THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



537 



its force. Since last harvest, for instance, which was to 

 have been productive of great results, there has been 

 less wheat and flour sliipped from the States than for 

 three years past. This may have been partly owing to 

 the panic, which certainly prevented exportation 

 before the frost set in. Still that ought to have caused 

 a larger export trade this spring; and yet wo hear 

 that we are not to expect any considerable shipments 

 of flour during the summer. The fact is, our prices 

 are either too low, or the flour is wanted at home, the 

 latter being the most probable solution of the ques- 

 tion — or the want of money would compel the shipment, 

 now that the panic has subsided, at whatever price, 

 were it not that a safer market (and a better) is found 

 at home. 



There is one department of the exhibition at the 

 Massachusetts cattle shoics that has rather startled, 

 as well as amused us. We give the account in Mr. Park- 

 hurst's (secretary to the Plymouth A. S.) own words : 



" The most atti-active scene of the whole show was 

 to take place at ten o'clock — the exhibition of 

 female equestrianisin, which did not take place till 

 eleven o'clock. Twenty-six ladies entered their 

 names for premiums : but thirteen appeared on the 



ground. The civalcade left the village about eleven 

 o'clock, and went around the track once, each lady 

 accompanied by a gentleman, and presented them- 

 selves before the judges' stand. By order of the judges 

 they performed a variety of evolutions, riding in pairs, 

 in quartets, all together, and each lady alone, riding 

 slow or fast, as best suited her taste or convenience. 

 After performing an hour or more, they left the ground. 

 These equestrians performed their parts — so far as we 

 are capable of judging — well. Many of them laboured 

 under disadv.intages : their horses were not thoroughly 

 trained to the saddle. There v/ere a fewgood horses, 

 but generally they were not tit for the occasion. The 

 question comes up, whether this is the proper place for 

 ladies to exhibit for premiums? — whether the fairest 

 of Nature's workmanship should be shown for money, 

 in connection with the gi-ossest animals and the 

 products of 4he land? I think not." 



Is not the Secretary rather hard on his fair friends ? 

 At any rate hei'e is another hint for us at home. We 

 have long maintained the national advantage of giving 

 premiums for well-bred horses, but it remained for our 

 transatlantic friends to culminate the attractions of 

 such au exhibition. 



THE PRACTICAL VALUE AND APPLICATION OF TOWN SEWAGE. 



There are certain questions, more or less directly 

 affecting agriculture, with which the Legislature would 

 appear to be very loath to deal. There is the law o^ 

 landlord and tenant, for instance, in many ways sus- 

 ceptible of improvement and adjustment. And when 

 we press for as much, our rulers calmly hear us out, 

 and answer, " Had not you better settle this amongst 

 yourselves, and make it all a matter of private agree- 

 ment ? We would really rather not interfere." Then, 

 again, we wish for some uniform system of selling our 

 produce. It is quite a puzzle now to know what we 

 should reasonably ask and have. Here we are cour- 

 teously met with the rejoinder " that unanimity must 

 be the herald of uniformity. So long as you 

 differ so much omongst yourselves, once more, 

 we would really rather not interfere." And 

 for a third point there is the sewnge of towns, of such 

 immense value to the farmer, if lie can only be brought 

 to think so. What will he give for it, or how shall we 

 give it to him ? The Government is still by no means 

 over-anxious to interfere. Theirs is yet a Fabian 

 policy. It may or may not be of value, and the far- 

 mer cares or does not care about it. The best way will 

 be to appoint another Commission to inquire into the 

 matter. And another Commission is appointed ac- 

 cordingly; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer goes 

 back to his budget, and the Premier to his several 

 little troubles at homo and abroad ; while we return to 

 the argument of liberal covenants, sale by weiglit or 

 measure, national settlement, repeal of the malt tax, 

 and go on. 

 As regards this question of town sewage, it is pretty 



generally admitted that the festiua lente plan of ap- 

 proaching it is by far the most discreet. The las^t 

 Commission, indeed, which has now been at work 

 something over twelve months, is in anything but a 

 hurry. The report it has just issued is in reality little 

 more than " a feeler," offering or sanctioning sug- 

 gestions as to how the sewage may be got rid of, and 

 how occasionally employed. It is not our purpose 

 here to follow, or to attempt to follow out a plan, itself 

 by no means developed. The subject, however, has 

 gradually become one of some interest to the agricul- 

 turist. He has, at any rate, heard so much about it. 

 In fact, whenever it turns up in conversation he expects 

 almost as a matter of course to be complimented by 

 some w'orthy citizen on his indifference and stupidity. 

 He will be told how after-ages will scarcely credit his 

 suffering such valuable matter to be wasted. And when, 

 perhaps, with his patience exhausted, he demands how 

 he is to use it, or prevent its being wa?ted ? the worthy 

 citizen bates his breath, and but echoes the official 

 answer, " Let us have another Commission." 



It is only a few years since that the assumed value of 

 sewage for agricultural purposes very nearly led us 

 into mischief. The wild talk of a i'ew amateurs, and 

 the wonders of Tiptree hall, Mycr mill, andCumraing 

 park, were not without their effect. There were 

 schemes, in short, as plentiful as blackberries, whereby 

 the sewage of towns was to more than pay for its dis- 

 tribution. Its value to the farmer was infinite, until 

 one day, in Hanover-square, Professor Way told him 

 what it really was worth. And this once more put the 

 cunctando drag on the amiable enthusiasts. We had 



