130 
THE FIELD 
[Saturday, 
him for the second place, and after a pretty race it ended in 
a dead heat. Hall winning by four yards. Time, 12 seconds. 
Iu the final heat, Yorke, Denue, Hall, Lord E. Clinton, 
and Wharton ina., “ toed the scratch,” Yorke’s backers 
looking smiling, while Denue and Hall had considerably 
increased in favour. All got off well together after two or 
three false starts — Yorke first, Clinton second, and the rest 
lying well together. Denne and Hall gave Clinton^ the 
go-by" in succession, and drew near Yorke. Soon 
Denne collared Yorke, and set to work in determined style. 
Yorke was now obliged to look at the hack of his adversary, 
and Hall, putting on the spurt, succeeded in passing Yorke. 
Denne ran in a gallant winner by four yards, Hall second, 
and Y'orke third. Time, uncertain. 
REMARKS. 
It was quite evident, after the first heat, that if Yorke 
had had to contend against a “clipper,” his defeat would 
have been certain. His style of running is very cramped, 
vet the shortness of the distance was all in his favour. 
Denne runs fast, with a rush at the end, which makes lmn 
an ugly customer for any one — the distance was hardly long 
enough for him. Hall is by far the neatest of the lot— 
he runs remarkably strong. The other two have got the 
“ gifts of going,” particularly the “little creeper. 
ARCHERY. 
Sir,— I take your excellent paper in regularly, and think 
an article on Archery, giving an account of the usual distances 
shot by gentlemen and ladies, the size of the targets, and the 
proper method ofscoring, would bo acceptable to a great many 
of your readers. A great discrepancy exists on the last point 
among local Clubs, which is a pity, as it prevents any 
definite conclusion with regard to relative excellence of 
shooting. I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
February 4, 1854. H. R. G. 
[In reply to the above, we have to inform the writer, that 
the usual distances shot by gentlemen are 100 yards (six 
dozen arrows) ; 80 yards, (four dozen) ; and 60 yards (two 
dozen). This is called “ The York Round.” Ladies shoot 
four dozen at 60 yards, and two dozen at 50. The targets 
ought to be exactly four feet in diameter, equally divided as 
follows the centre gold, (a hit in which counts 9) ; the 
next circle red, 7 ; the next blue, formerly “ inner white,” 
a ; then black, 3 ; and the outer circle white, 1. Wo have 
forwarded to G. R. G. a specimen of the scoring cards used 
by most of the Leeds archers, aud other leading societies,— 
they aro very neat, and extremely simple. Our correspond- 
ent’ean be supplied with them from Mr. Calvert’s archery 
warehouse, Leeds.] 
SALMON. 
Sir, — Fltjmen is quite right in the doubts he expresses 
as to Mr. A. Keillor’s account of the process adopted by the 
salmon in depositing her ova. At all events, if the female 
salmon makes use of that poetical flourish of her tail which 
Mr. Keiller describes, to distribute her eggs, she does that 
in Scandinavia which a salmon was never 6een to do in this 
country. In fact her instinct is the very reverse: she 
burrows a trench, with the assistance of the male fish, and 
after depositing the spawn, she jeulously covers it up to 
defend it from being the prey of the trout and other fish 
which arc invariably in attendance to snatch it up ; and the 
uso of tho tail — if it were seen to bo used by Mr. Keiller — 
was to cover tho trench with gravel, not to disturb the 
spawn. Wherever you see a salmon “ ridd,” (or dyche as 
they call them in Wales)— there you are sure to find the 
spawn, unless a flood, or other casualty, has carried the 
whole of the gravel away. In tho course of last month I 
had occasion to dig up several of these beds in search of 
spawn to place in beds artificially prepared, and in every 
case the ova was found lying in vast quantities, at a depth of 
from ten to eighteen inches in the gravel, and instead of being 
distributed, was always in clusters like large bunches of 
grapes ; 60 that after digging sometimes the whole length of 
ridd without seeing an ovum, the spade would turn up from 
two to three thousand at once. 
Let me take this opportunity of giving direct contradiction 
to some who have affirmed lately, that of spawn deposited in 
the river, “ not one in a thousand failed to come to life, 
while those artificially procured and deposited, perish in 
great quantities.” Of the whole quantity of spawn procured 
from the bed of the river Dee last year, one-third were 
dead already, and from the depth at which the fish had 
buried them, I firmly believe very low would have ever 
vivified ; while out of 70,600 placed in our boxes since 
November last, only a few dead ova aro to be seen here und 
there, because we have not thought it worth while to remove 
them. I remain, sir, yours truly, Cochybyndee. 
Chester, 6th Feb., 1854. 
POULTRY. 
The annexed sketch of her Majesty’s poultry-house at 
the Home Farm will convey a bolter idea of that place than 
wc cun hope to give with the pen. We copy it from 
“ The Poultry Bonk,” edited by the Rev. W. Wingfield and 
C. W. Johnson, Esq. ; a very useful work, published by 
Messrs. Orr, of Paternoster-row, and illustrated by Mr. 
Harrison Weir. We heresubjoin part of Chapter III., which 
Is entitled the 
POULTRY HOUSE AND YARD. 
“ It is true that poultry may be profitably kept almost anywhere. 
We have beard of first-rate specimens of Shaughaea being roared 
in nn attic, and we have purchased very fine ones that never knew 
there was any world beyond a small back-yard in the street of a 
country town. These, however, are extreme cases; and such 
puceess could only be achieved by constant attention and great 
judgment in supplying artificially the requirements of tho birds 
wbich the place of confinement did not afford. 
‘•The beet of all soils on wbich to establish a poultry-yard, is 
gravel or 6and, resting on chalk or a substratum of gravel. If 
the soil is clavey, or from other causes retentive of wet, the whole 
should be well drained, and a good breadth of it raised artificially 
by carting on to it a foot depth of chalk or gravel, to be covered 
over with a few inches deep of sand. This is more than desirable, 
for wc consider it almost essential to success— stagnant wet in 
the soil beiDg more inducive of cramp and some other diseases 
than any other circumstance. 
“ The best of all aspects is south or south-east, and the side of 
a gently rising hill, if sheltered from the north, east, and south- 
west by plantations, leaves liltleto be desired on this point. Mr. 
.Sturgeon’s yards are so situated, and partly thus sheltered. If 
the birds can have access to those plantations and to a grass- 
field, and the soil is such as we have described, then, so far ns 
the grouod and situation are concerned, nothing to be desired 
remains. 
“ The houses and yards must be constructed nccording to the 
purposes of the proprietor. He wbo keeps the Shanghoe, a cock 
and three or four hens, merely for home supply, will require a 
very simple arrangement; but the proprietor who breeds for salo 
and profit, must have a more elaborate arrangement. 
“ Whichever plan may bo requisite, wo may observe that the 
cheapest and warmest materials of which to construct the houses 
Bre weather-boarding, lined with straw, with a slated roof 
similarly lined. The straw is smoothed as for thatching, placed 
between the upright posts to which the weather-boarding is 
nailed, and botween the rafters under the slates, and retained in 
its proper position by laths nailed over it and to the Bame posts 
and rafters. The neatness is increased by a layer of reeds in 
front of tho straw. YVe have houses constructed in this way, and 
find them unexceptionable. They hove brick foundations, and 
lmve raised floors of chalk rammed hard and covered over with 
sand. 
“ From the variable character of our English climate, it is 
eviJent ony one rule for the precautions to be taken against our 
poultry suffering from insufficient housing would ho open to 
many exceptions. Where bonrding is employed for the sides, tho 
straw lining, or, what would be still better, one made from the 
marsh reeds, so durable for thatching, is unnecessary in tho 
milder parts of England ; and thus we avoid the hazard of 
affording a shelter to rats, or smaller but not less obnoxious 
vermin, who covet such a retreat beyond any other locality. 
Wherever, therefore, these are found requisite in winter, we 
would suggest their being made in panels, so as to be removed 
at pleasure ; and for the roof a rough ceiling of lath and plaster 
would huve many advantages, especially ns affording easy access 
to tho lime brusli, nn operation that should never bo negleoted 
four or five times at least in the course of the year. Those who 
have insisted on this cleansing process know well how amply the 
trouble is repaid, by the increased comfort and consequent health 
of their stock. These screens, if permanent, provide for too com- 
fortablo an abode for mice, even where doors nnd walls are proof 
against the rats. Brickwork should certainly have tho prefer- 
ence for walls. 
AGRICULTURAL TALK. 
YVe cannot find a more striking illustration of the me- 
chanical advance of agriculture than in the symbolic devices 
which adorn tho cover of the Journal of the Highland 
Society. Thero we see figures using the flail, the “ sickle,” 
ploughing, and sowing broadcast; the reaper and the 
thresher. The plough is as much in use as ever, perhaps 
more, but the sicklo has been aided, if not superseded, by 
the horse-driven reaper. Tho drill has rendered of little use 
the skill of the broadcaster and the flail is being so rapidly 
replaced by tho threshing-machine, that a few years will 
render it a curiosity. 
Tho Highland Journal for January contains two papers 
which throw a light on the history of Bell’s reaping machine 
and show how many inventions are lost. The Rev. P. Bell 
gives an autobiographical sketch of his invention, of a very 
interesting nature. 
While a student for the Scotch National Church, helping 
his futher in the harvest during vacation, his attention was 
directed to saving the hand labour of reaping, not having, 
at that time, studied practical mechanics ; although he had 
seen a print of Smith of Deanston’s reaping-machine. 
In 1827 he constructed a model, in which lie imitated the 
movement of a pair of garden-shears. He then caused the 
machine to be constructed of full size piecemeal, so that the 
blacksmith, who copied the wooden patterns, could have no 
idea of what was intended. These pieces he fitted together 
himself with infinite pains and trouble. His first trial was 
made in an outhouse. “ On a quiet day, when few people 
were about, an eaves-dropper might have seen mo stealthily 
engaged in conveying earth in a wheelbarrow into the work- 
shop. When the floor was covered 6ix inches deep with 
mould, well trodden down, I went to a stack in the barn- 
yard, nnd drawing a sheaf of outs out of it, planted it, stalk 
by stalk, at about the 6ame thickness at which it would have 
grown in tho field. This done, I shut and barred the door, 
and then, going behind the machine, pushed it forward with 
all my might through my planted oats. As soon as I re- 
covered my breath, I oxamiued my work and found that it 
had ull been well cut, but was lying higgledy-piggledy, in 
such a mess as would have utterly disgraced me in the 
harvest-field.” 
Determined to make the machine complete, he 6et to work 
again, and finally completed the apparatus, by which the 
corn was laid iu swathes — then came atrial in the open field. 
“ Before the corn was completely ripe, about 11 o’clock 
at night, when every man, woman, and child wore in their 
beds, the machine was quietly taken by myself and brother 
from the workshop, yoked to the good horse Jock, and 
dragged to a field of standing wheat. Talking in whispers, 
we reached our destination, and the machine was put in 
position at the end of a ridge. My duty was to look ahead, 
my brother’s to guide the horse. The implement had not 
proceeded above five or aix yards, when 1 called on iny 
brother to stop. Tho wheat was cut, but lying in a heap 
before the muchine. For a moment we were both down- 
cast ; but recollecting that tho reel, or collector, had been 
left behind, I ran across tho field, brought it upon my 
shoulders, adjusted it, and we were soon reudy for auother 
start. The machine moved forward, aud now all was right. 
The wheat was lying by the side of the machine as prettily 
as any that has over been cut by it since.” 
Mr. Bell, being anxious that the public should have tho 
full benefit of his invention, refused to patent it, although 
the late Lord Panmure offered to pay the costs ; and to the 
room thus left for tho construction of imperfect machines 
Mr. Bell attributes the delay in proving the advantages of 
his machine. 
An account, with plates, of Bell’s Reaper, appeared in 
Lo 'don’s “Encyclopaedia of Agriculture,” in 1830, and 
from this description some of the American reaping 
machines were constructed. For other details and sugges- 
tions we must refer our readers to the original paper ; but 
turning further on in the same journal, to a paper on 
“ Machine Reaping,” by James Hunter, of Thurston, wo 
fiud ample reason for the undeserved neglect into which 
many excellent agricultural inventions have temporarily 
fallen. Mr. Hunter purchased one of the earliest Bell’s 
reapers manufactured by Mr. Crosskill, and only succeedo 
in making it work by his determination not to be beut' 
aided by his own mechanical talents. First, the clutch was 
broken and had to be mended ; then the web was torn; 
then the new web, not being waterproof, shrunk, and tore 
all the wires from the pitch chains ; then the driving shaft 
was broken by a plunging horse ; then the cutters, being 
too weak in the neck, continually twisted, aud bent, and 
ciioked. Finally, having obtained a new set of cutters, of a 
stronger description, with the ayl of Mr. Crosskill’s super- 
intendence to fit them in, Mr. Hunter succeeded in making 
the machine work perfectly well. 
He considers the machine, in good order, would cut an 
acre per hour, at a cost of about is. G d. per acre, exclusive 
of cost of labour for binding. 
The waste was less thau in hand-cut ground, and tho 
stacks wore easier built, in consequence of the sheaves being 
more square and solid in the bottoms. The horses used in 
the machine were fed on grass. Mr. Hunter found difficulty 
in inducing the men to let their horses go slow enough. 
Seven pair of horses were used, and all worked well except 
one pair. The fields were not properly rolled and cleared 
of stones, and were ploughed in furrows, much too wide and 
deep for machine- work. The pole was too short for sorao 
of the horses, and so was the steering handle. Mr. Hunter 
well observes, “ If it had not been that I had a man in my 
employment who had been brought up to engineer’s work, 
and was well acquainted with machinery of all kinds, the 
machine must have been thrown aside. Now I am so well 
satisfied with the machine, that I intend to have a machine 
ready for next harvest, and expect that there will be acres 
it will not cut, although mine is a very hilly farm.” 
Threshing-Machines have just the same difficulties to 
encounter in flail counties A friend of ours bought a 
threshing-machine from u neighbour who had cast it aside 
as useless — altered it and made it work well — no sooner was 
it at work than a stone, maliciously thrown [into it by an 
ignorant labourer, broke it. He repaired it, and soon tho 
same accident occurred again— he then set to work and so 
improved the machine, that a hammer and a deal board and 
a live sucking-pig were successively thrown in, and passed 
out without injury to the machine or pig. Had our friend 
had less pluck and mechanical skill he would still be at the 
mercy of the flail. 
Churns, again, have given rise to innumerable inventions, 
yet one of the best has been lying dormant for half a century, 
used by a few farmers, but unknown to the great butter- 
making public. This is the “ cradle churn,” re-invented by 
Dr. Farren, of Dungarvan, county of YVexford, Ireland, 
and exhibited at the Dublin Exhibition, which is now coming 
! rapidly into use in the Bouth of Ireland, capable of producing 
75 lbs. of butter in 30 minutes, and constructed at a cost ot 
21., while a child may work it. A churn different in detail, 
but precisely on the same principle, was invented by tho 
celebrated William Horrocks, the inventor of the Power- 
loom, who was led to the subject by observing the very com- 
plete agitation of a liquid, placed in a long bottle, moved 
from end to end by making the bottle oscdlate, in the 
centre of its length while held horizontally, the bottle being 
about half full. A farmer, in Cheshire, who had one made, 
could sit and chum the butter of a large dairy with his foot, 
while smokinn his pipe and reading his newspaper. Mr. 
N. Astley, of Stockport, used this machine for fifteen years; 
but its value was forgotten, like that of many other agricul- 
tural inventions made before the age of printing, aud dis- 
cussing such subjects in a popular manner. YVe shall return 
to this subject, and give more detailed descriptions and dia- 
grams of churns. 
While on the subject of inventions, a correspondent in- 
quires the best mode of obtaining or making collars for 
drain pipes. In several districts, whore draining is going 
on with great activity, there are no collars to be had ; and 
those who make the pipes do not know how to make the 
collars. 
Beet-Root Wine.— A number of beet-root sugar raanj*- 
facturors in France have been turning their attention to tho 
manufacture of spirits from that root. It appears that a 
very good champagne wine is made from beet-root. 
