THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



491 



enterprisin;? farmers of Strathmorc. To the portable out-door 

 thrashing machine we have often referred in the columns of 

 this journal during the past half-dozen years ; but liave not of 

 late done so, owing to its practical introduction at the base of 

 the Grampians, and believing that it would moat effectually 

 speak for itself. We unhesitatingly add, that with an equally 

 impartial trial, the Bedford ploughs will be more than equally 

 relished. 



To return, however, to wheat sowing. The doctrine advo- 

 cated by " Sigma," alias Dr. Newington, already finds fol- 

 lowers in the midland counties, and several of " Sigma's 

 Dibbles" have found their way iuto south Warwickshire. 

 There is no mistake about the result, even if you go to the use 

 and wont plan of common hand dibbliug. A leaf of practice 

 is worth a volume of theory, in such a matter as this, and we 

 therefore extract one. Au excellent farmer, Mr. Berry, of 

 Ryton, has for several years practised dibbling cereals nearly 

 exclusively. This has been done by the usual plan, viz., a 

 man with two iron dibbles, and followed by four children 

 dropping the seed. And with what result ? A saving of seed 

 in the first iu stance, and a luxuriant, even, upright crop after- 

 wards. We have seen in his fields the stools or bunches of 

 young braird standing almost as evenly and regularly as the 

 rows of cabbages in a market garden. The results above 

 named are just what we want among the small enclosures and 

 teuacioua clays of Warwickshire ; and already others are 

 pretty freely adopting the practice. On the Hertfordshire 

 chalk range it has been iong and widely in repute. 



And now as to the seed itself. Scotch samples are this sea- 

 son in demand, as a change, and probably a beneficial one- 

 At all events, the quality is unexceptionable. We saw some 

 being thrashed a fortnight since, in Renfrewshire, at a consi- 

 derable altitude, certainly ahead of the major portion of wheat 

 as here grown. However, for our clay lands, a change every 

 alternate year of seed corn from the chalk is found to be a 

 very paying thing ; and any additional outlay that may be ex- 

 pended, either in point of quality, or by way of cnauge, is sure 

 to bring an ample margin of profit for the investment. Should 

 any of our northern friends care to try a change of seed wheat, 

 or other corn, from the chalk, their wants and orders will be 

 promptly and honestly attended to by Harvey and Raynbird, 

 of Basingstoke. Red wheats are here our principal favourites, 

 as the white is found more tender aud precarious in harvesting. 

 The " Golden Drop," a nice plump grain, or " Browick Red," 

 rather a stronger wheat, are both in vogue ; and many of the 

 older sorts seem, like some of the fine old-fashioned mealy 

 potatoes, of boyish recollections, to be wearing out altogether. 

 Notwithstanding the large number of wheats named and 

 classified by the indefatigable Lawson — who deserves to be 

 honoured by the agricultural brotherhood of both liemispheres, 

 whatever may be the treatment he receives at the hands of 

 any of the societies— it is surprising how few of them at any 

 one period are fashionable throughout an extensive district.-— 

 Kenilworih, Ocl. 14, 1858,— T. BowiCK, ia Brvchin Ad- 

 vertiser, 



GREAVES AS A MANURE FOR TURNIPS. 



Sir,' — Last spring I addressed a letter to our local journals 

 on this subject. I had just purchased a quantity of good 

 greaves, of a moat respectable dealer, and being iguoraut of 

 their value as a manure, I sent a sample of them to Professor 

 Voelcker to analyze. The learned chemist stated it to be bis 

 opinion that greaves were not in themselves a bad manure, but 

 that they could not be equally distributed over the soil, and 

 that the fat which they contained would " prevent air and 

 moisture from penetrating the substance, aud retard decompo- 

 sition and its assimilation by plants." Considering the cir- 

 cumstances, the Professor said he should not be inclined to 

 give more than £4 per ton for greaves, as long as he could 

 purchase the best Peruvian guano at £14 per ton. I bought 

 my greaves at £5 10s., and thought they must be cAeap. 



This was the tale that science told; now for the practical re- 

 sult. I had the greatest difficulty to cut the greaves into small 

 pieces, and it was a tedious process. I then had them well 

 boiled aud mixed with ashes and chaff. By this means I hoped 

 to be rid of chief part of the fat, and ensure a pretty even dis- 

 tribution over the soil. All this — the chopping up, the boil- 

 ing, the mixing, the sowing, &(;. — cost fully a pound more, to 

 say nothi?ig of the nuisance and trouble, and the frightful 

 stench. The greaves were sown broadcast, at tlie rate of 3 

 cwt. per acre, aud ploughed in ; and I would observe that, if 

 not well covered up, the rooks, &c., fly off with a great por- 

 tion. White turnip-seed was drilled, and with it was depo- 

 sited 2 cwt. of super-phosphate per acre. Both together pro- 

 duced a very good crop of turnips for the season ; but tbe 

 greaves without the super-phosphate were almost a total failure. 



The roots are not much bigger than marbles, except where one 

 seems to have fastened on a large knob of scrap cake. The 

 super-phosphate alone grew a good crop. For many weeks I 

 could not see any difference between those and the others 

 growu with greaves in addition ; but about six weeks since I 

 thought the tops were greener, and I now fancy those with the 

 mixture of the two manures are the heavier crop. But it re- 

 quires some close attention to discover tbe difference, and lam 

 sure no valuer would put them at 10s., perhaps not Ss., an 

 acre above the others. It is my opinion that the following is 

 the cost and fair value per acre of each experiment :— 



Cost for Value 



manure. per acre. 



8. d. 8. d. £ s. d. 



3 cwt. greaves 18 6 "I „, ™ -inn 



2 cwt. super-phosphate 14 0/'*''° ^ u u 



2 cwt. super-phosphate 14 2 10 



3 cwt. or greaves ' 18 6 10 



This is a very high price for the last lot, but as they are small 

 and now growing well, they may be useiul for ewes in the 

 spring. These turnips have cost 3s. an acre for an extra hoe- 

 ing, aud are cow not so clean as the others. 



Scieace and practice appear to agree well in this instance ; 

 and if I had paid Professor Voelcker 10s. for analyzing a sam- 

 ple of the greaves before I bought the bulk, I should have 

 saved as many pounds. I only hope the result of my expe- 

 rience may be useful to jay brother-farmers. — I am, sir, your 

 obedient servant. East Norfolk. 



26th October, 1858. 



