76 THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
(Jan. 31, 
utmost exertions to provide, as far as he. possibly can, 
the manures which can be made on his own farm, and 
not to trust to those which are to be purchased, when 
9 times out of 10 he may be deceived. I have liquid 
manure-tanks with sloping banks for saturated chaff 
for Grass-land, liquid manure carts, spouts for con- 
veying the liquid back to the yard when moisture 
is required, and various other requisites for the 
benefit of the farmer. But, in my opinion, I have had 
one great deficiency until the present time. I have 
heard much of the benefits arising from the use of 
uano; I have also seen that benefit, and I am led to 
eonsider that a manure, almost, if not quite equal, to 
that of guano, may be provided at home, with little 
expence, and with the assurance that when we put in our 
seed, we are trusting to our own honesty, and not to 
that of others, I am led to confess that I am no 
chemist, therefore, I must, in this instance, expose my 
ignorance by stating that I am trusting, as many do, 
too much to supposition. The guano, we all know, is 
the dung of birds ; we know the pigeon dung has ad- 
mirable fertilising properties, and the fowl feeds on 
almost the same food as the pigeon. I am therefore 
led to consider that immense benefit may be conferred 
upon a farm by the use of the dung of fowls. We 
shall increase the industrious and deserving farmers’ 
wives’ fund of amusement and profit, and confer a 
greater benefit upon one farm, by increasing the quan- 
tity of fowls, and providing proper accommodation, and 
by these means collecting the dung, which hitherto has 
been wasted by being dropped upon the carts and 
implements in sheds, or the ground. My poultry-house 
is one of such construction as not only to provide com- 
fort in roosting, but for laying and setting ; there is a 
slide to every division, which is taken from the back 
and put to the front, to cut off the access of other hens 
which disturb them during incubation, dissappointing 
the owner by a very limited supply of chickens. 
have books to refer to, and have seen an analysis of the 
dung of fowls ; but am anxious to know the difference, 
if mixed with salt, to that of guano. Perhaps if this 
should meet the eye of a man of science, he will confer 
upon me his opinion by inserting it in this Paper. 
have increased my number of fowls this year, and to 
meet the demand planted a greater quantity of potatoes 
than usual. The latter are very good, and as I con- 
sider they will be wanted for human food this year, I 
am obliged to curtail my experiment. It is, I am 
grieved to say, the custom of people to speak of the bad 
and not of the good ; shall I be wrong, do you think, if 
I state that I suppose this to be the case with the 
reports of the Potato crop? I have no doubt, however, 
from my own observation there is a great failure. By 
eutting off the crown of the Potato previously to cook- 
ing, and saving it.for seed, much may be provided without 
waste.—A Tenant Farmer. 
Necessity of Agricultural Education.—1 regret, but 
am not surprised, to learn from your Leading Article of 
the 27th inst., that Farmers’ Clubs are generally so 
short-lived. Such societies are, in my opinion, highly 
desirable; but methinks there is one pre-requisite to 
their success, which is almost, if not altogether, lost 
sight of—education. Farmers, as a body, are at present 
but little disposed for discussional meetings, and are 
very tardy in adopting anything that wears the garb of 
novelty. They are, moreover, no accountants, and 
therefore do not register any experiments they may be 
induced to make, so as to determine the result with 
accuracy. This being the case, the good which should 
result from the societies in question is seldom realised, 
the interest taken in them consequently abates, until 
meetings cannot be got, and thus their existence termi- 
nates. Education would, if I mistake not, correct all 
that ; indeed, I cannot but consider it as the basis on 
which every society for the improvement of agriculture 
should rest, for otherwise we seem to be endeavouring 
to raise a superstructure without first laying the foun- 
dation. We have in this neighbourhood an Agricul- 
tural Society, with a library in connection with it, con~ 
taining many learned and excellent works. Now, I do 
not suppose that no one will read these books, and that 
there are no farmers amongst us who are competent to 
judge of thefr merits, and to carry out in practice the 
knowledge which may be derived from them ; but of 
this I am confident, there are comparatively few who 
will directly receive the least benefit from the library, 
or care to peruse the books thereby provided. This state 
of things cannot safely be allowed to continue. Farmers 
are, I fear, shortly to be thrown upon their own re- 
sources, to depend upon their own exertions and skill 
in husbandry, instead of Acts of Parliament, and know- 
ledge, scientific as well as practical, they must have, to 
aid them in every operation, or their station in society 
eannot long be maintained. Of this I have a very 
strong opinion, and shall, therefore, be truly glad to see 
a place in your columns devoted to the subject. P.S. 
It should be our aim, as I think it is our interest, to 
effect the establishment of agricultural schools, with 
farms attached, in or near to all the principa! market 
towns in the kingdom, and I have little doubt that an 
appeal to Government for this purpose would be satis- 
factorily responded to.—A Constant Reader. 
Farmers’ Clubs. 
SUBJECTS FOR SIBRs1on. 
7. ON WASTE MANURES. 
a sufficiently hig 
d for man, are the most scou: 
what would be said of the farmer w 
manure derived from the less scourging crops which he grows, 
such as Turnips, Grass, &c., foo r cattle, to run wholly and 
o waste ? e blame which he 
town sewerage mam 
productive of very great national lo: 
illustration. 
general a 
fertiliser, and it is only lately that this has been to any extent 
saver t is driven off, with the other volatile ingredients of 
the mineral, at our gas-works, where it may be obtai 
so-called gas-water, which contains about 3 Ibs. of it in every 
10 gallons. The waste of our woollen factories—Flax waste— 
soap-boilers' refuse, &c.—all possess much value in the eye of 
the intelligent farmer. But, taking this as our criterion, what 
degree of intelligence amongst our agriculturists is indicated 
by the shameful statistics of this important subject ? 
It is needless to refer to any other authority on this subject 
than the very interesting and valuable little book ** On Waste 
Manures,” by Mr. Hannam—a second edition of which has, we 
understand, lately been published. 
How is this Waste to be Avoided ? —(1).—Companies are being 
formed for the collection and sale of town sewage manures, 
and we shall soon direct attention to their operations, These 
should be heartily and actively patronised by the intelligent 
farmer, ir success depends the period when the 
wretched policy hitherto pursued on this subject shall cease. 
(2), Consider the policy and methods of saving liquid manures, 
and the details of the most economical mode of managing the 
lungheap. le room is here for lengthened discussion upon 
upon the proper construction of tanks—the use of the water-cart 
—the relative efficiency of fixers of ammonia—Sulphuric acid 
Ip) i à Muriates of lime and soda, char- 
coal, &c. (3.) Consider the actual and market value of the 
various refuse products of our manufactures. On this head 
consult n “On Fertilisers.” The “Farmers 
Encyclopedia,” and Hannam ** On Waste Manures,” &c. 
Bromscrove: Tenant Rights.—Mr.;Wright read a 
paperon Tenant Right,strongly advocating the necessity 
of a better security than was ever afforded to tenants at 
will, or from year to year, for their capital. The club 
was quite unanimous on the subject, and adopted the 
following resolution :—“ That this meeting considers 
that where land is held merely on a tenancy from year 
to year, six months’ notice to quit, on the part of the 
landlord, is much too short ; and that, as thetenant upon 
deteriorating the soil is liable to an action for dilapida- 
tions, so, upon having made improvements, they think 
the tenant should have a remedy against the landlord, 
in ease he should have been compelled to leave before 
he had time to obtain a return for eapital expended." 
HanLrsroN, Nonrork, Jan. Oilcake versus 
Linseed.— The relative prices at which eith ris cheaper? 
amd the most economical mode of using the latter? 
Resolution :—As this subject was introduced rather to 
direct attention to the use of Linseed than with a view 
of obtaining opinions on it, and as the meeting will, it 
is fully anticipated, have this effect, it is resolved to 
defer answering the questions proposed by the intro- 
ducer till further trials (which the Club recommends 
should be immediately made) shall have given greater 
authority to the decision. As far, however, as the 
experience of the members has hitherto gone, it is 
believed that Linseed will prove a very valuable addi- 
tion to our fattening food for cattle; forming an ex- 
cellent medium for consuming our own corn which it is 
thought should always be mixed with the seed in about 
the following proportions, three-fifths corn and two- 
fifths seed. The club considers that corn and seed 
[i. e. we presume Oats, or Peas, &c., and Linseed] 
thus mixed will be found cheaper than either alone, or 
than oileake ; but it is inclined to doubt the practice 
hitherto adopted in this county, of cooking the seedy 
more than the corn, believing that the former is little 
and the latter largely benefited by it; but whilst giving 
this strong opinion in favour of cooking the corn where 
practicable, and thinking that Barley should never be 
used without, the Club has evidence that ground Beans 
or Peas mixed with crushed Linseed and given dry, 
have been used with great suecess,—For the Club, 
R, B. Harvey, Secretary. 
NxwcasrLE-oN-TxNr.— On the 10th inst. a meeting 
was held in the lecture-room of the Literary and Philo- 
sophical Society, for the purpose of adopting rules for 
the regulation of the Farmers’ Club recently formed in 
this town. G. H. Ramsay, Esq., in the chair. The 
rules require that the Society meet once a month for the 
discussion of agricultural questions, and that a library 
and museum be formed. No political questions are to 
be introduced and the committee are to have the power 
of deciding whether a subject be political or not. 
WzNLock : Game.—A resolution of this Club at one 
of the last year’s meetings:—“That looking to the 
excessive damage sustained by the tenantry of the 
country by the undue preservation of Game, it is 
resolved, that a representation to that effect be made to 
the principal landholders of this neighbourhood, re- 
spectfully requesting that they will order the entire 
destruction of the rabbits, and the partial destruc- 
tion of the hares on their estates. That whilst 
coming to this resolution, this Club wishes to express 
to their landlords their anxiety to preserve the 
pheasants and partridges to the utmost of their power, 
being only desirous of destroying that portion of the 
game and rabbits which they verily believe will in many 
cases, if suffered to continue, end in the utter ruin of | 
the tenantry. That a copy of the last resolution be 
tained in the | ¢ 
Farm Memoranda. 
Messrs. Andrews, 
small and irregular enclosures. 
has now been set off in the most systematic order by the 
Messrs. Andrews, the fields being of a large size, and 
proportioned to the extent of the farm and laid off to 
suit, as far as possible, the natural lie of the surface of 
the ground * * * The Messrs, Andrews have 
introduced the system, as at Deanston, of leaving no 
open ditches, and of rearing excellent Thorn fences on 
the flat, so that the land can be worked up to the fence 
on both sides. This system has also the advantage of 
permitting the hedge roots to pass into the fields, so that 
they find ample nourishment. The making of good 
roads leading to all parts of the farm has not been 
neglected. ‘Throughout the whole the improvements 
have been executed in a very masterly manner ; and 
such afarm so arranged and cultivated forms a most 
valuable example to the ding neighbourhood 
and will extend its benefits even to distant parts, from 
the very liberal manner in which strangers are at all 
times permitted to go over the ground, whilst a clear 
and minute statement of the processes followed in the 
improvement is readily given." In the preliminary 
report of their operations which the Messrs. Andrews 
laid before the Agrieultural Improvement Society of 
Ireland, previous to Mr. Smith's inspection, the follow- 
ing passages occur, which we transcribe entire. 
* The increased value of the land in consequence of 
the draining cannot, of course, be accurately ascer- 
tained ; but in the opinion of the reporters, it is even 
greater than is generally supposed. The result of their 
operations has fully realised their utmost anticipations. 
On the lands drained and subsoiled some years ago, and 
since cultivated on the true system of green cropping 
and house feeding, the finest crops have been raised, as 
stated. In the present year, the Turnips and Potatoes 
upon the land drained in 1841, and subsoil ploughed in 
1842, were excellent. The Potatoes were admitted by 
the many visitors who came to sce them turned out of 
the ground, to be far superior to any crop in the coun- 
try this year, and to have been rarely equalled any 
other year. They were certainly far more than double, 
and perhaps nearly threefold the crop of 1840, on land 
of similar quality undrained. It was most gratifying 
to observe the operation of the causes of the luxuriance 
of that crop. The Potatoes were planted early in May. 
Soon after, a week of incessant rain set in ; and had 
the ground not been drained, most of the sced would, 
most probably, have perished, and the soil would have 
been rendered unfit for working till the season woul 
have been too far advanced ; and being then caked and 
hardened by the succeeding drought, could not, by any 
effort, have been brought into the fine tilth, so necessary 
for the full development of the Potato and the Turnip 
crops. As it was, the rain having ceased on a Friday; 
the ground was in the finest order for working on the 
Monday following, and all the processes of pulverizing, 
cleaning, and moulding, were executed in the most easy 
and satisfactory manner, Vegetation was not retarded 
an hour; and the long succeeding drought, which 
stunted the crops on all undrained shallow soil, never 
seemed to affect this in the slightest degree. Again, in 
raising the Potatoes, a dry night after a wet day was 
quite sufficient to drain the ground, and fit it for working 
on the day following ; and the Wheat crop was got into 
the ground in the finest condition, 
“The amount of the expenses of all the operations has 
not been kept distinet from the ordinary labour of thé 
farm, and the other improvements of levelling old 
fences, filling gripes, planting hedges, and other work» 
which were necessary to complete the views of the 
applicants; but the best statement of the expenses of 
the several drains, which ob-ervation from time to time 
enables reporters to afford, shall be given, They can- 
not state the cost of the cxtra deep sinking of the mait 
drains, which was certainly very considerable, on account 
of its great depth in some places, and the occurrence & 
a rock in part of its course. Exclusive of cutting and 
circulated among the neighbouring landholders, and'| filling, the ‘main drain niust have cost per perch of 
seven yards, as follows :— 
alvertized in the two Shrewsbury newspapers.” 
