458 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



All crops Ijeinjj; now secured, the attention of the 

 farmer is directed to the manipulating and dis- 

 posal of these crops, and to the preparation required 

 for those of the ensuing year. Thrash regularly 

 once or twice a week, wliicli will afford fresh pro- 

 vender for the cattle, and for being cut into chaff; 

 sell and deliver all grains as thrashed ; laying a 

 store in the granary very seldom produces any gain. 

 Lay in the granary a quantity of oats for horse- 

 feed, not long thrashe-d, as the grain acquires a 

 musty smell; finish the sowing of wheat, if any 

 remains undone from last month ; continue drain- 

 ing on grass lands ; on fallow grounds the drains 

 may be cut to a half-depth or more. 



Attend to fattening cattle in the yards and to 

 sheep in the fields ; litter the yards frequently and 

 thinly. When arable lands are too wet, remove 

 the sheep to a dry field, and carry the turnips to 

 them. 



Feed pigs with steamed and raw food, as has 

 been directed. Be very kind to young horses ; 

 allow them a yard and shed— two or three toge- 

 ther — and tender food, mixed or steamed, as 

 potatoes, grains, and bran. The first winter's 

 treatment has great effect on the future growth of 

 all young animals ; carrots — raw or steamed — are 

 good food for horses. The calves of the year also 

 require a kind attention ; a dry and warm bed, 

 ample and regular foddering, and a fresh supply of 

 water. 



Lay dung and composts on grass lands, and 

 flood water-meadows. 



Begin to cut underwoods and forest trees, plant 

 all arborescent plants, make new hedges and repair 

 old ones, repair roads, scour ditches, and gather 

 dung of every kind. 



In fine weather, fallow the lands for next year's 

 green crops ; plough stubbles, and fallow with the 

 subsoil plough. Raise turnips for the store pit at 

 the homestead, lay the roots in a longitudinal heap, 

 thatch with straw, and tie down with ropes ; have 

 at least two weeks' supply in store ; give the tops 

 and small roots to the store flocks, as calves in the 

 yards, and ewes in the fields. 



Feed poultry with light grains, and with steamed 

 potatoes mixed with meals, and given in a trough 

 placed in a shelter shed ; warmth is essential to 

 these animals. 



THE POTATO DISEASE.— Mr. James Drummond, gar- 

 dener, Cameron Bauk, Edinburgh, having studied the nature 

 of this calamity for a number of years, and the various re- 

 medies suggested, propounds as the true theory of the cause 

 of disease the unnatural system of cutting the tuber, aul 

 planting these dismembered portions year after year, thus de- 



stroying the vitaUty of the plaiit, and rendering it liable to 

 contract diaease. In proof of the abuvc, lie instances the new 

 variety of potato called " lit gent," which was introduced after 

 the failure in 1849, and remained sound for several years, but 

 has now given way similar to the older varieties, lie pro- 

 pose?, as the only remedy, to renew the plant from the native 

 seed gathered from the wild potato, which grows abundantly 

 in the mountains of Chili and Peru, in South America, as he 

 is confident from inlormatiou obtained that the plant in 

 its natural »tate has never become infected with disease. 

 In two years after sowing the seed, it is believed a matured 

 crop of healthy potatoes would be produced ; and these should 

 be planted whole on land not highly manured, and widely set 

 i;i the fields. If it can be shown that the wild potato has re- 

 mained free from disease while the cultivated plant has suf- 

 fered, there is every hope that a renewal as proposed would be 

 attended with success. Mr. Drummond is very desirous that 

 the subject shou!d be fairly investigated, and his views criti- 

 cized as to the method he proposes. 



BALLINASLOE GREAT AUTUMN FAIR. 



The sheep fair commenced on Monday morning with a very 

 brisk demand for wethers, and rathsr slack for ewes. The 

 supply was rather short of last year's — some of the best judges 

 said from 10,000 to l.'3,000. There never was a greater num- 

 ber of buyers in the park, but it was not until the last hour 

 that anytliing like business was done. The sales then, how- 

 ever, proceeded rapidly. The prices of wethers were fully Ss. 

 to 6 J., and in many instances even more, in advance of last 

 year ; good ewes also were in briik demand at an advance of 

 about 2s. 6d. to 3s. over this time twelvemonth ; old, poor 

 ewes were not sought after, but maintained about last year's 

 prices. The great demand, however, was for wethers, which 

 were eagerly sought for. A considerable quantity of the 

 Roscommon sheep, especially ewes, were sold at the late new 

 fair of Strokestown, to some extent interfering with the sup- 

 ply in Balliuasloe. The fair commenced about six o'clock iu 

 the morning; but, in consequence of the very high prices asked, 

 little or no business was done till about, eight o'clock, when 

 the buyers gave way, and business proceeded with great ac- 

 tivity from that till the close of the fair. 



Total number of sheep sold on Monday .... 51,172 



1 ast year 70,341 



First day, 1855.... 60,929 



About 27,000 under the sales on the same day as last year. 

 Most of the wethers were sold at one o'clock, at which time 

 the park was very much thinned. 



The sheep fair terminated at an early hour on Tuesday, the 

 number offered for sale being quite insufficient for the demand. 

 As a consequence there was an advance of prices over Mon- 

 day, and many of those who disposed of their sheep on Mon- 

 day morning could have got considerably more for their flocks 

 the following day. The Counaught graziers were never so 

 much elated — they were quite flushed with success. High as 

 their anticipations were, they have fully realized them ; while 

 the Leiuster gentlemen had no alternative but to submit to 

 any terms which the flockmasters on the north side of the 

 Shannon chose to dictate. Wethers were 3s. per head in ad- 

 vance of Monday's prices, and ewes about 2s. dearer. There 

 were instances where the advance was more than double these 

 figures, but they may be taken aa a fair average. 



SHKEP SOLD AND UNSOLD. 



Sold. Unsold. Total. 



1856 .. 91,774 .. 5,570 .. 97,344 



1857 .. 66,849 .. 924 .. 67,773 



Decrease ou last year 



29,571 



The day preceding the horse fair a very large number of 

 horses were exhibited for sale in anticipation of the regular 

 fair. Mr. Faucett sold a hunter to an officer from Greenock 

 at 100 guineas. Mr. A. T. Walker, of Bellair, sold to Mr. 

 Dawson a bay horse at £183 15s. Mr. George Low, of Fair- 

 field, Creggs, sold a bay mare at £120. Mr. Allan Pollock 

 sold two cobs at £70. Mr. Shegog, of Monaghan, sold two 



