THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



m 



They were bound to give effect to the enactments of the legis- 

 lature, and to see what it intended. Looking to the 3rd of 

 George IV., he should have been inclined to tiiiuk that a thrash- 

 ing machine was an " implement of husbandry," and it it had 

 not been for the introduction of the preceding words, "ploughs, 

 harrows," &c., which applied immediately to the tilling of the 

 soil, no doubt it would have been so considered. But the 14 

 and 15 Victoria, c. 38, provided that implements of husbandry 

 should be deemed to include "thrashing machines;" and the 

 question wai, whether a steam engine which was to be used 

 for working a thrashing machine, and for no other purpose, 

 was entitled to exemption from toll. Here the thrashing 

 raacnine and steam engine belonged to the same owner, were 

 going to the same hirer, ani were travelling together. If they 

 had been united, and put into one cart, they would clearly 

 have formed an implement of husbandry ; and if the cart carry- 

 ing the whole was exempted, he thought that a horse drawing 

 a part must be exempted also. But he did limit his opinion 

 to the coincidence of circumstances in this caae. He thought 

 that if the steam engine had been going by itself for the pur- 

 pose of working a thrashing machine belonging to a farmer, 

 it would still have been an implement of husbandry, and enti- 

 tled to exemption. It came clearly within Dr. Johnson's defi- 

 nition. It was immaterial to say that the steam engine might 

 be employed for some other purposes, because if those purposes 

 were unconnected with husbandry it would be liable to toll. 

 Looking to the fair construction of the Act of Parliament, and 

 what the legislature intended, he thought the exemption in 

 this case ought to be allowed. 



The other judges concurring, the conviction was affirmed. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



This month is generally very favourable for the 

 operation of ploughing, which must be pushed 

 vigorously in leys and stubbles, and in subsoiling. 

 If the weather be unfavourable, and frosts and 

 snows prevail, continue the work of carting, as 

 directed last month. Feed all live stock regularly 

 and amply, and thrash frequently, in order to afford 

 fresh straw. 



In mild weather, pull and store turnips, which 

 are now used in the succession of green rounds and 

 swedes. Give oilcake to the cattle along with the 

 turnips, and salt to the sheep. 



Ewes will now require good shelter and juicy 

 food, as the lambing season will commence. Much 

 attention must be paid to young animals at this 

 season : feed the dam, and she will suckle her young. 



Lay dung on grass lands ; when dry, bush har- 

 row and roll, and pick off by hand all stones and 

 rubbish. Spread mole-hills and tufts of dung, and 

 put gates and fences in order. Float meadows. 



During the whole month, fell timber and cut 

 underwoods ; splash hedges, and plant new ones. 

 Plant all kinds of forest trees, and cut over those 

 planted last year, as the new saplings that spring 

 from the stems are very vigorous in growth, and 

 often replace a stunted vegetation. Cut open 

 ditches in plantations, and fence well against sum- 

 mer grazing. Fill vacancies in each year's planting 

 of trees. 



Open the hills on hop-grounds, and apply strong 

 manures, as rotten dung, brines, and oleaginous 

 substances ; dress the roots, and plant in beds the 

 shoots that are cut off, to come on for sets. Collect 

 and prepare all kinds of artificial manures. 



In fine seasons, the sowing of grains will com- 

 mence in the early districts. Sow beans and peas, 

 oats and barley, and spring wheat; sow sjiring 

 vetches for horses and sheep feed. Sow, on warm 



and well-prepared beds of ground, cabbage seed, 

 for plants to be set in the field in May and June 

 for a crop. 



VV'HEAT PRICES FOR THE LAST POUR YEARS.— 

 A correspondent writes as follows : — "As the wheat trade has 

 undergone considerable fluctuations during the last four years, 

 it is mtereating to note the monthly changes in the official 

 average of prices. The following table exhibits these variations 

 at a glance : 



Month. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. 



s. d. s. d, s. d. s. d. 



January .... 80 1....72 5.... 76 6.... 58 7 



February ..80 10.... 70 4..,. 72 6.... 56 



March ....78 9.. ..67 8. . , . 68 11.. . . 55 6 



April 77 2.. ..68 5.. ..68 8.. ..53 8 



May 78 10., ..73 11.. .,68 0....56 7 



June 78 8.. .. 76 11. . . . 69 6.. .,60 1 



July 74 0...,76 5,,,. 76 1....63 5 



August ....63 7.. ..76 3. . .. 72 10.. .. 59 7 

 September.. 56 7.... 75 9. . .. 67 lO. . .. 57 1 

 October ....57 11.... 77 0....65 5.... 55 6 

 November ..71 10.... 80 10.... 64 1....51 3 

 December ,,73 1....80 1....60 3.,,. 48 7 



Average . 



,72 7.. ..74 



..69 3.... 56 4 



STORING OF TURNIPS.— A correspondent of the Irisli 

 Farmers' Gazette writes as follows : " Having had occasion 

 to raise a quantity of swedes early in November, for the pur- 

 pose of sowing wheat, I formed a small pit, tapering to the 

 top, and thatched it securely with a quantity of barley straw, 

 enough to exclude all effects of rain, wind, or frost. The re- 

 mainder, about 50 tons, I formed in one large pit, about sis 

 feet wide at base, four feet high, and three feet wide at top : 

 this remained exposed for a few days, when it received a light 

 coat of turnip leaves, which soon became decomposed, leaving 

 the roots in many places quite exposed. Now for the result. 

 In the pit, which was securely thatched, at least one-half of 

 the roots have decayed, and in that which was exposed to wind 

 and rain they are quite sound. In the latter case I acted 

 under the directions of a large farmer in this neighbourhood, 

 who raises all his turnips in November, and never covers them 

 save with a few of their o,vn leaves, putting them invariably 

 in an exposed position. My reason for touching on this sub- 

 ject is, that in all agricultural works we are advised to choose a 

 dry and sheltered locality for turnips, taking care to have them 

 securely thatched." 



DEATH OF MR. STEPHEN MILLS.— It is with sincere 

 and heartfelt regret that we this day record the death of Mr. 

 Stephen Mills ; and in this regret our readers generally, we 

 believe, will participate. There is no name more familiar to 

 the county of Wilts than that of Stephen Mills ; and there is 

 no man who is more universally respected than he was. Mr. 

 Mills was one of the most extensive agriculturists in England : 

 the farms that he occupied comprised nearly 4,000 acres; and 

 during the recent visit of the Royal Agricultural Society at 

 Salisbury, a large party of gentlemen from different parts of 

 the kingdom took the opportunity of inspecting those farms, 

 and acknowledged the high gratification they had received. 

 The party was afterwards munificently entertained by Mr. 

 Mills ; and the thanks of the Royal Agricultural Society were 

 given him for his liberality. Although possessed of much 

 wealth, and of great intelligence, he had no aspirations beyond 

 his station. Affable, friendly, and kind to all round him, his 

 pride and pleasure were in his occupation, and he certainly 

 attained eminence as an English farmer. He possessed some 

 of the best qualities that can adorn the man ; and in the dis- 

 charge of the relative duties belonging to husband, father, 

 master, and neighbour, his conduct was most exemplary — his 

 numerous labourers sorrowing for his death as for the death of 

 an only friend. Above all, he led the life of a Christian — he 

 died the death of a Christian— and there is well-grounded 

 hope that he has gone to receive the reward of a Christian. 

 This, then, will be the highest source of consolation to his be- 

 reaved and afflicted family. — Devizes Gazette. 



