430 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE. 



seated the following report from the Chemical Committee, 

 which was also adopted : — 



I. That one of the subjects of chemical investigation during 



tlip pre* e it year be : — 



The Composition of Land-drainage "Water. 

 II. That the subjects of the lectures by the consulting- 

 chemist in the spring of 1856 be :— 



f. Tae influence of climate on the action of manure?. 



2. The evaporation of ammonia from the soil, especially 



when recently manure. 



3. A review of the progress of chemical s^ence with 



re'erence to agriculture at home and abroad. 



Carlisle Meeting. — Mr. Fisher Hobbs, Yice-Chair- 

 min of the General Carlisle Committee, reported the 

 completion of the arrangements at Carlisle in reference 

 to the landing of the cattle and implements, and the 

 approaches to the show-yard. He also reported the 

 acceptance of a tender for the Pavilion dinner, made by 

 Mr. Breach, of the County Hotel at Carlisle. 



Chelmsford Meeting. — The Council accepted the 

 offer of Mr. Henry Manning, of 251, High Holborn, 

 to undertake such works as the Society may require for 

 its Chelmsford Meeting in 1356, on the same terms as 

 for the Carlisle Meeting this year. 



Implement Judges. — Mr. Fisher Hobbs also reported 

 from the Implement Committee their recommendation 

 of Judges in the Machinery and Implement Department 

 of the Carlisle Show, which recommendation was adopted 

 by the Council. 



Paws Show. — Mr. Fisher Hobbs took that opportu- 

 nity of stating that Mr. Mil ward having been appointed 

 by the Council at their last monthly meeting the English 

 juror for short-horned and other cattle, and he (Mr. 

 Hobbs) the English juror for sheep and pigs, at the 

 Agricultural Show recently held in Paris, he could not 

 withhold the expression of his admiration at the excel- 

 lence of that first international gathering of the friends 

 of agriculture from every part of the civilised world, and 

 his conviction that the happiest results would in every 

 point of view result from that meeting, which he believed 

 would form a new era in agricultural progress. 



Autumn Vacation. — On the motion of Mr. Raymond 

 Barker, seconded by Sir John Villiers Shelley, Bart, 

 M.l\, the following resolution was carried unanimously, 

 namely, " That the business of the Society shall be so 

 arranged as to afford the Secretary and Staff their 

 usual vacation between the 20th August and the 20th 

 October.' ' 



The Council then adjourned. 



Country Meeting business of a Special Council to be 



held at the Guildhall, Carlisle, on Friday in the week of 

 the show. 



Lectures. — July 11, at Noon, Professor Simonds, 

 '•'On the Physiological Conditions affecting the quantity 

 and quality of Milk secreted by the Cow under different 

 circumstances of feeding and management." July 18, 

 at Noon, Professor Way, "On the use of Fish as 

 £f furore*" 



much as the treatment of the surface-soil in connection 

 with the subsoil is concerned with vegetation ; whereas 

 the ordinary system generally leaves the subsoil undis- 

 turbed beyond" thorough draining it. 



" The pulverisation of the subsoil, and its mixture 

 with the upper soil, is thus the keystone of the Yester 

 deep land-culture. This system is as simple as it is 

 durable. It cannot be conducted with the implements 

 in common use, but the implements which effect it are 



those in common use. It is also a 



It is, moreover. 



Its value may 

 Those products 



[July 7, ]; : 



ng it on the land, spreaduie it witlfTZ— "^ 

 achinery, and interest on ^ ^.^ 



card 

 of m 



Id. per cubic yard ; so 



on cost 



•tv 









The Yester Deep-land Culture. By Henry Stephens. 



Wm, Blackwood & Son, Edinburgh and London. 

 There is no better instance of the advantages of that 

 tilth and depth of soil which were referred to last week 

 in the leading section of this Paper than is recorded with 

 perhaps unnecessary detail in this little book. The 

 Marquess of Tweeddale appears at great expense and 

 with the most confident energy in carrying out his plans 

 to have succeeded in entirely renovating and remodelling 

 the estate which is here described : — 



" The characteristic distinction of the Yester system 

 of farming is the very substantial and permanent nature 

 of the treatment which the land receives. It does not, 

 like that pursued with the common plough, glaze the 

 surface and increase the adhesiveness of the furrow- 

 slice in strong land in ft moist state ; it is not the mere 

 scarification which the grubber gives to the surface 

 soil ; it is not the tearing into shallow stripes which the 

 ordinary subsoil -ploughs effect in the- subsoil ;— but it 

 is the laying over of the surface soil in a deep, broad, 

 and broken furrow-slice in immediate precedence of the 

 up. raising of the subsoil from a great depth, as far as, 

 and no farther than, to mix it completely with any 

 desired proportion of the surface soil." 

 , The author of this book will probably be generally con- 

 sidered to have referred to the Yester culture as if it were 

 the development of entirely new principles in agriculture 

 which it certainly is not, rather than as a striking in- 

 stance of the results following a more perfect per- 

 formance of the ordinary operations of husbandry. In 

 the following passage, however, the difference between 

 this and the ordinary farm practice is shown to be one 

 merely ot. degree : — 



"The only object in using the plough, and some other 

 large implements, is the pulverisation of the surface- 

 sod and part of the subsoil. Th i ordinary and the 

 I ester treatment of either soil both aim to attain that 



2 J6 K- fc ; u Ut the difference in the two methods consists 

 ot this, that the ordinary practice attains only an im- 



S^k V eDQ P ora ry pulverisation of a little more 

 than the surface soil, 7 or 8 inches deep 



«TSLf i m /? cti8 *<l--while the Yester plan attains 

 Si «?«S *** dur * ble Pulverisation of both wrfece- 



Sate of i^w?* depth ° f 22 **» Now the 



wit P , P n T • " 1 be Wet > ** u PP* r «oil will also be 

 wet ; and draining , 3 used to dry both If it be dried 



by drammg, but left hard, the roots of plan* meet whh 

 such obstruction m it as to stint the growth SThepl«£ 

 themselves. The Yester deep land i " P 



therefore, on comparison, a more perfect 



as simple as 



cheap as well as a durable operation 



a valuable as well as a cheap process. 



be estimated by the products obtained. 



exhibit a large increase, and when the previous quality 



and condition of the surface-soil and subsoil are borne 



in mind, the increase exceeds the expectation of the 



most sanguine cultivator." 



The drainage, deepening, and pulverisation of the 

 Yester soil have been efficient hitherto almost unaided 

 by the addition of artificial manure, and the increased 

 crops are the result almost wholly of the natural 

 sources of fertility which every soil contains within 

 itself when its substance is thoroughly brought into 

 contact with the air and the rain water. The his- 

 tory here given is the more instructive, therefore, 

 on that high value of mere tillage which Mr. Smith's 

 experience and that of Jethro Tull have already well 

 established. How great the influence of this mere 

 tillage is will be gathered from the following instances : 



" The Moss Bents field, which had originally been stiff 

 clay, containing 15| imperial acres, was in Oats in 1850, 

 which produced 29} bushels the acre. It was bare- 

 fallowed and subsoil-trench ploughed in 1851, and in 

 1852 produced 61 quarters of good Wheat, and 2 J 

 quarters of light, equal to 38^ bushels, and realised 

 above III the acre. The Long Bents field, of sandy 

 clay soil and subsoil, containing 16 acres, was in Oats in 

 1848, which produced 65 quarters, equal to 37 bushels 

 the acre. In 1849 it was bare-fallowed and subsoil- 

 trench ploughed, and in 1850 it yielded 58 quarters of 

 good Wheat, and 4 quarters of light, realising 101. per 

 acre. In 1851 it was in Grass, and in 1852 the lea was 

 deep ploughed with the Tweeddale plough 15 inches 

 deep. In 1853 it was Oats, which produced 104| 

 quarters, equal to 61| bushels the acre. In 1854 it 

 ( carried an excellent crop of Turnips, the weight of 

 which was not ascertained. 



" The Wa' Tree Park, which was originally of stiff 

 tenacious clay soil and subsoil, containing 19| imperial 

 acres, was in Oats in 1850, which yielded 60 quarters, 

 equal to 28| bushels the acre. In 1851 6 J acres were 

 bare fallowed and subsoil-trench ploughed, and 1 3 J acres 

 subsoil-trench ploughed and made with Turnips. In 

 1852 the 6 J acres produced, of Wheat, 28 \ quarters of 

 good, and 3£ quarters of light, realising 15Z. 7s. Ad. the 

 acre ; and the 1 3£ acres produced Barley, which 

 averaged 31 \ bushels, and realised 61. 0s. lOd. the acre. 



tt The Holmes Park, which was originally of very 

 poor stiff tenacious clay soil and subsoil, and containing 

 24 acres imperial, was in Grass in 1 850, and was deep 

 ploughed, 15 inches, with the Tweeddale plough in 

 winter. It carried Oats in 1851, which yielded 108 

 quarters, equal to 43£ bushels the acre. In 1852 it was 

 subsoil-trench ploughed 19 inches deep for Turnips, 

 which were a fair crop. In 1853 it was Barley, of which 

 79J quarters were good and 18 quarters light, equal to 

 3D bushels, realised 91. 17*. 6d. the acre. 



" The Kitchen Croft, which was originally of stiff 

 sandy clay soil and subsoil, containing a large number 

 of boulders, and consisting of 8£ acres imperial, was 

 previously let at SI. 1 5s. for the field, and it was 

 thorough drained in the winter of 1848. In 1849 it 

 was bare-fallowed and subsoil-trench ploughed 19 inches 

 deep. In 1850 it carried Wheat, of which 24 quarters 

 were good, 5^ quarters light, equal to 34 \ bushels, and 

 realising 8Z. 85. 8c?. the acre. In 1851 it was Turnips, 

 which were good. In 1852, Barley, of which 40 quarters 

 were good and 3^ quarters light, equal to 53 bushels 

 the acre, and was sold for 107. 12$. \Ud. the acre. 



" The land on Broadwoodside farm was lined after 

 being thorough-drained and subsoil- trench ploughed. 

 At first the quantity used was 48 bolls, or 288 bushels* 

 to the imperial acre ; but it was soon found that 30 

 bolls, or 144 bushels, had an equally good effeci upon 

 the land, and that was the quantity which the farm 

 mostly received. 



" The land on Danskine farm was not subsoil- trench 

 ploughed at all, and only deep ploughed with the Tweed- 

 dale plough, with three horses yoked abreast in the 

 compensation swing-trees, to the depth of 14 or 15 inches 

 as the subsoil was of such an open nature as not to re- 

 quire further pulverisation. Sandy Oats were the kind 

 first used on this farm, but were given up for the Hope- 

 toun variety, in consequence of the yield being greater 

 and the straw better on the improved soil. The poor 

 clay soil of Danskine was covered with a black vege- 

 table matter, obtained from the bottom of the Loch of 

 Danskine after the water had been drained off. This 

 vegetable substance was laid on the land, at the rate of 

 180 cubic yards per imperial acre, upon the stubble in 

 autumn, cut small with the spade, spread, and ploughed 

 in with a 14-inch furrow with three horses in the 

 Tweeddale plough. At first the quantity laid on was 

 120 cubic yards the acre, but latterly it was increased 

 to 1 80. Such a large quantity of matter literally covers 

 the surface when spread over it, that its black colour 

 imparts a darkened hue to the soil after incorporation 

 with it. The cost of digging this matter— lifting it out 

 system, mas- of the bog by means of a railroad and steam-power, 



/a. per cubic yard ; so that the cos? of"™ hiDer 7-% 

 imperial acre with it was from : /. lo, to kT?V 

 The book records fully both ,h e X ?£L 

 to climate, soil, and subsoil of the exnerim™* , m 

 means employed in the course of it-thorouS rlw * 

 deep ploughing, subsoil-trench ploughing an d thT"*' 

 of farming now pursued. The implements IS** 

 also described in full detail. And the whole Sh ** 

 given with such completeness that any of our 

 will be able both to judge of the propriety of m__ 

 the Marquess of Tweeddale's example, and to £?* 



pro? 

 culture for which we" are "indebted to the ~ *° **" 



for subsoiling 



«*M 



the execution of his invention as soon as he has nroidF 

 We add a paragraph unon th* ntho* *,»....• *\ Te ** 



paragraph upon the other services to 



Yester farms. 



owner of tkt 



« The Marquess has not confined his exertions toft* 

 amendment of the surface soil and subsoil onlr k 

 finer class of plants — one higher bred, if the 'h 

 may be allowed in reference to plants— seem, J,u2 

 to occupy an amended condition of the surface soil tti 

 subsoil. Accordingly, his lordship has directed \k 

 attention to effecting such a change on the connitT 

 tional habits of the cultivated plants as to m 

 growing existence to the altered and emended conditio 

 of the surface soil and subsoil. From its verv ten* 

 such an experimental improvement does not aeen » 

 easy task to undertake ; but the results show, m fir 

 they have been completed, that his lordship hit ac- 

 cess fully accomplished it. 



" The first cultivated plant that has been subiectoi 

 to experimental improvement by his lordship is tbe 

 Turnip. Distinct species of Turuips are farailiulf 

 spoken of by farmers throughout the country, and etch 

 of them possesses such marked characters as to reader 

 a confusion of their identity most improbable Nt 

 farmer confounds a White Globe Turnip with any of tb 

 yellow kinds, nor either with the Swede—regarding the 

 last plant as a Turnip in the common acceptation of tfe 

 term. But, nevertheless, such a number of varieties 

 have had their origin from each of the above speeia, 

 that when one of the species is referred to in a district 

 its exact variety is not understood alike by a resid 

 and a stranger. It seems impossible that such ■ 

 identity of character in a variety should be established 

 as to be generally understood ; for one variety nay 

 grow better in one district than in another, and we 

 variety better than another in the same district, and ia 

 consequence the better varieties obtain the preference, 

 and are retained for culture. But, nevertheless, m 

 variety must be more valuable as food than another 

 from the same species, in whatever district, because tn 

 or more best things cannot spring from the same source, 

 and hence the variety that possesses the largest pro- 

 portion of valuable properties for feeding in one district, 

 will possess the same in another district, provided the 

 same conditions of soil, culture, and skill are used in 

 its growth. 



* With reasonings such as these the Marquess fir* 

 took the Purple-top Yellow Turnip to experiment upon, 

 with the view of rendering it of as fine a form, as high 

 a specific gravity, and of as valuable feeding property 

 as it was capable of attaining. The experiment b* 

 already proceeded so far as to secure the form ; t* 

 feeding property has nearly been reached ; and m 

 highest specific gravity has yet to be attained. l« 

 form is perfect for a Turnip, the bulb being a \*#m 

 oblate spheroid; the colours are distinctly marked^, 

 purple on the upper half, and buff-yellow on the ww* 

 The root is long and small ; the skin thin, fine, ana oujj 

 the shaw small at the neck, and set upon the n PPf"T 

 part of the bulb; the leaves expanding, to recei 



influence of the atmosphere. The growth ot ^ r-J 

 is continued and rapid. Its constitution is strov 

 general health vigorous. Its specific g ra ™J {i ^ 

 creased largely. When the experiments began 

 820, taking water at its usual standard ot 1W* ^» 

 now acquired a specific gravity of 970, and is f~ 



'easing till it reach, or it may be £jj 

 that of the Swede. By selecting fine bulbs «« 

 large size and heavy weight, and transplant in ^ ^ 

 a favourable situation for growth, and ^f^l^d 

 grown and best matured pods of the seed, v r^^ 

 that their properties may be propagated an 



indefinitely. • stover an a* 1 



" An enlarged bulb and increased weign* ^ ^ 



insures a heavier crop ; and hence tna d50 ii^ 

 Steel's Walls field, Yester Mains, has reacn ^ 

 horse cart-loads of 13 cwt. each ; that u,- -^g 

 the imperial acre. Mr. Gibb of C^r *top V*J 

 falls Scotch in 1854, with seed of the » ^^^ 

 Turnip raised by the Marquess, and tne r ^ j.jj, 

 was about 50 double-horse cart-Ioaas »• .^^ 



has m- 



to go on increasing, 



cwt. each, which is about 39 tons to "^ ^ 

 acre : besides two double-horse carWo»a ^ 



15| 



the 52** 



whose seed had been sown along «* ■*• qn!k0 tit.f« 

 of the yellow Turnips, to make the jm h s#i * 

 the latter go farther over the ground, 

 plants were thinned out, ex ce Pj '" re att coffl 

 the yellow did not fill up. Both these 



large crops of Turnips. d f the *•* 



-Similar treatment of the Swede *n« parp *4J 



Globe Turnip as has been given to ,„ 



Yellow, might no doubt produce M*^ ^ted.^ 



their case as in that w 

 But we must 



hich has just been i.- ^ 



g&&* 



not at P«* e V5» * r * 



srres our tn»»» 



in such full detail" the par f^^T 

 agricultural experiment before the wo 



But we must not at P« sen '/ thanks fo> 

 further. Mr. Stephens desert . oor ^ 



• u e..M A~t-;\ »h« narticulars oi » 



