. Wells seconded the amendment, although he
would have preferred that the matter should have been
left entirely in the hands of the Council.

After some discussion the noble Chairman declared the
amendment to be carried by 26 to 23.

Mr. Read, M.P., proposed that it should not be
absolutely necessary for the Secretary to reside in Lon-
don, or give up the whole of his time to the duties of
the office.

Mr. Wells moved as an amendment that the ques-
tion of the duties, &c, of the Secretary be referred to the
Council.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

471

The amendment was carried by 15 to 13.

The Scrutineers reported as the result of their examin-
ation of the voting papers that the following gentlemen
had been elected on the Council : —

The Duke of Manchester, Huntingdonshire.

Earl Powis, Wales.

The Earl of Dunmore, Scotland.

Hon. Edward Coke, Derby.

Hon. H. De Vere Perry, Ireland.

Sir Gilbert A. Clayton East, Bart., Berkshire.

Sir J. D. Astley, Bart., Lincolnshire.

Sir W. \V. Ffolkes, Bart., Norfolk.

Mr. Tickering Phipps, M.P., Northamptonshire.

Major Dashwood, Oxfordshire.

Captain Heaton, Lanc»shire.

Mr. James Howard, Bedfordshire.

Mr. George Street, Bedfordshire.

Mr. J. K. Eowler, Buckinghamshire.

Mr. Jno. Treadwell, Buckinghamshire.

Mr. William Little, Cambridgeshire.

Mr. John Linton, Cambridgeshire.

-Mr. Josh.'Martin, Cambridgeshire.

Mr. Alfred Richardson, Cambridgeshire.

Mr. Walter Gilbey, Essex.

Mr. Frederick Street, Huntingdonshire.

Mr. Thomas Plowriglit, Lincolnshire.

Mr. Thomas Brown, Norfolk.

Mr. Charles Marsters, Norfolk.

Mr. Henry Overman, Norfolk.

Mr. T. W. Garrett Taylor, Norfolk.

Mr. Win. Wells, Northamptonshire.

Mr. G. M. Sexton, Suffolk.

Mr. T. C. Booth, Yorkshire.

Mr. Jas. G. Crowther, Yorkshire.

Mr. Read, M.P., moved a cordial vote of thanks to
Mr. Frederick Street for his services, and requesting him
to continue his labours until a Secretary had been ap-
pointed (cheers).

Mr. Rose seconded, and it was carried by acclama-
tion.

A similar compliment having been paid to the noble
Chairman, the proceedings terminated.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

And now Mr. Bowly's sale has come and past, and
the pulse of the public has been felt, tt was not a Sid-
dington sale in the full sense of the word. Three
Musicals, two Rubies, and a single Gazelle made up the
total of his own compounds, and they sold, for the times,
comparatively well. The burden of his collection
consisted of cows, which he had bought in, and
their offspring, and so there was not enough to
attract a " good company" from a distance. There
was a large assemblage to greet the popular and
straightgoing breeder. Whether in that character, or as a
fox-hunter, all men trust and believe in him. He has
kept all his Gazelles, Musicals, and Rubies, save these
few which he threw as a truffle into the pie, and when a
sale arrives of the " rale sort" again Mr. Bowly will
have no cause to complain of the average. The things
he set forth showed the skill of the owner.
Wonderfully neat, meaty, and well coated, it was the bad
times only and the closed ports that kept them from being
caught up like wildfire. Languid and yet longing was
the feeling of the closely-packed ring. Then of Mr. De
Vitre's things some went great bargains, notably the grand
daughter of Roan Duchess 22, by Grand Duke 4th — a
Blanche without the Rex and Selim crosses, but topped
up at Towneley, and dam of a beautiful first-prize bull-
calf. His Siddington cow secured the live hundred he
gave for her, and he has her heifer, a nice one, left. Still
there was enough of interest shown to-day to make men
predict good running at the imminent May sales. At the
Dublin Show prices ruled decidedly higher. There never
was a time at which to invest in Shorthorns so advanta-
geous to the begiuner as now, siace R. Booth's grand
Studley lot went for an average of about £21 ! Let
the youngster look out, make up his mind before-

hand, and then hang on with tight teeth to his resolution!
" There's a good time coming, boys," and you won't have
to wait such a long time either. One of the events q{ to-
day was Mr. Kennard's baying a dark-red thick-fit ed
Gazelle bull, to go on with in his well-managed winning
herd. The Rev. H. Berry, were he alive, might be satis-
fied to see how the descendants of his former pet are
appreciated.

To change the subject, however, I thank " Observer"
for his kind and thoughtful article on my notes as
to the " yellow colour," which, for the last two or
three years has been undoubtedly comiug out more
freely than before. Is the fact due, I wonder, to the
disinclination to use white bulls, which popular prejudice
has brought about of late years ? Under Mr. Bowly's
advice I have seen a white bull used to yellow-red cows,
the result, in nearly every instance, being rich roan
calves, The white has within it all the elements of
the blue roan, which undoubtedly looks best on
a board of yellow green landscape by a mere optical rule,
by the simple law of complementary hues. But that's
not the case inquired into. We want to know where
the yellow comes from and whether it is owing to som
degeneration in the breed ? Certainly it has in no way
deteriorated within the last thirty years, and how long
before that was the blue roan known — purple roan as Mr-
Strafford more correctly termsit ? How about the " blue
black " cow, my boy ? The artistic feeling can trace a
clue there which calls for (inquiry, The yellow-red
animals arc very apt to have the softest of mossy coats
to the best of llcah, notably the Cambridge Rose tribe,
which is very redolent of yellow red. Well, but if you
are afraid of "aboriginal" colour, and fancy that the
cattle must deteriorate as the tint gets lighter, take

472

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

down the earliest volume and read of Scrope's yellow
cow, of Maynard's "auld yellow" cow and a score of
sthers such. In fact, it was the prevailing hue of early
days. Show me a single record of blue roan, the "purty"
tint that it unuiislakeably is, and remember that "roan" in
all the earlier Shorthorn records means a "yellow roan "
or " red roan," and never a " blue roan " at all. A sweet
recent invention like mauve is this last popular hue !
Small blame to those that like it- The yellow-red, such
a hue as that of Grand Duke 4th and the Grand Duchess
sold at Bett's sale, glistening like gold in the sunshine on
the "sea otter " coat which usually accompanies it, is by
no means to be feared as an index of under-breeding. If
you don't like it, well try a white bull. There has been
such concentration of late years of Duchess of Cambridge
Rose blood that the old spirit accumulates and must
flavour the tipple. Only don't dread the yellow, if the
uumistakeable character and physical features of the true
Shorthorn be there. A beautiful rich colour is the Hill-
hurst red, and you can try a bull of that sort if you please
— Mr. Keunard's intention, he tells me, in the Gazelle
purchase above-mentioned. The fear is, as I told
him, of his getting toffy-tinted splashes such as that
famous old warrior, Fourth Duke of Oxford, wore upon
his hide. Try a white bull, I repeat, and if it doesn't
•uswer why then it is your turn to suggest ; only don't
think that yellow means a gipsy infusion, something of
the Jupiter (342) sort, my friend! and now can you tell
me why was Lawnsleeves (365) so strongly repudiated by
Mr. Bates ? He is known to have been an excellent
animal and a famous getter, but why did the old Kirklev-
ingtou gentleman give him so heartily the cold shoulder ?
Where is any correspondence to be found on this subject ?
I am on the trail myself, but I should be very thankful to
anyone who will help in the elucidation of a subject which
has come to be important, because if, as sus-
pected, his grandmamma was a Galloway cow,
he stands in the same category as the grandson
of Bolingbroke- There is no eludiug this conclusion.

The love of the Clydesdale horse is spreading. What
can be the origin of that noble sort, the King Tom (Shire
horse) breed be ? Is it a combination of Clydesdale and
the local kind ? The noble teams that adorn the streets of
Liverpool are, many of them, bred in the neighbourhood
of Oswestry, where the succulent grasses of rich low-
lying meadows expand the growth to a grand size. Saw
the fetlock-bone of such a one through, and you will find
H coarse as a cabbage-stalk in its fibre, beside the more
tense formation of the thorough bred 'a bone. Grass feed-
ing does this, that is, makes the size — or rather made, as
it has through perseverance, like all other things, come
now to be inherited. But their fire is due to their
descent from the old mountain breed, from which Carac-
tacus used to choose his cobs, and which is tearaway and
tireless as ever now-a-days.

There is going to be a great dispersion of pigs. Lord
Morton during the Bristol show week, taking advantage
of its vicinity, will give the public a chance of his delicious

brawns. Here let me thank Mr. Wood heartily for the
publication of his excellent recipe for sufl'eriug ewes. But
what shall we do about this cow abortion? Is it as
epidemic as measles ? I heard much of it in Ireland as
one does at home, being there, as here, simply

What is the value of a Shorthorn pedigree ? is a question
deserving consideration. Shorthorns, to be successful in
the market, must bcbuilfcas ships are. whether intended for
speed or strength, on certain well-considered and definite
lines. We are familiar in the sheets of public prints with
exquisitely beautiful and yet very various models of dif-
ferent naval projectors' art. It is so exactly with that
peculiar breed of cattle, which, whether originally im-
ported from the Continent or not, has yet been cultivated
in this country to a high degree, and is generally
pronounced to be the most valuable for the improvement
of other native kine in all parts of the world. Hence it
is of eminent consequence to keep them, as far as can be
in their inherited purity, free from stain of half-breds,
just as is done with the racehorse. Thanks to the enter-
prise of rich men, and the impulsive fascination of the
pursuit itself, this is likely to be the case for generations
to come ; and with profit, too, I may, judging from ex-
perience, fairly add. What prices the Collings cattle
made at their sale! And by private contract Princess is
recorded to have had seven hundred guiueas paid for her
which would be, all things considered, about twelve hun-
dred pounds of our money uow-a-days. Bakewell let
three of his improved Leicester rams in 17S9 for 1,200
gs., and seven others for 2,000 gs. This splendid reward
he gained by his own energy and shrewd management.
He had, as all must, his share of ridicule and cold water
to encounter. Wherefore, then, should we despond?
Keep moving on. It is the rule of intelligent life. Men
must farm. Men must breed. Well, then, does not
common-sense admonish : Keep of the best you can to
sell, the quickest feeder and the deepest milker, and breed
what you can for yourself, so as not to have to buy ? Mr.
McCombie, than whom none should know better, tells us
that it is easy to be ruined in the " lean-meat " trade.
" To be a good judge of store cattle," he writes else-
where, "is exceedingly difficult.- We have many judge3
of fat cattle among our farmers and butchers, and a few
good judges of breeding stock ; but our really good
judges of store cattle are exceedingly few."

To grapple closer, however, with our problem, you find
thoroughly successful in the market only such cattle as
own pedigrees representing a distinct idea or method on
the part of the breeder. It is essential, of course, that
the breeder's story can be trusted, which unhappily is not
without some instances to the contrary even on this side
of the water. The old strains of Warlaby, Kirklevington,
Fawsley, Chilton, Towneley, &c, all exhibit the unmis-
takable evidence of men working in a selected groove of
their own, the comparative results, at once finished iu
themselves, reproductive of like iu their offspring, being
in each separate case marvellously different. These
several herds, in their purity, exhibit almost as diverse

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

473

types of outward shape as the several breeds of cultivated
sheep do — wool being put out of the question. Of
course, then, t9 maintain this distinctive type, to keep the
escendant in outward look no less than in the special
bovine qualities of meat and milk, not inferior to their
ancestry, it is expedient either to breed only between
themselves ; or, if an outcross be on the score of consti-
tution absolutely required, not to go further afield than can
be helped, and moreover with consideration ofthe under
elements, the lower strata of breed/":/ in both. It was
to the fact of the Booth cows Fame and Bridecake,
selected by Mr. S. E. Burden to fabricate that perfection
of a cow Grand Duchess 17th, having their veins full
(through Jerry, Pilot, Crown Prince, fee, &c.) of the
blood of R. Colling's lied Rose, and so bmu) already
very kindred to the Duchesses used to cross with them
(through reduplicated Second Hubback, Norfolk, &c.) that
the most successful of modern amalgamations is to be attri-
buted. To put it in other words, Mr. S. E. Boldeu's cele-
brated Booth and Bates cross, so much talked of at the time,
was simply the mixing up of two old wines which came
of the same vintage, but which had been kept iu different
cellars, and slightly doctored each by its separate owners.
By this rule, then, it does not do rashly to cross auimals
which for generations have been bred with a different ideal
in the respective breeder's minds. Hence it is that the
immediate results of such a performance are so often dis-
appointing. To have a successful combination, you must
consider the special type 01* character of each of the two
animals, and no less also their backbreeding. Taught by
practical experience hence it is that the market will not
have the miscellaneously bred (higgledy-piggledy bred)
animals of which there are a large number existent, aud
which often impose upon a beginner. A cow may show
twenty Herd Book crosses and still be worth not a row of
piu s beyond her milk or meat value, because her history is
that she is the issue of some such performance as this.
One of her earliest ancestresses was bought and
sent to the nearest Shorthorn bull, no matter
what his strain, then the heifer, to some such
other ; then a cheap bull is picked up and paired with her
heifer again, and so on without method or idea of any
sort. Accidentally she may have preserved a good style ;
but she would be dangerous to breed from. On the
other hand, when every cross has been calculated, and
the Shorthorn style is preserved, both bulls and cows are
really of worth, because they can be relied on to produce
the like of themselves. And thi3 leads one to point out
that whereas excellent youug bulls are at present " legion,"
reliable females are rare, and therefore exceedingly costly,
as the outside world occasionally hears with astonishment.
With the best of reason do the rich breeders compete for
the Duchesses, Oxfords, Sec, because they represent the
idea of one whose stock (as he foretold) by their benefi-
cial effect on other tribes, have shown him to have been
the shrewdest aud most prescient of breeders. Where
would the existing abundance of beautiful bulls be of so
many strains but for the Kirklcvington blood they have

in their veins ? And as much may be said on the
Warlaby side too.

For those who can afford it as good and safe an invest-
ment as can be is the purchase of the best Bates females.
Booth females he cannot obtain for love or money. But
of course the number of the Bates best is limited, and
breeders are springing up on all sides iu shoals. Well
then, before they be squandered away, pick up — if only as
Bates did, a cow to begin with — some of those side tribes
which are full of blue blood at bottom. One there is to be
sold uext week in several lots, a tribe which Jonas Webb
was fond of, the Oelia tribe, full for the uiue lowest crosses
of splendid old blood, Driffield, Patriot, Ben, Sec. (aver
aud over again) . One of England's best breeders sat into
the small hours with me tracing this pedigree when I
pointed it out to the public on a former occasion, and we
were surprised above measure to find such a flow
especially of Ben's blood, and Ben, remember, was uucle to
R. Colli 11 g's Red Rose.

I try to practice what I preach, and consequently stick by
a single tribe, a whole herd of which I now possess, or I
should certainly bid for these Celias.

The Duchesses, Oxfords, Wildeyes, Watcrloos, Gazelles,
Silences, Darlingtons, Duchess Nancys, &c, must belong
(being limited in number) to the turtle-soup tier. But
such old families as these Celias it will pay the enter-
prising to look up. I have heard from one who owned
her that Celia was " a poor one-" So she might be, con-
sidering how inbred she was. Yet Jouas Webb saw a
treasure in her, aud he, too, was " wide-awake" ! A note
from Holker informs that since July 31, out of 20 calves
born 17 are bulls. " We shall have a grand lot of bulls
for th« 18th of September." What's the use of " grand "
bulls if there be no fitting females to pair them with ?
<' There never was a sounder speculation than Shorthorns
judiciously bought just now," is a remark onehearsou every
side. Look up the advertisedcow s, then, whose lower strata
are redolent of Colling's blood.

Never mind if the paste above has been made hastily
with somewhat rancid butter. If the apricot jam within
be right, it is easy to replace a crust !

The " wave," as doctors term it. of abortion seems to
have passed on. Its effects were as general as disastrous,
and one hear it mentioned in all company. One gentle-
man spoke of having bought a rick of hay some years
since, and said that every cow fed from that rick threw her
calf. Surely this is the dreaded ergot ! Home-made pro-
vender and home-bred stock are nine-tenths safer than
the purchased.

It is a bad year for goslings aud the early chickens
excepted. When old cottage women hatched them in bee-
hives under their beds, the frosts seem to have played
the mischief with eggs. I am just informed that I can
buy any number of three-parts-grown " gulls" (young
geese) shortly, on a wild sort of forest or common dis-
trict not far heuce. And I am informed that their flesh
is far superior to that of the common sort. They are to
ordinary geese what the Southdown mutton is to the
Cotswold ! I mount my white ass, and am gone to in-
spect- Vigil, May 11,

474

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE COLD STORAGE WHARF.

These vast premises, occupying the entire series of
arches beneath Cannon Street Station from Upper
Thames Street to the river, lire now in complete readiness
to receive and preserve, if necessary, a week's supply of
meat for the whole of London ; and recently a
company of gentlemen taking an interest in the question
attended at the invitation of Mr. Tallermau for the pur-
pose of inspecting the entire undertaking. The rauge of
arches comprises a spacious market-hall, with frontage
numbered 84, Upper Thames Street ; receiving-house ;
the immense air-tight store-chambers ; the various ap-
pliances of freezing-tanks, pipes, and exhauster used
for the purpose of reducing the temperature as required,
and driven by a 10-horse power engine- In addition
was shown a working model of the refrigerating appa-
ratus and store chambers, which is about to be despatched
to the Paris Exhibition. Among members of the Lower
House present were : — Sir A. Mills, Colonel Kings -
cote, and Messrs. C. S. Read, A. M'Arthur, P. Mac-
lagan, J. Macartney, A. Pell, aDd P. Phipps.

The general opinion appeared to be that the Cold
Storage Wharf is a complete realisation, as far as the
metropolis is concerned, of the scheme proved feasible by
the results obtained from the voyage of the Frigorifique
last spring, since the great evil will by its means be
avoided of deterioration caused by exposure to the air of
meat brought from abroad under the effect of the cooling
process; while by the arrangements concluded in Austro-
Ilungary the period of transit will be so limited that the
loss by evaporation will be merely nominal.

The inspection being concluded the company assembled
in one of the large chambers, the Duke of Northum-
berland being in the chair.

Mr. Tallerman explained at some length the aims of
the Company and the scope of their operations. Experi-
ments had been conducted in connection with their pro-
cess, both as to fish and fruit, and had proved perfectly
successful ; hence one-third of the building would be
fitted up for the purpose of storing these and other perish-
able foods. Contracts have been completed by which as
much as 400 tons of meat can weekly be obtained, if
desired, at a prime cost of 3id. to 4jd. per lb., or 4d. to
5d. at Vienna, all meat not coming up to the best English
standard being regarded as seconds. These supplies will
be concentrated at Vienna from South Eastern Europe
generally, the principal contributors being Galicia and
Bessarabia. There are in all some 20 centres, as for in-
stance Cracow, Lemberg, and Tchernowitz ; so that in
case of scarcity in one region others could be called upon.
There is not the slightest possibility of diseased meat
being forwarded. With respect to transit, arrangements
have been made with the Continental railway authorities
for a special express train of 10 or 12 car3, carrying 50
tons or more, to be run every week for the present, the
Storage Company supplying the cars, the railways merely
running them. The time occupied between Vienna and
Antwerp will be 76 hours j but it is anticipated that this

will, after awhile, be reduced to 45 hours, and that a train
may be sent off every day. A steamer is to be chartered
to convey the meat from Antwerp to the Cold Storage
Wharf, and in a very short time this traffic is expected to
be in full swing.

The Duke of Northumberland said that having taken
special interest in the importation of cattle for the food
supply of England, he must say that he had been ex-
tremely gratified to find that large supplies of meat of
good quality would soon reach this country from the Con-
tinent ; and he thought that the proposal of Mr Taler-
man was an improvement upon the old system in one
respect at least, namely that of the prevention of the
cruelty and neglect which was attendant upon the transit
of live animals. He congratulated the Company upon
the present success of their enterprise, which, he thought,
had been productive of great good.

A resolution, congratulating Mr- Tallerman upon the
completion of his arrangements, and expressing the
opinion of those present with regard to the beneficial
character of his efforts to enlarge the area available for
the food supply, was next passed.

Mr. Tallerman, in acknowledging the compliment,
remarked that there would probably arise out of the
proposed trade an entirely new branch of business ; for it
was intended that large quantities of fish of various de-
scriptions from the lavish fisheries of Ireland should be
preserved fresh and sent by the returning steamer and
train to Central Europe, where there was a scarcity of
such commodities even greater than the deficiency of meat
at home.

The proceedings then terminated.

MANCHESTER HORSE SHOW.

The fifth International Horse Show was recently opened
at the Pomona Gardens. Whatever may be the cause, the
exhibition this year shows a considerable falling-off from the
numbers given in previous years. In 1877 the total number
of entries was 484. At the present show the entries number
only 447. Almost without exception, the animals exhibited
merit special commendation, and the keen competition for the
prizes offered was in itself a proof of the general excellence of
the various classes. The classes judged included thoroughbred
and roadster stallions, stallion ponies, hunting brood mares,
hunters, agricultural and dray stallions, cart stallions, agricul-
tural and dray mares, and dray horses, besides which there
were various leaping contests. The following are the names
of the judges : Lord Combermere, Colonel Ballard, Mr. R. L.
Maynard, Mr. C. Brierley, Mr. C. Masters, Mr. W. Lort, Mr.
J. C. Parsons, Mr. W. M'Culloch, and Mr. T. Plowright.
Heavy horses were not numerously represented, but the quality
of the exhibits was extraordinarily good. There were fourteen
entries in the roadster stallion class, and Yorkshire exhibitors
carried all before them, the first prize falling to Mr. G. Holmes,
Beverley ; the second to Mr. N. S. Brough, Market Weigh-
ton; and the third to Mr. G. Wilberiorce, Thornton, Pock-
lington. " Young Fireaway," the animal shown by Mr.
Holmes, is a five-year-old, of splendid proportions, and has
never before been exhibited in competition. The entries of
agricultural or dray stallions only represented half a doze"

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

475

exhibitors, and Yorkshire agaiu asserted its title to the leading
award, which was taken by Mr. J. F. Crowther, Mirlield, with
his Clydesdale chesuut, " Topsman." The second and third
prizes in this class fell to the Earl of Ellesmere's " British
Wonder" and " Samson II." respectively, the same animals
being the winners of the first and second honours at the Royal
Society's show last year. The Earl of Ellesmcre exhibited in
connection with ths same class, though not for competition —
being disqualified in consequence of having taken the lirst prize
last year — his celebrated bay stallion, " Samson," which carried
off the hundred guineas champion cup at last year's exhibition
of the RoyaJ Society, and the premier prize at the Bath and
West of England Show, and to which the judges awarded a
silver medal for special excellence. The two premiums offered
in connection with the stallion pony class were awarded to Mr.
C. W. Wilsou, Kendal, in the face of seven competitors. Of
the nine cart stallions which were shown, four were the exhibits
of the Earl of EUesmere, who secured the first place with
" Youug Prince of the Isle," an animal which met with similar
success at the recent Cambridge show, the second prize falling
to Mr. J. Oxley, Gainsborough. In the exhibits of agricul-
tural and dray mares the only competitors were the Earl of
EUesmere (who had entered three of the finest brood mares in
his stud) and Mr. L. Drew, Merrytown, Hamilton, and the
competition, although so unusually limited, was remarkably
close on the ground of merit, the animals exhibited being
choice representatives of the English and Scotch breeds. The
first prize fell to the Earl of Ellesmere's brown mare " Dainty,"
and Mr. Drew took the second with a mure to which the lead-
ing position was assigned at last year's show of the Royal
Society. In the class of agricultural gelding or mare, the
positions taken in the foregoing class by the Earl of EUesmere
and Mr. Drew were reversed, and a third prize was awarded
to the Stand Stud Company, Whitefield. Mr. W. A. Meadows
carried off the first, and the Stand Stud Company the second)
prize in the class of gelding or mare for dray purposes, the
former with his brown gelding, Champiou, and the latter with
their bay mare, Beauty. In the class of hacks and roadsters
over 15 hands, the first prize was taken by the Stand Stud
Company, the second by Mr. T. Nicholson, Hull, and the third
by Mr. C. Rose, Malton ; and in the exhibits of hacks and
roadsters not exceeding 15 hands the first position was assigned
to Mr. J. Robinson, Hull, the second to Mr. T. H. D. Bayly,
Newark, and the third to Mr. R. Wright, Whalley Range.
The weight-carrying horses were very numerous, and on the
whole well bred, the lighter animals being particularly good.
In the class of hunters for breeding purposes, Mr. Benjamin
Bee, Goosnargh, near Preston, was awarded the first prize,
and Mr. T. Harris, Pendleton, the second. In the class equal
to 15 stone, five years old and upwards, Mr. T. H. D. Bayly
took the first prize with his bay gelding, " Rossington," which
has carried off similar honours at other exhibitions ; whilst
the animals taking the second and third prizes — belonging
respectively to Mr. J. B. Booth, Cattcrick, and the Duke of
Hamilton — are also veteran prize winners. In hunters, live
years old and upwards, without condition as to weight, Mr. T.
H. Hutchinson, of Catterick, won the first place with " Glen-
gyle ;" the second place was assigned to Mr, A. J. Brown;
Pontefract; and the third to Mr. C. S. Parsons, Malpas.
Yorkshire exhibitors also secured all the honours in the class
of four-year-old hunters, the first prize being readily given to
a splendid chesuut ccelding, " Golden Drop," shown by Mr. P.
P. Newton, Malton; the second to Mr. J. S. Darrell, West

Ayton ; and the third to Mr. A. J. Brown, Pontefract. In
the class of three-year-old hunters, which included some ani-
mals of great promise, the Duke of Hamilton secured the first
place with his brown gelding, " Birdy's Eye," which he pur-
chased last year at the Yorkshire Society's Show from Mr. G.
Lancaster, of Northallerton ; Mr. Lancaster was second with
an animal which, but for the misfortune of meeting with an
injury in the stable shortly before the hour of exhibition, would
have run closely for the first place ; and the third prize was
awarded to Mr. M. Raw, Darlingtou. — Abridged from the
Mii/wAeshr Examiner.

COWS HOLDING UP MILK.— A correspondent of
The Queenslander summarises the physiological peculiarities
of the mamirary glands of the cow in the following manner,
thus explaining why cows can "hold up their milk": — The
bag, or udder, is divided into four parts, entirely distinct
from each other, except as they are held together by mem-
braneous ligaments. The milk in each is held in confluent
tubes, which, like the roots of a tree, are all contracted into
one, just above the teat — the milk entering that funnel-shaped
organ by a single channel. Just at the upper end of the teat
the walls of this channel are contracted, and the contraction
is surrounded by a band of muscular fibres. The will of the
cow can operate on this band, contracting cr expanding it at
pleasure, making it operate like a valve. At the junction of
each smaller tube with a larger one is a smaller contraction
and band, also under the control of the will. Ordinarily
these bands are contracted (as in the neck of the bladder) so
tlnii the milk has to crowd its way through them to get from
tht smaller into the larger tubes. This is an admirable ar
rai^ement for sustaining the weight of the milk equally in all
pans of the udder, and preventing it from pressing heavily
upon the teats. When the udder is full, if the milk is drawn
out of the teats, relieving the pressure in them, it requires a
vigorous effort of the will of the cow to prevent the pressure
above from crowding the milk down to lill the vacancy. If
the udder is only partly filled one cau hold the milk more
readily back, and the less there is in it the more easily can
she maintain the tension of the muscular bands necessary to
prevent entirely the milk from flowing through them. When
the milker first takes hold of the teats and begins to milk, the
excitement causes the cow to contract the band so firmly as to
hold back the milk perfectly for a time. But presently this
vigorous action will begin to slacken, and the milk will begin
to pour through, and if all is quiet she will relax the bands
fully, when the milk all settles down upon [the teats, and if
quickly drawn in can all be milked out to the very last drop.
But this perfect relaxation will only last for a short time. If
the milk is not soon extracted she will begin to tighten up the
muscular bands agaiu, and the last part will be held back and
permanently retained when the milker probably thinks he has
got it all, because it stops coming. A cow should, therefore
be milked quickly as well as quietly. A calf will draw milk in
three minutes, and a milker should come as near that time as
possible. If the time of milking is much prolonged she wil
become impatient, and be sure not to " give down " perfectlly
The quietest and quickest milker cjeis the most and best
milk, because he gets all the " shippings," which are the
richest part.

4/6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) BILL.

A careful examination of the new edition of the
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, as amended by
the Select Committee, shows that their lord-
ships have wrought a great change in it by the
addition of a very few words ; but for the rest, there
has been no alteration, except in verbal re-construc-
tion, legal technicalities, veterinary amendment,
and general professional re-touching. - There is not
so much as an indication of anv fresh Irish influence

l adequate period of quarantine. In introducing
that Bill the Duke of Richmond admitted
the farmers' demand for a perfect measure
— total prohibition — to be logically unassailable,
but declared that the country was not ripe for it.
Accepting this view of the matter as being based
on common sense, we gave a general support to the
Bill, at the same time raising an uncompromising
objection to quarantine for trade purposes as being

having been brought to bear upon it ; and we look ' contrary to the spirit of the measure, incompatible
in vain for any practical result due to a re-considera- with its general provisions, and inimical to its

tion of the proposed Bill in respect of its bearings
on Ireland. There is a strong sensation of the
lawyer's office about this amended document, but
not much evidence of Select Committee work.
The one simple but highly important change is
quite outside any consideration connected with
Ireland, although the Irish phase of the question
was the alleged reason for going into committee.

But their Lordships have put their mark upon the
Bill by an addition to the Fifth Schedule — which
provides that foreign fat stock are " not to be
moved alive out of the wharf" — the wording of
which is as follows: — "In relation to animals
brought from her Majesty's possessions in North
America, or from the United States of America, the
provisions of this Schedule relating to slaughter,
or to quarantine, ©r to any of those provisions, shall
not have effect unless and until the Privy Council
from time to time by order do direct." This is the
red-tape form of telling us that the United States
and Canada are to be allowed to send live animals
all over Great Britain until further orders. Well,
we have already expressed a decided opinion about
this matter. The principle of this exception is
wrong, for it must be evident to every unprejudiced
thinking man that any scheme for the repression
of contagious diseases of animals at home, together
with the protection of the country from the diseases
we have hitherto received from abroad, must be
thorough ; and it must also be consistent in itself.
Putting aside all consideration of internal restric-
tive measures, the Bill before it was referred to the
Lords' Select Committee was a measure based on
the principle of the slaughter at the ports of landing
of all foreign animals intended for human food ; it
contained a provision by which foreign animals
could be introduced for breeding purposes Under
conditions which might be thought equal to the

success. But this amended Bill chronicles quite
a new departure in principle, and goes far to show
us that we are quite prepared to believe, namely, that
the Lords and their professional advisers, traders,
and the general community — everybody, in fact,
but the farmers — have little else but the dread of
Cattle Plague to stir them to any sort of action.
Professor Brown, in his recent Report, remarks
that " no report of the existence of contagious or
infectious diseases among animals was received
from the United States of America or from
Canada during 1877." AVhy should they make
such report ? But does the Select Committee of
the House of Lords advise the exemption of
American and Canadian live stock on the ground
of this absence of official information?. Surely
not ; they must have yielded to trade pressure,
thus showing the influence which trade organi-
sations have "on noble lords. If a small,
rich, and noisy clique of merchants can so
move our rulers, surely the quiet but united
and determined force of the entire agricultural
interest would suffice to carry not this Bill but
the more " logical" one of which we have spoken.
Some day this power may be used ; it is none the
less real from being latent.

But to return to the question immediately
before us, we presume it will not be denied
that -T'leuro-pneumonia exists on the North
American Continent. The abstract of a
paper read before the National Agricultural
Congress at "Washington, which we published last
week, states that "the contagious Pleuro-pneu-
monia of cattle is steadily, slowly, and almost
uninterruptedly gaining ground in the Eastern
States ;" and we have previously reprinted from
American sources conclusive evidence of the ex-
tensive existence of Pleuro-pneumonia in the

necessities of the case ; and it also proposed to allow i United States. Nor will it be denied that Foot-
foreign animals to pass inland, for trade purposes, I and-Mouth Disease has on more than one occasion
after what we consider to be a ridiculously in- ' made its appearance there, Can it be asserted

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

47;

that the North American Continent is now per-
fectly free from it? What are the diseases
referred to by Dr. N. H. Paaren, in the paper read
before the Washington Congress, as being " ob- j
scurely named distemper, murrain, Sec. ?'.' AVhat ;
is there to prevent Texas Fever from reaching us ?
Who can say it would not be capable of acclima- '
tisation here? Why should we not be afraid of |
their Sheep-scab and of their Hog-cholera ? We
can see no other reason for shutting our eyes to
all this than that of obliging traders, merchants, '
and shippers, and this will scarcely suffice. Den-
mark tries to prove that her geographical position
alone should entitle her to exemption from the
conditions which are to be applied to the rest of
Europe ; but this argument would not stand for a
moment. If any portion of the Continent of
Europe were made an exception, the whole scheme
would collapse ; the Bill would become useless
and meaningless. But because there is no
reason to fear Cattle Plague from any' trans-
Atlantic source, our law-makers give us to under-
stand that they do not attach much importance to
anything else. From the Duke of Richmond's
recent speeches we cannot believe him to share
this indifference to what outsiders call the "minor"
diseases. We think this exemption of trans-
Atlantic animals from the general provisions of
the Bill, (notwithstanding the proviso of Orders in
Council), and the insufficient quarantine for

Continental dairy -tock, very serious. blots on the
Bill ; but as lung as the provisions against tho
inland transit of fat cattle from the Continent of
Europe remain intact we shall consider the measure
better than none at all. In concession, however,
our friends in Parliament must no further go if
they do not intend to render the Bill of greater
inconvenience than advantage to the British stock-
owner.

The only other alteration of importance is the
provision by which the internal restrictions and
regulations are proposed to come into force on the
1st of October, 1*78, instead of the 1st of January,
1S70 ; and as it will take some time to' get the
machinery into working order, we do not antici-
pate that farmers will raise any objection to it.
Pleuro-pneumouia and Foot-and-Mouth Disease
are treated separately ; local authorities must
destroy animals affected with the former within
two days of discovery, and places or districts
which have been infected with the latter may be
declared free after the expiration of fourteen days,
instead of twenty-eight days, from the cessation
of the disease. In comparing the amended Bill
with the first draft we noted some thirty-four
alterations, but none save those we have specified
will effect any change in the general working of
the Bill, and only the one we have criticised at
length will affect its scope and intent.

DENMARK AND THE CATTLE DISEASES BILL.

The letters which have recently appeared in The
Tlmm, from a correspondent in Denmark on the
subject of the Danish cattle trade with Great
Britain deserve especial notice. They have been
written, of course, with a view to impress the
British public with the importance of that
traffic to them as consumers, and with the
consequences which the writer declares will follow
if the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill becomes
law. The argument is, that neither Cattle Plague
nor Pleuro-pneumonia now exists in Denmark, and
that Foot-and-Mouth Disease exists only to a slight
extent ; that the exports of cattle from Denmark
to Great Britain constitute nearly one-fifth
of the entire foreign supply of cattle to Great
Britain ; that this trade " is entirely dependent
on the freedom of carrying the live animals inland
to the best market ; and that the peremptory
rule of slaughtering on landing will entirelv
destroy the trade." This is the case as stated in
the interests of Denmark.

From the Consular Report presented to the
House of Commons last year the following facts are
to be learned : — The cattle — producing industry of
Denmark is divided into dairying and rearing cattle
for export. The former branch of industry obtains
in the islands, and the latter on the mainland —
Jutland. The export trade is divided between
Great Britain and Schleswig-Holstein. In 18GG
the number of cattle exported to Great Britain
was 8,900, and to Schleswig-Holstein 45,900. In
the year 1875 the number to Great Britain was
50,200, and to Schleswig-Holstein 45,400. This
shows clearly the direction in which the industry
is being developed ; and the Report says that bulls
are yearly imported " to enable farmers to meet
the requirements and demands of the English and
Scotch cattle markets." It is further stated that
" all public and private arrangements and regula-
tions made have only had the live cattle export
trade in view." Again: "There are now (April
oOth, 1877) ten Danish steamers exclusively

478

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

employed in the trade, and running weekly
with live stock to Leitk, Newcastle, Hull,
and London. There are besides several English
steamers employed in the same trade, of
which three leave Copenhagen weekly for
Leith, Newcastle, and Hull respectively. The
harbour of Esbjerg has been built at a compara-
tively great expense, solely with a view to
develop this cattle trade. . . . The lines of
railway already completed are in connection with
it, and those projected will likewise be so ; in fact,
everything has been done to make this port in the
future the chief cattle export outlet for the whole
kingdom." It is also stated that " dairy farms are
increasing on the islands, and all lengthened
restrictions and hindrances to the free import of
live stock into Great Britain has a decided
tendency to encourage dairy-farming iu the purely
cattle-rearing districts, to the detriment of the
cattle export trade."

It will be seen from this that the statement of
the Consul and the recent letters of The Times
correspondent tend to show one and the same
thing, namely, that the great object of Denmark
is to continue and develop the exportation of
cattle to Great Britain. Denmark, therefore, has
an interest at stake, in pursuance of which she
naturally protests against anything which would
tend to interfere with it. And it must be borne
in mind that the restrictions of which she com-
plains will also influence her trade indirectly by
affecting that of Schleswig-IIolstein ; for the
animals which Denmark sends to Schleswig-Hol-
stein, constituting the second branch of her export
trade, ultimately come to Great Britain via Ton-
ning. The motive which dictates all protests
from Denmark cannot, therefore, be doubted or
misunderstood.

The position taken up is, that slaughter at the
ports of landing will ruin the existing trade, and
deprive us of one-fifth of our extraneous supply.
Supposing such a contingency actually to occur, it
is not a matter of moment to us, as there is
evidence to show that an equivalent, either in the
form of live cattle or dead meat, can readily
enough be obtained from the United States and
Canada. If the cattle-rearing industry of Den-
mark should be diverted to another channel, and
the system of dairying take its place — upsetting
internal arrangements, railway traffic, harbour
schemes, and the vested interests of steamship
companies — still, that is purely and simply Den-
mark's own private matter, about which the
British public has no occasion whatever to concern

itself. But there has not been one tittle of evi-
dence brought forward to show that such a con-
tingency would necessarily arise, either by Count
Danneskiold Samso, the British Consul, The,
Times correspondent, or anybody else. The situa-
tion is so transparent that it becomes a matter of
surprise it should be held up for the inspection of
the British public. The argument that thedifference
between slaughter at the ports and free transit inland
should be sufficient to annihilate the trade is so
palbably absurd that it would not be worthy of
notice were it not for the possibility of the entire
thing being virtually in the hands of those on this
side who are vitally interested in the inland transit
of foreign animals. The imports of cattle from
Tonning during the past season, from June 1st to
December 8th, 1877, came toDeptford for slaughter
— were slaughtered at the port of landing ; and as
a large proportion of these animals came originally
from Denmark, the argument that Denmark can-
not send her cattle to us under the same conditions
falls at once to the ground. The gist of the whole
matter may be found in the fact that the proposed
Act of Parliament is regarded, both abroad and at
home, as the thin end of a wedge which
trade organisations desire to prevent being
inserted lest it should eventually be driven
home.

With the arguments used to prove the efficiency
of Danish inspection we do not care to trouble
our readers ; it is quite certain they cannot detect
incubative disease in Denmark any more than we
can here. They may put healthy animals on board
infected boats, as is not unfrequently done ; they
may ship infected animals ignorantly and
innocently, or affected animals carelessly and
culpably. The result iu either case is the same to
us. There are no " stores" imported from Denmark
except milch cows, which are not bought by far-
mers, but by town and suburban dairymen. As for
the plea — urged before the Cattle Plague Commit-
tee— that Danish beasts are not good enough to send
as dead meat — we can only say that it should be
used on this side as an argument for the British con-
sumer that such animals are not profitable to us at
any price ; least of all can the " poor" afford to buy
them. The Danish argument amounts to this,
that unless their beef can be sold v with the bloom
on " it will not sell at all ; and our reply is that
such meat is dear at any price. The consumerSj
interest is not served by it. What we should like
to do would be to prevent foreign animals coming
alive at all, and failing that, what we intend to do
is to protest as earnestly as we can against their
being' allowed to be moved inland.

THE FARMER' MAGAZINE.

4?9

THE VETERINARY REPORT FOR 1877.

The Annual Report of the Veterinary Depart-
ment of the Privy Council for the year 1877;
recently issued, is well compiled, and contains a
great deal of useful information. From the
statistical tables, which are voluminous and com-
plete, we learn that the total number of live stock
in Great Britain on the 4th of June 1^77 was
36,357,825, namely, 5,697,933 cattle, 28,101,164
sheep, aud 2,498,728 pigs ; being less in the ag-
gregate than the average of five years — from 1873
to 1877 inclusive — by 1,009,292 animals, but ex-
ceeding the total of 1B76 by 44,752 animnls. The
importation of animals into Great Britain was as
follows : — From European Countries 179,236 cat-
tle, 848,315 sheep, and 18,745 pigs; from the
United States and Canada 10,187 cattle, 23,395
sheep, and 810 pigs ; from the Channel
Islands 2,638 cattle, and 2 pigs ; from " other
countries" 5 cattle, 449 sheep, and 17 pigs;
and from Ireland 649,441 cattle, 630,774 sheep,
and 585,427 pigs — making a total of 2,958,441
animals, against 3,226,948 in the previous year,
thus showing a deficiency of 268,507 animals as
compared with that year. This falling off in
the supply was both from the Continent of Europe
and from Ireland. From the Continent the de-
ficiency was "over 87,000 cattle, above 104,000,
sheep,and over 24,000 pigs ;" but Professor Brown
thinks that, as the number of animals imported
from the^Continent in 1876 was above the average,
the falling off is not necessarily the result of pro-
hibitive orders and restrictive measures. The
deficiency from Ireland was nearly 1 7,000 cattle,
and over 56,000 sheep, whilst there was an increase
of over 72,000 pigs, as compared with last year ;
this at all events cannot be attributed to restric-
tions, as very few cases of disease were detected
among Irish stock landed in Great Britain, and
Professor Brown states that he is " not aware that
in any case the movement of the apparently
healthy animals of the cargo was interfered with."
He also points out that there was a falling off in
the numbers of stock from countries in reference
to which there was no prohibitive or restrictive
legislation, notably from Denmark. On the other
hand, in spite of restrictions, there was an increase
of 162,000 sheep from Germany.

An interesting feature of the statistical part of
the Report will be found in the table which shows
the relationship of the foreign cattle trade with
the metropolis. Thus in 1877 there were 839,590
foreign auimals landed at the different wharves

of the port of {London, representing 77,015 per
cent, of the total importation of foreign animals
into the country, doing further into detail we
find that those numbers are made up as follows :
93,852 cattle, or 47*298 per cent, of the total num-
ber of foreign cattle : 735,525 sheep, or 84*834 per
cent, of the total number of foreign sheep ; and
10,213 pigs, or 52*182 per cent, of the total
number of foreign pigs. Another table gives the
numbers of cattle, sheep, and pigs, brought into
the metropolitan markets during the year, dis-
tinguishing the home from the foreign, aud show-
ing the proportion per cent, which the latter bear
to the total numbers of the markets. Thus we
find the numbers of stock exposed for sale in
London, representing the foreign supply,
40*650 per cent, of the cattle, 51 *298 per cent, of
the sheep, aud 85715 per cent, of the pigs. In
each table the numbers and averages are given for
the five years from 1873 to 1877 inclusive, and
the information is exceedingly interesting and use-
ful, as showing both the large proportion of one
foreign supply taken by London, and the insignifi-
cant proportion the whole must bear to the total
consumption of the country.

With regard to the importation of dead meat,
Professor Brown considers the Continental export-
ers would not be likely .to make any arrangements-
for altering the character of the trade, so long as they
have reason to look upon our restrictions and pro-
hibitions as being only of the nature of a tempo
rary provision. Naturally, as Professor Brown
remarks, " Cattle traders on the Continent, as else-
where, prefer conducting their business in their
own way, and are not disposed to accommodate
themselves to restrictions in such a way as to in-
vite their continuance." This we can perfectly
well understand, and it shows the urgent need of
legislation on the Cattle Disease question. When
the cattle traders on the Continent have the de-
cision of the country embodied in an Act of
Parliament, as we hope they will soon have, there
will only be the one simple question for them to
consider, whether it is worth their while to adapt
themselves to it or not. If they can find a better
market for their cattle we shall have no reason to
complain ; if they cannot they must come to our
terms. We have no doubt whatever that a short
space of immunity from their diseases, and from
the dread of them, will suffice to enable the
breeders of Great Britain and Ireland to make
good the deficiency which would at first be created

480

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

if the Continental supply were entirely diverted
from our markets. Meanwhile wu shall doubtless
have complaints aud high-sounding threats ; but we
can afford to listen with complacency to both. When
they have created markets for their produce which
do not now exist they may be believed if they
talk of diverting the present trade with Great
Britain iuto newly discovered channels ; but
until then we shall continue to believe that they
will adapt themselves to circumstances as soon as
there is a necessity for it. Professor Brown calls
attention to the efforts of the Schleswig-Holstein
authorities to organise a trade with France, by
rail from Tonning to Paris : but he does not state
that the scheme signally failed, as it did. Un-
questionably the prohibition of foreign fat stock
inland would be disagreeable to Schleswig-Holstein
and to Denmark, and if total prohibition were to
be enforced no doubt it would for a time disor-
ganise the trade of these two countries, but even
in that case the matter would be theirs, not ours.
Professor Brown admits — and the admission from
the highest official authority is highly suggestive
and important to the country— that " The large
consignments of fresh meat which we received
from America saved us from considerable embar-
rassment, and prevented any inconvenience arising
from the falling-off in the supplies of foreign
stock ; but while the success which has attended
the transport of meat from America placed beyond
all doubt the possibility of substituting a dead
meat for a live meat trade it has not yet led to
any definite action on the part of the consignees
to extend the system in this country. Meat which
reached our ports in first-rate condition was dealt
with as though it were an indestructible commo-
dity, and as a natural result tons of food have been
wasted, whereas a modicum of the care which was
exercised in bringing the meat across the sea would
have sufficed for its safe transit all over England.''
These are wise words and true : let those whom
they concern take due note of them.

To condense the information contained in this
Report to meet the exigencies of our space would
be a difficult matter. The history of the last out-
break of cattle plague is given in minute detail ;
but with the salient facts our readers are already
acquainted. Professor Brown points out the les-
sons to be learned from this most recent experience,
and from them we may also learn the fact, for
which we are quite prepared, that the inspection
practiced at Continental ports is not to be depended
upon to the extent of its natural limits,; otherwise
we should not have had Cattle Plague. The internal
restrictions of Germany are such as even to prevent

the stopping of a train in an iufucted place ; but
that did not prevent the fatal disease reaching us
in the simplest possible manner. The stopping of
diseased cattle at the port of landing is also "in-
sufficient to protect us against an invasion of the
disease,'' and it has been amply proved that it is
impossible to deal " effectually and economically
with Cattle Plague by means of intermittent
and irregular action on the part of Local Autho-
rities." There is nothing in this Report, or in
Professor Brown's evidence before the Cattle
Plague Committee of the House of Commons, to
inspire confidence in the action of Local Autho-
rities, and he states definitely in respect of this con-
tingency that " the issuing of uniform orders will
not suffice,unless means are taken to insure that they
are universally enforced." This is plain, and calls
for attention and reflection rather than comment
other than that there is every reasonable probability
of Local Authorities requiring very strict supervision
indeed if they are to be entrusted with the control
of Pleuro-pneumoniaand Foot-and-Mouth Diseases
as proposed in the Bill now before Parliament.
A matter of considerable moment in connection
with the last outbreak of Cattle Plague is satis-
factorily explained in this Report, namely, that
the Markets Committee interposed a valid
legal protest against the cauldrons or
" digesters " in each of the four blocks
into which the " defined part " of the port of
London — known as Deptford. Market — is divided,
being used for the destruction of the Cattle Plague
cargo of the " Castor ;" consequently, and in spite
of Professor Brown's express orders, " under these
circumstances the process which might have been
completed in a few hours occupied several days."
We believe it has been stated that the destruction
of these carcases occupied eight days, instead of
the thirty-six-hours which Professor Brown gives
as the time it would probably have occupied if all
four of the digesters had been used. Another
matter requiring the absolute control of the Cen-
tral Authority is the accumulation of infected
and disinfected manure in London.

Cattle Plague existed in England from January
81st, 1877, to July 15th of the same year, during
which time 47 outbreaks occurred amongst 1,099
cattle, of which 263 were attacked with the disease.
Of this number 228 were killed, 35 died, and 835
were slaughtered on account of having been ex-
posed to infection. The cost to the country of
this outbreak is estimated at £13,000, "which
may be taken to represent the sum of money
which was actually expended in stamping out the
disease.'" The indirect cost cannot be estimated,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

481

but will, wn trust, be more tliau repaid by the
prompt action it necessitated, and the amount of
public attention it has secured. Pleuro-pneumonia
*' maintained its ordinary rate of prevalence."
The number of cattle slaughtered by order
of the Local Authorities in Great Britain
from September 1st, 1876, to August 31st,
1877, was 5,108, against 4,673 ia the previous
year, and the amount of compensation awarded
£38,513 12s. 10d., against £31,991 9s. 6fd. in the
previous twelve months. Foot-and-mouth Disease
spread rapidly during the first three months of
the year 1877, The Local Authorities took varied
action with corresponding results ; yet in the
county of Norfolk, where no action was taken, the
disease declined rapidly from April to October,
after which it began to increase. This fact leads
Professor Brown to consider that " no definite
conclusion as to the effect of the restrictions" can
be gathered from it. Sheep-pox was nil, and
Sheep-scab rather in the ascendancy during the
year ; whilst Glanders and Farcy were considerably
less prevalent.

Inspection at the ports must be continued
under any circumstances, we are told, to
prevent diseases spreading by mediate contagion •
and this appears to be quite reasonable when we
find that of 3,283 cargoes of foreign animals
brought to our shores during the year 1877, there
were no less than 806 cargoes, or nearly lU per cent.,
which were diseased, the total number of foreign
animals actually affected with contagious disease

and lauded on our shores during the year being
3,790, of which 2,306 were affected with Foot-
and-Mouth Disease, 1,423 with Sheep-scab, 22
with Pleuro-pneumonia, and 39 with Cattlo
Plague. With slaughter at the ports of landing
there will still be room for careful inspection.
The number of ports where foreign cattle may be
lauded is being reduced to those where conveni-
ence exists for the maintenance of " denned
ports," the said ports being as follows, those in
italics having defined ports and receiving animals
from scheduled countries: — Falmouth, Glasgow,
Goole, Granton, Grimsby, Hartlepool, Harwich,
Kirkwall, Leith, Liverpool, London, Middles'
borough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Plymouth, Ports-
mouth, Rochester*, Southampton, Sunderland, and
Weymouth. With regard to future arrangements
Professor Brown tells us that the principle of the
scheme which he has advocated " is that of deal-
ing with outbreaks of contagious and infectious
maladies at the points "where they arise by the
employment of measures of the utmost severity,
leaving the districts outside the infected areas per-
fectly free." The italics are our own, and intended
to call the attention of our readers to a fact of
importance in relation to the scope and intent of
the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill ; and we
are convinced that farmers generally will readily
endorse the opinion of Professor Brown that
" the iuitial action should in every case be taken
by an experienced veterinary surgeon."

THE TRANSFER OF LAND

Mr. Osborne Morgan has done good service to

the country by obtaining the promise of a Select
Committee of the House of Commons to inquire
and report what steps ought to be taken to simplify
and secure the title to land, to facilitate the trans-
fer thereof, and to prevent frauds on purchasers
and mortgagees of land. The sensation caused by
the recent disclosure of extensive forgeries of
leases rendered the House more ready than it other-
wise might have been to agree to the proposed in-
quiry being made ; but the need of an improve-
ment in our system of land register and transfer
has long been acknowledged. Mr. Morgan re-
ferred to the attempts that have been made towards
establishing a good eystem of registration, and
showed' that they have been failures. Those who
took part in the debate differed in opinion as to
the best means of making the transfer of real
property safe, simple, and inexpensive ; but every

one admitted that something ought to be done. In
no other country in the world is the transfer of
laud so cumbrous and costly as it is in Great
Britain. Mr. Davies said that he had m ore than
once purchased about half an acre of land for £50
or £60, and the expenses of conveying had been
over £150. Mr. Shaw Lefevre pointed out that
the average cost of transferring small lauded pro-
perties in Ireland was from 15 to 25 per cent, on
their value — au amount which, as he said, was
almost a prohibition of the transfer of such pro-
perties. He thinks that three step3 are necessary
te facilitate land transfer : first, a complete ca-
dustral survey; secondly, the establishment of
local registers ; and thirdly, a power to be vested
in some person to sell laud. The Ordnance
survey that has been in progress for so many
years will, it is said, take eighteen years more to

complete at its present rats of progression. Moat
1 KU

492

THE FARMER'S "MAGAZINE.

farmers know in what a 'dilatory manner that sur-
vey has been carried on. A small party of niili-
tarj engineers has appeared in a village, and
perambulated the fields iu an extremely leisurely
manner, setting up a post here and there, and
marking the broad arrow on gate-posts and build-
ings. After a year or two, when half the posts
set up have been blown or knocked down,
. another party has appeared, following up the first
and taking measurements. The men give specta-
tors the idea that they are engaged in making the
.best of a holiday trip into the country, rather than
that they ' are actually working. If their survey
iit of such importance to laud transfer reform as
many members of the House appear to think that
it is, the work might he hurried on at a pace about
ten times as fast as that at which it has hitherto
.proceeded. More men might be employed ; they
might be expected to work in winter as well as in
summer (until the corn is high); and they might
really work instead of louuging about half their
ti me.

In comparing the cost and difficulty of laud
transfer iu this and other countries, it should be
borne in mind that in no other country are there
• so many encumbrances on land as there are in the
United Kingdom. Taking this fact into considera-
tion, it may with some reason be objected that, iu
attempting to render the transfer of land more
simple before the ownership of land has been

freed from its many undesirable complications, our
legislators are putting the cart before the horse.
It is, however, so much of a treat to see them
doing anything in the way of reforming our great
land muddle that we are not disposed to be
critical. Any arrangement which would render
the trausfer of land more simple and cheap would
be an immense benefit to the country, and in this
matter the people of the towns are as much con-
cerned as those of the rural districts. It is quite
obvious, however, that no effectual reform will
take place nuless that peculiar horror of compul-
sory legislation, which cropped up in the debate,
can be got rid of. It is curious how great an
affinity this sentiment has for anything relating
to the land. Every one knows that we cannot
have a generally satisfactory registration of landed
property without making it compulsory. That
compulsory registration would be a hardship to
some and an expense and inconvenience to many
is true ; but in legislating for the general good, not
only of this generation, but also of those to follow,
it is surely not true statesmanship to shrink from
making a -comparative few do what they would
rather not do. Truly the typical legislation of the
present day reminds us of nothing so much as
of a nervous surgeon who is afraid to prick a
boil on his patient's finger in order to reetore the
invalid to health.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT "RILL, -1878.

At a recent meeting of the Central Farmers' Club,
Mr. S B. L. Druce, the Secretary, read a paper on the
above subject.

Mr. J. Elwyn Brown, the President, in introducing the
lecturer, said that the subject originally put down for discus-
sion was " Local Government with Special Reference to the

'Rural Districts," and the paper was to have been read by Mr.

'W. E. Little, of Stags Holt, March. Mr. Little had not,
however, been able to fulfil his engagement, not from any wish
or desire not to do so, but from circumstances beyond his

■ control. The question, however, to be brought before the
Club by Mr. Druce Bomewhat approached the original subject,
and Mr. Druce had kindly undertaken to fill the gap caused
by Mr. Little's absence. He was quite sure th t Mr. Druce
would discharge this duty iu the same able manner as he did

• everything else connected with the Club. Mr. Druce would
give an analysis of the County Government Bill— a subject
of sufficient importance to engage the attention of this Club,
and to. give rise to free and air-.ple discussion as to the merits

■ of the Bill. The Bi5I was not yet law, and he for odc should
be sorry to see it pass into law in its present shape.

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — The subject selected for
'this evening's discussion was " Local Government with especial
reference to iRural Districts," and Mr \V. C. Little, of Stags
iiolt, had coneeated to introduce that subject to your notice.

It has, however unrortunately happened that in consequence
of the. illness of Mr. Little's brother he has been prevented
from reading the paper as he had intended, and in default of
finding some member of the Club to fill Mr Little's place the
committee have requested me to introduce for your discussion
the " County Government Bill," now before the House of
Commons. I do not presume, in the presence of a
meeting composed as this is of so many gentlemen who
have great and wide experience in the administration of
county and rural public affairs, to lay down for your acceptance
any views or ideas of my own on couDty government, bot I
shall to the best of my ability place before you an abstract of
the Bill as it now stands, and mention some of the criti-
cisms which it has called forth, with a view t» elicit jour
ideas and conclusions upon both it and them.

Mr. Druce then read the following paper : —
Introductory.

Although it is no doubt the fact that the present Bill is not
altogether a new idea, and that previous attempts have been
made by the Legislature duriag the last thirty or forty yearn
to constitute some sort of a County Board, more or less
■representative in char?cter, yet we may, I think, say with
truth that no such Bill would have been introduced at the
present time had it not been for the unanimous, though
uaexpected, success that Mr. C, S. Read obtained last year in

THE FARMKR'S MAGAZINE.

48,

the Ilouse of C Jinmons when he introduced h is resolution
in the House relating to the administration of county
busines*. That resolution ran thus : —

" That no readjustment of local administration can be
satisfactory or complete which does not refer county busines8
other than the administration of justice and the maintenance
of order, to a representative County Board."

And it will be seen as we consider the Bill that the authors
of it had that resolution in their minds when they drafted the
Bill, that it was, in fact, the text on which they worked, and
I think we may on the whole congratulate them in having —
speaking generally, and taking the Bill in its entirety — faith-
fully carried out the spirit as well as the letter of that resolu-
tion—the object of the resolution and the Bill being the
establishment of Boards representative of the ratepayers in each
county lor the adminstration of what we may call the civil
matters of the county.

Divisions or tee Bill.

The Bill naturally divides itself into two main heads or
divisions :—

I. The constitution of the County Board— In which term I
include the mode in which the members of the Board will be
appointed and elected and the way in which the business of the
Board will be carried on.

II. The powers of, and the duties to be discharged by, the
County Board.

Division No. I. includes the 1st and almost the whole of the
3rd part of the Bill— Section 3 to 8 and 29 to 45 inclusive ;
while our division No. II, is the same as the 2nd part of the
Bill — Sections 9 to 28 (inclusive.)

The 1st section of the Bill gives the title to the Act to be
founded upon it, "The County Adminstration Aft, 1878 ;"
and the 2nd limits the operation of the Act to England.

Division No. i. — Constitution of County Boards.

The 3rd section of the Bill reserves to the Court of Quarter
Sessions as now constituted — that is, to the justices of the
county in sessions assembled — the transaction of all judicial
business and business relating to prisons and police, bnt with
such exceptions the Court of Quarter Sessions when transact-
ing administrative business is to be constituted as a County
Board. Thus it will be seen that the County Board is not
absolutely a new local authority, but is the old Court of
Quarter Sessions with a more representative constitution. The
matters which are reserved for transaction by the Quirter
Sessions as now constituted are defined in a subsequent section
(4-7) of the Bill, and it will be more convenient for us, too, to
postpone the consideration of them till we consider our divi-
sion No. 2.

Clauses 4> and 5 of the Bill propose that the County
Board shall consist of representatives of: —

(1) The justices of the peace for the county who in Quar-
ter Sessions assembled are to choose in most coun'ies two of
their number, but in others more than two, for each Petty
Sessional division in the county to be their representatives on
the. Board. In making such choice the justices are to have
regard to the Petty Sessional divisions of the county, and so far
as is practicable to the representation of such divisions by
justices resident or usually acting therein.

(2) The Poor Liw Guardians of each rural pirish within
the county. In most counties two of such representatives,
elective n.emberg as they are termed in the Bill, in other
counties more than two, are to be elected for each Petty
Sessional division of a count) by the elective guardiau9 of the

rural parishes situate in such Petfy Sessional division. A per-
son is not to be deemed qualified to be elected an clec'hc
member of a Petty Sessional division unless he is an elective
guardian, or a person qualified to be an ehctive guardian, of
some rural parish in such Petty Sessional division. In all cases
the number of justices and the number of elective members on
the Board is to be equal.

(3) Pour members to be appointed by the Town Council of
each borough which coutains a population of 20,000 or up-
wards and has not a separate court of Quarter Sessions. These
representatives must themselves he members of the council by
which they are appointed, or qualified to be members of such
council. All the members of the County Board, however
appointed, are to hold oflice for one. year only, hnt are eligible
for re-election.

It is on these sections of the Bill that the chief controversy
has arisen.

1st. The electoral area of the Petty Sessional division is
objected to, and it is contended that the Poor Law Union
would form a much more convenient and better electoral area)
The chief arguments in favour ef the union area are— (1)
That its boundaries are better known than tbose of the P. tly
Sessioual division ; (2) That the union and not the Petty
Sessional division is the aggregation of the parches, the Guar-
dians of which *brm the elective body ; (3) that the guardians
can more conveniently and in a more business-like way meit
for the purposes of the election in the ord'nary Board room
than in the Petty Sessional Court of the division, as proposed
by the Bill (Schedule 1) ; (+) That the Petty Sessional Court
of the division to which any particular parish belongs may be
situate ta a different place from that at which the guardians
Board room is situate, and hence tha ta particular guardian
may be isolated and separated from his fellnv guardians
when fleeting a member of the County Board ;
(5) That the Petty Sessional area is unknown to the
system of local government except for the purposes of the
trials of offenders and other judicial business, whereas the
union area is well known and its members have been selected
as the authority in various matters of local governmeat — snch
as poor-law, sanitary, educational, and highway — and that by
adopting the Petty S Saional area a new anomaly is introduced
into loc»l government. The County Board ought, it is con
tendbJ, to be a federation of the central authority for the
unions, just as the unions are a federation of or central
authority for the parishes which constitute them. That the
County Board should act as the direct means of relation
between the couuty and the existing poor-law and sanitary
authorities.

On the other hand, the chief arguments in favour of the
Petty Sessional division as against the union area are — (I)
That the. Petty Sessional areas are in all cases conterminous
with the county, srherets in many instances the union area
cut and ovrrhp the borders of the county. To this it is re-
plied that it is not an insurmountable difficulty so to arrange
that in cases where consideraSle parts of a union lie in differ-
ent counties each of such parts should be an electoral area fi r
the couuty in which it is situate, and that when a small part
only of a union lies in a different county from that in which
its chief part lies such small part should be merged into and
form part of the union to which it adjoins in such different
county ; (2) That the elected members would be likely to take
a larger, wider, and more comprehensive view of their duties if
returned as representatives of a magiiterial division than if

N N t

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

re turned as guardians — Hint their minds would, in fact, bo
elevated by being detached from their unions. This, I mnst
cav, seems tome a verysentimen'at argument.

Other electoral ideas have been suggested, such as the
parliamentary electoral divisions, as is the case in the county
of Rutland (Section 46), and groups of parishes; but so far
as I have been able to discover, no serious contention on behalf
of these areas haa be?n brought forward.

The 2nd objection raised to this part of the Bill is aa to the

■ mode of election, which, it will be seen, is indirect through
the guardian" ; whereas it is contended that it should be
direct, that is, by the ratepayers themselves. No doubt

■ theoretically direct election tends to a more perfect representa-
tion of the eleetive body than indirect ; but practically, in the
case of County Boards, a better class of rasn — men, that is
of better position, of greater capacity for business, and with a
greater stake and interest in the oounty — will be elected, I
thiuk, by the -in direct method proposed by the Bill than by

- direct election. The disadvantages and inconveniences tha^
would attend these elections if every ratepayer in the county
had the right to record his vote at them are almost too obvious

? to need recapitulation. The expense, too, both public, that
is to 6ay to the county, for providing polling booths, polling
clerks, returning officers, ballot boxes, and all the other requi-

■ sites for a public election, and private, that is to say, to the
candidates, for election addresses, canvassing, election agents,
&c, &c, would be very great, almost all of -which
expenses will be avoided if the indirect method, as proposed, is

• resorted to. It is said, indeed, that you will not jjet the best

■ men by indirect election, but this, I think, is a mistake : and
I agree with the opinion expressed in the House of Commons
by Mr. Read, that it is the vain, showy, talkative, pretentious
man who would stand the best chance of being elected by the
direct method ; but that the steady-going business like man
whose abilities and capacity for work are best known to his
fellow-workers, stands the best chauce of being elected when
the election is in the hands of those fellow-workers solely, and
not of the large body of ratepayers generally. As an apposite

- example of direct election, we may take the Town Councils in
boroughs ; of indirtct, the Metropolitan Board of Works; and
I think it will be conceded that the latter- is a superior body
and does its work better than the former.

The 2nd objection taken to the proposed constitution of the

* County Board is the proportion of justices to the elective

' members of the Board, This proportion, by the Bill, is equal

(excluding the representatives of boroughs). The equality of

numbers will, it is contended, split up the Board into two

parties of equal strength, with divergent ideas, and so prevent

- the accomplishment of much good by them. I do not see
myself that this would necessarily follow, for I think that the

i justices, on the one hand, and the elective members on the
other, must both be credited with having the interest of their
common county at heart. And it must not be supposed that

■ either clas9 will allow any petty animosities or local jealousies

■ to interfere with the accomplishment of the work they have to
do ; but I think the number of the elected members should be
greater than that of the justices on the Board, because they
represent a larger number of the ratepayers, and, in all prob-
ability, a larger amount of the ratepaying property of the

■ county. Considering that the guardians may, if they plea* e
elect ex officio guaidians, that is, justices as elective members

-.-of the Board, the proportion of one-third of justices chosen by
.'». .lacier. Sessions to two-thirds of elected members seems to be

fair and reasonable, and 1 notice that some few of the County
Quarter Sessions, which have lately had this Bill under their.
consideration, have taken this view, and that it is the subject
of au amendment to the Bill iu the House of Commons.

4thly. Other alterations in the constitution of the Board
have been proposed, such as (1) the addition of a few elected
members as the representatives of the ratepayers to the exist-
ing Quarter Sessions ; this, I think, his been suggested by the
Herefordshire Quarter Sessions. (2) The election of all the
members of the Board by the guardians ; this, I think, is the
proposition ofour friend, Mr. Chules H >wurd, and it being
remem'tere.d that all justices of the peace are ex officio
guardians, has a good deal to be said in its favour. (3) It
has been proposed that the Lord-Lieutenant of the county and
the county members should be exofficiu members of the Board.
The latter seems to be an exceedingly good idea, and one that
ought to be carried out, as by it the Board will be placed in
close intimacy and connection with the Imperial Parliament,
which cannot be but beneficial to the Board, especially when
new duties are, as is most probable, cast upon it by the Legis-
lature. To have the Lord-Lieutenant a member of the Board
would add a finish to the structure, an apex to the column, but
I do not know that his presence would add much to the
quantity or the quality of the work done at it, and, indeed,
from a practical point of view, I think it would be betler that
the Chairman of Quarter Sessions should be an ex officio
merubpr of the Board rather than the Lird-Lieutenant.

Othly. The duration of time for which it is proposed that
the Board should hold office has not met with much, if any,
approbation. One year, indeed, is certainly'not long enough
for a member of the Board to get accustomed to his work, and
constant changes in the personnel of the Board are to be
deprecated. The reason for the term of one year being selected
is, I suppose, because the guardians are elected for that time ;
hut as an elected member of the Board need not necessarily be
a guardian, but only be qualified to be one,'I see no reason
why he should not, even if a guardiau when elected, continue
to h.old his seat at the Board, even although he might have
ceased to be a guardian. It has been suggested that the
members of the Board should hold office for three years, and
that I think should be the minimum term ; but, remembering
how quickly School Board elections follow one another, a five
years' term of office would not seem to be too long.

To return to the Bill. Section € provides that an elective
member of the County Board (in which term is included the
representatives appointed by the council of a borough) " may be
appointed by that Board a member of any committee or body
of persons of which he would be qualified to be appointed a
member if he were a justice of the county, and may, so long
as he is a member of t'ie Board, do or have done to him any
act., matter, or thing iu relation to the administrative business
of the Board which he might have done or have had done to
him if he were a justiee of the county. And the section
further provides that in the case of pauper lunatic asylums,
one-half of the persons appointed by the County Board to be
members of any committee of visitors shall be elective members
of the Board, and if the number of persons to be appointed is
not divisible by two, then the majority of such persons shall
be elective members of the Board."

The style of the County Board to be used in all things done
by the Board, in all orders made by it, and in all document*

issued by it, will be " The County Board of ," filling in the

blank with the name of the particular county of which it i'

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

485 >

the Board ; but all conveyances taken, contracts made, and
property acquired by the County Board are to be taken, made,
and held in the name o the clerk of the peace ; and such con-
tracts may be enforced by or against the clerk of the peace for
the time being, and all tlie provisions of the Acts of Parliament
providing for the conveyance of county property are to apply
accordingly, with the substitution of the expression " County
Board for the expression "justices of the peace" in them,

We uow come to the mode iu which, aud the times when,
the members of the Board are to be returned. The justices on
the Board are to be chosen at the October Sessions in each
year by a majority of their fellow-justices then assembled ia
Sessions, and are to enter on their office on January 1 next
following their selection. The members of the Board to be
elected by the guardians are to be elected ou a day to have
been previously fixed by the returning officer in the first year,
and in subsequent years by the County Board between Novem-
ber 15 and December 1 in each year, and are to enter ou their
office on Jauuary 1 nest succeeding their election. In default
of the ratnrning offioer, or the County Board as the case may
be, having fixed a day for the elscticn before November 1, the
Local Government Board may, ou the application of any person
interested, fix the day. The clerk of the justices in each Petty
Sessional division is to be the returning officer for that division,
and power is given to him to appoint a substitute or deputy,
and his expenses, being allowed by a certificate of the justices
of the division, will have to he paid out of the county rate.

The place of election is to be the Petty Sessional Court of
Qw division, or suoh ether corvenieut place as may have been
previously appointed by the returning officer, or after the first
election by the Couuty Board.

(The objections to this have been already mentioned.)
The returning officer is to give notice of every meeting for
he electioa of members to be elected by the guardians, r.ad c f
the time (uot being later than eleven o'clock cf the forenoon)
and place at which the meeting is to be held, and of the num-
members to be sleeted by the elective guardians : —

(a) By advertisement in some cue or more of the local
newspapers circulating in the couuty ; and

(A) By sending a copy of such notice by post ia a prepaid
letter addressed to the clerk of the guirdians of every union
comprising any rural parish h his division.

And he is to preside and regulate the proceedings at the
meetiug, but may be assisted in his duties by any person or
persons whom he may appoint.

The meeting, so far as it relates to the nomination of can-
didates, is to last two hours ; if at the end of tint time there
are no more candidates nominated than there are vacancies,
the nominated candidates arc to be declared elected ; if there
are more candidates nominated than there are vacancies, the
candidates to be elected are to be determined by the votes of
the guardians present at the meeting at the expiration of the
two hours ; if less, the candidates nominated are to be deemed
to be elected, and the remaining places are to be filled up
ky the retiring members, who, if they cannot a^rec as to
which of their number are to fill up the vac..:..::::, are to : sttle
the matter by lot, whicli method of decision is also to be
adopted in case of an equa'iity of votes between any of the
candidates. Any qualified person may, if he consents thereto,
be nominated by any elective guardian, and seconded by any
other such guardian, as a member of the Board. The result
of the election is to be published by the returning officer in
such way as he thinks beet calculated to atl'ord information,
■iwl ea<;li elected candidate uny require the returning office: to

give him a certificate under that officer's hand of his having
been duly elected. The whole plan of the election, as pro-
vided by the Bill, would seem to be far more complicated and
lengthy than is requisite. Why should not the election be
made by the guardians at one of their ordinary meetings ii_
November or December previously to or immediately afte* '
their ordinary business ?

It is important to note that the Bill permits a person to fit ■
as member on the County Board of more counties than one.-
By this it seems to me that uniformity of action between the
boards of neighbouring counties may be secured.

The members of the Buard to be appointed by the council of
a borough are to be so appointed at a meetiug of the council
to be held between Novembar 15 and December 1 in each yearj
and they, like the other members of the Board, are to enter T
upon their oliice on January 1 next succeeding their election.
I am a'raid that. I should but weary you aud produce no use-
ful result were I to take you ia detail through the severs',
sections contained in Part III. of the Bill, which I have in-
cluded in ray division No. 1. It will suffi e just to mention
the most important of them. By Section 29, combined with ■
the Second Schedule, the counties of Bedford, Cambridge,
Carnarvon, Uuntiugdon, Merioneth, Nottingham, Radnor,
Westmoreland, the Isle of Ely, and the parts of Kesteven iu
the couuty of Lincoln, are to return three justices and three
elective rural members ; the county of Auglesea, the parts of
Holland in the county of Lincoln, and the liberty of Peter-
borough, four justices and fcur elective rural members
and the county of the liberty of Ripon is to return sever.
tustices and seven elective rural members for each Petty
sessional division.

Zj Section 30 the clerk to thejustices of each Petty Sessional
division is to keep a register of all the elective guardians
qualified to vo's <or that division, such register to be prepared •
from a list to be sent to him by the e'erk to each union com-
prising a rural parish situate 'a such Petty Sessional division
of the prices and addressts of the guardians of each such parish.
By Sections 31 and 32 the County Eoards are to act and
carry on the business transferred to them in the same way
and to have the same powers and rights, and be subject to the
?arae duties, liabilities, capacities, and incapacities as the •
Quarter Sessions would have acted or had or been subject to in
transacting such business had the Act not been passed. The
Clerk of the Peace, County Treasurer, aad other county officers
are to become the officers of the Board in the performance of
such of their duties as are concerned with the county business
transferred to the Board; and if any additional duties are
cast upon them Ly the Board the Board may pay them
additioii-1 remuneration. The Bjard may also appoint
issUtant officers, and sssign them their duties and award their
salaries. All expenses of the Bi>ard not otherwise specially
provided lor are to be defrayed out of the county rate. The
Board is, so far as possible, to classify the business coming
within its cognisance, ana has powers given it to appoint com-
mittees of any number not less than five, to fix the quorum of
such committees, to fill up casual vacancies upon them, aud.
to delegate to such committees any of its powers except the
power of borrowing money (Section 33)..

Section 34, along with the 3rd Schedule to the Bill, prescribe
the regulations for the meetings of the Board and the manage--
ment of its business. General meetings must be held on ths-
days when the Sessions are held, and at such other times as th*
Board may determine. The quorum of members must be not
less than five, and a chairman and vice chairman an to ba

486

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

appointed annually. Proceedings of committees of the
B iard are also regulated by tliis 3rd Schedule.

Section 35 provides for the cases of a candidate being
chosen by the justices and elected by the guardians, and of
being elected lor two Petty Sessional divisions in the &ame
cjunty. Such a candidate can sehct which seat he will take.

Section 36 provides for members wishing to resign, aud
gives the Board power to fill up casuil vacancies. Section 37
coutains the usual saving clauses as to defects in qualification
or election uf members not vitiating proceedings of the Board,
aud as to members not being iudividually liable by reason of
exercising any of the powers given to the Board

Section 38 relates to the mode of legally proving in
evidence the proceedings of the Board, aud the issuing and
receipt of notices by it. Section 39 concerns the computatou
of time.

Section 40 is importaut as bearing on the disputed question
o' electoral areas. It runs thus : — "Where any alteration is
made by the justices in Quarter Sessions assembled of the
Petty Sessional divisions of their county in pursuance of the
statutes in that behalf provided, any new Petty Sessional
division shall not be an electoral division under this Act, but
the former Petty Sessional divisions shall continue to be
electoral divisions, except in cases where the Local Govern-
ment Board ou the application of the County Board by order
declare that a new Petty Sessional division is to be adopted as
an electoral division under this Act; and upon such order
baing made, but not otherwise, such new Petty Sessional
division shall be substituted as an electoral division for the
former Petty Sessional division." And thus a further
anomaly in local government in rural districts may arise.
There may be a Petty Sessioual division which will not be an
electoral area for the electiou of members of the County Board.

By Section 41 boroughs to which a separate Court of
Quarter Sessions is granted after the passing of the Act are
taken out of its operation, and boroughs to whijh a separate
commission of the peace is granted, but not a separate Court
of Quarter Sessions, are placed on the same footing as if they
had been so at the passing of the Act.

Special provisions relating to rural parishes situate in more
than one Petty Sessional division, or one county, and to
parishes situate partly within and partly without a borough
a e contained in Section 42.

Section 43 gives a right of appeal to the High Court of
Justice in respect of invalid elections.

Section 44 imposes a fine on a returning officer refusing or
neglecting to comply with the requirements of the Act ; and
Seciion 45 punishes with fines or imprisonment, with or with-
out hard labour, persons guilty of personation at the election.

Section 46 explains the meaning of the expression of
" Counties," " Quarter Sessions," and " Petty Sessional
Divisions," as ns-ed in the Act. It is to be noted that by this
Section the polling districts into which the county of Butland
is divided for the purpose of Parliamentary elections are the
electoral areas for that county for the purposes of this Act.

Section 43 contains the definition of various expressions
used in the Bill.

I now pass on to

Division No. II.— The Powers of and the Duties to
be Discharged by the County Board.

An! fi st i wi'l b c nveni nl to corsVer the two classes
t>; busiacsB which arc still to be retained by the Quarter

Sessions ; that is to say, " Judicial buiineas," and " Business
relating to prisons or police." These expressions are difiue"
in Section 47 of the Bill ; thm, the former " means the trials
of offences, the hearing of appeals, the taking and estreating
of recognizances, and all matters incidental thereto, also the
hearing of any application made by or on behalt of any person
or body of persons in relation to the granting of a licence, or
in relation to the giving or withholding any right or privilegei
or in relation to any other matter as to which such person or
body of persons is authorised by law to make an application ;
also the confirmation of rules or byelaws, the settlement of
tables of fees, and of costs in relation to judicial business ;
also the appointment of licensing committees or members o
licensing committees for the purposes of the Acts relatiug to
the sale of intoxicating liquors, and all other powers of con-
trol vested in justices in Quarter Sessions assembled by Act
of Parliament in relation to the sale of intoxicating liquors ;
also the division of the county into districts for coroners, the
ormation or alteration of Petty Sessional divisions, and the
union of liberties with counties; also the carrying into effect
any power or duty of a judicial nature conferred or imposed
on justices in Quarter Sessions assembled."

The latter means " the appointment of visiting committees
of prisons in pursuance of the Prisons Act, 1877, and all
powers relating to the establishment, maintenance, govern-
ment, payment, and superannuation of the police, the providing
lock-up houses, aud all other powers rela'ing to the police,
including the power of making police rates, and obtaining
moneys for defraying all expenses incurred in relation to the
police."

Now, amongst the former class of business — "judicial busi-
ness " — it is to be observed : — Firstly, that the "heariug\of
appeals " is included. This expression will, I apprehend,
include all appeals ; aud, however fit and proper it may be
that the whole body of justices should act as a Court of Appeal
fro ii the decisions of members of their own body sitting in
petty sessions and adjudicating on criminal or quasi-criminal
cases, it caunot, I think, be alfirmed that they constitute as
good or satisfactory appellate tribunal in rating appeals. To
my mind it would be preferable that rating appeals should be
heard by a Committee of the Cmnty Board especially selected
for that purpose ; for the assessment committee, the body from
which the appeal lies, is not composed of justices alone, but is, a
mixed body of justices and guardians: and therefore it appears
to me that the body to whom the appeal lies should be similarly
composed ; or, as rating appeals now almost always include some
nice point of law, I would do away with the dppeal to a lay
tribuual and only allow an appeal to the High Court of Justice.
Were such the law, I think the hands of the assessment com-
mittees would be strengthened, and appeals would be less
frequent than they are now — both desirable objects of attain-
ment.

Secondly. — I fail to see why the appointment of committees
for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and the powers of control
relatiug to the sale of such liquors, should he left in the hands
of the justices. These powers might with advantage, I think,
be handed over to the County Boards ; the elected members of
which would, in a large majority of cases, be better judges of
the wants of particular neighbourhoods in this respect than
the justices, and being as a rule larger employers of labour
than the justices would know better than the latter when a
publichouse should be closed, as tending to harm the working
classes.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

487

Thirdly. — '" The division of th? county iuto districts for
coroners, the formation or alteration of Petty Sessional divi,
•io ns (if those divisions are retained as the electoral areas;
and the union of liberties with comities," might ail have been
well entrusted to the County Bjard. As the coroners are to
be elected by the Boards, the foriustion or alteration of petty
sessional uivi»ous may cause confusion in the election' of
the Board (see above observations on Section 40), and various
powers of readjustment of areas are given to the Board by
Section 25.

It seems to me, none of the items I have mentioned can
properly be 6aid to belong to the class of business that con-
cerns the " adnvnislratioa of justice" or the " maintenance of
order," except, indeed, in so far as the latter is considered to
be the only reason why any control is placed on the sale of
intoxicating liquors.

All administrative county business now performed by
Quarter Sessions is to be transferred to the County Boar I.
The expression " administrative busiuess " is defined (Section
47) to mean business of the descriptions following : — that is
to say, "the making, assessing, and levying rates, and the
application and expenditure thereof (save as by the Bill
specially provided for; the borrowing and raising of money ;
the auditing, settling, and allowing accounts ; also the exercise
of any powers conferred, by the Bill, or hitherto exercised by
the justices in Qnarter Sessious assembled in relation to the
appointing and removing, and fixing the salaries of county
officers, and of inspectors and examiners of weights and
measures, of public aualysts, and other public officers ; also
the providing, repairing, altering, and otherwise dealing with
pauper lunatic asylums, court-houses, ar>d shire-halls, judges'
lodgings, militia storehouses, buildings, bridges, snd other
works, wherewith county rates or other public moneys are by
law chargeable , also the management of county property ;
also the exercise of the powers hitherto vested in the justices
in Quarter Sessious assembled in relation to the earrying into
effect the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Acts, and the Acts
relating to fish conservancy, fisheries, and wild fowl ; the-
fo.-mation and alteration of highway districts, also any other
business (whether of the same description as that above enu-
merated or not) transacted, or which might but for the Bill
have been transacted by the justices in Quarter Sessions
assembled, and which is not judicial business."

Thu* almost all the financial duties ot the Quarter Sessions
are transferred to the County Boird, and as well as all the
purely administrative ones. It seems to me rather anomalous
that while all judicial business is retained of the Qiarter Ses-
sions, the " providing, repairing, altering, and otherwise deal-
ing with the courthouses" — the places, that is, in which the
Justices sit for the transaction of judicial business — should be
placed in the hands of the County Board. This duty might
with advantage, I thiuk, be left in the hands of the justices.

It now remains to consider the new powers given to the
County Boards by the Bill, and which are most important.
These new powers relite to—
(rt) Highways and highway authorities (Sections 9 to 21) ■

(b) The prevention of pollution and the conservancy of
rivers (Sections 22 and 23) ;

(c) Asylums and certain classes of paupers (Section 2i) ;

(d) Adjustment of areas (Section 25) ;
{e) The appointment of coroners (Section 26) ;
(/') Borrowing and lending money (Section 27).
(■») Afl the powers relating to highways and highway ,

authorities are likely to be subject to some opposition, or,,
at all events, ai considerable discussion may be appre-
hended with regard to them, it wuuld have been perhaps
more expedient that they should not have been included
in the Bill we are now discussing, but in the " Highways
Bill" of the present Session iustead ; being, however, included
in the Bill, I must bring them • to your notice. First, then»
the County Board is to provide half the expenses towards •
repairing main roads in the county, the other half of such
expenses being provided by " contributory highway areas."
Main roads are defined (Section 9) to be roads which on Jan.
1, 1874, were turnpike roads, and have since ceased to be
such ; and reads, which being turnpike roads at the time of
the passing of this Bill, afterwards ceased to be such. So ■
much of any such main road as lies within the limit of a con-
tributory highway area is to be repaired when such contribu-
tory highway area is a " highwiy district," by the Highway
Board of that district (unless the County Board on the appli-
cation of the Highway Board are willing to repair the same,
in which case the County Board may do so) ; when the con-
tributory highway area is a " highway parish," taen the before-
mentioned part of a main road is to be repaired by the County
Board, unless the parish and the Board agree that the parish
is to do such repairs. The fund out of which the one-half of
the expenses contributed by the County Board towards the ■
repairs of main roads is to be paid is a separate new fund to
be established in the hands of the county treasurer, to be
called the " County Road Fund," which fund is also to bear
the other expenses " incurred by the Board in the execution of
their duties relating to roads" Section 15). The Bill does not
seem to be very explicit on the point how the County Road
Fund is to be in created— that is to say, out of what moneys it
is to be formsd ; but i provides (Section 15) that " for tho
purpose of defrayiug any expenses which the County Road
Fund may be sufficient to meet, the County Board may from
time to time estimate thp amount required, and such amount
shall be contributed by the contributory highway areas within
the county in proportion to the rateable value of the property
within each such ares, such' value to be ascertained according
to the valuation list for the time being in force." This sec-
tion apparently provides only for the case of the County Road
Fund being deficient, and the Bill is otherwise silent as to
the moneys which are to form it. I suppose a part of the
general eounty rate is- to be carried over to form the fund.
The County Boards have powers given them to issue precepts
to the highway authorities requiring them to pay the amounts
of their different contributions to the county treasurer within a
limited time, aud to enforce such payments.

It is to be noted, especially, that under Section 16, half the
rate to* be contributed by the contributory highway area is to
be paid by the landlord and half by the occupier. Also that
by Section 19:—

" A« elective member of a County Board is not to be entitled
to vote on any question under the act relating to a main road
when no part of such road is situate within the area for which
he is a member."

This last provision seems to me to be a mistake, as it may
cause the Board to be split up into parties, and I fail to see
why an elective member of the Board who is not locally inter-
ested in a particular main road is not quite as competent to-
pass an opinion and give a vote on a queslion relating to such-
road as a justice who is not locally interested in it.
Section 17. permits the Board to recover h If ol the expenses-

468

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of repairing a main road from the contributory highway
authority in cases when the Board repair the whole of the main
road situate in the area of such authority, and Section 18 pro-
Tides for settling the accounts between the County Board and
the contributory highway authorities periodically and by means
of set-off.

An important power is given to the County Board by Sec-
tion 12 of the Bill to make provisional orders for the conver-
sion of ordinary highways into main roads in cases "where it
appears to the Board that auy highway within their jurisdiction,
which is not a main road, ought to be repairable as a main
road by reason of its being a medium of communication be-
tween great towns, or a thoroughfare to a railway station, or
otherwise." On and after a day named iu the order, the road
to which the order relates is to be deemed to be a maiD road>
and is to be subject to the provisions of the Bill relating to the
repair of main roads."

The Board may also by obtaining an order from the Local
Government Board, reduce a main road to the status of an
ordinary highway (Section 13). A further and very important
provision for the relief of particular districts from the repair of
main roads, which are mainly used and therefore worn out by
inhabitants of towns or districts not liable for their repair, is
contained in Section 14, which gives the County Board the
power of putting in action the Local Government Board to
make provisional orders for the erection of toll-gates and the
levying of tolls on the traffic which passes along such roads.
The County Beard can, however, only move in such cases
where they are satisfied "that the expense of repairing such
road is largely in excess of the sum which would ordiuarily
suffice to keep such road in rep:dr, having regard to the aver-
age expense incurred by highway authorities in the neighbour-
hood in respect of a main road of equal length, and further
that such excess is caused by a through traffic between places
which do not contribute to the repair of such main road or
otherwise by some cause independent of the local traffic of the
inhabitants of the area through which the road passes ; and
"that it would be just to allow of the levy of tolls to such an
extent as would defray euch excess of expense as aforesaid, and
further that the levy of such tolls would not prejudicially inter-
fere with the traffic producing such excess."

The maximum time for whi di the Local Government Board
can authorize the County Board to make such road a turnpike
road is 1 united to five years. During the period defined iu the
order the General Turnpike Acts will apply to such road, tie
County Board being considered the trustees of it. Ariy urban
sanitary authority who may object that their district should be
prejudicially affected by the proposed order, may be heard by
the Local Government Board before the order is made, and
care is to be taken that in putting up the new toll-gates the
interest of the inhabitants of any particular town or district
are not unduly affected thereby.

The 21st Section of the Act places the highway authorities
to a certain extent under the control of the County B-ard,
inasmuch as it gives the Board power lo compel sach authori-
ties when in default and complaint is made to the Boad of
such default to perform the duties iu respect of whif.b. default
has been raada.

(b) By Section 22 power is given to County Boards to
enforce the provisions of the Rivers Pollution Act, 1876, in
relation to " any st« am being within, or passing through or
by, any part of their county," and to pay any expenses relating
thereto out of the county rate ; and Sectbu 2o perniiU the

Boards, if so desirous, to become the conservancy authorities
of any such stream. A Board can, however, only become
such au authority by an order of the Local Government
Board, which must sanction a particular scheme in this
respect ; the scheme with maps, plans, and full particulars
having been first submitted for the approval of the Local
Government Board. " The sch-me may include powers for
removing obstructions, improving outfalls, dredging, scouring
and cleansing the bed of any river, or part of any river affected
thereby, aud improving the flow ofwater therein, also powers
for constructing embankments and otherwise dealing with
river banks, and of compu'.sorily acquiring land so far (but so
'ar only) as may be necessary for the purposes of the scheme."
And it must describe the area upon which the necessary
expenses for giving effect thereto shall be charged, and must
specify the rate or proportions in which the same shall b8
borne, and the manner in which they shall be assessed, raised,
and levied.

The scheme may also provide for a joint committee of the
Boards of two or more adjoining counties being such conser-
vancy authority, and may include a city, town, or borough,
with a separate court of Quarter Sessions. The junior
member for the county of Oxford (Mr. Harcourt) has proposed
to add to this section a further power to enable the Local
Government Board by order to constitute drainage authorities,
having statutory powers, the conservancy authorities over
rivers, in respect of which they have authority.

(c) The powers given to the Board in relation to asylums
and certain classes of paupers (Section 24>) enable it, with the
saoctionof the Local Government Board, to provide —

(1) Separate asylums for any class of the imbecile or insane
poor. \

(2) Separate schools for idiotie pauper children.

(3) To set apart one or more workhouse or workhouses or
parts of workhouses for such purposes.

(•1) For constituting the whole county or a combination of
unions situate wholly or partly in the county a district for
such purposes.

And County Boards of two or more counties may combine
for these purposes.

(d) To prevent the inconvenience arising from the over-
lapping of unions, sanitary districts and parishes, Couuty
Boards may, under Section 25, prepare sehemes for the
approval of the Local Government Board.

(1) For the re-adjustment of unions.

(2) For the alteration of the areas of sanitary districts and
unions or for combinations of districts in pursuance of the
Public Health Act, 1875.

(3) For the exercise of any powers relating to the division
of, or otherwise dealing with, parishes in pursuance of the
Divided Parishes Act, 1876.

And the Local Government Board is to approve such
schemes either with or without modifications.

(e) County Boards are to elect coroners iD all cases when a
vacancy occurs in that office after the end of this year, 1878,
This is, no doubt, an improvement on the present system by
which these officers are) elected ; but, to my mind, coroners
should be appointed by the Crown, and paid out of the
imperial funds.

(/■) Section 27 enables County Boards to borrow, with the
sanction of the Local Government Board, in manner provided
by the Local Loans Act, 1875, either as one loan or at;

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

48$

•evera! lonBi, ?nch moneys as they may require, subject to
the following provisions : —

(1) Where t lie mouey is borrowed for purposes to which
the couuty rate is applicable, the loan is to be borrowed on
the security of the county rate.

(2) Where the money is borrowed for purposes, to which a
special rate ii applicable on the security of the special rate.

(3) Where the loan is borrowed for the purposes of the
main roads brought within their jurisdiction by the Bill, on
the security of the county road fund.

And the same section permi's the County Boards to lend the
moneys so borrowed, or moneys out of the general balance in
their hands, and sanitary and other local authorities within
their jurisdiction who are authorized to borrow mouey for
local purposes, such loans to be at such rate of interest, within
certain defined limits, as the County Board and the borrowing
authority may agree upon.

Such are the powers and duties which the Bill gives to and
imposes on County Boards. I think their number might well
have been increased so as to include (1) a power of control
over rural saui'ary authorities, so as to compel them to per-
form duties in respect of which they may make default — as in
the case of defaulting highway authorities — and the Board
should be made a central sanitary authority for the county,
arid have powers to execute sanitary works which ate required
for the benefit of the whole county ; and (2) a power enabling the
Board to frame schemes to be carried out under the authority
of the Charity Commissioners in respect of the educational
endowments within the county. Were this power given to the
Boards, the plan which has been for some time past so ably
advocated by the Rev. Prebendary Breretou * could be carried
into effect, and the educational endowments in rural districts
could be made available to assist the middle classes living iu
those districts iu the education of their children — an assist-
ance very much required by them now that they have to con-
tribute so largely towards the education of the children of
their poorer neighbours. (3) The appointment of registrars
of deeds in register counties might well be intrusted to the
County Boards of these counties.

I have uow brought to your notice the main features of the
preseut County Government Bill, and touched upon some of
the criticisms to which it has been subjected; and it only re-
mains for me to thank those gentlemen who have so kindly
assisted me in the preparation of this paper, notably Mr. Bead
and Captain Cragie, who have this subject of rural local
government at their fingers' ends, and who have rendered me
great and valuable assistance ; and to express a hope that in
spite of the Irish Obstructives, in spite of the twenty -five
pages of amendments to the Bill which appear on the notice
paper of the House of Commons, the Bill may in a few months
become " The County Administration Act, 18/8."

THE DISCUSSION.

Mr. Henry INeild said that in any changes that might take
place he thought they would never do very much bet-
ter than had been done hitherto by the magistrates on the
Quarter Sessions with regard to the conduct of county busi-
ness. Very rarely in his county (Lancashire) had there been
any objection fairly raised to the adminstrative ability of the
magistrates. It was evident, however, that many changes
would have to be made in the administration of county matters,
and that more direct appeal would have to be made to the rate-

* Vide " County Education.
Club for 1873, p. 1.

Journal of the Farmers'

payers, who found the money. There had, however, beeu
good reason shown why the direct election by the ratepayers
would be very objectionable; and the same objection arose
with regard to the election of the present Local Boards. As
to the question whether the area of division should be the
petty sessions, or the uuion, that point had been very ably
die-cussed in Lancashire, and he bf lieved he was correct iu say-
ing that tice preponderance of opinion was iu iavour of the
union area. Some persons also thought that the members
chosen should be in 6ome proportion to the popuation, because
in some of the mangfacturing districts there were very lar^e
populations which claimed some consideration with regard to
the number that was to constitute a Board. They also thought
1 that the annual election would be very objectionable, and that
tnree years was the least terra which would be given for the
new Board, (Hear, hear). He thought that the mode o*
election might be simplified, and that the suggestion to choose
the elective members at the usual meeting of the Board o^
1 Guardians, due notice being given, was a desir ble one to
j adopt. Should a County Board be constitute! as proposed by
j this Act, he thought it would be the best authority before
which all rating matters should be brought as wellas licensing
matters, because nobody was so well qualified to give an opinion
as to the necessity for beer houses and public houses as resi-
dent guardians were. When, however, they came to that [art
of the Bill affecting the highways and the sanitary authority,
he thought there was a certiin clumsiness about the way in
which these two matters were blended together. The clauses
in reference to these two points appeared to him to wont very
considerable changes. The question ot the highways w*s a
very large one, and he did not see that it was possible lor this
meeting to go satisfactorily into the subject in connection with
this bill. The re-enacting of the toll-bars had been mentioned
in the Paper in relation to the traffic passing through townships
that contributed nothing towards the Buppoit of the roads.
They felt this difficulty in Lancashire, perhaps, more than in
any other county in England, and this traffic gave mar,
trouble than any other. Some ten or fifteen years ago the
highway rate in his district of Worsley was amply covered by
4d., but now the cost has risen to lOd. He knew something
of this matter, being a surveyor of highways himself. Ou these
roads which he referred to, three-fourths of the traffic was
extraneous traffic that did not contribute in any way to the
local taxation. A very large question was opened when they
once b'gau to deal with the highways, and he feared that there
was very little chance of the Highway Bill being completed
in Parliament this session. He was quite sure that the meet-
ing would feel extremely indebted to the introducer of the
Paper (Hear, hear). The remarks made by the chairman
at the last meeting as to the intention of Mr. Little to intro-
duce the subject of " Local Government with Special Reference
to Rural Districts," had created some expectation iu the
country, but their wort'iy Secretary had made a most excellent
substitute iu Mr. Little's enforced absence, and they were all
very much obliged to him (Hear, hear).

Mr W. Brown (Tring) said he very much regretted the
absence of Mr. Little, though a very interesting paper had
been read by the Secretary. He agreed with some of theobser.
vations that had been made with regard to the preseut county
expenditure, but lie very much doubted whether it was going
to be improved on by any newly-eitcted body, though he was
aware that the alteration had been called for by the public.
The public had not been satisfied by the magistrates however

403

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

well they had performed their duties, or however economically
they had conducted the business of the county. It had been
felt by those who paid the rates that they had not a proper
voice in the management. He could not, however, himself
gee the importance of electing a body of gei tlemen for the
purpose of carrying out now what had usually be n done by
the m gistrates iu quarter sessions. Tliey must, however,
look forward to such a body as was proposrd in this Bill, and
they would have most important duties to fulfil by degrees,
just in the same way as when boards of guardians were called
into existence for the administration of the Poor Laws. By
degrees the guardians were made to serve many other pur-
poses, not because, perhaps, they were the most efficient b.idy
for the purpose, but because they were in existence, and were
a body elected by the ratepayers. In regard to the coustitulion
of the Board, he did not ihink there could be much difficulty
over that ; the proposal in the Bill that half should be elected
by the magistrates of the county and half by the union ought
to be amended, and it would be better to have the same pro-
portion as at present existed in the assessment committees,
where one-third of the members were elected magistrates and
the remaining two-thirds guardians (Hear, hear). — because
t'le rule did not shut out the election of any ex-officia guardiau
Looking for a moment at his own union, ho saw there that
one of the magistrates of the county took the leading part in
the affairs of the union, arising simply from the fact that he
was efficient man, and if not elected by his brother magistrates
the most would sure to be by the guardians. Therefore he did
not think there wonld be the least harm iu the Bill, providing
that one-third of the members of the County Board should be
elected by the majority and two thirds by the guardians- He had
some experience, and he could not refrain from making some
observations with regard to the distinction between indirect
and direct election. The voters as at present qualifi, d were in
his opinion a very improper body to make an election. And
he would tell them why, because in many places those voters
who elected the guardians of the poor were men who did not
pay one farthiug of the rates, and if the meeting thought that
was a state of things that ought to be permitted he begged
leave to differ from them. It had been argued that occupiers
of cottages paid rates indirectly ; but it mattered little to the
occupier whether the rates were 6d. in the £ or 6s. in the £,
because he paid no more rates in the one case than in the
other. Therefore he did not think snch voters were properly
qualifi-d to elect either the guardians or the school board
members. These two or three observations had occurred to
him, and he had mentioned them as they cropped up.

Mr. Charles Howard (Bedford) said he happened to
live in a county which took a very modest part in all public
nutters — (laughter) — but in this matter of the County Govern-
ment Bill they had gone somewhat in front of the rest of the
country, because two months ago this Bill was discussed at the
Bedford Union, and he regretted that the subject had not been
discussed earlier by this Club. He quite agreed with Mr.
Brown that there had been very great improvement in the last
few years in the administration of our county matters. At
the same time, willing as he was to give the magistrates every
credit for the course they had taken, the county ratepayers felt,
as they had long felt, that it was not right to have taxation
without representation. With regard to the areas, he ex-
pressed his opinion some time ago in favour of the Government
roposal of petty sessional divisions. Mr. Druce said that
division was not ss well known. Now, every man who served

the office of overseer would know the petty sessional divisim
because he would be sworn in by the magistrates at the petty
8es«ions ; but in passing he woul I observe, with regard to that
appointment of overseer, if the office was to be continued, he
thought that it should be made by the Board of Guardians, to
whom lie was responsible, rather than to the magistrates (Hear
hear). He believed the union was the area formed at the out-
set for the convenience of the poor, and such being the case, he
did not think it shou'd be lightly inter'ered with. The petty
sessional division could be very well adopted with the union
machinery to bring it iuto action. With regard to the ap-
pointment of members, he was quite willing that there should
be not only two members e.c officio, but if it was the will of the
ratepayers he did not see why they should not be all ex officio
members, so long as some indirect principle of election was
brought to bear. Here he came to what he thought was the
right course to pursue — viz., to place the election of all the
members in the hands of boards of guardians, because the
guardians, as a rule, knew the best men in every county and
the most business-like men. He believed that many of the
magistrates deserved well of the guardians. Many of them
were men of business as well as leisure, whose interests were
'dentical with those of the other ratepayers ; and he did not
think the interests of the ratepayers would at all suffer in the
hands of magistrates alone so long as ratepayers, indirectly
through the guardians, had the power of their appointment.
Mr. Druce had alluded to the highway portion of the Bill
He had it from pretty good authority that the Government had
abandoned that part of the Bill, and would leave it out for the
purpose of incorporating it into the Highway Bill now before
Parliament. With regard to the assessment appeal business
also alluded to by Mr. Druce, he thought that it would be a
very great relief to the magistrates to take those matters out of
their hands; also- he believed ihat it would be satisractory to
the assessment committees if that portion of the appeals relating
to the railways were s°nt to a h'gher court — to the High
Court of Justice, as suggested by Mr. Druce. He, f jr one, as
a member of an assessment committee, had often felt that in
dealing with railway matters they were not at all conversant
with the subject; and if that were the case with guardians, he
fancied that even some of the magistrates on the bench were not
in a much better position. He thought that it would be much
better for the railway interest at large that such appeals should
go to a court that could br;ng more knowledge to bear upon
the subject of appeal.. It had been mentioned that there were
twenty-five pages of amendments to this Bill on the Paper of
the House. He hoped that the Government would persevere
;n the Bill (Hear,hear). lie trusted that some influence would
be brought to bear upon the obstrucive members of the
Government — he meant their own friends ; for he fancied the
Government had more to fear from their friends than their fue»
in this matter (laughter). The Government had the oppor-
tunity now of doing a very good and great thing, and all he
had to say was this, that if they neglected it they might depend
upon it that the subject would be taken up by another party
which would make capital out of it. He agreed with Mr.
Druce's concluding remarks in hoping that this Bill would
speedily become the County Government Bill of 1878.

Mr. R. Haward- (Brarafield) : This was- a question which,
had been taken up by this Club for many years at intervals,,
and the last time it was discussed was sixteen years ago,.
n»mely, on May 5, 1862, when it was introduced by the then
Secretary ^ Mr. Corbet. He (Mr. Haward). had s copy of Mc.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

490

Corbet's address with him. It was a straightforward and good
address, but without saying any tiling with regard to that
address, or comparing it villi the ouewhich they had heard from
the preseut Secretary, he might observe that Mr. Corbet
treated the question m a very different way to that in which
Mr. Diuce had treated it ; but the fact was that Mr. Corbet
had uo Bill before him, aud Mr. Drucehad, and therefore Mr.
Druce had been cuuliued to the terms of the Bill. Com-
plaints had frequently been made on the point meutioued by
Mr. Charles Howard, uamely, that taxation aud representation
should be inseparable. Au Englishman had a voice, either
by himself or his representatives, in raising and expending
every rate and tax except the county rate. Tliis cuuuty rate was
the one solitary exception, and therefore it was not surprising
that there was dissatisfaction at being taxed by a small body
• f irresponsible men such as our magistrates were. In the
county of Suffolk there were 350,0110 inhabitants and 230
magistrates, of whom 30 did not reside in the county, and
were not ratepayers of the county, whilst many of the other
magistrates were clergymen, among whom it was an exception
to find a good business man (laughter). Now, in regard to
the borough rates there was a strong contrast in comparison
with the county rates, because in the boroughs the ratepayers
had their representatives in the members of the town cuuucils,
whereas the county rates were made, as he had said, by irre-
sponsible magistrates, and therefore anyone might see the
oiffereDce. People consequently were not satisfied, but said
to themselves, " Why should there be one sauce for the goose
and another for the gander ? Why should the borough rates
be made by representatives, and the county rates by men over
whom we have no control, and who tax us consequently to
any amount ihey think proper P" In look'ng over this Bill
one thing appeared to him to be very important — namely, that
the Act excepted the management of the police and the police
expenses from the direction of the County Board. The police
were still to be under the control of the magistrates, who
were to have the power also of making the police rates, and
therefore the magistrates would still tax the ratepayers for the
police to any extent they might think fit. He could not
understand why this should be the case. In the last account
he had seen of the county expenditure in his county, the
police cost about one-half of the whole amount of the county
rate, so that to except the police from the control of the
County Boards was actually to take away one-half of the
financial business of the county from the new County Boards
and continue it in the hands of the magistrates. He thought
this was a considerable defect in the Bill. Then another
Question was this : Why should the petty sessional division be
the area? He believed this also was a considerable mistake.
He was present at the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture lately
when the Chairman (Mr. Gurdou) made out a strong case.
He said that the petty sessional division in which he acted as
a magistrate was formed from parishes taken from four unions,
and if they elected the members of the County Boards they
would bring together, when the day of election took place,
guardians who were strangers to each other. Now, if the
County Boards were elected by Boaids of Guardians, and by
guardians who knew each other, as had been already said,
they would take care to appoint the best men as elected mem-
bers, and for this reason he thought it would be a considerable
improvemeat upon a petty sessions division as the area
(Hear, hear). Section 26 of the Bill gave power to the
County Board to appoint the coroner. He agreed with what

had been said just now about that. He believed it would be
much bttter if the coroner were appointed by the Crown. He
witnessed the election of a coroner a few years ago, aud it
was couduoted in a manner an) tiling but satisfactory, aud
therefore he thought it would be well to take the election out
of the present bauds and put it into the hands of the Crown
ratlnr than in the hands of the County FiDaucial Board.
There was another officer whom he thought would be better
appointed by the. County Financial Board, aud that was the
Clerk of the Peace, whereas the Clerk of the Peace was now
appointed by one gentleman, and was paid a l"rge salary from
the couuty funds. Then there was another matter. The
Financial Board were allowed to appoint officers such as were
wanted, and were allowed also to award them salaries, but
there was one thine which it seemed the Bill did not give
them any power to do, namely, the power of reducing salaries
when they found trrem to be in excess. Then again, he found
that no provision was made in the Bill for the audit ol the
accounts of the County Financial Board. Why was this
power not given, as in the case of the Poor-Law Guardians,
and other public bodies P He thought an audit of the accounts
was a great improvement, wherever it had been adopted, and
conduced considerably to the economical management of
matters. This omission he rfgarded as a great delect in the
Bill, and he would like to see a clause providiug for an audit.
It had been said that the magistrates had more time at their
disposal than men in extensive business, and therefore were
likely to make better members of the County Financial Board.
This objection he thought would be obviated by adopting Mr.
Charles Howard's suggestion to allow the ratepayers to appoint
magistrates if they thought fit instead of allowing the magis-
trates to have the power of electing half the members of the
Board. Some alteration in regard to these matters he had
mentioned would, he thought, make considerable improve-
ments in this Bill. He hoped the Bill would be made a good
one. He was very much afraid that it would not be made a
scuud Bill, which would stand its ground and not afterwards
require many amendments. Of course the matter was now
jn the hands of the House of Commons to a considerable ex-
tent. There were some good men in the House, such as their
friend Mr. Read, who understood business well, and who knew
what this Bill ought to be, and he trusted they would giva
their time and attention to it, and do the best they could to
make it a workable Bill, and with all his heart he wished
them success.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said he joined in the general ap-
proval given by the various speakers as to the economical way
in which the magistrates had performed their duties in quarter
sessions. Years ago complaints had been made as to their
extravagance, but when he came to analyse the matter he found
that almost the whole of that expenditure was imposed upon
the magistrates by statute, and that they could not help them-
selves. With regard lo the paper that was read by their late
Secretary in 1862, there was a considerable difference in the
'eelings of the ratepayers now and what they were then. In
those days people talked only of County Financial Boards, in
addition to the extravagance of the magistrates in quarter
sessions. As long as the discussion was confined to these
special objects he took no part in it whatever. He did not
believe in the extravagance of the magistrates; and, on the
other hand, he contended that if they had County Boards, they
would want them to do a great deal more than what the
Q arter Sessions did at the preseut moment ; for if they were

4{tf

THE FARMER

simply going to transfer the present duties of the Quarter
Sessions to the Couuty Boards, lie should say it was not worth
the trouble of doing it (Hear, hear). With regard to the
police, which had beeu mentioned by his friend Mr. Haward,
he might say that in the resolution which he had the honour
to pass in the House, of Coinuions, he specially exempted the
police as appertaining to the administration ol justice; and as
the Government of the country paid half of the expenditure of
the police, they would take very goo<*. care that there was no
excessive expenditure, and therefore they might rely upon it
that there would be no extravagance on the part of the
magistrates, on if there were such extravagance theGovernment
would soon bring the magistrates to their senses. There migh^
be a fear if the police were excluded from this Bill and from
the control of the County Board that at no distant day the
Government would take upon, themselves the whole responsi-
bility of paving the police. With regard to the composition of
the Board, one-half being elected and the other half nominated
by the Court of Qaarter Sessions, he entirely disagreed with
t lat plan. He should prefer that one-thir J of the Board should
be nominated by the justices in the Quarter Sessions, which
W-jnld be ample and sufficient, because he foresaw that l*
would I e impossible to restrict the election of the guardians
simply to elected guardians. He should be extremely sorry to
tie the hands of the guardians in that way. He, on the other
hand, should not like the guardians to be driven to elect some
gentlemen who did not happen to be magistrates, and who
would njt be guardians. But whatever they did with regard
to these County Boards, they would not relieve the guardians
of much responsibility or of much work. The guardians really
did the drudgery and the real work of our Local Government
(Hear hear). He wanted to elevate the character of the Boards
of Guardians all he could, and if they thought that the
guardians were not th@ men tlyy would wish them to be it was
their duty to make them better. If our worthy guardians did
all the drudgery, surely if there was any honour or dignity t°
be conferred upon them, they ought to do it so that they might
be able to say to a man who wished to be a member of the
County Board, " You must first serve your apprenticeship to the
guardians before we can allow you to go up higher." He
hordly followed Mr. Charles Howard in his wish that the Board
of Guardians should elect the whole of the County Board.
They must remember first of all that at the starting they must
have meu who were accustomed to the county business, and
there was no man who could know who the ablest workers
were except those who belonged to the Quarter Sessions. [Mr.
Charles Howard: The Assessment Committees and the
Sanitary Committees.] He was referring to the county busi-
ness. He did net like to differ from so high an authority as
Mr. Charles Howard, though they had differed before in that
room (laughter). If there were men who had the management
of county business already, those should be the meu they
would wish to see at the first County Board, and no one can
elect tliera so well as the members of Quarter Sessions. He
agreed that appeals in all questions of valuation should be
takeu Irom Quarter Ses~ions and transferred to the Couaty
Boards, and he hoped that the prospect of such a change was
the reason why the Valuation Bill of the Government had not
yet been printed. He should be glad, however, to hear from
a higher authority than his friend Mr. Charles Howard that
the Government had agreed to abandon the highway clauses
of the Bill and incorporate them as clauses iu the Highway
Bill ; because he was sure that the one clause of this Bill which

S MAGAZINE.

related to tolls would cause an immense deal of discussion, and
take up a great deal of time. He was so anxious to get this
Bill passed that he would rather throw over one-half of it in
0rder to get a good skeleton Bill, because if they once had a
skeleton they could, by degrees, clothe it. He agreed with
Mr. Druce as to some of the duties that might and had to
belong to this County Board, but he would say, " Do not over-
burden it in the first instance ; do not try to overwork it.' With
regard to the licensing, there he quite differed from Mr. Druce
because he contended that the preseut Liceusing Act worked
very well. At the present time no man could get a fresh
license without first of all going to the justices in Petty
Sessions, after which he had to go before the County Licensing
Committee ; and as far as he was aware of the general action
of these County Licensing Committees, unless there was some
new railway station which required a refreshment room, or
some new locality which required a public-house, on no con-
sideration would the committee grant fresh licenses. Their
friend Mr. Druce, however, who was a legal luminary, told
theru that he should like the County Boards to have the
power of shutting up public-houses. But where was the com-
pensation to come from ? The magistrates had no such power
to shut up public-houses, unless the publican offended against
the law. There was no doubt a vast number of public-houses
that might with advantage be closed ia some localities, buj
there were certain vested interests in them, and as long as a
public-house that had a license was double the value of a house
that had no license, he did not know from what fund it wag
possible (he hoped it would not corne out of the county rate)
to compensate the owners of these licensed houses which Mr.
Druce had proposed to shut up. Then also Mr. Druce had
proposed that the court houses shou'd be placed under the
jurisdiction of the magistrates, because the magistrates held
iheir court in them. He (Mr. Read) thought so once upon a
time, but when he came to consider the thing it appeared to
him there might possibly be a conflict between a Couuty Board
and the magistrates.. There might be a desire oa the part Of
the magistrates to erect a grand palatial court-house ; and if
such were the case he had no doubt they would soon be at
loggerheads with the new Couuty Boards, if the latter were
the rating authority ;. whereas otherwise there would be no
such check, as in the case of the police, where the Government
would step in and stop any extravagant expenditure on the
part of the magistrates. Therefore, though at first he was of
the co.trary opinion, he thought the Government had done
wisely in placing the court-houses in the jurisdiction of the new
Board. Mr. Druce had commented on Clause 19, and he must
say that anyone who could understand that Clause had a much
better understanding than he had himself. It was easiest to
say the Clause was a misprint, and that was what had been siid
about it. He believed it simply referred to this : that when a
member of the County Board happened to be sent by a district
in which there was a Board ol Health that had jurisdiction
over the highways, he should retire from the Board when the
highways were under consideration, just in the same way as a
man who was a guardian from that district would retire when
the general sanitary business of the union came before his
iellow-gsardians. That, he believed, was the thought it had
in view, but as it at present stood he did not believe anyone
could make sense or head or tail of it. Then, with regard to
Mr. Druce's wish to have larger powers concentrated in the
hands of the County Boards, he quite agreed that in time trm;
might be arranged ; and he also concurred that it would be
well that the middle class dotation, of the counlv, where thesre

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4'93

are grants, charities, and legacies, shr.uld come under the
Cognisance of the County Boards, because he believed it would
he the means of advantageously using a ereat deal of the money
that was now almost wasted. Then Mr. Druce. went on to say
that he wished the registrar of deeds to be appointed by the
County Board, but who this gentleman was he (Mr. Read) did
not know. [Mr. Druce : There is one in Middlesex and one
in Yorkshire.] Then he presumed the officer would b* a
lawyer, and would have to be paid a good salary ; and he sup-
posed that if the County Board appoint him they would have
to pay him. He also agreed with Mr. Haward that the coroner
should be appointed by the Government and paid out of t,ie
Imperial taxation. It was for the administratis of justice
solely that the coroner was appointed, but how they would net
on in Norfolk under the circumstances he did not know, because
in the appointment of county corom-r there were coroners ap-
pointed by the Duchy of Lancaster, the Duke of INlorfolk, Sir
Thomas Hare, and another local magnate, and how thes*;
gentlemen were to be compensated for the loss of their services
if the appointment of county coroner were vested in the
Government he wou'd rather leave the County Board and the
Government to settle between themselves. With regard to the
Clerk of the Peace, he believed that that functionary was,
generally speaking, paid a large salary 'or doing a fair amount
of work which he very often put off upon some substitute. He
would like the clerk of the peace to be appointed by the County
Board. Of course the County Board would have to pay him,
and it was fortius reason that he (Mr. Read) suggested in the
Hmse of Commons as a sort of compensation to the Lord-
Lieutenant that he should be ex officio member of the County
Board ; so that the Lord-Lieutenant would be an ornament
to the Board, if nothing further. He begged to thank Mr
Druce for the masterly analysis he had made of the Bill. It
was a difficult subject to make pleasant, or even understandable,
but Mr. Druce had succeeded in doing boh. Anyone who
attentively listened to his Paper wou'd have a much better and
clearer view of the contents of the Bill than he would derive
even from listening to the speeches on it in the House of Com-
mons, and Mr. Druee had explained a great many details that
had escaped his (Mr. Read's) observation. He trusted, with
Mr. Druce, that the Bill would become the law of the land
this session. It was a very important suhject, but there was
one Bill before the House in regird to which he had a still
pieater anxiety, and that was the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Bill. He hoped that whatever happened to this Bill, at any
rate the other Bill would become the law of the land before the
session closed. He had often expressed his opinion as to the
question of area, and he would not recapitulate his arguments
in favour of the union area. The only argument in favour of
the petty sessional area that he could see wastha't it was within
the county, and no doubt that was a strong argument, and one
that could not be lightly got ov. r. He qnite admitted that,
but there were also difficulties on the other side which migh^
be mastered, and which he thought it would be well to master ;
and he did not think that by shirking them in the first instance
they were likely to make the remedy any the easier.

Mr. C. M. CaLBECOTT (Warwick) said : There was one point
Mr. Read had not made very clear, namely, that about the
Clerk of the Peace. He quite agreed that the present mode of
appointing that officer was not the best. In his county the
Clerk of the Peace was paid out of the county rates by salary
bnt the salary was calculated upon an average of the fees he
received, which fees were carried te the eredit of the county.

At the present moment, however, the Clerk of the Peace h»pT
pened to be in a peculiar position. Wiieu the late Clerk of
the Peace died, the present Clerk was appointed and his sala y
was proposed. The amount of salary was sent up to Mr.
Cross for approval, but he did not approve of the fees of the
office, and consequently, and for the last three years, the. Clerk
of the. Peace had been living upon his fees and not receiving
any salary.

Mr. Haw.yrd said that in Suffolk the Clerk of the Peace re-
ceived a salary of £1,500 a year, besides fees, he believed.

Mr. Duckiiaji said he fu'ly endorsed the last sentiment ex-
pressed by Mr. R ad as to the great importance lo be attached
to the Cattle Diseases Bill in prererence to the Bill now under
discussion. Unquestionably the former was at this time more
important to the rat-payers of this kingdom and to tlie nation
at large than the latter. At the same time the Bill under dis-
cussion was one upon which there was a very unani nous opin-
ion iu the country, and which was felt to be of great impor-
tance. He could not see himself that any inconvenience orany
nation U loss would be sustained, supposing tbis Bill did not
pass during the present session. There was a vast amount of
difference between the advocates of the Bill as to whether the
pe'ty sessional division or the union should be the area. Mr.
Haward had told them of one petty sessional division in his
county that partook of four unions, and therefore, if the
guardians of the unions were brought together to vote they
would not know anything of the qualifications of the gentlemen
nominated to act on the County Board. In Mr. Duckham's
county nearly all the unions were overlapping unions. He
thought it important thst each electoral area should be coter-
minous with the couuties. He believeJ that the overlapping
occurred in all small counties, and he would draw attention to
the fact that the unions were laid ouj entirely irrespective 0{
the counties in which they were situated, and in accordance
with population and to suit the convenience of guardians
attending the small towns within their districts. If the petty
sessional divisions were objectionable, he thought it a matter
for serious consideration whether they might not be rearranged.
There was quite enough for Local Boards to do independently
of the guardians. There was the highway expenditure and the
sanitary matters, which ought to go with the highways; and
there was the education and other important matters which
would be far bettor eutirely separated from the Boards of
Guardians, so as to leave the Boards of Guardians with the
administration of the parochial relief. He repeated that he felt
no loss would be sustained by the country if this Bill was de-
ferred for another year, until the question of areas should be
more clearly understood by the country and the inconvenience
that must necessarily arise by the adoption of the union area
as at present constituted. Where the unions were overlapping
in different couuties the Boards of Guardians would have to be
concentrated, and as there were several unions where only some
five or six guardians belong to one county, they would have
to be concentrated to make some sort of area, as those numbers
would not be sufficient to elect two representatives ; and there-
fore he was at a loss to see how the thiug was to be carried
out if the union was to be adopted as the area.

Mr. Haward : There are 469 unions entirely in their re-
spective couutie'*, and 181 overlapping.

Mr. Duckham went on to say that more thau one fourth of
the unions in the country were overlapping anions. With re-
gard to the Highway portion of the Bill that was certainly a
most peculiar anomaly. Provision was given to the County

494

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Board to impose certain roads on the county rate, but when
it came to the question of closiog any roads there was no power
of doing it, that power being vested by the new Highway Bilj
in the petty sessions with power of appeal to the quarter ses-
sions. He thought the whole power in regard to these roads
ahould be vested in the County Boards, and not in petty or
quarter sessions. He quite agreed with Mr. Howard that tax*
ation and representation should go together. If that principle
were adopted, instead of ODe portion of the Board being elected
by the magistrates at quarter sessions and the other by the
ratepayers through the guardians, the ratepayers would elect
the best men either from the magistracy or from the district,
because it was quite out of the question to suppose that farmers
were going to attend to the enormous amount of duties imposed
by this Bill ; and therefore gentlemen of independent fortune
who were good men of business would be elected, and the
Boards be made entirely representative. He again repeated
that he hoped at any rate the Cattle Diseases Bill would be
passed this session.

The Rev. Canon Brereton (Massingham, Norfolk) desired
to recall the meeting to the real defect of the Bll and to the
difficulty attendant on a great deal of oar local government,
viz., the question whether the Poor Law unions can be made
the units of the county, and whether the accident of these
being drawn originally without reference to the county is one
that can be rectified now. He ventured to think that the re-
arrangement of the unions was by no means such an insuper-
able difficulty as many represented. The real difficulty was Of
cour»e that it would not do to interfere with the incidence of
rating. If they had unions which carried a much heavier rate
than other unions, it would not do to mix them ; but that
difficulty had, he believed, already been met by the arrange-
ments of urban district* distinct from rural districts. The
difficulty of the matter of convenience in these days was not
a very serious one. He thought they might agree with Mr.
Read that it was of the greatest importance to elevate the
Boards of Guardians, who had to do the drudgery of local work,
to share the more important duties of the county, and to take
the union as the unit upon whieh they were going to organize
the future county government. This seemed to him so impor-
tant that he earnestly hoped, if there shoald be difficulties in
passing this Bill this session, that the Government would take
steps to institute a Boundary Commission, with authority to*re-
move the one and only objection there appeared to be in the way
the future improvement of the local government in England.
The administration of the roads and health were old parochial
subjects, and if the parish of the future could be made coinci-
dent with the unions, why hand over these important local
interests to the counties ?( Hear, hear). Therefore the Govern-
ment having introduced this measure, he hoped they would be
content to pass it, even if only in skeleton, seeing that it was
in accordance generally with the views of this Club, of the
country generally, and in harmony with the traditions
as well as the feelings of the ratepayers. The unions
might be accepted as the ou'come of the old parochial
interests, and on that basis a provision for the future loca]
government of the county could be carried on. He hoped
the Club would use all its influence with the Government
to get them to amend and persevere with this Bill (Hear,
hear.)

The CHA.IRMA.N said there was one point in the discussion
which had not been alluded to, he supposed because there
were few Fenmen present. Nothing was looked upon by them

as of so much importance as the 22nd Clause of the Bill, which
affected the Fen district of 500,000 or 600,000 acres. That
district has been brought into profit tble cultivation by the
skill and energv aud exertion of the Penmen. If this Chuse
were carried, the manigpm»nt would go out of the hands of
the men who had made the d strict into the hands of the
men who would be totally inadequate to discharge the duties
pertaining to the river conservancy of the country, and espe«
cially of the low country. Perhaps it was not generally
known, but all the Fen country was already provided with
local Acts for their own protection, and for the preservation
of their own interests, and he was sure if a new body of men
were to commence controlling, say, the Ouse or the Nene,
there were a host of authorities already in existence who
would rise up and say they were determined to maintain their
own rights, and would not suffer such usurpation. Their
locks and sluices were as sacred as things of life and death,
and they would not allow them to be touched by hands that
knew nothing of their importance. He was quite sure the
Fenmen would fight very strongly against the 22nd Clause,
and he hoped it would be removed from the Bill. He would
not give an opinion about several other matters that had been
alluded to. Mr. Haward had touched rather severely on the
magisterial authorities. He could assure him that only about
one-sixth of the expenditure of the county was within the
control of the magistrates. They were as careful as any
new Board that might be constituted, though he should be
glad to see a good County Bill passed. There were things in
this Bill which might, he thought, be left oat, such as some
of the Highway clauses, snd especially the River clauses.
Whether the Bill had been sufficiently ventilated was another
question. He quite agreed with Mr. Duckham, that if they
waited another year for it no harm would be done. He agreed
also with Mr. Duckham that the Contagious Diseases (Ani-
mals) Bill was the more important Bill of the two. He had
no objection to both Bills passing, but if one was to be left
over for a year he should prefer it was the Local Government
Bill.

Mr. Druce (in reply) said, that having had to take up the
subject at short notice he had not been able to give much
study to it, and only professed to analyse the Bill now before
the House of Commons, and the criticisms of it. He would
now merely refer to the points in the discussion where the
speakers had differed from him. Mr. Charles Howard advo-
cated the petty sessional divisions as the electoral areas, and
took exception to the statement in the Paper that the petty
sessional divisions were not known. What he (Mr. Druce)
meant to say was, that the boundaries of those divisions were
not known generally to the body of ratepayers in the same
way as the boundaries of the unions were. The great argu-
ment for the petty sessional areas was that they were coter-
minous with the counties, and he admitted the difficulty of
dealing with those 169 unions that were not coterminous with
the connties, and which overlapped into one or more counties ;
but he thought it was not impossible to make that part of
the union situate in one particular county an electoral division
for that county. Probably the reason why this was not done
was because the officials of the Local Government Board at
Whitehall would not take the trouble to do it. He could not
follow Mr. Charles Howard at all when he said he would adopt
the petty sessional division, using the union machinery. If
they were to do that he feared they would make confusion
worse confounded. With regard to there being no power in
the Bill to close roads, that power was not in words handed

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

4p5

over to the Conn'y Board, nor was it defined as a power to be
retained by quarter sessions, but lie believed the power would
be included in the general words, enabling the new Board to
do whatever administrative acts the quarter sessions had
been accustomed to do. There was no doubt one omission in
the Bill to which atteutiou had been drawn, and that was the
provision for auditing the acounts of the Cniin'y Boml. It
was nodoubt a serious omission, and he. was glad Mr. Ilaward
had brought it forward. There could be no re'sm why
accounts of the County Boml should n>t be audited in the
same way as the accounts of the District Sanitary authorities
and the School Boards (who also exp^uled public money)
were. In conclusion he thanked the meeting for the attention
they had paid to his Paper, and the courtesy they had shown
him (Hear, hear).

On the oootion of Mr. T. Duckiiam the tliauks of the
meeting were voted to Mr. Druce for his Paper.

Tn reply to a vote of thanks to the Chairman,

Tiie President said the farmers had a fine prospect now
in the fields, and he hoped tluy would have a good harvest,
and meet together again at the next meeting in November in
better spirits (applause and laughter).

The meeting theu broke up.

The following new members were elected en May 6,
1878 : —

Clement E. R. Bentley, 36, Portland Place, W.

W Drewitt, Lea Farm, Bramley, near Guildford.

J. Eaton Evans, Milford Haven.

Sir John Morris, Wolverhampton.

Arthur Pawsey, Lewisham Road, S E.

Professor Pritchard, Royal Veterinary College.

THE CORBET TESTIMONIAL.

By the accounts, which have been audited and approved
by Mr. Chas. Howard, and Mr. J. M. Allender, it
appears that — £ s.

The total amount collected was ... ... 355 19

The expenses for printing, &c. ... ... 3 10

Leaving a balance of £352
Which has been placed in Mr. Corbet':, hands.

Messrs. Proctor, Cathay, Bristol; J. Rawlings, WoPfrrt >n
Ludlow; J. Shuker, Chirbury, S<lop ; F. Sou'hern, Keinp'on,
Little Brampton, Salop; J. Smith, Bcdney, Dilwyn, Here-
fordshire; T A Turner, The Farm, Stanton-on-Arrow, Here"
fordshire ; T. Woll.y, Abcott, Aston-on-Olun, Salop ; J. Whitei
Manor Farm, Zeals, Wilts ; J. Wahers, Llandi-nuy Court, Usk»
Mou.; W. Weyman, Bungwood, Ludlow; II. Yeomans,
Llowes Court, Hay, Breconshire, annual members. Another
Council meeting will be held shortly to elect another list of
members, to report upon the best form of Private Herd Book »
and to fix the date of payment for copyright, &c.

THE LONDON CORN TRADE
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the above Association was recently held at the
"Baltic;" Mr. John R ss, of the firm of Begbie, Rons, &
Gibson, took the chair, upon the motion of Mr. W. Harris,
Mr. J. Kressmann acting as Secretary, pro. iem. The objects
of this Association are well known, and have been previously
dwelt upon in this Journal.

The Chairman observed that it had been the aim of the
general committee to incorporate in its number members con-
nected with all the different branches of the trade, and he
moved that a more restricted number of members should be
nominated to form an executive committee for one year, and
after the meeting had been addressed in succession by Mr
W. Harris, Mr. S. W. Keene, Mr. J. Kressmann, Mr. J. Tiaks
and I others, the following gentlemen were named for the ex-
ecutive committee : —

John Ash, Esq.

R. Duck, Esq.

S. W. Keene, Esq.

J. Kressmann, Esq.

F. Lenders, Esq.

A. W. McDonell, Esq.

E. Majoiier, E^q

M. Mavrogardato, Esq.

E. Petroccchino, E»q.

H. H. Phillipps, Esq.
Ed. Power, Esq.
P. Sechiari, Esq.
R. Reid. Esq.
John Ross, Esq.
Seth Taylor, E-q.
T. TJsborue, Esq.
O. Valieri, Esq.
Henry Yeames, Esq.

HEREFORD HERD BOOK SOCIETY

A meetng of the Council of the Hereford Herd Book Society
was held at the Society's offices, 20, East-street, Hereford, on
Wednesday, May 8th, at 2 o'clock, to elect members. The
meeting was under the presidency of Mr. J. Arkwright. The \
following members were unanimously elected : Messrs. E. \
Grassett, Whitmore, Ludlow, Guode, Tvington, Leominster, D.
P. Peploe, GaTUstoue.|Castle, Weobley, Hereford, life members^
Messrs. W. S. Armitige, Th« Field, Hereford ; J. S. Edwards
Stanton Lacy, Ludlow ; D. Edwards, Brnisop Court, Here,
ford ; J. Hawkins, The Moat, Knighton ; J. Hamar, Weeton,
Clon, Salop : 'J. Holloway, Letton Court, Hereford ; P. G.
Hughes, Cwm Cart, Sam, Montgomery ; Jones, Edenhorpe,
Bishop's Castle ; E. Jones, Park, Caeams, Mont-
gomery ; R. James, Monnington-on- Wye, Hereford! G. Lowe>
Pitchfield, Ludlow; W. Langford, Cleobury Hall, Salop ; T.
Mars-ton, Lettou. Leintwardine, Herefordshire; H.Mason,
Commerton, Orleton, Ludlow ; L. Moore, Glannehely, Kerry,
Montgomery ; F. W. Morris, Shucknall Court, Hereford ;

A feature of the meeting was that Mr. S. W. Keene, of the
firm of Watney & Keene, who had at first addressed the meet-
ing with some remarks not quite in accordance with the gen-
eral feelings of the meeting, was, at the close of the proceed-
ings, proposed by Mr. E. Majoiier, of the firm of Harris,
Bros. & Co., and seconded by Mr. S. Lichtenstein, as a
member of the executive committee.

The proposal was receivedwith general acclamation, and
finally accepted by Mr. Keene himself, whose peculiar qualifi-
cations for such a position are generally acknowledged. The
greatest unanimity therefore prevailed, and the meeting closed
with a vote of thanks, moved by Mr. Stephen Ralli, to the
Chairman, and to the Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. Kress-
mann, who had in a great measure initiated the movement
for this Association, and has since devoted much energy to its
formation.

The Association being now formed, all persons interested ia
the trade are invited to become members of the same, by
remitting the annual subscription of £1 Is., addressed to Mr.
J. Kressmann, at the " Baltic."

THE DERBY QUESTION.— Cosier : "Going to the Derby
this time, Bill ?" Bill -. Well, yer see, my missus says as 'ovv
its werry expensive, and she'd sooner go out o' town for the
'oppin later on." — Punch.

4m

THE FARMER'S .MAGAZINE.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

CHESHIRE,

The Cheshire Agricultural Society recently met at
the Chester Town Hall, the Mayor of Chester presiding. The
Council, in presenting the half-yearly report.congratu'ated tl-e
Society on the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, and trusted
the House of Commons would recognise its main principle as
trae of simple justice to stockkeepeTS. The Council suggested
that some details in the County administration Bill might
judiciously be amended. For instance, the union area and not
the petty sessional should be adopted. It was resolved to
publish the names of persons detected, on analysr, in selling
spurious manure. An interesting paper was then read by
Lieut. -Colonel Jones, Civil Engineer, Hafod-y-Wern,Wrexham
on " Sewage Disposal," and a discussion followed.

NEWARK.

The eleventh annual show of stock and implements in
connection with the Newark May Fair was recently
held on the Sconce Hills grounds, UDder the
patronage of the Mayor of Newark, &c. The
entries were as follows : — Agricultural horses, 56 ; don-
keys, 3 ; cattle, 37 ; pens of sheep, 37 ; pens of pigs, 30 ;
hor9e3, hunters, roadsters, cobs, &c, 140 ; butter, 16,
Some of the classes brought out more exhibits than last
year, while others had fewer, so making the total about
the same. In every department the animals shown were
remarkably good, some of them being extremely fine. The
special cup prize offered by Colonel Reeve for the best
beast on the ground was awarded to the Colo el's own
animal, a splendid roan heifer, fire year9 old. There was
a large attendance of spectators on Tuesday, £76 5s. being
taken for admissions, though the number on the ground
was somewhat less than last year, owing to frequent
showers of rain about mid-day. Wednesday came in with
strong indications of rain, but the day proved favourable
on the whole, a few showers only falling at distant inter-
vals. The hurdle and water jumping were the chief
attractions of the day, and drew a large concourse of
spectators. It was calculated that more thau 4,000
persons were admitted to the grounds,
PRIZE LIST.
HORSES.

Cart horses (geldings), four years old and upwards. — First
prize, £10, Cafferata and Co,, Newark ; second, £5, C. Mar-
fleet, Boothby.

Cart mares (barren), four years old and upwards. — First
prize, £8, T. Tune, Crowle ; second, £4, J. H. Oakes, Alfreton.

Brood cart mares.— First prize, £6, J. H. Oakes ,- second,
£3, C. Marfleet.

Cart foals.— First prize, £2, Mr. Oakes ; second, £1, C.
Hunt, Besthorpe.

Three-year-old cart geldings.— First prize, £6, Cafferata
and Co. ; second, £3, J. Snodin, Stonesby, Melton.

Three-year-old cart fillies.— First prize, £6, W. T. Lamb,
Welbourne; second, £3, F. Pogson, Staunton.

Two-year old cart geldings. — First prize, £5, H. Smith ;
Cropwell Butler; second, £8 10s., W. Slater, Newark.

Two-year-old cart fillies. — First prize, £5, T. Blankley
Aunsby, Sleaford ; second, £2 10s., G. Brockton, Farndon.

Yearling cart colts. — First prize, £3, J. Oxley, Gainsboro';
second, £1 10s., T. Blankley.

"Yearling cart fillies. — First prize, £3, T. C. Peck, Hayton !
second, £1 10s., Hon. C. W. Fitzwilliam, Maplebeck.

Cart horses or mares (best walkers). — First prize, Cafferata
and Co. ; second, T. Tune.

Roadsters, 15 hands and upwards (driven in single harness)
—First prize, £5, F. Symond, Lichfield ; second, £2, S.Taylor,
Newark ; third, £1, G. Harvey, NewaTk.

Roadsters, under 15 hands (driven in single harness). — Fivst
prize, £5, J. Hornsby, Grantham ; second, £2, W. Faster
Pontefract.

Hunters, brood mares (to foal this season or with foal at
foot). — First prize, £5, J. Wilkinson, Newark; second, £2
10s., W. T. Dawson, Hawton.

Hunters, not under four years old. — First prize, £10, W.
Wright, Wollaton ; secoud, £5, J. L. Skipworth, Howsham.

Saddle hacks, over 14-2 — First prize, £5, C. Marfleet,
Boothby ; second, £2 10s., R. Sorflset, Gainsboro'.

Cobs, 13 to 1+ 2.— First prize, £4, J. Hornsby, Grantham;
second, £2, W. Foster, Pontefract.

Ponies, geldings, or mares. — First prize, £3, R Whitton,
Lincoln -, second, £2, J. Gregory, Newark ; third, £1, W.
Wright.

Hurdle jumpers. — First prize, £10, R. Barker, Malton >
second, £5, J. Rudkin, Hanby ; third, £3, Miss S. A. Mar-
fleet, Boothby Hall.

Hurdle jumpers, 14-2 and under. — First prize, £5, R. W.
Dewey, Croxton Kerriel ; second, £3, G. W. Sikes, Cossiug-
ton Hall, Loughboro' ; third, £1, W. Spafford, Inkera.ill.

Hurdle jumpers, to be ridden by ladies. — Prize, £5, G. W.
Sikes.

Hurdle jumpers, under 13 hands. — First prize, £2, J. Hall,
Car Colston ; second, £1, Col. J. Reeve.

Hunters, any age. — Prize, £5 cup, A. J. Brown, Elmsall
Hall, Pontefract.

Hunters, three years old. — Prize, £5 cup, W. Rowbotham,
Gainsboro'.

Extra prize, J. C. Musters, Annesley Park, for thorough-
bred horse. CATTLE.

Bulls, from two to three years old. — First prize, £6, J.
Rowley, Walden, Pontefract ; second, £3, W. Wilkinson, Car
Colston.

Bulls, under two years old. — First prize, £5, J. H. Oakes ;
second, £2 10s., T. H. Beard, Roall Hall.

Cows, in milk or in calf. — First prize, £5, J. H.,Oakes;
second, £2 10s., D. Mackinder, Sempringham.

Heifers, in milk or in calf, not over three years old.'— First
prize, £3, J. H. Oakes ; second, £2, Miss E. A. Crawford,
Farnsfield.

Heifers, not over two years old. — Prize, £2, J. H. Oakes.
•Steers, three years old and under. — Prize £2, CoL Reeve,
Leadenham.

Bull calves, under twelve months old. — Prize, £2, W. L,
Lamb.

Heifer calves, under twelve months old.— Prize, £2, Col.
Reefe.

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

497

Extra Stock. — Prizes were awarded to Mr. Oakes ibr a roan
bull, and to Col. Reeve for a roan heifer.
SHKE1'.
Shearliag ram. — First price, £10, H, Smith, Cropwell
Cutler; second, £5, H. Snvtfe.

Ram of any age. — First prize, £5, J. llvdkin, West Wil-
loughby, Grantham ; second, £2, A. Garfit, Scothern.

Five he Itoggs, in the wool. — First pric, £8, J. W. Young
Collinghara ; secoad, £4, W. Jackson, Langford.

Five she hoggs, in the wool. — First prise, £8, W. Roe
North Scarle ; secoud, £4, W. Jackson.

Five he hoggs, clipped. — First prise, ,£4, G. Mason, Mars-
ton; second, £2, J. Thorpe, Beaconfield.

Five she hoggs, clipped. — First price, £4, G. Mason ; second,
£2, W. Roe.

Five ewes and their lambs. — First price, £8, W. Roe;
second, £4, E. Young, Cuddington ; third, £2, H. Smith.

Five ram hoggs, in the wool. — Prise, £2, W. T, Lamb,
Welbourne.

PIGS.

Breeding sows, of any breed. — First prize, £t, W. Newton >
Newark ; second, £1, M. A. Waddington, Newark ; third*
10s., R. Ward, Bleasby.

Sows, with yosug pigs. — Fitst »rke, £2, D. R. Daybell,
Bottesford j second, £1, E. J. Richardson, Winthorpe.

Gilts.— First prke, £2, R. Ward; second, £1, W.Ellis,
Newark; third, 10s., J. Bailey, Hawton.

Boars. — First price, £2, Mr. Daybelh second, £1, R. Vin-
cent, Bottesford ; third, 10s., S- Andrew, Caunton.

Extra Stock. — Prke to Mr. Daybeli for Rve pigs of large
white breed.

BUTTER

Four pounds. — First prize, £2, Miss Bonnragton, Thorpe-
on-the-Riil; second, £1, H.Crocker, Collingham ; third, 10s.,
C. Wells, North Scarle ; and extra, Mrs. Pearce, Weston.

Dish in ornamental design, — Price, 10s., Miss BoaniBgton,
—Abridged from The Stamford Mercury.

WHARFEDALE.

This show was held recently at Otley. Abou
£500 were given in prizes, besides 20 silver cups. The
entries numbered 4S9. The following officiated as judges: —
Cattle and sheep — Mr. T. P. Outhwaite, Coldsboro ; Mr.
Pun^hard, Kirby Lonsdale. Horses — Mr. J. C. Rogerson,
Manchester; Mr. Jacob Smith, Uraberton; Mr. Makin, Fair-
burn; and Mr. Raine, Nun Stainton. Ponies — Mr. Makin,
Fairburn, Pontefract ; Mr. Rogerson, King's Hotel, Man-
chester. Poultry (game) — Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey. Not
game — Mr. J. Dison, Clayton, Bradford. Pigeons— Mr. F.
Esquilant, London. Rabbits and cats — Mr. E. Hutton. Dogs
(sporting) — Mr. Armstrong, Yarm ; Non-sporting — Mr. P.
Eden, Manchester. From the prize list we take the names of
the successful exhibitors in the neighbourhood.

HORSES (open to the United Kingdom). — Horse or mare
for draught or agricultural purposes. — First prize, R. Wright,
Boston Spa, second, J. Horner, Morton.
■ Gelding, foaled in 1875. — First prize, A. Heddon, Baldersby ,
second, T. Todd, Pool.

Filly, foaled in 1875. — First prize, H. Lawson, York ; second,
T. Jackson, Addingham.

Gelding, foaled in 1876. — First prize and cup, G. Grooks,
Northallerton ; second, T. W. Waterhouse, pf Apperley
Bridge.

Filly, foaled in 1876.— First prize, C. Wright, Oglethorp
Hall ; secoud, Robert Wright, Boston Spa.

Colt orally, foaled ia 1877.— First prize, R. Wright ; second
G. Hague, Sliedwell.

Coaching gelding or mare, of any age. — First price, H. R,
W. Hart, Dunnington ; second, T. G. Dawson, Otley.

Gelding or filly, foaled in 1875. — First prize, J. Driver
Bradford ; second, C Bower, Kirbymoorside.

Roadster brood mare (must have had a foal or be in foal).—
First prize, R. Martin, York j second, R. Gledhill, Bradford.

Gelding or filly, foaled in 1875. — First prise, W. Inghara,
Wortley, second, W. Rickell, Pocklington.

Cob, nelding or mare, not to exceed 14£ haHds. — First prize,
J. Wreghitt, Londesborough ; second, E. Salt, Baildoa.

Gelding or mare, not to exceed 15 hands. — First prize and
cap, T. Bowman, Sleduiere ; second, W Asken, Carnforth

Gelding or mare, any age, exceeding 15 hands. — First prize,
R. Gledhill, Bradford ; second, Dr. Merryweatlter, Guisbro'.

Brood mare for hunters (must have had a foal or be in 'oal)*
—First prize, H. R. W. Hart, Bnnuiagtoa ; secoud, S. S.
Blakey, Bradford.

Leapers, horse or mare, any age or height. — First prize and
cup, P. Jowett, Hipperholme; secoad, H. Taylor, York ; third,
C. Sandersofi, Pontefract.

CATTLE.— Bulls, one year old. — First price, W. Lotoa,
Sheriff Hutton ; second, T. Beard, Pontefract.

Two-year-old or upwards. — First and second prke and cup,
W. Liuton, Sheriff Hutton.

Calf uader twelve months. — First prize, W. Linton : second,
T. Sheep hanks, Arthington Hall.

Cows — Two years old, J. Waiud, Kirbymoorside; second,
H. Fawcett, OM Bramhope.

Three years old or upwards. — First and second a*d eup, H.
Fawcett.

Calf, «ader twelve aaontfei. — First prize, W. Liatoa ; secoad
W. Rhodes, Harrogate.

SHEEP. — Ram, aay age. — First price aad cup, J. Green,
and Son, Silsden ; second, J. Sirnp3on, Spofforth Park.

PIGS. — Sow, large breed, any age. — Prize, J. Graham
Leeds.

Sow, large breed, any age. — Price, G. Sedgewick, York.

Sow and litter, any age or breed. — First prize, T. Horsfall,
Bradford; second, G. Sedgewick, York.

Boar, small breed. — First prize, T. Haunam, Leeds ; second,
G. Sedgewick.

Boar, middle breed. — First prize, G. Sedgewick ; secoud, W.
Hatton, Haddinghatn.

PROFITABLE SEWAGE FARMING.— The question
whether sewage-farming can be made remunerative has been
8olved in the affirmative by Colonel Jones, of Wrexham, after
six years' careful testing. In 1870 the Local Board attempted
to utilise the town sewage ou a farm eighty-two acres in ex-
tent, but after two years' experience abandoned the under-
taking. In 1872 Colou-1 Jones leased the farm at a rental of
£5 per acre, and purchased for £1,G00 the farm buildings and
other permanent improvements made by the Board. At the
cIom" of Ft-bruary, 1877 — that is, after five years — Col. Jonei
found that, after paying his rent, and putting aside £5 per
cent, ou his capital as a sinking fund, he had made a net profit

of close upon £1,500.

OO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

A most interesting narration of the existent facts of live
stock across the. Atlantic has appeared in the last number
•of a contemporary, written by au American, from which
I gather that the result is exactly taking place there
which the intelligent breeder has never eease'd to foresee-
For instance, at cue time it was nothing but the" fastest-
time "horsss that were looked for, no matter the shape
and style. But just as courtesy in the human kind is a
bloom upon the ripened fruit, and comes certainly, after
a due period of civilisation, in the roughest settlement,
so in grace is beauty ultimately looked for to supplement
and perfect i breed of lowlier kinds, the equiue, bovine,
ovine, &c, which minister to the food of men. Thus it
is, we are told, that the swiftest horses, if plain, are com-
paratively unsaleable in comparison with more symmetrical
competitors, who have also the essential gift of " action."
It is surprising how soon the wants of a market can
^e met. It is not so long since that trotting was
desired in the Suffolk carthorse. Exquisite lines of form
had been obtained, superseding the old Punch shape, a
kind that would draw at a stubborn stump, and never give
up, however unavailing the effort at extraction. Then
the least exhibition of trotting ability came to be watched
for. One mare in particular I remember, long and loosely
; built, and remarkable only for strong, good action, that
was picked up and mated with handsome sires, until
•a combination of excellence, both of form and movement,
was obtained. Novv-a-day9 it is the exception to see a
prize carter wanting action. Most can trot like ponies.
And whilst on this tack, I proceed to observe what good
those Associations, such as the Shire, Clydesdale, &c-, are
likely to effect. It inspirits the tenant farmer. It gives
him an object in breeding, whilst it guides his choice, and
affords him, moreover, the means of developing his tome
resources by securing him select males to use.

Pigs have been improved, until you see iu every cottage-
stye samples which would have easily won prizes a score
of years since. The useful all-round Berkshire is being
imported to America, aud forms an excellent cross upon
the " large Ohio females begun 9ome forty years or more
since." This was the -period when Shorthorns were
bought in England for the same trans-Atlantic Company,
stress being laid upon their milking qualities, a form of
bovine merit which is now having its weight at home
also. Show animals it is difficult to produce which shall
make the pail foam, because good milkers are almost in-
variably light in front, and " good over the crops" a cow
must be to win laurels " at the Royal."

I am glad to note, having been unable to attend the sale,
that Mr. Samuda'sCelias were bought in bunches. Whatever
tbey may look in the flesh, they have capital old blood in
their veins, and ought to pair well with a Cambridge
Rose, or Mantalini bull, which — as the Celias — are so
-much indebted to R. Colliug's Red Rose at root.

This continued rain is getting serious. The corn fields
begin to look yellow, but worst of all, few are the fortunate
individuals who have managed to get their mangel planted-
A rare exception one hears of here and there, but in
most casts the preparatory cultivation is only going on
as the persistent showers allow. Carrots will be very
short next winter. Fortuuate are those who have a gor9e
patch to fall back on for their horses. My teams have
never done so well as during the last winter, keeping fat,
glos»y. and spirited on a chop of furze and second-rate
hay, with a sprinkling of bran and swede slices. Once
up, like lucerne, it needs no tending to speak of. There
is a general complaint of the lambs doing badly in this
district, whether owing to the incessant wet or
not. A very profitable sort of sheep for
park - grazing and household mutton is the
Radnorshire breed. They are low and long,
and their quarter is well carried out to the tail, as the Che-
viot breeds. They are excellent mothers, and moreover
prolific. It is a good plan to buy iu ewes, aud put them •
to a Southdown ram, fattening both ewe and lamb, I
have known them tried alongside the pure Southdown' in
the same park, and beat them easily on the balance-sheet.
The luscious fat, though, and the dark meat of the pure
" Down" for the home table they fail to match. It is in
selling that they make way.

Are the wild birds really more plentiful now that
a close time has been provided for them? There
are those who doubt it, whatever the cause may
be. The cuckoo is accountable for considerable suction
of eggs this season, our boys inform us. It is the
fat gardener's plan to let the blackbirds hatch and then to
" scrag" all but one of the offspring, whose turn also nome3
after a while. His argument is that if the eggs be robbed
the hen only goes and builds elsewhere, giving new trou-
ble of search.

A grand sight were the cows at Mr. Larkings. The
first lot, Siddington, bought by Mr. Allsopp, fourteen
years old, for 250 gs., was a picture, ^o thoroughly
good all over that it was really impossible to find a real
fault in her. It was tried to no purpose by good judges
several times. She will be a lucky purchase if she breeds
anything as good as herself for her new owner. There was
a wonderful likeness between her and Siddington 10th,
Mr. De Vitre's cow sold to Lord Moreton, at Mr. Bowly 's
recent sale. Siddington 10th (a twin) was daughter of
Siddington 2nd, Siddington's twin sister. Hence the like-
ness and a rare style of beauty it is ! Mr. Larking was
always a spirited buyer, and his things were presented to
the public in splendid trim, although it needed but a
glance to see how poor the soil is of the farm on
which they grazed. There was a very strong force of
breeders present, all the men of mettle aud metal
too, . so that the best lots went swiftlj. Mr.

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE,

Bowly's Gazelles, capital cattle that they are,
took well. This veterau breeder ha3 some fine
specimens of the tribe at home. Their inherited excel-
lence is a tribute to the judgment of the Rev. II. Berry,
wno bred the lirst of the name, a roan, calved June 28,
1824, her dam Mr. Whittaker's Miiliceut by Prince o'
Waterloo (528) (sou of C. Colliugs' Magdalena), her
gianddam by Mayflower (425), (of Coates's blood, Patriot,
Driffield, &c, with which the Celia tribe above-mentioned
abouuds). There is au origiual picture of the first Gazelle
in the neighbourhood of Chepstow, where the Rev. A.
Berry ouce resided. Their excellence as a tribe to this
day, and their strong prevailing type, surely attests to
the virtue of the lees at the bottom of the vat. Gazelle
26th, purchased at 425 gs. by the Australian buyer, Mr.
McCulloch, was a grand and very massive cow. She and
Siddingtou were considered the two best aged cows
shown ; and every one rejoiced at Mr. Bewly's " pride
of place-" Most wonderfully improved was the 3rd
Duke of Hillhurst — a short-legged lump of a bull. When
sold for 3,000 gs. at the Dunmore sale he was decidedly
flat-sided, but he has quite outgrown that defect, and his
stock are admirable. Fuschia's Duchess 2ud, a white
heifer, also bought for Australia at 400 gs., was wonder-
fully solid, deep, and broad. Her head was heavy, but
in all other respects she was a remarkably good animal,
and excited hot competition. Great interest attached to
her in that she was got by Airdrie Geneva (32920), the
American Red Rose bull sold at Mr. Philips's sale —
himself, it , is said, an indifferent specimen, but I
was not there to see. The Australians are
reported to have takeu a farm in Kent, against the inevi-
table day when the wants of the colony shall.
Overpower what is getting to be regarded as a "ring"
opposition. Squire Siddington was an excellent calf,
and made 210 gs., being about eight months old.
The Bates or Knightley cattle here sold comparatively
low. They were fine animals, but they were neither
ene thing nor another. They had got size, but had neither
the character of the Knightley or the Bates ; whereas the
public seems to look for either one to be clearly expressed.
At Lord Penrhyn's sale the Belles of Oxford made, as one
expected from a preliminary inspection, the topping
prices, as did the young bull Grand Duke of Oxford 3rd
amongst the males Mr. Loder has takeu him to mate
with some admirable heifers. Thers was a Darlington
bull, Duke of Dentsdale, sold cheap, for his touch was
hard, and the public is so saucy now ! If he had handled
like the Grand Duke of Oxford 3rd he would have fetched
probably a goodish uugget. The result of these sales has
been to show that there is only wanted general market
elasticity again for good Shorthoru stock to sell as well
as any other ware3. They are wanted, and there will be
the mcaus found to buy them. This enforced inactivity
has no doubt helped to clear off a lot of second-rate
descriptions, which have long required culling, but which
got spared during the period of ardeut demand.

Viuil, May 24,

499
MIDLAND

CONFERENCE OP SOUTH
GUARDIANS.

A Conference of the Guardian* of the Poor Law Union of
the South Midland D<.-trict wai held recently at Bedford,
the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire (Mr. James
II fj wa.ru) in the chair. The. lirst subject of discussion was
"County Boards," and Capi. Craiuie introduced it in an
excellent paper. After a lengthened discussion the following
resolutions were passed : —

1. "That the Coherence for the South Midland District
of Poor Law Unions is of opinion that lor electoral purposes
the union area is preferable to the petty sessional area. And
further they express the opinion on the clauses relating to the
highways that those clauses would be better omitted fiota
the Bill."

2. " That the whole of the members of the County Boards
proposed to ba elected by the court of quarter ses ions, ae well
as all the members to be chosen by the elected guardians, shall
be elected conjointly by the elected and ex officio guardians
acting together."

The other subject on the Agenda was that of Endowed
Charities, but the Hon. Sec. explained that it was thought
County Boards would occupy the whole of the day, and it
was not considered advisable to arrange for the second
subject.

The Hon. Sec>, at the request of the Central Conference,
submitted a resolution on the subject of bye-laws under the
Education Act. It was ultimately carried unanimously in the
following form :^-" That the Government be requested to
introduce a Bill to enable Attendance Committees to frame
bye-laws lor the respective unions, subject to the sanotiou o?
the department, to take effect in every parish."

FAILURES IN ENGLAND AND WALES. — Messrs
John Kemp and Co. have issued a circular giving the number
of failures in Engl.md and Wales for each quarter of the
past eleven years, and for the first quarter of 1878. The total
number of failures ia the eleven years ending with 1877 was
122,260, and for the first quarter of those years the total was
31,480. Thus the average number for the first quarter of a
year was 2,862. In the first quarter of the present year there
were 3,436, which is considerably above the average. The
numbers for the first quarter respectively were — 1867, 3,981 ;
2868,4,09.1; 1869,3,819; 1870,2,804; 1871,2,142; 1872,
1,192; 1873, 2,354; 1874, 2,193; 1,875,2,331; 1876,
2,744; 1877, 2,829; 1878, 3,136. In summing up their
remarks on the»e and other figures giveu in their 'cular,
Messrs. Kemp and Co. observe : " These data indica' 5 that
we have not yet reached the worst of the present period. As-
suming that it runs an average length, we have to endure an
increasing number of failures which will not reach its maxi-
mum until the fourth quarter of 1879. In the face of such
signs as tltese we can only couusel strict economy in every
item of expenditure — extreme prudeuce in embarking in any
new venture or. in any extension of business — ;he utmost care
in the management of credit accounts, and a patient deter-
mination to work and wait tor more prosperous times. In
previous periods of depression the evils attendant upon them,
and which are inevitable, have been seriously au^meuted by
the public mind becoming so alarmed ^s to be panic-stricki n.
We trust the present may prove an exception, and that as
more light is tlirown upon the natural causes and effects which
govern such depressions the public mind «nl be mure com-
posed and willing to wait contentedly .or the recurring period
of prosperity. "

aOO

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

F&OM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 27.

Considerable disappointment has been felt by
agriculturists of lateowing to the untoward change
which has taken place in the weather. Instead of
warm dry days and thoroughly seasonable tempera-
ture which was experienced throughout April, we
h ive this month suffered from increased cold and an
abundant rainfall, which, while tending to promote
rapidity of growth, has done so at the expense of
those powers of vegetation upon which the farmer
leliesfor a profitable [yield of grain. The predic-
tions of a wet summer, founded upon the prevalence
of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere, have up
t ) the present been to a great extent verified, as
frequent showers have occurred during the past
week, and all heavy low-lying land is saturated
with moisture. The growing wheat has con-
sequently become flaggy and discoloured, and
birley appears to have suffered even more; in
»'iort, the agricultural outlook is decidely less
favourable than was the case three weeks ago-
Another bad effect of the rain has been the rapid
increase of slugs, wireworm, and the various other
iusect pests whose depredations cause the farmers
»o much annoyance, the oat crops in Kent having
•uffered to an alarming extent from the attacks of
»uch vermin, while weeds have also grown apace;
and defied eradication in the present condition of
the land. On the lighter soils the damage caused
by the excessive humidity has perhaps been less
apparent, although even here appearances are les6
promising, and unless dry forcing weather sets is
speedily the hope of an abundant cereal harvest
must be abandoned. In Scotland potato-planting
h is been finished, and in the earlier districts the
plant is beginning to show above ground. Grass
appears to be everywhere abundant, and although
some anxiety is naturally felt on the subject there
can be little doubt that with favourable weather
for haymaking the crop will yield a great weight.
The glowing reports received of the growing
crops in America, and indeed most other grain pro-
ducing countries, added to the quiescent state of
political affairs, have brought about a state of the
wheat trade closely resembling actual stagnation,
nnd it rarely happens that such an unusual lack of
animation can be recorded as occurring in the
market for an article which forms the staple food
of the population. The weather has of late been
against the crop, the imports from ahroad into

London have been positively light, but nothing has
roused the trade from its lethargy, and sales during
the past week have been so insignificant that the
amount of business passing has been insufficient
to form an index as to the course of prices. The
demand for English wheat has been equally dull,
both in London and at the country markets; but
although in the latter a decline Is. per qr. has
taken place, farmers have not been eager sellers at
the reduction. Much of the inactivity is doubtless
due to the state of suspense in which the country
remains with regard to the settlement of the
Eastern Question, but as a few days will probably
solve the difficulty one way or the other, we may
expect very soon to see some movement in the
trade, if only a downward one, Maize has been
quiet and the turn lower, which can scarcely be
wondered at seeing that the shipments froru
America to the United Kingdom for the week
ending the 18th inst. reached the enormous total of
287,000 qrs. The sales of English wheat noted
last week were 41,223 qrs., 8t 52s. Id., against
37,197 qrs., at 68s. 9d. in the previous year. The
London averages were 54s. lOd. on 1,378 qrs.
The imports into the kingdom for the week endinsr
May 18th were 983,795 cwts. wheat, and 145,998
cwt. flour. On Monday last the market opened
very quietly for all descriptions of cereal produce,
and there was a continued want of animation in all
branches of the trade until late in the day, when
some improvement was noticeable in the demand
for foreign wheat, owing to the persistence of rainy
weather. The inquiry was not, however, of a
sufficiently extended character to exercise any
quotable effect upon prices. The week's arrivals of
home-grown wheat amounted to 2,634 qrs., and
the supply (fresh up on factors' st ands was again
small, many of the samples being in poor condition.
Although not quotably lower, the tendency of
prices was against sellers, and sales progressed slowly
at barely former currencies. The imports of
foreign were moderate, in all 24,203 qrs., of which
quantity about 14,500 qrs. were from American
Atlantic ports, about 7,000 qrs. from Germany,
and 1,738 qrs. from the East Indies. There was a
fair attendance of millers, but very few sales took
place until nearly the close of the market, when
an improved demand was experienced at about
previous rates, the weather being dull and uu-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

settled, with frequent showers throughout tho day_
The exports were 1,900 qrs., against 1,345 qrs. in
the previous week. The supply of Barley con-
sisted of 778'qrs. of English, and 16,451 qrs. of
foreign . Malting descriptions showed no change
in price, while grinding sortB receded Gd. per qr. on
the week. There were 21,393 qrs. of maize re-
ported, and the trade ruled quiet for both old and
new corn, prices being generally the turn in buyers'
favour. Although the arrivals of oats were small,
only 17,980 qrs. in all, no improvement took place
in the trade, which was very dull, and inferior
descriptions gave way 3d. to Gd. per qr. On Wed-
nesday there were 502 qrs. of home-grown wheat,
and 10,700 qrs. of foreign. The attendance was
most meagre, and Wheat and feeding stuffs met a
slow retail demand at nominally Monday's prices.
On Friday the supply had increased to 688 qrs. of
English wheat, and 26,570 qrs. of foreign. The
wheat trade ruled very quiet at a reduction of Is.
perqr. on American descriptions, and the limited
business done in feeding corn was at rather lower
currencies. Tha imports of flour into the United
Kingdom for the week ending May 18th were
145,998 cwts., against 171,979 cwts. in the previous
week. The receipts were 12,785 sacks of English
and 2,758 sacks and 16,718 barrels of foreign.
With a sluggish demand business has been of a
dull and uninteresting character, and prices have
favoured buyers for both sacks and barrels. The
week's exports of beans were 29,625 cwts., and of
peas 40,873 cwts., showing a decrease of 1,420 cwt-
on the former, and an increase of 2,359 cwts. on
the latter. A quiet trade has been experienced for
both articles, and no quotable reduction has taken
place in values. The deliveries of malt were 15,639
qrs., and the exports 185 qrs. The amount of
business passing in this branch of the trade has been
very limited, and buyers have been unabled to
supply their wants at slightly lower prices. The
sowing demand for agricultural seeds having now
terminated, the trade has entered upon its cus-
tomary state of summer quietude, which has not
been disturbed by any speculative inquiry, stocks
on spot of the leading varieties being very limited.
Rape and white mustard seeds have met with some
little attention, and rather higher rates have been
asked for hemp, but Canary has been quite ne-
glected, although offered at less money ; and in the
absence of sales other varieties call for no special
remark. Provincial trade has been largely affected
by the prevailing dulness, andjlower prices have had
to be submitted to at most of the country mar-
kets, both for wheat and spring corn. Supplies

501
from the growers have been small, and although
wheat has given way Is. per qr. farmers have not
been eager sellers at the reduction. At Liverpool,
on Tuesday, there was a very small demand for
wheat, which was offered at Id. to 2d. per cental
less money, without much business resulting. Flour
was equally dull, and sacks were quoted Od. lower.
Maize was depressed, owing to the very heavy
American shipments, and with a limited inquiry
quotations receded 3d. per qr., dry new mixed
American being quote I 25s. 3d. to 25s. 6d. per 480
lb. Oats were dull, aud common 3orts declined
0d. per qr., but there was no change in beans. The
week's imports included 77,000 qrs. of wheat and
36,000 qrs. of maize. At Newcastle wheat has
attracted very little attention, although the sellers
have offered a concession of Is. per qr., but buyers
have held quite aloof. Flour has also been very
dull, and the turn in buyer's favour, while feeding
corn has moved off slowly at about last week's
prices. At Peterborough the supply of wheat
from the farmers has been small, and sales
have progressed very slowly at Is, per qr. less
money, while spring corn has been equally dull.
At Edinburgh, on Wednesday, the market was
scantily supplied, and wheat sold very slowly at a
decline of Is. per qr. Oats and beans were the
turn dearer, but there was no alteration in barlev.
At Leith the temperature has been very low for
the time of year, and the rainfall has been copious
accompanied at times with showers of hail. Ad-
vices are rather less favourable as to the condition
of the growing crops, and warm dry weather is
much to be desired. Wednesday's market was
poorly attended, and prices gave way Is. per qr. for
both native and foreign wheat, with very little
business passing at the decline. Fine oats were
fully as dear, but other sorts of feeding corn were
difficult to sell at last week's prices. At Glasgow
the arrivals of grain from abroad have been mode*
rate of all articles, and the trade has been much
depressed. Wheat and flour have declined Is. per
qr. and sack respectively, while barley, oats, and
maize have all ruled in buyers' favour. At Dublin
the weather has been cold and showery, and great
inactivity has prevailed in the grain trade. Tues-
day's market was very dull, and both wheat aud
maize were the turn cheaper to sell. At Cork there
has only been a retail consumptive demand for
wheat, and prices have receded Is. to Is. 6d. per
qr. Sound maize, of which stocks are small, has
maintained last week's currencies, but inferior de-
scriptions have given way considerably, and are
difficult to quit.

502

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

The following are the Reports from Mark Lane
during the past month : — ■

Monday, May 6.

The arrivals during the past week have been : Euglish.
Wheat, 2,656 qrs. j foreign, 40.164- qrs. Exports,
2,97(5 qrs. There was a limited supply of English Wheat
fresh up to market this morning, and the trade ruled very
dull at barely late rates ; of foreign the arrivals were
fair, and, with a moderate attendance of millers, sales,
progressed slowly at last week's prices for all except
American descriptions, which declined Is. per qr.

Euglish Barley, 722 qrs.; Scotch, 192 qrs. ; Irish, 10
qrs. ; foreign, 2,200 qrs. The finest parcels of both
malting and griuding were fully as dear, while inferior
descriptions were the turn cheaper to sell. Malt : English)
14,425 qrs.; Scotch, 277 qrs. Exports, 95-2 qrs. In
moderate request at previous prices.

Maize : Exports, 2,803 qrs.

Old Corn was fully as dear, but new was neglected, and
the turn cheaper.

Couutry Flour, 14,458 sacks ; foreign, 2,866 sacks
and 13,416 brls. There was very little business done,
aud quotatious underwent no change.

Euglish Oats, 182 qrs. ; Irish, 10 qrs. ; foreign, 38,543
qrs. Exports, 5,534 qrs. The choicest varieties revised
an advance of 3d. per qr., but other qualities sold slowly
At former currencies.

English Beans, 241 qrs.; foreign, 1,08-2 qrs. Not
much inquired for, but without quotable change in value.

Linseed, 1,656 qrs. Exports, 103 qrs. Firm, and
occasionally the turn dearer.

Monday, May 13.

The arrivals during the past week have been : Euglish
Wheat, 3,620 qrs.; foreign, 55,95.2 qrs. Exports,
1,345 qrs. There was only a moderate supply of English
Wheat fresh up to market this morning, and with fine
weather and a scanty attendance, the trade ruled slow at
a decline of Is. per qr. on the week. Of foreign the
arrivals were liberal, and a dull retail demand was
experienced at a similar reduction.

Country Flour, 14,574 sacks ; foreign, 11,3-72 sacks,
and 15,111 barrels. A. slow sale at a decline of 6d. per
barrel and Is. per sack since last Monday.

English Barley, 1,725 qrs. ; Scotch, 25 qrs. ; foreign,
17,970 qrs. In the absence of sales, bath malting and
grinding sorts coald only be quoted inactive at nominally
late rates.

Malt, Euglish, 5,229 qrs. ; Scotch, 401 q,rs. Exports,
583 qrs. In limited request at bare'y previous cur-
rencies.

Maize, 5,796 qrs. Old Corn was in retail demand at
last week's prices, while new recovered Wednesday's depres-
sion, quotations closing the same as on Monday last.

Euglish Oats 679 qrs. ; Scotch 149 qrs ; Irish 725
qrs ; foreign 39,572 qrs. Exports 8 qrs. With mode-
rate arrivals from abroad the trade ruled slow at an all
round decline of CJ. per qr.

English Beans 389 qrs. ; foreign 1,238 qrs. A slow
sale at about Conner prices.

Linseed 5,629 qrs. Exports 250 qrs. Very little
business doiug, and quotations unchanged.
Monday, May 20.

The arrivals during the past week have been English
Wheat, 2,592 qrs. ; Scotch, 42 qrs. ; foreign, 24,203
qrs. Exports, 1,906 qrs. There was only a small supply
of English Wheat fresh up to market this morning, and
the trade ruled dull at barely late rates. Of foreign the
arrivals were very moderate, aud with a fair atteudauce
of millers, an improved demand was experienced for all
varieties at about former currencies.

Couutry Flour, 12,785 sacks ; foreign, 2,758 sacks and
16,718 barrels. Business was very quiet, and last Mon-
day's prices were barely maintained.

Euglish Barley, 778 qrs. ; foreign, 16,451 qrs. Malt-
ing qualities sold slowly at unaltered prices, while grind-
ing sorts receded 6d per qr. on the week.

Malt: English, 15,324 qrs.; Scotch, 315 qrs. Ex-
ports, 185 qrs. The traih ruled quiet at unaltered
currencies.

Maize, 21,393 qrs. Old com was fully as dear, but
new was if auythiug a shade weaker.

English Oats, 22fi qrs.; foreign, 17,980 qrs. Ex.
ports, 565 qrs. In moderate request, at a deeline of 3d.
to 6d. per qr., the reduction principally affecting inferior
qualities.

English Beans, 487 qrs. ; foreign, 4,185- qrs. A dull
trade, at about late rates.

Liuseed, 6,372 qrs. Exports, 55 qrs. In limited de-
mand, at last week's prices.

Monday, May 27.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 2,916 qrs. ;. Scotch, 81 qrs. ; foreign 26,578 qrs.
Exports, 3,415 qrs.

There was again a small supply of English Wheat at
market, and sales progressed slowly at a reduction of Is.
per qr. ; of foreign the arrivals were light, and with a
good attendance of millers, the trade ruled quiet for all
except the finest descriptions, which were iu rather better
demand at a similar decline-
Country Flour, 13,696 sacks; foreign, 15,599 sacks,
and 5,913 brls. Sack Flour was about 6d. cheaperto
sell, but barrels were nominally unaltered, with very little
inquiry.

English Barley, 445 qrs. ; Scotch, 41 qrs.; foreign,
2,073 qrs. Malting descriptions ruled slow at about
late rates, while grinding sorts gave way 6d. per qr. on
the week.

Malt : English, 19,696 qra- ; Scotch, 236 qrs. Exports,
1.149 qrs. The trade was quiet, without quotable
alteration.

Maize, 21,167 qrs. Old corn was Is. per qr. lower,
and new also receded 6d. to Is. per qr. with few buyers.

English Oats, 450 qrs. ; foreign, 60,374 qrs. Exports,
1,679 qrs. Business was slow, and an all-round decline
of 6d. per qr. must be noted on the week.

English Beans, 1,043 qrs. ; foreign, 179 qrs. A dull
sale at about previous currencies.

Liuseed, 4,516 qrs. Without alteration in value or
demand-

Printed by Hazjsll, Waxsojn, &. ViNisY, 265, Straad, Loudoa

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

CONTENTS.

JUNE, 187 8.

Plate. — G RATE F U L.

Description of Plate. .

Irish and Foreign Cattle Importation

Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution .

Foreign Live Stock and Foreign Meat .

Agricultural Lab urers and Charity Lands .

Agricultural Societies

Alexandra Park Horse Show .

National Agricultural Labourers' Conference

Total Number of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs in

Chambers of Agriculture

Farmers' Sons ....

The Cultivation of Roots

Sheep Farming in Australia .

National Association of British and Irish Millers

Mr, Miller's Breeding Farm at Beecher, Illinois

The Land and the People

Free Tradb in Land. — No. Vi. .

Preservation of Animal Substances .

Social Emigration ....

French Dairy Products at the Paris Exhibition

English Cart-horse Stud Association.

Live Stock Notes ....

The Cold Storage Wharf

Manchester Horse Show . . .

The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill

Denmark and the Cattle Diseases Bill

The Veterinary Report for 1877

The Transfer of Land

County Government Bill, 1878

The Corbet Testimonial . ,

Hereford Herd Book Society . .

The London Corn Trade Association .

Conference of South Midland Guardians

Review of the Corn Trade

Great B

42

RITAIN

, 433, 461,

442,

471,

Page

417
. 4i7

419
. 420
420
496
42 8
431
432
462
443
444
446
449
451
453
458
460
460
468
469
498
474
474

476
477
479
481
482
495
495
495
499
500

TTJXFORD & CO.,

"Wine Importers,
48, FENCHURCH STREET, KG,

ESTABLISHED 1847.

PORT

24s.,

30s.,

36s,,

42s.

per dozen &

Up

SHERRY

18s.,

24s.,

30s.,

36s.

))

»

MADEIRA

30s.,

36s,,

42s.,

48s.

n

j>

(Am supplied to the wounded in the East.

)

MARSALA

20s.,

24s.,

28s.,

32s.

»

»

CHAMPAGNE ...

30s.,

36s..

42s.,

50s.

n

JJ

CLARET

12s.,

15s,,

18s.,

24s.

n

»)

BURGUNDY

24s.,

30s.,

36s.,

42s.

n

»

Ditto (Sparkling)

36s.,

42s.,

48s.,

54s.

»»

»»

MOSELLE

24s.,

30s.,

36s,,

42s.

>>

>»

Ditto (Sparkling)

32s.,

88s.,

44s.,

50s.

w

»»

HOCK

20s.,

24s.,

30s.,

36s,

»i

>»

HOCK (Sparkling)

32s,,

38s,,

44s.,

50s.

»

»»

SAUTERNE

18s.,

24s.,

30s.,

36s,

n

»»

BRANDY

38s.,

42s.,

48s.

»

»»

WHISKY

38s,,

42s.

n

it

RUM

40s.,

42s,

u

it

GIN

30s.,

32s.

»>

tt

PORT in Quarter Casks of 28 gallons, from £14 14s.
SHERRY in Quarter Casks of 27 gallons, from £10 10s.

Sole Agent for Rousseau & Cie Reims Champagne,
Rivaz & Cie Cognac Brandies.

TUXFORD & CO.,

Wine Importers,
48, FENCHURCH STREET, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 1847.

SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

ALL GOODS FORWARDED CARRIAGE PAID.

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k CO.,

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E,C«

ESTABLISHED 1846.
APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TRINITY HOUSE, &c, &c.

ADVERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS,
TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & 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 arid LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for efiectually
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab,
arid cleansing and purifying the "Skin, thereby greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
Oor.tributint; to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c, at his Manu-
factory as above, 'and sold as lollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if reqnired: —

% lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

6 lb. 30 ,, ,, „ 0 3 0

8 1b. 40 „ „ „ 0 4 0

10 1b. 60 ,, ,, „ 0 5 0

20 lb. 100 ,, „ (Capk and measure 0 10 0
30 lb. 150 ,, „ included) 0 15 0

40 1b. 200 ,, „ „ 10 0

601b. 250 „ ., „ 13 6

60 1b. 300 ,, „ „ 17 6

801b. 400 ,. „ ,, 1 17 6

100 1b. 600 ,, ,, , 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
From Mr. Hkbepath, 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
(frven, 1 leel satisfied, that while it efiectually destroys vermin,
tot injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the nnmerou
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hebapath, Sen., F.O.S., &c, &C,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

Leicester House, Great Dover-street Borouerh London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be foun<i
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and .ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in iamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon-'-suificient 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 replied to before this had I been at home, I
have mu,ch pleasure in bearing jtestimony 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, tha
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 in
three weeks the Sheep were qnite 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 TINGET, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. iiEXNEY.

K-is' Flockmasters would be 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 tenacioua
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless ,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING API ARATUS ....&}*, £5, gA, & $%,

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

IS THE

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Booksellers
and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d. per annum.

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE.

This Manure i after six years' trial, is unapproached in its results by
any other Manure. It is suitable for all soils, and permanently
improves the fertility of even the poorest. It provides all the
necessary foods for plants, creates a vigorous growth without over*
stimulating, and increases the produce. It is a powerful insecticide '.
It has been used with perfect success on

CEREALS, ROOTS, GRASS,
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HOPS.

TRIALS OP THE MANURE ARE SOLICITED IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER MANURES.
Wbitb for Particulars—

AMIES' CHEMICAL MANURE CO., LIMITED,

79, MARK LANE, LONDON, E.C.

Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting Chemists,

LABORATORY—
88, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.C*

A LIST OF FEES SENT ON APPLICATION