212 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
[Mar. 28, 
Barley, there may be about 925 lbs. of dust,torjrefuse 
om the manufacture of the said quantity, leaving 
6,499 lbs. of nutritious food, and the 925 lbs. of dust 
is readily consumed by horses, cattle, and pigs, and on 
no other food will cows thrive so well, and yield such a 
quantity of rich milk. A few years ago there was a 
scarcity of Potatoes in this neighbourhood, when the 
workmen employed at the Duncormick limestone quar- 
ries gave up the use of Potatoes, and used Barley-meal 
for stirabout in the morning and evening, with Barley- 
bread and milk to dinner, and they admit they never 
at any time wrought so well, were so strong, or enjoyed 
such good health, as during the time they substituted 
Barley for Potatoes. Were Barley mills established in 
this country, as in Scotland, they would be of immense 
‘utility to the poor, as I am convinced that 13 Ib. of “pot 
Barley” would be better and more nutritious than 
i stone of Potatoes. I hope this hint will be sufficient 
to induce millers in this country to introduce Barley 
amills for the manufacture of pearl and common Barley. 
— Robert M Call, Wezford. 
Liming Potatoes.—As I know that my authority has 
‘been extensively circulated in favour of quick-lime as a 
protection against the consequences of the Potato dis- 
ease, and as I have heard from the Duke of Rutland 
that his experiments have not been equally successful, 
I feel it a duty to society to prevent people from being 
misled by the general terms in which I have circulated 
the result of the experiments conducted here. It is 
quite true that the lime used here has been invariably 
successful, but it is the magnesian lime which abounds 
in this neighbourhood. In its caustic state, it is fatal 
to vegetation. Barren spots are to be seen in many 
places on the forest, where lime heaps were placed more 
than 30 years ago. It is, therefore, easy to account for 
the effect of this lime in stopping the propagation of this 
disease. The lime used by the Duke of Rutland I un- 
derstand to have been the crich-lime, which is very 
pure lime, and has no such destructive qualities. It is, 
therefore, only necessary to state the distinction to ac- 
count for the difference. Charcoal is quite as effectual 
as the magnesian lime,— Scott. Portland, Welbeck, 
Mar. 18. 
Horteties. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY or ENGLAND. 
A Wergty Councit was held at the Society’s House 
in Hanover-square, on Wednesday last, the 25th March ; 
present, His Grace the Duke of Ricamonn, K.G., in the 
chair ; Sir John V. B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P.; Thos. 
S. Thompson, Esq. ; S, Beneraft, Esq. ; H. Burr, Esq.; 
A. E. Fuller, Esq., M.P.; G. Vernon Harcourt, Esq., 
M.P.; E. Hussey, Esq.; C. Miles, Esq. ; O. Ogilvie, 
Esq.; A. L. Potter, Esq.; H. Price, Esq.; G. H. 
Ramsay, Esq. ; and T. Turner, Esq. 
The following new members were elected :— ' 
Nixon, William, Union Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Comins, Richard, Tiverton, Devonshire 
Taylor, Hugh, Cramlington, Newocastle-on-Tyne 
Mansel, Lieut,-Colonel, Smedmore, Corfe Castle, Dorset 
Hawks, George, Newcastle-on-' 
Cuthbert, William, Beaufront, Hexham, Northumberland 
Armstrong, Joseph, Higham-place, Neweastle-on-Tyne 
Joo} 1 as, Swinburne Castle, Hexham 
Davison, William, Seaton-Delaval, North Shields, North- 
ni 
Mansel, John Clavel, Smedmore, Corfe Castle 
Lax, William, Kirkbridge, Stanwick-park, Darlington 
Mitchell, John Hoffe, Deans-Leaze, Witchampton, Wimborne, 
Dorsetshire 
Gibson, John, Hayes-terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Haselwood, William, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire 
Sowery, Stephen, Shieldfield-h N tle-on-Tyne 
Haddon, Thomas, Hampton-Lucy, Warwickshire 
Potts, Forster Charlton, Whorlton, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
Malins, George Wallington Rich., Thelsford, Wellesbourne, 
Warwickshire 
Burton, Thomas, jun,, Thurton, Norwich 
"Taylor, Charles H., Bamburgh, Belford, Northumberland. 
The names of 10 candidates for election at the next 
meeting were then read. 
Prize Essays.—Mr.* Puser, M.P., Chairman of the 
Journal Committee, having reported the essay to which 
the judges had awarded the Society’s prize for a Report 
on the Farming of Cambridgeshire, the sealed motto- 
paper containing the name of the author of the suc- 
cessful essay was opened by the Chairman in the pre- 
sence of the Council, and the adjudication found to 
"stand as follows :— 
To SawvEL Jonas, Esq., of 'Ickleton, near Saffron 
Walden, the Prize of 507., for his Report on the 
Farming of Cambridgeshire. 
Fanw-vanD Mawunr.—iir Jonn JouwsroNE, Bart., 
M.P., agreeably with the arrangement of the Council, 
as proposed at their last meeting, then introduced to the 
notiee of the members present, M. Ouvrard, the French 
financier, at present on a visit to this eountry, and who 
had been introduced to Sir John Johnstone by a friend 
who was desirous that M. Ouvrard should have an op- 
portunity of laying before the Council a plan of manag- 
ing farm-yard manure, submitted to him by M. Emile 
Encoutre, at present residing at No., 48 in the Hay- 
market, London, 
M. EwcourRE having remarked that the greater 
number of farmers left their manure-heaps exposed to 
the rain, while the smaller number covered them with 
earth but imperfectly, and without entirely preservin, 
them from injury and loss, was led to conceive that 
this object would be most effectually attained by cover- 
ing the whole of their surface with a layer of tar, mixed 
with lime, This covering, he imagined, would not only 
be a complete protection against the rain, but would 
also tend to the attainment of the following objects. 
1, The retention of those exhalations which have nitro- 
gen for their chief element, and, in a manuring point 
of view, are of the greatest value. 2. The watering of 
the heap by different manuring liquids produced on the 
farm, or furnished from other sources, should a defi- 
ciency exist. 3. The ion of the f. i 
and decay of the heaps by passing through them 
different pipes heated by means of steam to a 
temperature ranging from 60° to 70° F., and supplied 
by a boiler, of which the original price would not be 
more than 27. or 3. M. Encoutre also stated that the 
grain, before being sown, was immersed in a solution of 
gelatine and starch, diluted with brine, and then sprin- 
kled with the manure reduced to a dry and powdery 
state. Having given this account of his plan, he pro- 
ceeded to detail the practical results which had 
been obtained in France by its adoption; from 
which it appeared: — 1. at only one-sixth 
of manure thus prepared would be required in 
comparison with the quantity of common farm-yard 
manure usually applied for the same extent 
of surface. 2. That the produce of corn was found to 
be one-fifth greater where his manure had been used. 
3. That after two years the same land was found to re- 
quire only one-half of the orignal manurings to keep it 
in the same condition, 4, That the expence attending 
the application of this new manure was 8s. per acre. 
M. Encoutre, in conclusion, requested the Council to 
appoint one or more farms in different parts of the 
country, where his experiments might be repeated, and 
the value of his plan brought to the test of practical 
trial, expressing his willingness to give his personal at- 
tendance at each of the places selected, and to instruct 
the parties appointed to make the trial in the proper 
mode of proceeding. 
M. Ovvrarp then received of the Council their thanks 
to M. Encoutre, for his attention in submitting this plan 
to their notice; and availed himself of a suggestion 
that was made to him, that on the experimental farm 
connected with the Royal Agricultural College, at Ciren- 
cester, it might probably be at once submitted to the 
practical trial required by its inventor. 
Gorse ron Surzp.—Mr. SawpHAM Erry, of Elly 
Walks, near New Ross, in Ireland, the author of a paper 
on Gorse as food for cattle, in the last part of the 
Society’s Journal (p. 523), communicated to the Coun- 
cil the result of an experiment he had made in feed- 
ing sheep on that substance—the first instance he be- 
lieved either in Ireland or England, of sheep sold in 
market fattened on Gorse. The sheep, wedders of two 
years old, were put into a stall in the bullock-house in 
the last week of December, in fair average condition. 
They had a feed of Beet in the morning, and three feeds 
of prepared Gorse in the evening of each day, until the 
last week in February, when they were sold fat to the 
butcher and realised 30s. on the lot. The Beet was 
iven as a variety of food, and occupied the time during 
which the Gorse was undergoing preparation. The 
mutton proved to have an excellent flavour, of the wild 
mountain kind, and its chief excellence consisted in the 
abundance of rich gravy it contained. Mr. Elly ex- 
ressed himself so well satisfied with this result of his 
experiment, that it was his intention next year to go 
more largely into the speculation. 
Miscettanrous Communications. — 1. From Mr. 
Thompson, giving notice at the monthly meeting of the 
Council on Wednesday next, he intended to propose 
some arrangements regarding the lectures to be given 
to the members at the ensuing country meeting at 
Newcastle. 
2. From Sir Trayton Drake, Bart., reporting that 
on his farm at Nutwell Court, in Devonshire, Swedish 
Turnips, cut into slices by the Turnip-cutter, were em- 
ployed in their raw state as an excellent food for his 
horses ; and that, boiled in a copper and mashed into a 
pulp, his pigs thrived on them very well. 
From Mr. Johnson, of Farnham, stating that land 
sown with White Mustard, and fed off with sheep, had 
become perfectly free fróm moles and wireworms, with 
which it had previously been constantly infested. 
4. From Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Mr. Jonas, Capt. Gar- 
land, Mr. White, Mr. R. W. Baker, Mr. Fuller, M.P., 
and Mr. H. Manning, undertaking to make trial of the 
Australian Wheat and Barley sent to the Society for 
that purpose, and to report the result to the Council ; 
Mr, F. S. Dutton undertaking to furnish to the Council 
the result of Dr, Ure's analysis of each of those supplies. 
5. From Mr. John Townley, papers on the Potato 
disease ; and on the question, whether varieties of 
plants, propagated by extension, wear out, 
. From the Royal Agricultural Society at Prince 
Edward Island : a copy of their Annual Report, trans- 
mitted through His Grace the Duke of Richmond. 
. From Mr. Milberg, of Jever, Hanover : a notice 
of the new cultivator invented by him. 
8. From Mr. Pusey, M.P., transmitting the thanks 
of the honorary members elected at the previous 
monthly Council, for the honour of the election, and their 
desire to promote the objects of the Society; also 
Professor Graham’s especial wish to promote the views 
and investigations of the Society in those branches of 
science to which he is himself more particularly 
attached. 
9. From Mr. Raymond Barker, a notice, that at the 
next meeting of the Council, he should move an adjourn- 
ment over the Easter Recess, from the lst to the 22d 
of April. 
The Council thenadjourned to Wednesday, the Ist April. 
HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Ar the late monthly meeting of this Society Mz’ 
CAMPBELL, of Auchendarroch, read a short report on 
raising improved varieties of Oats, by Mr. Archibald, 
overseer at Champfleurie, in West-Lothian, The re- 
porter, after alluding to the possibility of obtaining from 
growing crops improved varieties of Oats, which may 
have been engendered impregnation, states, that in 
August, 1841, he collected 25 distinct sorts, all differing 
from the crops among which he found them. Out o! 
these he selected eight for culture: Ist, The Hangin- 
side, or Yellow Oat; 2d, The Blue Early; 3d, The 
Hopetoun Brown; 4th, The Champfleurie; 5th, The 
Small Fly ; 6th, Peter's Oat; 7th, The White Wild ; 
and 8th, The King’s Evil. In April, 1842, he sowed à 
few seeds of each in his garden ; they came up well, 
producing good grain and straw. The Blue Oat was 
first ripe, followed by the Fly; the Hanginside was 
last. in 1843, the eight varieties were sown after 
Turnips, in a field of northerly exposure; they ali 
yielded very fine grain and straw—the Blue Oat still 
took the lead: but all were cut in the last week of 
August and the first of September. In 1844, they were 
tried after lea, on a piece of cold loamy soil, lying to the 
north, and not ina high state of culture. The seeds 
were sown in drills, with from 4 to 5 inches between 
each drill, The Blue Oat in this soil still kept the lead 
in earliness, as well as in grain and straw ; the White 
Wild Oat did remarkably well ; the whole were cut by 
the end of August. In 1845, the different varicties 
were again tried after Turnips, on a drained field with 
a good exposure and in high order; the Early Angus, 
the Hopetoun, and the Karly Reed Oats were sown 
along with them. These various experiments have led 
Mr. Archibald to form the following opinions of his va- 
rieties :—Blue Early Oat—A very free grower, well 
adapted for most soils, yields abundance of straw, an 
fine Oats for horses; ripens with the Early Angus. 
Hanginside, or Yellow Oat—A very hardy Oat, and 
productive in grain, requires strong dry soil; ripens 
with the Hopetoun. Hopetoun Brown Oat — 
very prolific bearer, and strong in straw ; resembles 
the Hopétoun. Champfleurie Oat—Yields fine straw, 
but a little deficient in grain to the others. Small Tiy 
Oat—A good bearer, but liable to shake before quite 
ripe; should be cut early. Peter’s Oat yields most ex- 
cellent grain and strong straw, and ripens with the Po- 
tato Oat ; it requires a strong, loamy, and well-manured 
soil to bring it to perfection. White Wild Oat—The 
grain is coarse, but the straw is very good; it is early, 
and answers on poor light soils. The Reed Oat is very 
early, but deficient in grain and straw compared to the 
others. King’s Evil Oat requires a dry early situation ; 
it is like the Reed, but rather later —Mr. Grant, of Kin- 
corth, then read a report of a plantation of Scots Fir 
and Larch, formed by him on his own property. The 
plantation is situated on the outskirts of the extensive 
range of sandhills of Culbin, which so strongly attract 
the notice of strangers in passing through Morayshire, 
and which are so conspicuous to the north of the town 
of Elgin. These sandhills occupy a very extensive 
space of ground (perhaps 4000 or 5000 acres), and are 
chiefly composed of small hills, varying from 50 to 150 
feet in height, of loose white sand, perfectly void of 
vegetation, and liable to be drifted with every gale of 
wind, It is well-known that these hills cover what was 
formerly a large and fertile estate (that of Culbin), 
which was destroyed by the blowing of the sand from 
the westward about 170 years ago. Bordering this 
desolate waste on the south, and separating it from the 
cultivated country, is a range of lower sandhills; their 
surface is partially covered with Bent, interspersed with 
coarse Grass, and in particular places with Whins and 
Broom ; the soil, however, to a considerable depth con- 
sists entirely of sand which has been blown from the 
adjoining waste. Mr. Grant is the proprietor of part 
of this tract, and as his residence is in the neighbour- 
hood, he was naturally anxious to adopt means to dimi- 
nish the dreariness of the aspect. It was long, however, 
before he could bring himself to believe that trees 
would grow in a soil so sterile. In spring, 1837, he 
made the experiment of inclosing and planting a portion 
of 20 acres with the Pinus sylvestris and Larch, in 
nearly equal proportions. Encouraged by the success 
which attended this attempt, he has since made yearly 
additions, and has now the satisfaction of haying esta- 
blished a vigorous plantation of 70 acres, giving an 
l apy to the neighbourhood, and pro- 
mising to conceal, in a few years, the waste behind. 
Though the soil was uniformly sand, the surface varied 
considerably. In one part it was sparingly covered 
with Bent; in another, the Bent having rotted, had 
given way to a thin wiry Grass; and in a third, the 
progress of vegetation being farther advanced, the 
surface was covered with Furze. The plants were 
chiefly of one year’s pl d growth. Seedlings; 
and some of two year's growth, were also used, The 
smaller plants did very well in the Bent, pro- 
vided the weather was not too dry, and the larger 
succeeded among the Whins and Broom, where 
proper pits were made for them. On the whole, the 
greatest difficulty to establish vegetation was experienced 
in that part of the sand where the surface was grassy- 
Mr. Grant does not take credit to himself for having 
een avery economical planter. The nature of the 
soil necessarily entailed a great loss of trees from 
failure, and the experiment was originally made, not 
with a view to profit, but embellishment. In that it 
has been entirely successful. Shelter and ornament 
have been obtained, and the monotonous aspect of the 
