32 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



The mixture thus calcined aad cyanuretted 13 received into a 

 cylinder of either cast or wrought iron, which serves both as 

 an extinguisher and as an apparatus for the transformation of 

 the cyanuret. Through this cylinder, at a temperature less 

 than 300° (Centigrade) is passed a current of steam, which 



disengages, under the form of ammonia, all the nitrogen con- 

 tained in the cyanide of barium. It is impossible to foresee 

 all the results of this great discovery, Among other things, 

 it suggests the production of nitric acid from the air by oxidi- 

 sing ammonia. — Chemical News. 



HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD HARVEST. 



That the past harvest has been one of the most pre- 

 carious, protracted, and defectant ever known, is gene- 

 rally admitted ; and it is also equally true that ever since 

 the abolition of protective duties on corn, we have de- 

 rived no advantage commensurate in a rise of prices ; 

 whereas in the palmy days of protection a bad harvest 

 was sure to cause a considerable advance in the corn mar- 

 kets, and the farmers were thereby in some measure com- 

 pensated for a defeclive yield and bad quality of grain. 

 I am not disposed to think we are about to be inun- 

 dated with foreign grain to an enormous extent. In 

 fact, it is very doubtful if the present importations (and 

 large they are) will be remunerative to the importers, 

 and we don't hear of much being bought for our mar- 

 kets at present. Russia and the Baltic ports would, of 

 course, pour all they could into our ports before the 

 winter closed them in, hence the large supplies of this 

 week. America has also a considerable quantity to 

 send us. But France is likely to require a portion of 

 their produce too, so that we need not feel unneces- 

 sary alarm at the present depression in the corn trade, 

 but reserve all our best grain for better times, and make 

 use of the interior for feeding stuffs for cattle, sheep, 

 and pigs. 



How are we to make the best of a bad harvest ? — 

 This is an important question, and it is beyond my 

 power satisfactorily to answer it. I will, however, en- 

 deavour to call the attention of my fellow-sufferers to 

 the subject, as worthy of their deep and serious con- 

 sideration. We have this ascertained fact before us, that 

 whatever amount of grain or flour our importers can 

 introduce for our sustenance, they fail to obtain a cor- 

 responding quantity of animal food. The graziers and 

 feeders of our domestic animals have mainly the home 

 market to themselves. Now, if our inferior and 

 sprouted grain cannot be turned into flour, let us con- 

 vert it into beef, mutton, pork, and poultry. 



But how is this to be done ? It is true that beans 

 and peas generally constitute the cheapest and the best 

 grain food for cattle and sheep, but this year the price of 

 these kinds of grain is remunerative, and therefore we 

 leave them out as cheap articles of food for this experi- 

 ment. Oats, too, are realizing fair, if not gbod, prices 

 for best samples, which, however, in this season are 

 scarce. The only varieties of grain which being cheap 

 are more applicable as food for stock, are those of wheat 

 and barley ; and this applies more particularly to the 

 inferior qualities of each kind. The better qualities are 

 yet obtaining fair and reasonable prices : these also must 

 be left out, as too expensive. 



At the present moment the relative prices of inferior 



wheat and barley are very nearly assimilated, both 

 realizing in the country markets about Is. Id. per stone. 

 No one need, therefore, hesitate respecting the use 

 of wheat as food for stock : it is quite as cheap as bar- 

 ley, and, upon the whole, more nutritious and fattening. 

 The meal of barley may have the preference as food for 

 pigs ; but, in other respects,the meal of wheat in mode- 

 ration is to be preferred for general service, provided 

 it can be obtained at a price not exceeding that of the 

 meal of barley. We have, then, this year an abundance 

 of inferior wheat and stained and sprouted barley to 

 dispose of as we best may. I again say let it be con- 

 verted into meat; and I say this because " the seeds of 

 cereals and leguminous plants are more nutritive than 

 potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, or any other roots," 

 and because I believe it to be the most profitable man- 

 ner in which we can bring it into the market. 



The price of " butchers' meat" is unusually high, 

 and the better qualities of meat not plentiful. The 

 prospect of a continuation of remunerative prices is 

 very good ; nothing but commercial disquiet or de- 

 rangement of our monetary affairs can prevent it. There 

 is no valid reason to be urged against the appropriation 

 of every kind of suitable food or of every available 

 means for the fattening of stock. The country requires 

 all that can possibly be fatted, and much more. The 

 importation of store stock from abroad for the purpose 

 of fatting them in this country is obtaining ground, and 

 is rising into public favour. The importations of cattle 

 for this purpose into Hull are very large, and they are 

 found to pay the feeder well. They come in at a lower 

 price than native breeds, and most of them under British 

 management make excellent meat, and being of smaller 

 size are much sought for by butchers for their quality 

 and internal proof, i. c, " dying well." 



Agricultural chemists tell us that about 501bs. of 

 wheat are equal in nutritive value to lOOlbs. of meadow 

 hay, and that about 601bs. of barley are of similar propor- 

 tionate value ; that it would take above 6001bs. of 

 swedes or mangolds, or 3501bs. of carrots, or 3001bs. of 

 potatoes to be of equal service in the fattening of stock. 

 These are highly important considerations at any time ; 

 but in a season like this most especially so. Nor are 

 the fatting qualities of the grain deteriorated by being 

 sprouted to any extent. It will be in the recollection 

 of many that, some few years ago, there was a general 

 movement amongst the agricultural community for the 

 purpose of inducing the Government to remit the duty 

 upon all grain malted for food, and many were the ex- 

 periments made and proofs deduced to show that the 

 grain thus treated was more nutritious, the Govern- 



