THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



441 



the first, the second, and the thh-d requisite of 

 authorship — a thoroughly practical and judiciously 

 enlightened knowledge of the business he engages 

 to illustrate, with a modest and candid statement 

 of views and recommendations. He has compiled 

 a work that is equally useful to the commissioner 

 of roads, the surveyor, contractor, toll- collector, 

 and the labourer; each party will find a valuable 

 something for their direction. This varied utihty 

 forms a high recommendation. And he has done 

 very great credit to the relationship with the author 

 of " Rents and Tillages," where sound practice 

 and enlightened views have carried the work into 

 seven editions with an unqualified approbation. 

 The present work is a most worthy companion. 



WAREHOUSING OF WHEAT. 



Sir, — I lately observed some remarks in jour excellent 

 paper on the warehousing of wheat, which recalled to my 

 recollection a plan I adopted, many years ago, with a cargo 

 of 500 qrs. of wheat, which succeeded admirably. I will 

 first state the reason for adopting the plan. I had seen 

 numerous instances where wheat was put into granary, say, 

 for one or two years, and, at the end of the time, 1 have 

 found the wheat with a chamber smell, and full of weevils, 

 and a loss of condition from three to five shillings per nr. 

 The following would be something like the charges and loss 

 on the old plan : 



£ s. d. 

 2 years rent on 500 qrs , at 4d. per last . . 85 18 



Turnitig and feeing for 2 years 10 



Loss in condition, 3s. per qr 75 



Loss in measure from weevils, &c., jjrice 



j£2 per qr.— one per cent 10 



£180 18 8 

 The loss of condition and the weevils is caused by exjio- 

 Bure to the damp atmosphere of our uncertain climate 

 which acts as follows: — The surface of the wheat imbibes 

 moisture; then conies the warehouseman and gives it a 

 turn, putting the damp below, and bringing up the dry 

 grains to undergo the same process ; and so a fine dry 

 parcel is used, until the whole is lowered in condi- 

 tion, and rendered a very fit receptacle for all the 

 moths that choose to fly in at the open windows, 

 to deposit their eggs, &c. I determined to exclude 

 damp and weevils at the same time by adopting the 

 following plan : 500 qrs. of wheat was put into my hands 

 to warehouse, probably for a long period, as the old corn 

 law was in force. The management was left entirely to 

 mj' discretion. 50 qrs. of the wheat was dried over a clear 

 slow fire, and, when cool, carefully mixed with the bulk ; 

 the 50 qrs. was not dried for being damp, for the whole 

 cargo was in excellent condition, and weighed 6?> lbs. per 

 bushel, but to enable the bulk to be laid above six feet 

 thick. The windows were boarded, and carefully matted 

 to exclude damp air and light. The wheat was then trim- 

 med above G feet thick ; the door of entrance, which opened 

 into another store, was also matted up, and thus it remained 

 for more than two years. I had it tried each year by a corn 

 tryer, through slides in the floor above. Wiien sold and 

 measured up, I never saw a parcel of warehoused wheat that 

 had kept so well, free from smell, and weevils ; and, in mea- 

 suring the bulk, all run freely to bushel. This cargo was ship- 

 ped from this port to Havre, in France, and Messrs. Lafeette 



and Co. were so gratified with the condition of the wheat, 

 they sent me n case of very superior claret as a present. 

 The following was the entire cost incurred upon the wheat : 



£ s. d. 



Drying 50 qrs 1 5 



Mixiufj and trinnning the whole 1 



The wheat laying thick, and not requiring 

 turning, occupied less than half the 

 usual floor, and a store was let by the 



year at £20. Two years 40 



jMatting windows and labour 10 



Screening over when measured up 1 



Loss in measure, 12 bush ?> 



£40" 15 

 It is of the utmost importance to the agricultural in- 

 terest that a safe system of storing corn should prevail • 

 Capitalists would not then object to invest monej- in wheat, 

 as they now do on account of the expence and loss in con- 

 dition. Had I wheat now to warehouse, I think I could 

 improve upon the plan. I shall be happy to reply lo any 

 inquiries that may be made upon this s'lbject. 

 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



B. y. S.wvniiN. 

 Budlbujion Qtimj, KiiKj-slreet. 



GREEN CROPS FOR MANURE. 



I am much ^ralifled to nolice the increased attention which 

 is being accorded by farmers generally to tUis subject. Every 

 one, in fact, who eximincs this subj.ct sttentively, roust be 

 speedily couviuced of its utility, especially when turned in as 

 sn eutichrcerit of exhausted soils. There is obviously no method 

 by which the agticidturiit can econondsc more, or more tapidlj 

 increase the fertility of the soil, tlian by turning in, as a dress- 

 ing, such crops as derive a portion of their aliment from the 

 air : no matter how impoverished or sterile the soil, he may, 

 by a jnditiou3 aad persistent pursuit of this means of amelio- 

 ration, easily make it rich. There are many plants wcl!-sdapted 

 to this purpOL<e, among which are millat, buckwheat, peas, and 

 clover, all of which are highly valuable, operating both mecha- 

 nically and chemically, by their decomposition upon the soil, 

 especially when containing much acid. 



But it may not be impruper here to remark that in making 

 choice of crops to be turned in, we should invariably give pre- 

 ference lo such as derive at least a portion of their pabulum 

 from the air. The vegetables enumerated above are all of this 

 class, aud consequently take much less from the staple of the 

 soil than those which are of course less adapted to this use. 

 Of these, buckwheat aud clover are perhaps the most valuable 

 — the haubn heiug more vi;;orous, and at the ssme time much 

 more succulent, and yitliliug much more readily to the laws of 

 chemical afiiaily when inhumed beneath the soil. There is 

 also another cause of preference, particularly in the case of 

 buckwheat, the crisp nature of its stalk contributing greatly to 

 the facility of turning it down, especially where the roller is 

 used to precede the plough. On very poor laud buckwheat 

 may be giown with better success, perhaps, than any other 

 grain crop, and will produce a more abundant yield both of 

 haulm and grain. When sown to be turned in, nnleas the 

 soil is calcareous to a degree rendering it unnecessary, the 

 application of quick lime befoie turning in the wheat will be 

 of <'reat benefit. From two to three casks will ordinarily suf- 

 fice for an acre ; but if the ameliorating process is designed to 

 prepare the laud for the production of crops belonging to the 

 order of lime plants, and which require a large amount of this 

 mineral for their Buccessfnl development, treble mid even qiiad_ 



