396 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
[JUNE 13, 
to theory this mode of treatment would yield more nu- | weather, they at once turn as black as if charred. The 
triment than that generally adopted. But it may be 
asked, what is the relative cost? This I make as fol- 
lows, per week : 
lst— Ts lbs. of hay, at 70s. per m 
deme 8 ns 2 bshl. 24 pks: ‘of Oats, 
LL 
. Ts. 94d. 
BEC tea, 
9s. 213. 
3d. 
140 je qx x raw, at 30s. Dor on. « 1s. 1034. 
33 Ibs. Linseed, at 13d. p eee 08. 41d. 
Cost of chopping straw, gr! ian Beans, 
and crushing ‘Linseed, SAY «eene 18. Od. 
Should the preceding remarksbe deemed li likely b 
any light upon the subject in question, or be considered 
beneficial to agrieulture in general, they are much at 
your service.— Henry Briggs, Oveiton, near Wakefield. 
Agricultural Statistics, —The remarks brought for- 
ward on Mr. Stafford O'Brien's motion about agricul- 
tural statistics, do not seem to make it evident that 
what Government and the country require on this head 
are to be obtained by a country schoolmaster. Every 
one knows who is acquainted with agricultural pursuits 
that in a wealthy kingdom like this, our statistics 
ia to be obtained from a less objectionable source, 
‘by men skilled in order, and men of education and ex- 
perience in statistics generally, who could gather such 
information as would place it beyond a mere supposition, 
as would be the case with men of that class, where 
their very occupation makes them subservient to the 
interests of a few private individuals. What we want 
is a full and comprehensive account of what England 
does produce; how it is produced, and what “it is 
capable of. producing if all her energies can have 
full scope. Do you not think a society could be formed 
on this point that might be made available to all the 
landed interest in the kingdom. I would undertake 
one whole county | 2 Government would grant me usa 
tain pr various d 
publie offices, e a fair remuneration. Where is ihe 
man that would further this?— Colonus, Grove-end 
House, St. John's Wood. 
The Potato Crop.—I beg to forward an account of 
what I have observed in regard to the Potato crop in 
Devon within this last week. I have visited many 
Potato fields, most of which have a very luxuriant and 
thriving appearance when seen at a distance, but on 
examination I find the whole to be diseased ; I could 
not discover one not affected less or more. I "fully be- 
lieve that the whole I have examined will be roasted or 
scorched up with the direful calamity within a month of 
this time. Many considered their crops to be doing re- 
markably well, and, indeed, expressed themselves satis- 
fied that their crops were quite clear from disease until 
I pointed out its effects, Mr. Bridle, of Otterton, sailed 
my attention toʻa fine piece of early Potatoes, which 
had planted pretty early in February last, ina die 
dry situation; they had remarkably strong stalks, from 
2 to 3 feet in height, and many of them at the base as 
thick as the middle finger, with foliage as large as good 
Spinach leaves. Mr. Bridle on Monday last calculated 
that he should be able to take up 50 bags of good tubers 
from this piece in the last week in this month, and I do 
not doubt but that quantity would have been produced 
‘by the end of the month had they kept clear from 
disease, which attacked them on Thursday the 4th inst., 
and the whole have now dropped down dead, many of 
the stalks looking as if charred. I enclose a stalk, that 
you may have ocular demonstration of those ‘acts. 
The effluvium is uncommonly disagreeable in this hot 
sunny weather. The fact is, on my examining them 
I could distinetly observe that they never had been free 
from disease ; it originated in the old tubers, which 
produced stron cankerous watery shoots. Your re- 
marks, which appeared early in spring, in respect to 
the Potato crop being doomed, is now too truly verified. 
The disease is clearly to be observed in the many fields 
I have examined. It proceeds from the old tubers, the 
shoots having a sort of watery swelling or bulging near 
the tuber, which bursts, some of them to that extent 
that they at once canker off ; they then shoot again and 
again until exhausted, still making fresh roots, which are 
also affected with the disease ; at the same time, on pull- 
ing up a strong stalk, the lowermost, or first burst part, 
and all the roots adhering to the stalk near it, are found 
to be dead and shrivelled up, while luxuriant roots 
above still for awhile support the stalks—to all ap- 
pearance at a distance in perfect health ; then it makes 
its appearance in various forms above ground, and the 
strongest looking plants die, and are dried up in a few 
hours, while the very next or adjoining plant on either 
side escapes, and remains healthy looking, and luxuriant 
for perhaps a few hours or days after its neighbour is 
dried up and withered. Some are infected first on the 
stems at the base, near the surface of the ground; 
others a few inches higher, and some near the summit, 
while others are affected in five or six “places at the 
same time, Where those gangrene sore-looking blotch- 
ings are is where the dropsical swellings before de- 
seribed have burst underground; when those places 
burst above ground, the stalks at once drop down dead: 
others are affected only for a time at first in the axils 
of the leaves, which on these bursting fall off, while 
others again are first attacked only in the small Tib» or 
veins of the leaves, which burst and at once cause a 
small blotch, which runs like wild-fire into large brown, 
or black, inky- looking spots. I observed in the dull 
sunless weather we have had previous to the last 14 
days, that the gangrene bursted blotchings were mostly 
rown; but since we have had clear sunny fervid 
E 
isease is also to be diseovered readily enough in the 
young tubers,if not before being cooked it may after- 
wards; the feel of an infected tuber will readily con- 
vince any one, although the disease may not be visible 
to the naked. eye until the skin is peeled off; 
the" first appearance is its peculiar white colour, 
almost as white as a curd, and quite as soft. 
In others'more infected may be observed the 
Hickman, Henry, Newnham, Daventry, Northampton, 
Grantham, George, Barcomberplace, Lewes, Sussex. - 
Allnu: ohn J., ingford, Berkshire. 
Webber, Wa Mouton, CEESTI Newmarket. 
The names of 28 candidates for election at the next 
meeting were then read, The following communications 
were received :— 
1. From Viscount Newry: Baskets made of iron 
wire, or rods, galvanically coated with zine ; for 
ment of little sore looking watery blotehings full of 
water, as soon as the skin is removed ; while in others, 
this may be found burst, and the disease clearly to be 
seen with the naked eye, passing all through the tuber 
in various directions; when thus infected, they soon be- 
come putrid, Whatever may have been the origin or 
first cause of this deste uctive disease, it is clear that t now 
proceeds from the that its first 
either in tuber, ate or foliage, in the shape of Tittle 
watery spots, pimples, or bulgings, swelling into a drop- 
sical contortion until it bursts, at which time the disease 
runs through the crop like wild-fire, carrying rapid de- 
struction before it. It is now almost a certainty that 
the whole of the crops which have been planted at the 
usual season, and that too without any previous prepa- 
ration of the seed-tuber will be again destroyed, what- 
ever certainty there may be with prepared seed and 
early planting. Autumn planting, &e., will now soon 
prove itself; at present I have myself fine pieces of 
Potatoes that have not at this moment any appearance 
of disease; under certain preparations at the same time 
others have it in every form. I would recommend all 
cultivators to encourage crops of Carrots, Parsnips, Jeru- 
salem Artichokes; to sow plenty of Turnips—more par- 
ticularly Swede Turnips, which is one of the very best 
of all roots for horses, cows, bullocks, sheep, or pigs ; ; 
they can now be sown in seed-beds, and transplanted in 
the same way as Cabbages, and should the Potato-crops 
fail, good varieties of Cabbage should also be selected, 
and sown in abundance, and it is not too late for sowing 
dwarf curled Savoys—a most excellent vegetable to 
stand a severe winter, and of known gost qualities 
for of ‘ood both for 
eulinary purposes and for cattle. It is ade good boiled 
or steamed for feeding pigs, &c. The Potato disease 
being thus early discovered there is ample time to crop 
the land with articles that may be turned to good ac- 
count in winter. It is not too late to sow Carrots; I 
have grown excellent crops sown after Midsummer. 
Carrots will continue to grow when sown late until 
Dec.—Jas. Barnes, Bicton Gardens, Sidmouth, Devon. 
Swedish Turnips,” by E. S., Notts, at p. 379, col. o, for 
ash” read ** Sod-ash,” which is paseated by "burning the clear- 
ing out of hedges, ditches, &c. 
Societies. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY or ENGLAND. 
A WzzxLY CouwciL was held at the Society's House, 
Hanover-square, on Wednesday last, the 10th of June ; 
present, the right hon. Lord Portman, president, in the 
chair ; Earl of Lovelace, Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. ; Sir 
Trayton E. Drake, Bart.; Sir Robert Price, Bart., 
M.P. ; Thos. Raymond Barker, Esq. ; W. R. Browne, 
Esq. ; ^H. Gibbs, Esq.; W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq. W. 
H. Hyett, Esq.; John Kinder, Esq.; W. Miles, ita. s 
M.P. ; E. A. Sandford, Esq. ; Professor Sewell ; RA 
R. Archbold, Esq., M. rj $ 
Greene, fas A. Ogilvie, Ts ; E. Parkyns, i 
and T. Turner, Esq. The following new members were 
ele 
ected. 
Wood, Basil Thomas, Aldbro Lodge, Tasso Bb, Yorks. 
Walker, John, Prestwick House, Newcastle-upon-T 
Hughes, Edward, Hill House, Ashford, Kent. 
Hetherington, Joseph alker, Newcastle-on- Tyn 
Hodgkinson, Rev. G. C., Principal of the d. Ur College, 
cester. 
Langford, mo eieo, Rye, Sussex. 
Jobling, John, S PRU Seaton Sluice, North Shi 
West, Besaguliers, vrarthel id Lodge, Tonbridge Walls, eer 
Borrer, Nathaniel, Parkyae Hurstperpoint, Bright 
Robson, Daniel, Shipcote, Gateshead, Durham, 
Jobling, Jobn, Seaton House, Blyth, Northumberland, 
Sowerby, John, Shipcote House, Gateshead. 
Jobling, Mark i. " Peroa a reet, DD UNT CRT 
e aaa juny Wappenbury, Leamington, Warwick 
Askew, Sir Henry, wit ee n House, Goaster CaA N. B 
Hutton, Wiliam Shotley Bridge, Durham 
Burnett, Nicholas, BE. Headley, Northumberland. 
ad, arles, Hexham, Northumberland 
Davison, Ralph, Chapel Hous T Ae Med Lon-Tyn 
Hep worth, Joshua, Rogert » Pontofaot, Yorkshire, 
] purposes generally. 
2. From Mr. Fisier Hopes: a statement of the 
advantages derived by Mr. Hudson, of Castleacre, 
in the employment of similar baskets or pans, made 
of sheet-iron. Mr. Hobbs, at the request of the 
President, signified his willingness to submit speci- 
mens of these baskets to the inspection of the 
members at their next weekly Council. 
3. From Mr. Baxer, of Writtle : a communication, 
through Mr. Fisher Hobbs, on the Wheat Midge 
of last year, and the aphides so prevalent on the 
Pea crops at the present time. 
4. From the Rev. James RonsoN: a system of 
Farming Accounts, placed by him at ES disposal 
of the special committee on that subjec 
5. From Mr. Twerp: an Essay on " Farming 
Accounts, presented by him to the same committee; 
and a statement of experiments in progress to 
prove the ready passage of water through the 
porous material of draining pipe-tiles, 
6. From Mr. Suonr, of Martin: a present of seeds 
of the Cow-Parsnip for distribution ; and a speci~ 
men of nee dissolved by sulphuric aci: 
7. From LAKE: a notice on the destruction of 
the ie 
8. From Mr. SraNEY : an offer to place the sums of 
107. and 5/. at the disposal of the Society, as addi- 
tions respectively to any prizes the Council may 
think proper to give for the ploughs best caleulated 
to effect the cutting of drains and the turning over 
of the soil taken from them ; with suggestions as 
to the conditions under which each prize should 
be offered for competition. 
9. From Mr. B. CranxE: a statement of the result 
of an experiment on retarding the germination of 
Turnip seed. 
10. From Mr. Raymonp Barker: a notice from 
Col. Blagrave of the unsatisfactory result attend- 
ing experiments made on his farm in reference to 
the steeping of seeds previously to sowing. 
11. From the Presipenr: a report of the practical 
inquiries instituted by Mr. Browne, of Winter- 
bourne, Stoke, on the advantages attending the 
employment of eut straw for litter. 
12. From Mr. Tuoume, Mr. Le Brrr, Mr. Moyte, 
Mr. Murry, and Mr. GETHEN : Papers on the 
soea of the Potato. Disease. 
with stat of prac- 
tieal personal experience, on several of the more im- 
portant topies connected with these communications, 
having taken place, the Council ordered their thanks to 
be returned to the respective parties from whom they 
had been received, for their attention in submitting 
them to their notice. The Council then adjourned to 
their weekly meeting on Wednesday next the 17th inst. 
Mebietos, 
Industry of the Rhine. Series I. Agriculture. 
By T.C. Banfield. C. Knight & Co., Ludgate-street. 
Tuts very interesting volume, noticed at p.302, contains 
a great deal of valuable information. The author has suc- 
ceeded in giving even the details of farming in a manner 
likely to interest the general reader, atthe' same time 
that he is sufficiently particular in his descriptions to 
make them useful to agriculturists. We shall make 
two extracts, the one descriptive of the irrigated mea- 
dows of Liegen, and the other on some general distinc- 
tions between the agriculture of the lower Rhine and 
that of a similar district in England. 
* Although the manure obtained from towns is of the 
greatest value in increasing the yield of meadows, yet it 
is important to make the fact known, that simple water, 
unaccompanied by the wash of floods, or by any extra- 
neous matter, promotes the growth of Grass on meadows 
in a remarkable manner. The meadows of Siegen 
allow the peasants to give all their dung to the arable 
land, which, in its cold bleak situation on the sides of 
the hills, would, on other terms, not be worth cultivat- 
ing. The whole agricultural plan of this distriet thus 
combines whatever can be of use to a half-manufactur- 
Jollingwood, Bawar d, Tissingion Hal 
Liddell, Hon. H. T., M.P., Ravens 
Wilding, Charles, P: E er 
Salusbury, Rev. Thelwall, J. “40 
Powell, John, Folliott, rel van 
ut ark, "John D., Christon Bank, Hetston, Alnwick, 
Barns, Thomas, Whitburn, Sunderland, 
Riddle, Thomas, Felton Park, RU ce 
Ettrick, Anthony, High Barns, Sunder 
em lton, W. H., Brandsby Hall, Yo en 
mith, Anwick, Lang ‘ley Grove, Durham 
Onal Waldo, ‘Torr Royal, Tavistock, Devon. 
Gilpin, George, Sedbury Park, Richmond, Yorkshire. 
Wharton, Rev. William Fitz-William, Barningham Rectory, 
Greta Bridge, 
eer Castle, ids 
, Welshpool, Montgomery. 
fley, Hitchin, Herts. 
Roper, Ropi ux DM eacus Yorkshire, 
Kell, ‘William, Laut head, 
Wharton, Rev. J. 
Johnson, Georgo, Willington, Bsus Daum 
£ Socie y, Dou; glas. iB. 
Wallis, Robert, South Shields, Durha: 
Dickson, John Peel Walls, Ayton, Bei ANE 
Shaftoe, Rev. A., Whitworth, Durham. 
Robinson, John Horton, South Shields, Durham, 
Limerick, Earl of, Ditcham, Petersfield, Hants. 
gT y g little labour and produc- 
ing chiefly what assists the miner, or serves as fodder 
for beasts of burthen, 
* The water-meadows are now systematically laid 
down in three different manners according to the slope 
the ground commands, and the abundance or scarcity 
of water. The engineers are usually the peasants of 
the neighbourhood,who by practice have acquired great 
skill. The surveying instruments may be seen in their 
houses in all the villages, and the precision with which 
par levels are taken and the flow of water promoted 
is not a little surprising. The three modes consist in 
died beds, and in broad and narrow beds with an 
elevated ridge in the middle. The following are the 
directions given by the Oberfürster Vorlinder. The 
chief canal should be carried as high above the level of 
the meadow to be irrigated as possible. Where cir- 
cumstances do not favour the laying down of the cana’ 
at a sufficient elevation, and the soil is too soft to allow 
of the construction of a high dam without great ex- 
pence, the level of the meadow may be lowered suffi- 
ciently to answer the purpose. It must be kept in mind, 
