80 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



In some places the turnips are sown in the first 

 part of this month, as the fly is not so prevalent 

 as in June, and a later sowing is not so apt to be 

 mildewed. Sow the turnips as directed last month. 

 Horse and hand-hoe potatoes and beet, repeating the 

 processes till all weeds are completely destroyed. 

 Morton's expanding scuffler takes a good hold of 

 firm-bottomed lands, and by expanding on the 

 principle of the parallel ruler, the face of the cut- 

 ting knives always point straightforwards. It is 

 drawn by one horse, and suits any soils, light or 

 firm. The young plants derive much benefit from 

 the frequent stirrings of the intervals of the drills, 

 and most during dry weather : it causes evapora- 

 tion of moisture, which is imbibed by the leaves. 



Proceed with the working of clay fallows by 

 ploughing, harrowing, and rolling ; pick oflF every 

 weed and stone, and get ready the dung and lime 

 that are to be applied. 



Proceed with draining, both on grass lands and 

 on fallows. Finish the latter as quickly as possi- 

 ble, in order not to impede the working of the land. 

 The state of grass is much more preferable : the 

 work is done with cleanness and neatness, 

 which amply compensate for the hardness of the 

 ground in digging. But the proper course of all 

 drains should be marked in winter, when every wet- 

 ness shows itself. 



Wean the latest lambs, and give them the best 

 encouragement of pasturage. Put mares to the 

 stallion regularly. 



Attend that the pasture fields have a supply of 

 water, and see that no gaps are continued in the 

 fences. 



Apply the contents of the dredging-box to the 

 sheep, to prevent the maggot fly depositing the 

 larva'. Dress clean the posterior parts of the 

 animals from the adhesion of excrements. 



The hay season will be ended this month ; make 

 dry and carry the grass quickly ; build into long 

 stacks, lay it lightly together, and allow it to settle 

 by its own weight. It is a mistake to tread it 

 firmly together. Pull nothing from the sides of 

 the ricks till well settled, then dress it into any 

 form, and thatch it without delay. To get up the 

 hay to a high rick when building, use a scaffold 

 raised on four upright posts, resting below on a 

 four-wheeled platform; and elevate and depress the 

 scaffold by ineans of pulleys to any height that 

 may be required ; lay some loose straw on the ex- 

 treme top of the rick till it be thatched. When 

 hay is damaged by rains, mix in the ricks a por- 

 tion of salt, as has been directed. When the 

 building of ricks is stopped for a day or two, spread 

 over the rick a water-proof tarpaulin cloth, which 

 will defend it from rain ; remove the tarpaulin early 

 in the morning, to permit the sweating of the grass 

 to escape. To defend from day showers of rain, 

 suspend over the rick a light cloth by means of a 

 rope passing the length of it, and attached at each 

 end with an upright pole. 



Harvest will commence this month in early 

 localities. Early peas, barley, and rye will be first 

 cut ; tie the barley and rye into sheaves, and set 

 them in shocks of twelve each ; lay the peas in 

 small heaps, to be frequently turned. Carry the 

 grains quickly when dry : have rick-stands ready, 

 and barns cleared out. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 JUNE. 

 During nearly the whole of the month we have had an 

 unusually high temperature, and very little moisture has 

 fallen in any part of England. Everywhere, the wheats 

 have progressed with wonderful rapiditj', and the fields now 

 present tlie appearance of a very large growth of corn ; in- 

 deed some estimates come fully up to last year's yield, both 

 as to quantity and quality. Had there been the usual fall 

 of rain, we should no doubt have had to writr equally fa- 

 vourable as respects spring corn ; but the \vant of moisture 

 lias checked the growth of barley, oats, beans, and peas, and 

 we are apprehensive that their produce will be a very mode- 

 rate one. In many districts, especially upon the light lands, 

 the two latter articles are suffering severely from insects, so 

 much »o that all hopes of a crop hare been abandoned. We 



assume, therefore, that we shall have new wheat on oft'er in 

 Mark Lane by the last week in July, that the produce will 

 be an abundant one (since it must be admitted that the crop 

 generally never presented a finer or more promising appear- 

 ance), and that spring corn will to some extent prove less 

 in quantity than in 18.57. 



These remarks naturally lead to some reflections as re- 

 spects the future state of our markets. We shall, it is ge^ 

 nerally admitted, commence the consumption of the new 

 crop of wheat with the largest quantity of old corn on hand, 

 both in barn and in stack, almost ever remembered ; we 

 shall continue to import foreign produce extensively ; and 

 we are still labouring under the disadvantage, so to speak 

 of a great pressure of continental wheat upon our markets. 

 Admitting that consumption is stCtadily increasing, our far, 

 mers have to contend against forced sales of produce arising 



