14.—1846.] 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
229 
Mebiewos. 
The Journal of the English Agricultural Society. 
Volume the Sixth. Part 2, J. Murray, Albemarle- 
street. 
In our last notice of this volume we extracted Mr. 
Pusey’s paper on superphosphate of lime. Let us now 
refer to a short article immediately succeeding it, com- 
munieated by Professor Daubeny. This also refers to 
e of a manure whose principal constituent is 
phosphorus, viz. the Spanish phosphorite. In order to 
ascertain its fertilising influence relatively to other well- 
known manures, such as Potter's guano and others— 
* A selection was made of thirteen different plots of 
unb allof which might be regarded as in a great 
egree exhausted, having been cropped for ten or 
eleven suecessive years, without the application of any 
kind of manure, being the same upon which the expe- 
riments detailed in my memoir, “On the Rotation of 
Crops,” published in the last Number of the “ Philoso- 
phical Transactions,” had been instituted. The kind 
and quantity of the several manures employed are 
Stated below, showing that, whilst in every instance a 
considerable increase of crop was obtained by the addi- 
tion of these fertilisers, the Spanish phosphorite, espe- 
cially when its action was quickened by the addition of 
sulphuric acid, proved nearly as efficacious as bones 
themselves, unless indeed when the latter were very 
finely powdered. 
** Now, as the Spanish phosphorite, which appears to 
act so beneficially, is wholly destitute of organie matter, 
it seems to follow that the more valuable portion at 
least of what is applied to the land, when bones are 
scattered over it, is the phosphate of lime, and not, as 
some have supposed, the oil or the gelatine. 
«These experiments also may serve to illustrate the 
distinction, which I have pointed out in the Memoir re- 
ferred to, between the active and the dormant ingre- 
dients of a soil. ,In the case of that experimented on 
in the Botanic Garden, it has been shown in page 243 
of my memoir, that the amount of potash, of soda, and 
of phosphoric acid continued to the last amply sufficient 
for many successive crops of the most exhausting kinds 
of plants. 
* Yet, notwithstanding this latent wealth, it will be 
seen by the following table that a considerable increase 
of crop was obtained, either by adding manures which 
contained the same ingredients in a more soluble form, 
such as bones, guano, stable dung, and phosphorite, or 
by substances, like nitrate of soda and sulphate of am- 
monia, the addition of which to the soil might favour the 
l of the org: of the plant, and thus 
enable it to extract more nourishment from soil of a 
certain composition than it could otherwise do. 
* It remains only to be seen, by carrying on the ex- 
periment, as I hope to do, for some time longer, whether 
the influence of the former class of manures will not 
continue to be felt, whilst that of the latter ceases after 
the year of its application," 
TURNIPS.—PnopUCE PER ACRE. 
Rooke: Tops, including all the parts Rane: 
y above ground. 
Drainer e ERT O A | 14,298 lbs. 30,591 Ibs, Decaying. 21bs. dried by a water-bath 
weighed 1006 gr.; burnt, 101°5 gr. 
Manured with Gain. Gain. Loss. 
2. lbs. lbs. Ibs. Ibs. lbs. 
Shavings of Bones, 10 cwt. to the| 19,239 4,941 35,210 4,629 .. - |Decaying and small, 
acre* 
3. 
Chemical Manure — Company's 26,058 11,760 28,300 m 2,291 |Sound and tolerably equal, but 
Guano, 260 Ibs. to the acre smaller than those from Nos. 2, 6, 
nd 7. 
4. 
Nitrate of Soda, 1} cwt. to the acre| 28,459 14,161 45,302 14,711 E Sound, butrather small, 2lbs. dried 
Spani: 
12 cwt to the acre 
p. 
sh Phosphorite, appliedalone, 28,639 | 14,241 | 42,016 | 11,425 
t 
by a water-bath weighed 996 gr. ; 
burnt, 124:5 gr. 
Sound and tolerably equal. 2 Ibs. 
dried as above weighed 996 gr.; 
burnt, 103 gr. 
6. 
Spanish Phosphorite, with Sulphu-| 30,869 16,571 31,476 3,879 oe Sound and tolerably equal. 
Tic acid, 12 cwt, to the acre 
T. 
South American Guano, 260 lbs. to] 31,114 16,816 47,060 16,469 9v Sound and tolerably equal. 2 Ibs, 
the aere dried as abové: weighed 1226 gr. ; 
- burnt, 955 gr. 
8. 
Bones with Sulphuric Acid, 11 ewt.| 31,898 17,600 44,421 13,830 .. Sound and tolerably equal. 
to the acre 
9. 
Graham's Animal Compost, 2601bs.| 32,109 17,811 32,003 3,012 T Sound and tolerably equal. 
to the aere 
Sulphate of Ammonia, 1 cwt. to the| 32,070 | 18,872 | 46,464 | 15,873 oy 
acre 
1. 
Bones finely powdered, 12 ewt. to| 36,185 | 21,887 | 45,46 | 14855 
the acre 
12. 
Potter’s Guano, 260 Ibs. to the acre| 37,201 22,903 42,564 11,973 os 
13. 
Stable Dung, 22 tons to the acre .. 
39,4761. 25,178 49,912 19,321 m 
Sound, but of unequal size. 
Sound ánd tolerably equal. Tubers 
ratherlarger than those from Nos. 
Sound and tolerably equal. — 2 Ibs. 
dried as above weighed 955 gr.; 
burnt, 96:5 gr. 
Sound but unequal. 2Ibs. dried as 
above weighed 1010gr.; burnt, 102gr. 
ia n 
Plot, which I have discovered since the paper went to press. 
eae 
Farm Memoranda. 
. A Lincornsutre LowrAND Farm.—tThe following out- 
line will show the general mode of cultivation adopted on 
a Lincolnshire lowland farm. The one taken as an exam- 
Ple is in the oceupation of Mr. John Clarke, of Long Sut- 
1. It is situated on the alluvial level near the sea, 
being abouttwo miles fromthe mouth ofthe Nene. Itcon- 
Sists of about 400 acres, 135 of which are pasture, and 265 
arable, The soilis an alluvial loam of medium quality, 
the Subsoil being a strong admixture of clay-loam and 
Silt resting upon silt. The loam is nearly of uniform 
depth, averaging about 10 inches. The subsoil varies 
Considerably—in some places it is not more than 5 or 
6 inches thick, in others from 2 to 8 feet. The silt is 
a Porous that the “soak,” as it is termed, which comes 
stom the sea, rises like a spring, and is. subject to tidal 
Influence, being higher at spring-tides than at neap. 
1 Tom this and various other causes, the nature of the 
jou, the long-neglected drainage, and the consequent 
OSS of the best pasture Grasses, it is rendered inferior 
38 pasture ; but under good culture it is very useful as 
arable land. The farm-premises are tolerably conve- 
nient, for the district, which, as a whole, is lamentably 
ficient in farm-buildings. The dwelling-house is 
Rum and sufficiently large for its purpose. The build- 
5 88 consists of a moderate-sized barn, hovels for tyin 
8 rs beasts, good open sheds to each of the three 
Sau two root-houses, a cake-house, stables for 12 
~horses, with a large open shed to the horse-yard, a 
aff. louse, two waggon or cart hovels, implement 
PAS and hovels for drill, &c., carpenter's shop, nag- 
f les, coach-house, brewing-house, and shepherd and 
B-man's cottages, The fences are White-thorn 
hedges about 4 feet high, trimmed with a hook, and 
ditches about 3 feet wide. Considerable attention has 
been paid lately to the improvement of the drainage ; 
but, owing to the bad state of the drains and outfalls 
between it and the sea, it is yet very imperfect. Under- 
draining has been more extensively practised upon this 
farm than any other in the neighbourhood, and the trial 
thus made in this dead-level district has proved highly 
satisfactory. About 50 acres of arable land have been 
drained with thorns, and these have accomplished their 
purpose extremely well. 30 acres of tile and pipe 
draining are now nearly completed ; the principal part 
being done with 13 inch bore pipes, and the remainder 
with common tiles and slate soles. This is the first 
tile-draining whieh has been done in the neighbourhood. 
The drains are about 27 inches deep, and at an average 
distance of 20 yards. This depth places them beneath 
the clay—except in occasional spots which are called 
“ elay-holes "—this is not too retentive and tenacious 
to prevent the surface-water from percolating through 
it, and the silt being very porous readily conveys the 
moisture to the drains. 10 acres of pasture were 
rained some time ago with wedge or sod drains, but 
the subsoil not being tenacious enough, they have not 
been very successful ; another piece of pasture, par- 
tially drained with tiles and soles, answers admirably. 
The farm is divided into 18 convenient fields, 12 being 
arable and 6 pasture. Owing to the laxative nature of 
the Grass and the brackish water in the ponds, the 
land is not well adapted for breeding cattle, and those 
grazed are nearly all bought in; Mr. Clarke, however, 
stands high as a breeder of sheep, and being a ram- 
breeder, his course of stocking is rather different from 
the general method. It is as follows:—The Ram. 
pasture, containing about 10 acres, is grazed by 28 two 
and three-shear rams, and 5 drape cows. 
The Twenty-six 
ewes, suckling pairs, 50 lamb-hoggets, and 12 two and 
a half years old steers. The Thirty acres, by 70 ewes and 
lambs, 50 hoggets, and 10 two and a half years old steers. 
The Crow-marsh, of 23} acres, by 65 ewes and lambs, 40 
hoggets, and 10 two and two-and-half years old heifers: 
And the Twelve-acres is grazed by 35 ewes, 20 hoggets, 
and from 8 to 10 yearling steers and heifers. When 
the Clover eddishes are ready for stocking, the lambs 
are put upon them, having been previously weaned on 
the old pastures, and the Grass lands are thus eased. 
The grazing land is kept clean from Thistles, and the 
droppings of the cattle are “knocked” twice during 
the summer. Mr. C. has 200 breeding ewes, which 
are put to the ram in the latter end of September ; they 
run thinly over the pastures in the winter, and about 
six weeks before the lambing season have Turnips 
and Mangolds, as it is important that no change takes 
place in their food immediately before lambing. When 
the season arrives, they are supplied with a small 
quantity of Oats ; small lambing-pens, made of hurdles 
wattled with straw, are placed in different parts of the 
field, and a convenient inclosure for them at night is 
made immediately in front of the shepherd's dwelling. 
In the management of ewes, in the lambing season, 
much care is taken. The shepherd does not unneces- 
sarily interfere with the ewe, except to ascertain that all 
isright ; she is then left to her own natural efforts, but 
should she become weak, and it appears requisite to give 
assistance, it is instantly afforded. In cases of pro- 
tracted and difficult labour, a table spoonful of laudanum. 
is given ; this will soon cause a degree of quietude, and 
gives time to the lamb-pouch to resume its proper posi- 
tion, and no other internal applications are made upon 
any account. In consequence of this, the ewe ceases 
to pain herself, and speedy recovery is generally the 
result. Great care should be taken at all times to keep 
them in proper breeding condition, neither too poor nor 
too fresh; if the latter they should be bled, if the 
former they should be gradually brought to better 
keeping ; too sudden a change of diet in breeding stock 
being always wrong. When out of danger they are 
driven on to Grass, or other keeping reserved and pre- 
pared for them. The shearling wethers are fatted off 
during the summer, their average weight being about 
100lbs. per sheep, and the average weight of their 
fleeces about 9j1bs. The flock has been bred with 
great care for many years, and are of the improved 
Lincolnshire long-woolled breed, with a slight intermix- 
ture of the large Leicester and the improved Gloucester 
blood. 100 rams are let annuallyin September at good 
prices. As the Grass is not rich enough to fatten an 
ox, the beasts (which are the improved short-horns) 
are made up in hovels during the winter, and sold 
early the following spring ; they have 13 bushel of Tur- 
nips, and from 8 Ibs. to 14lbs. of cake each. The store 
cattle in the yards have each 13 bushel of Turnips, and 
4 lbs. of cake. There are only a few cows kept, just for 
family use. The pigs are a cross between the Essex 
and Lincolnshire-wold breeds. From 30 to 60 are 
kept in the summer, to run on the fallow lands. Two 
litters are raised from each of the sows annually ; the 
first sold off within three months, except such as are 
saved for fattening, and the others wintered. The cart- 
horses are 14 in number, and are fed principally on 
Lucerne and Tares, being liberally supplied with Swedes 
in winter, (To be concluded newt week.) 
Miscellaneous. 
Application of Lime.—Our practical men in this part 
of Scotland are quite opposed to what they call “frosted 
lime,” or lime laid on before winter, where spring crop 
is intended. Few trouble themselves about the “ Why 
and Because ;” but they soon meet us with the stagger- 
ing argument—* I find the lime does no good !”” Now, 
I am about to show that their “finding” is legitimate, or 
that to spread lime on the ground after harvest is the 
most effectual way to waste it. Little or no carbonic 
acid is formed in any but very low, warm, rich soils in 
winter. Unless when the soil is rich in alkaline matter, 
this acid is scarcely formed below 50° Fah. Hence, 
except what remains in the soil in autumn, there is no 
carbonic acid in it to carbonate the lime till the warmth 
of spring. Water at freezing cold dissolves twice as 
much caustic lime as water at boiling heat, and the 
warmer the water the less lime is dissolved. The 
larger part of the yearly rain commonly falls in the 
winter half year. Suppose 17 inches of rain to fall in 
the winter half year ; how much lime will this dissolve 
ona statute acre? About 80 imperial bushels of un- 
slaked lime, or 240 bushels of the light slaked powder. 
This is equal to about 130 imperial bushels of unslaked 
lime to the Irish acre ; a very heavy dose, if the lime 
be pure. I have given double this quantity of very 
impure lime ; but when the lime is nearly pure, I think 
thisan over-dose for any but very heavy soils. Now, 
suppose this ample dose is, at a heavy expense, laid on 
by the 5th October, and the field has a moderate slope 5: 
it is all or nearly all dissolved and washed out of the 
soil by the rain, before the 15th of next April! No lime 
remains but any little that was spread in lumps. It is 
all gone to the nearest stream before I get asingle crop 
off it. Is this good economy ?—P. Garden, Glene, 
Dumfries. (Farmer's Gazette.) 
Agriculture in France —Some time ago the Minister 
