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the plowing of 100 acres. The-great practicai question is the utiliza- 
tion of this power. A variety of steam-plows have been invented, but 
all have yet failed to economize and apply the force generated. In Eng- 
land, at the great trial at Wolverhampton, under the auspices of the 
Royal Agricultural Society, it was estimated that 30 per cent. of the power 
generated was lost, yet even this leaves steam-power cheaper than 
horse-power. 
FARM-PROFITS.—A correspondent of the Norwich (England) Gazette. 
was taken to task by a farmer for having estimated thé average profits 
of English farming at 174 per cent. He replied, ‘‘ You farm 120 acres 
of land at a cost of £1,000?” “Yes.” ‘+ Your living costs you £150 per 
annum, and you save something beside?” ‘ Yes.” ‘ Well, there is 15 
per cent. on your outlay.” Another interlocutor confessed to a return 
of 18 per cent. on £2,000, his outlay in taking 250 acres. 
FATTENING FARM-ANIMALS.—The Agricultural Gazette is of opinion 
that in England “all plans for feeding which aim at the economical pro- 
duction of meat will be every year more followed and appreciated; and 
that a good system for pulping roots in the field for fattening sheep 
must be included among such useful plans.” The cost of fattening cat- 
tle is variously stated. A few years ago 7 or 8 shillings per week was 
thought to be sufficient to cover the cost of fattening a bullock, but the 
weight of opinion indicates that such cost has been enhanced in late 
years50 or 60 percent. One experiment with 14 calves, fed fifty-six weeks, 
is given, Showing an average cost of 10s. per head per week, while the 
average return was 12s. 3d., besides their droppings. The Gazette recom- 
mends an average weekly ration of 28 pounds of linseed cake and 42 
pounds of meal, amounting, at 14d. per pound, to 7s. 34d.; 34 cwt. of 
roots, at 3d., 103d.; 3 stone of hay, at 9d., 2s. 3d.; 15 per cent. per annum 
for interest and risk on £22, value per bullock, for 13 weeks, 1s.3d.; labor, 
allowing each bullock one-fortieth part of a good man’s weekly wages of 
16s., 5d.—total, 12s. 1d. If bullocks can be made to lay on 13 stone or 
21 pounds of beef per week, at 10s. per stone they are a profit; but if 
only increasing one stone per week, there will bealoss. The diet above 
recommended it is thought will make the yield somewhere between 14 
and 21 pounds per week. 
’ FRUIT-CULTURE IN ENGLAND.—At a late meeting of the Institution 
of Surveyors, Mr. G. Webb read a paper showing that the returns of 
1874 present an area in fruit-culture, in England, of 145,622 acres, not 
including gardens. The largest county acreages are: in Devon, 24,312; 
in Hereford, 21,534; in Somerset, 19,857; in Worcester, 13,390; in 
Gloucester, 11,152; in Kent, 11,186; in Cornwall, 4,180; the other 
counties have less than 4,000 acres each. 
Mr. Webb prefers an eastern exposure, for the reason that the grad- 
ual contact of the sunbeams with the trees is more advantageous to the 
fruit-bloom. Shelter on the southwest is desirable, either by a high 
quick hedge or a belt of larch, against the gales from that quarter. 
Among the finest varieties of fruit is mentioned the Chaumontel pear, 
which grows to especial excellence on the island of Jersey, and com- 
mands a shilling each. They also do well in Kent, at an altitude of not 
over 100 feet above sea-level; at 300 feet it is no better than a turnip. 
The Williams, Beurré Base, and Copiamont are favorites; while the 
showy Buerré d’Amaulis, Colmar d’Eté, and Gratioli are but little | 
regarded. The Keswick Codlin apple formerly sold well, but has 
become too plentiful, and hardly pays expenses. The Bigarreau and 
Dulce cherries flourish at from 30 to 200 feet above sea-level; Black 
