860 
THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 
| DEC. 26, 
I intend house-feeding 25 head of cattle, and 
three horses, the manure of which will enable me 
to carry on the four-course rotation; but 
crops produce, as may be expected, the horses 
may work the land well, but not have time to thrash all 
the grain ; as it will frequently happen that the cattle 
will want straw when the horses will be badly wanted 
on the land. Now, will it be better to have an extra 
horse, or a small non-condensing stéam-engine, I can 
rocure good coals to work the engine, at the best hand, 
[rna 10 to 11s. per ton ; the waste steam can be made 
to pass the outside of a pan, and so be making com- 
pound after the fashion of Mr. Warnes, whilst the 
engine is working, which will reduce the expense of 
fuel ; and the spare hands on the farm can be thrashing 
whilst the horses are at work, which should never be 
neglected.—Mona’s Isle. [We prefer the English 
machine, and should recommend keeping a hand or two 
more at work with the spade, &c., and thus let your 
horses off to thrash, instead of having a steam-engine 
on so small a farm. Perhaps some correspondent will 
speak of your thrashing machine. ] 
On Feeding for Profit.—In watching the progress of 
events it is curious to observe how hints are thrown 
away, when they might be acted upon with advantage, 
although at a future period cireumstances compel their 
observance. I am induced to make these remarks from 
reading an account of the want of cheap meat in the 
markets, which the farmers must remedy, unless they 
intend foreigners to supply the deficiency, which in 
course of a few months they will endeavour to accom- 
plish, and in which they will succeed. It is refreshing 
to observe influential journals taking up the subject of 
stuffing prize beasts till they become a mass of fat. 
Some months ago I touched upon this question, point- 
ing out the absurdity of giving premiums to men who, 
regardless of expence, pampered up animals disgusting 
to the sight, and useless as food. At the time I was 
rather abused, as being ignorant of the advantage of 
such experiments ; however, I cannot yet understand 
what great gain there can be to the community at large 
in noblemen and gentlemen year after year feeding 
Herefords, Durhams, &c., breeds well known (till they 
cannot move), without following my former suggestion 
of keeping a Dr. and Cr. account, which would then 
prove the real benefit of increasing the weight of tallow 
for the sake of a Medal. On an experienced farmer 
being asked the other day why he did not show his 
animals at the agricultural meetings, he answered, “I 
farm for profit.” I should like to see prizes introduced 
for the best crops of Wheat, or other grain, roots, &c., 
produced at the least cost, and the land left in good 
health for the next sowing. Algo for the best animals 
ready for the butcher, reared at the smallest outlay. 
"This would-be a criterion of business-like farming, and 
require economy in all its branches.— Falcon, 
Societies. 
HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
. AT the late monthly meeting a communication on 
Agricultural Statistics, from Mr. Sandars of Hemel 
Hempstead, in England, was read, with forms of pro- 
posed returns for the purpose of ascertaining the quan- 
tity of land under cultivation, and the produce of the 
country in cattle and crops of every description. The 
Secretary stated, that as the subject was one of import- 
ance, and exciting peculiar interest at the present june- 
ture, it had been remitted by the directors to the 
meeting in order that any member of the Society might 
have an opp ity o| ieating his views in 
d to it. He adverted to the total want of all 
machinery for arriving at any estimate, on which 
reliance could be placed, of the agrieultural produce of 
the country, available for the food of the lati 
Mr. Orank of Ulva said, that so far as the range of 
his observation extended over the Western Highlands 
and islands, the inhabitants of these localities would do 
well to consider the great risk which attends trusting 
to the Potato next year as a staple article of food, His 
observations applied partieularly to the small farmer 
and erofter. Hitherto these had looked on the Potato 
as their chief, if not their only, food; and in a year like 
the present, when that support had failed, they neces- 
sarily were exposed to all the calamities of famine, The 
season was approaching for preparing the ground for 
next year's crop ; and, if to the difficulty of procuring 
sound and untainted Potato seed, there was added the 
chances of the same unknown and undefined malady 
again making its appearance to blight the prospects of 
the poor man, surely it was but reasonable that atten- 
tion should now be turned more to the cultivation of 
something else. He thought that in the localities of 
which he spoke, the sowing of Oats and Bere, or Bar- 
ley, should be more largely resorted to, and the raising 
of Turnip and Carrot, which succeed admirably, and 
grow luxuriantly in the West Highlands and islands. 
r, Dickson, Sauchton Mains, said he had grown 
Mangold Wurzel for three years consecutively, and 
that he had given it up, finding that it did not produce 
aheavier crop, and was not more fattening than Turnip. 
But it might be desirable, however, to introduce it as 
a change in the Turnip rotation. 
Mr. Miune referred to an elaborate experiment con- 
ducted by the late Earl Spencer, as detailed in the 
journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 
for 1841. Of two animals selected, one was fed for a 
month on Swedes, and the other on Mangold Wurzel. 
The food was then changed, No, 1 was put on Mangold, 
and No. 2 on Swedes, and again both were put on 
Mangold Wurzel. The result of the experiment, under 
every trial, showed the Mangold Wurzel to be much 
superior to Swedes in producing weight. 
Mr. Minx, of Milnegraden, read a report by the 
directors on the Drainage Act, 9th and 10th Victoria, 
cap. 101. The objects of the Act are the increase of 
the productiveness and value of land by drainage, the 
employment of agricultural labour, and the improvement 
of the general health of the community. To effect these 
important purposes, an advance of two millions for 
Great Britain, and one million for Ireland, is authorised 
universally felt in the existing relations of the agricul- 
tural community, and the most serious consequences 
are likely to result from the changes which must take 
place in consequence of the sudden destruction of what 
has hitherto been considered the staple food of so large 
a portion of our population, —In accordance with the 
wish of many influential members of the Society, the 
council have offered the gold medal for ‘The best Essay 
on the system of cropping and mode of cultivation of 
land which should be henceforth adopted by the small 
farmers of Ireland ; and they confidently hope that the 
effect of this prize wil be the publication of good 
practical instruction suited to the capacity and means of 
the small farmers of the country.'— When the Society 
was originally founded in 1841, the following regulation 
was adopted, commonly known as the 14th rule, viz.— 
‘That it be a fundamental rule of the Society that no 
question shall be discussed at any of its meetings of a 
political tendency, or which shall refer to any matter 
to be brought forward or pending in either House of 
Parliament. This was taken from the rules of the 
Royal English and Highland Societies, and was framed 
principally, it is believed, for the purpose of guarding 
against di ion on subjects ted with the duties 
then levied on the importation of foreign corn.— 
Influenced altogether by considerations of the pressing 
emergency and the sudden and grievous affliction of 
those whose interests they represented, the council 
thought themselves justified in departing in ,some 
measure from the letter in the above rule, and accord- 
ingly, when it was known that Government had 
determined to avert the calamity which it had pleased 
Providence to inflict upon this island by the direct 
imposition of taxation ; and moreover, when it appeared 
that this taxation would be attended by the expenditure 
of immense sums of money, in the execution of public 
works of very questionable utility, and not in operations 
of a profitable and reproductive nature. Ata meeting 
of the council, held on Thursday, the 10th of September 
last, the Earl of Charlemont, vice-president, in the 
chair, it was resolved—' That, after full consideration of 
the question, it did not appear to the council that the 
propositions then proposed, or any suggestions the 
council may consider it their duty to make at the 
present crisis as to the profitable employment of the 
to be made by the Treasury out of the consolidated 
fund. The inclosure commissioners for England and 
Wales are nominated commissioners for carrying the 
act into execution in Great Britain, and all applications 
from Scotland for advances under it must be addressed 
to them. The financial advantages offered by the 
measure to a party taking advantage of it are, that the 
outlay expended on his draining is advanced to him in 
the form of a loan, bearing interest at 6} per cent, for 
a period of twenty-two years, at the expiry of which 
the debt is extinguished. In other words, the borrower 
gives 4 per cent. for the advance, and 24 for twenty- 
two years to pay it off ; and if 4 per cent. be taken as 
the ordinary rate at which country gentlemen can 
borrow, the necessary calculation would show that 24 
per cent, will not in twenty-two years wipe off the 
whole of the sum received. There is, besides, the 
benefits of an accumulation and extinction of debt 
within a limited period, in a manner which cannot, 
under ordinary circumstances, always be commanded— 
and that without any of the expenses attending the 
occasional transfer of securities and termly payments 
of interest, In order to secure these advantages, there 
is, fortunately, no expensive preliminary procedure. 
The machinery provided by the Act is as simple 
and economical as could be devised, and may be 
worked by any country gentleman, while the com- 
missioners are ready to give effect to it, so as 
The next subject brought before the meeting was the 
changes rendered necessary in agriculture consequent 
on the failure of the Potato crop. The Secretary men- 
tioned that he had received a ication from Dr, 
to expose appli to the smallest possible expense. 
The report referred in terms of high eulogium 
to a printed letter cireulated by Mr, Blamire, one 
of the commissioners, which, though not an official com- 
esner, Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, in reference to two 
its indigenous to that climate, recommended by him 
to be tried as a substitute for the Potato. Dr. Gesner 
had shipped a parcel of roots, addressed to the Society, 
which had unfortunately gone astray. The native names 
ef the plants are Saa-gaa-ban and Mus-qua-sete, the 
former of which Dr. Gesner states to be the Glycine 
Apios of Linneus, and the latter the Claytonia Virgi- 
nica of Linnzus. A letter was read, addressed to the 
Seeretary, by Colonel Kinloch of Kilry, in which that 
gentleman recommended that the Society should encou- 
rage the more general introduction of Mangold Wurzel, 
a plaut the cultivation of which was in general but 
little understood, and in some districts unknown to the 
ers. He had this year raised some in his garden 
at the rate of 32 tons an acre, exclusive of stems and 
leaves. - The ground, though a good deep soil, was in 
bad heart, having been scourge-cropped for nine or ten 
years, with very little dung for the lastthree years, and 
mone this, The crop was sown with some guano, and 
a little bone dust in the drills. Swedes and yellow Tur- 
nips on the same ground were not nearly so heavy. 
Had the ground been properly manured, he had no 
doubt but that the crop would have exceeded 40 tons ; 
and he conceived it to be a plant peculiarly suitable for 
the garden of the cottager, which was generally well 
trenched and manured. The Secretary mentioned that 
Mr. MacCormack of Marino, in Ireland had this year 
raised it to the extent of 80 tons per acre, though, in 
his calculation, he assumed 40 to be a tolerable crop. 
—(Irish Farmers’ Gazette, 28th Nov.) 
, might be read as an exposition of the in- 
terpretation which Mr. Blamire believes his colleagues 
are disposed to give to the Act, Tho principal advan- 
tages held forth were, that the commissioners would, 
to save expense, name as inspectors trustworthy persons 
residing withia the district from which an applic: 
was presented, that proprietors would not, in draining, 
be trammelled by any precise rule or system, but that 
each operation should be conducted according to its 
own circumstances ; and that in regard to uncultivated 
lands, expenditure in trenchiog will probably be autho- 
rised as a necessary accompaniment of drainage. The 
report contains some suggestions offered by the 
directors, which will be published at length in the Trans- 
actions with the Journal. It strongly impresses on the 
tenantry the importance of co-operating with their 
landlords when necessary, by joining in their applica- 
tions, and becoming parties in payment of a portion of 
the interest, which by the Act they are entitled to do ; 
and it concludes by expressing the opinion of the 
directors that the Act confers a great boon on the 
landed interest, and particularly on proprietors holding 
their estates under settlements of entail. 
& 
5 
OF IRELAND. 
Tue half-yearly meeting of this Society was held on 
Dec. 12. The following are extracts from the report 
read by the Secretary :— 
The continued infliction of the Potato disease bas 
occupied the serious attention of the council since the 
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY 
last meeting. The effect of the visitation has been 
labouring popul appeared to be in any way an 
infringement of the 14th rule. This resolution was 
subsequently confirmed at a further meeting of the 
council held on Thursday, the 24th of September last. 
Many of the best friends and supporters of the Society 
having since, however, expressed the strongest appre- 
hension that even the temporary suspension of a portion 
of the rule would ultimately lead to discussions not pro- 
fessed or contemplated by those who proposed the sus- 
pension, the council have unanimously come to the de- 
ination o: ding to the meeting that the 
14th rule should be restored in its integrity, and that 
an additional rule be adopted with reference to the 
general rules of the Society, as will, they conceive, fully 
satisfy the objections, and quiet the apprehensions of 
those who are anxious that the Society should be earried 
on in strict conformity with its original rules.—In con- 
cluding these observations, the Council have to regret 
that the support which the Soeiety has hitherto received 
from the landed proprietors in Ireland has not been 
equal to their anticipations. Of the different noblemen 
who have estates in Ireland there are no less than 120 
who have never contributed to the funds of this Society. 
There are only the names of 31 of the members of Par- 
liament for Ireland on the list of its supporters, and the 
same want of active co-operation exists amongst the 
other large proprietors. This apathy is the more extra- 
ordinary when contrasted with the spirit and emulation 
which the proceedings of your Socicty has excited 
among the farming classes, who, by the interest they 
express, and their eagerness to avail themselves of the 
pr iti imp which it affords, bear 
ample testimony to its merits ; yet it is to those who 
possess property, and whose tenants dérive benefit from 
the exertions of the Society, that the council have rea- 
son to look for co-operation and support. The council 
have also to state that arrangements have been made 
for holding the next great cattle show and annual meet- 
ing of the Society in Londonderry, which will take 
place in the month of August next under the patronage 
of the nobility and gentry connected with that locality.” 
—'The adoption of the report was moved by the Dux 
of LEINSTER, seconded by the EARL of Crancarty, and 
carried unanimously.—Mr. Lampart then moved that 
the 14th general rule of the Society, which had been 
partially suspended at the late special meeting, held for 
that purpose, on Wednesday, the 11th November last, 
should be restored to the code of fundamental rules, in 
allits integrity. The resolution was carried unanimously, 
—Mr. G, A. Hamiron, M.P., proposed the next reso- 
lution, that no general rule of the Society be henceforth 
rescinded, suspended, or altered, except at one or other 
of the half-yearly meetings of the Society, and then only 
upon the recommendation of the council adopted 
at a meeting of the council held one month at 
least before said stated meeting, and promulgated b: 
publie notice to the members of the Society one fortnight 
previously.—Mr. Cuaries Roper seconded the motion, 
and it was adopted unanimously. A resolution was then 
passed ing that the of the 14th Rule 
had caused the resignation of the Duke of Leinster, and 
hoping that his Graee would again resume the position 
of President of the Society.—The Duge of LEINSTER 
returned thanks, He said that the proceedings of the 
day showed him that the Society appreciated the 
