16G 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



The more perfectly food can be prepared, the 

 more completely will the system appropriate its nu- 

 triment. If the whole labour of grinding up the 

 food is thrown upon the animal it is a serious tax 

 upon the vital energy, which every good farmer 

 wants for other purposes. In the case of the horse 

 and ox, you want the strength applied to locomo- 

 tion and draught. 



Whatever strength is applied to grinding food, 

 is so much taken away from their capacity for 

 labour. If three or four hours of strong muscular 

 labour are spent in working up hay and straw into 

 a pulp, there is a great loss of strength and of time. 



In the case of fattening animals, you want the 

 aliment to go to the formation of fat and flesh. 

 Tliis process goes on successfully, just as the ani- 

 mal is kept quiet and comfortable. No useless la- 

 bour should be expended in the grinding up of food. 

 The straw-cutter, working up the hay into fragments 

 of half-aninch in length or less, performs good 

 part of the working of the jaws, and makes the feed- 

 ing of the amimal still a light matter. If the hay 

 could be ground up into a fine meal, it would be 



still better ; as it would make the work of the ani- 

 mal still lighter, and would more completely yield 

 up its nutriment. If it could be steamed it would 

 be best of all, as it would then be wholly appro- 

 priated. 



We have no doubt that it pays quite as well to 

 pass hay through the machine, as the coarsest 

 fodder. A root-cutter is also an indispensable ad- 

 junct to the barn, and the more perfectly it com- 

 minutes the roots the better. 



The farmer who has ever experimented with these 

 machines, and marked the results of feeding with 

 hay and roots prepared in this way, can have no 

 doubt of their utility. Laziness, we apprehend, 

 has quite as much to do with these machines as 

 ignorance. Is is work to turn the crank to cut up 

 hay enough to feed twenty head of cattle ; and in 

 prospect of si)ending the elbow grease, it is very con- 

 venient to believe that it will not pay. Sloth, how- 

 ever, is a poor counsellor in this case, as in all 

 others. We should as soon think of feeding them 

 with uncut straw. A warm stable and a straw-cutter 

 are both good investments. — Coward's Register. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JULY. 



The all-engrossing topic of discussion in agricultural circles 

 during the month has been the present prospect and the 

 probable yield of the new crop of wheat. On this highly-im- 

 portant subject the most conflicting accounts have reached us^ 

 and, as yet, we have not had an oppcrtnnity of forming a 

 decided opinion, except on their general bearing, owing to the 

 limited quantities yet submitted to the process of thrashing- 

 From some counties our letters state that the crop is fully one- 

 third deficient, when compared with last year ; and some corre- 

 spondents declare tliat the growth is unusally small ; but 

 from the general tenour of our accounts, which are certainly 

 much less favourable than they were a month since, we are of 

 opinion that the yield will be nearly equal to 1856, though 

 short when compared with 1857. The quality of the grain is 

 likewise much complained of, and no doubt the utiusually 

 high temperature experienced during the laat portion of June 

 and the beginning of July, and the almost total absence of 

 moisture, produced what may be termed premature ripeness, 

 consequently a shrivelled graiu and light sample. In many 

 quarters, too, large breadths liavc been laid by the heavy 

 rains; consequently the sample must be more or leas deficient, 

 and the expense of cutting and carrying increased by some 

 ten to fifteeu per cent. In a comparative sen?e, therefore, 

 there is undoubtedly a deficiency both in the yield and quality ; 

 but its extent must in a great measure be determined by the 

 state of the weather between this and the close of harvest 

 work. In the most forward counties a good deal of wheat is 

 now cut ; but in the north very little progress has as yet been 

 made in cutting. Again, tlie future value of wheat has been 

 the subject of deep anxiety ; but this point will, of course, be 

 more clearly defined as harvest work progreseeB, and when itg 

 actual result is more clearly underitood. 



Although spring crops have rather improved in appearance, 

 we have no hesitation in saying that their yield, especially 

 that of beans and peas, will prove very deficient. The new 

 barley which baa made its appearance at Mark-lane has turned 

 out somewhat thin, but otherivise in nice condition. The 

 prices realized for it have varied from SGs. to 42s. per quarter. 

 New white peas have sold at 43s. to 458. per quarter ; but 

 their quality has been very middling. 



The crop of hay has been mostly carried, even in the north* 

 lu some quartern it has turned out tolerably well ; but we 

 estimate it at fully one-third short of laat season ; however, 

 there is every prospect of a heavy second crop, as there is now 

 much more grass in the fields than at this time last year. 

 From nearly all quarters unusually favourable accounts have 

 reached us respecting the crop of potatces. The haulm is 

 looking remaikably well, and during t^e past three weeks the 

 tubers -in which no traces of disease are yet to be met with — 

 have grown with great rapidity. Prices, with large supplies 

 on offer in the various markets, have fallen. 



The demand for wheat has continued in a most inactive state, 

 and prices have consequently had a drooping tendency. The 

 importations from abroad have been seasonably large; but our 

 farmers have supplied the variou.s markets with more than 

 usual caution. They are perfectly justified in the course they 

 have taken, because it is quite clear to us that even a good 

 new crop can scarcely reduce prices much below their present 

 level ; and it is quite evident that a deficiency in the yield 

 will have the elTect of producing greater firmness in the quota- 

 tions. We must bear in mind, however — aud this matter must 

 enter into calculations on the subject of future prices — that 

 we are now commencing the consumption of the new crop with 

 more old wheat in stack than has been known for many years 

 past. All must admit that last year's crop was a most abun- 



