192 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
[Man. 21, 
erops, will produce more than 2acres planted with the 
same crops distinct from each other in the usual way. 
I shall acquaint you with the result of my experiments. 
—A Cornish Farmer. 
Experiments with Manures.—In your answer to the 
queries of a correspondent lately, you say “ Effects in 
agriculture are very difficult to affiliate with accuracy.” 
This is a truth which the farmer should bear well in 
mind. It has often occurred to me, on reading reports 
of the result of experiments with different kinds of 
manures, of how little value they were without a know- 
ledge of the previous state of the land, and likewise of 
the state in which it is left after the harvesting of the 
erop, for which the experimental manure had been 
used, For instance, land in a rich state is sown for any 
given crop, and one portion is manured with guano, and 
another portion with nitrate of soda, and the land 
being previouslysupplied in abundance with the different 
ingredi in th positi guano, perhaps yields 
the largest return on that portion to which the salts 
only had been applied; and a superficial observer con- 
cludes, that the salts are the better manure. Under 
such circumstances, and with certain limitations, they 
are a very suitable manure ; but even here, it must be 
borne in mind, that the application of the easily soluble 
salts, provides only one or two out of the many ingre- 
dients removed by the crop, and consequently impairs 
the previous fertility of the soil, whereas the guano 
yields to the soil nearly every ingredient to be found in 
the ashes of the crop, and some ingredients in a much 
larger proportion, improving instead of impairing the 
soil The application of manure, if performed with 
judgment, will restore to the soil all the ingredients re- 
moved by the ash of the crop; and if the fertility of the 
land is to be improved, in a large proportion, the judi- 
cious farmer will ascertain by careful experiments, how 
far an augmentation of any particular ingredient is pru- 
dent and economical. Increased fertility is of course 
to be obtained by draining, and otherwise ameliorating 
the texture of the soil. The foregoing remarks are 
UE og to apply to the application of manures.— 
Amount, not Price of Produce, the Main Point.— 
The editor of the Agricultural Gazette may be assured 
that some readers of that publication utterly differ from 
* Q. E. D." in their opinion respecting the Leading 
Article in the Paper of Feb. 7. To them it appears a 
truly excellent article, stating a principle as just as it 
is important, but a principle very much overlooked, 
while for the interest of the cultivator as well as of the 
community it ought to be considered one of the first 
rules of agricultural science and practice. “C. W. H.” 
is entitled to high praise for suggesting such an im- 
portant consideration at a period when despondency or 
alarm are too prevalent among that important class of 
society, the farmers. The strangely different rate of 
wages for agricultural labour in various districts, as 
noticed by “ Falcon” in the Paper of last week, de- 
serves a very close investigation, with strong and con- 
tinued appeals to the understanding and feelings of 
tenants and landlords in the districts where an un- 
righteous and impolitie rate of payment prevails.— H. 
Farm Stables.—As the preservation of health ought 
to be considered of more importance than the mere 
euring of diseases, and as this ean only be aecomplished 
by proper management in respect to feeding, exercise, 
and general economy of the stable, I consider it proper 
to offer a few remarks on construeting and ventilating 
farm-stables. In the construction of the stable there 
is nothing so deserving of attention as ventilation, i.e., 
having proper contrivances for the ready admission of 
fresh air, and for the escape of that which is noxious. 
Let any one for a moment consider the foul atmosphere 
which is generated in a close stable where several 
horses are kept, by the constant exhalation of unwhole- 
some vapours from the litter, the noxious air from the 
lungs, &e., and he will not be surprised at the long cata- 
logue of diseases to which improper treatment has sub- 
jected the horse. Let him enter a stable early in the 
morning, and it will afford him ample proof of the 
noxious state of the atmosphere. Farm stables are in 
general built too low ; the ceiling should never be 
lower than 13 or 14 feet, so that the foul air may circu- 
late in the higher part, and find its escape through 
apertures made in the ceiling. These apertures should 
e made so as not to admit rain, and to be readily 
opened and shut inside by means of a cord and pully. 
Fresh air should be adniitted by the windows, which 
should be large and on different sides of the building ; 
so that when a cold wind blows from one side, fresh air 
may be admitted by the one opposite. By this means 
the temperature also of the stable can be regulated 
according to circumstances, and the more accurately if 
a thermometer is kept—a very necessary instrument in 
all buildings where animals are kept. Light is also of 
great importance in the stable; for there can be no 
doubt that horses’ eyes are often injured by being kept 
in dark stables, Nothing injuresthat delicate organ 
more than being brought out of a dark stable into the 
light, partieularly if brought immediately into sun- 
shine. Though a light stable is desirable, the sun's rays 
should not be allowed to fall upon the horse while 
standing in his stall; this may be easily prevented. 
Nor should the walls or ceiling be whitewashed, for 
under such circumstances the eyes of horses are liable 
to be rendered weak. The best colour for the ceiling 
and walls is a stone colour, which can easily be made 
by mixing a little lamp-black with the common white- 
wash, The walls of all buildings, as well as stables, 
should be built hollow ; less material will be required, | 
and the building will be rendered drier and warmer, 
and will not cost half as much in building as if built 
solid. [2] The doors should be high and wide—what 
are termed folding doors are preferable, i. e., doors 
whieh open in the middle. In fitting up the interior, 
particular attention should be paid to the size of the 
stalls, which should never be less than 6 feet wide, and 
the sides should be sufficiently high and long to prevent 
any communication between the animals. I have no 
doubt it will be argued by some, that horses are sociable 
animals, and stalls are not requisite. But I am con- 
vinced, that when horses are separated by stalls they 
thrive much better, and numerous accidents are pre- 
vented, as kicking, biting, and otherwise injuring each 
other. Horses should not be too much deprived of the 
liberty of motion, as they too often are; close confine- 
ment after hard labour will too suddenly abate circula- 
tion, stiffen their joints, and make them chilly. The 
halters should be long enough to allow the animal to 
reach any part of its body with ease. Long halters are 
disapproved of by some farmers, because of the animals 
entangling themselves in them ; but accidents of the 
sort rarely occur. The floor of the stable should be laid 
with hard bricks, as a smoother surface can be obtained 
than by flints, and the horses are not so liable to injure 
their knees in the actof lying down and rising up. 
Very little declivity is necessary to drain off the urine. 
Great inconvenience often occurs from suffering a horse 
to stand where the fall in the stall is considerable. It 
has, however, been recommended, and is in use in many 
stables, to place the gutter in the middle of the stall, so 
that the fore and hind legs of the animal may stand on 
a level. This is the best plan for horses. In what- 
ever way the stall is made, the fall should never exceed 
1 inch in 10 feet, The gutter if placed behind should 
be broad and very shallow. Where a stable is properly 
attended to scarcely any gutter is necessary. Iron 
racks are preferable to wooden ones, which should be 
fitted up so that the animal can feed with the greatest 
ease ; or, what is preferable, fit the racks in one corner 
on a level with the manger, so that the animal may feed 
as he does in a state of nature. The manger should be 
so constructed as to slide into the wall like a drawer, 
and should be rather deep and wide, which will prevent 
them from throwing out their food with their noses, 
which often oceurs where shallow mangers are used, 
particularly when chaff or eut hay is mixed with their 
Oats. I hope the above remarks will induce some of 
your readers to come forward on this subject, for it is 
shameful in some parts of the United Kingdom to see 
the manner in which the companion and co-labourer of 
man is fed and sheltered.—John M* Intosh. 
Rye an Exhausting Crop.—1t is a generally received 
opinion that Rye, when allowed to ripen its seeds, is a 
very exhausting crop, and that no other corn will grow 
for some time after it. I have for several years culti- 
vated it without finding it so injurious as many assert, 
but still am not quite satisfied as to its not very much 
impoverishing the land. Now, if it be so exhausti 
Duncan, William George, Great Houghton House, North« 
amptonshire 
Levi, William, Newport-Pagnel, Bucks s 
Smedley, Charles E. B., Edinmouth, Kelso, Roxburghshire 
Parkyns, Thomas, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire 
Hereford, Viscount, Tregoyd, Hay, Herefordshire 
Clayton, John, Chesters, Hexham, Northumberland 
Ogden, William Bernard, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Longridge, William Smith, Bedlington Iron Works, North- 
umberlan 
Hawdon, Robert, Morpeth, Northumberland 
White, John Brown, Little Bedwyn, Marlborough, Wilts 
Bolam, William, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Redman, John, Froxfield, Marlborough, Wilts 
Hinde, John Hodgson, M.P., Acton House, Felton, North- 
umberland 
Ogle, Charles, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Cresswell, Oswyn Baker, Cresswell, Morpeth, Northumberland 
Commerell, William Augustus, Stroud, Horsham, Sussex 
Scarth, James, Neweastle-on-Tyne 
Dawson, William Edward, Plumstead Common, Kent 
Littlewood, William, Bramley Moor Farm, Chesterfield, 
Derbyshire 
The names of 20 candidates for election at the next 
meeting were then read. 
Prize Essays,—Mr. Pusey, M.P., Chairman of the 
Journal Committee, communicated to the Council the 
mottoes of four essays, which the Judges have declared 
to be the winners of the Society’s Prize, in each of the 
respective classes in which they had competed; and 
the sealed motto papers containing the author’s names, 
being delivered to the Chairman, and opened in the 
presence of the Council, the adjudications were found 
to stand as follows :— 
I. To Grorar NicHorrs, Esq., of 17, Hyde Park- 
street, London: the Prize of 30/. or a piece of 
Plate of that value, for the best Essay on the Im- 
provement of the Condition of the Agricultural 
Labourer, so far as it may be promoted by private 
exertion, without legislative enactment. 
II. To W. C. Spooner, Esq., Veterinary Surgeon, 
of Southampton : the Prize of 107. or a piece of 
Plate of that value, for the best account of the use 
of Super-phosphate of Lime as a manure. 
III. To Tuomas Cooke Burroveues, Esq., of Gazeley, 
near Newmarket: the Prize of 107. or a piece of 
Plate of that value, for the best account of the 
Cultivation of White Mustard, 
IV. To Tuomas RowrANDsoN, Esq., of 59, St. Ann- 
Street, Liverpool: the Prize of 507. or a piece of 
Plate of that value, for the best report on the 
Farming of North Wales. 
MISCELLANEOUS Communications.—1. A letter from 
Lord Portman, the President of the Society, informing 
the Council, that the Potatoes raised by his lordship 
from diseased tubers, in dry heat, and in pots well 
drained, had been examined by Dr. Lindley, and pro- 
nounced to be quite sound. 
2. A letter from Mr. Moyle, of Western Canada, 
addressed to Lord Portman, on circumstances connected 
with the prevalence of the Potato disease, and the pre- 
sumption that the malady has had its origin in the pre- 
sence of an excess of acid matter generated under 
what is the cause? It generally produces the same 
quantity of corn as Wheat (viz. about 5 qrs.), and 
rather more straw ; and upon referring to the analyses 
of the different kinds of corn by Sprengel, I find that in 
100,000 parts of the grain and 100,000 parts of the 
straw, Rye contains of lime 300 parts, whereas Wheat 
contains 336 parts, and Barley 660. Again, of Mag- 
nesia, Rye contains 56 parts, but Wheat 722, and Bar- 
ley 256, and Oats 89. Of phosphoric acid, Rye contains 
101 parts, Wheat 210, and Barley 370. Of silica, Rye 
contains 2461 parts, Wheat 3270, Barley 5038, and 
Oats 6564. On the other hand, Rye contains 575 of 
potash and soda, while Wheat contains only 514 ; but 
Barley 796, and Oats 1154 ; and of sulphuric acid, Rye 
contains 193, Wheat 87, Barley 117, and Oats 114. 
Therefore, of lime and phosphorie acid, Rye contains 
less than either Wheat or Barley ; also less magnesia 
and silica than Wheat, Barley, or Oats—more sulphuric 
acid than either, and more potash and soda than Wheat, 
but less than either Barley or Oats. When, however, 
we consider that very frequently Oats and Barley pro- 
duce twice as much per acre as Wheat, we shall have 
to double the component parts of each, which will make 
it appear that Rye is far less exhausting of each com- 
ponent than either Oats or Barley, and in most instances 
less than Wheat.—B. J. W. [Rye is generally grown 
on poorer soils than either Wheat or Barley or Oats— 
that is, on soils which, having less of all those fertilising 
matters to spare, will suffer more from the abstraction 
of any of them. The opinion to which you allude may 
have arisen in that way.] 
Hocieties. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY or ENGLAND. 
A weexty Councit was held at the Society’s house 
in Hanover-square, on Wednesday last, the 18th of 
March ; present, Tuos. Raymonp Barker, Esq., in the 
chair; Sir John V. B. Johnstone, Bart, M.P.; F 
Burke, Esq.; F. C. Cherry, Esq.; J. W. Childers, Esq., 
M.P.; H. Gibbs, Esq. ; W. G. Hayter, Esq., M.P. ; 
W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq. ; Geo. Kimberley, Esq. ; John 
Kinder, Esq.; Prof. Sewell; W. Shaw, Esq.; R. A 
Slaney, Esq. ; W. R. C. Stansfield, Esq., M.P. ; J. H. 
Aylmer, Esq.; H. Bailliere, Esq. ; S. Bencroft, Esq. ; 
Rev. J. Bonham ; Dr. Calvert ; W, Cuthb Esq.5 
peeuliar d in the Potato, especially in the 
coloured varieties. 
3. A statement from Mr. Thomas Wilmot, of Coun- 
don, near Coventry, on the raising of Potatoes from 
seeds, in this country and in Australia; with specimens 
of the result of his cultivation, and ən offer to send a 
supply of such Potatoes for any experiments the Council 
might direct to be made with them. 
4, A Report from Mr, Cherry (Veterinary-Surgeon 
to the Army) of the directions given by Marshall in his 
* Rural Economy of Yorkshire,” (vol. 2, page 51) pub- 
lished in the year 1788, for raising Potatoes from seeds. 
5. A communication from Mr. Greene, of Greene- 
ville, Co. Kilkenny, of the directions for saving the 
Potato-apple for seed, issued at Berlin by the Prussian 
Minister of the Interior. 
6. A letter addressed to Mr. Fuller, M.P., by tho 
Rev. James Williams, of Llanfairynghormy, in Angle- 
sey, on the result of his Potato crop ; on his long éxpe- 
rience that single Potato-sets, if they grow, give a far 
better crop than whole Potatoes ; and on the fact that 
40 years ago, Capt. Jones introduced to his notice a 
scoop sent him from London, with which the eyes were 
taken out singly, leavingithe bulk of the Potato for use. ' 
7. A statement from Mr. T. R. Tweed, of the suc- 
cess which had attended the trials he had recommended 
to the occupiers of the allotments at Woolwich, of 
planting the peeling of the Potato in whieh the part 
near one of the eyes was cut deeper than the rest. 
8. Remarks on the Potato disease, from Mr. John 
Hull, of Tarleton, near Ormskirk, 
9. A suggestion from Mr. Williams, of Glamorgan- 
shire, that some economical mode should be devised for 
applying the decayed Potatoes, when dried, to the feeding 
of cattle, instead of allowing them to be thrown away 
entirely to waste. 
10. Mr. Curtis presented a French work on the part 
of M. Guérin- Méneville, the author, relating to the in- 
sects observed to the present time in diseased Potatoes, 
an ining engraved ill ions of their character 
and structure. 
11. A notice from Sir John Johnstone, Bart. M.P., 
that he had been requested by a friend to obtain for 
M. Ouvrard, the distinguished French Financier, at 
present in this country, leave to submit to the Council 
TRY t 
A. E. Fuller, Esq., M.P. ; J. Greene, Esq. ; W. Leve- 
son Gower, Esq.; A. Majendie, Esq.; A. Ogilvie, 
Esq.; E. Parkyns, Esq.; . Price, Esq.; Capt. 
Rushout; Rev. T. P, Slapp ; S. Solly, Esq. ; J. Swin- 
burne, Esq. ; T. Turner, Esq. ; and T. R. Tweed, Esq. 
The following new members were elected :— 
of a new mode of managing farm-yard 
BE 
anure. The Council accordingly appointed such 
statement to be laid before them at the ensuing weekly 
meeting. 
12. A letter on draining, from Mr. Harrison, of 
Devizes. : 
The Council thenadjourned to Wednesday the 25thirsf, 
