178 



^HE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



difficult to cast one's eyea over the scale of " annals of ave- 

 rages" and escape the impresssiou it conveys of a perfect 

 natural cycle. Such a circumstance would be less surprising 

 to any one who had studied the constancy of nature's opera- 

 tions, even in e'emeuts the most seemingly inconstant, were 

 it not for the many and persevering attempts that we have 

 seen (and happily outlived) to regulate by legislative man- 

 dates a tide whoso ebb and flow has observed the same in- 

 evitable librat'on, unaltered and unaffected through all the 

 multiform attempts to " regulate the price of corn," from 

 the date of Lord Glenelg's Act, in 18-2!!, through Peel's 

 Acts, and still throughout the decennial period that has 

 succeeded the abandonment of all Acts but the wise one of 

 leaving it alone. 



No expansion into verbal statement will do justice to the 

 expressive tale which the diagram of annual prices alTords to 

 the eye. Briefly told, however, and omitting fractional 

 figures, it is as follows : From 1827 to 18-51, the first quad- 

 rennial period, the prices of wheat rose from 58s. in the 

 first-named year to 6(Js. in the last. Thence to Itl.joit fell 

 by regular annual step?, 58a., 523., and 403, to .?93. In t!ie [ 

 next four years it rose again with equal regularity, tlirongh j 

 483., 553., and 61s., to 703. in 1839. Then down by the gra- j 

 dations of 663., 648., and 578., to 50a. in 1843. Up again, j 

 through 5O3., 51s., and 543., to 693. in 1847. Down again, ' 



in turn, by the regular stages of 50s., 44s., 408., to the figure 

 fearful to agricultural eyes of 88i. in 1851. The next four 

 years it mounted again by the encouraging decrees of 41s , 

 53s., 723., to the Crimean altitude of 748. in 1855 ; whence it 

 has declined in obedience to the same singular law of succes- 

 sion to 69s. and 563. in 1856 and 1857, and to the still lower 

 figure it holds in the year just expired, the third, and happily 

 the penultimate, of our present descending series. 



From this statement (unavoidably tiresome and ineffective 

 in the mere reading) any one caring to take the trouble can 

 readily draw the diagram for himself, and observe the instruc- 

 tive, or at any rate suggestive, picture it furnishes. Whether 

 in our suicidally non-atatisticalor auti-statistical farming world 

 the reflections it affords will be much valued, especially at this 

 luckless moment of prospective declension augured by it for 

 the coming year, I may well feel some question ; but I am 

 induced to think that in the eyes of the commercial world it 

 may find some appreciation (quanlam valeat) as a possible ap- 

 proach to the disclosure of "law" in a class of prices which, 

 under the annual title of " The Harvest," affect and underlie 

 so many interests, aud interpenetrate so importantly thecom- 

 motr-vfalth of ali. And with such view I venture, by your 

 permission, to submit it to the notice of your readers in this 

 and other countries. Your obedient servant, 



Jan. 5. C. When Hoskvns. 



CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. 



The ploughing of leys and stubbles will be done 

 during the whole of this month from being impeded 

 by frosts and snows of the previous mouths. Con- 

 tinue the carting of dung to the fields, earths for 

 composts, aud stones for drains. Thrash regularly 

 for fresh straw for the cattle ; and push forward 

 such operations, that they may not impede the sow- 

 ing season that is now approaching. 



Begin to give oilcake to fattening animals, broken 

 or bruised iu troughs placed in the yards, and in 

 the fields for sheep : it much hastens fattening, and 

 greatly improves the quality of the dung. Oats are 

 very beneficially used with it, and a portion of salt. 

 Ewes will now drop lambs very fast: attend to shel- 

 ter and the supply of food. In good weather pull 

 and dress, lay iu pits, and remove from all lands, 

 turnips of all kinds for the live stock, that the sow- 

 ings may be ready. Continue the feeding of fatten- 

 ing and store animals as directed last month. 



Plant, during fresh open weather, on suitable 

 grounds, all kinds of forest trees, especially oak, 

 ash, elm, and larch. The second year cut close by 

 the ground tiie ill- thriven growths of sprouting 

 trees, to secure a more vigorous growth ; and, in the 

 third or fourth year, cut off all other shoots, leaving 

 the most vigorous stem for a tree. Plant osiers in 

 beds or rows on low damp grounds that cannot ad- 

 vantageously be made arable from inundations and 

 similar causes. Lay the beds as diy as possible, 



and done a year before planting. Cut underwood, 

 and fell timber during the whole of this month ; aud 

 plant new hedges ; plash and repair old ones. 



Prepare artificial manures of aU kinds possible. 

 Flood meadows ; and, if the weather be fine, begin 

 to lay dung on grass lands (rough or strawy), and 

 then bush-harrow and roll, and pick off stones aud 

 rubbi.>>]i. Pcpair gates and fences ; and put grass- 

 lands into order by spreading tufts of dung, mole- 

 hills, aud by removing any obstructions. 



Dig hop grounds; open the hills, and apply strong 

 manures — rotten farmyard dung, coiuposts of lime 

 and salt; rags and briny oleaginous substances do 

 well. Dress the roots, and cut off the shoots for sets. 



Continue under -cbaining and subsoil ploughing; 

 and the thrashing of grains — sell and deliver. 



In early localities, and on dry warm lauds, the 

 sowing of crops will begin during this month. 

 Sow early peas on newly- stirred soils, broadcast or 

 by drilling. Sow beans by dibbling, or on ridges, 

 or by drilling ou the flat surface. Sow Spring 

 wheat and barley ou the last year's turnip lands 

 with one furrow of i)loughiug ; and Spring vetches 

 with a small portion of barley, or oats, or beans, for 

 horses and sheep feed. Sow cabbage seeds on warm 

 well-prepared grounds, for plants to go to the field 

 in May or June. 



Collect mauure; and prepare peats and similar 

 substances, for burning into ashes. 



