.wW 
35—1846.] THE 
AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
589 
days turn it and tank it, and when | ‘wanted for dressing | 
it will prove a thousand times stronger and better ma- 
nure, at half the expense of what our farmers prepare. 
€ are now cutting a field of Wheat finer than any in 
the parish, and I attribute it to this dressing used two 
years ago for Darley, and after the Potatoes last au- 
tumn a covering of lime spread as soon as the ex- 
posure to the atmosphere had reduced it to a powder 
~and sown with salt broadcast (6 hogsheads of lime 
Hu cwt. of salt to the acre), and instantly ploughed in. 
1 did this as soon as the Potato crop was removed, with 
a view to destroying any infection from that disease, 
from which we suffered, though not badly.—C. W. 
, English Agricultural Society.— Would it not be de- 
Sirable for the English Agricultural Society to offer a 
Premium for the best report on new rotations of crop- 
Ping, which will become necessary in the event of the 
Otato disease being a permanent scourge? Being a 
director of the Highland Society of Scotland, I mean to 
ring this subject under the notice of my co-directors. 
=J. S. M. 
Farmers' Clubs. 
DARLINGTON, August 17 : The Crops to which Farm- 
Yard Manure can be most beneficially applied, with the 
best times, and modes of application.—Mr. Walton in- 
troduced the subject. He said :—Farm-yard manure 
8 very frequently applied to the fallow land for the 
benefit of the Wheat, and the following crops, but not 
always successfully, and some have even gone so far as 
to say that it has done harm to the Wheat crop. (Several 
Voices, “No, no.”) I have no doubt but that manuring 
with farm-yard manure is generally benefieial to the 
Wheat crop, but one of the main questions is, how, and 
When to apply it to the greatest advantage. In these 
limes, when we have portable manures, generally mis- 
Called by the name of artificial manures, which act not 
only as a stimulant, but which really continue to benefit 
the succeeding crops; this sets us quite at liberty to 
to apply the farm. yard and home manufactured manure 
to the purpose for which it is best suited, provided that 
We know to what purpose we can apply it most bene- 
ficially 3 for my impression is, that when disappoint- 
Ment arises from the results of its application, that it 
May not have been applied in the most judicious manner. 
T have known the Wheat crop fail when the manure 
has, T faney, been applied too late in the autumn, or 
Just previous to the land receiving the seed furrow 
Ploughing ; by this means, it appears to me, that the 
manure does not get sufficiently mixed with the soil so 
aS to benefit the Wheat crop to the extent it might 
have done; in such a case, it seems that the plants at 
rst seize hold of, and luxuriate in portions of the 
Manure near the surface, but afterwards, when the 
Tools Strike down to a greater depth, and spread to a 
Breater breadth in the soil, then the plants turn sickly 
E the roots coming in contact with the soil, which is 
ae intermixed or impregnated with the manure, and-at 
Arvest it turns out a poor light crop. «Now, I think it 
& better method to apply the manure to fallow land 
‘or Wheat as early as possible, say in the spring or 
early part summer, in order that it may get 
thoroughly intermixed with the soil, and by this means 
the erop will receive a regular supply from the manure 
all through its growth ; by adopting this method, I do 
hot know but that farm-yard manure may be as bene- 
ficially applied tothe Wheat crop as in any other way. 
n applying farm-yard manure to Grass land, I conceive 
that it should be pretty well rotten ; but I should 
Tather apply the artificial or portable manures, which 
Suns more easily get access to the roots of the Grass. 
Mr. Pearson said, that he rather differed in opinion with. 
the Chairman, with regard to the best time for applying 
it yard manure to the fallow land, for he thought 
AR the land should not have more than two ploughings 
alter the manure was applied, previous to sowing the 
heat ; but he was not quite sure that it was best to 
peel. it to the fallow for the Wheat crop in every case ; 
te 1h some instances, it might answer better to apply 
to the Clover lea, where it was to plough in for a 
wee of Oats. He, however, on a clay land farm, thought 
ReneS bad policy to use the farm-yard manure for Tur- 
MPs, as he had found that superphosphate of lime 
ap ered qùite as well, if not better, for rearing Tur- 
ae’ upon this description of land, and by this means 
he farm-yard manure was available for the other crops. 
a T. Phillips, professor of chemistry, said, that if the 
yn were fixed in the manure previous to ap- 
early” op 
also believed Mr. Pearson to be quite right in his 
uperphospl of lime ing 
the Turnip crop, for potash, which 
tip Soils, 
tees the superphosphate of lime answers well asa 
will ju upon the Turnip crop upon.clay land, yet it 
tion requisite occasionally to apply, during the rota- 
will of cropping, other descriptions of manure, else you 
i ‘Mpoverish the land, because the superphosphate of 
© does not contain all the necessary ingredients that 
oars 
Onslitute the food of every kind of crop.—Mr, Dixon, 
the secretary, said that he rather advocated applying 
manure to the fallows for Wheat at the latter part of 
summer, he having in a droughty season or two experi- 
enced the ill effects from excessive evaporation, when 
the manure was applied in the early part of summer, 
and exposed to the run in working the jland through 
the season, when compared with that which was applied 
immediately before seed time in other parts of the same 
farm in the same years; the crops succeeded much 
better on the land manured in the autumn than the 
other part manured in the early part of summer.—Mr, 
Pilkington believed that upon the whole the latter part 
of summer was preferable to the early part for apply- 
ing manure to fallows for the Wheat crop; he also 
spoke of the irapropriety of applying manure in the 
early part of summer on fallow before they were tho- 
roughly cleared of root weeds, No definite resolutions 
were passed. 
Farm Memoranda. 
TIPTREE-HALL Farm.—(Continued from page 574.) 
—Mr. Mechi’s land, including some that he hires, con- 
sists of 170 acres, landlord's measure, which was ascer- 
tained to have been cropped in the following manner:— 
Acres. 
Wheat m m t 80 
Beans 25 
Clover DO m m 8 
Tares (cleared off) oo 6 
Rye i de 5d 8 
Swedes .. mE 18 
atoes  .. we 5 
Mangold Wurzel .. 8 
Rye-grass v. 4 
Pasture... SUUS 1 
Lucerne . DOMINO 2 
Green Rye (succeeded by Swedes) 4 
Mustard, and seeds, to plough in 8 
Winter Tares, followed by Cabbages, Turnips, 
Mustard for green food .. .. NN 
Mr. Mechi proposes to have half his land in Wheat 
every year. He grows no Oats, of which he calculates 
that he should more than lose in priee that which he 
would gain in bulk, in comparison with Wheat. The 
80 acres of Wheat have cost on an average 1/. per aere 
for manure, being dressed with from 2 ewt. to 3 ewt, of 
Ichaboe guano. In addition to this a sack of salt is 
applied per acre to the lighter of the fields, 
In the spring the Wheats are thoroughly hoed by 
Garrett’s horse-hoe, drawn by two or three horses, 
which penetrates the soil from 3 to 4 inches deep, and 
is done at half the cost of hand-hoeing. The hand-hoe 
is never used excepting between the plants. 
lighter soils the Wheat is twice rolled in the spring, 
with Crosskill’s clod-crusher, which effectually destroys 
the wire-worm, and prevents the Wheat from being 
laid. 17 acres of the best Wheat on the farm have 
bean partly dibbled by Newberry's dibbling machine, 
anl partly dropped by Bentall’s dropper, the quan- 
tity of seed sown being rather more than 34 pecks. 
The remainder of the land has had put in from five 
to nine pecks per acre. These pieces of Wheat were 
admired by everybody, being fine in the straw, and in 
the ear, and promising a very heavy yield. 
s respects the proper quantity of seed, the depu- 
tation had an opportunity of seeing pieces sown with 
various quantities, and comparing them with each 
other. The decided opinion was that the erop was 
no where better than where one bushel of seed had 
been put in per acre, at about one foot in the row. In 
pieces lying side by side, one the produce of one bushel, 
and the next the produce of two bushels of seed, the 
preference was generally given to the piece sown with 
one bushel. An opportunity was also given of com- 
paring the effects of Bentall's dropper with Newberry’s 
dibbler from the same quantity of seed. The verdict 
was in favour of the dropper as to yield, the ear being 
rather finer; but it was considered that this supe- 
riority was not a sufficient compensation for not being 
able to cultivate between the rows, which could be done 
after the dibbler. Two stitches had been dibbled in 
with 2} peeks of seed, but this was not deemed worthy 
of recommendation, because although the ears were 
exceedingly fine and the plant had tillered greatly, it 
would not be fit to cut till probably a fortnight later 
than the other. 
A curious instance of the capability of a bushel of 
seed to tiller sufficiently to cover rich land, was observ- 
able in the piece of Wheat on the drained bog, which, 
although it had been flagged three times to check its 
luxuriance, was yet partially laid. Another portion of 
the Wheat on this bog had been drilled with two 
bushels of seed, but this portion was entirely laid, the 
quantity of seed being evidently too much. Mr. Mechi 
is of opinion that three pecks would have been amply 
sufficient for this bog, as many as 70 stems having been 
counted from one dibble-hole. He had also rolled his 
piece of Wheat three times in dry weather in the spring, 
with the clod-crusher, to consolidate the loose earth and 
destroy the wire-worm. Mr. Mechi believes that all 
the bogs of Ireland might be profitably rendered pro- 
ductive by the means he has taken to reclaim this. 
Mr. Mechi attributes the luxuriance of his erops, after 
draining and subsoil ploughing, to his ical 
management of manures, of the liquid portion of which 
he can scarcely be said to lose any from his far d 
On the | ^ot 
Mr. Mechi attributes the very superior cleanliness of 
his land to his subsoil ploughing, which he says eradi- 
cates many deep rooted weeds, which would, after shal- 
low ploughing, throw up new shoots. All Mr, Mechi's 
Wheat is bagged. His Clover is drilled in after his 
Wheat has been hoed. His root crops and green crops 
looked exceedingly well, and promised heavy crops. 
These are all drawn and consumed in the yards, either 
cleaned with eut straw for pigs, the dung of which Mr. 
Mechi prizes very highly ; or by sheep, with the oil- 
cake, which is bought with the produce of some of the 
Beans. In preparing for his root crop, Mr. Mechi 
ploughs 9 inches deep with Bentall’s or Ransome's iron 
plough. This is followed by Smith's subsoil plough, 
which goes 14 inches deeper. Drag harrows, with 
16-inch tines, Crosskill's elod-erusher, and the scarifier, 
completely pulverise the soil, and move it to a great 
depth. ‘Ihe deputation would venture to recommend 
to Mr. Mechi a light specimen of the much-abused 
Kentish plough, which would cover his manure for his 
Turnips better than the plough which they saw in use. 
Mr. Mechi is cautious never to work his land in wet 
weather. Mr. Mechi always scarifies his siubbles ; 
and his Beans are generally sown with a mixture of one 
quart of Mustard, and two quarts of Rape per acre, 
harrowed in, to keep the land covered. This is ploughed 
in green, for Wheat. Mr. Mechi manures for his Tur- 
nips with sulphuric acidand bones. The subsoil plough 
is also. run down between the rows of his Mangold 
Wurzel. 
The deputation attribute Mr. Mechi's luxuriant crops, 
on a poor soil, as the greater part of the farm un- 
doubtedly is, to deep thorough draining ; subsoiling ; 
the peculiar riehness of his manure ; his frequent cul- 
tivation between the rows ; and (as in the case of Mr. 
Davis) avoiding to put more seed into the ground than 
its productive power can bring to perfection; to the 
perfectly free circulation of the sun and air over his 
whole farm ; and to the absence of all trees and hedge- 
rows ; which too frequently, in other places, impoverish 
the soil, and collect the seeds of weeds, and, with 
thatehed buildings, harbour sparrows and other destruc- 
tive birds. these means Mr. Mechi says he has 
doubled the produce of his farm. The farm buildings 
are admirably arranged for promoting the growth and 
comfort of the animals, and economising labour and 
manure ; and the implements appear to comprise every 
modern invention in agricultural improvement, of any 
ote. 
It was the opinion of the deputation, however, that a 
boarded barn would have been better than a bricked 
one, supposing a large barn to have been necessary, 
with so powerful a threshing machine ; indeed, many 
were of opinion that those buildings and implements 
might serve all purposes of a farm twice the size of 
Tiptree Hall farm. Whether these opinions are wel 
founded or not, may be decided by future experiment 
Whatever may be the result of any such trials, it will 
not detract from the honour of Mr. Mechi, who has 
taken the first step towards combining all the recognised 
principles of good culture, with all known chemical aud 
scientific improvements ; and traces of whose enter- 
prise in conceiving, and talent in executing, this com- 
prehensive experiment, are visible in every step of his 
arm. For his liberality in admitting his brother agri- 
culturists to the benefit of an experiment, of which all 
the risk lies on himself, he is, in the opinion of this 
deputation, entitled to the highest praise ; the suavity, 
urbanity, and good humour with which he explains his 
system, and meets objections from strangers, have 
earned for him the great respect of the members of 
this deputation. 
The deputation, in the course of the morning 
took of a substantial luncheon with Mr. and 
Mechi, whose hospitable reception was most gratifying. 
Mr. Mechi also favoured the deputation with his com- 
pany to dinner at Kelvedon, where his health was suit- 
ably proposed and enthusiastically drunk (Mr. John 
Hague, Chairman) and after which repast, an hour or 
two was spent in that improving converse, and cheer- 
ful sociality, which have ever been the characteristics of 
the British farmer. The deputation have avoided in 
these reports, making any quantitative estimate of the 
respective crops ; feeling convinced that such an estis 
mate, without a view of the respective soils of Mr. 
Davis and Mr. Mechi, would give a very imperfect 
criterion of the merit of the systems which these gentle- 
men pursue.—George Whiting, Hon, Sec, (somewhat 
abridged) from Maidstone Gazette. 
par- 
Wotices to Correspondents. 
Brans—Inquirer— Plant Winter or Russian Beans early in 
October. Drill2 bushels in rows 2 feet apart. 
BERKSHIRE BREED —A Z he figure in Professor Low’s illus- 
trated work on “Domestic Animals,” is from the stock of 
Mr. Loud, Mackstock-mill, Warwickshire. 
Booxs—H H—“ Richardson on the Domestic Fowl;" or, 
* Farming for Ladies :” and “ Blacklock on Sheep;" or, 
* The History and Diseases of Sheep,” by W. C. Spooner.— 
Plant Cabbages on your Potato ground at wide enough in- 
tervals for the use of a heavy hoe. 
orrTAGE Economy—C B H—Mr. Murray, Albemarle.street, 
publisher of the '' English Agricultural Society’s 
Journal," : 
D Inquit A 
His litter, being cut into chaff, absorbs the urine. The 
manure can be conveniently applied to the land within 
three weeks of being put into the dung pit. e 
showed the deputation a field of Wheat, which had 
borne Wheat last year, but which had been well supplied 
with liquid manure in the spring. The yield promised 
at least an average erop, but the deputation are of 
opinion that this course cannot be successfully followed, 
q dding sulphurie acid would doubtless be 
useful, and where the “dung manufactory” is conveniently 
situated and under cover, it might probably pay. The quan- 
tity of ammonia present in dung, varies with ‘the food and 
the nature of the animals fed, and also with the quantity of 
litter given them, Boussingault’s farm-dung contained about 
5 ammonia per cubic yard, This, we imagine, is 
double the average quantity. 
EXPENCE or CuLTIvATION—Holland—Grass lands from 10s: to 
20s. per acre ; arable from 20s, to 4], * Near large towns, and 
where market gardening prevails, the expences, of course, 
