| 
phina a 
A 
19—1846.] THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 307 
and sand,fabove the chalk); but then it is very doubt- 
ful if the water when he reaches it will rise through 
his bore to the surface. There are artesian wells below 
the chalk, obtained by borings of very moderate depth ; 
but such a thing is not to be expected unless there be 
a high inclination of the clay-beds in which the boring 
is made to one side or the other, and perhaps no 
lower natural issues in the neighbourhood likely to be 
supplied from the same sources, namely, the sand-beds 
into which his boring is carried. 
Before the true relations of the distribution of coal- 
beds were understood, thousands of pounds were spent 
in fruitless borings for that mineral. More lately, 
many hundreds have been thrown away on ill-con- 
sidered attempts to obtain supplies of water on the 
artesian principle. Very little is heard of such fruit- 
less adventures, because men do not love to publish 
their failures, particularly if they have been costly ones. 
They are begun under the promises and plausible 
stories of designing or perhaps ignorant engineers, and 
abandoned from conviction of their hopelessness, or 
because it is discovered that “le jeu ne vaut pas la 
chandelle !”—* * 
I am surprised to see how slowly many useful things 
make their way in this * working-day world” of ours. 
I have been prompted to the utterance of this sage re- 
mark by reading the communication of your corre- 
spondent, “ H. B. Morris, of Ramsgate,” on the Tarred 
Walk at Margate. I have now had some years’ expe- 
rience of tar compost, and have every reason to be 
Satisfied with it. For all sorts of out-house flooring I 
know of nothing at all equal to it. For barns, stables, 
coach-houses, tool-houses, and even for plain village 
School-room floors it is unexceptionable, being at once 
thoroughly dry, wholesome, cleanly, smooth, easily re- 
paired, noiseless under motion, and inimical to vermin ; 
besides being so very cheap, only costing from 3d. to 
43d. per square foot, according to cireumstances, The 
best way of laying down a floor appears to me to be the 
following :—Lay down a good solid concrete of broken 
bricks and tiles or chalk, or both materials mixed 
together, only they should be broken smallish ; having 
made this quite level, pour on it coal tar (cold as it 
comes, I never heated it yet), until the rubble is just 
covered, Then sift through a fine sieve a mixture of 
coal-ash and sand, or coal-dust and powdered lime, or 
all mixed, or any one separately, it makes very little 
difference. I prefer quick-lime, ashes, and sand, in 
equal parts, but I have used lime-dust alone, and found 
it answer, though it is longer drying, and is not quite 
80 firm. My plan is to sift on plenty, and have the 
Work well rolled or trodden, supplying more siftings as 
it becomes necessary. The proper quantity of siftings 
will work in without any trouble at all if time be 
allowed, and the floor used while it is covered tolerably 
deep. Sometimes two or three coats are wanted, and 
are always best, often one will do. After the first 
Coating upon the rubble, no more is necessary to be 
done, either for an extra coat or a repairing coat, than 
‘© pour down some tar and to spread it about with an 
old brush, covering it with siftings. Any labourer can 
mend or even make a floor of this sort. For an up- 
Stair floor, I should lath the tops of the joists as closely 
and strongly as would permit good “keying” for the 
Mortar. Have it very roughly plastered with hair- 
Mortar, and, while the mortar is wet, throw thinly upon it 
some small broken brick, chalk, or “lime traps,” after the 
manner of “rough cast ;” allow this to dry sufficiently, 
and then pour on the tar, and afterwards sift on the 
sand, &c. as before. The reason I prefer brick rubble, 
&e. to stones broken is this—I have found out that by 
long wear a small stone or an edge of a piece of larger 
Size will work up, whereas broken brieks or ehalk will 
Saturate partly with tar, and will wear down with the 
rest of the surface. The floor should never be left so 
long without repair as to wear away so much as to show 
the bottom layer, and it will only happen so after 
Several years of active traffic if the floor be well made 
at the first. 
I think the value of such a bottom for a stable would 
be greatly enhanced by its impermeability to the drain- 
age from the animals ; it could, in q never | 8 
gradually mix, as you would mix water with the mortar 
or plaister, until the heap is about the consistence of 
pretty stiff mortar. 
In forming my yards and sheds for cows, and those 
attached to loose boxes for horses two years ago, in 
order that all the fluids should drain towards a tank, I 
employed this compound, spread about three-fourths of 
an inch thick, ona surface formed with stone broken 
very small, and a small quantity of fine gravel scattered 
over them and then rolled down, to preveht unnecessary 
waste of the cement. This was laid over and then 
patted down with an iron shovel. In the course of two 
or three days, just before it gets hard, pass an iron 
roller over it. In the course of a week, if properly 
done, it willbe as firm as stone, and not affected either by 
drought or wet in any degree. My yards have been in 
use, covered with muck during two winters, and exposed 
dry and clean to the sun during two summers, and I 
perceive no change. 
If the spent lime of the gas works be substituted for 
quick lime, a little more in proportion should be used. 
The cement made with the spent lime sets more quickly 
and answers equally well. I have also used this as a 
covering for the top of stone walls, for which it answers 
admirably. I have been inclined to use it in lieu of 
pitching for stables, but doubt whether it would stand 
the kicking of horses while being dressed, unless laid 
two or three inches thick.—C. Lawrence, Cirencester. 
Home Correspondence. 
Royal Agricultural College.—A visit which may 
lead to important results has been recently paid to the 
Royal Agricultural College, at Citencester, by Monsieur 
Ouvrard, the celebrated French financier. He has 
brought to notice a process discovered by a Monsieur 
Encontre, for reducing farm and stable manure to a 
substance resembling guano for portability, but said to 
exceed it in durability and fertilizing qualities. The 
subject was laid before the Council of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society, and the farm of the college has been 
selected for giving the process a fair trial previous to 
its being submitted to the public, and we understand 
the council of that promising institution are likely to 
give every facility to the object.— From a Correspondent. 
Glass Milk Pans only want to be as cheap here as 
they are on the Continent to be generally used.—As the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle has done so much towards cheap- 
ening glass for horticultural purposes, can you not 
assist to cheapen glass for dairy purposes. I see in the 
Ist vol. of the * Royal Agricultural Journal," on Rural 
Economy of Schleswig, &c., that glass millc s holding 
eight quarts are there sold for 8d. a piece, and they are 
very durable. I also have some recollection of reading 
in the Agricultural Gazette of glass milk-pans being 
imported from Hamburgh (I think), and costing there 
13d. or 14d. each. Now, that the duty is off glass, why 
should we not have them equally cheap. I should think 
them far preferable to earthenware, wood, or zine ; but 
at present they are much too dear. I was asked the 
other day for green glass milk-pans, from 3s. 6d. to 
3s. 9d. each ; this is very dear compared with the Con- 
tinental prices. —James Eames, Chawton, Alton. [ Apply 
to the agents of the foreign houses, who advertise in our 
columns. They can doubtless import to your order, and 
supply the article cheaply.] 
On the Value of Malt as Food for Cattle.—An ar- 
ticle in your Paper of April 4th has attracted my notice, 
as it quotes the opinions of chemists to prove that no 
advantage would be conferred upon the farmer by per- 
mitting him to feed his cattle with malt free of duty. 
As it appeared to me that something in addition to Tur- 
nips or Potatoes is required to supply the demand for 
well-fed beef, and as oil-cake is dear and frequently 
adulterated, I turned my attention to Linseed, and have 
found that, if given in conjunction with other food, it 
will answer the intended purpose. To each animal is 
given daily as follows:—A mash composed of 4 lbs. of 
Barley-meal, 21bs. of Linseed, dissolved in boiling 
water, and a small portion of a sheaf of Oats chopped— 
this mash to be divided into 2 parts, and given twice a 
day ; 7 stones of Turnips, divided in 3 parts, and given 
3 times a day ; dry straw is always in the rack, of 
which a beast may eat às much as he chooses. Several 
in this d have fed cattle with 
become saturated with material giving off ammoniacal 
Vapour, and would therefore be so much the more 
wholesome, 
There is another thing of great service for farmers to 
know, viz, that a pit smoothly dug, and the sides well 
covered with stiff clay, mixed with fine coal ashes, 
permitted to dry, and then well covered once or twice 
with coal tar, forms a good and useful, i. e. lasting, 
water-tight tank for liquid manure; such a pit any 
Skilful farmer’s labourer could make.—J acques De 
Sayville, Old Church Side. 
The following is another communication on the same 
Subject :— 
Some observations which I saw in the Gazette a few 
days ago, suggesting a cement for a barn floor, induce 
Mme to mention one which I propose trying for a similar 
uns in consequence of the complete success which 
as attend ed the use of it for very inferior purposes. 
t Consists of very inexpensive articles, readily pro- 
abo in the neighbourhood of gas works, and is thus 
or pounded :—Two parts sifted coal ashes and one part 
z quicklime, to be thoroughly mixed together in a 
ARM heap ; then proceed as in mixing up fine mortar, 
aking a hollow in the top of the cone, and pouring in 
Sas tar, not gas water or half and half as it sometimes 
Linseed. In the winter beginning in 1844 and ending 
in 1845, I gave orders for an experiment to be made 
to ascertain the comparative values of malt and of Lin- 
seed, if given for the purpose of preparing cattle for the 
butcher ; and 2 quarters of malt were given to 2 bul- 
locks, 7 stones of Turnips being also given to each bul- 
lock daily. My agent, Mr. Faint, has come to the 
conclusion that malt, duty free, would be as cheap as 
inseed and Barley; but he thinks it would be the 
cheapest of the two sorts of food, and it certainly would 
be less trouble to farmers, especially to small ones. 
The feeding quality of malt is proved by the effects 
which malt-combs have in feeding sheep, and which 
grains have in feeding cattle. The benefit of ailowing 
the farmer to feed his cattle with malt, duty free, would 
e very great. The samples of Wheat, as well as of 
Barley, would be improved, as the small corn would be 
profitably employed in feeding cattle. But is a tax, as 
heavy as that imposed here, imposed on malt in the 
neighbouring countries from which cattle may be im- 
ported ? and will Sir Robert Peel be guilty of the ery- 
ing injustice of allowing cattle, fed with malt which has 
not paid duty, to be sold duty free in this country, and 
of levying at the same time a very heavy tax upon malt 
used to feed cattle here. If it is intended to remit the 
Comes out Of the reservoir, but the thick tar, and | duty upon malt used to feed cattle here, the objection 
to which 1 have just adverted will be done away. Lull” 
I have further information I cannot concur in the 
praise whieh has been bestowed upon Sir Robert Peel 
for having appointed Dr. Thompson and Dr. R. Thomp- 
son, of Glasgow, to ascertain the value of malt as a food 
for cattle. I do not wish to question the ability of 
these gentlemen—I am not acquainted with them—but 
a scientific chemist may know nothing about the feedin, 
of cattle ; unless he has experience in this business, 
consider his appointment may be the means of propa- 
gating a gross delusion. A farmer skilled in feeding 
cattle ought to have been selected to make the experi- 
ment. Is Sir Robert Peel’s distrust of the farmers so 
great that not one can be found in whom he has suffi- 
cient confidence to entrust with the trial of this expe- 
riment? It is said in the Agricultural Gazette, * that 
after a time the bullocks became ill.” This entities 
me to inquire whether they may not have been mis- 
managed? Judgment and knowledge are both required 
to regulate the quantity of food which may be given to 
cattle which are intended for fattening. It is easy to 
surfeit them ; and when this happens, the owner of the 
animals pays dearly for want of prudence. I have not 
seen the report made by Dr. Thompson and Dr. R. 
Thompson. If they are practical farmers, some of the 
objections raised by me are answered ; still I see much 
that calls for inquiry. If the report is to be made the 
basis of legislation, the publie have a right to know 
what was the cause of the illness of the cattle. Last 
year I sold about 30 fat beasts ; in this year, since the 
middle of December I have sold 21 fat cattle, and I 
have 17 which are going on fattening, but none of them 
have been ill in either year; and I believe illness 
amongst eatile which are fattening is generally caused 
by mismanagement. If an effort was made to feed 
cattle with malt without any mixture of cooling food, 
such as Turnips, Potatoes, Cabbages, or other things of 
this description, no experiment could be more likely to 
end in complete failure. There would be as much sense 
in feeding à man upon beef without any other article of 
food.— Wood End, near Thirsk, April 23. 
Horse Feeding.—1 notice in your Paper a statement 
by Mr. Ramsay, at the Newcastle Farmers’ Club, of his 
feeding his horses with eut hay, &c. ; but he does not 
show the relative cost, or the saving by this mode of 
feeding. Perhaps Mr. Ramsay would state the quantity 
of cut hay and straw, and the quantity of corn per da; 
or week, and the cost, and whether he allows his horses. 
any long or uncut hay. This information would much 
oblige—A Young Farmer, Newcastle. 
Indian Corn.—It is admitted that Indian corn meal 
The Mexieans 
ain, and then 
will keep. I 
d. in Mex £ t uy weeks, 
1 y supply hàd lasted, I have no doubt it would 
have remained sound many weeks long When a 
Mexican underiakes:a journey of many days, at a dis- 
tance from towns or villages, he fills a bag with the 
flour of this parched corn, mixed up w 
sometimes a small quantity of spice. 
filled tied to his saddle he considers himself to be well 
provided with food. When he reaches a stream, he 
puts half a handful of this corn in a cup, and filling it 
up with water, stirs it up to melt the sugar, and drinks 
it off ; or if he gets a fire, he heats the water and stirs. 
in the corn. For many weeks during a journey from 
the north of Mexico to the south, exposed to some bard- 
ships and great fatigue, I lived, and, with truth I may 
say, fattened on this preparation of corn. At breakfast, 
at the halt of the mid-day, and at the setting of the sun, 
my cup of hot water was on the fire, the.parehed corn- 
meal with its sugar and spice was put into it, and ina 
minute or two my repast was prepared. I thought 
nothing could be more agreeable or nourishing. I can- 
not relate the mode by which the Mexicans parch the 
corn, for I never saw it done. The grinding of it was 
on the stone so constantly described by all travellers. 
who mention the corn cakes of Mexico called ‘‘tortillas.” 
— Thomas Falconer. 
Ireland—one of the finest countries in the world—is 
now suffering from famine and disease. Why? Not 
because Nature has dispensed her favours sparingly, 
but because her sons and her adopted sons have deserted 
their country. Look at the state of agriculture in the 
sister isle, and then picture to yourself the field for 
speculation staring you in the face. Joal, iron, marble, 
copper, &e. &e., capable of being converted into money, 
by the activity ofman. Then cast your eye over the 
wilderness of waste land, requiring only the spade and 
plough, backed by industry and capital, to be converted 
into a mine of wealth. This is all rue ; but I may be 
told no man’s life is safe in such a distracted island. I 
answer, the only remedy to allay the existing evils is 
for owners of property to go over in a body, and reside 
on their estates for 12 months, and if the experiment 
does not succeed, let them go where they will. It is 
not pleasant to be shot at entering your own door in 
broad daylight; but these lawless proceedings would 
soon vanish, did their natural protectors reside amongst 
the Irish. No race of men are more alive to kindness 
than the peasantry ; give them a fair opportunity of 
improving the land, by instruction and example, ami 
let them have a chance of consuming part of the pro- 
duce they cultivate, and we should soon have our sister 
island as flourishing as England. Some slight saeri- 
fice must be made by individuals who love their ease, 
but what is this compared with the welfare of millions ? 
Let us hope soon to hear of meetings being convened 
by Irish landlords and owners of property, to consider 
