140 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 14 1£84. 
appeared, and in that sfate we found it, for the Cocksfoot Gra^s left 
was not thick enough to furnish a good turf, although some Dutch 
Clover still remained ; yet the food for dairy cows had been abundant 
throughout the year. Immediately we saw the field we felt how 
correct the experiments and recommendation of Mr. Faunce De 
Laune had been, and that they were sound and safe to be acted upon, 
because all other grasses which had been sown had failed in contri¬ 
buting to permanency of the pasture, although they had yielded a fair 
produce for the first two years. The mistake has occurred in this 
way, for the farmers were informed that the varieties of Rye Gr ass 
were necessary to furnish the bulk of the produce for the first two or 
three years, during which time the permanent varieties would be 
gaining strength, and eventually outgrow everything else, and form 
a thick pasture of the best kind. But we can now see how, with 
others, we have been misled ; for although some sorts of grasses were 
much cheaper per pound than the best varieties of permanent grasses, 
yet it is clear that farmers almost to a man were, until Mr. Faunce De 
Laune opened their eyes upon the subject, completely deceived. The 
seedsmen supplied such seeds as the farmers were satisfied with, and 
thus the fallacy became popular without disadvantage to the seeds¬ 
men until recent events occurred. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—This will continue so a3 long as the weather is so 
stormy and changeable, but we have never known a finer time for sow¬ 
ing late Wheat than has prevailed since Christmas, for although the 
weather until the last week in January was mild and foggy without 
much rain, it was very suitable for Wheat-sowing in all cases where the 
land was ploughed and sown simultaneously. When the seed can be 
properly buried or covered by the action of the harrows the land cannot 
be considered too heavy ; for in the succeeding months, if the weather 
proves either frosty or ever so dry, the Wheat plant will always do well 
when the soil is heavy and close without being drenched by heavy rains 
at the seed time. Spring Beans, too, may have, and no doubt have been 
drilled on some soils during the month of January. Even now while we 
write (Feb. 4th) we notice fields of London clay, and the land ploughed 
in small ridges for Wheat, such as the late Mr. Mechi used to call it, 
“ dressed in corduroy.” Although we have had heavy rains, yet the 
intervals of strong drying winds have prevented water showing in the 
land furrows where finished-off in a husband-like manner, and in nearly 
every instance the Wheat plant is regular, whether sown in October, 
November, or December ; in fact, much that was sown in October, it is 
said, looks too strong, but to our mind that will only be proved by the 
spring and the summer, for if we have an early harvest the Wheat will 
do well and go on without any serious check. Chalk-carting will still 
be going on, also carting manure from the towns where farms are near. 
We know in some cases where the moss litter is used for cab, omnibus, or 
tramcar horses, the manure is removed by contract, the farmers giving 
so much per ton or load. Now this manure is very valuable, for the 
moss-litter manure is composed of humus saturated with urine and mixed 
with the excrement, making combined a first-class manure for light soils, 
either as arable or pasture. How many farmers having peat on their 
farms may go and do likewise 1 But do they 1 It is too true that they 
do not provide peat in a dried state for this, although they may do it so 
easily in many cases with great advantage, it is lost sight of. This is 
especially important in pasture districts where straw is always scarce, 
but peat is more or less available as a substitute. Carting earth to store 
heap, also taking off earth at the sides of local or farm roads, may now 
be done, and such earth is very valuable for the making of compost, 
seeing that its accumulation has been drift from the roads. If we should 
obtain frost enough to bear the horses and carts without tracking, the 
various compost manures may be laid out on pasture or park lands 
without injury. 
Hand Labour .—In the enclosed woodland districts men will now be 
employed in cutting and converting underwood into bundles for various 
purposes, such as hoops, hop poles, and sparwood. In fact, planting is 
worth the attention of the home farmer, for we find in various instances 
much poor land has fallen into hand upon some estates, which although 
cultivated when rents were high and prices of produce fair and reason¬ 
able, is now in these times of agricultural depression such land pays best 
and proves most beneficial when planted with Larch Fir as thick as 
Cabbages, where they can be sold well as hop poles at the age of about 
twelve years. If no demand exists for hop poles, ordinary underwood of 
the best varieties may be planted for conversion as above named. If 
not, some soils unproductive in their waste, although not of sufficient 
value for corn-production, may be laid into grass in accordance with the 
plans and system of seeding which our columns for several weeks to 
come will bring into prominent notice for the benefit of the home farmer 
and others whom it may concern. The weather when open and mild, as 
it has been for some time past, will not interrupt the forking-out of 
couch grass upon all dry and friable soils where the roots are now grow¬ 
ing, such as Swedish Turnips, Kale, &e., and which crops ought, as well 
as land intended for Potatoes, be looked over, the former before feeding 
with sheep, the latter before ploughing and planting. 
Live Stock .—Fatting sheep will now require a liberal allowance of 
dry food to counteract the effect of the roots, which, owing to the mild¬ 
ness of the season, have not only lost a portion of their feeding value by 
early sprouting, but contain also an unusual proportion of moisture ; in 
fact, it is a question what food should be used for the purpose of correct¬ 
ing the state of the root crops. We do not approve of cake for that 
purpose, but rather the use of Beans, Barley, or damp and inferior Wheat 
crushed and in admixture, not only for the purpose of checking any ill 
effects from undue moisture, &c., but also because, if we use the produce 
of the farm, which is now selling so low in price, it may contribute’to 
the advantage of the farmer in two ways. First, beneficial action in 
fatting his sheep, and also by withdrawing a considerable portion'of the 
grain supplies from oversupplied grain markets. For young store cattle 
and dairy cows the open weather has been extremely favourable, as they 
have been wintered in the pasture districts with more economy than 
usual. In various provincial towns lying in pasture districts it is matter 
for remark that sound and sweet fresh butter is not to be obtained in 
quautity proportionate to the demand. Let the dairy farmers, but par¬ 
ticularly those who have little or no arable land attached to their farms, 
make arrangements so as to have one-half or one-third of their cows to 
calve in the month of October and November, and feed them during the 
winter upon ensilage, the produce of their own pastures, instead of hay. 
In this way the supply of butter may be made equal to the demand, at a 
high price sufficient to make it beneficial to change the old system. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Channel Island Cattle (.F. C .).—These are mver too old for milk¬ 
selling and butter-making if they will bring a calf every year, and continue ir» 
good health. They are never too old if they are good and large milkers, nor 
is it any use to attempt to say how long they should be kept, especially if for 
pets in suburban districts, because when they are aged they cannot be 
fattened to any profit, but whilst they yield a full quantity of milk retain 
them by all means. They will sometimes milk profitably until fifteen years 
old or more. A mild climate suits them best, but we never knew one die 
from old age if free from disease. 
Alderney Cow ( T. S .).—¥e do not think it advisable to keep a heifer 
which is a hard milker. It will be best to sell her for what she will fetch 
at the time she springs and shows for calving. 
Management of Cows ( C .)—To keep cows in health up to the time of 
calving they should have proper exercise and not be allowed to go dry, but 
be milked until they spring for calving again. They will then continue 
healthy, and not lay on internal fat, which is the cause of nearly all the 
disorders to which they are subject at the time of calving, and it applies 
with greater force to Shorthorns and the Suffolk Polls. Channel Island 
cows are not so liable to the drop or puerperal fever at calving time. It is 
better for cows to live on grass only or ensilage for two months before 
calving; but in case of being fed with roots and hay, a very moderate 
allowance is necessary, certainly not so much as they can eat, but with access 
to water at all times. At the time of calving the cows should be milked 
quite dry twice a day. After the calf is born the cow should have a warm 
bran mash ; it is, however, an open question, for some successful dairymen 
never give anything but water, or cold bran mash after calving. Cows 
should be kept very short of food several days before calving, and always 
have access to rock salt. With regard to the rearing of the calf, if it is for 
stock it should have a drink of new milk, if it is not allowed to suck the 
cow. Sometimes they are weaned at birth; they are, however, generally 
allowed to clear out the udder after the principal part of the milk has been 
drawn away for a week or ten days. Afterwards they are weaned and 
allowed new milk for a month, and then skim milk with a little cake or bean 
meal mixed until they begin to eat. They may then run out into a dry 
paddock at daytime, but still get a little milk and meal twice a day until 
they obtain grass enough to keep them in condition, but they should go into 
pens for warmth during the night. If calves are reared for veal they may 
suck the cow, and ha^e beanmeal balls given when they require it. If the 
calves are required to be fed on for fat animals or for show purposes, they 
will suck the cow for five or six months, and then be fed separately upon the 
best'of everything—good roots, hay, cake, and meal. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32 40' N.; Long. 0° 8 0'' W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAT. 
€> 5J 
Hygrome- 
0 . 
O “2 
Shade Tern- 
Radiation 
a 
1884. 
S a 
« +-*f} > 
ter. 
w 0 
c._, o 
TUZ O 
perature. 
Temperature. 
a 
(4 
February. 
$ S 
0 Ov- 
In 
On 
Dry. 
Wet. 
5 o 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
gr***. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 
3 
30.4*9 
31.1 
80.0 
S.E. 
41.9 
42.0 
28 2 
50.2 
25.0 
_ 
Monday. 
4 
30.437 
44.0 
42.8 
w. 
41.1 
80.3 
318 
C5.9 
30.0 
_ 
Tuesday. 
5 
30.441 
44.0 
48.8 
S.W. 
42.4 
48.8 
43.2 
53.3 
30.5 
_ 
Wednesday .. 
6 
30.297 
43.4 
41.0 
s.w. 
42.9 
47.3 
40.6 
52 3 
86.7 
_ 
Thursday .... 
7 
30.151 
37.1 
3(5 0 
N.K. 
42.1 
44.3 
85.0 
48.3 
30.6 
_ 
Friday. 
8 
29 930 
39.0 
88.1 
N. 
41 4 
45.3 
30.4 
45.4 
31.9 
o.on 
Saturday .... 
9 
29.592 
48.2 
40.7 
S. 
42.0 
51.9 
38.4 
57.0 
38.8 
0.1 S2 
30.200 
41.1 
39.7 
42 0 
47.1 
342 
63.2 
83.2 
0.142 
REMARKS. 
3rd.—White frost early, then fine, but cloudy in afternoon. 
4th.—Fine, but not very bright. 
5th.—Dull and overcast. 
6th.—Dull morning ; flue afternoon ; moonlight evening. 
7th.—Dull, but fine and bright in afternoon. 
8th.—Cloudy all day, with fog from 11 till 3; sprinkle of rain in evening. 
9th.—Overcast nearly all day, with occasional rain and some wind. 
Rather cooler than the previous few weeks, but still above the average.— G. J 
Stmons. 
