THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



45 



rower 



nners in 



rience 

 T*" ^ "TrS knowledge as 



**" ■ - - : » soon stop " shall keep the 



65-2fi S& B« , and th 



us we 



rW' or Riga ?£* hands of our own farmers, 

 ^ - *" the ha lfl the circuities in the 



Committee on the Museum, reported on the the lateness of the season; but that the system of thin 



***Jtfw£i»S U t m J ',v euilT be'oyercome, unless 

 Jitt*** ° f . Fla5 ^ f c h imagines that St. Patrick 

 fi£U "^^ .nd tha county of Do™, 

 «•_, tW SbatfoeL shores ire coast| be w ould 



J*-* !» '"Ll'ed to prove that there .s as 



-.-Si-" ' ^ preP Tother Pa » of England, for 

 JJj [Si m U***J?3% »l fa Ireland! France, 



by 



can 



Er# ■"■ 



*■/«: that farmers can, 



t "" 1JZ ^profits per acre than they .-.. 



^-v ^Barley There have been instances 



hg Wheat or Barley. made this year in 



j *.*«"< ,*/'' SOT went to work on the 



* -A <! lrel "l d ntl i g C young farmers have of late 



' ' ( to B slum and France, and by them, 



„ 4,1 In U an improved management the 



BriUah Flax has been greatly improved. Fhe 



Tin our country has also increased so much, 



ffiffE « ^ ;of ^ society in Ireland for the 



!•«• 



^-ty-r 



^ ,7nf FU< Cu lue.one spinner declared that 



3Ki B ^Sd *»< ml ' ? er annum f° i the 



P^L.iJ .1 f«r Flax, and that the last year he has 



I can prove that the small farmers, holders 

 i« 30 to 60 acre, of ground, can now make by an 

 Z mk » ■€«• of Pitt, what will pay their rent for 30 

 toeitcre.. 1 never could be done by six acres of 

 Laefcrr kind of grain. This almost new and improved 

 ZLm bti to extended itself, that branches of the society 

 for i»pfotement have been established in every direction. 

 li tae North, 112,000 acres were sown last year, and the 

 ttioo is, that the value of the produce at the low 

 ■rice of 45/. per ton would amount to 1,767,150/. At 

 tie sasne time, I know that some has been sold so high 

 u 140/. per ton, and a great deal at 64/. and 100/. per ton. 

 I have had many years' experience and know well the pro- 

 cam tntt the Flax plant must go through before it ap- 

 pears in the beautiful white cambric, damask, or linen 

 — tne processes of sowing, weeding, pulling, watering, 

 scntcking, hackling, spinning, and weaving. 1 shall have 

 pleasure in giving you every information in my power on 

 this sibject from time to time.— J. //. Dickson, 8, Man- 

 dator Buildups, Whitehall. [We are sorry that we 

 conU not insert the whole of Mr. Dickson's letter. We 

 shall be happy to receive the communications on this sub- 

 ject which be promises.] 



H'trevorm —I know not whether it may be gene- 

 rally known that pheasants are destroyers of that mis- 

 chievous grub, the wire-worm ; it may possibly, therefore, 

 beacceptable to some of your agricultural readers to be 

 afcrmed that such is really the fact. A corresnondent of 



^^pojuog Magazine" Writc8 ' " that no fewer than 

 ™*»* destructive larva were taken from the crop 

 ^■•jAeaennt in January last." Consider, that this is 

 «■* one dsv s consumption ! It thus appears that phea- 

 *re of some benefit to the farmer.—^ Quiet Observer. 





uirur Societies. 



HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 

 T . OP SCOTLAND. 



»" j« , Ti n ^HT ti,,s of this Societ y ™ 



■l^i^i VJu" Hal1 ' Alb y"-P l *<*. There was 

 eSJ WU ?T berS - The Ri § ht H °n. the 



fokSech mTl^ Vice ' Indents in office, 

 ** bifcfe J bUSmeSS before the »«*in& was 



^■SSnilJ^T i me ^ erS ' When 38 candidates 



*n* his IT ° the Soc,et y h* the ensuing 

 ■A and PVn ° ffiCe; aud the M "q»» of 



**^V£L oftSri sss* were eiected vice - 



"** who^re bvr "• ° f Seafidd * nd Lord D ™" 

 ^•Artlled to the m \ Am ° ng ° t,,er matters 



f^tfthecm till 'f ,ng, « the SeCretar y stated th e 

 * expired, ^e 'd ! A^ prcmiun,s in ^ J«r 

 2*-««i with v^it e * f. \ 4 pa P ers sent in > sporting 



^ Ui ;: e rn S b SPeCial r> reS ' "* *> StaS 



«^> to a mo? a t a " Ce ° f the 0,dest D i-ctor, had 



- "■■ ^o/. was a tl „ ^^ con, Pe««on. The first 



Mr^' Yo ^We .X ded to Mr. John Hann*m, 



B^5 Ulldw F - Gardiner T^ premi,1,n of 30/ ' ^ 



**? M :- str 2 ,°i* was ec i na,l >' divided 



Ci 1 ?.^ B rw^ 8 ! A nd Mr « ^evenson, Red- 



rt;^-?^>^ 



consi- 



•We4rf 



MS^^oW^ With ^^wards, 

 WMh£^^mtoi! n ' hcr l ! n P a P ers of «o much 



J°f lhe ^efit of th r n M that thev also **M 



* *t aSt* A ^»l ure ^ in irC r ,a , ti0n u° f the ,! <^ ar - 

 »^ M are Published hlCh the Prize E ^ays 



*^S. ^° fth Societ?f Stat ^ t0 amouilt ^o 



^^SSS 011 lheoc ^sion of T t! r' lg c beeu V0t ^ d to its 

 *««VrIri^* ere m ade K the late Show at Dundee, 



? f ^ -th 8th 0,rof Li ^e Stock C ^ , h for 1 lh f Agricultural 



, V ?° P^i s he S ha,I « len read ' and 



Peted ^^ 5 that J I ^P^d for the pre- 



^^1 Cathcart, Chair- 



77^ *f tj» e s ^ 



^ «mne L e Soc ^ty ; 



state of that establishment. Every facility continues to 

 be afforded to the public of free admission to examine the 

 numerous and valuable objects which the collection exhi- 

 bits in its various departments ; anu a reference to the 

 visitors' book gives satisfactory proof that the privilege of 

 admission is duly appreciated. It has been opened only 

 two years and a-half, and within that time 17,585 have 

 inscribed their names as visitors. Donations of models 

 of implements, seeds, roots, plants, timber, and geological 

 specimens continue to be received and added to the col- 

 lection. Not the least interesting of these are the samples 

 of agricultural produce from the various Local Associa- 

 tions, thus enabling them to form a comparative estimate 

 of the value* of the crops throughout the country. Towards 

 the close of the meeting, Sir John Graham Dalyell stated 

 that he had often wished that some gentleman would devote 

 his attention to the drawing up of a short history of this 

 Society, which had rendered such immense benefit to the 

 country. The first Agricultural Society that ever existed 

 in Scotland he found was instituted in 1723 ; the next 

 was in 1 755 ; and the present patriotic and powerful Society 

 was begun just 60 years ago. He thought all that was 

 to be desired might be condensed into a brief memoir, 

 which the members might find both agreeable and useful. 

 He had collected various notes on the subject himself, 

 which he would be happy to hand over to any gentleman 

 who would undertake this task. The business being con- 

 cluded, thanks were voted to the noble Earl in the chair, 

 after which the meeting separated. 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. 



The council of this Society held their weekly meeting 

 on Thursday, January 11. A report on the profitable 

 reclamation of waste lands in the King's County was 

 received from W. S. Trench, Esq., of Monaghan. Re- 

 ports, competing for the Society's gold medal, for the 

 greatest quantity of draining executed in Ireland for the 

 years 1842 and 1843, were also received from several gen- 

 tlemen. Committees were appointed for their examina- 

 tion. A sub-committee was also appointed to select and 

 report upon the best and most eligible situation for hold- 

 ing the next great cattle show in or near Dublin, on the 

 14th of August next ; and the council then adjourned until 

 Thursday, the 18th instant, at two o'clock. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION. 



The Annual General Meeting of the members of this 

 Association was held on Jan. 8th, in the Highland So- 

 ciety's Museum, Lord Melville in the chair. From the 

 Report by the Committee of Management, it appears that 

 the society is rapidly increasing in number ; nearly a suf- 

 ficient sum has been subscribed as the salary for 5 years, 

 of their chemist, Prof. Johnston. The Professor is now 

 resident in Edinburgh, and is amply provided with all the 

 requisite apparatus, and with three able assistants, whom 

 he has engaged at a considerable cost. Two of these are 

 foreigners, and all of them experienced chemists. They 

 have already begun work, and indeed for the last few weeks 

 have been actively engaged not only in answering letters 

 of advice, but in analysing soils sent them from different 

 parts of Scotland, and also from Jamaica and Demerara, 

 by subscribers there, and in examining likewise various 

 marls, and specimens of guano, oil-cake, turnips, &c, 

 which have been forwarded from all quarters of Great 

 Britain and from Ireland. Two important additions have 

 been made to the regulations of the society. By the one, 

 counties subscribing 20/. yearly to the Association have 

 the privilege given them of sending a member of Commit- 

 tee of the Board of Management. The other regards a 

 point which was stated at last general meeting to be under 

 consideration, viz., the terms on which local Agricul- 

 tural Societies should have lectures from Professor John- 

 ston. These have now been fixed at 5/. for each lecture, 

 which are not to exceed three in number, besides the 

 travelling expenses of Professor Johnston, and this regu- 

 lation appears to be giving satisfaction. Already applica- 

 tion has been made by various agricultural societies in 

 the counties of Renfrew, Ayr, and Fife, for lectures, and 

 it is understood that the example will soon be followed by 

 others. The state of the funds has improved greatly since 

 last general meeting. Some very handsome contributions 

 have been received. That of the Duke of Northumberland, 

 of 30/., merits especial notice, as an instance of disinter- 

 ested liberality — since his Grace possesses, it is believed, 

 no property in Scotland. Nor must the conduct of the 

 West Lothian Agricultural Society, in contributing 10/., 

 pass without remark, as itevinces an enlightened zeal in 

 the ranks of our practical agriculturists. 



FARMERS' CLUBS. 

 Maidstone. — The annual report which was read at a late 

 meeting of this club records the resolutions of the club on 

 the various subjects discussed during the past year. Among 

 them the following seem of general importance : — At the 

 March meeting on the subject of feeding off Wheat, it was 

 resolved, "That it is the opinion of the members that no 

 good is derived from feeding off Wheat, but that the tread- 

 ing of Wheat, or i oiling it with the clod-crusher on light 

 soils, is considered extremely beneficial, and that good 

 crops have resulted from these operations, by which the 

 wire-worm has been checked, and the soil effectually 

 closed." Ou October 5th the subject of discussion was 

 the cultivation of Wheat, which resulted in the following 

 resolution : — " That on land where it is practicable, creas- 

 ing or diilling is always preferable, as two bushels of seed 

 thus used will be found equal to at least two and a half 

 bushels sown broad-cast. Dibbling, when labourers can 

 be got to do it properly, will cause a still greater saving 

 of seed and give greater employment. That in this dis- 

 trict the quantity of seed usually considered necessary is 

 from two bushels to two and a half bushels, according to 



sowing, as recommended in Mr. Davis's recent pamphlet, 

 appears highly deserving of consideration and experi- 

 mental trial." , 



Rhins of Galloway. — The first monthly meeting of this 

 Club was held at Stranraer oa Friday, 29th Dec. Mr. 

 M'Bryde, the Secretary, delivered an interesting address 

 descriptive of ancient Agriculture, and afterwards opened 

 a discussion on the growth and cultivation of Wheat A 

 variety of communications upon this subject received by 

 him from farmers in various parts of the kingdom were 

 read to the meeting, from most of which it appeared that 

 Hunter's Wheat was a hardy and profitable variety, and 

 that it was advisable to change the seed every two or 

 three years, taking care always to obtain it from a better 

 and earlier soil and climate. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Native Phosphate of Lime. — At the last meeting 

 of this Society, Professor Daubeney read a paper on the 

 occurrence of Native Phosphate of Lime in the province 

 of Estramadura, in Spain. This salt occurs near Gua- 

 daloupe, and forms a vein running between the clay 

 slate for about two miles, and is about 20 feet in breadth, 

 and, as far as could be ascertained, 10 feet in thickness. 

 Dr. Daubeney examined this formation with an especial 

 view to ascertain the possiblity of its being used in this 

 country as an article of manure. There are, however, 

 great difficulties existing with regard to carriage, which, 

 on account of the unsettled state of the Peninsula, would 

 be serious. If, however, there should at any time 

 be a scarcity of bone manure, it might be brought to this 

 country as a substitute. No experiments have at present 

 been tried with this mineral as a manure, but there can 

 be little doubt that it would act efficiently, where plants 

 require Phosphate of Lime. 





3KeWefo*. 



Productive Farming ; or, A Digest of the Recent Disco- 

 veries of Liebig, §c. By Joseph A. Smith, Lecturer 

 on Agricultural Chemistry. Second Edition. Simpkin, 

 Marshall, and Co. 8vo., pp. 179. 

 It is not to be expected that farmers, as a body, should be 

 capable of applying scientific laws to the improvement of 

 Agriculture. In the process, however, of thus applying 

 those laws they have a very important part to perform. 

 They have not only for the most part to supply the 

 materials, a consideration of which enables the scientific 

 man to suggestimprovements in their practice,but they have 

 also to carry out these suggestions into actual trial, and to 

 determine on the farm their real value to the farmer. 

 Their assistance is thus required from first to last in the 

 work of Agricultural improvement, and in order, on the 

 one hand, that they may be able to select and state pro- 

 perly such facts as bear on any subject that may be under 

 consideration ; and on the other that they may be able to 

 appreciate the suggestions founded by the scientific man 

 upon these facts, it is of great importance that they should 

 possess a general knowledge of the relations in which, 

 farming in its vaiious branches stands to some of the 

 sciences. We are therefore glad to see works of the class 

 to which Mr. Smith's little volume belongs increasing in 

 number. 



41 This book is a compilation. The object of its com- 

 piler has been the simplification of the more strictly- 

 scientific and technical writings of the principal Agricul- 

 tural writers of the present age." So says its Preface. 

 The object of its Author is a good one, and the plan laid 

 down for its attainment has been skilfully executed. 



The possibility, and indeed the certainty, that the appli- 

 cation of scientific knowledge will eventually simplify and 

 cheapen the farmer's practice, is well illustrated by Mr. 

 Smith in parallel cases drawn from other arts and pro- 

 fessions. Thus — 



" Calico printers for a long time have used the solid 

 excrements of the cow in order to brighten and fasten 

 colours on cotton cloth. This material appeared quite 

 necessary, and its action was ascribed to some latent prin- 

 ciple or" material derivable from the living animal. But 

 since the action of cow-dung was known to depend on the 

 phosphates contained in it, it has been completely replaced 

 by a more cleanly mixture of certain salts, of which the 

 most prominent is phosphate of soda. So, in medicine, 

 for many centuries the mode of action or the active prin- 

 ciple of all remedies, was veiled in obscurity. But now 

 these principles have been presented to the world in an 

 extremely active and concentrated form. The extraordi- 

 nary efficacy of Peruvian Bark in the cure of fever is found 

 to depend on a minute quantity of a crystalline substance 

 termed quinine contained in it. The inhabitants of Savoy 

 are much infested with the disease known amongst us as 

 * Derbyshire neck/ They have springs which are famous 

 for its cure ; we derive benefit from the use of burnt 

 sponge. Now, burnt sponge contains iodine ; and upon 

 examination these springs contain iodine in small 

 quantities." 



Apply all this to Agriculture and we may be sure that — 

 "A time will come when fields will be manured with 

 saline solutions, with the ashes of burnt straw, or with 

 salts ot phosphoric acid prepared in chemical manufac- 

 tories, with as much certainty as now, in medicine, iodine 

 cures the ' Derbyshire neck,' or as quinine is substituted 

 for the bulky powdered bark in fever." 



The Book of the Farm. By Henry Stephens, Editor of 

 the " Quarterly Journal of Agriculture." Part XVII. 

 William Blackwood and Sons. 

 A more specific title than the above would not properly 

 designate this Work. Mr. Stephens goes into such de- 

 tail on every subject which he discusses, that he appears 





