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37—1846.] 
THR AGRICULTURAL: CAZET FE. 
next year, by sowing 10 acres of Fla He was likewise going 
to Ireland for the purpuse of ascertaining the best methods in 
use for riddling and cleaning it, as he believed that in the dis- 
trict in which he lived they could grow as good Flax as any- 
e. 
Mr. Horne remarked, that if the farmers in this country 
were to raise Flax seed for themselves, he thought it would be 
of great advantage ; for when they looke immense ex- 
pense of the refuse of Flax seed in the shape offeil-cake, and 
the value which was put upon it for the feeding oMtattle, surely 
Flax seed itself was much more valuable. they directed 
their attention to tbe growing of Flax seed, and could get a 
ood machine which would freely discharge the crushed ma- 
terial, he thought every farmer might be enabled to grow that 
valuable food for his own cattle. 
Mr. Syri, late of Deanston, said, he was lately at a show 
vas exhibited, whi 
Richardson, &e. Dublin. 
D'Olier-street. 
management of fowls. We have weekly inquiries fora | 
book of the sort, and, by reference to this, are now 
happily able to meet all inquiries of this kind. 
Farm Memoranda. 
Spring Park Farm, NEAR Croypon.—(Report of 
Maid: Farmers Club).—For the use of those who 
of 
implements, where a very perfect machine v hich 
Was not on. E 
da 
Es 
e maker of the machine was a 
. was, perhaps. a large sum, 
be derived from the use of the ma- 
chine on a farm of any extent, would very soon repay the outlay. 
They had heard a great deal of the advantages of a mixture of 
food in producing lean, fat, and muscle, and in the same way 
it was of i at farmers should vary their crops, so 
that they might extract from the soil all the substances it con- 
tained which went to the composition of food. With regard 
to the use of Linseed, he had to remark that it was a subject 
to which he had paid considerable attention, and he could 
assure them that the graziers in England found very great ad- 
vantages to result from giving it to their cattle; and he was of 
opinion nothing would tend to improve the mountainous dis- 
tricts so much asfeeding their stock partly upon Linseed, and 
dedo: | 
by that means enriching the soil. ying Linseed into 
riets, they would ear 
the mountainous di 
vi 
other shape whatever; while they wo be feeding their 
cattle better, and getting a better price for them. 
Professor Jonnston then stated that with regard to the use 
of malted Barley, referred to by Mr. Watson, he did not think 
it would be so advantageous as that gentleman thought, it 
was given as a part of the food of cattle, he thought there could 
be nothing better; but if it was given as the great staple of the 
food, he did not think it would pay. From the failure of the 
Potato crop, it would be necessary to substitute some other 
crop to supply its place in the system of rotation ; and for this 
purpose Flax was deserving of their attention. As to the 
question whether Flax was exhausting or not, there was this to 
be observed, that it was different from other crops, in so far as 
they took away both the straw and the grain ; and to keep the 
Soil fertile, it would be necessary to return in the shape of 
manure, not only what was taken away by the seed, but like- 
Wise what was taken away by the straw. It was not 
hausting crop, if they took care to manure the soil. 
A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman, and the 
company separated. 
Tue ExurrrroN or IMPLEMENTS, SBEDS, &c., was opened 
this day. Some disappointment was felt as to this exhibition, 
which was undoubtedly inferior to similar shows in the sout 
It should be recollected, however, that the north counties 
are far removed from the seats of mechanical skill, where such 
implements are manufactured, and that this may be considered 
à pastoral rather than an arable district. We were glad to 
i ne p from the island of Lews, 
an ex- 
observe various spi 
We had an original turf, with poor Heath and Bent, upon a very 
Beside it were two turfs from the improved 
h and luxuriant white Clover, the other 
Ryedrass, the latter having carrie d 
There was also exhibited Oats grown in the Lews, of 
E 
A 
1 
a 
8 
$ 
© 
about one quarter 3 
with a dressing of and and 3 cwt. of guano ; 
for Turnips, bone-du in its original condition, the land, as 
shown by the rude turf, might have been worth from 4d. to 6d. 
may be now worth 10s, and, continuing 
e 
^d 
$ 
be provided for tt 
afforded for a great additional populati E 
the remainder of this report until next week.] 
FLAX IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. 
At the monthly meeting of committee, held on the 
26th ult., the secretary reported that he had attended 
the Royal Agricultural Society’s meeting at Limerick, 
and had subsequently visited several of the new di 
triets in the south, where Flax was being introduced 
under the management of the Society's agriculturists. 
The appearance of the crop was generally much 
Superior to whatit was in the north. The yield was 
likely to be abundant, and the quality good.. He had 
ma f for the introduction of Flax culture 
into several new districts of Galway, Tipperary, Kerry, 
and Cork. The almost universal loss of the Potato crop 
was likely to cause a considerable portion of the stubble, 
which would otherwise be prepared for that crop, next 
e 
may not recollect the particulars of Mr. Davis's rota- 
tion and general system, it is here repeated, from 
the report of the deputation who visited his farms 
last year :— 
1st year..Rye and Tares, for green meat and feeding off with 
sheep, in April, May, June, and July; and foi- 
lowed b; 
as Mangold Wurzel .. . 
Ja E Witha liberal dressing of 
5 ^ Cabbages n farm-yard dung. 
» . Tumips . ieu den 
2d year.. Oats or ley, sown with Clover. 
3d year .. Clover, twice mown for hay. 
th year. .Beans or Peas .. +. The Beans have Turnips 
drilled between the rows, 
and which come into 
feed in September and 
October. 
5th year— Wheat. 
The quantities, and periods at which he sows, are the 
following :— 
Rye E 
Tares .. 
+. l$bushels .. In August and September. 
PI. ETT .. In three sowings, in Aug., 
September, and Oetober. 
Mangold Wurzel..6lbs. .. .. In April. 
Swedes .. 1 quart, In May. 
Turnips pane a Av MEOL TINS. 
Cabbages levery 3 feet. In June. 
Oats .. wx Tpecks .. In January February, 
and March, 
Barley gen r6 4e5., .. In January, February, 
March, and April. 
Midi. coo nmn Brg .. In September and October. 
Deus ar oases uis .. In December, January, and 
February. 
Beans .. CORO NS -. In September and October, 
Mr. Davis’s Rye and Tares for green-feeding are 
sown in rows at 9 inches apart; all his white crops at 
12 inches ; his pulse at 27 inches, as are also his root- 
crops and cabbages on the ridge. 
The principles on which Mr. Davis professes to farm 
are the following :— 
1. Never to be contented until all your land has been 
trenched and turned over by the plough a foot in depth, | 
nor until 
2. The wet land be made dry by deep draining, and 
consider no land effectually drained unless the drains be | 
4 feet in depth ; that is to say, unless the water-level be | 
so far below the surface, that corm shall have at least a | 
foot of dry earth to root in, unaffected by capillary 
attraetion of moisture from below, and the chill that 
water nearer to the surface causes; this can be done 
only by having the drains 4 feet from the surface, and 
within 40 feet of each other. 
3. For sowing of spring corn consider the season | 
commences with the new year, and have no other fear | 
than that of being too late. When the ground is dry | 
enough, and fine enough, the sooner it is in tlie better ; 
it will yield more, and the liability to blight, or to be 
beaten down, will be less. 
4. Insowing, drill or dibble all; and have the rows 
not nigher than a foot between them ; so as to admit of 
hoeing either by horse or hand, and hand-weeding at 
late periods. 
5. Hoe and hand-weed all corn; let not a weed in 
flower be seen amongst it; ever recollect that weeds 
occupy space and consume nutriment, displacing corn, 
and robbing the land. 
6. Never sow two crops of one genus in succession ; 
legumes or pulse may follow cereal grain, and cereal 
grain may follow legumes or pulse ; but never cereal 
after cereal, or pulse after pulse. Recollect Rye Grass 
is a cereal plant, and unsuits the land for white 
straw corn. 
7. In apportioning the rate of seed per acre, do not 
lose sight of the bad consequences that must ensue if 
too much be sown. Bear in mind that if so much be 
sown as to produce more plants at first than the space 
will afterwards allow to attain maturity, the latter 
growth of the whole will be impeded, and a diseased 
Season, to be sown with Flax ; while the 
of the future culture of the root would induce the 
farmers and cottiers row Flax as a profitable 
Crop, with the produce of which they could pay their 
rents, So as to leave the grain erops, formerly devoted 
to this purpose, available for food. The future pros- 
peets of suecess in the south were most cheering for the 
Society, 
3iebíefus, 
Notes on the Nature, Objects, and Practical Appli- 
cation of Agricultural Chemistry, Frederick Shaw, 
Dundee. Longman and Co., London. 
This is a tract originally printed for the perusal of the 
author’s friends, but since, by the well-judged advice of 
many of its readers, published for general distribution. 
It simply professes to be a connection of notes taken 
during a course of reading on the subject. They are 
well arranged, simply put together, and illustrated in 
an instructive manner. 
Domestic Fowl; their Natural History, Breeding, 
stage wi „as soon as the plants cover the 
ground, and remain till harvest. 
8. Manure should be applied only to green or cattle 
crops, and never to corn ; by giving it to the former, | 
the earth derives the advantage of the extra dressing 
that the extra growth returns ; but when applied to | 
corn, the earth is so mueh the more exhausted by the | 
extra growth of straw, and frequently, too, the grain is 
thereby positively injured by being beat down and 
blighted in the straw, that it always is made more 
hazardous by dressing. 
made of its material to form manure, an 
taken of it afterwards; but from misapplication and waste | 
of the straw and fodder, and from negligence in the pre- 
servation of the dung and urine, at least half is usually 
621 
Rearing, and General Management. By H. D.|and hedges in small enclosures than that which arises 
James M‘Glashan, 21, | from their mischievous shade and shelter, it would be 
equivalent to the ordinary rent of such fields 3 but the 
A cheap little book, containing descriptive notices of | farmers sustain a further loss in the additional time 
the different breeds, illustrated by good wood engrav- | occupied in its tillage by the more frequent stoppages 
ings, and giving full directions for the every day | and turns they cause, and by the encouragement to 
idleness in the men that their cover affords, I believe 
arable fieids with large hedges and hedge-row timber 
round them, whose dimensions are under eight acres, 
are seldom or ever worth a farmer’s cultivation. I see 
much poor open down land in profitable cultivation, and 
large districts of enclosed land of far better quality, 
ruinous to the occupiers ; and Í have not a doubt that 
to the difference in the size of the fields this may be 
principally, if not entirely traced. 
The deputation visited every field on the farm, and 
give the following description of what they saw, in a 
different order from the course over which they passed; 
so that other persons visiting the farm, may more easily 
find, and identify, the respective fields visited, 
The following is the history of Spring Park Farm, 
as derived from Mr. Davis, by the deputation :—Spring 
Park farm, when first tenanted by Mr. Davis, had been 
seven months out of cultivation, and from 1808 to 1833, 
had always been in the hands of the wealthy overseers. 
The late Mr. John Smith was fond of telling that when 
he bought Spring Park (then comprising about 600 
acres) he found a tenant on it whose rent was 66/. per 
annum ; that after two years the tenant failed, and he 
lost his rent. From that time to 1833 it was never let. 
Since Mr. Davis has rented it, he has drained nearly 
the whole four feet deep ; he has also trenched it 15 
inches deep, taking out many hundred loads of conglo- 
merate gravel that was broken up by a plough made 
on purpose. The result of this is that he grows at least 
three times as much produce as formerly, and keeps 
five times the quantity of stock; the seasons are far 
kinder, and the land admits of winter feeding with sheep, 
and early sowin, The name of this farm was formerly 
“Cold harbour." It was then reckoned the coldest 
spot ih the neighbourhood, and consisted principally of 
a wild heath, full of bogs, affording excellent snipe- 
shooting in the winter, and, asa neighbour used humour- 
ously to describe it, finding keep in the summer for a 
lark an acre. The late Mr. Maberley, when he bought 
it, not liking the name, re-christened it Spring Park, 
probably so designating it from the quantity of water 
springing up upon it ; but deep draining and high culti- 
vation have strangely changed it. The forward state 
of the crops show that it can no longer be fairly called 
“Cold harbour,” and latterly the springs have been 
diminishing, till at least half of them are stopped alto- 
gether, and corn now waves where Heath alone formerly 
grew. Still no farmer will envy Mr. Davis his posses- 
sion of such a soil. Much has been done, probably all 
that art can do, to improve it, but man cannot change 
gravel or sand ; by draining he may make it dry, and 
by trenching he may multiply the ‘space for roots to 
range in, and derive nutriment from; but a gravel or 
a sand, unlike clay, or chalk, or mould, admits of no 
further change, and, to the last, must ever be a hungry 
uncertain bed for corn ; a fast consumer of nutriment, 
much dependant on seasons, and requiring summer 
rains for maintaini i ly its vegetating powers. 
iu May and June. 
(To be continued.) 
Calendar of Operations. 
SEPTEMBER. 
We have for the last few weeks discontinued our we 
paragraph under this head, considering that during b 
time it was unnecessary to remind any one of the nec y of 
attending to harvest operations. We now resume these weekly 
notices as the farm work becomes more various. 
The present is a very good time to haul tiles and stones for 
lrains, and to cart road material to the places where it is 
needed. 
e preserved, dig and 
expose them to the sun for a week, covering them during night 
ridge about 18 inches wide and a foot high, and thatehed, 
ready for planting in November. Our autumn-planted Potatoes 
green crop. Stubbles are extraordinari 
suppose in consequence of a mild win 
carly growth and a diffieulty of cultivating the soil. The best 
mode of clearing the land will be by pari 
first costing about 7s. per acre, and the others. 
Notices to Correspondents. 
| Booxs—Bryan Barnaby— Bevan on the Honey Bee,” “ Farm- 
ing for Ladies.” 
T OF Foop or A Cow—Znquirer—Do you mean us to name a 
e presume not. 
You may assume that on ordinary Grass land 3 acres will 
keep 1 ci two being mown, and one, with the aftermath. 
of the others, being depasture 
3 acres; rent, say oe oe «£4 0 0 
Labour, say .. m m 4250 
£6 0 
Or about 2s. 4d. a week. The cost will be greater in wi 
than in summer, as hay, a manufactured food, is more c 
than Grass, natural. 
S id | ELECTRO CULTURE—Will any one be kind enough to name the 
lost, and the arable land of England may thus be said | ublsner of Weeke's panini on Electro Culture ?” 
to be prejudiced at least 10s. per acre. FisE—Ipnóramus--Add. 
10. Were no other injury done to the crops by trees fi 
sulphuric acid, not lime. The one 
xes, the other dissipates ammonia. Perhaps the best way 
