8135.] 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



13 



with similar soil not on the patent principle. The 

 plants in bolh were sown the same day from the same 

 parcel of seed, supplied by Messrs. Sutton, of Reading. 

 I ought here to mention that the ground so occupied is 

 close to the railway station, Reading, and occupies about 

 one-sixth of an acre. The contrast in every crop, on 

 every bed, was very striking, the produce of the patent 

 beds ■bowing an increase in quantity of from 400 to 600 

 per cent The plan is simply this : a floor is paved with 

 brick or concrete at a depth of 16 inches from the 

 surface, with a rim or brick on edge 4£ ins. deep, like a 

 tray ; half round pipes are placed on the floor in a line 

 under the intended row of plants. These pipes are 

 at the end connected with a vertical pipe reaching 

 to the surface, down which the liquid-manure is 

 poured, and thus conducted to the half round pipes 

 below. Of course the earth is filled in to the level of 

 the surrounding soil, and the seeds sown over the line of 

 the subterranean pipes. Liquid-manure had been applied 

 weekly through the pipes on the patent beds, but 

 none on the others, except on one where the manure each 

 time had been applied on the surface to Mangold 



which were very inferior to those on the 



about Gs. ; the rate of wages bein£ for womon 16*., and for the men 

 17s. per week, but no charge is made for the hordes. 



From Mr.Dovt, Ec> I Xewton.— Bell's or; mil machine cut about 

 70 acres Wheat and Oats, and 20 acres Beaut, and at the rate of 

 about 5 acres per day. I used two different pair of horses. When 

 the machine was working well I changed them every three hours, 

 but when there were many stoppages from derai icemen t of the 

 machinery, as was very often the case, they went on for half a 

 day. I found that a pair of horses could cut 3 acres at a time 

 without being much distressed. I employed two men, a driver 

 and a steerer. I did not lilt the corn after the machine. The 

 weather was so fine this season that I let it lie in the swathe till it 

 tu readv for leading, and the lifters were seldom in the same 



ctnrer then exhibited some remarkably tine specimens 

 of Hemp and Flax grown at Wokingham, adjoining some 

 land belonging to Mr. Walter, of the Times, where 

 nothing would grow. He showed some of the first crop 

 of Hemp, winch was 7 feet long, and the second was 

 5 feet ; lie stated that he had grown two crops of Hemp 

 and Flax in the year on the land at Wokingham, which 

 was the poorest he had ever seen. The Flax was grown 

 in 12 weeks. The lecturer then explained that the prin- 

 ciple of his system was to apply the liquid manure to 



machine this season at 8s. per acre, viz.. interest on price of 

 machine and tear and wear, and repairs on do., 2s. per acre ; men 



"\v llI'ZCl ~ 



patented tod. Sever al^u^ions arise on this expert- j [and less liable to derangement. . 



ment, first, whether the return will repay the cost, and, ! his experience with lull's clipping machine is that it 



f tnnmc nnnhl nn* h* ln.iw.lv requires an experienced workman to have at least a 



if so, whether the sewage of towns could not be largely 

 and usefully applied as a manure. There was a 

 remarkable appearance of quality and luxuriance about 

 all the crops so treated, an absence of fangs, a delicacy 

 of root compared with the ordinary process, and 

 evidence of very rapid growth. One Potato planted in 

 June had bines 5 feet long and numerous Potatoes, one 

 of which weighed 2 lbs., although the parent one was 

 small and of a small stock. The corresponding one on 

 the opposite bed was very inferior in product. The 

 former had sent down a strong root to the neighbour- 

 hood of the subterranean pipes, and had there 

 multiplied its fibres most abundantly. The Carrot 

 had gone directly down to the liquid as straight as an 

 arrow, whilst its competitor in the opposite bed 

 was short and fanged. The most extraordinary result 

 was its effect on Turnip seed sown in September on 

 the surface. The seeds all vegetated, and the plants 

 were vigorous on the patent side ; on the other a total 





field as the machine. I calculate the expense of catting with my | the roots of the plant instead of above, because the tip 



of the root was the mouth of the plant, and the means 

 by which it sucked up moisture and sustenance. He then 

 exhibited a model of his process, a small box, with a 

 waterproof bottom and sides, 4 inches deep. At one 

 corner was a pipe for conveying the liquid manure to 

 the bottom, which was distributed by means of a half- 

 drain pipe laid along the bottom ; in another corner 

 was a pipe to enable any one to see if there was the 

 necessary quantity of liquid manure, 4 inches ; and in 

 the opposite corner was a plug, by lifting up of which 

 the liquid manure could be reduced, or pass off alto- 

 gether into the soil below. The depth of earth neces- 

 sary would be from 12 to 18 inches. At present he was 

 constructing these waterproof beds of tile, the cost of 

 which would be about ] 007. per acre, but he believed 

 that a much cheaper mode might be adopted by making 



in which 



stocked, so I just sent the carts after the binders had led it home. 

 Hftd it required stooking it would have cost about Is. per acre 

 additional. I have not allowed anything for tin ; horses except I 

 the corn they ate ; had they not been working in the machine they 

 would be idle and out at Grass. 



Mr. Wilson, Edington Mains, used two of these 

 machines — one of them Bell's original machine, with 

 the clipping parts ; the other BelPs as made by Cross- 

 kill. He found the latter much better than the former, 



Indeed, the result of 



requires an exp 



year's practice with it before he can work it properly, 



and even then it will not do its work well. He was in the waterproof bottom of ga3-tar and sand, 



no case able to reap an entire field with this machine, case it would not exceed 507. per acre. Ev< 



With the two machines, as nearly as he could estimate, 

 he reaped 150 acres. The two machines reaped 32 

 acres, fully, of Oats, in two consecutive days, and that 

 notwithstanding great interruptions. The machine-cut 

 corn he found to get into condition for the stacks sooner 

 than the hand cut, because it got less knocked about. 

 He used two pair of horses, and seldom worked them 

 more than three hours at a time. The horses were able 

 to go on day after day with the work he spoke of. He 

 was unable to give an exact account of the cost of work. 

 He was harassed with several unfortunate stoppages, 

 most of them were pure accidents, for which the machine 

 was not responsible ; but some of them, he thought, 



of remedy by the maker. He had 



per acre. J^ven at 100Z. 

 per acre, and if it were done by the landlord, who should 

 have 10Z. per cent, for his outlay, he was prepared to 

 prove that, after paving that lOL per cent., the tenant 

 should clear 30/. per annum on every acre, however bad 

 the laud might be[! !] 



I 



were easy oi remeay oy xne ma Ker. lie naa no 

 hesitation in saying that his harvest labour this year had 



failure, "except one oVtwo stunted and crippled plants, been very much lightened by the machine.— Mr. D. 

 The same principle is applied to flowers in pots M. Home read the report of 



principle is applied to flowers in pot 

 and vases, and an ingenious arrangement is proposed, 

 by which all the plants in a mansion may be simul- 

 taneously supplied with liquid from a single pipe, thus 

 converting the sewage of the house to an elegant result. 

 The flowers which I saw growing on this principle were 

 luxuriant. The whole question is worihy of a serious 

 investigation. I remember that my neighbour, Sir 

 John Tyrrell, in Essex, grew some luxuriant Celery by 

 applying manure in a somewhat similar manner. Plants 

 can do everything but speak — they will hunt for what 

 suits them. By introducing a single fibre into a drain 

 of running water, they will multiply it ten thousand 

 fold to absorb all the moisture for their circula- 

 tion ; we do not give vegetation credit enough for 

 sagacity, although its vitality and pulsation are as 

 obvious (through a microscope) as our own. I have 

 known an Apple tree in my garden convert leather 

 into Apples, and could adduce surprising anecdotes of 

 vegetative intelligence. I think Mr. Raynbird testified 

 to some interesting results of Mr. Wilkins* process at 

 Woking last year. If the cost of paving, &c, were even 

 100?. per acre, it becomes a question whether the rapid 

 growth and increase might not afford an ample interest 

 and profit. I should add that means are provided 

 during winter to remove superfluous water. From a 

 close examination of this system I deduce the conclu- 

 sion that " fanginess M in roots is produced or avoided 

 by the quality of soil and position and condition, of 

 manure. The soil in which this operation was effected 

 was sandy. In clays it might or might not answer as 

 well. J. «/• Meekly Tiptree, Dec. 29. 



Farmera' Clubs. 



East 



op Berwickshire. — Reaping Machines. — At 

 the late half-yearly meeting of this Society the secretary 

 read the queries respecting the working of reaping 

 machines, which had been addressed tfc those farmers in 

 the district who had worked the machines during the 

 last harvest : we will give a few ot the replies. 



From Capt. Logan Home, Broom'house. — 'ReW improved by 

 Crosskill cut on an average about 7 acres of Oats per diem, the 

 crop standing upright. Four horses were used each day, viz., 

 two in the forenoon and two in the afternoon, and were kept in 

 harness about five hours each time. One man was employed 

 steering: the machine and one driving the horses, and nine 

 persons were employed in taking up the corn, binding and stook- 

 ing, I calculate the expense to be about 6s. an acre, viz., 1 

 an acre for cutting and 55. an acre for taking up, binding, and 

 stooking. In this calculation I charge nothing for the horses. 



From Mr. Dagleish, West Blanerne.— M'Cormaek's reaper cut 

 37 acres in 40J hours, 20 acres of which fM a very strong crop 

 of Wheat grown upon a steep bank, and 10 acres Black Oats, 

 also a very heavy crop and partially laid. Bell's reaper cut 

 62 acres in 91 hours -Oats, Barle and Wheat: none of them so 

 heavy as what was cut with M'Cormaek's. The horses were 

 generally changed every four hours, although they have gone a 

 whole day in M'Corn acks, but I found four hours quite enough 

 for Bell's. Two men went with each reaper. M'Cormaek's 

 requires eight people taking up and f« ur to bind and stook 10 to 

 12 acres a day; they easily managed 12 acres of Wheat. With 

 Bell's eight tak up and* four binders and smokers will do 7 to 8 

 acres a day. I may add in conclusion that both my f and the 

 "Whole of my people are decidedly in favour of M'Coi mack's 

 reaper, it not being liable to go out of repair, while it is so easv 

 work for the horses. 



From Mr. Turnl . Krthtmaws.— Bell's Cw kill's cut where 



to stoppages occurred was about an imperial acre per hou 



requiring the horse to walk about the rate of throe miles an hour. 



Four horses will work the machine 1*2 hours a day— 3 hours per 



yoking. The expense of cutting and binding per acre will be 



a discussion at the 

 Haddington Club, and the speakers there give the 

 expense at about 5s. per acre. Mr. Hope, Fen ton barns, 

 who cut nearly 80 acres with Crosskili's machine, says 

 that the expense was about 5s. 6d. per acre ; whereas 

 for cutting with the hand it would have cost him 1 1 s. 

 per acre, and the machine made much better Wort 

 Mr. Anderson, Blackdykes, cut 50 acres. Mr. 

 Hunter, of Thurston, cut 260 acres at an estimated 

 expense of 8s, 6d. f a charge being made for two pair of 

 horses per day. Mr. John Hope, of Elphingston, 

 during last harvest cut 79 acres with the sickJe, 85 with 

 the scythe, and 35 with the reaper. The three scythes 

 cut 18 acres in four days at 9s. 9d. per acre. Bell's 

 reaper cut 15 acres in two days at ft cost of 41. 1.?., or 

 5s. 5d. per acre. Twelve acres of Oats cut with the 

 sickle cost 10Z. 2s., or 16s. 10o?. per sere. They might 

 hope that when their farm servants get more accustomed 

 to the machine it will do more work than it now does ; 

 and that when their farms are improved — made more 

 level, and the stones removed — it will cut still more. 

 Abridged from the Berwick Warder. 



Oxford : Subterranean Application of Liquid Manure. 



At the late monthly meeting of this Club Mr. Wilkins 

 I stated that he had taken a spot of ground near the Great 

 Western Railway Station, which he called his experi- 

 mental garden. He had selected a piece of ground 

 100 feet square, which he had prepared on his patent 

 principle, and by the side of it he had 100 feet square of 

 the same kind of soil, which was treated on the old 

 system. Both pieces were sown and planted alike, and 

 he had advertised the day when the roots on both would 

 be taken up, and invited the public to come and see the 

 results, and judge for themselves. Those results were 



that on the prepared piece the Mangold Wurzel 

 grown was at the rate of 69 tons, 2 qrs., and 22 lbs. to 

 the acre ; the Indian corn grown on it ripened and 

 came to perfection, but not on the unprepared piece ; 

 the Potatoes were taken up in 11 weeks, and when 

 weighed in the presence of several gentlemen were found 

 to be more than double the weight of those grown on 

 the unprepared piece ; the Winter Broccoli was taken 

 up and eaten before winter came ; and one of the 

 Cabbages weighed 16 lbs., although its stem remained 

 in the ground, and had now upon it 15 young Cabbages. 

 In the prepared bed he had planted a Potato which he 

 had picked up at Wokingham ; it was about the size of 

 a Walnut when he put it in, and it was taken up in the 

 presence of Mr. Mechi and others, when the haulm was 

 found to be 5 feet long ; the pioduce was 17 Potatoes, 

 weighing 84 Us., one of them w^ghing above 2 lbs. 

 [This latter Mr. Wilkins produced, and handed round 

 the room.] They were 13 weeks growing, and were 

 planted in the early part of June. Mr. Wilkins then 

 exhibited some Lucerne, which, he said, was the third 

 cut, and contrasted it with the first cut of some grown 

 on the old system. There was a very marked differ- 

 ence in favour of the Lucerne grown on the new prin- 

 ciple, and the same might be said of the Italian Rye- 

 grass, the fifth cut of some on the new system bein* 

 contrasted with some of the old. The Mangold Wurzel 

 exhibited also showed the superiority of the new 

 system, where the roots varied from ] to 18 lbs., while 





J^cttctg of 23oofc& 



Hints on Agriculture, adapted to a Midland County. 



Hamilton, Adams and Co. 

 Tnis is a little tract written by a lady who succeeds, 

 as many of her sex have done, in uniting an acquaint- 

 ance with the field work of the farm with a knowledge 

 of household duties, and a sympathy with all that is 

 kind and elegant in social life — all which is proved in 

 the contents of these few pages, in the dedication by which 

 they are prefaced, and the poetry by which they are 

 garnished. The thing is necessarily as slight as it can 

 be, and we do not quite agree in some of its advice. You 

 cannot pull a Thistle * too soon,*' (p. 15,) whatever old 

 sayings may exist to the contrary. And we do not need 

 to go so far as page 15 for what appear to us mistaken-. 

 The opening-page, speaking of levelling land alter drain- 

 ing, describes a very imperfect mode of conducting the 

 operation. The tract nevertheless contains, in very small 

 compass, a good deal of useful information. 



Flax and Hemp, and their Culture and Manipulation. 



By E. S. Dtlamer, author of " Pigeons and Kabbits.' 



E. Routledge & Co. 

 A shilling volume containing in full detail all the infor- 

 mation that is needed for the cultivation of these crops. 

 It is strictly manipulation that is described. The 

 machinery for removing the seed, for rippling, and for 

 breaking and scutching the Flax is altogether ignored. 

 And a good deal of extract matter from the writings of 

 Mr. Warnes and others leads us to suppose that the 

 writer may not himself be practically acquainted with 

 the management and handling of the crop as cultivated 

 and prepared for market, at least in this country. 







Calendar of Operations. 



J A N U A R Y. 

 Wbst Sussex, Jan. 2. — We have got to the time of the 

 year when everything looks the most cheerless; but the weather 

 is now such as would be suitable for March or April. It is dry 

 and mild, and there has been but little frost, which soon disap- 

 peared. As a matter of course the mildness of the season has 

 shown its effect upon the Wheat, which now looks very forward, 

 the earliest sown rather too much so ; it begins to a true rather 

 a grassy appearance, but we shall, no doubt, have a little frost to 

 check it yer. With anything like a fine season we may look for 

 a good crop, for it was' never put in in better order; the land 

 was just in the state in which it works best— neither too wet nor too 

 dry. The price still rules high, and we do not think that it is 

 likely to fall, for there has been a large quantity threshed ; since 

 it was harvested it has been fit for the market, and prices being 

 tempting all have sent it in. There is rather more than an ave- 

 rage sown, and there will yet he a good deal put in after Turnips, 

 the land being in such good order for it. Barley lias turned cur 

 well both as to quantity and quality, but ha* cot maintained its 

 price so well : at one time it got up to 40*. or over, but lately it 

 has given way a little. Oats turn out well and are heavier than 

 usual; the price from 28*. to 30i. Teas have this ; ir done far 

 better than they generally get credit /or; we never saw the 

 quality better, if so good; bat I3eans have been all but a failure. 

 Cattle are now confined to the yards or ti< ip in stalls for 

 fatting, but this is not very encouraging; the Swedes, which we 

 thought right in quality if not in bulk, do not . m to possess 

 much fatting prop ty in them. We rather think that they do 

 harm ifgiven m full allowance as we nerally give them. [How 

 muci 1 We find the cattle (lo hotter on half allowance, with 2 lbs. 

 extra cake instead of the other half. And this arrangement, 

 owing to the smallness of the crop, suits us better so far. 

 Cake is dear, but as that 1 the c. • with everything 

 we must not take notice of it, for it certainly will 

 not do to shorten our allowance. Turnip?, on which our ewes 

 depend mostly, have turned out veTy bad, though they looked at 

 one time well — the dry season beat them— and there are now- 

 pat' s of them rotted entirely off; we fear those left are 

 more or less diseased and will be anything but healthy. This is 

 no doubt partly the case with the B wi <Ies— hence their little value. 

 bnt rold, progrc sing more naturally, we may expect to be 



more sound. We have now begun to mix them with Swedes for 

 the fatting beasts. The ewes have commenced to lamb, and 

 ajv ar very healthy; there is no lameness among them, as wa 

 case last year, which may of course be accounted for bj 

 w of the one season and dryness of the other. We do not 



on the unprepared piece they did not exceed 6 lbs* The j let them have Turnips until they iamb, but they have the 





