324 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



For a permanent cover, erect above the two lines of rails a 

 gable roof covered with tiles, and supported o;i larch or oak 

 poles, or what might be preferable, cast-iron pillars. At the 

 further ends of the rails leave as much uncovered as M'ould 

 suffice to build the stacks, which when finished could be run 

 under cover. 



There should also be a break in the roof at the " sidings," 

 both for the purpose of building and also to admit of "shunt- 

 ing." Here then we have a plan capable of overcoming the 

 difficulties and anxieties we noticed above, capable of supplying 

 immediate security, and affording the means of work in weather 

 when out-door work cannot be done. 



The only question is the expense of such constniction ; and 

 without going into detail, I estimate the cost of rails and 

 shedding to cover 100 acres of corn at a sura not exceeding 

 350/. The annual expense as before calculated amounts to 

 291. The interest of 350/. at 51. per cent, would be 111. IDs., 

 leaving an ample margin of saving, besides the convenience, 

 well worth twice the amount. 



If you can find space for my hasty sketch, it may provoke 

 discussion aud bring out others with something better and 

 cheaper, and thereby all your readers may gain. 

 I am, yours, &c., 



Forest Farm, Wetherby. Wm, J. MoscrOP. 



The national imtortance of encouraging the breed 



of riding horses. 



For some years now we have been whipping up what 

 was wont to be a very neglected feature in the pro- 

 ceedings of our agricultural associations. There might 

 be better and better shows of cattle, sheep, and pigs. 

 The exhibition ol implements may have expanded into 

 a size and importance scarcely ever contemplated. 

 We may have even condescended to encourage such 

 small game as ducks and chickens ; but we were very 

 much inclined to pass over, as beyond our at- 

 tention, an animal which all the rest of the world is 

 ever ready to give us especial credit for. Four or five 

 seasons since, the Royal Agricultural Society of England 

 had entirely ignored the existence of such a thing as a 

 well-bred horse, and it was only by some very cautious 

 advances that the council could be brought to at all 

 admit the fact. They were good enough in the first 

 instance to allow local committees to ofi'er extra pre- 

 miums for his appearance amongst them. By degrees 

 they went almost so far as to suggest that if a district 

 had any money to spend, it might as well be applied 

 to such an object. Eventually, they have once 

 more taken him directly under their countenance, 

 and the prize sheet now officially declares that 

 a farmer may breed a hunter, a hack, or 

 a harness horse. Other meetings have followed this 

 example, while it was the success of the Yorkshire and 

 one or two more that must have gone far to set it in 

 those high i)Iaces we by this take our line from. At 

 any rate, there is scarcely an association of any influ- 

 ence but offers some direct encouragement for the 

 breeding of a good sort of horse. The Irish, even in a 

 year or two, has comparatively worked wonders in this 

 way, and tlie only grand exception wo remember at the 

 moment is the Highland Society. Some one, however, 

 Is sure to push in here a thorough-bred or two as extra 

 stock, a hint that should not be given in vain. There 

 is no possible reason why our Scotch friends should 

 not relieve their lines of Clydesdales with somelhing 

 Lord Eglinton might have bred, or Lord Elcho make 

 an offer for. 



Let us look into the matter a little closer, and at the 

 same time let us remember, as wo have already said, 

 how willing the rest of the world is to allow us a supe- 



riority in this lespect. Above all, let us duly estimate 

 the effect of crying up, rather than depreciating by 

 neglect, our own wares. The Royal Agricultural So- 

 ciety pronounced there were certain breeds of animals 

 to be made much of, and they gave prizes accordingly for 

 Shorthorn cattle and Southdown sheep. The impres- 

 sion created by such a course has never been removed, 

 while it is nearly altogether without limit in its in- 

 fluence. Man and beast, who would never have been 

 heard of under other circumstances, have a world- 

 wide repute as the winners of premiums at these meet- 

 ings. There is, in fact, no other such advertisement for 

 a breeder or an animal. " Master Butterfly" would 

 never have reached twelve hundred guineas, had he 

 never taken a first prize at a national show ; while Mr. 

 Webb's rams would scarcely have gone off at over a 

 hundred guineas a hiring, had he always pursued his 

 present doubtful policy, and declined to exhibit them. 

 The Continent, America, and the Colonies will always 

 be amongst our best customers, and they will always be 

 guided, more or less, in what they should have, and 

 where to go for it, by our list of the awards. And we 

 really do not see that they could have any better 

 reference. 



But why should we not do for the horse that we do 

 for our cattle ? How could a body of Englishmen — 

 of country gentlemen more especially — ever dare to 

 pass him over, and complacently declare they have 

 nothing to do with him ? It was the horse thut first 

 opened the foreign market to us; and it is for him still 

 they come. They want thorough -bred horses for 

 Counts to ride; they must have Cleveland bays for 

 grand Duchesses to drive. Napoleon will go mount the 

 pick of his Cavalry ; while one of the first luxuries of 

 our thriving cousin in Melbourne or Adelaide is a 

 smart nag to follow the Kangaroo-hounds with, or to 

 out-trot some Yankee clipper on. It would take a 

 long time to convince us that any Englishman with the 

 opportunity should not rear a good colt too, or that our 

 national societies should not ofler him the inducement 

 to do so. 



Even strictly consideicd as a nationnl institution, it 

 should be a duty to look to this. Wo are now actually 



