THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



513 



dressed with superphosphate alone had less straw 

 than any of the lots which were dressed with 

 ammoniacal manure, but it was obviously more 

 growthy than the Jwheat alongside, which got no 

 top-dressing ; and it was firmer of the straw and 

 earlier than any of the lots. The experiments 

 were made on a thin heavy soil, which might have 

 been thought favourable for ammoniacal manures. 

 The turnip crop of the previous year was grown on 

 farm-yard manure and superphosphate of lime. 



These experiments show that an equal money 

 value of sulphate or muriate of ammonia and 

 superi)hosphate of lime, gave a better return last 

 year than Peruvian guano, as top-dressing for 

 wheat. They also indicate that muriate of ammo- 

 nia was the cheapest source of ammonia to the 

 farmer. But it is perfectly possible that similar 

 experiments may give different results this season, 

 as the summer may not be so favourable as the 

 last for superphosphate. Such experiments should 

 be more frequently made. When observation 

 during the period of growth is afterwards either 

 corrected or strengthened by weighing and mea- 

 suring in the barn, the experiments of course are 

 more satisfactory ; but a very considerable amount 

 of labour is required to do this as it ought to be 

 done. An opportunity, however, of observing the 

 crop during the season of growth may sometimes 

 convey useful lessons to the farmer; and a little 

 attention may enable anyone to make a few simple 

 experiments for this purpose. — Ayr Advertiser. 



THE NEGLECT OF AGRICULTURE THE 

 FORERUNNER OF NATIONAL DECAY. 



Sir, — We read of the ueglect of agriculture being the 

 downfall of the Ronian Empire. When Julius Ctcsar con- 

 quered all the then-known world, he made every country, as 

 he conquered it, pay a tribute ia corn instead of gold and 

 silver; which soon ruined the Roman farmers, by having their 

 markets glutted with corn the produce of other countries 

 instead of their own. 



It is plain, corn grown in England is doubly advantageous, 

 because it is produced by English labour instead of foreign 

 labour. The Mark-lane Exptess is doing wonders by opening 

 the eyes of the foreign farirers, by showing them weekly the 

 wonderful improvements in our agricultural implements. Of 

 course common sense says that a vast deal of our agricultural 

 machinery will find its way into all parts of the globe to cul- 

 tivate their laud with, which will cause our English markets 

 to be glutted with foreign corn produced by foreign labour. 

 It is expedient to give the British farmer a tenant-right 

 {alias equity or justice between landlord and tenant), or the 

 foreigners with our English-made implements in husbandry 

 npon their maiden lauds— the foreigners, who pay light rents 

 and taxes, in a few years will bring the English farmers to the 

 same position as that in which the Roman farmers were. No 

 country can be great that is poor in agriculture. Upon 

 estimating the value of the stock and crops in EngUnd, it 

 will be found that ours is tiic richest country, per acre, ou 

 the face of the earth. 



Samuel Afnsby, 



Mill Field, PeterhorouQh, April 8. 



STOCKB RIDGE ANNUAL SHEEP AND 

 CATTLE SHOW. 



The premiums given this year were nearly double as com- 

 pared with former years, and, as a natural consequence, the 

 competition was more keen. The stock exhibited, particularly 

 of sheep, was of that usual good quality which distinguishes 

 the flocks and homesteads of Hampshire and Wiltshire. The 

 principal exhibitors were the Right Hon. the Earl of Ports- 

 mouth ; Mr. Moore, Littlecott ; Mr. Bennett, Chilmark ; Mr. 

 Eduey, Whitchurch ; Mr. Oldiiig, Amesbury, and others. Mr. 

 Pain, of Houghton, exhibited a pen of teg rams as extra stock, 

 which was highly commended by the judges; a pen of ram 

 lambs, eleven weeks old, shown by Mr. Moore, of Littlecott, 

 were also much admired. 



For the best Hampshire Down Kam, a silver cup, value 31. Ss. 

 — Mr. Bennett, Chilmark. 



For the best Harapsliire Do.vn four-tooth Earn, a silver cup> 

 value 31. 3s. — The Karl of Portsmouth. 



For the best Hampshire Down Teg Ram, a silver cup, valae 

 5Z. 53 — Mr. French, Longstoi'k. 



For the second best ditto, a prize of H.— Ulr. Edney, Whit- 

 church. 



For the best Ram of any kind, breed, or a^e, the criterion of 

 merit to bi tlio possession of et-neral qualities necessary to form 

 the most useful and profitable sheep, a prize of ai.— Mr. John 

 Moore, Littlecott. 



For the best Hampshire Down four-tooth Ram, a prize of 2?.— 

 Mr. Olding, Amesbury. 



For the best Hampshire Down Te; Ram, a silver cup, value 

 bl. OS —Mr. F. ISaily, Candover. 



For the second best ditto, a prize of H. — Mr. Olding, Ames- 

 bury. 



For the best Hampshire Down Ewe Tess, breJ by the exhi- 

 bitor, in the proportion of 2 to every 100 Ewes kept and put to 

 tup in the preceding year, to be kept with the flock up to the day 

 of exhibition, a silver cup, value SI. 3s. — Mr. Bennett, Chilmark. 



For the best Hampshire Down Ewes in milk, in the proportion 

 of 2 to every lOO Kwes kept and put to tup in the preceding 

 year, to be kept with the flock up to tlie day of exhibition, a 

 silver cup, value 31. Ss.— Mr. Lywood, Houghton. 



For the best Hampshire Down Ram Lambs, in the proportion 

 of 1 Lamb to every 100 Ewes kept and put to tup in tlie preced- 

 ing year, bied by the exhibitor, a silver cup, value 3^ 8s.— The 

 Earl of Portsmouth. 



Mr. Ediiey's Ram Lambs in this class highly commended. 



For the best Ram of any age, the exhibitor not saving more 

 than 10 ram lambs, a silver cup (given by Thos. Baring, Esq.), 

 value 3?. 33.— Mr. Chamberlayne, Up-Somborne. 



For the second best ditto, a prize (given by T. Baring, Esq.) 

 of ai.— Mr. Ay'.es, Micliaelmarsh. 



For the ten best Hampshire Down Ewe Te?s, bred by the exhi- 

 bitor, to have been kept with the flock up to the day of exhibi- 

 tion, the exhit)itor not saving more than ten ram lambs, a silver 

 cup (given by Mr. John Day), value 51. 5s.— Mr. Elderfield, 

 Houghton. 



For the fen best Hampshire Down Ewes, in milk, to bi kept 

 with the flock up to the day of exhibition, the exhibitor not 

 saving more than ten ram lambs, a prize of 2i. as.— Mr.Frencli, 

 Longstock. 



For the best Cow, in milk, a cream jug (given by Mr. John 

 Day), value 31. 3s.— Mr. Foster, Kingsomborne. 



For tNe second best ditto, a prize (given by Mr. Day) of 9?.— 

 Mr. W. Pothecary, Wallop. 



For the best Heifer, in milk, not exceeding three years old, 

 a prize of ??.— Mr. Mower, Longstock. 



For the best Bull, a prize of 2/.— Mr. C. Fielder, Spar»lioU. 



For the best fat Calf, under 12 weeks old, bred by the exhibi- 

 tor, a prize of H.— Mr. C. Fielder, Sparsholt. 



For the best Boar, a prize of 2/.— The Earl of Portsmouth. 



For tlie second best ditto, a prize of U.— The Earl of Porlsmouth. 



For the best Breeding Sow, a prize of 2^.— The Earl of Ports- 

 mouth. 



For the second best di to, a prize of U.— The Earl of Ports- 

 mouth. 



For tlie best Cart Stillion, prize of SI.— Mr. Ayles, Mlchacl- 

 raai°.sh. 



For the best Cart Mate, in work, prize of 8.'.— The Earl of Ux- 

 bridgo. 



For the second best ditto, a prize of W.— Mr. French, Long- 



For the best Cart Colt or Pilly, foaled since the year 1854, bred 

 by esliibitor, a prize (given by Thos. Baring, Esq.) of 81. 28,--- 

 Mr. T.Attwood, Slockbridgc. 



