asa ER crm e A BE 
50—1846.] 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
827 
in both cases ; and this would manifestly prove my 
assertion ; namely, that one cow fed within, would give 
as much manure as three fed without; and therefore 
when three can be kept in the one way, as I have 
already shown, for one kept in the other, it is as clear 
as three times three make nine that the result of the 
calculation will be just as I have stated—namely, that 
the farmer will obtain by the change of system nine 
times as much manure in the one case as he would 
have in the other. 
Now, if after all that has been said (which seems to 
me at least quite convincing), any of you should be so 
astonished by the quantity of manure thus proved to be 
gained as still to have some misgivings on the subject, 
and be inclined to think that matters would not turn out 
80 favourabie in practice as I have shown in theory, i 
would wish any such person to consider one very mate- 
rial point which I have not yet tonched upon—for in 
the foregoing the argument is founded entirely on the 
time the animals are kept within, viz.—it is stated that 
one cow kept within for 24 hours will give as much 
manure as ihree-cows which are only kept in for 8 
hours, the food being assumed to be the same in both 
Cases ; but it is quite evident that if the cow kept within 
should be fed with Turnips and bedded with straw 
which the others are fed upon, leaving them little or no 
bedding whatever, that the calculation must turn 
decidedly in favour of the animal which is well fed and 
bedded, both as regards the quantity and quality of the 
Manure—so that it appears the estimate I have made is 
decidedly under the mark.—From Mr. Blacker's Essay 
on Small Farms. 
A SIMPLE FORM 
I am convinced that many of the valuable suggestions 
contained in your Paper for the improvement of agri- 
culture can never be carried into practice either under 
the system of yearly tenancy, or under that of leases 
Containing so many ak dg icti as is commonly 
the case, 
I enclose a form of lease which, whilst it leaves 
ample latitude for an intelligent farmer to exercise his 
Skill and judgment, eontains sufficient security to the 
lessor that the value of his property should be main- 
ained. 
If a form of lease in substance like this were to be 
Adopted, printed forms might be used, with blanks for 
the names of parties and the localities only to be filled 
up, and thus greatly lessen the expences now attending 
leases ; this, however, I am aware could not well be 
done without the establishment of a general system of 
registration, but if that desirable object were attained, 
the long reeapitulations of title now necessary to show 
the lessor's power to lease might be dispensed with, by 
adopting instead, the certificate or mere signature of the 
registrar of the district. 
further improvement might also be adopted by 
abolishing the stamps on leases, and paying instead a 
sum of money on getting the lease regi d, such pay- 
giving one month's notice to C. D.), to have a valuation | 
made of the said farm in the month of July by two | 
competent persons, one of whom shall be chosen by 
A. B., and the other by C. D, and if C. D. should 
neglect or refuse to appoint a valuer within the month 
after receiving such notice, the valuation made by the 
person appointed by A. B. shall be valid and binding. 
That if the two persons so appointed do not agree in 
their respective valuations, they shall choose an umpire, 
and if they cannot agree upon an umpire, or either 
party refuse to appoint such umpire, it shall be lawful 
for the sheriff of the said county o. , on the 
application of either party to appoint such umpire, 
whose decision shall be. equally binding as if made by 
an umpiré mutually chosen by the said valuers. 
“Tf it shall appear by such valuation that the said farm 
is deteriorated in value, either by reason of improper 
cropping or by neglect to repair the buildings, so that 
the annual value of the said farm is less than the sum 
agreed upon as rent thereof, then the said A. B. ma; 
claim from C. D. a sum not exceeding ten times the 
amount of such deficiency in the annual value, together 
with all costs of the reference and valuation, and if the 
sum be not paid within three months after C. D. has 
been furnished with the valuation and elaim, A. B. 
may recover the same by seizure and distraint, as for 
arrears of rent, and if the annual value shall be found 
to be less than the said rent by more than 25/., it shall 
be lawful for the said A. B. to cancel this lease and 
re-enter upon the farm. 
“Tf, however, the valuation shall be equal to, or ex- 
ceed the amount of rent hereby agreed upon, the ex- 
pense of the valuation and reference shall be wholly 
paid by A. B., together with 5 per cent. on the amount 
of the annual rent, as a compensation to C. D. for the 
trouble such valuation may have caused him, 
** Any difference of opinion that may arise between the 
aid contracting parties ing the damage done by 
getting minerals, or cutting down and carrying away 
timber, shall be settled by arbitrators appointed as in 
the case of valuing the farm. “Tn witness, &e.” 
= 
m 
Home Correspondence. 
Shed-feeding Sheep.—In a late Gazette, your corre- 
spondent, Thomas Dixon, expresses his desire that 
some one would point out the means most likely to pre- 
vent the attacks of foot-rot, to which folded sheep are 
so liable. In suggesting a few of the points to be ob- 
served in shed management, I will just give an example. 
Last winter we had 30 large sheep fed in a yard, half of 
which was covered in. The fences were of Thorn, and 
high ; the place welllittered with straw; thus appearing 
quite warm and comfortable. The foot-rot made its 
appearance, owing to the wetness of the yard ; for the 
ground being low, the bedding was always wet. The 
yard was then underdrained, and we soon found the 
benefit of having it dry. The sheep were supplied with 
plenty of roots; their feet frequently pared; and, in 
ment being a per centage on the amount of rent payable, 
Should you deem this worthy of insertion in ,your 
columns, it may elicit some valuable and practical re- 
marks, tending to the great object of an abundant sup- 
ply of home-grown food.— E. 
* A lease of land and buildings called farm, 
situate in the parish of , and in the county 
of , and now in the occupation of 
as tenants, made and agreed upon this day 
of 51846, between A. B. the owner, and C. D. 
the tenant. 
* Firstly. To avoid repetition, and still maintain a clear 
understanding of the import of this lease, it is mutually 
agreed that when this farm is mentioned therein, it 
shall be understood as meaning the whole of the land 
and buildings and ereetions thereon, and whenever 
q were afterwards troubled very little 
with the disease. think the principalthings to be 
borne in mind, with reference to this subject, are—first, 
that the shed or yard must be kept as dry as possible ; 
2diy, the manure must not be allowed to accumulate and 
heat, but frequently cleaned out and replaced by fresh 
straw ; 3dly, the sheep must not be megleeted—their 
feet must be attended to and frequently pared ; 4thly, 
the sheep should be supplied with plenty of root food, 
and have access to a trough of water to drink when they 
please; and, 5thly, a lump of common salt should be 
placed in the yard for them to nibble at occasionally ; 
this prevents feverishness, cools their blood, &c., thus 
rendering them less subject to the foot-rot. Common 
salt is preferable to rock-salt, as the sheep can bite it 
much more easily, therefore getting more salt than 
from the latter. Although the shed may be favourable 
either of the contracting parties hereto are 
it shall be understood as meaning either them or their 
authorised agents, heirs, administrators, or assigns. 
“ The said A. B. agrees to let, and the said C. D. agrees 
to take, for a lease of 21 years from the 29th March 
next, the said farm, consisting of 100 acres (a map or | J. 
Plan of which, with all the buildings and erections 
thereon, is subjoined in a schedule hereto attached) at 
e annual rent of 150/., one half of which shall be 
Payable and due on the 29th day of September, and the 
other half on the 25th day of March, in each year dur- 
ing the said term, and the first payment shall become 
due on'the 29th September next, the said C. D. being 
put in legal and peaceable possession of said farm on 
the 25th March now next ensuing. 
“The said A. B. reserves to himself all mines and 
Minerals, such portion only excepted as the said C. D. 
May require to be used on, and for the improvement of, 
the said land, building, and roads thereof. And the 
said A. B. also reserves all the timber trees now grow- 
ing on the said farm, with liberty at all times to eut 
down and carry away such timber trees, and aiso to 
enter upon and get any mineral under the said farm, 
and carry the same away, paying or allowing to the 
Said C. D. such fair and reasonable sum for surface 
damage as may be either mutually agreed upon or 
Awarded, as hereinafter provided. 
. It is hereby fully agreed that the said C. D. is at 
liberty to cultlvate the said farm in any way he may 
proper, and is to be subject to no restriction as to 
the disposal of the erops, further than is hereinafter 
agreed upon; namely, that at the expiration of 
_the first four years of this lease, and at the 
expiration of any subsequent period of one year, 
it shall be competent to the said A, B. (after 
to the d p of foot-rot, I think if these hints are 
properly attended to, this difficulty will be found to dis- 
appear; and our own experience abundantly proves 
that the advantages of this system of feeding far out- 
weigh any danger or inconvenience arising from it.— 
Shed Feeding.—If my small experience be of any 
service to your correspondent Thomas Dixon, Dar- 
lington, he is heartiiy welcome to it, For three years 
I have fed my wether hoggs of the Leicester breed 
in courtains, by which I mean, yards enclosed by 
sheds. The hoggs are brought in about Christmas if 
the season be an open one, or sooner if the weather be 
coarse, To-day we have 18 inches of snow on the 
ground, and my sheep will be snug in their courtains 
by daylight to-morrow I hope. Convenient to the 
courtains is a store-house, capable of holding a month’s 
Turnips, so that few storms frighten us. Plenty of 
troughs are placed about the open yard, which are 
supplied four times a day with sliced ‘Turnips, and once 
in the beginning of the season, and twice, further on, 
with pollard and bruised Linseed. Every now and 
then, say once a fortnight, I have every hogg's feet 
pared and carefully examined, The sheep are always 
kept liberally bedded with clean straw, and (to use my 
herd’s words, who was greatly against pen-feeding at 
first), “ dinna eat abune the hauf o' the meat they did 
oot-bye, and still "s a lang way better than ever they 
war for baith mutton and oo'.7 | As to foot-rot, I have 
never had one from pen-feeding ; but, Itake great eare. | 
— North Earle. 
To have laying Poultry.—In recommending your 
correspondent * Elphida to give her poultry a warm 
removed from a warmer to a colder climate, they exist 
but do not thrive without warmth, and whether to 
fatten them or to promote their laying at an unseason- 
able time, a temperature adapted to their constitution 
should be provided them; this will be one point 
towards suecess. 1 will now mention two more points, 
viz., age and diet ; attending to these three particulars 
I have at all seasons an abundant supply of new-laid 
from the mou g 
consequently olly to keep an unprofitable animal 
when one in profit would consume no more food: the 
jan I pursue and recommend is to part with all 
poultry after the third autumn laying, and to put in 
their place the previous spring chickens, by which ig 
meant chickens hatched through the months of March, 
April, and May; birds of January and February 
hatching are apt to have their feet swollen by the cold 
in some situations, which is unsightly, and besides this. 
being ready for market in May they are too valuable to 
be kept for stock when birds of less market value but 
equally good for laying ean be had ; the March Pullets 
will begin to lay in September, and the others will 
succeed them. in rotation of hatching; to these in 
November will be added the hens rising two years old, 
and about January, if favourable weather, the hens 
rising three years-old will begin to lay ; by attending to 
age a succession of laying hens will be had through the 
whole year. The next particular to be attended to is 
diet ; with poultry as with other animals variety has its 
charms, and greatly promotes both fattening and laying s. 
poultry confined to a yard should have given to them 
Íood as similar as possible and as various as that they 
would feed on if allowed to roam at large ; they require 
vegetables, seeds, insects, gravel, ashes or dry mould, 
as much as corn of different sorts, to keep them in 
health, and plenty of clean water, rain water is the best 3. 
ifa feed of mixed corn is given the first thing in the 
morning, let this be followed at eleven, a.m., by a feed 
of Barley-meal mixed with boiled Potatoes or Parsnips, 
or both, to this pieces of fat meat chopped may be 
added, the fowls will fill themselves to repletion ; about 
three, P.M., alittle corn may be thrown them, soon 
afterwards they will prepare for roosting : fowls prefer 
meal to corn, and I have observed that those birds that 
had rolled crams of Barley and Oatmeal required feeding. 
only twice a-day, feeding to satisfy each time, and 
resting nearly the whole of the interval; by feeding 
with meal made into a stiff dough or crams with milk, 
or liquor of boiled meat, more eggs, and larger and fatter 
fowls will be obtained than by corn-feeding—ot giving. 
peppercorns to poultry I have no knowledge, neither do 
I think any benefit will attend it.—J. $. [P.S. I hope 
your correspondent *D. S. E." has prepared more 
letters on the diseases of poultry. 
allotment System.— Much has, within these last few 
years, been said pro and con respecting the allotment 
System. 1 have no doubt but experimentalists in gene- 
ral are by this time convinced of its beneficial effects 
and utility. A portion has, within these last two years, 
been separated from the Birmingham Botanic Gardens; 
this portion is something more than 5 acres in extent - 
(the exact measurement I do not know), and is divided 
into compartments, each one containing 576 Square 
yards, or, as the working class here call it, “9 
Each 64 square yards lets at3s. per year, 
compartment amount to 27s., returning to Li 
thorpe,to whom the property belongs, something more 
than 117. 5s. per acre per annum. Does not this amount 
to extortion? May we not reasonably wish for a reduc- 
tion to half the amount? The system in itself is pro- 
ductive of great improvement in the character of the 
working classes ; of this I am well convinced by obser- 
vation. Not only does it cause them to breathe the 
pure air after so many hours in the foul and contami- 
nated air of the factory ; i imul them 
to collect from every partof their premises the decom- 
posing substanees ; the many small carts and barrows 
which go loaded daily to the Birmingham Allotment 
Gardens bear ample evidence of this. From this and 
other faets conneeted with the ailotment system too 
obvious to need comment, we may fairly conclude that 
the health oflargetowns may be very materially im- 
proved by the more general adoption of the system, I 
hope that landowners will take this into consideration, 
and encourage the system, but not merely by allotting 
ground out to the working classes, but by letting it 
them at a price that may enable them, for their labour, 
to receive some little peeuniary returns.— C. Lucas, 
Birmingham. 
Autumn Planting Potatoes.—From the fear that my 
Potatoes might become diseased again this year, I was 
induced to try autumn planting. J selected some of the 
best tubers, and having filled a large frame with leaves 
and Jaid on them a good layer of soil, I proceeded to 
plant the Potatoes about 9 inches apart each way, 
giving them a good dressing of field ash. They were 
thensoiled to the depth of about 4 inches, and upon 
this I sowed a crop of Radishes on the 25th of Novem- 
ber. At the same time I planted about two perches in 
the open ground, and protected them with long dung. 
In spring they were twice cut down with frost. I 
planted another perch in spring, beside the former, and 
ofthe two plantings the result was about one-half in 
favour of autumn-planting. I þegar to dig from the 
frame on the 4th of May ; the others followed in succes. 
sion, and though all were exposed to many heavy 
2 
n 
lodging, asa part of a plan for inducing laying, I quite 
concur ; it is with poultry as with all other animals; 
showers, I had a beautiful crop with scareely any dis- 
