"Apply 
15.—1846.] 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
245 
= 
Sum. That from Patagonia was more important as a 
Source of supply, though, in two samples from the same 
Cargo, one contained 40 per cent., and the other 20 of 
water. It also contained a large quantity of crystals 
of carbonate of ammonia, and the parties say that they 
could get 60 or 70 tons from the cargo. If a market 
Could be got it is worth 25/. a ton, while the guano it- 
Self would not yield more than 47. a ton. It is a very 
encouraging circumstance also to them when they con- 
Sidered how much the former sources of guano were 
exhausted, that some of the other sources promised 
fully and advantageously to take their place. 
Farmers’ Clubs. 
Iste or Tuanet.—At the meeting of this Club on the 
lith ult., a member produced the result of a crop of 
Barley of 7 acres, on 6 of which 2 cwt. of Peruvian 
guano per acre had been thrown broadcast, worked in 
With the scarifier, the ground dressed fine, and the 
Barley drilled in rows (some at intervals of 9 inches 
And some at half that distanee) ; 1 aere was left with- 
out guano. The difference in favour of guano was 12 
bushels per acre, leaving a profit of about 28s., and a 
larger quantity of straw, by its application. ‘The differ- 
Snee between the thin and thick sown was about 
7 bushels per aere, in favour of the thick; bein; 
apprehensive of attack by wireworm, 4 bushels of seed 
Per acre were drilled in ; the produce was more than 
7 quarters per acre.—A member then introduced the 
following subject: “The comparative advantages of 
farming highly, moderately, and drivingly;" and in 
an able and argumentative speech, of which the follow- 
Ing is a very brief outline, endeavoured to show that 
high farming would in the end be most advantageous to 
all parties. He said that that system was best which 
Would return the largest amount of profit for a number 
of years, without depreciating the value of the land; 
but before you farm highly it was necessary to have 
Certainty of tenure, otherwise others might reap the 
benefit. He would endeavour to show that high farm- 
ing was the most advantageous to the country generally, 
and, with certainty of tenure, to the farmer also, There 
Was little difficulty in proving that high farming was 
Most beneficial in a national point of view ; for, in addi- 
tion to increased production, it gives much more em- 
Ploy than most people were aware of, and, with our 
rapidly increasing population, that was of the greatest 
Consequence. It was not so easy to prove that it was 
Advantageous tothe farmer ; but he would show wherein 
Ub would not injure him. His rent, the tithe under 
Commutation, rates, taxes, repairs, and housekeeping, 
are the same,whether he grows a large crop or a small 
one; and land in good condition requires less seed. 
Taking all these ci into i ion, i 
Was not unreasonable to infer that it must be most ad- 
Vantageous to farm highly. He would now take the 
other extreme, and point out the disadvantage of farm- 
Ing drivingly : it impoverishes the land ; decreases the 
Amount of labour ; frequently ruins the farmer ; incon- 
Venienees the landlord; and it does as much as any 
System ean do towards producing a famine and ruining 
the country. And he would move the following resolu- 
tion, “That this club, having duly considered the ad- 
vantages and disadvantages of farming highly, mode- 
Yately, and. drivingly, is of opinion that high farming is 
e most advantageous : 1st, to the farmer, as most pro- 
fitable ; 2d, to the labourers, as giving the most employ; 
3d, to the community generally, as supplying the largest 
Amount of food. But that it regrets exceedingly that 
9 uncertainty of tenure, in many instances, prevents 
that ditional ding of it which would 
otherwise be advisable.”—A member showed that, by 
1 liberal application of manure, he had improved a 
arm, which he had taken in a low condition, so as to 
weld him an additional profit of 20s. per acre— Thomas 
T Ooper, Secretary. 
- ARebietos. — 
Mode 
tring peat fuel. 
nd the cost and structure of the kilns of which he 
t commends the erection and use, and from the par- 
i asd which he adduces, he draws the following 
quences ;— k 
at First, that the artificial drying of turf, by kiln, is 
En ended not only with the important advantage of in- 
EE a crop of perfectly dry fuel, independently of 
e or weather ; but that an increased value is given 
?manently to the turf in the process. 
val econd, that this method of drying increases the 
p: i of turf fuel of the best quality, as ordinarily pre- 
zed, by nearly double. 
inte hird, that the method is applicable not only to turf 
nded for immediate manufacturing or other use, but 
t 
acme requiring to be stacked or stored for future or 
mestie use, s 
j Fourth, that the most valuable return is given by 
ing this method of drying to the dense black vari- 
eties of turf; and that the assumed advantages of 
superior purity in the red, or upper turf, for certain 
| 
| 
whole force of the farm is now brought to bear upon 
the-field ; ridging, manuring, preparing ashes, drilling, 
manufacturing uses, are not founded in fact; inasmuch | and rolling down, are all carried on simultaneously. 
as its ashes contain a considerable proportion of sul- 
phur, as wellas those of thé denser black turf.'^ 
One part of Mr. Mallet’s improved method of manu- 
facturing peat fuel consists in the adoption of the Dutch 
method of taking them from the bog. We extract the 
following passage, descriptive of this plan of making 
“hand turf” 
* The method may be expressed in a single sentence ; 
it is in place of ever cutting turf from the bank in sods 
at all, invariably to make ‘hand turf,’ as it is called in 
Ireland. Wherever there is abundant water in the 
bog, as is generally the case, the Peat-mud is to be had 
ready to hand, merely by taking it out of the bog-holes 
by suitable instruments. Where the drainage is more 
perfect or the turf more fibrous, the Dutch method of 
working or kneading with water, so as to make artificial 
hand-turf, must be adopted. The results of adopting 
this method are—that from the same peat, turf thus 
made is about double the density when dry that it can 
ever be brought to without mechanical pressure, if cut 
in sods—that the whole labour of turf-making is reduced 
to merely casting out the peat-mud, and spreading it on 
the surface of the bog, when properly prepared to re- 
ceive it, and after a short time slicing the semi-dried 
stratum of peat-mud with ‘a fit tool into parallel bands, 
to form the future peats, which as soon as they are con- 
sistent enough to be carried, are transferred to the 
About 14 large two-horse cart loads of farm-yard dung 
are deposited in the ridges, which are 25 inches apart. 
Upon these are drilled from 20 to 60 bushels of ashes 
mixed with 43 bushels of bones, or 14 cwt. of guano per 
acre, and 3 lbs. of Turnip seed. If guano is sown the 
seed is drilled with the double or after coulters, so as 
not to come in contact with the guano ; for if it does it 
dies. The same mode of operation is adopted with Rape, 
which requires about 1 peck of seed an acre. The 
ridges are generally rolled again when the Turnip or 
Rape plants are from 4 to 6 inches in height, if the land 
isthen dry enough. "They are thus more consolidated, 
and the plants willimbibe moisture from the subsoil and 
grow much faster. Both crops are repeatedly hand 
and horse-hoed during the summer, so that the land ob- 
tains nearly the pulverisation of a summer fallow, at the 
same time producing a profitable erop. Occasionally 
the fallowing takes place oftener than is laid down by 
the rotation, by giving up the last two crops, Beans and 
Wheat. The land is very subject to the small variety 
Couch-grass, so that it i becomes necessary 
to fallow after the second crop of Wheat. The varieties 
of Turnips most approved of are the Purple-top Swede 
(af which Mr. C. has long been a successful grower), 
the Green-top Seoteh Yellow, and the Red Round. 
After the Rape crop is consumed these are fed off in 
e 
g 
drying kiln, by whieh the whole labour of spreading and 
turning the sods and piling &e., which constitute by far 
the greatest expenditure of labour in turf-making when 
cut in sods, are avoided. 
“tis not perhaps easy to give any precise explana- 
nation of why it is that peat dries so much faster, and 
becomes so very much closer and denser, if broken up 
prior to its drying, than if dried just as eut from the 
turf-bank; but the fact is certain. Thus I find by 
aetual experiment that good brown turf from the bog of 
Allen when kiln-dried as cut from the bank, weighs only 
31 pounds per cubic foot = 837 lbs. per cubic yard. 
When eut, and the fibre broken up moist, and made in 
the Dutch fashion, and kiln-dried, it assumes such a 
density as to weigh 64.6 lbs. per cubic foot = 1744.2 lbs. 
per cubic yard ; thus more than doubling its density, 
and in fact becoming as dense as compressed turf, and 
denser than dry Oak timber, which only weighs about 
53 lbs. per cubic foot. 
* The average cost in Ireland of turf may be stated at 
from 5d. to 7d. per statute box of 20 cubic feet. Now it 
is said that one able-bodied man can cast up from a bank 
not more than 5 feet in depth, as much as 20 boxes = 
400 cubic feet per day of wet turf sods. I doubt the 
fact myself, but assuming it to be so, it will require 
from four to five other persons (women and boys), to 
carry away and spread the turf, and under the most 
favourable weather, the turning and piling process must 
be continued for at least 20 days. Taking the average 
of wages in Ireland, therefore, it is manifest that almost 
the entire value of turf at 6d. a box consists in labour 
spent uponit. Now if the Dutch method, or the Dutch 
improvements on our own method, of making hand turf 
be adopted, at least two-thirds of the whole labour 
would be saved; and more than this, if, as I recom- 
mended, this method of preparation be fully combined 
with the arrangements for desiccation in kilns which I 
have proposed. Thus then to recapitulate: what I 
propose for improving the preparation of turf fuel in 
Ireland is—First, to abandon turf cutting altogether, 
and exclusively make ‘hand turf’ after the Dutch 
method, Second, to dry aliturf so made in kilns, either 
of the German or of my construction.” 
We strongly recommend this work to the perusal of 
all those the nature of whose properties renders them 
interested in the subject which Mr. Mallet has here 
treated in so able and interesting a manner. 
Farm Memoranda. 
A LINCOLNSHIRE Lowrawp Farm. (See page 229.) 
—The arable land is divided into 12 fields of nearly 
equal size, which are cropped in the following rota- 
tion: commencing, with a half-fallow for Turnips 
or Rape; 2d, on the Turnip land, Oats ; 3d, Wheat; 
4th, Clover ; 5th, Wheat; 6th, Beans, manured ; 7th, 
Wheat. The Rapeis sown to Wheat ; 3d, Clover ; 4th, 
Wheat; Sth, Beans or Peas; 6th, Wheat. These 
rotations are alternate, the land growing Turnips 
one course being sown to Rape next. Deviations, 
however, are occasionally made; Barley sometimes 
succeeding the Wheat after Rape, followed by Clover 
on Grass seeds. Potatoes, in some cases, are taken 
upon a few acres; also Carrots and Mangolds in 
small quantities only. The land to be fallowed 
is ploughed up in dry weather, in the autumn or 
during the winter, at a depth of about 7 inches, It is 
cross-ploughed as early in the spring as possible, and 
left fora time. It is then well worked with a common 
scarifier, heavy harrows, and roller, taking care that it 
is not brought into a fine tilth too soon, but kept in what 
is termed a “chequery” state ; the danger being in its 
running or setting into a compact waxy state from heavy 
rains, if too fine a mould is obtained. The root-weeds 
are thus kept on the top and dried up, while the land is 
fine enough at the same time to promote the growth of 
the seeds. Immediately before putting in the crop it is 
ploughed a third time, well worked as before, and the 
tilth is then obtained as fine as possible ; all weeds are 
picked off and burnt, with sods pared from the head- 
lands or elsewhere, for drilling in with the seed, ‘The 
; the Red Round first, Seotch Yellow second, 
and Swedes last. This rule is in accordance with the 
most approved system, it being ascertained the common 
varieties are best first. The sheep are folded on the 
field, being allowed 2 oz. each of linseed eake, which is 
gradually increased to } lb. The Turnips are taken up, 
cut, and given to the sheep in flat-bottomed troughs, 
raised 15 inches from the ground. This year Mr. 
Clarke has three sheds, constructed of large bullock 
hurdles, and covered with straw, as shelters for them. 
These are well bedded, and found to be a great benefit, 
for the sheep are comparatively dry and clean, and 
much more healthy and comfortable. There can be no 
doubt that the plan of hovelling in any shape is a great 
saving in food, but especially in winter, when a great 
part of what the stock consume is eaten to maintain the 
heat of their bodies. The Oat crop is put in after the 
same manner as Wheat, and as early in the spring as 
possible. "The Duteh Brew, Friesland, and Poland are 
most preferred. The Hopetown was cultivated two or 
three years, but did not ripen well. The Potato-Oat is 
another kind which has not yielded well. About 12 pecks 
peracre is enough for seeding. Wheat: thiscropissown 
between the 1st of November and Christmas, but all is 
done in November if possible. The Wheat after Rape 
is sown much later, because of eating off the keeping, 
but seldom later than January. ‘The “lands” are laid 
out so that the drill:covers them at a round, the‘horses 
walking down the furrows ; and the ploughing and har- 
rowing are both done without a horse treading upon 
the part ploughed, except in the furrows. The seed is 
deposited at 9 inches apart; and about 7 to 10 peeks per 
acre, according to the state of the soil. The favourite 
varieties are the Taunton Dean White, the Sheriff’s 
White, the Old Essex White, and the Short-strawed 
Hoary White, the Spalding’s Red, Golden Drop, the 
Burwell Red (a variety of Old Red Lammas), and 
Smoothy’s Red. Mr. Clarke has for several years cul- 
tivated many sorts in plots sometimes to the amount of 
60, and has found none to exceed the above for general 
purposes. Clover.—This is drilled between the revs 
of Wheat, and about 10 lbs. per acre produces an ex- 
cellent plant. Part of the Clover is mown, and part de- 
pastured ; the Clover after the Ist crop of Wheat is 
eaten off, and that after the 2d crop of Wheat mown. 
Beans.—These are drilled in double rows for horse 
hoeing, that is, the rows are placed at alternate dis- 
tanees of 6 and 18 inches. The varieties most preferred 
are the small Heligoland and the Cambridge White ; 
the Tick Beans are never grown. The land is fre- 
quently prepared for Beans by the skeleton ploughs and 
searifier alone. The favourite sorts of Pea are the 
Partridge Grey, the Prussian Blue, the White Boiling 
Pea, and the Nimble Tailor Pea. * Mr. C. has, for the 
past four years, endeavoured to adapt to field culture a 
most prolific dwarf Pea, selected by an old gardener 
for its extraordinary yields, and has succeeded well, 
The implements principally in use upon the farm are 
Ransome’s cast-iron ploughs, four-horse thrashing ma- 
chine, and chaff engine ; Cooch’s dressing machine ; 
Hornsby’s drill ; Harrows in variety, Howard’s patent 
common six bulled, &c. ; large Scarifier ; the universal 
plough, invented by Mr. C.: this implement is very 
useful in several ways ; it can be adapted so as to make 
a perfect horse-hoe for ridge culture, a good two-horse 
scarifier, a capital broadshare plough, and a very effec- 
tive subsoil plough. The Rackheath subsoil plough ; 
Waggons and carts, light and heavy. The plouglis are 
all worked by two horses, except Ransome's B. M., 
one or two of which are kept to take up the mould- 
furrows, and other light work. Stacks.—The Hay, 
Beans, Peas, Oats, and Barley are in long ricks; the 
Wheat stacks or “cobs” are after the best East Lo- 
thian model, being round, and widening gradually as 
the height increases. The roof is short and well thatched, 
and the eaves are 22 feet from the ground. Mangolds, 
and occasionally Turnips, are taken up early in Novem- 
ber,and placed in long heaps or “ graves,” about 8 feet 
wide at bottom. They are thatched down for two or 
three weeks, to give time for any fermentation to escape, 
and are then earthed up within a foot of the top, which 
