26 THE LANDED INTEREST. 



Council, under the guidance of Dr. Voelcker, 

 their consulting chemist, regulate and superin- 

 tend them. They are open to public inspection, 

 and under such management the most useful 

 results may be anticipated. 

 Extension There has been a great extension of land 



of land 



drainage, drainage in recent years, and in the construction 



and im- 



offlrm ent of im P roved farm buildings, and in the better 

 cottars"' l oc te m g f farm-labourers in more commodious 

 housing cottages. And in regard to live-stock there has 

 stock Ve been a wider diffusion of the best breeds, and 

 generally an earlier maturity obtained in the 

 process of fattening. The use of improved im- 

 plements and machinery has greatly extended, 

 as also has the general application of loco- 

 motive steam-power to the threshing and other 

 preparation of crops for market or feeding 

 purposes. Cheap descriptions of corn are 

 largely and increasingly employed in the fatten- 

 ing of stock, and also oil-cake, cotton-cake, and 

 Large rape-cake. For these, and for bones, guano, 



annual ex- 

 penditure and nitrate of soda used as manure, the annual 



on cattle 



food and expenditure cannot now be less than twelve 



portable 



manure. millions sterling. 



