. 18—1846.] 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
29l 
On his part. The object of agricultural association was 
and is the improvement of agriculture in all its branches, 
the breeding and feeding of cattle as well as the cultiva- 
tion of the land. In carrying out this project an essen- 
tial principle has been rather overlooked,'viz., economy, 
80 necessary to the small farmer. The fattening of 
quadrupeds has been encouraged to an unlimited ex- 
tent without much regard to expense. This is very 
laudable, and may be of use, in proving which are the 
est crosses adapted for the market ; but such experi- 
ments should not be permitted to swallow up so many 
prizes, and throw the working farmers out of the field. 
I would suggest to those having an interest in the asso- 
ciation, and having influence over the members, the 
poliey of considering the claims of the working agri- 
culturist, This may be done by instituting a series of 
prizes for the best bred animals, ready for the market, 
fed in the most economical and judicious manner, which 
ought to be shown on paper. The benefits of experi- 
ments are great ; if, after having excited astonishment 
and admiration, they can be made to promote the wel- 
fare of our fellow-creatures. If, on the contrary, they 
are continued merely for the sake of obtaining a reward, 
exciting the envy of some, and the disgust of others, I 
cannot believe they are worthy of general support. I 
do not wish or intend for a moment to underrate the 
importance of agricultural societies which have already 
converted so much barren soil into fruitful fields ; but I 
should like to see their energies guided in a direction 
which would confer such lasting and substantial com- 
forts on a class of men who cannot thrust themselves 
forward amongst the ranks of the rich, but who are 
Most deserving of patronage. I mean the small farmer, 
Whose circumstances will not justify him in spending 
Toney with the prospect: of only obtaining a name for 
aving pampered a pig till it was obliged to be carried 
to the show, and we all know that over-fed bacon is 
Most extravagant food, most of the fat wasting in dres- 
Sing it for the table, proving that it is labour in vain, 
and waste of provender, cramming an animal beyond 
a certain point not difficult to ascertain. I hope that 
Some more able pen than mine will take up the cause of 
the working farmer.— Falcon. 
Potato Disease.—In my last communication (p. 260) 
I mentioned that some Potatoes forced in pits had 
evinced symptoms of the disease of last summer, but 
that those in beds in the frame were still vigorous. I 
regret to say that about a week ago these latter began 
to show symptoms of taint in some of the stems, which, 
in the course of three days, became almost black. 
Some of the others are now showing the usual unhealthy 
spots on the leaves, and I fear will rapidly give way. 
The Potatoes in the pits and in the bed were planted at 
the same time ; the former being in a frame of a higher 
temperature, reached the point of decay sooner than 
the others, and the tubers show symptoms of disease in 
both eases. Under ordinary cireumstances we should 
have had them at table about the end of this month; and if 
the epidemic extends to those grown in the fields, it will 
Probably be the month of July in the southern, and the 
month of August in the northern parts of the kingdom, 
hefore we become aware of the extent of the mischief. 
o meet this dilemma, I have in some fields planted 
eans between the Potatoes, and in others I propose 
planting Swedish Turnips, Cabbages, and Mangold 
Wurzel. In the meantime, in order in to test the 
effect of eutting over, and drawing the stems away from 
the tubers, I have done so with various plants in the 
frame, and the result may serve as a guide for the treat- 
ment of the field crop. .I may mention that my gar- 
dener planted out a quantity of Potatoes in the open 
border on the lst of March ; they were cut down to 
the ground, and quite black, by the frost which we had 
about the 20th ult. They are now 6 inches high, and 
Apparently most vigorous ; so that the ordinary dread 
of frost, in the event of early planting, would appear to 
e groundless. A similar occurrence took place here 
about 12 years ago.—J. S. Richardson, Pitfour Castle, 
Perth, April 25 
Potato Scoop.— Accidentally taking up your Gazette 
Of the 21st ult., my eye was attracted to a new Potato 
Scoop, highly recommended for economy. I am no 
Agrieulturist myself, but happen to have a good deal of 
‘arming information, and ean assure you this scoop, to 
my certain personal knowledge, is 40 yearsold. I have 
Seen it used, and I think only for one year, and thrown 
aside, and for the best of all reasons, that the sets cut 
Out by it produced a weak and puny crop, which when 
AL farmer looks earefully into, he will see the cause. 
me Stone-fruit are richly bedded round with a fleshy 
Um and many other seeds in the same way ; no 
N € ever thinks of stripping these of their nourishment. 
val why deprive the Potato of its support 1—the most 
eh uable root which we have. In using the scoop, you 
‘Oop out all the eyes, to the depth it will go, and leave 
Rire of the farinaceous or mealy part of the Potato 
han the bulk of the seed. Now examine the skeleton 
Otato, and see how you have mangled the fibres, or 
Toots, shooting inwards from the eye, evidently for sup- 
Port, of which the scooped-out eye is deprived. Can 
Aything but a small and puny erop be expected ? 
nus you have noticed that by planting whole Pota- 
= 5, you lose a great quantity, and large tubers; this 
ihe converse of the above. I differ also as to 
Planting them deep; they should not be planted too 
deep — you lose the benefit of the soil; but at a 
common depth, and earthed up as they grow, an enor- 
Mous quantity can be raised from one Potato in this 
Nay. Now my suggestion is to keep to the old plan, 
Which has been found the pest, and so far as I have 
heard, has nothing to do with the present disease. Let 
careful hands cut out the eyes from the Potato, giving 
every one its fair proportion of the nourishment which 
Nature intended for it; have your drills ready to 
receive the seed—or I should rather say follow the 
plough—bedding the bottom of the furrow well with 
dung, fresh from the dunghill ; place the fresh cut sets 
over the dung, with the eye up—although this you will 
not manage upon a large field—and about 10 inches 
apart, and let the whole be immediately ploughed down 5 
if anything will produce a crop this will. When the 
plants come fairly above-ground they should be care- 
fully hoed, and the earth loosened all round. When 
or 10 inches high they should be ploughed up by the 
drill plough, one having a mould-board on each side,— 
and then have done with them until the lifting —4 
Scotchman, Ventnor. 
Guano.—I observe by late Numbers that you have 
taken a lively interest on behalf of the agriculturist, re- 
lative to the supply of guano, and have very justly re- 
commended purchasers to apply direct to the importers, 
and more particularly to Messrs. Gibbs and Co., who 
have the Peruvian contract. It is admitted, I believe, 
by every chemist that the Peruvian is the most valuable 
article, as a fertiliser, of all the kinds imported 5 but it 
is allowed by Professor Johnson that the principal 
quantity used last year was that from Ichaboe—no 
doubt, arising from the difference of price between that 
and Peruvian, varying between 4l. and 5/. per ton. I 
was the first importer of Ichaboe to this port, and the 
testimonials I have from numerous parties who have 
used it prove that they are equally satisfied with the re- 
sults of its application as they are with the Peruvian. 
This arises, no doubt, from their getting the article 
free from adulteration direct from the importers. I 
take the liberty of informing you that I have now land- 
ing the first cargo from Patagonia, at this port, per 
brig Canning, selected by my brother, Capt. Albert 
Haneock. A copy of the analysis of the same I sub- 
join. The quality of the guano I consider to be equal 
to any imported from Ichaboe ; but the quantity to be 
procured from the islands of this coast is small in com- 
parison to that proeured from that d. 
** Copy of Analysis of Cargo of Guano coming from the Coast of 
Patagonia, now landing at Bristol ; by Mr. Herapath, Esq., And- 
lytical, Chemist :— 
er 
Or ve rs RD 
Sulphate Soda 
Chloride Sodium 
Phosphate Soda 23 
Phosphate Pota: 
Carbonate Lime 
Sulphate Lime — .- 
Phosphate Lime 
Andes ee 
Available manure, 67.18, containing nitrogen 
which is equal to ammonia 6. 
—B. Hancock, Custom-house, Bristol, April 
Insects on Pasture Land.—i take the freedom of 
asking your advice in the following statement :—I have 
about 6 acres of Grass land, 3} laid down for hay and 
24 grazed. One of the fields grazed is covered with a 
small green fly, which has destroyed the Grass in 
many places, and is spreading with rapidity into the 
hay Grass, and no doubt doing the same there. We 
have taken the cows out of the field, thinking the insect 
would be injurious to them, My inquiries from my 
neighbours do not enlighten me what is the best course 
to pursue. One of them has been a farmer all his life, 
and the other an eminent florist, and neither of them 
ever knew an instance of the kind. Should you be able 
to give me advice in this ease (a very desperate one), it 
will be appreciated as a great favour. 1 have ordered 
the ground to be rolled, but have no faith in so doing 
being of any service.—J. Weldon, 24, Dalston-place, 
Dalston, April 17. [Can you get gas-water near you ! 
Try sprinkling 400 gallons per acre out of a water- 
cart. Please to send some of the insects to “R.” at 
our office.] 
Wind Thrashing Machine.-Having a thrashing 
machine (my only power being horses) and having no 
chance where I am situated of getting water power 
(steam I don't like), I have had some thoughts of trying 
wind, If any of your correspondents or subseril 
have such things as wind-mills to thrash their crops, I 
would take it kind if they could inform me the proba- 
ble expense of one about five horses power, that would 
regulate itself to the wind, reef and unreef its sails, so 
as to cause uniformity of speed, &c. I merely want 
the probable price of the wind apparatus without tower, 
upright shafts, &c.; I hope that I shall be able to get 
this information through your valuable paper.—D. L. 
Value of Farm Buildings.—I have read with interest 
“the Value of Farm-buildings” as a discussion for 
clubs. I observe that you think a tenant might safely 
build on a 21 years’ lease and remunerate himself, or 
that he might pay his landlord 74 per cent. instead, if he 
would build. I believe no landlord would refuse to do 
so on these terms, the tenant keeping in repair Yo 
have added some calculations to show which would be 
best for the tenant, but I believe there are errors m 
these calculations. If the tenant sinks 20007. in building, 
he will at the end of 21 years leave behind him 5560}, 
supposing that he could have improved his money 
during those 21 years at 5 per cent. compound interest; 
28. 
if he pays annually 1507. (as interest to the landlord at 
7i per cent.), he will leave 53557, whieh is what 1507. 
annuity,improved at 5/. per cent. compoundinterest, would 
amount to; so that the difference is but small But, if 
he should leave in 10 years, in the first case he will 
leave behind 3240/.—less 1050/. (which his landlord 
will have to repay him for 11 unexpired yerrs), leavin; 
a balance of 21907. ; in the second ease, 18857. ; differ- 
ence in favour of paying 73 per cent., 3057. Or, to take 
an extreme case, if turned out at the end of one year, he 
will have paid 195/., instead of 150/.; loss 457., for the 
use of the buildings. So that, if we assume it to be 
granted that 21 years’ occupation will repay a man for 
erecting buildings, a tenant ought always to be willing 
to pay 74 per cent. for money expended for his benefit 
by the landlord. On the other hand, a landlord is as 
much benefited by receiving 150/. per annum for 21 
years, for an outlay of 2000/., as if the tenant had laid 
out that sum himself; looking at the subject in this 
light, is not this too much for a landlord to exact? £ 
buildings are only valued at 14 years’ purchase, is not 
that tantamount to saying that they are worth nothing 
at the end of 25 years !—Enquirer. 
Town Sewage Manure.—The Leader in an early 
Number of your Agricultural Gazette, in connexion with 
the report of the “Annual meeting of the Society of 
Land Agents, Land Valuers, and Surveyors,” contained 
in the Mark Lane Express of 29th Dec., contains, I 
think, important matter for the consideration of Agri- 
culturists at the present time. It must be admitted the 
soil will produce more abundant crops of every kind if 
skill, capital, and science, are better applied ; and that 
a return adequate to our most sanguine expectations, 
under ordinary circumstances, will surely crown the 
persevering endeavours of every diligent farmer. A 
short time ago I endeavoured to direct the attention of 
the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society to the 
importance of encouraging the public to use the sewage 
manure of London, considered equal to the dressing of 
57,000 acres of land per annum ; and I yet hope the sub- 
ject will be taken up by that Society, for I find that it is 
entertained. Although I know you have already lent 
your aid, I hope I may be excused in again directing 
attention to this matter, conceiving it to beas important, 
if not more, than the subject of guano, as it is not 
unlikely it may supply its place, being attended with a 
double profit, namely, improving the health of towns as 
well as the condition of the land.—J. C., Blair Warren, 
Horkesley Hall, Colchester. 
New Charge against Rooks—Sucking Eggs and De- 
stroying Young Chickens.— Having ån argument witha 
friend as to the advantages and disadvantages of rooks, 
he made the above charge against them, which, being 
disputed, he wrote to his father's gamekeeper, whose 
reply I copy: “I have often caught rooks in traps 
ggs ; and have frequently set traps for 
caught rooks instead. I have often 
ng away eggs as well as chickens. The 
s not so black as that of a crow.” —T. 
SSocieties. 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY or E 
Council was held at the Society's Hous 
in Hanover-square, on Wednesday last, the 29th of 
April; present, the Right Hon. Lord Porrman, Presi- 
i Zar] of Erne, Hon. Capt. H 
M.P 
ROYAL 
AW 
dent, in the chair. 1 
M.P.; Sir John V. B. Johnstone, 
Ogilvy, Bart.; Colonel Austen, M.P.; D. Bar 
M.P.; T. Raymond Barker, Esq.; F. C. Che: 
E. D. Davenport, Esq.; A. E. Fuller, Esq. aye 
Hillyard, Esq.; John Kinder, Esq.; Rev. C. E. Keene ; 
Colonel Mae Douall ; Professor Sewell ; S. Soll s 
W. R. C. Stansfield, Esq. M.P. ; George Wilbraham, 
; Henry Wilson, Esq. ; Colonel Hulse; J. A. 
T 
. Tower, 
Esq.; T. Turner, Esq. ; and T. R. Tweed, Esq. The 
following new members were elected :— 
Tawney, A. R., Banbury, Oxfordshire 
W., Smethwick, Birmingham 
Crack 
on 
Forster, 
s-street, Liverpool 
d, North: à 
Aichison, Will 
Whittle, Edwa: 
F: F 
Hill, Newcastle-on-Tyne 
land of Malta » 
a 
ame 
Arrowsmith, 
nton, Newc.-on-Tyne 
1, New tle-on- Tyne 
oreton Lodge, Buckin; 
B 
Smith, E 
Tenry, Ma 
Selby, uem E Durham 
p. Edward, 8 
d, G 
ydale, Yorkshire 
mer, Buckingham 
5 
Newcastle-on-Tyne 
'urcell, Bicester, Oxon 
-on-Tees, Durham 
x rale, Gateshead, Durham 
i astle-on-Tyne 
lonel George, Warfield, B: kne! Berk: 
, Coleraine House, Stamford-hill, Middlesex 
: um Squire, Wellow Hall, Ollerton, Notts 
Riddell, Sir Walter Buchanan, Bart., Old Square, Lincoln's Inn 
Lawes, John Bennett, Rothamsted Park, Harpenden, Herts 
The names of 20 candidates for election at the next 
meeting were then read. 
AILWAY LrbERALITY.— The Secretary laid before 
the Council letters received from Mr, Saunders, Secre- 
tary to the Great- Western Railway Company, and Cap- 
tain Mark Huish, General- Manager of the Grand-J unc- 
