468 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[July 13, 



objectionable shape, so that it may easily be taken up 

 and decomposed by the plant, without being volatile. 

 This may be done in two ways — either by decomposing 

 the carbonate of ammonia by means of a stronger acid, 

 such as oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid), or spirits of salt 

 (muriatic acid), and dispelling the carbonic acid, or by a 

 double decomposition, whereby we fix both the ammonia 

 and the carbonic acid. The latter is effected by sulphate 

 of lime (gypsum), or muriate of lime, which decompose 

 the carbonate of ammonia and form sulphate or muriate 

 of ammonia and carbonate of lime (chalk). This decompo- 

 sition only takes place when the agent (gypsum or muriate 

 of lime) is dissolved in water ; for which reason muriate of 

 lime is preferable to gypsum, becauje it is soluble in its 

 own weight of water, whilst the latter requires 350 parts 

 of water to dissolve it. I presume, now, that all those 

 farmers who read the Agricultural Gazette are ac- 

 quainted with the value of the urine of cattle. Supposing 

 the farmer has his tank, the best method of effectually 

 preserving the ammonia of the urine, and of removing 

 the smell from the stables and cowsheds, is to strew the 

 floor, behind the cattle, with a sprinkling of gypsum 

 every day. When this plan is first adopted, it is best to 

 water the gypsum with a watering-pot, after having 

 strewn it on the floor ; as I have said that the action of 

 it on the carbonate of ammonia does not take place till it is 

 dissolved. If the farmer wishes to remove the smell 

 from his stables, he will be obliged to wash the walls 

 with a solution of gypsum, or better, with a solution of 

 muriate of lime, and afterwards with pure water, for the 

 walls in an ill-ventilated stable are covered with a solution 

 of ammonia in water. In preparing the farmyard heap, 

 it should be a rule with the farmer to heap it on as small 

 a space and as compact as possible. The ground on 

 which it is to lie should either be bricked or should con- 

 sist of a very stiff clay, and should be about half a foot 

 below the surrounding ground, and should be situated at 

 the lowest part of the farmyard. By means of pipes the 

 floor is connected with the tank, so that all the urine and 

 water may run off. A layer of gypsum is now to be 

 spread on the flooring, and the heap is to be commenced 

 by covering the whole bottom, with the exception of 

 about half a foot on every side. On every foot-height 

 of manure a layer of gypsum is to be spread, sufficiently 

 thick to appear white. When the heap is completed, or 

 before, the contents of the tank are to be poured on by 

 degrees, in quantity sufficient to wet the heap well, but 

 so that not much will run back into the tank. By these 

 means the following advantages will be obtained :— 1st. 

 The cartage of it in water-carts will be rendered unne- 

 cessary, and some labour saved. 2d. The gypsum of 

 the farmyard heap will be dissolved ; and, 3d, by the addi- 

 tion and evaporation of the water of the urine, the decay 

 of the farmyard manure will be facilitated. To the ques- 

 tion, How should farmyard manure be applied ? I answer : 

 If the soils are light, the farm-yard manure cannot be too 

 much decayed, provided proper precautions be taken to 

 preserve all its useful ingredients by the means already 

 stated. The farmer will, in this case, do well only to 

 place as much on his land as will suffice for the nutri- 

 ment of one crop, because a large portion of it will be 

 washed beyond the reach of the roots of the plants by 

 the falling rains. If the soils are heavy, it will be bet- 

 ter to plough your farm-yard manure under, in as recent 

 a state as possible, again providing it has been properly 

 preserved ; the fermentation of the Straw may tend to 

 lighten the soil in such a case. If the manure is to serve 

 immediately as food to the plant, it must be decayed ; if, 

 on the contrary, it is to act slowly, it should be fresh ; 

 as to the time when it should be placed on land, farmers 

 are much at variance. For pastures it should be spread 

 after the first mowing of the Grass — if possible on a rainy 

 day— and should be as much decayed as possible. It will 

 then act as quickly as guano. For arable land it will 

 much depend upon the state of the soil and upon the 

 nature ot the crops. I may, however, be allowed to add, 

 that it is a downright absurdity to lead out unprepared 

 farm-yard manure on a hot day, and to leave it for any 

 length of time in heaps on the" soil. This I have seen 

 scores of times ; the loss which takes place is nigh in- 

 calculable. We have hitherto spoken of pure farm-yard 

 manure ; we must now make some remarks on the farm- 

 yard manure of most agriculturists. It is a common 

 practice to collect the weeds of the soil and to spread 

 them on the dungheap. Farmers seem not to be aware 

 that whilst they destroy one individual plant they may 

 sow again at least a hundred, if the weeds are in seed. 

 Now this is frequently the case, although many say that 

 seeds are killed on the dunghill. This idea is fallacious ; 

 some seeds may be killed, but most are not. Many won- 

 der at the numberless weeds that constantly reappear on 

 fields that have been carefully weeded, and yet they seek 



not the cause 80 near home » forgetting that they sow the 

 seeds themselves. I have known farmers who allowed 

 that seeds were not killed on the dunghill, and resorted 

 to the worse system of adding lime to the dunghill. It 

 is true that the seeds were killed, but at the expense of 

 the ammonia and the organic matter. Far better mix the 

 weeds with caustic lime, to burn them, which amounts to 

 the same. Another practice is to place the Potato stalks 

 on the dunghill, without any precaution as to whether 

 they are again conveyed to the field they grew upon 

 ©r not. This is not immaterial when the farmer 

 recollects that these stalks contain a most neces- 

 sary ingredient o( the stalks of grain. It is owing 

 to the frequent removal of these stalks that land 

 is so very impoverished, inasmuch as the haulm of 

 grain are scarcely able to support themselves. If these 

 stalks are placed on the dunghill, it is necessary to use 

 that part of the heap on which they have been put, as 



manure tor the land from which they have been taken. 

 I have only one remark more to make, which appears to 

 be of great importance. I have known gentlemen who 

 have bought up the manure collected by poor people, and 

 who have manured meadows with it. The consequence 

 has been, in two cases which have come under my more 

 immediate notice, that the Grass has almost been totally 

 extirpated by numerous weeds. They were not able to 

 give any reason for this change, but only told me whence 

 they had bought their manure. It was chiefly the manure 

 of horses, which had been fed on the highroads, or on 

 weeds collected from different parts. The weeds must 

 have been in seed, and have passed unchanged through 

 the stomach of the horse, germinated, and sprung up in 

 the soil. There can scarcely be a farmer who has not, 

 on some occasions, found a few solitary grains of corn 

 growing in the dung of horses. Having seen this myself, 

 I endeavoured to find out whether small seeds were killed 

 by passing through the body of a horse. For this pur- 

 pose 1 fed an old horse with weeds in seed, collected its 

 dung, and mixed it with soil in which I believe there 

 were no seeds of any kind. The bos which I filled 

 with this mixture was, after eight days, filled with weeds, 

 which, after the lapse of a few weeks, I was able to re- 

 cognise as the same species as those on which the animal 

 had been fed. Here, then, I found a key to the mys- 

 tery. This must be the case constantly in a weak horse 

 and in an old horse. It is not without good grounds that 

 sheep are said to improve pasture lands, as the process of 

 digestion in them seems to be more powerful and com- 

 plete than in horses, at least old ones. May it not be 

 the case with most old animals? I conclude with this, 

 and merely add that I should be glad to hear of any com- 

 munication to this effect. — Albert J. Bernays. 



Drainaye Would you have the kindness to inform 



me whether charred branches of trees can be advan- 

 tageously employed, as well as drain-pipes, in draining 

 heavy land ? My hedge-rows would furnish me with an 

 abundance of loppings fit for charring, and I should be 

 glad to so employ them. As charcoal is almost impene- 

 trable, I should think this might answer, at least for a 

 good many years. — Thomas Holmes. [Your suggestion 

 is, we think, new; loppings of trees and hedges have 

 long been employed as material for filling drains, which, 

 so filled, act efficiently, though not permanently. If 

 they were charred superficially (not thoroughly, lest, 

 being brittle, they should break into small fragments 

 when being placed in the drain), they would be equally 

 suitable for this purpose, and they would have, in addi- 

 tion, the important character of permanence conferred 

 upon them.] 



Rooks. — That the food of this bird is various in its 

 nature I know from undeniable facts ; early in this spring 

 I had two rooks brought to me that had been killed on a 



Aitchison, Capt R., Bartley Manor House, Elioir. SouthT^T.* 

 Bird, J. A. Park Cottage, Brixton, Surrey. ouuin *mptoo. 



The names of twenty-three candidates for election at 

 the next meeting were then read. 



Pipe-tile Machine. — Mr. Cottara, of Winslev 

 Street, Oxford Street, favoured the Council with a report 

 on the latest improvements effected in the Benenden 

 Machine of Mr. Hatcher for the production of cylindric 

 draining tiles. This machine in its present state consist* 

 of a framework supported on wheels : one-third of iti 

 length being appropriated to the platform of the machine 

 for the manufacture of the tiles, and the remainder to the 

 apparatus of the endless web for supporting the pip c8 *. 

 they are formed, and conveying them to the hands of the 

 boys stationed to receive them. On a level with this 

 endless web, and between two upright posts, is placed a 

 square iron box, which forms the bottom of the machine. 

 It is open at the top and at that side in its front which 

 adjoins the endless web. This box is always full of clay 

 the iron grating which acts the part of a sieve or screener 

 of the clay being placed on the top of the box, and the 

 required dies, or plates of iron, with apertures for the 

 shape of tile required, secured in front. On this box 

 thus arranged, is placed a cylinder filled with clay from 

 the pug-mill, and the piston being inserted, and forced 

 down steadily by means of a winch working a couple of 

 toothed wheels, the clay is driven under great pressure 

 through the iron grating into the square box, and thence 

 out of the box, through the apertures which constitute 

 the pattern-dies of the tiles, which, as they issue conti- 

 nuously from the machine, are conveyed along the end- 

 less web set in simultaneous motion with the piston by a 

 connection with the same winch and a couple of rollers. 

 As one cylinder becomes emptied another is ready to 

 replace it. A boy is stationed at each side of the 

 endless web, and measures off the tiles, piling them 

 alongside the machine, which as the work proceeds is 

 moved from time to time forward, out of the way, by 

 means of the wheels on which it is supported. Mr. 

 Cottam explained to the Council the various improve- 

 ments effected in the action of the piston, the insertion 

 of the die-plates, the material best adapted for the end- 

 less web, and the mode adopted for keeping it in proper 

 tension, the apparatus for measuring and cutting off the 

 tiles, the advantages possessed by the cylindric shape of 

 the tiles for arranging them, both for the purpose of 

 drying and burning equably, the rate of charge for la- 

 bour, fuel, &c, the number of tiles produced per day, 

 &c. &c. He submitted to the inspection of the Council 

 a model of the machine, and one of the cutters for mea- 

 suring off" the tiles. This apparatus Mr. Cottam de- 

 scribed as one of the most ingenious and efficient con- 

 trivances he had ever met with for accomplishing its pur- 

 pose by the most simple means. Previously to its use. 



crop tnat suiters most in this country, 

 the rook is also of great use to the farmer must, I think, 

 also be true, as he is constantly seen on fresh ploughed 

 land, and often on Grass fields, where only insects can 

 be met with. The balance of good or injury that the bird 

 does can only be estimated by conjecture, without a close 

 examination into the birds' usual habits. But I am in- 

 clined to think, notwithstanding the injury done to the 

 Potato crop — notwithstanding these birds being grami- 

 nivorous must consume very much Corn — yet, that if 

 their food was not more abundantly composed of insects, 

 that from their immense numbers, the crops both of Corn 

 and Potatoes would be totally destroyed, instead of par- 

 tially injured. — A. [This is, we think, the fair conclu- 

 sion to be derived from this discussion, which, in the 

 absence of any fresh facts on the subject, we must now 

 bring to a close.] 





_ MfetftS. 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND 

 At a weekly Council held at the Society's house in 

 Hanover-square on Wednesday last, the 10th of July, 

 present, His Grace the Duke of Richmond, K.G., in the 

 chair, Lord Bridport, Hon. George Agar, Hon. Geo. H. 

 Cavendish, M.P., R. Archbold, Esq., M.P., C. H. 

 Baldock, Esq., D. Barclay, Esq., M.P., T. R. Barker, 

 Esq., J. R. Barker, Esq., J. Benett, Esq., M.P., H. 

 Blackett, Esq., W. R. Browne, Esq., F. Burke, Esq., 

 Dr. Calvert, Rev. Thos. Cator, Col. Challoner, F. C. 

 Cherry Esq., L. Cooke, Esq.,G. Cottam, Esq., J. Dean, 

 Esq. J E. Denison, Esq., M.P., R. Etwail, Esq., M.P., 

 H. Gibbs Esq., J. B. Glegg, Esq., Col. Henderson 

 (Mayor of Southampton), E. Holland, Esq., Sir John V. 

 B. Johnstone, Bart., M.P., T. Jones, Esq., J. Kinder, 

 Esq., J. Marmont, Esq., Col. MacDouall, E. Parkins, 

 Esq., E. W. W. Pendarves, Esq., M.P., E. S. C. Pole, 

 Esq., H. Price, Esq., J. Roddam, Esq., J. Scales, Esq., 

 Prof. Sewell, J. V. Shelley, Esq., R. A. Slaney, Esq., 

 T. H. B. Sotheron, Esq., M.P., W. B. Stopford, Esq., 

 and T. Tweed, Esq., the following new Members were 

 elected : — 



Quicke, Rev. Andrew, Winchester. 



Withers, Rev. Edward, Phillimore Place, Kensineton 



Bull, Alban, Hanwell, Banbury, Oxon. 



Vivian, Lord, Glynn, Lostwirhiel, Cornwall. 



Bourne, Henry Titus, Alford, Lincolnshire. 



Templemore, Lord, Dunroby Park, Co. Wexford, Ireland 



Sewell, Robt. Burleigh, Newport, Isle of Wight. 



Dickinson, Edmund Henry, Kingweston, Somersetshire. 



Henderson, Richard, Langley Ford, Wooler, Northumberland. 



Reed, Thos., Warksworth Barns, Alnwick, Northumberland 



Pink, Richard, Hambledon, Horndean, Hants. 



Pink, Charles, Hambledon, Horndean, Hants. 



Winnington, Sir Thomas, Bart., Stanford Court, Worcester, 



Chapman, Thos. Sands, Aston Clinton, Tring, Herts. 



Pain, George, Salisbury. 



James, Charles, Stratford, Salisbury. 



Ul unequal lciigm, vui> *uj«»^- -*j r 



hands on their sides on being conveyed away from the 

 machine. It consists of a wooden roller, secured firmly 

 by a screw at one end to a plate of iron; to this iron 

 plate an iron bar is secured, which runs parallel three or 

 four inches above the roller, and serves the purpose of a 

 handle for the boy, as well as a support for the cutting- 

 wire, which moves in a frame and socket up and down 

 in front of the roller. The boy takes the apparatus by 

 the handle, and inserts the roller inside the pipe-tiling 

 up to its hilt at the iron plate ; he then draws the cut- 

 ting-wire, when the pipe-tile is perfectly severed, and 

 remains loose on the roller, from which he at once alio* « 

 it to glide off into its proper place, without injury or 

 loss of time. Mr. Cottam stated that the cos to 

 macbine complete would be 25/. ; and for the inspect on 

 of such members of the Society as felt an interest in the 

 subject, he had made arrangements at his ™ n ™ c f;l 

 in Winsley-street (opposite the Pantheon in u* '° 

 street), to have the machine at work daily frofli i" 

 o'clock. Assuming one man, one youth, ana 1 j 



to be employed at the machine (including pug *ori£ 

 with one man at the kiln, and the price of coais 

 25s. per ton, the following results would be obtame j 

 calculation from the data laid by Mr. Cottam before we 

 Council on this occasion :— 



Diameter 

 of Tiles. 



1 inch, 

 li inch. 

 12 inch. 



2 Inches. 

 2$ inches. 



Number that 



can be made 



in a day of 



10 hours. 





11,000 

 8,000 

 5,800 

 4,000 



Cost per 

 Thousand. I 



As. 6d. 

 5s. 6d. 

 6s. Orf. 

 7s. 3d. 

 8/. 6rf. 



tile-making which this machine won 

 ;e to the cost of production, if coma 

 . .. _* .u« ovnprience to w 



* ; Jj«-»" 1 



Mr. Denison, M.P., remarked that when it *" " the 

 into consideration how many pointy {f •JJJJJJJ w0U ld 

 new system of 



affect in reference . w 



be doubted that in the progress of the «P ene J* e of clay 

 gained it would be found, that in the less amount 0^ 

 required, the consequent reduction in fuel lor ^ 



and the local advantage of coals to be obtaine q( 

 many parts of the kingdom at a less rate than ^ 

 255., as assumed in the present inquiry, there fe 



every reason to believe that tiles might be » ^ 

 means of this machine at a still lower cost eve ^ 

 that which was at present deducible from the 



before the Council. .1 an in* 



Mr. Denison then proceeded to give the Couoc _ 

 teresting narrative of the history of the ingeniou . n 

 of the present tile-machine ; and as he had l' bera Vj ^w 

 up (at the patriotic suggestion of his P a ^ 0, V afftC ture 

 Hodges) all patent right in reference to its man ^ 



•a privilege probably equivalent to a premium 



