May 29 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
435 
says when ill health ensues from acid substances contained or generated 
in the soil, and this is absorbed by the roots, it acts as a poison. The small 
roots are withered and cease their action, consequently the upper and 
younger shoots of the plant turn yellow, and the spots with which the 
leaves are covered indicate their morbid state. In such cases the usual 
remedy is to transplant into fresh soil, clean the pots carefully, secure good 
•drainage, and often with the best results. But the experience of several 
years has proved with him the unfailing efficacy of the simpler treatment, 
which consists of watering abundantly with hot water at a temperature of 
about 145° Fahrenheit, having previously stirred the soil of the pots 
so far as might be done without injury to the roots. Water is then 
given until it runs freely from the pots. In his experiments the water 
first came out clear, afterwards it was sensibly tinged with brown, and 
gave an appreciable acid reaction. After this thorough washing the pots 
were kept warm. Next day the leaves of two Ficus elastica so treated 
ceased to droop, the spread of black spots on the leaves was arrested, and 
three days afterwards, instead of dying, the plants had recovered their 
normal look of health. Very soon they made new roots, immediately 
followed by vigorous growth.” 
Names of Plants (An Old Nantwich Subscriber ).—Menyanthes trifoliata 
the Buckbean, related to the Gentians, and remarkable for its intensely 
bitter taste. In the north of England this plant has, in a scarcity of hops, 
been used to give a bitter flavour to beer. ( G. B .).—Staphylea colchica. 
The specimen was much withered, but resembles Genista tinctoria. (Young 
Gardener). —1, a variety of Lantana; 2, Lippia citriodora; 3, Asplenium 
Tricbomanes ; 4, Hibiscus Rosa-sinensia; 5, Cyperus alternifolius variegatus. 
COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— May 28th. 
A better trade doing this week, goods being cleared more readily without any alter¬ 
ation in price. 
FRUIT. 
8. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
Apples .. .. 
.. J sieve 
l 
6 
to 5 
0 
Oranges. 
.. 100 
6 
0 to 10 
0 
Chestnuts .. 
.. bushel 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Peaohes . 
per doz. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Figs .. .. 
.. dozen 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Pears, kitchen 
dozen 
1 
0 
1 
6 
Filberts .. .. 
.. .. It. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
,, dessert 
dozen 
1 
0 
5 
0 
Cobs 
.. per lb. 
1 
S 
1 
6 
Pine Apples English., lb. 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Grapes .. .. 
.. .. lb. 
2 
0 
5 
0 
Strawberries.. .. 
.. lb. 
2 
0 
6 
0 
Lemon .. .. 
,. case 
15 
0 
21 
0 
St. Michael Pines 
. .each 
2 
0 
6 
0 
VEGETABLES 
B. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
Artichokes 
.. dozen 
2 
0 to 4 
0 
Mushrooms .. 
punnet 
0 
9 to 
1 
6 
Beans, Kidney 
lb. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Mustard and Cress 
punnet 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Beet, Red 
.. dozen 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Onions . 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
0 
Broccoli .. .. 
0 
9 
1 
0 
Parsley .. dozen bunches 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Brussels Sprouts 
.. 4 sieve 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Parsnips. 
dozen 
i 
0 
2 
0 
Cabbage .. 
0 
6 
1 
0 
Potatoes. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
5 
0 
Capsicums 
100 
1 
8 
2 
0 
„ Kidney .. 
cwt. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Carrots .. 
0 
S 
0 
4 
„ New .. .. 
0 
2 
0 
4 
Cauliflowers .. 
.. dozen 
2 
0 
3 
0 
Rhubarb. 
bundle 
0 
4 
0 
0 
Celery 
1 
6 
2 
0 
Salsafy. 
bundle 
1 
0 
0 
6 
Coleworts doz. bunches 
2 
0 
4 
0 
Scorzonera .. .. 
bundle 
1 
6 
0 
6 
Cucumbers 
..- each 
0 
8 
0 
6 
Shallots. 
0 
3 
0 
6 
Endive ., 
1 
0 
2 
0 
Spinach. 
bushel 
2 
6 
3 
6 
Herbs 
0 
2 
0 
0 
Tomatoes .. .. 
1 
0 
0 
0 
Leeks 
0 
3 
0 
4 
Turnips. 
bunch 
3 
0 
0 
Lettuce .. .. 
1 
0 
1 
6 
„ New .. .. 
bunch 
1 
0 
0 
0 
AEABLE AND PASTURE FARMING. 
A comparison between arable and pasture farming, or, in other 
words, a comparison between corn and stock farming, may be fairly 
considered one of the most vexed questions of the period. It has, 
however, always proved a difficult question to be decided, and it still 
continues surrounded by the same difficulties, for although the prices 
of stock have risen and the value of grain greatly reduced, yet this 
cannot be made the measure of profits and loss. The disturbing 
influence of the seasons, the loss by foot-and-mouth and other diseases, 
the modes of management, and the practical knowledge required 
both in breeding, rearing, and feeding of live stock, and the nature 
of the soil and climate, together with the conditions of management 
as compulsory and connected with farm leases, as well as hundreds 
of minute points connected with the farm, render any reliable accouut 
in figures one of the utmost difficulty. 
Although we have no desire to exaggerate the requirements of 
the occupiers of arable farms, or those of a mixed character contain¬ 
ing grass or pasture land as well as tillage land, yet we must mention 
a few of the impediments which meet the farmer at almost every 
step. As an unmixed farm of arable land only is quite the exception, 
we must speak of the subject as one ip which agricultural produce 
generally, as well as live stock of various kinds, are generally con¬ 
sidered as essential in practical farming of arable land. It is not 
our intention to question the justice or fairness or otherwise of various 
difficulties by which the farmer is surrounded, yet they must not 
only be acknowledged but provided for as matter of business to which 
his calling has pledged him. We must therefore only mention a few 
of the most important points which will occupy his attention. 
The farm should be taken at a fair rental, together with tithes 
and rates, the former having lately fallen and the latter increased. 
The term of years, the conditions of lease, and the liberty of cultiva¬ 
tion should be as great as that of the market gardener, many of 
whom began business with little more property than their working 
tools, yet these men are bound to no course of cultivation. Why 
should the farmer, except on quitting? The nature of the land and 
the ciimate in which it is situated may well be made the subject of 
estimate by some experienced farmer or la‘nd valuer, especially as th 
basis of proceeding in taking a farm by young men and beginners i e 
agriculture, at anv rate ; the rotation of farming being extremeln 
important in order to secure the tenant facility in culture and croppingy 
and the landlord a clean and fair face upon the land at the time, 
of tenants quitting is a matter not to be hastily decided. The 
question of a sufficiency of capital is of the highest importance, and 
it becomes still more so if large flocks and herds are considered a 
necessity. The supply of local labour, too, either by cottage on the 
farm and rented therewith, or in connection with a village near at 
hand inhabited principally by people inured to agricultural pursuits 
is a positive necessity, for no farm can be conducted with advantage 
depending only upon casual labour. 
The subject of “ Arable and Pasture Farming ” was introduced 
last winter at the Kingscote (Gloucestershire) Farmers’ Clubs by 
Mr. Bowen Jones, who read a paper on this subject, which was given 
by the Wilts Standard. In that it is stated :—“ A decade of 
unparalleled depression in the chief industry of the country has set 
many minds thinking. Advice of all sorts and descriptions has been 
showered upon the unfortunate agriculturist. The development of 
the United States of America, of Canada, and India, with respect 
more especially to the growth of cereals, and Wheat in particular, 
has produced a gradual, but in the aggregate a considerable fall in 
the value of these commodities. To all appearance this reduction 
is likely to be of a permanent character. As shown by the printed 
averages, and till the present year, and to some extent even now, 
these returns are an exaggeration on the prices realised, in my opinion 
something like 5s. per quarter, owing to the defective way in which 
the corn returns were calculated. On the other hand a comparison 
of the average prices of butchers’ meat, as exemplified by returns of 
the Metropolitan Cattle Market, will show that a gradual but well- 
marked increase has taken place, notwithstanding the long-continued 
distress that has affected the commercial interests of the kingdom. 
Surely the high averages of recent years should have stimulated 
farmers to have bred and fed more stock, but an examination of the 
recently published agricultural returns shows us that this is not the 
case. These figures give us anything but a pleasant prospect or a 
hopeful outlook. We find that the total area under cultivation and 
grass has increased during this period from 31,266,919 acres to 
32,385,085 acres, or 1,118,166 acres, while in the same time arable 
land has diminished 769,295 acres, and permanent pasture extended 
1,887,361 acres. In 1874 corn crops bore a per-centage of 30 2 to 
cultivated and grass land, and in 1883 the per-centage was 26 6. 
Notwithstanding this enlargement of grass land area our cattle 
have decreased 162,712 head, and sheep 5,245,670, which gives for 
every 100 acres of cultivated and grass land in 1883, as compared 
with 1814, a diminution of cattle 12, sheep 19-8. What do these 
figures illustrate? 1st, That British farmers should and do recognise 
the fact that they must look to some other source than the growth 
of cereals alone for direct profit. 2nd, That the high range of prices 
for butchers’ meat indicates an important direction to which thty 
should turn their attention. 3rd, That the recent abnormally hign 
pi ices of meat, while irksome to the consumer, have not benefited 
the farmer.” 
The preceding indicates the delusions under which farmers in 
general are acting, as it is shown that the high prices of meat, while 
irksome to the consumer, have not benefited the farmer. Another 
delusion is it being inferred that the high range of prices for butchers’ 
meat indicates an important direction to which they should turn their 
attention. Nor can we see that the farmers should recognise the fact 
that they must look to some other source than the growth of cereals 
chiefly for direct profit. This is not an entire delusion, for excepting 
through the attacks of foot-and-mouth disease the benefits of dairy 
farming and cattle-feeding have been generally as good as usual. 
It is, however, a matter for serious reflection on the part of owners of 
land, as well as the tenantry, that quite irrespective of the price of 
corn, and where the greatest dependance has been placed under good 
management of both stock and corn, great tracts both of arable and 
pasture land also have been abandoned ; consequently stock-farming 
either in cattle-feeding or sheep-feeding has not saved thousands of 
farmers from ruin, and in various cases more land has by the owners 
