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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



not be obtiiued. I would, therefore, that Government 

 give perinissioa to the boards of guardians in every 

 union to appropriate out of tlie parochial funds such 

 required sums as may be actually needed for this pur- 

 pose, which I would designate as The Cottagers' Im- 

 provement Fund. I know I write very dogmatically 

 upon this subject. I would not do so but for the fact that 

 in my own immediate district this spirit of emulation 

 has been generally excited or infused ; and the improve- 

 ments effected by the farmers in the production of every 

 crop has been astonishing. And, what is equally grati- 

 fying, the labouring population have been made par- 

 takers of the same benefits ; their garden-crops and 

 allotment-fields evidencing great advancement in cul- 

 ture and order of cropping, and their little beds and 

 borders abound with a great variety of beautiful flowers 

 and flowering shrubs. I can give no better proof 

 of the elevated order of their minds than this dis- 

 play of excellent taste and discrimination, and in 

 such pleasing variety, as adjuncts and ornaments of a 

 quiet and cleanly home. 



Another most important mode of elevation of charac- 

 ter, I again say, is by improving the minds of the 

 people. This is chiefly to be done by the course I 

 have already pointed out, i. e., the establishment of 

 district libraries ; to which, I would add, where 

 practicable amongst the population to which I more 

 particularly address myself, the establishment of far- 

 mers' clubs, or societies for the diffusion of agricultural 

 knowledge. These clubs, or societies, must constitute 

 the organs of communication ; and in whatever practi- 

 cal way they can, they must diffuse information, i. e., 

 by lectures, by the sale or lending of agricultural 



books, paj)er3, periodicals, and agricultural newspapers ; 

 or, again, by annual or occasional meetings for the ex- 

 hibition of stock, roots, implements, &c. What a plea- 

 sant substitution for faction fights, maddening wakes, 

 and suchlike revelries ! 



Another excellent mode of elevation and improve- 

 ment would be the establishment of small model farms 

 in every district, oj-en to tiie public on suitable and con- 

 venient occasions ; these model (arms to be under the 

 superintendence of every local society, and to be man- 

 aged upon the best modern principles and practice of 

 agriculture, and with the utmost regard to economy and 

 simplicity. An expensive course of culture would 

 utterly defeat the object sought to be attained. There 

 must be nothing costly or speculative adopted, but plain 

 cultivation upon scientific principles, and the variety of 

 cropping and roots of the most approved kinds. The 

 stock and implements, too, must be of the best kind, 

 and their management shown. The fattening and 

 ordering of the farm-stock would be highly important, 

 as proving the amount o^ meat produced, or quality of 

 stock provided for, by the artificial grass crops or root 

 crops. The implements, too, must be of the simplest 

 kind, and in accordance with modern improvements, 

 but inexpensive, so that no prejudice may be excited by 

 their introduction. All the order of management must 

 be of the most business-like character, and adapted to 

 the soil and climate— to exhibit to the surrounding 

 occupiers what may be achieved by skill, industry, and 

 knowledge. 



In my next I will attempt to show various courses of 

 cropping and modes of husbandry, &c., &c. 



NEW FOOD AND NEW DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



The interminable discussions in the leading journals 

 on the question of economizing and improving our 

 dinner-festivities are at least likely to result in some 

 general benefit, by promoting inquiry as to new sources 

 of animal food ; and it has brought out Professor Owen 

 with his practical experience of the quality of eland 

 meat fitted for the table, on which he has just experi- 

 mented. 



The popular topic of the day is, evidently, how we 

 can add novelties to our food-supplies. On the Con- 

 tinent they are experimentalizing on some of the ordi- 

 nary domestic animals not usually converted into food. 

 Mr. Simmonds, in his recent interesting' work on "The 

 Curiosities of Animal Food," has suggested many 

 novelties which, being considered dainties and deli- 

 cacies in different countries, may be tested by those 

 who think proper to try them. 



The letter of Professor Owen on the quality of eland 

 meat opens up many suggestions for consideration not 

 only to those who have leisure and capital to carry out 

 experiments at home, but especially to our colonists in 

 the South and East. 



In the work just mentioned above, the following 

 notice is taken of the eland of Africa : '* The eland is 



the largest of the antelope tribe. The bulls attain to 

 the height of nineteen hands at the shoulder, and fre- 

 quently exceed 1,000 lbs. in weight. It fattens readily 

 on the most meagre herbage of the desert, and to the 

 delicious, tender, juicy, and wholesome nature of its 

 flesh every hunter will bear witness who has regaled 

 himself on the steaks broiled in the homely style of 

 South African cookery, with none of the usual condi- 

 ments or spices to give them an unnatural relish. The 

 flesh has a peculiar sweetness, and is tender and fit for 

 use the moment the animal is killed. It is hunted 

 with avidity, on account of the delicacy of its flesh ; 

 but it is very rarely found within the limits of the Cape 

 Colony, having been driven beyond the Orange river 

 by the progress of civilization." 



The opinion of Professor Owen and his brother- 

 naturalists, forming the " committee of taste," is 

 equally favourable, and was looked for with some in- 

 terest, as the subject of an eland having l)een fattened 

 and killed for the table by Viscount Hill was men- 

 tioned at the last meeting of the Zoological Society. 

 We will (|uote in cxtenso therefore, for the information 

 of our readers, the judgment formed upon this "new 

 and superior kind of animal food which has been added 



