10 



THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE 



7 



utle yet < eisive, gave to 



in their operation so 

 the simple experiment made in trie presence 01 tne 



Professor Way, more the air of a new 

 instance oi Natural Magic than the sober reality of 



inarv operation of natural laws, 



ting 



The chang 



application only was novel ; and its effect on the 

 was accordingly both singular and striking, occasioning 

 evident marks of their agreeable surprise and admiration 

 at the result obtained. The I lax fibre soaked in the 

 solution of sub-carbonate of soda was no sooner immersed 

 in the vessel containing the acidulated water than its 

 character became at once changed, from that of a damp 

 rigid aggregation of Flax to a light expansive mass of 



cottony texture, increasing 



or an expanding sponge, 

 striking, when this converted mass in its turn was 

 placed in the next vessel which contained the hypo- 

 chlorite of magnesia, and became at once bleached, 

 attaining then the colour, as it had just before received 

 the texture, of cotton. 



After the performance of this experiment, a very 

 lengthened and interesting conversation ensued between 

 the Chairman and Council on one side, and M. Clausaen 

 and the parties connected with Flax culture and manage- 

 ment on the other, on various topics, among which were 

 —the point to which farmers, who were inclii i to grow 

 Flax, would have to proceed to render tlseir produce in 

 a fit state to be taken off their hands by M. Clausaen or 

 his agents ; the 10/. machine of Mr. Davy, of Crediton, 

 for reducing the bulk of Flax to be worked by hand ; 

 the machinery for cutting the Flax into proper lengths ; 

 the difference between the Hat fibre of cotton and the 

 tubular fibre of Fla\ ; on the relative strength of the 

 two fibres ; on mechanical preparation of Flax without 

 steeping, by Mr. Davy ; on specimens of Max grown 

 from prepared seed, and on the treatment of Flax for 

 the stronger purposes of manufacture, without steeping, 

 by Mr. Donlan ; Mr. Christopher, M.IVs report of Mr. 

 JJriJif s opinion of Flax-cotton, ami it- probable em- 

 ployment, to a considerable extent, should the price 

 of foreign cotton remain as high as it then was ; his 

 reft- mice to experiment! carrying on at Manchester, to 

 caution on the subject, and the inconvenience of in- 

 quality in length of fibre ; M. Claussen's opinion that 

 by mechanical means Flax will never be brought into 

 (he state of cotton ; on a Flax coat, manufactured at 

 Mr. Browne's establishment, in which the Flax yarn or 

 cordage was so arranged as, by its swelling and torsion, 

 when exposed to rain, to render the cloth compact and 



impi rvious to further penetration of wet within its 

 substance. 



III. Royal Flax Society of Ireland. 



-A deputa- 

 tion from the Royal Society for the Promotion and 

 Improvement of the Growth of Flax in Ireland waited 

 ttpon the Council for the purpose of aiding the Roval 

 Agricultural Society of England in their consideration 

 of the agricultural bearings of Flax culture, by offering 

 to them whatever amount of experience the Flax 

 Society had gained, during the ton years' period of its 

 establishment, in the growth and management of that 

 crop, and preparation of the produce for manufacturing 

 purposes. The deputation consisted of the Earl of 

 Erne, Lord Montea-le, Lord Naas, Sir James Stronge, 

 Bart., Sir R. A. Ferguson, Bart., M.P.,Mr. J. G. Mar- 

 shall, M.P., Mr. Conolly, M.l\, Mr. Russell, and Mr. 

 Macadam; and having presented to the Council, for 

 the use of the members, a supply of copies of the 

 seventh and tenth Reports of the Royal Flax Society, 

 they informed the Chairman that their secretary, Mr. 

 Macadam, would, with his permission, read to the 

 Council a statement relative to the culture and pre- 

 paration of Flax, signed by their President, the Marquis 

 of Downshire. 



The Chairman expressed the great pleasure it gave 

 him to receive, on the part of the Council, the deputa- 

 tion who had on that occasion favoured them with their 

 attendance. The valuable labours of the Flax Society 

 were well known and appreciated throughout the United 

 Kingdom ; and Mr. Macadam's excellent Prize Essay 

 on Flax, in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England, did him great honour, and was 

 often referred to by the Chairman, with pleasure and 

 satisfaction. 



The Chairman then desired Mr. Macadam to proceed 

 in reading the statement to which reference had been 

 made by the deputation. As this document has already 

 been printed for circulation, it will only be necessary, in 

 this place, to enumerate its leading points :— 



cuk i^tf^* 1 ?^* 11 . estabIi « hed especially in reference to the 



Sum inn * ? lax i in Ireland » lt haft alwa > 8 considered the 

 Empire? natlonal one « affecting the whole of the British 



rlence^n^ SSfSft feeIs anxi ° us to* make its long expe- 



who have t? l CtlCal kno "led<e available in directing those 



3 Th?t ^ bei0 °™ aware of the importance of the subject. 



fewliadlD?^^ time, to_ refer to a 



its operations. 





now practiced in Ireland, and to prepare thtir produce for the 

 great and certain market offured by the linen manufacture. 



On the motion of Colonel Challoner, seconded by M r - 

 Parkins, the thanks of the Council were voted to tlr* 

 Royal Flax Society of Ireland, for the favour of the 

 statement they had then communicated to them, and the 

 cordial co-operation they offered to the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society of England in promoting the sucoeagful 

 cultivation of the Flax crop in England. 



Among the visitors present at this meeting were, 

 Iff. F. Demann, a distinguished cultivator of Flax in 

 Belgium, introduced to the Council by Mr. Marshall, M. P. 



Communications on Flax culture were received from 

 Mr. J. Hill Dickson and Mr. Edward Oliver, and re- 

 served for consideration at a future meeting. 



The Council then adjourned to their monthly meeting 

 on Wednesday. 



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

 in Hanover-square, on Wednesday last, the 5th of March ; 

 present, his Grace the Duke of Richmond, K.G., Pre- 

 sident, in the Chair ; Lord Southampton, Lord Portman, 

 Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., M.P., Sir John V. B. John- 

 stone, Bart., M.P., Mr. T. Raymond Baker, Mr. Brand- 

 reth (Houghton House), Mr. Burke, Colonel Challoner, 

 Mr. Brandreth Gibhs, Mr. Grantham, Mr. Jonas, Mr. 

 Kinder, Mr. Marshall, M.P., Mr. Mil ward, Mr. Pen- 

 darves, M.P., Mr. San ford (Nynehead Court), Prof. 

 Sewell, Mr. Shaw (London), Mr. Villiers Shelley, Prof. 

 Simonds, Mr. D. Simpson, Mr. Stansfield, M.P., Prof. 

 Way, Mr. Jonas Webb, and Mr. Wilson (Stowlangtoft). 



John Villiers Shelley, Esq., of Maresfield Park, Sussex, 

 was elected a Governor of the Society. 



The following new members were elected : 



Savignon, Don Domingo, of Mexico 



Pieraon, James Alexander, TbeUujnd, Arbroath, Forfarshire 



Ho*jr, Frederick, 40, St. James's-streef, London 



Bridson, Henry, West Bank, Bolton le- Moors, Lancashire 



Sptncer, T. S., Hinckley, Leicestershire 



Eimsall. Mansfeldt de Cardonnel, Woodlands, Doncaster 



Hall, Alexander Hall, Watergate, Emsworth, Hampshire 



Hopkins, W. H., Fairmile. Henley-on-Thames 



Parish, Henry Headly, Chesham-street. Kelgrave-square. 



The names of nine candidates for election at the next 

 meeting were then read. 



FiNANCES._Mr. Raymond Hanker, Chairman of the 

 Finance Committee, laid before the Council the report 

 on the accounts of the Society to the end of the pre- 

 vious month ; from which it appeared, that the current 

 cash-balance in the hands of the bankers, at that time, 

 was 257 U. (including 74 M. received on the life-com- 

 position account). The Chairman then laid on the 

 table, for the information of the Council, the quarterly 

 statement of income and expenditure, funded property, 

 and liabilities. This report was adopted and confirmed. 



Essays. — Mr. Pusey, M.P., Chairman of the Journal 

 Committee, transmitted to the Council a report on the 

 essays sent in to compete for the prize offered by the 

 Society in that department, on the Farming of North- 

 amptonshire, the Diseases of Farm Horses from mis- 

 management, Diseases of Cows and Sheep after partu- 

 rition, the Production of Butter, Agricultural Chemistry, 

 and the Agricultural Geology of England and Wales. 

 Many of these essays were of an interesting character 

 and elaborate in their details. The whole were referred, 

 as usual, to the Journal Committee, for adjudication. 



Hampton Court Meeting. — Lord Portmax reported 

 to the Council the satisfactory progress of the General 

 Middlesex Committee in their consideration and carrying 

 out of the details referred to them by the Council, con- 

 nected with the preparations for the ensuing Country 

 Meeting of the Society, to be held in Uushy Park, in 

 July next. The last day for receiving entries for the 

 Society's Show of Live Stock, for breeding purposes, to 

 be held in that Royal Park, by Her Majesty's Gracious 

 permission, would be Saturday the 1 7th of May, next. 



Veterinary Grant. — On the motion of Lord Port- 

 man, seconded by Mr. Shaw, the sum of 200/. was voted 

 to the Royal Veterinary College, as a grant for one 

 year ; for the purpose of aiding that Institution to carry 

 out one of the original objects of the Society ; namely, 

 * The improvement of the veterinary art, as applied to 

 cattle, sheep, and pigs*** 



Trustee, — On the motion of Mr. Bra? 





]ate'T T mVd? e h»°? ie /" y had , with much uprise observed attempts 

 decry £ utiii?y. mtere8ted P arliea > *> impugn its motives and 



AowYhe* hULS^VS S 00 *** 011 8h °uld be made available to 

 right udod S5„V Ce u th08e as P er *io°8, to set agriculturists 

 *S>?«meKL? hm tbe J may have been led a "W and to 



Pl^itble bnt nn? 10I i °, n th0Se Wh ° m *y be carried awa >* b * 

 io ^^r^^ d statements to attach too much weight 



seconded by Mr. Villiers Shelley, Colonel Challoner was 

 unanimously elected one of the Trustees of the Society, 

 in the place of Sir Francis Lawley, Bart, deceased. 



On the motion of Mr. Raymond Barker, seconded 

 by Mr. Stansfield, M.P., Mr. Pendarves, M.P. was 

 elected to fill the vacancy in the general body of the 

 Council occasioned by the loss of Sir Francis Lawley. 



The Council then adjourned to their weekly meeting, 

 on Wednesday next, the 12th of March. 





Thofume anticipations may be realised. 

 ; i aat a notice should be taken of a few of the most im- 



wnich erroneous information has recently 



sen 

 7 



Portant points "on 

 **n conveyed. 



Eniiln at rfu ! m * mb «rs of the Royal Agricultural Societv of 



beaded ^ bo Wrongly recorn- 



aed to adopt, m the first place, the most approved method 



Calendar of Operations. 



MARCH. 

 Central Yorkshire : Kirk Deighton, March 1.— The farming 

 operations in January and February differ so little, that we 

 hive combined the two together in one report. Since the com- 

 mencement of the new year we have had no pretensions to 

 winter ; although tie fall of rain has been considerable, still it 

 cannot be called great for the season; the temperature has been 

 mild, and we have scarcely had a frosty night or seen a flake 

 of snow since 1830 bid us adieu. On good land the Grass is 

 beginning to freshen. Wheat also, on dry light lands, is look- 

 ing well, but not what may be termed winter-proud. With us 

 spring sowing h<ts not yet commenced, but owing to the open 

 weather we have a considerable quantity of land ploughed and 

 in readiness for operation at the proper season. On account of 

 the rain before ppok*>n of, the cattle have played havoc with the 

 8raw in the yards, consequently the thre&hing-machine has not 

 been idle, but has yielded a continual supply of Wheat and 

 Barley straw, which the humidity has rapidly decomposed. 

 The markets for ali kinds of grain have been very depressed 

 throughout the season, prima samples of red Wheat selling at 

 4*. <k*. per bushel, and Barley as low as 26i. per qr. for good 



malting qualities. Our sheep have, up to .the present tune 

 continued to feed off the white Turnips, with an allowance of 

 half a pound of Linseed cike per head per diem. With this 

 ourhogi are in a very forward condition, and are only waiting 

 for the season to take off their wool, when they Bill be quit© 

 fit for the butcher, at weights up to 20 lbs. perqr. Throughout 

 the last month the mutton trade has bun be iter than during 

 any of the preceding winter months, choice weights in wool 

 having made Cd. per lb. Not so with the beef trade- it has 

 continued to fljg ever since the new year commenced. The 

 markets have been heavily supplied with beasts,aud the very best 

 rutters have barely made 5*. 6d. per stone of 14 lbs., while 

 inferior have scarcely reached 4*. 6d. The lean markets have 

 been glutted with animals of every quality, and at ruinously 

 low prices ; good animals are from 15 to 20 per cent, lower than 

 at the same time last rear. Our lambing season has not yet 

 commenced, nor do we expect it tor a fortnight ; the ewes are 

 still on white Turnips, where they will remain till they begin 

 to lamb ; at no period do we remember them looking so 

 healthy and full of condition. The pork and bacon trade was 

 never kno*n to be worse, and even at the extremely low price 

 of interior grain for feeding, porkers have beeu fed at a loss • 

 consequently we have done very little in that way, but hare' 

 •old our pitfs out as storers, the market for which has been 

 better than for fat ones. We have a dozen sows in the yards, 

 which will commence farrowing the next month, and from 

 which we expect a good stock for the stubbles and latter- 

 end porkers. We have begun to open our stores of Swede 

 Turnips tor the use of the cattle in the yards; they have a 

 good many rotten ones among them, not having kept so well 

 as in former years. We are just commencing planting early 

 Potatoes, and find the sets in good preservation ; although in 

 some kinds, Irish Cups especially, on opening the stores, we 

 find a little of the disease. The markets are rery steady. J. &. 



Notices to Correspondents. 



M Gbatten :" Mr. Lamb tells us the word means "stubble." 

 And •• Rowen" means " aftermath." What is the origin of 

 these words ? 



Poultry : Enquirer. The circumstance of having fi? e toea is 

 not decisive against the purity of a cock claiming to be of the 

 0<>chin China breed. One w.»uld hardly decide against a hen 

 whose eggs differed from those usually laid by her breed 

 from that circumstance^alone ; still we should not select 

 such eggs for hatching." The early laying of pullets of 

 different breeds can only be fairly compared by running birds 

 against each other that were all hatched on the same day, 

 and treated exactly alike during their growth. 



Salt and Soot: J L. They may each be good, and there. 

 fore it is pr<»b tb'e that they will both be good. But we do 

 not know of any good to be realised by mixing them. The 

 sum of their effects separately will be equal to the amount of 

 effect produced by them in mixture ; 2 cwt. of salt, and 30 

 bushels of soot, may be a good dressing per acre. Apply 

 broadcast in wet weather, after the young plant has appeared. 



Small Farms : E T* u M. S." will refer to your case again next 

 week. But he would wish to know what arc the restrictions 

 under which you labour. It is obviouhly impossible for us to 

 answer your question about Mr. Mechi publicly. He has 

 correspondence enough without any encouragement by us. 



Spanish Fowls: EE IT. The imported birds are something 

 curious, and perhaps valuable. Will you do us the favour to 

 write privately on the subject ! D. 



iflarfcrt*. 



COVENT GARDE?, March 8. 

 Black Grapes have not altered since our last report ; but 

 white ones are a trifle dearer. Pine-apples fetch good prices, 

 and the supply of good dessert Pears is limited. English Apples 

 are scarce. Oranges and Lemons are plentiful. Nuts remain 

 nearly the same as last week. A few forced Strawberries have- 

 made their appearance, but there is little demand for them. 

 Vegetables of all kinds are abuodant aod good. The trade for 

 French Bean- and Cucumbersis improving. Carrots and Turnips 

 are good in quality, and so are Potatoes. Lettuces and other 

 saladiog are sufficient for the demand. The best Mushrooms 

 fetch 16. 6d. per pottle. Cut Flowers consist of. Heaths, Pelargo- 

 niums, Camellias, Mignonette, Tulips, Double' Primroses, Cine- 

 rarias, Moss and Provins Rotes, and the different kinds of 

 spring bulbs. 



FRUIT. 



Pine-apples, per lb., 6s to 8s 

 Urapes, Portugal, p. lb ,8d to Is 

 Pears, per doz., 2s to 5s 



— per half sieve, 6s to 15s 

 Apples, dessert, per bushel, 6s 



to 10s 



— kitchen do., 5s to 8s 

 Lemons, per doz., Is to 2s 

 Almonds, per peck, 6s 



— sweet, perib., 2s to 3s 



Brussels Sprouts, p. hf. sieve, 



Is to Is Qd 

 Cabbages, per doz., 6d to Is 

 Greens, p. doz.bun.,ls6d to 2s6d 

 Cauliflowers, p. doz., Is 6d to 4s 

 Broccoli, p.doz.bundl. f 7s to 12s 

 Seakale, per punnet, 6d to 2s 

 Asparagus, per 100, 2s to 8s 

 Rhubarb, p. bundl., 6d to Is 6d 

 Potatoes, per ton, 60s to 100 



— per cwt., 3s to 6s 



— per bush. ,1s 6d to 3s 

 Turnips, p. doz. bundl., Is to 2s 

 Cucumbers, each, Is 6d to 4s 

 Radishes, per doz., Is to Is 6d 

 Celery, p. bundle, 6d to Is 6d 

 Carrots, per doz., 2s to 5s 

 Spinach, per sieve, Is to Is 6d 

 Onions, p. bunch, 3d to 4d 



— Spanish, p. doz., Is6d to 4s 

 Leeks, per doz., 9d to Is 



VEGETABLES. 



Oranges, per doz., 9d to 2s 

 ~ per 100, 6s to 10s 



— Seville, p. 100, 7s to 14s 



— — p. doz., Is to 2s 6d 

 Chestnuts, per peck, 2s to 5s 



— per luO, 9d to Is Od 

 Nuts, Barcelona, per bush, 20 



to tSe 



— Brazil, p, bsh., 12s to 14s 



Cots, per 100 lbs., 70s to 75s 



Shallots, per lb., 6dto8d 

 Garlic, per lb., 4d to 8d 

 Artichokes, Jerusalem, p. half 



sieve, Is to IsCd 

 Lettuce, Cab., p. score, 6d to 9d 



— Cos, per score, Is to ls6d 

 Endive, per score, Is to Is 6d 

 Small Salads, p. punn.,2d to 3d 

 Horse Radish, p.bundl.,ls to 4a 

 Red Beet, per doz., 6d to Is 

 Mushrooms, p. pot., 6d to9d 

 Sorrel, per hf. sieve, 6d to 9d 

 Fennel, per bunch, 2d to 3d 

 Savory, per bunch, 2d to 3d 

 Thyme, per bunch, 2d to 3d 

 Parsley, per doz. bun., 2s to -U 



— Hoots, p. bundl. 9d to Is 

 Marjoram, per bunch, 2d to 4 i 

 Mint, green, per bunch, 6d toUd 

 Watercress,p.l2bunch.,6dt<.ud 

 Corn Salad, p.h£aieve,lstolb6d 



POT ATOES.— Southwabk, March 3. 

 The Committee report that notwithstanding the cold weather 

 at the end of the past week, we have had no improvement in 

 price«, as the fresh arrivals have been more than equal to the 

 demand. The following are the prices :— York Regents, per ton, 

 70s. to 90s. ; Scotch do., 60s. to 70s. ; ditto Cups, 50s. to 70s. ; 

 Cambridgeshire and Lincoln Regents, 50s. to 75s. ; French 

 whites, 50s. to 60s. 



HAY.— -Per Load of 36 Trusses. 

 SMiTHriELD, March 6. 

 Prime Meadow Hay 75s to 80s Clover 



Inferior ditto .. 

 Rowen 

 New Hay 



• * • 



• • • 



• ■ * 



• •* 



• • • 



• > i 



ii* 



70stoS0s 



60 70 Second cut 63 70 



60 65 Straw 24 28 



— — J. COOPEB. 



The supply short, but quite sufficient for the demand. 



Cumbebxand Mabket, March 6. 



Prime Meadow Hay 75s to 80s I Inferior 65s to 72s 



Inferior ditto... 

 New Hay 



Old Clover 



# • • 



New Clover 

 Straw 



«* • 



• - • 



. r ■ 



*»f 



• • 4 



Fine Old Hay 

 Interior ditto 

 New Hay 



Old Clover 



• •• 



... 



*•* 



• t f> 



• . • 



• •• 



55 68 „ 



20 30 



78 84 | Joshua Bakeb. 



Whitechapel, March 6. 

 70s to 75s ! New Clover 



60 65 I Inferior ditto 63 



J4 27 



• • • 



... 



to— s 

 68 



Straw 



• • » 





• •• 



75 84 



