79° 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March i, 1882. 
placing the steep vats in chambers heated by steam 
pipes, the water being introduced into the vats at the 
required temperature, and tins maintained by heating 
the surrounding atmosphere of the chamber — in other 
words, simply by creating an artificial climate. This 
process has been very successful ; the fermentation is in 
full vigour in twenty-four hours after the commence- 
ment of the process, and continues n uf orinly for some 
days, when it gradually subsides as the ' operation ap- 
proaches completion. 
It may not be generally known that the artificial 
processes for separating the fibre from the woody matter 
of the stem have not hitherto proved successful. The 
use of chemicals has proved injurious to the quality of 
the fibre, and this has also been the result of both 
f?chenoh's and Watt's processes. The former introduce 
steam into the water and the vats ; the latter into close 
chambers in which the flax was placed. It is satisfactory 
to learn that the cultivation of flax has been attended 
with considerable success in Ulster, and it is quite cert- 
ain that the linen manufactured at Belfast has of late 
years been largely developed. In the Netherlands the 
principal centre of flax farming is the Island of Ijssel- 
monde, immediately opposite Rotterdam. The island 
itself has long since been flaxed out, but some of the 
inhabitants, who are known as flax farmers, either hire 
land for the purpose of growing the crop, or else buy 
the crop at harvest time ; the former plan is most popular, 
and from £8 to £11 an acre is paid for land ready for 
sowing, all further expenses being borne by the flax 
farmer. The crop in a good season is estimated at from 
£18 to £20 an acre. Nearly 50,000 tons are grown 
annually. 
The report of the judges on the Derby Prize Farm 
Competition, which we conclude to have been written 
by Mr. Clare Sewell Read, is a masterly production, and 
will bear comparison with even Mr. Little's very able 
and eloquent report of last year. The utility of these 
competitions is two-fold. The occupiers in the district 
are stimulated to increased exertions, and the brushing 
up does them good ; and the reading public have an 
opportunity of becoming acquainted with farm practice 
in different localities. Such papers as those which have 
recently appeared not only describe the particulars of 
each competitor's practice, but give a general account 
of the leading features and special characteristics of each 
district traversed, which is most interesting. Milk is 
the sustaining product ; corn and meat growing, though 
ever so well done, realises a miserable percentage, but 
those farmers who produce milk can show a solid profit 
that is highly satisfactory. As regards statistical facts, 
grass is increasing, corn land diminishing. There are 
now 11,000 head more horned stock than in 1871 ; 
but, alas ! 40,000 less sheep, attributable almost entirely 
to the ravages of disease. The milk trade is of com- 
paratively recent growth, but it has latterly made such 
progress that over-production is to be dreaded. The 
Midland Railway, which carried 1,000,000 gallons in 
1872, now convey four times as much, and it is thought 
that not half as much cheese is now made round Derby 
as formerly. With such excellent management as was 
found on the competing farms, there is no fear of damage 
to the land from milk sold ; but of 1 course there is I 
nlwa.vs the possibility of an equivalent not being returned, 
and then pastiues would speedily suffer. Decorticated 
cotton cake is generally given, and an outlay of from 
50s. to 60s. per acre in purchased food is not uncom- 
mon. The farmers are very attentive to their business ; 
hence one great secret of success. Rents are high, and 
in borne cases either outlay must be made or a re- 
duction given. The judges were much impressed with the 
energetic, enterprising, and successful management of 
the late Mr. Carrington, ./ho had laid down large areas 
of land to grass and dviii'.. ■■[, and at his om expense. 
Mr. CftHjagton IM 1 . <i 6 confidence, aad laid ; out 
|dl moaey without any :-;oourity whatever, further than 
the custom — not even having an agreement. The judges 
say: — 
Little did we dream, when we first inspected these 
farms, that a tenancy which had endured for centuries 
would be so sadly and suddenly terminated in a few 
days. There was no son old enough to carry on the 
work, and the dying man directed his executors to re- 
linquish all his farms. A large share of the tenant's 
capital must be left in the land, and the chief part of 
the tenant right must be left to the justice and gener- 
osity of the landlord. We trust that an amicable settle- 
ment may be arrived at, and that those splendid new 
pastures may not be ploughed up as the executors' last 
resource. 
The judges remark upon the terribly neglected con- 
dition of arterial drainage, which has greatly aggravated 
recent flood visitations, which, especially along the course 
of the Trent, has proved so disastrous. Shallow drain- 
age on clear soils at near intervals has proved more 
successful than deep drainage. This is now universal 
experience. 
The paper by W. H. Delano, C.E., on " Secondary 
or Narrow Gauge Railways for Agricultural Purposes," 
embracing a description of the Duke of Buckingham's 
line made in 1871, which appears to be very successful, 
will attract attention, inasmuch as the subject is one 
of considerable importance. As such roads are to be 
feeders for the line of railways, it seems very desirable 
that, whilst carrying special locomotives lighter than rail- 
way engines, the gauge should be the same, so that 
reloading would be avoided. In many parts of the country 
the sides of the highways have vacant space sufficient 
for a single line of rails. If such land could be utilized, 
one great cause of expense — viz., the cost of land — 
would be obviated. Mr. Delano describes various for- 
eign enterprises of this nature, nature of the concessions, 
regulations, &c. 
Dr. Vcelcker's report on " Further Experiments on 
the Comparative Value of Linseed Cake and a Mixture 
of Cotton Cake and Maize Meal for Fattening Bull- 
ocks," confirrns the experience of the previous season's 
work, viz., that the mixed food is the more economical. 
These facts should certainly lead to a modification of 
ordinary practice. In one case two lots of three beasts, 
the results were very remarkable. "In the cotton cake 
and maize meal lot the increase, amounting to 49, lb., 
was obtained at an expense of £10 9s. 8Jd. in pur- 
chased food, or at a cost in purchased food of 5£d. per 
pound increase in live weight ; whilst in the case of the 
three bullocks fed on oil cake, the increase of 40 lb. 
was obtaiued at a cost of £14 2s. 9fd. in purchased 
cake, or at the rate of 8|d. per pound." 
Messrs. Lawes, Gilbert and Warrington contribute a 
most valuable paper on rainfall and composition of 
drainage water, collected at Rothamsted, in which the 
injurious influence of wet seasons in washing nitrates 
from the soil is clearly proved. On this occasion at- 
tention is confined to the amount and composition of drain- 
age water from unmanured fallow land. We are pro- 
mised a further paper as to the influence of cropping 
on the loss of nitrates. 
CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN JAMAICA. 
The Government of Jamaica appear to be very d-sirous 
of encouraging the cultivation of cinchona, and they 
have made arrangements for the grant, under certain 
conditions, of a limited extent of land, at a nominal 
price, to any person who may be prepared to embark 
in the undertaking. Further particulars of the progress 
of cultivation hive been received since those already 
printed in this Journal (vol. xxix, 240, 455). The 
denioad for s eds and plants is saH to continue to 
increase largely, as the new industry brings into pro- 
ductiveness region 1 ' which in many cases were unsuiLed 
i'or coffee- or provisions, and which were a burden on 
