The Winter of 1885-86. 
441 
better utilise the resources on their own farms. In this way, I 
believe that the valuable experiences recorded in the preceding 
pages will be of great value to the country. No one can read 
the valuable reports of Mr. Henry Woods, Mr. Charles Randell, 
Mr. A. F. Parbury, or Mr. Beauchamp, without being struck with 
the admirable way in which these gentlemen successfully (and 
with only the use of ordinary intelligence) met a difficult time. 
Another lesson is the great value of silage, or that which is 
really its equivalent, brewers' grains. 
The value of shelter is another matter that deserves attention. 
That in many parts of England and Wales there is a good deal 
provided by the hedgerows and plantations is certain, but in 
many of the more exposed places additional shelter might be 
economically adopted. It must not be forgotten that proper 
shelter, provided once for all, means an economy in food in 
perpetuity. Where the animal is exposed to the winter's blast, 
food becomes merely fuel to maintain vital heat. It is an 
expensive way of using food, and on this ground alone — to say 
nothinff of the humane view of the matter — there is much to be 
urged on behalf of proper shelter. 
Turning to the question of corn crops, and that of autumn or 
spring cultivation, the season has not brought out many striking 
lessons. The Agricultu -al Returns for the year show that wheat 
has declined 7'8 per rent, since last year, and barley 0*7 per 
cent., while oats have increased 4 8 per cent. The decrease in 
wheat is about the same as between 1884 and 1885, but during 
that period barley showed an increase of 4*6 per cent. That 
part of the decline in wheat was due this year to the season is 
certain, but much of it was due to the lowness of prices in the 
market. The effect of the late seed-time in the spring was to 
check the sowing of barley, and to cause oats to be substituted. 
But for this fact the Returns would this year have shown a large 
increase in the area under barley, but its place is taken instead 
by oats. Between 1884 and 1885 this increased 0 9 per cent., but 
this season the increase is 4"8 per cent. These figures bear out 
the majority of the Returns, that but little change in cropping of 
white crops resulted from the winter weather of 1885-86. 
Autumn cultivation also is well spoken of by all correspon- 
dents. But here all depends on the season, and on the fitness 
of the land. Cultivation should be as early as the condition of 
the land and season will allow. 
During the spring, green catch-crops were everywhere late. 
Some pieces of cabbage, thousand-headed kale, and other such 
crops came on late, and were of great value. In no single case 
has a correspondent announced his intention of altering his crop- 
ping for other seasons because of the failure in this matter last 
VOL. XXII. — s. s. 2 a 
