746 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
[Nov. 7, 
and the original promoters of the Company are con-| when judiciously attended to, fallacious reasonings and 
stantly receiving fresh confirmation of the sound- 
ness of their plau, and fresh reasons for persevering 
in an undertuking which is recommended by so 
many weighty considerati and which, in sub- 
serving the interest of town and country, promises 
an ample return for the investment of capital." 
DISEASES OF POULTRY. 
SzvknAL months ago (June 14, 1845), I promised to 
give you my observations on this important subject, 
but have not until the present moment been able to 
refer to the data I had coli l. Much unintentional 
cruelty is inflicted by ba the most delicate, and 
great suffering endured by all our domestic animals, 
owing to defieieney of knowledge possessed by man. 
Books vary greatly ; are too often manufactured, and 
errors are copied from one into another without any 
regard to experience. This arises from the fact of few 
men in the medical profession, in this country, having 
deemed it worth their while to make this branch of 
comparative anatomy a study, or to send to the journals 
the results of their physiological or pathological ob- 
servations or experience, confirmed by the wonderful im- 
provements of late years in modern science. We must, 
owever, makean exception when alludingto those on the 
Continent, who have done so much as Réaumur, Fleurens 
in his surprising experiments on Phthisis in Man and 
Fowls, Beckstein, and so many others— not forgetting the 
studies of Sir C. Bell, or, recently, Mr. Todd, of 
London, in his beautiful and elaborate papers on * The 
Egg," (Lancet, 4th April, 1846). Clater also has, in his 
book * On Cattle," published a chapter on this head, 
worth all that has ever been written, except that he 
does not give the reason for the effect produced by a 
medicine, which would afford great assistance to other 
inquirers. Ifa few in the medical profession would 
keep poultry for the purpose, as well as for use and 
profit, and send from time to time to the journals the 
numberless curious observations which must fall under 
their notice, as incidents for comparative anatomy, not 
only would all old errors be soon corrected, much 
animal suffering be spared, but much useful and 
valuable data be collected applicable to the treatment 
of diseases incident to the human frame, and the suf- 
ferings of humanity considerably lessened. 
Nearly all the ailments of the feathered tribe arise 
[j 
to be the p cause, of 
their extraordinary plethorie habit, which renders 
them peculiarly liable—in every climate in which I 
have travelled—to inflammatory and catarrhal com- 
plaints. Others have thought, not without some sem- 
blance of reason, as mentioned in a former article, in a 
former Number, that the species Gallinaeeze, being 
natives originally of sou hern hot climates, we may not 
be able quite to acclimatise them in our cold northern 
regions, In this country, the breeding and rearing of 
poultry, is, comparatively speaking, very partially 
attended to or understood, except in a very few locali- 
ties. We, therefore, do not raise a supply of either 
eggs or poultry at all equivalent to our demands ; our 
markets receive, therefore, immense quantities from 
abroad,—the south of Franee in particular. Nor is 
any art or science used for the purpose of keeping the 
good breeds pure and unmixed, or for improving them 
by crossing, as with cattle; and hybridising, as with 
flowers ; in the perfection of both of whichso much science 
has been displayed, and such astonishing improvements 
of late years been obtained. This may be probably 
owing to the greater temptation of large gains, and the 
further inducements of large rewards and honours pro- 
posed at our numberless cattle and flower-shows, little 
encouragement having as yet been offered for improve- 
ments in the breeds of poultry. The variations of 
climate should, therefore, be observed with care, as the 
most obvious preventive of distempers, and the recom- 
mendations to be found in the article * Four Secrets,” 
(June 14, 1845), in your Journal, diligently followed. 
As to the nostrums and medicaments enforced in 
books, old and new, mostly copied one from the other, 
without any regard to experience of their efficacy, it 
must be allowed to be morally impossible for one man 
to have witnessed or treated all and every one of the 
thirty and more diseases incident to poultry, The old 
woman's remedy, though too often fallacious, is fre- 
quently the most efficacious, where no theory is at- 
tempted, or reasoning, other than that she has 
ever found true. Because medicines, such as Ep- 
som salts, (which a medical man in this neighbour- 
hood uses extensively), sulphur, calomel, and va- 
rious others, are effectual remedies in maladies 
of the human frame, it by no means follows that they 
operate similarly with the lower animals, much less the 
fowl, whose conformation is so widely different. In the 
order and time of the creation, the fowl and. the fish 
were coincident, both having been ereated on the same, 
the fifth day (Genesis); one,an inhabitant of the air, being 
surprisingly plethoric ; the other, the inhabitant of the 
waters, being the converse, cold blooded, both like the 
dog, never (though unlike man) perspiring. All these 
the ing links i 
conelusions, as these distinct natural marks tend greatly 
to vary any true analogy between them which can only 
exist entire in things alike, or of the same order and 
temperament. Symptoms too often mislead, not being 
always sure criteria; for the symptom of one disease 
is often the symptom also in another or several, a pro- 
bable reason for many mistakes, and the present con- 
fusion in names. If circumstances permit, I propose 
sending you an account of each disease, symptoms, &c., 
under the five divisions into which I venture to 
arrange them. 
I subjoin a talle of the names of the different dis- 
eases classified according to my notions of correctness, 
having taken the cause rather than the effect, for the 
ground of my division :— 
| 3d Drviston—Catarrhal, respi- 
Ist Diviston—Febrile and In- | ory and pulmonary. 
flammatory. Ship. 
1, Moulting fever. 
Loss of feathe 
3. Hatebing fever. 
m" 
5 
| 2. Pip, 
mange. | 3. Influenza, inflamed head, 
eyes, and nostrils, 
4. Roup or glanders, 
5. Asthma. 
6. Phrhisis. 
tth DivistoN— Nervous. 
. Meaghrims. 
x 
2d DrivisroN— Digestive, 
1. Sick or full crop. 
2. Oon, lush, or soft eggs. 
3. Egg-bound. 
4. Torpid gizzard. 
rrheea, 
Apople: 
. Paraly 
Divisro 
rnal and 
1. Obstruction ofrump gland 
2. Fractures. 
S*2R88 
7. Corns. 
—D. S. E. 
ON THE DRILL HUSBANDRY OF TURNIPS. 
In the instructions issued by the English Agricultu- 
ral Society regarding the Essays on this subject, it was 
desired tat information should be given on the time of 
sowing the different varieties of Turnips on the different 
soils, at the different elevations and latitudes occurring 
in this country. 
It is also stated in the general rules that “all infor- 
mation shall be founded on experience, or observation, 
and not on simple reference to books or other sources.” 
Very few, I believe, will find themselves qualified to 
attempt such 2 report, because this cannot be done by 
a reference to practice, unless the individual has had 
the singular fortune of experimenting, for instance, in‘ 
some elevated arable distriet of Scotland for three or 
four years, then of making a like trial in some neigh- 
bouring distriet of considerably less elevation. This 
would. give results as to elevations in one latitude, but 
to exteud his remarks to different latitudes, he must 
have gone through a similar series of experiments, per- 
haps, in Yorkshire, then in some midland county, and 
again in Hants or Wilts. Now such extensive oppor- 
tunities for gaining the requisite knowledge, experimen- 
tally, I have not had the fortune to obtain. Conse- 
quently my remarks on this branch of my subject must 
be taken as mere opinion, formed on observations 
made during a few hurried journeys through different 
districts of the kingdom, supported only by such facts 
which my own limited experiments appear to have es- 
tablished, 
I would here take the liberty to observe, that many 
of those opinions hastily formed by travellers are often 
extremely erroneous, and tbe appearance which the 
Turnip crops exhibit, in various districts, are charged 
without due consideration on causes very different from 
the real ones. I therefore lock on those essays or. re- 
ports, which are principally filled with observations 
made in rapid journeys, very secondary in importance 
to those which contain information and deductions, 
founded only on the results of a number of carefull 
made experiments, and which have gradually unfolded, 
and eventually established, indisputable facts, 
Tn illustration of these assertions how often do we find 
that well meaning and intelligent men form and uphold 
very incorrect opinions, when based on observation 
only. It will be readily admitted that no remarks are 
more frequently heard, in conversations among pro- 
fessing agriculturists, and far too often from men of 
great practical knowledge, who ought to know better, 
such expressions as these, “ What wretched growers of 
Turniys these farmers are,” it may be, on the poor chalk 
downs of Dorset, Hants, Wilts, &e., on the poor unge- 
nial soils of the Cotswolds, or on the numerous other 
districts in various parts of the kingdom, where the 
soil is light and thin, or of a cold, stiff, and retentive 
nature. While they extol the excellence of the Turnip 
crops produced by the farmers in Norfolk and Suffolk 
the mild sands and gravels in Berks, Notts, Lincoln, 
&e., with other equally genial soils in England; and, 
perhaps, are still louder in their praise of the Turnip 
growers in the finer districts of Scotland, and attribute 
all the difference to the superiority of intellect and 
skill of the agriculturists in the last named districts over 
those of the former. Such opinions I characterise as 
unjust. 
Now, when such observations as these are put forth 
by a practical man, it will generally be found that his 
practice has been entirely confined to a superior grow- 
ing Turnip soil. 
Incorrect opinions on the best mode of growing 
Turnips, when derived from observation only, are formed 
by practical men, who have exclusively acquired their 
distinctions and peculiarities are th g links in 
the chain of the creation, and form most important 
data requiring very particular attention for avoiding, 
p in those districts which produce that plant 
in the greatest luxuriance. For instance, bring a 
Scotchman from some of the best Turnip: districts in 
tke north, who never saw a field drilled on the level or 
flat, place him in any corner of England you choose, and 
let the land be four or fourteen inches deep, he will 
exclaim—* How stupid you English farmers are ! Why 
dou’t you put up your land for ‘furnips in ridges 27 or 
30 inches wide, You never can grow Turnips an 
other way I am sure.” Suppose we set the opiniative, 
and somewhat obstinate north-countryman to work for 
ten or a dozen years, on the poorest chalks, oolites, or 
sands of the south; I think I may safely state what 
would be the result. The Scotchman would find, that 
some of his English neighbours by drilling on the flat, 
could grow as good crops or perhaps better, than he 
could by his ridge system. He would also find the 
dryness of the climate frequently injure, and occasion- 
ally entirely destroy his erops, and at the end of the 
twelve years our north-country friend would be found 
acknowledging that ridging for Turnips did not answer 
on all soils, for every kind of manure, or for the differ- 
ent varieties, and that even on soils of similar quality, 
he could not on an average of years, grow Turnips in such: 
quantity, or so easily in the south of England, as he 
did on the deep, cool, sandy, or gravelly loams of 
Scotland. Our friend would now have proved by 
experience, that no one mode of culture, however 
superior it may be considered on particular soils im 
certain climates, will be found to suit in every distriet 
of the kingdom, any more than that one particular 
course of husbandry should be affirmed as universally 
applicable. Hence the absurdity of any one, from 
observation only, condemning with such severity as we 
hear sometimes, the modes of cultivation, in districts 
which they have only perhaps travelled through once 
in their lives, and can absolutely know nothing of the 
capabilities of the soil for growing Turnips of which 
they speak in perfect ignorance as to the period their 
crops were sown, and if I had ascertained the exact 
dates, it would not have made me more able to judge 
whether these good and bad crops were the results of: 
right or wrong periods of sowing ; therefore, I shall not 
commit myself by any statement as to the best times 
for sowing in such and such latitudes and altitudes, 
knowing well, if any one does so, to the full extent and 
requirements put forth by the Society, it can only in a 
majority of situations fixed on for describing, be the: 
ions of the icant’s inventive brain, and 
therefore, most probably far from correct, and unworthy 
of being relied on. Feeling assured of this, and con- 
sidering that 1 shall do more good to the correct 
development of true and just principles for the 
guidance of agriculturists, in the cultivation of the 
Turnip tribe by refraining altogether from speculative 
inquiry, and leave the plain statement of experiments 
made by me with their results, however clumsily per- 
formed, or imperfectly described, to have such weight 
as they may appear to deserve, and I hope they may 
have the tendency of exciting others to prosecute similar 
experiments with vigilance and zeal, being convinced 
that no improved mode of cultivation can be satisfac- 
torily established on a sure basis, unless founded on and 
clearly exhibited by experiments. 
With this opinion then of the incapacity of an 
single individual as an authority upon the T'urnip Hus- 
bandry of all soils and situations, I shall conclude this. 
paper by one or two remarks ou the best times for 
sowing on this farm, whieh may perhaps apply to the 
district [an elevated district] around.— As to Swedes: 
then, I have often observed that the very early sown 
fields in dry years suffer most from mildew, and my 
own experiment in the second field noticed for 3840; 
shows that sowing on the 5th of May did not produce 
so weighty a crop as that portion sown from the 24th to 
the 28th, the braird and regularity of plant being equally 
good in both cases ; but if we look at the experiments 
made in the first field for 1840, it will be seen there 
was a heavier crop when the sowing took place the first 
10 days of June, Equally varied results are observable 
in the other year’s experiments, therefore no definite 
conclusions ean be come to, so much depends on the 
seasons and state of the land. My opinion therefore 
is, that Swede sowing should commence by the 12th or 
15th May, and terminate the first week in June ; and 
where a similar proportion of that variety is grown, as 
in the plan adopted here, it will require the period E 
have stated to get the work completed and attend to 
other necessary labour, One advantage from sowing 
early is this: that if the braird from any cause should 
be totally destroyed, there is time to re-sow with the 
common varieties. 
Turnips for early consumption should be sown from 
the 24th May to the middle of June; but if any are 
required to ‘stand the winter, the last week in June is 
soon enough for them.— Wm. Fernie, Manchester, 26th 
February, 1846. 
Home Correspondence. 
Form of Agreement between Landlord and Yearly 
Tenant.—Your correspondent “ M. S.” has invited the 
opinion of correspondents. It would be well for farmers 
and for the country too, if yearly tenancies could be abo- 
lished and fair and liberal leases granted instead; un 
this happy era arrives, I suppose all that can be done is to 
make the yearly agreements as fair between the parties 
as circumstances will admit, Leases as well as agree- 
ments are generally one-sided, and the form suggested 
* M. S." is nof an exception to the rule (a). It might be 
sufficient to reserve all timber and other trees for the 
landlord. The tops and lops thereof, at least of a cer- 
tain growth, ought to be allowed to the tenant who pays 
rent, rates, and tithe for the Jand on which they grow 5 
