THE 



Ar.PTP.TTLTURAL GAZETTE 



weeds 



oonn 



effect of keeping it dry, and the 



from the 



«t~w 'breaks the fall when the birds jump 

 £S S in the case of Cochin China poul try,shoukl 

 t or from their great weight they are hkelv ^the 

 to break the leg or strain the smews ; a hen ladder is 

 £n«ally recommended, but I never could make my 

 o r"Stse it in descending, and therefore use the st a», 

 which can be shaken for some days, and the refuse 



gives off 



lg a 



moved ; it afterwards makes capital manure The jatei 



should be given fresh every day, and during moultu 



few rusty nails or pieces of iron are very advantageous 



£ they strengthen the bird, and enable it to shoot the 



Others with greater ease. The food I give mine « 



as follows : eood sound Barley and Wheat, as mucu as 



Key can eat? once a day ; after that I give them steamed 



lelian Carrots, broken up, with Barley-meal ; and 



w£ these cann'ot be obtained, Barley-mea or toppings 



Grass or other green food is indispensable ; I also give 



mTbirds a full meal of boiled rice every o her day, 



Si about twice a week bullock's liver cut. into % dice. 



some 'analogy to that of Laybach, that. I gjJJ^jg 

 to address you. If it proves hardy in Bntah Noith 

 America, the inhabitants will have good cause to bless 

 the Great E xhibition. The specimen of Mai ze deposited 

 on the same table as the winter Flax, also from Lay- 



baciirmay pwe" valuable to these colonies— ttiose dis- 

 trict at W which border the zone at winch tha valu- 

 able plant is cultivated. I pointed out these seeds to Mr 

 Tuckerman, of the United States agency ; he gave me 

 his hearty thanks, and resolved that both experiments 

 should be 7 tried. When in London I knew not how to 

 brin- the matter before those parties who are, or ought 

 to be, more particularly interested ; bu now I res 

 assured that it will receive that attention from you 

 Xh it deserves. Archibald Hepburn. [The sample 

 is not distinguished by its appearance from common 

 Flax, and its character is probably a habit, derived, like 



present 

 ing. If 

 112 crop 



back again 

 said. 



quantity of ammonia and absorbs none and if it r ? 

 it parts with none. If you spread manure on vonrZ^? 

 they say, aud let it lie, it will soon all be JLZ ^K 



air . Ye," I «H.«ft-^.«1ft J^"* * 



first shower ot rain that came would hrinv, J T ** 



» "Yes, but let every one toJS ^ *} 

 Now, according to them, I have put my emnfi 

 to a great deal of needless expence; for. weeds » 

 weeds, I have always used hoes made on m Jl * 

 well cultivate the ground between crops; if I havebJ! 

 wrong, I should be thankful if you, sir, would p ut iJ 

 right by your opinion in the Gazette. J. If r? 

 agree with you, and should take your side of the iL! 

 ment with your friends.] ™* 



Potatoes on the East Coast of Kent. - 



I have 



fifty 



abort 



or.li.iarv manner; after that time, Barley-meal # mixed 

 hard, with water, is very good food, with boiled rice and 



Should chickens, whether young or old, seem 



Wheat. 



(according to practical men), which has hitherto been 

 considered to exhaust the soil more than any other, a 



,Ti.™v -»- — r — ~7 ----- . - - Qffo „ f i Al i ; m i s fake originating in ignorance of the system required 



at any time ailing, they should be immediately . att ~ ^ E * i and pays somewhere about 



to ; (a never does the old adage, < a stitch mjmc aves j » i cu ]^^ QQ l ntrl J/ or a material we can, 

 nine" become more necessary than in the case o |gw^ ^^ „ vmv Selves! When Wheat 



poultry. They should have, first, some sulphur and 

 cayenne pepper, mixed with Barley-meal, given them. 



the following mixture, in the same medium, nig] 



■ht 



with a little trouble, grow ourselves. 



was 605. a quarter we could afford to purchase Flax ; 



but now grain is reduced to about half, agriculturists 



and afterwards, for a Wl-pown bird, a { **V^J« ^Hurn iheir attention to something more profitable. 



There may be some difficulty in inducing men to change 

 am^/cummin seeds, linseeds, and cayenne pepper, their crops ; however, a few experiments will soon 



morning : 



vssi.-^sr.* ™ :•=*• I «» -*■» siff^sssssfts 



all in powder, mixed in the proportion of equal parts, 

 except the last, of which there should only be half used. 

 It is necessary, however, that the powder be all what is 

 called true— compound powders being frequently used, 

 as the public have a great inclination for cheap drugs, 

 and are consequently supplied therewith, and are dis- 

 appointed when they find them inefficacious. The above 



recipe I had given me by a lady who had lost a large * . w j * 



number of chickens previous to its use ; but since its 'be sown, broadcast or drilled? 



r - - - - ' treatment does it require when growing 1 



has been very successful. Many persons 



in this neighbourhood have lost a large number of 

 chickens this season ; but wherever they have used the 

 above they have been free from disease, and it is not a bad 

 plan to give a little once or twice a month, to keep the 

 birds in health. I have hatched a considerable number 

 of Cochin China chicks thii season ; and by giving the 

 above mixture occasionally, I have not lost one, and 



prove the wisdom of following the example of farmers 

 in the north of Ireland. It will be necessary to esta- 

 blish mills for preparing the Flax for the manufacturers, 

 so as to be within reach of the farmers, as the value of 

 the crop depends upon having the means of dressing 

 the fibre in the quickest and best manner. When is 

 the best time for sowing Flax ? [Mid- April] What 

 soil suits it best? [Adhesive loam.] How should it 



[Broadcast.] What 



[Weeds 



must be pulled.] Is there any cheap publication for 

 distribution, giving [a plain account of the manner of 



" [Many have been reviewed in this 



cultivating Flax ? 



journal.] Falcon. 



Draining.— -The subject of draining is one of very 

 great importance to the farmer, and must not be passed 

 over hastily or capriciously- because some individuals 



have maintained my stud in capital health, 

 seen several notices in your Paper lately, of white 

 Cochin China poultry ; surely these must be some other 

 breed, as I have seen a great many of the birds, and the 

 colour has invariably been either a dark bay, cinnamon, 

 or partridge colour ; for myself I prefer the bay and 

 cinnamon, with very full pluffy thighs, and feather- 

 legged. Henry Copland, Chelmsford. 



Prices and Yield of Wheat in South Hants. — The 

 Wheat crop of this year has proved as I mentioned to 



P.S. I have take a different view of the subject from others. I have 



uud the Isle of Thanet, where scarcelyt 

 imhuu »T«.o v^ be seen but what was dying premature/* 

 and wherever they were digging for market, one two 

 and sometimes three tubers were diseased. I told all of 

 them to dig them all up, that as soon as the wet weather 

 set in half and more would go bad, but the only reply I had 

 was, " Did I think so." The Potato growers in the Isle 

 of Thannet this year have escaped entirely through the 

 dry weather; having had no rain for five weeks up to 

 about September 25th. If the Isle of Thanet grower* 

 cannot escape with such famous soil, fine salt air, vA 

 altogether a fine southern clime, what can be expected 

 from a north and less favoured counties \ If a Potato 

 is worth growing at all, they must pay as much attea- 

 tion to it as any other crops — that is, at getting up time, 

 select their sets, and green them properly. The 

 meaning of greening is that the tuber imbibes certain 

 gases by light and air; and when put into the ground to 

 grow, the stem grows much more woody than after a 

 blanched tuber, and especially after white, covered np, 

 closed up Potatoes, strawed and moulded all the winter ; 

 they are altogether changed in their system by being 

 greened (see my pamphlet), and 1 have proved that a 

 hundred times. This year, when I was planting out a 

 piece of late kidneys wintered upon my plan, in Feb- 

 ruary, I sent for a peck of the Ash-leaved Kidneys, the 

 shoots of which had been rubbed off, and the skin white; 

 the row was planted in the middle of the piece, to givs 

 them every chance ; they did not come up for a mouth 

 after the others, some did not come up at ail, but formed 

 small insipid tubers without a stem, the otea 

 mostly were strong, the shoots very succulent 

 i^ TWa^o S were all dug up on the 9th ol Augn^ 



The row of Ash-leaves were also dug np 

 • but one row of the others would hare 



1 read the letters of Mr. James" Donald and Mr. Gill in 

 your Paper of the 27th of Sept. and 4th of Oct., and I 

 cannot but think that Mr. Donald jumps a great deal 

 too fast in drawing his conclusions. I will not go into 

 the subject with these gentlemen now, because I hope 

 to see (something further from the Rev. Mr. Wilkins ; 

 for that gentleman's letter on the subject, which pre- 

 ceded those of Mr. Donald and Mr. Gill, certainly 

 appears to require something further in elucidation of 



quite ripe, 

 nearly 



equalled three of the Ash4eaves, had there eente 

 This experiment was seen hy the Okrmuk re^r 

 and hundreds of other persons. But I am. jbj ■* «g 

 that I found the market, gardeners and g^™ m 

 I spoke to in the Isle of Thanet were no rjjjl 

 examined two garden allotments one a ! R*JJ 

 East Cliff, the other at Minster ; *"J JjJ 

 seemed greedy for information, if they codj get * 

 TZL th g em a" present of a Potato paniphlet^J t 



\\ neat crop oi tms year nas provea as i mentioned to appeals wj i^mic aumcimug iuxivucj. ^* ^uv,.^^.* ^ A ma.^ «»*,« « r -- ^ 



be, about an average one, and there is much « tailing" his views ; and if they will have the patience to wait I promised to lend it amongst e» ^ 



Wheat— about 3 bushels to every 10 or J 1 sacks. Last 

 year half a bushel to 10 sacks of best Wheat was 

 about the average. Prices have fallen from 10Z. to 111. 

 er 5 quarters, to 81. 10s. to 91. for the new Wheats. 





he prices given depend not so much upon the London 

 market value, but what the grower can be prevailed 

 upon to sell it at — a poor farmer will sell his load of 

 Wheat for a pound sterling less than the market value 

 for ready money. Disputes as to weight ought at once 

 to be put an end to, by a rule to sell by weight rather 

 than by measure. This would obviate much unpleasant 

 feeling between both parties. We find 20 sheaves or 

 thereabouts will yield one bushel of Wheat ; 15 sheaves 

 are the average. One farm produced 1000 sheaves an 

 acre ; at 20 sheaves to a bushel, this would yield 12.} 

 sacks per acre. But 14 and 16 sacks per acre have 



The average quantity of 

 eaves per acre is 400 to 600, according to the 

 nature of the soil — and no less also to the variety of 

 Wheat sown, suited to a particular soil ; in this there is 

 a result, vastly important to farmers, and requires par- 

 ticular attention. It makes a difference of actual rent 

 —no slight matter just now. The Wheat crop is not 

 so good in yield as last year ; though the weight per 

 bushel is greater, the corns are smaller. X. T. Z. 

 Hants. . ... ' '* 



% Deen grown some seasons 

 sli 





th 



Flax— Perm 



Catalogue 



following information derived from a member of the 

 Austrian agency in the Exhibition. « The seed is sown 

 in October ; shortly aft 



have no doubt Mr. Wilkins will favour us with an 

 explanatory statement. I feel very confident that Mr. 

 Wilkins will be able to make his ground good ; for he is 

 not a likely person to have entered on the subject, had 

 he not have been thoroughly satisfied with the correct- 

 ness of his views ; and the readers of your Paper well 

 know that he has not only the ability and power to 

 combat any false reasoning, but that when jthe gage 

 is once thrown down, he has always the courage to take 



it up. W. W. /., Branthan, Oct. 6. 



Temperance. — In a late Number of your Paper " E. F.," 

 of the Phoenix Park, Dublin, made some excellent 

 remarks on the propensity of the labouring classes to 

 drink beer. He therein expressed a wish to have 

 medical authority on the subject. If medical testimony 

 will settle the point, it ought to be settled at once ; as 

 there is a testimony signed by nearly 2000 of the most 

 eminent of the medical profession throughout] the United 

 Kingdom, testifying that wine, beer, cyder, and intoxi- 

 cating liquors of every description, are injurious to a 

 healthy person. If your correspondent has any doubts 

 on the subject, he may send three postage stamps to the 

 office of the Scottish Temperance League, HO, St. Enoch- 

 square, Glasgow, and I am sure they will furnish him 

 with a copy. A. K. Q.> Oct. 8. 



Cultivation of Beans. — A neighbour of mine, a farmer, 

 last spring had a piece of land that was sown with Beans, 

 and missed; he asked me if 4 thought they would do any 

 good if he should sow more. 1 said " Yes ;" he dibbled 

 some more in, and when he was having them cut he asked 

 to come and see them. Thev came un verv thin, and 



the cliff is a hungry worn-out _ soil, and ven 

 exposed to all weathers ; this is _ let ^^^ 

 inffi one, a first-rate soil and s»n ^ ^ 

 But I am certain that the tailors, shoe ™ th ; vtfB 

 sailors, will beat the Minster ones, because ^ 

 more eager for information But, as 1 1 t < t 



more to say upon garden «d^*££S I*« * 

 present, and to those ^ have allotnjn 



much obliged if they forward to 



than properly managed alletments.^ 



order to see if something . loKntirin <, 

 for nothing would improve the labournia 



classes 



James 



G0i 



Camberwellj Oct. 1. 



to trouble J* 



Draining Companies.-! am son* c ^ 



ain, but in printing the arte le on u ^ 

 • i * :~ « i„#« ivr.imhpr. 500 acres are su 



again 



panies," in 

 100 acres 



»xpec* 



named (or intended & t0 * e ' t h " ji ie « Geo^ *£ 



for draining ^bc^^^^o^ 

 Drain aire Company." 1 will omy f nr cofl*^! 



Drainage Company 



bser ve** 



as specified in Mr. blieiiey a u» lliibl ^J . w» 

 my last, it will make the sui 



on 572*. 1 0s., when BOOtisbf _ 



at 61 per cent, will Mtl&ySSs ,78 ' 



specified in Mr. on^j - -~- b pal a : . 



my last, it will make the sum total , t % nd \heliq'»** 



which gives at the exp 

 think before the money is a 



«• ss 



in October ; shortly after the seed leaves appear the 

 snows of winter securely cover it till the following 



>stra< 



A I 



obtain f^ 

 he tfiU ** 



selves, ac page » •*/ *•*, i- m ;ted sum, ug "" 



between them and the as will fix the expense to a in™ Septt 30. ^ 



. u , . - -^-a,— — . The Beans were very supe- ' *'*' A 7Wmi * fo1 UJl - ^ 



spring, wiien the plants grow with great rapidity, and rior both in quality and quantity on the thin sown ones, 

 are nt tor milting in Mav or *jwiv in T««« rvuz»\ A« rt *n^^ ^^^^^ ;^; MA ^ «*^ .hA< »• be^an to tilk about 



others which were thick. 



early 



variety is also cultivated in Bohemia and Moravia. 



This 



1 



Trieste to procure me 



some of the seed, and 1 hope to be able to report on its 

 growth on my own farm and others in this county (East 

 Lothian), and in other parts of Scotland ; the want of a 

 Covering of snow will, I fear, prove fatal to the plant ; 

 tat if the trial is favourable, it will give a „ i mpe \ us ^ 



growth 



ttstamental to the profitable cultivation of really 

 * Max, wen on well farmed land, are seldom mimi, 



the cultivation ot -Beans ; they seemed to agree rather 

 with me in thin seeding, but when I said I thought they 

 would grow more Beans and better quality with plant- 

 ing them far enough apart to use the horse-hoe betwixt 

 them, they both turned against me, saying it would be an 

 extravagant waste of ground; I said no, not so much so 

 as they seemed to think; they should consider the benefit 

 constant stirring the soil would be— I thought it would 

 I be almost as good as a fallow for the next crop ; but 

 injurious to | they contended that stirring the ground was useless, 



v «n sav WltU C0U . n; „ nS (> 



October, you com 



, m 



tics, and say that no .one .on ^ 'JJ£ in il»if l(D ^ 



we grow twelve millions" 1 *■■- - , ong . 

 ters of Wheat annually, lhis has _. na<)i& 



y* 





j .a bepio |,lD * °. lg* 

 of astonishment to me ; and, as j -^ ol # 



turned by the cdiawhwardens an ^ ^^ 



office appomtfa \ :mahi 



Even u ^ ^ 



parish 



t\to» 



"IV 





