876 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 8, 1884. 
1857, at Chester in 1858, at Warwick in 1859, and again at the 
Great International meeting in Battersea Park, London, in 1862. 
Being thus engaged, it gave us an opportunity of noticing the 
character, not only of the Shropshires, but their comparative 
qualities with other sheep ; for at the meetings at Salisbury and 
Chester a large number of different breeds of sheep were classed 
together in the competition, on which occasions the Hampshire 
Downs carried everything before them, for tbe new style and 
type raised by Mr. Humphrys of Oak Ash, Chaddleworth, Berks, 
were the wonder and admiration of all practical judges. In the 
succeeding year, however, at Warwick, when the Shropshires had 
a class to themselves, a great effort was made by their breeders 
and patrons. In confirmation of the rising popularity of this 
breed we may mention that they were supported by influential 
breeders at a distance—viz., in Staffordshire by Messrs. Masfen, 
Coxon, Hon. R. Curson, and Major Dyott; in Gloucestershire 
by E. Holland, Esq., M.P.; in Worcestershire by W. O. Foster, 
Esq., M.P.; in Warwickshire by Mr. T. Horley and Mrs. Baker; 
in Leicestershire by Mr. Pilgrim ; and by Col. Pennant in North 
Wales. On reference to the entries at Gloucester (their first great 
start), Chester, and Warwick, we find them steadily progressing 
in number exhibited. At Gloucester the numbered 121, at Ches¬ 
ter 184, at Warwick 192. In support of these remarks we now 
refer to the numerous entries for the local prizes offered for this 
class of sheep. The shearling rams numbered forty-three speci¬ 
mens, aged rams twenty-two, and twelve pens of five each of 
shearling ewes. The Judges especially noticed seven of the 
shearling rams, and generally recommended the aged ram and 
shearling ewe classes. 
Previous to their being recognised as an established breed 
they were frequently noticed favourably by the Judges, although 
they were exhibited in the short-woolled class where all the best 
varieties were included. But at the Salisbury meeting the Hamp- 
shires made a great show, and also at Chester: the Oxfords, 
too, attracted attention. Nothing, however, brings out in full 
and perfect view animals when contending with each other being 
each of the same breed of a settled and established type; in 
fact it is a very difficult task for any judges to undertake to 
award prizes in classes where the numbers are great, for we have 
had as many as seventy-two shearling rams, including all the 
various types of short-woolled sheep, in competition in one class. 
Judges of great experience may sometimes lean to their better 
knowledge of certain breeds, or also to their peculiar and indi¬ 
vidual preference for particular types and style of stock. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—The seeding and preparation for Lent corn having 
been now finished, the preparation for root crops, commencing with 
Mangolds, should now be forwarded as much as possible, not losing a day 
after the land is ready for drilling the seed. This, however, if the weather 
continues dry, may be anticipated by soaking the seed in water for two 
days immediately before drilling. It is now too late and too much loss 
of time to apply yard or town manure and ploughing it under, but to 
save time we prefer to anticipate and arrange for the application of 
artificial manures some good ammoniacal manure, such as guano, about 
3 cwt., or 3 cwt. of bone superphosphate per acre, will be enough to use 
by drilling with the seed. If the land is not equal to producing a full 
bulk and weight per acre of bulbs nitrate of soda may be applied by 
hand just before the first and second horse-hoeings or hand-hoeings. About 
11 cwt. at each horse-hoeing will push the growth forward very fast, and 
generally prove equal to a heavy weight per acre of bulbs. Still, how¬ 
ever, bear in mind that if we should happen to apply more manure than 
the Mangold crop requires, that the residue will be a good investment 
towards the production of a Wheat or Lent corn crop which may follow. 
Carrots often answer very well as a mixed crop with early Swedes. The 
seed after being rubbed free of the burr or husk will drill readily in 
mixture with Swede seed, and recommend this mixed culture because 
Carrot plants in their second leaf when grown alone are so small that 
they are easily overpowered and destroyed by the weeds. When drilled 
with the Swedes the last week in May or first week in June the young 
plants may be left without thinning when the Swedes are hand-hoed the 
first time, while at the second hand-hoeing the Carrot plants may be set 
out or hand-pulled to distance without being so liable to be destroyed by 
the brown grub. In case of the Carrots being sown alone it should be 
upon stetches 16 inches apart, and we have found the garden hand-drill 
answer well for the purpose ; but when the horse-hoeing has been done 
then hand-hoe the young plants to free them from weeds in the lines, but 
on no account to set them out at proper distance for a crop. Allow them 
to grow thickly in the rows until the Carrots for the most part are about 
the size of a man’s finger ; they may then be hand-pulled for sale or use 
in feeding horses or cattle, leaving just enough for a crop, so that when 
in full size the bulbs may nearly touch each other. We are now alluding 
to the short red intermediate variety of Carrot, for these are good for 
lambs or any sheep stock, and will also sell readily in towns for vegetable 
consumption, and also for horse-feeding. Many gentlemen set great 
value upon them as food for their carriage horses in the winter months, 
and they are certainly far better than any other roots for that purpose. 
When the roots are hand-pulled in or about the beginning of August for 
thinning we have frequently obtained 14 tons per acre this way as food 
for any kind of cattle in the boxes or for horses ; and by this system 
the labour is not so great as with the deep-rooting sorts, either for pulling 
when young or when lifting the main crop. There is, however, a great 
advantage in hand-pulling, because the food for cattle pays the labour ; 
and as soon as the thinning has been done the remainder swell and grow 
a large size very quickly, and the crop is then quite safe from injury by 
the grub. We have, however, lost the whole crop by grub when the 
plants were set out whilst the roots were young and small. If the 
weather continues dry generally all the lands seeded, whether with grass 
seeds, Lent corn, or Mangolds, when rolled the last time, the land being 
rather coarse or rubbly—that is, not fine, but the clods being reduced to a 
small size, they, nevertheless, allow drought to enter and delay the 
vegetation and growth of any small seeds. To obviate this let the last 
rolling be done with the ring roller, and, if necessary, two different ways. 
This will press the surface and shut out the drought, whereas a smooth 
roller does not answer such a good purpose when the surface clods are 
hard and tough. 
Hand Labour. —Dung-carting from the yard or heap will now be 
going on if applied to Mangold, Cabbage, or other root crops, because 
the dung deteriorates very much unless laid out when made or as soon 
after as required for use. The men will be engaged in filling and spread¬ 
ing the dung. It is a good time now to turn heaps of earth and dung as 
compost for laying on the pastures as fast as the hay crop is cleared off. 
If the weather is rainy find work for men and women too, the men 
mixing and preparing artificial manures in the manure store, and the 
women rubbing and preparing Carrot seed, &c,, for drilling. Planting 
Cabbages should now be done, and our plan of doing it bids defiance to 
dry weather, because the men use light spades introduced at an angle of 
45°, the women following, inserting the plants at the back of the spade, 
and boys to fetch plants. In this way the roots of the plants are buried 
deep in the soil, where they find moisture to sustain them, without dry 
dust from the surface running in, like it does when planting with the 
setting stick ; in this way we have never known the plants to die in the 
driest of weather. 
Live Stock .—On the vale farms, where it is customary to purchase 
sheep in the autumn for consuming the roots grown on the farm, we 
foresee that this system must be altered in anticipation of a foreign 
supply of frozen meat from our colonies, &c. ; and the breeders on the 
hill farms are sure to have their profit on breeding if any, whereas the 
feeders on the vale farms will not be able to make feeding for mutton 
answer their purpose. We therefore advise them to turn breeders as well 
as feeders, and keep a summer stock of ewes suitable to the land. The 
early lambing Dorsets and Somerset horned ewes answer well in some 
dry soils ; early Dorset Downs on some farms for the feeding of early 
lambs to fall at Christmas. Later stock, such as the Oxford or Shropshire 
Downs, will answer upon some of the midland districts, for they yean a 
large increase of lambs; and if the ewes are bought poor in the spring 
or just after shearing-time, they can be run with the rams to great 
advantage, as so many can be kept in the summer and autumn and folded 
on the arable land. We find that they gradually improve in condition in 
this way, and become better stock than we can buy at the autumnal fairs 
except at a price leaving little or nothing as profit. With respect to 
horned cattle, if we can only get the country free of foot-and-mouth 
disease, the farmers who require cattle for winter feeding should breed 
them. We will refer to this matter another time. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Drag for Land (Trilce ).—In reply to your inquiry as to our recommenda¬ 
tion of an implement which ought entirely to supersede the old wooden¬ 
framed drag, we name Howard’s improved self-lifting drag harrow as the 
most effective implement yet invented, inasmuch as it can be raised out of 
work by the power of the horses. We advise you to apply to Howards of 
Bedford for an illustration and price of this implement if they have no agent 
in your district. The very curious instance of a cat rearing a young Rabbit 
shall be handed to the Editor of Poultry , as suitable for insertion in that paper. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
a 
1884. 
April 
and 
May. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 328 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
1 
| Temp. Of 
Soil at 
1 1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Snndav . 
27 
29.689 
45.2 
42.0 
N.E. 
44.7 
49.8 
34.8 
58.0 
31.9 
0.198 
Monday. 
28 
29.7.i7 
43.5 
42.4 
N.E. 
44.8 
50.0 
36.4 
60.7 
32.3 
— 
Tuesday. 
29 
29.803 
42.9 
41.9 
N. 
43.8 
59.3 
32.4 
830 
27.7 
— 
Wednesday .. 
30 
29.777 
51.0 
46.9 
W. 
43.9 
59.5 
S6.3 
95.7 
31.2 
0.017 
Thursday .... 
1 
29.926 
50.5 
45.5 
W. 
44.3 
563 
35.0 
84.0 
31.3 
0.087 
Friday. 
2 
29.787 
51.8 
45.2 
w. 
45.1 
57.4 
4.5.1 
89.7 
41.3 
0.132 
Saturday .... 
3 
29.424 
51.0 
49.3 
s.w. 
46.6 
59.3 
50.4 
104.6 
49.4 
0 055 
29.738 
48.0 
44.7 
44.7 
55.9 
38.6 
82.2 
35.0 
0.489 
REMARKS 
27th.—Cold and showery till 6.80 P.M., fair after. 
28th.—Fog in the morning (dense in the City), fair later. 
29th.—Fog in morning and again after 3 p.m. 
80th.—Foggy early, afterwards fine with bright sun. 
1st.—Fair; sprinkle of rain at 5 p.m.; windy evening; rain from 8.80 p.m. till midnight. 
2nd.—Dull; rain from about 4 to 6 P.M. 
3rd.—Heavy rain at 8.50 a.m., and slight showers up to 6 p.m. ; fine evening. 
Temperature rather higher than in the previous week, and still below the average 
There has been frost on the grass on four days of this week.— G. J. Symons. 
