Oct. 13, 1855.] 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE.^ 



fiv) 



high 



other parties. They had once a North Derbyshire 

 Agricultural Society, which held its meetings once at 

 Chesterfield and once at Bakeweli ; but, generally 

 speaking, Mr. Swaffield and some few other 

 farmers sent stock bred at a great expense, so that 

 the tenant farmers could not compete with them. 

 These farmers' clubs, therefore, gave advantages which 

 the other society did not, because they knew that the 

 stock exhibited was the production of their neighbours. 

 Some farmers were disheartened, and said such a 

 person is too successful to compete with. But that is 

 not the way to deal with the question ; their aim 

 should be, go home and do likewise ; and don't be 

 afraid of the competition of Mr. Furniss, Mr. Jepson, 

 and other farmers. With respect to North Derby- 

 shire, a man may be farming down in the valley, on 

 the hill, on limestone, gritstone, or his land may be badly 

 drained, and he may have to contend with other difficul- 

 ties; and therefore in looking at those farmers' clubs, you 

 must have reference very much to the position in which 

 a man has cultivated his stock for exhibition. As far as 

 agriculture goes, it is quite impossible for a district 20 

 miles off to know how things should be treated here. 

 One of the judges, Mr. Dickin, gave you good advice, 

 but he happens to live in the neighbourhood of Mans- 

 field, where the climate is warm ; but let me tell him 

 that if he brings his early sowings here, he will find they 

 will rot in the ground. The great principle to look at 

 in agriculture is this : from nothing nothing comes. If 

 you attend to the land here, and sow the crops upon it 

 at a period suitable to the climate, these crops will be 

 perfection of their kind ; but if you sow them at an un- 

 suitable period there will be no crops. All plants of a 

 similar structure to corn require a„ given temperature 

 in order to come to perfection ; and it is whether you 

 get very muJi below or above it that your success 

 depends, because with corn grown at a lower tempera- 

 ture than its nature requires, the seed becomes husky 

 and the corn of little value. The farmers in this county 

 have improved more than in any other, and they deserve 

 great praise for their exertions. They are satisfied that 

 they must rest on their own energies, and work out their 

 own salvation in farming, and not depend upon the 

 legislature for anything. They have fought through 

 bad times like men. What I have told you about 

 plants applies equally to cattle. You cannot keep cattle 

 too warm, and the great secret of feeding is to go 

 gradually on improving every pound of flesh until you 

 give it into the hands of the butcher. I am always 

 ready and most desirous to assist, as all the agents of 

 the Duke of Devonshire are, to give improved facilities 

 to farmers ; but the error which most farmers fall into 

 is, as Lord Ashburton said, •< Men learn a great deal 

 but they don't learn common things." He frequently 

 saw farmers leave their cattle too much exposed ; 

 whereas by the use of a little thatch, which might be 

 made at a small expense, they might keep them warm, 

 and this precaution would repay them five- fold. 



Miscellaneous. 



Agricultural Education. — I am desirous of taking 

 high ground for the farmer in all that relates to the 

 future progress of his art. He must, in fact, not only 

 continue as hitherto to be a sound and careful observer, 

 but must be prepared to advance with his art — to 

 become yet more accurate and precise in his observa- 

 tions, and to take advantage of all those aids which the 

 sciences and the mechanical arts are presenting to him. 

 That he has done so to a large extent is manifest to all 

 who watch the progress of events ; and among our 

 practical farmers I could point to many who have 

 mastered the details of the sciences now applied to 

 agriculture, and that, too, at a time of life when the 

 adoption of new ideas and pursuits ^foreign to our 

 previous habits is no light task. Still anything of 

 this sort must be confined to a few, and we must 

 look to the rising generation of farmers for carry- 

 ing out these matters. And it will be at once ad- 

 mitted that this must be effected by the introduction 

 of a systematic agricultural education. Nowadays we 

 require a systematic professional education, such as 

 the other professions enjoy. The time was when the 

 lawyer and the phvsician obtained their knowledge as 

 they best might ; but as these professions advanced, 

 the necessity for something more became manifested, 

 and they gradually obtained a systematic education. 

 Agriculture is now in the transition stage from a 

 purely empirical to a philosophical art, and it is 

 necessary to introduce a regular professional education, 

 of which botany, chemistry, and land-surveying, and 

 perhaps other branches, should form part. As far as 

 *&y own science (chemistry) is concerned, the evil 

 consequences of the want of a knowledge of it are 

 constantly presenting themselves in a very forcible 

 manner. A very remarkable instance of this occurred 

 to me some time since. I analysed a manure profes- 

 sing to be manufactured by a particular process, which 

 Jt is unnecessary to explain ; and, calculating from 

 the amount of its valuable matters, I fixed its price at 

 1£ 5s. per ton — in doing which, my estimation was 

 based on the regular market prices of these substances, 



that in the present state of the market he could sell it 

 for 4/. or 51. per ton. Here, then, was a person pre- 

 pared to speculate on the ignorance of the farmer, by 



inducing him to pay for this substance nearly three times 

 its actual value. It is scarcely possible to adduce a 

 more striking illustration of the risks to which the 

 farmer is laid open by the want of chemical informa- 1 

 tion. But beetles communicating a knowledge of these 

 and similar facts, a scientific agricultural education 

 confers another very important benefit Agriculture 

 is an art depending for its cultivation upon habits of 

 close observation. One man cultivates his farm better 

 than another, and we say that the good farmer has 

 more experience ; but we rarely advert to the fact that 

 there is a great difference in the rapidity with which 

 different men acquire their experience, and that he 

 who possesses the best powers of observation does so 

 most speedily. Now it is the peculiar merit of the 

 sciences that they develop the faculty of observation, 

 which our ordinary education neglects. They prepare 

 us to watch for facts and phenomena of the most 

 varied description, enable us to estimate their value, 

 and to trace their relation to one another. But as 

 matters at present stand, a man entering upon such a 

 profession as agriculture has generally his own powers 

 of observation to educate, and he wastes, in acquiring 

 what he might have better learnt before, much time 

 which might be more usefully and sometimes more 

 profitably bestowed in other ways. From, Professor 

 Anderson's Address to the Highland Society of Scotland 

 on Promoting the Future Progress of Agriculture. 



Calendar of Operations. 



OCTOBER. 

 Border of the Fens, Oct. 8.— The harvest has this year been 

 very late notwithstanding the unexampled fine weather we have 

 had, but it may now be said to be everywhere finished, and a 

 considerable portion of the corn already threshed; the result of 

 the harvest is much as was predicted ; the good loams and heavy 

 land yield well, the light and fen lands are unusually deficient, 

 so as to make our estimate of the Wheat crop In Lincolnshire, 

 Cambridgeshire, Hunts, and a part of Norfolk, considerably below 

 an average. We do not hear of labourers being anywhere scarce 

 during harvest, but a higher range of wages has prevailed, and 

 we believe will prevail ; no reaping or mowing was done under 

 8*. an acre, and the more general prices were above 10s., even so 

 high in some instances as 16s. to 18s. Labourers by the day had 

 4s. and two quarts of beer per day, for the month or five weeks, 

 during which harvest occupation continued. Some very season- 

 able showers have fallen during the past week which have much 

 refreshed the pastures, washed the lice and mildew from Turnips, 

 and made the land in better order for ploughing; and now 

 commences our second harvest of roots ; Potatoes promise to be 

 fine and abundant ; Carrots are also a good crop, and the Man- 

 golds have improved greatly. We observe that "autumn 

 culture," though confined by the lateness of the season to a 

 smaller space of time, is yet extending in practice. Bentalfs 

 implement sells by dozens, and every horse is bespoke for the 

 accumulated work of cleaning land and preparing for seed. Tare* 

 have been in great demand at 125. and 135. per bushel, but as 

 more are brought into the market the price has receded to 10*. 

 and lis. Seed Wheat was offered at our market last Saturday 

 at 805. to 845. per quarter. Union contract for bread, &/. the 4 lb. 

 loaf; Potatoes from 6s. to 85. per sack of 16 stones; root crops 

 are sufficiently plentiful to supply food for stock during the 

 winter, but the scarcity of hay and comparative shortness of 

 straw will require great care and foresight to provide enough 

 food for the possible chances of a severe winter and a late 

 spring; the fen farmer is not in an enviable position, as while 

 44 the prosperity of agriculture " is becoming almost a reproach 

 from the privations of large families, owing to high prices, 

 he must suffer in silence all the evils incident to failing crops, 

 for he will be taunted with proverbial grumbling if he dares to 

 ask how much profit he will derive from a dear loaf when his 

 crop will scarcely pay for cutting, as many a tenant round Ely 

 will not bring to market more than two or three sacks per acre; 

 the same in Deeping Fen and other large districts, which in 

 ordinary years yield three or four times more the amount of corn 

 than they will be able to Bell this year. The highland farmer 

 will, however, this year add to his capital considerably, and 

 perhaps no class partake more largely of this increase of income 

 than the implement maker; ploughs, rollers, chaff and Turnip 

 cutters, scarifiers, threshing and dressing machines, and all other 

 established favourites sell surprisingly. The next evidence of 

 increasingjwealth is the greater attention given to farm build- 

 ings; then artificial manures, in which ihere is an enormous 

 amount of roguery going on ; and lastly the labourers are de- 

 cidedly advancing, in being able (excepting where there are very 

 Urge families), to obtain better food, better lodging and clothing, 

 and altogether better treatment than formerly. I also observed 

 them to be more inquisitive about any improvement in manage- 

 ment, and that new implements and subjects of general and 

 rational interest seem to engage their attention. This ameliora- 

 tion of the condition of the agricultural labourer will be some 

 mitigation of the disadvantage of high prices, and we hope they 

 will everywhere produce this result, as we venture to urge that 

 such an advance in the intelligence of the agricultural 'com- 

 munity will cause the soil and resources of the country U> be 

 devoted to the production of food more steadily and with corre- 

 sponding certainty. J. W n Peterborough. 



w 



ARNER'S IMPROVED LIQUID MANURE, 



OK GENERAL PORTABLE PUMP. 



The valve is a ball of imperishable 

 material, and cannot clog in actios. 

 The barrel is of galvanised iron, not 

 likely to corrode, and can be raised or 

 lowered at pleasure. The legs will fold 

 together, and the whole may be carried 

 on shoulder to any pond or tank required. 



Price of 4£ in. Pump, with legs, 3J.3*. 

 The barrel is 27£ in. long, and the legs 

 are 5 ft. high. 



li inch Gutta Percha Suction Pipe, 

 It. 6d. per foot. 



li inch Flexible Rubber and Canvas 

 Suction Pipe, 3j. 6<2. per foot. 



May be obtained of any Ironmonger 

 or Plumber in town or country, at t be- 

 above prices, or of the Patentees and 

 Manufacturers, Joint Warner & Suns, 

 8, Crescent, Jewin Street, London. 



Every description of Machinery for 

 Raising Water, by means of Wheels, 

 Rams, Deep Well Pumps, &c; also 

 Fire and Garden Engine, &c— Engravings sent on application. 



\V 



ARNER'S PATENT VIBRATING STAN- 



DARD IT Mrs. 



PATENT CAST-IRON PUMPS, for the use of Farms, Cot- 

 tages, Manure Tanks, and Wells of a depth not exceeding 30 feet. 



Diameter Length 



of Barrel, of Barrel. £ #. <£ 



2* in. short 1 ft. 7 in. ( Fitted for lead, ^ 1 II 



3 



4 





»» 



long 3 



ditto 3 „ 

 ditto 3 

 ditto 3 



a 



« 



6 

 6 



n 







5 



gutra percha, [1 15 



or cast iron f2 12 

 flanged pipe, 12 ISO 



as required. ;3 

 short, with 15 feet of I^ead Pipe 

 attached, and Bolts and Nuts 



ready for fixing 2 



2i in. long ditto ditto ditto 2 



12 e 



15 J) 



The short barrel Pump Is very convenient 

 for fixing in situations of limited height nnd 

 space, for the supply of coppers and sinks in 

 Wash-houses with soft water from under- 

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 Houses; they may be fixed, when desired, 

 under the stage. 



May be obtained of any Ironmonger or 

 Plumber in Town or Country, at the above prices, or oi th«* 

 Patentees and Msnufacturers, JOHN WARNEtt and SONS, 



8, Crescent, Jewin Street, London. 



Every description of Machinery for Raising Water, by me*ns> 

 of Wheels, Rams, Deep Weil Pumps, &c; also Fire and Garden 

 Engines, &c. &c— Engravings sent on application. 





». 



PARKES' STEEL DIGGING FORKS & DRAINING TOOLS. 



MESSRS. BURGESS jlnd KEY, as Mr. Parked* 

 Wholesale Agents for England, have always in stock a 

 large assortment. These Forks and Tools are now in use by 

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

 Royal Agricultural Society, who pronounce them to be the best 

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

 I Price Lists sent free on application, and Illustrated Catalogue 

 of the best Farm Implements, on receipt of eight postage stamps. 



103, Newgate Street, London. 



GALVANISED WIRE CAME NETTING, 



6<i. fkh Yard, 2 Feet Widk. 



I 



Notices to Correspondents. 



A GRicrLTrn a l Statistics : Mr. CarUr. We gather from your 

 letter that, in order to resist the erroneous teaching of any 

 public man, it is your opinion that the simplest and most com- 

 pendious method is to attack him personally, arguing the 

 wortblessness of any superstructure he may raise from the weak 

 foundation on which, as regards public character, you may be 

 able to prove that it rests. But this is precisely that style of 

 argument which we are anxious to exclude from our columns. 

 You say that when the farmer, pushed too hard by his enemy, 

 turns at bay and attempts to reply to the attacks upon him, be 

 cannot be heard, and royeq prefer this other way of examinin 

 the foundation on which the reputation of his "enemy" rests. 

 But we will promise that your replies to any attacks which you 

 may be able to specify shall have a hearing, and then fore you 

 need not adopt the persona] style of attack which you complain 

 of our excluding. Be this as it may, however, we cannot be 

 induced hy any charge of unfairness to publish such passages 



„ ft x. .. " M . * » . . . - I as were cancelled in the letter sent to us the other week. 



ao Uiatit was possible for any person, by mixing salts I Landowning and CAtivatios* : Guy. We should, of course, 



rv • ^ - prefer farming otir own land; but under existing circumstances 



of ammonia, &c, to produce a manure of equal value 

 for that price. Some time after I met the individual 

 for *hom the analysis was made, and he informed me 

 ^ he had shown it to an extensive dealer in manures, 

 w ho had said that he had no doubt it was quite correct, 

 but that he could himself afford to give for the manure 

 a much higher price than I had fixed, because he knew 



BARNARD and BISHOP, Marketplace, Norwich, 

 in consequence of improvements in their machinery for 

 the manufacture of the above article, have been enabled to make 

 a great reduction in the prices 



2-inch mesh, 24 inches wide 



2-inch 



2-inch 



2-inch 



U-inch 



inch 



ll-inch 



lj-inch 



ft 



ft 

 *t 

 tt 



tt 



strong, do. 



intermediate, do. 



extra strong, do. 



24 inches wide 



strong, do, 

 intermediate, do, 

 extra strong, do. 





• • * 



• t • 



• • • 



• ■ • 



• •• 



• •• 



• • « 



• f • 



• «t 



*•« 



» • # 



■ • ■ 



Galvan- 

 ised. 



BJ. per yd. 



3 



7 

 9 



U 



13 



tt 



if 



ft 



tt 

 tt 



n 



Japanned 

 iron. 

 4J<f.peryd. 

 6 



74 



5i 



7 



9 



11 



tt 



tt 



All the above kinds can be made of any width (under 8 feet), 

 at proportionate prices. If the upper half is of a coarser niesh 

 capital is more productive of income when than the | 0wer? it will reduce the prices one-fourth, 

 a cultivation than if nine-tenths of it were | ^^ &&„*,* Poultry Netting, 1W. per yard: Galvanised 



Sparrow-proof Netting for Pheasant lies, 3d. per square foot. 



Hi ust rated Catalogues and Patterns forwarded by post. Deli- 

 vered free ot expense in London, Peterborough. Hull, or New- 

 le. Manufacturers of Improved Strained Wire Cattle and 

 Deer Fencing, Iron Hurdles, &c. 



no doubt a given 



wholly invested in 



spent in the purchase of the land cultivated, 

 PiG-FKEDfKG: J. Cmoley. Them is an advantage in scalding the 



Barley-meal before if is riven to pigs, aud roots of all kinds 



are better steamed or boiled. 

 The Hop: W (7 J/ asks for the indications existing now of the 



character of next years crop. 





