THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



[Dfx. 21, 



These are the principles by which we proposed aad have *um required for any given quantity of manure It 

 endeavoured to test the systems of pasture and arable appears, from direct experiment, that 100 grains of pul- 

 c - - * verised gypsum will readily fix between bO and /0 grains 



of carbonate .of ammonia. It appears also, as the result 

 of calculation founded upon experiment, that every solid 

 yard of mauure which is sufficiently decomposed to be 

 put upon land has lost, during the fermentative process, 

 about 4 lbs. of carbonate of ammonia. It will therefore 



culture— their profitableness, and productiveness of food 

 and employment — not one only, but all three. It will be 

 observed that only such an additional employment of 

 labourers as will be profitable is insisted on as due from 

 the farmer ; surely it needs not many words to commend 

 such a sentiment as that to the mind of any one. With 

 reference to our correspondent's allegation, that in consi- 

 dering this subject we are breaking our own rule of non- 

 interference with politics, we altogether deny it. Why ! 

 the profits, the produce, and the expenses of cultivation, 



are the very essence of agricultural practice. Since this 



was in type we. have received acommunication on this sub- 

 ject from " W. L." (we are unable to decipher the name, 

 or we would give it at length), which we hope he will ex- 

 cuse our not publishing, as it is not our wish to continue a 

 discussion on the moral aspect of this question. Inde- 

 pendently of any duty in the matter, we may safely rest 

 our case on the expediency of the practice we have ad- 

 vocated ; and to this, as regards the interest of landlord 

 and tenant, we now,invite the attention of correspondents ; 

 as, the more clearly this is exhibited, the more, it is pro- 

 bable, will employment from this source be provided 

 for agricultural labourers — a consummation which all 

 must heartily desire, whatever difference of opinion may 

 exist as to the modes in which it may be ^st effected.] 



Experiments on Nutrition.— -In reply to your ques- 

 tion, in your postscript, I beg to say that an examination 

 of the excrements of the cows, if not of their analysis as 

 given by Boussingault, confirms me in the opinion that 

 the unsuitableness of the food to the digestive organs 

 had much to do with the subsequent emaciation of the 

 cows, for I perceive that with the Mangold Wurzel there 

 ■was only about 7G lbs. of dry excrement in 14 days, whilst 

 with the Potatoes there was 187 lbs., and with the hay 

 339 lbs. Now it is a curious fact that the loss or gain 

 of weight bears a very strict relation in an inverse ratio 

 to the amount of dry excrement. 



Weight of Dry 

 Excrement. 

 On the Mangold Wurzel diet, 76 lbs. 



On the Hay diet 



339 lbs. 



Loss of Weight 



by Cows. 



149 lbs. 



Gain of Weight 



111 lbs. 



Loss of Weight 



72 lbs. 



On the Potato diet . . 187 lbs. 



Now, though this relation is somewhat curious, and 

 greatly supports my theory, yet I do not mean to insist 

 that it altogether proves that the loss of weight is owing 

 to the deficiency of dry excrement, though I might be as 

 much justified in so doing as M. Boussingault is in 

 asserting that the loss and weakness of the cows are 

 owing to the deficiency of fat in the food. Now, if his 

 theory is correct, why should the deficiency of 16 lbs. of 

 fat cause a loss of 179 lbs. weight? or, on the other hand, 

 an excess of about 8 lbs. of fat cause a gain of 111 lbs. in 

 weight ? If the animal iB to be regarded as a mere chemi- 

 cal machine, the absence of fat and loss of weight ought 

 pretty nearly to correspond. Why, also, should the 

 cows be so emaciated ? A horse in preparation for a 

 race may be greatly reduced in weight (losing fat, of 

 course), and yet becomes stronger instead of weaker ; so 

 likewise, in a still greater degree, may his jockey. Now, 

 I take it, that, putting out of the question the unsuitable 

 nature of the food, as regards its mechanical properties, 

 the great emaciation which ensued from Mangold Wurzel 

 is more likely to be owing to the deficiency of phos- 

 phoric acid in the food than of fat ; for whereas, with 

 the hay, it amouuted to about 3£ lbs. in the quantity of 

 food consumed in the 14 days; with the Mangold 

 Wurzel diet, in the same period, it amounted to only 

 If lb., or half that quantity. Now, when we consider 

 the importance of the phosphates in the animal eco- 

 nomy, that they enter into the composition of flesh 

 and bone, and likewise the brain and nervous system, 

 we cannot be surprised that great debility should 

 arise from their absence in the food, or that this 

 debility should be best removed by giving food in which 

 phosphoric acid largely abounds, such as hay. The 

 same observations may also probably apply to the 

 other inorganic constituents, for we know that there 

 must have been at least double the quantity taken with 

 the hay than with the Mangold Wurzel. The superior 

 feeding properties of Mangold Wurzel have been fully 

 proved, as compared with Swedes, by the careful and 

 well-conducted experiments of Lord Spencer. The 

 practical result corresponded very closely with the che- 

 mical analysis of the different roots. The beasts in- 

 creased both in flesh and fat, and far more than we 

 should anticipate, if we looked to the fat in the food as 

 the only source of the fat in the animal. It is very pos- 

 sible that fat ready formed in the food is much more 

 essential for the formation of butter in the milk, than 

 for the fat in the system ; and this may prove to be the 

 case, without destroying the beautiful theory of Liebig, 

 that the fat of the body is formed from the sugar and 

 starch, and other unazotised constituents of the food not 

 consumed in respiration. Certainly, this theory far 

 better explains than the other the variations of the habits 

 and the food consumed, in hot countries and in cold 

 ones, both in man and animals ; and it is easier to recon- 

 cile it with the fattening properties assigned to sugar 

 and starch. — W. C. Spoo?ier f Southampton. [Our 

 readers will have noticed that our correspondent's cri- 

 ticism of Boussingault's experiments (see p. 818), was 

 founded precisely on that view of the subject on which 

 Dr. Playfair himself last week (see p. 842) rested his 

 condemnatory notice of them.] 



Gypsum.— If " W. C." will refer to my first short 

 notice on the action of gypsum as a fixer of ammonia, 



be necessary, in order to fix this ammonia during the 

 period of its generation, to add to every solid yard of 

 manure about 8 lbs. of finely pulverised gypsum. This 

 will explain what I mean by proposing to spread through- 

 out the dunghill a " thin layer of gypsum after every rise 

 of 2 feet of manure." Let the dunghill be about 6 feet 

 high ; made up, in the first instance, of manure which 

 has been trodden about the yard till half decomposed. 

 There will then be three layers of gypsum, of which the 

 cost will be less than 2d. per yard of manure ; and the 

 additional cost of 1 lb. of sulphuric acid for each horse- 

 load, or ton, In the heap will be less than 3d. per 

 horse-load, so that the cost for 10 cart-loads, or 20 

 solid yards, will be about 5s. The trade-price of the 

 quantity of sulphate of ammonia, which will be furnished 

 to the land by the gypsum and sulphuric acid in these 

 10 cart-loads, when entire decomposition and neutralisa- 

 tion has been effected, is about 1/. 7s. The covering 

 of earth used by " W. C." tends but little to fix am- 

 monia in any case, and will be quite unnecessary now. — 

 J. B. Readc. 



Hand Threshing Machine — I have been trying a 

 hand threshing machine, made by an ingenious mechanic 

 in this island, but I find the labour required to work it is 

 very great, as is the case with those I have seen in Eng- 

 land. Will you favour me with your opinion as to the 

 effect in lightening the labour of a windlass with rope and 

 compound pulleys; the ropeand pulleysmounted on shears 

 20 feet high over a sunk pit, what weight attached to these 

 pulleys would equal the power of a man ? If you think 

 the power applicable, I have one or two plans for obtain- 

 ing speed. I am now trying a very simple form of 

 drilling machine, which will drop three or four grains of 

 Wheat at stated intervals, as a substitute for dibbling. 

 I have been at some difficulty in getting it put together, 

 from the great stupidity of the people. My drilling- 

 machine unships, and a small hay-tedding machine can 

 be fixed to the same frame, and on removing this I affix 

 my rake, and the frame also is made to carry a tub and 

 drilled box for liquid manure ; the shafts which belong 

 to my large roller are removable, and are those I attach 

 to this piece of all-work. It appears to me that this 

 drill will be very useful both for Wheat and Turnips, and 

 that the machine would be a great accommodation to 

 farmers of small means, as the whole is of trifling ex- 

 pense, from its simplicity of construction. — A Subscriber 

 from the first — Jersey. 



Manure versus Good Cultivation. — I am convinced that 

 it is much more important to attend to the latter than to 

 the former of these two means of improvement ; and that 

 national, as well as individual wealth, may be more in- 

 creased by the latter of the' two ; for I am convinced, 

 that nothing like the full extent of the inherent powers 

 of the soil is taken hold of by our generally too super- 

 ficial method of cultivation. Good cultivation consists 

 mainly in, 1st. Thorough-draining, which soon changes 

 the nature and texture of the soil for the better, to 

 double the depth that is ploughed. 2d. Deep cultiva- 

 tion with the plough, and not omitting subsoil-ploughing, 

 if it be but four or six inches in depth ; a little is better 

 than none. And, 3d. Moving the soil, or fallowing 

 well ; giving unremitting diligence to move and pul- 

 verise the soil on every opportunity, but more especially 

 in sum mer and in dry weather ; taking care to have a good 

 depth of soil at the finish. — A Leicestershire Farmer. 



Sea Buckthorn, Rabbits, fyc. — 1 am much obliged by 

 the attention of ** M. D. P." to my inquiry. What I 

 was more particularly desirous of ascertaining was, 

 whether the plant in question will grow equally well in 

 inland districts ; and whether it is available for any pur- 

 pose as underwood. Withering states that cows refuse 

 it, but that horses, sheep, and goats, eat it. He does 

 not, however, notice that it is free from the attack of 

 rabbits as " M. D. P." assures us it is. Can " M. D. P.," 

 or any other correspondent, furnish us with a list of 

 plants which are not liable (especially when young or 

 newly planted) to injury from these troublesome pests ; 

 and are, at the same time, useful as underwood and 

 cover ? Do rabbits attack the Berberis aquifolium ? I 

 am told that they never touch the wood Laurel. A list 

 of useful plants, that are certainly safe from these de- 

 structive creatures, would be acceptable to planters, as 

 the effects of external applications are uncertain and 

 temporary only ; notwithstanding such precautions, 

 some hundreds of fine healthy Hollies, recently 

 planted, were last year entirely destroyed by these ver- 

 min in a young plantation, to the great mortification of 

 — .An Old Subscriber. 



Campbell's Corn Steep. — You state that the crop, be- 

 fore being cut, had a very uniform appearance. Did the 

 ear, at the time of being cut, not indicate so unexpected 

 a result as that which you obtained after the crop was 

 threshed ? In some of the patches the steeped is only 

 the half of the unsteeped. Now, if the crop had a uni- 

 form appearance when growing, surely some defect in 

 the ear must have indicated this great inequality. I steeped 

 to a considerable extent last season. When the crop 

 came forth into ear, the steeped portions promised great 

 superiority ; but I was disappointed at harvest, and 

 more so in the yield, as the produce of one ridge sown 



pened even while the former evidently yielded the greatest 

 amount of straw, and counted the greater number of 

 sheaves — this in the case of Oats. In the case of Barley 

 the superiority was not only apparent, but real, in favour 

 of the steeped portions. In one of your former Num- 

 bers, I observed the description of a method for deter- 

 ring hares from visiting any particular field, by strewing 

 upon their runs some particular substance offensive to 

 them. Can you inform me what that substance is ? 

 — [Tar, we believe] — as I am very desirous of trying it, 

 having my Swedish crop very much destroyed by a 

 neighbouring baronet's hares, who himself has left this 

 country for the purpose of repairing his dilapidated 

 finances, but has left his preserves well stocked, with 

 the effect of impoverishing his neighbours. — A Sub- 

 scriber. [The yield of straw was very nearly uniform in 

 the different lots ; the ears were larger and better filled 

 on the plots that were unsteeped.] 



North- 



sbocietfes. 



ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY of ENGLAND. 



A Weekly Council was held at the Society's House, 

 Hanover-square, on Wednesday, the 11th of December, 

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

 President, in the chair ; Marquis of Downshire ; Col. 

 Austen ; D. Barclay, Esq., MP. : T. Raymond Barker, 

 J. Browne, Esq.; W. R. Browne, Esq. ; F. Burke, Esq.; 

 Dr. Calvert ; W. B. Canning, Esq. ; Rev. T. Cator ; 

 Col. Challoner ; H. Colman, Esq. ; J. Dean, Esq. ; 

 Humphrey Gibbs, Esq.; H. J. Grant, Esq.; C. Hillyard, 

 Esq. ; W. Fisher Hobbs, Esq.; W. H. Hyett, Esq. ; J. 

 Kinder, Esq. ; Fielder King, Esq. ; J. Parkes, Esq., 

 C.E.; Sir R. Price, Bart.; F. Pym, Esq.; J. Allen 

 Ransome, Esq. ; Prof. Sewell; W. Shaw, Esq. ; Rev. J. 

 R. Smythies; Manners Sutton, Esq.; E. Tattersall, 

 Esq. ; and T. Tweed, Esq. 



Pryse Pryse, Esq., of Lodge Park, Aberystwith, 

 was elected a Governor, and the following gentlemen 

 Members of the Society : — 



Williams, Matthew Davies, Oyncinfeilm, Aberystwith, S. W. 

 Dymock, Rev. Edward, Pexley Hall, Ellesmere, Salop. 

 Davy, Francis, Topsham, Exeter, Devon. 

 Lansdale, K., jun., Worsiey Hall, Manchester. 

 Maunsell, Thomas P., M.P.,Thorpe, Malsor, Kettering, 



ampton. 



Cross, William Assheton, Redscar, Preston, Lane. 

 Handy, Edward, Sevenhanrpton, Andoversford, Glouc. 

 Nesbit, John Collis, 38, Kenuington-lane, Lambeth. 

 Bruce, John, Teddington, Stratford-on-Avon, Warw. 

 Justice, Henry, Hinstock, Market Drayton, Salop. 

 Stan way, J. Holt, Brookfield, Manchester. 

 Ilenshaw, James, Westheath House, Erith, Kent. 

 Thompson, John, Woolvers Farm, Reigate, Surrey. 

 Pryse, Jobn Pugh, Peit-hill, Aberystwith, S. W. 

 Palmer, William, Green-lane, Feckenham, Wore. 

 Tomes, Thomas, Norgrove, Feckenham, Wore. 



The names of 19 candidates for election at the next 



meeting were then read. 



Agricultural Chemistry.— The Marquis 

 Downshire presented, on the part of Dr. .Hodges, of 

 of Downpatrick, a copy of the Introductory Lecture on 

 Agricultural Chemistrv, delivered by Dr. Hodges before 

 the members of the Seaforde and Holly mount Farming 

 Society ; intended to convey, in a popular manner, illus- 

 trations of the advantages which the Irish farmer might 

 derive from science, the more scientific details being 

 added to the work in the form of notes. 



Agricultural Improvement.— The Marquis of 

 Downshire also presented copies of the Transactions, 

 for the year 1843, of the Royal Agricultural Improve- 

 ment Society of Ireland, and the Report of a Visit to the 

 Gleneask Estate of the Irish Waste Land Improvement 

 Society, containing Analyses of Soils, &c, by Professor 

 Kane ; and submitted to the Members present the various 

 plans on which the thorough-draining at Easthampstead 

 Park, in Berkshire, had been conducted. 



Mr. Davidson transmitted from .Darlington a Trea- 

 tise on Draining ; Mr. Dalgairns, V™'* r » ld ™\°!j£. 

 Royal Guernsey Agricultural Society a Paper on Leases, 

 Mr. Dean, a Paper by Mr. Arthur Dean, C.E., on M 

 Gold Ores of Merionethshire, and the Igneous and Sed. . 

 mentary Rocks in North Wales ; the Rev. Thomas 

 Cator, a communication on Coates's Herd- Boo* , Mr. 

 Moffat, a letter on a Wooden Pattern for a »£ m :** ' 

 Mr. Mechi, an acknowledgment of inquiries made t mm 

 by the Council ; and Mr. Rodwell, results in the cultiva 



OF 



portraits, already published, from his great painting jof 

 the Annual Country Meeting of the Society, by Mr. 



Ansdell. , . iT Q mn- 



Mr. Freebairn, of 23, Morning ton-place, Hang 

 iad-road, presented a proof impression of the portra 



stead-road, presented a pi""' nut—^- „ n nlied 



of Earl Spencer, obtained by the rulmg-machine applied 



to Mr. Wvon's original medallion. ,1,. thanks 



For all which communications and presents the thanBs 



of the Council were ordered. ,, 



Special Council—* Special Council was heW on 



Saturday, the 14th of »™** er \P lese ^ l }%ucUj, 

 the Duke of Richmond, in the chair ; Dav.d Barclay, 



Esq., M.P.; Thos. Raymond Barker, Esq. ,Hem> 

 Blanshard, Esq. ; W. K. Browne, Ban.; CoLChnUoner. 

 John Ellman, Esq.; C. H.llyard, Esq. ; W. **" » 

 Hobbs, Esq.; W. H. Hyett, Esq. ; John Kinder, Esq- 

 Wil.iam MV., Esq..M.P.;Sir Robert Pr.ce Ba 



J. Allen Ransome, Esq. ; Prof. Sewell , 

 Sh «port ; oftfe- £JKo theGeneral Meeth* 



was taken into final consideration and agreed to 

 General Meeting 



ration and agreeu iu. 



The December half-yearly 



more so in the yield, as the produce or one ridge sown uL>fcKAii ir^.i.w. - - o nll o P in Hanover- 

 with steeped seed yielded one bushelless than a neigh- meeting was held at the bociety a ' f* ou ^' x > c i oC k, 



he will be able to ascertain the proper quantity of gyp- labouring ridge sown with unsteeped seed. And this hap- [ square, on Saturday last, the i*m maw., 



