THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE 



i 



road 



M 



tUetJ 



.nice n»u B -^ be saved, there will be little 



the item of salaries by the change of system. To 



be well to state that there are nearly 1200 turn- 



-*--n EneU«d and Wales, having a management of a 



Uiftf lB Jz Q23 000 ami 24,000 miles, of which a consider- 



do not' receive sufficient in tolls to cover the cost 



^nd nav the interests of their debts (which am >unt 



"l** 1 *' **ate to about 7£ millions), and must sooner or later 



*• i| ES?ance from the highway rates, U they do not do so 



These bankrupt trusts, however, are still represented 



— a rrevors who^e salaries have to be paid; and though 



^^unes have been reduced, the aggregate amount of 



J^mi naid would go far towards the cost of road manage- 



a- t icts The salaries paid to clerks and surveyors for 



^^tendence, law, printing, advertising, &c, amounted, 



^uwi to ab >ve 180,889^., or 81. per mile. Now, as there 



to he in England and Wales about 130,000 miles of 



naSsofaU kinds, the amount paid to lawyers and road 



. '^ for the 23 0lO miles of turnpike roads alone would 



mH maanlH* finn ^ore tna ' 1 pay tlie Sllaries of ail the sur - 



nuuired for the management of the 130,000 miles of 

 ^roadsof all kinds, assuming that the estimate of Id. per 

 i- sufficient pavment to the surveyor, with 25 per cent. 

 ■ ■■■■• «-^ expenses attending the machinery of concen- 



i*i .v., n «rfl that huxra cui/1 hrtl.. oKnuf tYm 



tratiou. loti i 

 tntadal poiitio 



sarify it, and give a deep cross-ploughing or two before winter 

 ake it into ridges or baulks of 30 or 32 inches in width, subsoil 





SS 



iile 

 jaded for cost! 



ta ^ mi into this discussion ; i am content to assume that as 

 SLT^any turnpike trust applies for parochial relief it shall 

 Cheated as a pauper and sent to the union, by which the ex- 

 JflMSoFmanagenient attending such trust will be saved for the 

 YtHtfj through which it passes. I rind the highway rates 

 kfM in Raghmd and Wales for the repairs of parish roads vary 

 Jm considerably. In Lancashire, Lincolnshire, and Cambridge- 

 Zre the rates appear highest, and the cost of the repairs corre- 

 aood The rates in these counties are about 10c/. to ltd. in the 

 Sjjjjj tn d the cost of repairs from 171. to 211. per mile. In West- 



1 Cumberland, Devon, and Norfolk, the rates are lowest, 

 counties they vary from 3d. to 6d. in the pound, and the 

 of repairs is as low as U. 6s. to 51. 7s. per mile. The average 

 Wit of repairs of highway is 11Z. 35. These figures will enable us 

 to contrast the single item of effective superintendence at Id. 

 fta Ike pound, or 1/. per mile with the present cost of imperfect 

 reparation, under management partly gratuitous and partly paid 

 far, and it will not be difficult to believe that the ^ain in the 

 fjot of maintenance to be secured by consolidated manage- 

 : in qualified hands will be 10 per cent., which is more than 

 if h to pay the wh< le cost of superintendence. In closing 

 part of the subject I have only to express the hope that the 

 lution which shall emanate from thi3 Club will convey an 

 acknowledgment of the evils attending the present mode of 

 managing public roads and the advantage to be gained by con- 

 solidation. The experience or rather the want of experience we 

 hare had of the 5th and 6th William IV., cap. 50, (which enabled 

 parishes to com bine voluntarily and has remained a dead letter) 

 will lige us, I think, to add that legislative measures to be 

 opera 3 must be compulsory. Time will admit of my saying 

 bit little upon the second part of the subject now presented for 

 discussion. I refer to the economy and cost of private roads, 

 those internal communications within the farm which serve to 

 reduce the cost of labour in the traffic through and upon it. It 

 has fallen to my lot when acting as engineer to the General 

 Land Drainage and Improvement Company, to hear all kinds 

 of opinions of the value of farm roads. I have known good heavy 

 land farms vacated and remain unoccupied for the want of 

 Internal roads; and as the very opposite of this fact I heard 

 one farmer in the Vale of Belvoir assert last week, when the 

 question was asked him, whit additional rent he was willing 

 to pay for the accommodation of a road through the middle of 

 his land from the public highway to his homestead, that he 

 Id do as well without the road as with it, if he was to be 

 chirged anything for it. Now when I state that the farm referred 

 to was entirely on lias clay, and that there was only a field 

 trick marked by ruts in which a dog could run without being 

 seen, and tint the homestead was 70 chains from the high- 

 way referred to, I am sure there is no one here but who 



H? >£r\ lt j that if the tenant ™ s paying a fair rent 

 mln * i wit hout any road whatever, he could very 

 well afford to pay something for a good one. 



(To be continued.) 



Miscellaneous 



Tk£ Acw Market at Copenhagen Fielt 

 52*% on Wednesday next, when 



*rt will be present at an entertain 

 utj of London. 



Calendar ofOperations. 



P . * JUNE. 



^amjtear Cheimsford, May 30.-Since our last comraW 



^S ! i , i T e . <J a continuance of cold northerly and north- 

 •733./ '. ? some snow ers about the 11th, and a few days 

 OiZd!wi eather 7 from the 24th to 27th; but vegetation pro- 

 HJIJ! 1 ^^ a w eek ago the best pasture land would not 



fitfli-wiih*. Cattle ' and unl ess a large amount of rain 



•f 5v K?*wn weather r w *thin the ensuing fortnight, the crop 

 kulMB iX / 1 i r *f s and Clover > m "st be unusually light. Such 

 timSiZ kS S *? 0f the weat »er by night, and the absence 

 ^UiaSwZi* 7 ' t ? at a] t«ough the rain which fell upon the 

 succeeding days was sufficient to ranse oil dPsr.Hniinna 



of 



Canir 



■lore 



»ouId ktveh^ , ^IJ an in ordinai T seasons. This, however, 

 ***$. olm7»r v tle m °ment provided genial weather had 

 *■* niwint »V SUC ^ P eriods making rapid strides, and in the 

 faT * the Wh5.f i e me lost in the ear1 ^ spring. Upon this 

 »^, it tilWc ro\! 8u , nnsual ly Promising; the plant is generally 



«^«S2n^*? , l bly wel1 ' is of a heai*y green colour, and 

 lW $* well Sli , closely t0 the surface of the ground. Upon 



*nd tlthnn^v^™? lan( *s of this district it also nromises wpII 



ttroo 



uiook 

 years, y 





P***- Barlev an i a cover under a warmer state of atmos- 



**«»rance tW A V A S- are also P romisin ^ and greatly exceed 



P«rttfaili r ° ther seas °ns. Winter Beans are for the 



fhuehttd ! nn Up J n tnis farm ' as we before stated ;" tb ey have 

 ^■ttTis daI and the land snowed, and, reduced to admir- 

 JVrel and rI5 i 6d with Potato€S . or sown with Mangold 

 i ^ tt ^ to onip \r 6 Turni P 3 - Ij i our last communication we 

 t S m T iBDft/ro^ v gold w nrzel seed being sown; it has only 



S?WtheDlam e tbe surface » hut is a full plant, and 



«e*W~ /ws are smaller than we recollect having seen 



*' *c Teh 1 l. ■■■«• tuau nc icvuncvi ua v iiif^ .^tfUIl 



fc. - de ficiencv nf 7 and free from attack b y insects. Owing 

 J??* 1 ** the nri. ? ant on several previous occasions we this 

 2* *• HtncnM S 011 t0 . mix a little Swedish Turnip seed 



?Srtl 



2> 



^ef)|. 



BtCl 



Man^i? , ref l uir ed can be easily hoed out, but 

 -angola* plants are deficient will be left. Before 

 tn n moisten ed with some clammy substance, 

 i'l^^tendenrv f V ^ Dt lts Se P a rating from the Mangold seed, 

 fcli? 1 ^ PUn whpr d ° 8 °» and to come U P irregularly. But 



>C" u *^np rn ?V "^nww drill is med. is to Lneerpoimlft 



C^^ of cittilf i e ° r 8ome other P°rfable manure. From 

 Ifc^tttenriri experienced this season this root must 

 •»!! "* «ncee88ftii i„ f ^V 1 in s »cceeding years, and perhaps 

 22,1** 55? iu o w- S pr ? ducti ^n a few hints may not be now 

 l|2L u P » WhJ* I XI ,on - As earl y ip autumn as possible 



^"^ cleaning ftL? , £ b,e ' 1 to th e depth of 4 or 5 inches if it 



scarify 



m 



the furrows 5 inches more, and whenever the weather 1 is suitaWe 

 plough the ridges again and subsoil the furrows, but unless the 

 weather is very suitable this last ploughing should be deferred 

 until March or April. Carry on about 12 tons of partially de- 

 composed manure of good quality, sow 2 cwt. of fish, or hide salt 

 it procurable, or common salt instead, with 2 cwt. of guano- 

 plough the soil over the manure, roll closely if sufficiently dry' 

 so as not to squeeze compactly; drill 3 to i lbs. of seed mixed 

 with ajittle Swede Turnip seed and 1 cwt. of superphosphate of 

 lnneper acre, or it may he dibbled 16 inches from hole to hole 

 at about 1 inch in depth, in either case taking care not to denosit 

 the seed more than an inch in depth ; roll lightly afterwards but 

 if the weather is shovvery leave the drills uncovered, horse hoe 

 the furrows as soon as weeds appear, previously forking out bv 

 hand process every particle of Couch, Docks, or root weeds. Take 

 care never to let weeds grow so as to choke the young plants: when 

 2 inches high single them out, selecting the best plants and pull- 

 ing away the root, at 16 inches intervals, or chop out with a hoe 

 and single afterwards by hand. This is best done by havin<* a 

 sufficient number of boys or women to keep close up to the hoers 

 Keep entirely free from weeds by the horse-hoe, and by hand- 

 hoeing the earth /rem the plants. About the middle of September 

 commence using the leaves by cutting up with straw into chaff 

 pulling and storing the roots soon afterwards This process may 

 be continued until December, if it is desirous to economise tbe 

 leaves, but the roots should be immediately pulled and stored 

 also, or frost may injure them ; pack them in oblong heaps 6 to 8 

 teet wide, with the crowns outwards, bringing them to a ridtre 

 similar to the roof of a thatched or tiled building to about the 

 height of 6 feet, cover with Wheat-straw, then dig the surround- 

 ing earth and cover over 6 inches thick, leaving about 1 foot on 

 each side for a week or two uncovered for the heated air to 

 escape, and when earthed up afterwards a twisted bunch of straw 

 should be inserted about every 5 feet, for the ventilation of the 

 mass. I he earth should be beaten compactly and stoutly 

 thatched over with Barley or Wheat straw to keep out severe 

 frosts. The roots ought not to be used until after January or 

 until their second vegetation has commenced, a chemical action 

 upon the juices taking place at that time, so that the sugar 

 becomes fixed; it should be plucked into small pieces or bruised 

 with a heavy wooden mallet, pulped or sliced, and mixed with 

 ctuatraw chaff, feeding cattle with from 40 to 80 lbs. per diem 

 as it consists of nearly four-fifths of its weight of water. This 

 precaution is necessary to prevent scouring of the neat cattle to 

 which it has a great tendency in the early spring months • it im- 

 proves gradually till July, up to which time it may be used for 

 every description of live stock ; it however should not be given 

 to breeding ewes, &c, before lambing, or to sows whilst breed m«- to 

 little pigs it Is also injurious, but those of five or six months old 

 thrive remarkably well upon it. Much of the success attending 

 its production depends upon the quality of the seed ; there is 

 little if any difference, as regards quality or value, betwixt the 

 Long and Glob • Red, and the Long Orange and Globe varieties. 

 Upon the best and heaviest descriptions of mixed soils the Long 

 Red is most productive, upon the lighter descriptions the Globe 

 Orange is the best; the produce varies from 20 to 30 tons per 

 acre. The roots should be selected for seed of a clear uniform 

 colour, fine crowns, with bright glossy leaves, the root should end 

 in a single top to each without fangs, and abundance of small 

 fibres, and having such slight hold of the soil as to be pulled 

 easily without the assistance of any implement, and by twisting, 

 not cutting, off the leaves, which if not required for cattle should 

 be ploughed in for manure. Upon strong soils it is usual to 

 manure plentifully with long stable dung, ploughing deeply 

 before winter and merely scarifying the land in the spring, 

 about the middle of April drilling in the seed with about 1 cwt. 

 of artificial manure or superphosphate of lime per acre. We have 

 dwelt at so great a length upon this subject that your space will 

 not allow much further remark, but as we sometimes in our 

 experiments succeed well and sometimes on the contrary, it 

 behoves us alike faithfully to mention those of the unsuccessful 

 character. It will be recollected that we mentioned having 

 applied lime combined with salt to our Potatoes at the time of 

 planting to prevent disease, and so far as appearances lead us to 

 judge, we fear most of the Potato cuttings are killed by the pre- 

 paration accelerated by the dry state of the soil. We obtained 

 the hint from the observations of an experienced farmer at the 

 London Farmers' Club, and after having escaped miraculously 

 from a conflagration of our premises by the lime and salt having 

 caused ignition of portions of the building, we shall in addition 

 forfeit the crop, wholly or nearly so, by this experiment. At 

 present it is impossible to say what the result may be upon 

 portions planted without the application of the lime and salt. 

 The Potatoes are looking vigorous and healthy, whilst those so 

 prepared cannot yet be seen. In your columns a correspondent re- 

 marks upon our having stated "that rooks never* feed upon 

 insects if they can procure grain," and proceeds to establish the 

 facts to be otherwise, by showing that they have fed upon the 

 larvaB of insects during the past month, but admits that his 

 earliest grown crops have been devoured by them. Rooks, like 

 most other birds, feed their young upon grabs and insects, but 

 wherever grain is to be had, they prefer living entirely upon it. 

 They doubtless effect a great deal of good at certain seasons, but 

 like the sparrow it is certain that they effect much injury. The 

 question is therefore whether under the present state of cultiva- 

 tion of our lands they should be suffered, as in the instance to 

 which we alluded, to increase to such an extent as to lay the 

 whole surrounding district under contribution of black mail for 

 their support, as it is only when in great numbers that they 

 become emboldened to do great acts of mischief, and in such 

 instances it is next to impossible to prevent them accomplishing 

 it, by reason of their vigilance and early and late habits. "VY 

 have cultivated farms upon which rooks were never seen for 

 many months together, but we have not any recollection of bein 

 more injured by insects than at present where they abound. 

 Upon arable lands well farmed and kept clear of decaying vege- 

 table matter and sour Grasses, scarcely any insects will be found 

 to exist so as to be injurious, and in such cases the rooks would 

 be better away. In the winter months they resort to marshes, 

 and live principally upon grubs found at the roots of the decaying 

 Grasses, especially those of the large gnat called M daddy-long- 

 legs," so prevalent in autumn. Next to these grubs they appear 

 to prefer the wireworm, but neither worms or slugs are ever 

 eaten by them except in seasons of great drought. The advo- 

 cates for their preservation inquire naively for what purpose 

 except that of good were they designed ? We do not deny the 

 fact, and inquire in return, for what good purpose were rats 

 designed? and pause for a reply. We shall have neither Grass, 

 Clover, or Vetches; unless abundance of rain follows, these crops 

 will be exceedingly deficient. Wheat and Barley, however, 

 would doubtless be injured by rain; they are now over-luxuriant, 

 and would ill succeed with any continuance of showery weather. 



S C Y T M F ^ 



"DOYD'S PATENT SELF-ADJUSTING SCYTHES 



£-* may be had i of the Manufacturers, William Dray & Co 



liWal^r L ° nd ? n : , and of a11 ^nmongers and Seedsmen. A 

 liberal allowance to the trade. 



— 



J**£Hl S 7 EEL D| CCING FORKS X DRAINING TOOLS. 



\ | EbSKS. BURGESS and KEY, as Mr. PakW 



l?^ Wholesale Agents for England, have always in stock a 

 large assortment. These Forks and Tools are now in use b* 

 upwards of 1000 of the Nobility and Farmers, members of the 

 Koyal Agricultural Society, who pronounco them to be the best 

 ever invented, and to facilitate labour at least 20 per cent 

 I rice Lists sent free on application, and Illustrated Catalogue 

 Of the best b arm Imple nn nts,jmrec« i pt o f eight p ostag. tamps. 



ICUMOiND & CHANDLER'S PATENT CHAFF- 



CUTTING MACHINE. 



All the various modern Implements of Agriculture manufac- 

 tured on the most scientific and improved principles, suitable tor 

 home use and exportation.— Addr , Richmond & Chandler, 

 Salford, Manchester; and 32, South John Street, Liverpool. 



~~^ Catalogues Gratis. 



IMPROVED MOWING AND ROLLING MACHINE. 



ALEXANDER SHANKS and SON, Arbroath, 

 Forfarshire, Inventors and Sole Manufacturers, respectfully 

 solicit the attention of the Nobility, Gentry, and Gardeners to 

 this Improved Machine for Mowing and Rolling Lawns. The 

 Machine is in operation in the Royal Gardens at T\ indsor 

 Palace, Buckingham Palace, and at Oshorne, in the Botanical 

 Gardens at Kew, Regent's Park, Manchester, Sheffield, &c; at 

 Blenheim Palace, Trentham, Cleveden, Elvaston, Broadlands, 

 Woburn Abbey, Clumber, Lilleshall, Castle Howard, Shrubland, 

 Fridge Castle, Enville Hall, Tiptree Hall, Chatsworth, and in 

 many other of the principal gardens in the kingdom as well as in 

 the United States, British America, and on the Continent, where 

 its merits have been fully proved, and its success established. 



The machine is made to cut the breadth of 42. 30, 20, and 

 15 inches respectively, is exceedingly durable, easily managed, 

 and adjusted to cut to the length required. The execution of the 

 work is far superior to what may be attained by the most skilful 

 mower, while at the same time a great saving of labour is effected, 

 and the turf much improved. By the largest machine a Scotch 

 acre may be mowed, rolled, and the Grass collected in one hour. 



A. S. and Son have much pleasure in stating that they have 

 made considerable improvements in their 15-inch or hand 

 machine this year, by which the draught is considerably lessened. 

 This machine combines all the merits and advantages of the 

 larger machines with firm and secure construction, and is 

 admirably adapted for borders and for lawns of no great extent. 



Alexander Shanks and Son also respectfully solicit notice 

 to "Flemings Weeding or Salting Machine" for destroying 

 weeds in gravel walks, court-yards, drives, &c. This machine 

 is now in operation in many parts of England, where it has given 

 ample satisfaction as the best and most economical means of 

 thoroughly keeping down weeds or Moss. ^ 



Further particulars, with testimonials and prices, may be had 



on application. 



Notices to Correspondents. 



Legal Questions : J Kand X Y Z. We do not give professional 

 answers except to purely agricultural questions. Unprofes- 

 sional opinions as to what is justice do not always correspond 

 with professional opinions of what is law. If any one, owing 

 to faults in his own fence, suffers by the straying in upon him 

 of his neighbour's cattle — those cattle being of the hinds ordinarily 

 grazed in fields — we imagine he has no remedy against his 



neighbour, but is himself alone to blame. As to the sheep 



sold to the butcher, it he bought a certain lot of sheep and had a 

 certain time allowed him for their removal, the death of any 

 daring that time is his loss, not yours. 



Steaming Apparatus : G C asks Mr. Horsfal! to be kind 

 enough to tell an intending imitator of his dairy management, 

 whose steaming apparatus he employs. 



m L/'RIGI DOMO." — Patronised by her Majesty the 



■T Queen, the Duke of Northumberland for Syon House, His 



Grace the Dnke of "Devonshire for Chiswick Gardens, Professor 



Lindley for the Horticultural Society, Sir Joseph Paxton for the 



rystal Palace, Royal Zoological Society, Mrs. Lawrence, of 



Ealing Park, and — Collier, Esq., of Dartford. 



PROTECTION FROM MORNING FROST. 

 " FRTG1 DOMO," a Canvas made of patent prepared Hair 

 and Wool, a perfect non-conductor of Heat and Cold, keeping, 

 wherever it is applied, a fixed temperature. It is adapted for 

 all horticultural and floricultural purposes, for preserving Fruits 

 and Flowers from the scorching rays of the sun, from wind, 

 from attacks of insects and from morning frosts. To be had in 

 «ny required length, 2 yards wide, at ls.Qd. per yard ran, of 

 Klisha Thomas Archer, whole and sole manufacturer, 7, Trinity 

 Lane, Cannon Street, City, and the Royal Mills, Wandsworth, 

 Surrey; and of all Nurserymen and Seedsmen throughout the 

 kingdom, " It is much cheaper than mats as a covering." 





