732 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
[Ocr. 31, 
ing, I discovered a few of them not yet retired from 
view. The next morning, at three o'clock, I visited the 
field, and I witnessed a mass of destruction I should 
never have fancied possible. Myriads of slugs—three, 
four, and five upon each shoot—devouring it as it ap- 
peared above ground. These ravages had been going 
on for several days before I observed- them, and 
had so weakened the plants that the whole crop 
has proved a failure. Heavy rolling and salt pre- 
vented the total loss of it; but only half a crop 
has been reaped. Circumstances prevented my crop- 
ping with Wheat the Bean lea I had intended, and I 
was therefore obliged to make a spring crop of it in 
another field, Navarre Wheat being the seed after two 
years’ Clover. Hence the probable cause of the follow- 
ing ravages of the slug. I am atthis moment putting 
my promised experiment in due force, and trust that 
nothing will happen again to prevent my reporting to you 
next year iu a different strainto mypresent lament. Iam, 
however, pleased to be able to send you a minor specimen 
of the power of tailing (very lean) seeds, in producing an 
abundant crop. Last autumn I drilled an acre of good 
land with Vetches for stable use, and had one peck of 
tailing Navarre Wheat, the most  inferior—chicken 
meat as it is called, that which is thrown to the fowls 
—mixed with it, as a leader or supporter of the Vetch 
plant. The Vetches turned out very badly ; they were 
ofan inferior kind, Ihad suspicions of them and did 
not sow any more. Not so the peck of tailing lean 
seeds, which flourished nobly. My experiment with 
the other tailing having failed, my attention was drawn 
to this, and I had it bagged, that is, the ears cut off, 
and thrashed soon after. It yielded 8 bushels less 
lpeck. It may be stated as 8 bushels, for there was 
much more than a peck gleaned off the ground by the 
women. It is a good sample ; a sack of it has been 
ground, and is making into bread for the use of my 
household. I will send you a sample if you desire it,— 
Waterhouse, Oct. 11.—[The Uley Iron Works are 
discontinued. The engineer, however, still resides 
there, and takes orders, executing them elsewhere. ] 
Swedish Turnips.—The parish of Llanasa, in the 
county of Fiint, may challenge all England in the culti- 
vation of the above crop. Two tenant-farmers there 
gained the Ist prize for Turnips in their respective 
classes, at the meeting of the Holywell Farming 
Society last week. The weight per statute acre of the 
one was 46 tons 10} cwt. ; of the other 46 tons 8 cwt. 
This ean be proved by the Secretary to the Society, and 
by the judges of crops. There are likewise two gentle- 
men farming lands in the same parish, one of whom 
obtained the medal, the other the Ist premium, for 
Turnips at the meeting of the Liverpool Agricultural 
Society, held on the 24th ultimo.—z. M. 
zIdvantage of Early Planting, with respect to the 
otato Diszase.—tYast year, bad as the Potatoes in the 
parish of L. (in Devon) generally weré, I think I may 
safely say mine were the worst. This I attributed to 
the faet of their having been put in the latest of any in 
the par Accordingly, this season I determined to 
begin betimes. Some I put in in the autumn— whole 
Potatoes—carly sorts, These shewed the disease in the 
haulm, but not in the tuber, and were a capital erop. 
Some were put in very early in the spring (the end of 
February and beginning of March), the tubers of these 
almost entirely eseaped, though like the former, the 
haulm was diseased—a good erop proeeeding onward. 
I found almost as a general rule that the erop was good 
and free from diseased tubers just in proportion to the 
early or late date that they were planted. Two of my 
men who planted in the same field, the same sorts of 
Potatoes, some weeks after me, had bad crops, much 
diseased. Later than the latest planted in the usual 
way, I put in eight eyes taken from one Potato: the 
haulm of these shewed the disease about the same time 
as the other haulm ; but out-grew it and lived on in 
full vigour till a week or two ago. I dug these yester- 
day, and the produce was 49 large Potatoes, (weighing 
together no less than 27 Ibs.), sound and only one 
diseased. At the same time I dug a small lot grown 
from sprouts only, the parent Potato being entirely 
thrown away. These were not put in the ground till 
the first week in August. The produce of course was 
not large ; but what there was, was entirely free from 
disease. "The haulm of these latter shewed symptoms 
of the infection, but did not die down. Such are the 
facts ; itis for others to draw the inferences.—J. E., 
Devon, Oct. 24, 
be the cause of the Potato Disease ?—On 
Y, 1845, I happened to be on a visit to my 
farm at Goudhurst, Kent, and whilst walking over it, 
between 11 and 12 am, a chilling, dense, and very 
Peculiar fog came over, obscuring the sun, and appa- 
_ Tently sweeping the very ground. It was of so very 
unusual a character that I regarded it with interest 
whilst it remained, which might be probably for the 
Space of ten minutes, when it passed on towards the 
south west. A few days afterwards I learnt that the 
Hops had been considerably blighted, and subsequently 
the Potatoes, the disease, if I rightly remember, first 
making its appearance in this parish. On the 30th May, 
1816, 1 again visited this farm, and it will be scarcely 
credible, yet it is true, that I again witnessed the same 
phenomenon about the same hour of the day. Having 
attributed in my own mind the Potato disease of the 
preceding year to the atmospheric catise I have de- 
scribed, I became anxious and curious to know what 
was the present condition of the P. 
neighbourhood, and what was likely to be the effect of 
this renewed visitation, Opposite to the inm where I 
was quartered, a respectable tailor occupied a cottage, 
whieh was surrounded by a large garden, and I had 
often admired his attentive industry in cultivating it. 
These samples were those which had gained the Society’s 
medals at the last annual exhibition. The damask was 
Matinea 
walked over to him on my return to my inn from the 
farm, and pointed his attention to this singular fog, and 
we carefully examined his Potatoes, which had the 
most vigorous and healthy appearance, without’ dis- 
covering the slightest trace of disease. About a week 
afterwards I again visited this part of the country, and 
again examined the tailor's Potatoes, when we had no 
difficulty in dis ing the of the dis. 
ease, and ultimately they shared the common fate. 
have lately been staying for some months with my 
family at Eastbourne, on the coast of Sussex. In that 
neighbourhoood the Potato is one of the courses of 
field culture, and hence it happens, that whilst under 
other crops the plant cannot be eradicated, but remains 
visible in numerous patches amidst the stubble of the 
corn. In every instance where the plant has grown 
amidst standing corn (and myself and children have for 
the experiment dug up hundreds of them), I have found 
it to be free from the prevailing disease, both in the 
haulm and tubers, and for this exemption I ean only 
account by the hypothesis, that the disease is produced 
by the chilling fog I have mentioned, but the plant 
being protected by the surrounding corn has so eseaped 
the infection.— R. L., London. [This is a curious and 
interesting statement; but we cannot suppose that these 
fogs, if mere fogs, have been formed for the first time in 
1845 and 6; the question still remains, why have not 
Potatoes suffered from fogs in former years 2] 
Potatoes in Jersey.—In 1845 I planted my winter 
stock of Potatoes in ground which had been in Grass 
for the four previous years. It had been skimmed in 
1844. harrowed, and dug 18 inches deep throughout, 
and was planted in drills made by a deep hoe. The crop 
was asad failure from the disease. I have the same 
ground now in Parsnips, Swedish Turnips, and Man- 
gold Wurzel. The land which I reserved for my Pota- 
toes this year had, in 1845, first, winter Vetches, and 
afterwards Bullock and Swedish Turnips as the land 
was cleared. My soil is light ; I got my seed from a 
stiff soil, and they were cut ten days before being 
planted. I found many among them diseased, which of 
course I rejected. I also planted separately some which 
I had saved from my own indifferent erop of the year 
before, My land is not divided by any hedge, and is 
uniform in its character. It was dressed with manure 
from Melon frames, the same as in 1845, and dug like- 
wise 18 inches deep. My crop this year has turned 
out a fair average one in the ground where I tried the 
following method. Dibbled them in 12 inches deep, 
and left the holes open until the plants came above 
round; then harrowed them to kill weeds, and after- 
wards earthed them. up and treated them like other 
Potatoes. Some small whole Potatoes, the size of a 
large Walnut, ave produced me the best erop by this 
treatment. The cut Potatoes second best; while those 
which were planted by drill in the same ground have 
turned out very indifferently. I attribute the increase 
of produce on the small Potatoes over the cut ones to 
the former going deeper into the holes. Those saved 
from my own seed have produced the same result as 
the small whole Potatoes, and I also found that the 
smaller cuts, which I planted separately from the large 
ones, have likewise produced the better crop. This I 
also attribute to their going deeper into the ground, 
Should not somebody try what effect could be produced 
by planting Potatoes, and after their coming up, by 
endeavouring to exclude the action of the air upon the 
young tubers, by means of putting wet clay over the 
land about half an inch thick ?!—4. D. D., Le Hagnais, 
St. Clement’s, Jersey, Oct. 22. 
Sootittíts. 
FLAX IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. 
Az the late monthly meeting of Committee the Trea- 
surer's Report noted subscriptions and donations, since 
last meeting, amounting to 2547. 15s. including 1007. 
from the Marquis of Downshire. The following letter 
was read from his lordship, giving a report of the re- 
sult of the deputation that waited with an address, and 
samples of damask, cambric, and linen, on her Majesty 
the Queen :— 
= 
* My LORDS AND GENTLEM nce to your wishes, 
having obtained the promise of an interview, I presented my- 
self i your indefati; ary, Mr. James 
MacAdam), at Windsor Castle, on Wednesday last. His 
Royal Highness r us with his wonted courtesy; and, 
with unusual interest, made the minutest inquiries into the 
origin and course of the Flax trade, as well as into the affairs 
of the Royal Flax Improvement Society of Ireland. The beau- 
tiful specimens of cambric, linen, and damask next engaged 
his Royal Highness’s attention, and were the constant subject 
of great encomium im.. After a protracted interview, we 
were led to believe that, in following out the interest shown by 
his Royal Highness, he would make, nex: spring, various ex- 
periments, both in sowing Flax, and, now, in stall.feeding on 
‘he seed, as recommended by Mr. Warnes. At the close of the 
as commanded by his Royal Highness to express 
I cannot conceal from myself, or you, 
entlemen, the important results likely to accrue to the Flax- 
growing population in all parts of Ireland from this interview ; 
and I trust that no exertions will be omitted by the farmers 
generally to carry out the exertions of the Society, and merit 
the gracious patronage the Society has just obtained. I must 
be permitted to offer my thanks to Mr, MacAdam, for the clear 
details he brought to bear for the information of his Royal 
Highness ; for, without him, I should have been totally unable, 
alone, to represent fairly the interests of the Society, which, 
n all occasions, I sincerely desire to do —I have the honour, 
my lords and gentlemen, to be your obedient servant, 
« 
J OWNSHIRE. 
'* To the members of the Royal Flax Improvement Society 
of Ireland, Belfast.” 
y Mr. Andrews, of Ardoyne ; the cam- 
bric by Mr. Henning, of Waringstown ; and the linen 
by Messrs, Thomas M‘Murray and Co., of Dromore. 
They were all of the very finest quality, and manu- 
factured, exclusively, of yarn made from. Irish Flax. 
The present state of the agricultural interests, conse- 
quent upon the loss of the Potato crop, and the pros. 
pect of competition in grain with foreign countries, was 
inducing the landlords, in the South and West of 
Treland, to turn their serious attention to the encourage- 
ment of Flax culture. They were selecting suitable 
ground on their estates for the purpose, and many had 
promised their tenants to procure the best seed from 
Belfast, in spring, so as to give them every advantage 
from the commencement and afterwards to have the 
Society’s agviculturists to instruct them in the details 
of management. The Secretary stated, that he had 
intimation of the proposed erection of scuteh-mills, to 
the number of 18 in all, in the counties of Mayo, Ros- 
common, Clare, Tipperary, Cork, Wexford, Carlow, 
King’s County, and Meath, which would be a great 
assistance in inducing the cultivation of the erop.— 
‘The general impression seemed to be, that all the grain 
next year would be required for the food of the people, 
in the absence of the Potato crop, aad that, consequently, 
the farmer must grow some other erop, to meet his 
rent and other engagements; and Flax was that which 
seemed to attract most attention, especially from being 
one which afforded so much employment. 
PRESTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
Ar the annual meeting of this Society the other day 
the following remarks were made by Colonel Rawstorne. 
He said, that having been desired by the President to 
propose one of the toasts on the list, he should give 
“ Liberal landlords and improving tenants." He had 
always considered that the interest of landlord and 
tenant was one and inseparable; that they were both 
bound together in one link, and that that link could not 
be broken without injury to both, He thought that the 
landlord had an important duty to perform, to watch 
over the interests of those tenants who were placed 
under him ; and, on the other band, the tenant was 
called upon not to go on in the old beaten track, which 
had now been nearly worn out, but to introduce all 
those improvements which modern days had discovered. 
He was able to recollect the time when the Jand in this 
neighbourhood was in a very different state from what 
it was at present, when the Grass land was all covered 
with Rushes and Thistles ; but, though already much 
had been done, yet much remained still to be done, 
before we could be placed on an equality with some 
of the more improved farming districts. He would now 
more particularly advert to a particular branch of farm- 
ing in this district, which was the breaking up of Grass- 
land; and he was the more induced to do so, because 
there was an able article in the last Number of the 
^ Royal Agricultural Society's Journal,” on that subject, 
which was extremely applicable to ourselves. It was 
there stated, that there were in this kingdom, 16 millions 
of acres of Grass land, of which one quarter, or four 
millions, might be broken up to advantage ; that an 
increase of rent might be made upon these of 8s, 2d. 
per acre; which would amount to 1,600,000/. increase 
of rent throughout the kingdom ; but he (Colonel R.) 
thought the increase of rent would be infinitely beyond 
that in this neighbourhood. Go which way they would 
from this place, and they would find the Grass land in 
a miserable state; and which, by being broken up; 
would be eapable of immense improvement. Mr. Palin, 
in his report of Cheshire farming, mentioned some poor 
Grassland of Lord Crewe, which the tenant desired 
ord Crewe's assent to take off his hands, as doing him 
more harm than good, This land, being accordingly 
taken off, was converted into allotment ground, and in 
that state the crop upon it was valued one year at 97. 
per acre. Now, a great part of the Grass land was 
capable of the same improvement. 
The following is the report of the inspectors of crops : 
“The inspectors of the Preston Agricultural Society 
beg Jeave briefly to lay before the meeting the result of 
their inspection over the district, for the Society. "They 
would have felt happy to have done so under more 
extended entries for some of the premiums given by the 
Society on this occasion. One cause is certainly this— 
all crops are not of that weighty character we have 
witnessed on some former years, therefore the parties 
have not considered them premium crops; but where 
all are so nearly alike the competition is still the same, 
& Again, the weeds of autumn have had so much tén- 
dency to gain the ascendant as to deter some from 
showing their farms or crops ; this has been laid before 
us, together with the scarcity of labourers, as among 
the means of curtailing the entries of the present year. 
* We have, however, met with a good amount of 
draining, viz., 62,000 yards on one farm, at 18 feet apart 
and 30 inches deep, wellexeeuted with tile and turf, and 
likely to be.of signal service. 
* The Swede and common Turnip, if not of that super- 
abundant character met with on some occasions, are cer- 
tainly a very ample and nutritive crop. e have 
met with some few crops of Swedes that had been 
affected with the rust, and exhibit signs of decay to some, 
extent. We advise those farmers, where the rust has 
made its appearance to any extent, to look well to the: 
matter, and endeavour by all means to avoid it, as per- 
nicious to the nutriment and keeping of the root, It 
appears to us that early sowing, under a cold cultivation, 
