264 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 20, 1883. 
various reasons, which are not always within the reach of men 
who must farm for profit or lose their position in business, as so 
many have unfortunately done during the past seven years. 
We will commence our observations with those green or 
fodder crops which are commonly grown after our sale crops, 
and seeded in the stubbles or eddishes of other productions. A 
most important green crop is Trifolium, of which there are three 
varieties, the growth of each being necessary to form a succession 
of the most valuable of all green fodder crops, but especially for 
farm horses, from the first- week in May until the 20th of July. 
These consist of the earliest Crimson Blossom, the second early 
or Pink Blossom, and the last sort of a perfect white blossom; 
these are each of them when sown in good season very pro¬ 
ductive even upon inferior or strong soils, especially if 2 or 3 cwt. 
of bone superphosphate is applied per acre with the seel. This 
crop is a capital preparation for other and succeeding root crops 
when grown before Turn'ps especially, and also upon land which 
may have previously proved what is called Clover-sick, and when 
the red Clover has failed; we have, however, grown first-rate 
broad Clover if seeded for in the Lent corn or "W heat which has 
succeeded the Turnips, but this point we should certainly have 
disputed as at all likely if it had not been successful in our own 
practice. Again, Trifolium will furnish upon strong soils, either 
hill or vale land, a heavy bulk of green crop well adapted for 
ploughing under as manure, and it may also be succeeded by a 
crop of white Mustard, the seed being sow^i after as fast as the 
land can be ploughed and worked down. Upon all outlying land, 
especially upon the hill strong soils, no manure can be more 
cheaply or more successfully applied under such circumstances. 
The two leading points in Trifolium cultivation are early sowing 
of a large quantity of seed, and we recommend not less than 
25 lbs. of seed per acre, sown not later than the first week of 
September. The only enemy to this plant to be feared is the 
small white slug. As a green manure for ploughing under, it 
ranks very high both in bulk and value as a preparation for 
cereal crops. This Clover is well adapted for conversion into 
ensilage, and for consumption by dairy cows or fatting bullocks 
under a well-considered mode of feeding with cake and bean or 
barley meal combined, will answer a good purpose and prove a 
valuable substitute for roots, and not likely to injure the quality 
of milk or butter. When the Trifolium is placed in a well-con¬ 
structed silo just as it is coming into bloom it will be found 
much superior in feeding value than when converted into hay, 
and without the risk of loss from bad weather. Where the land 
is situated near to towns, Trifolium is of ready sale at a price far 
beyond any value obtained when converted into hay. 
Lucerne next demands attention, and as a forage crop it offers 
a favourable return for cultivation, and should obtain a place in 
the list of permanent green forage crops, because it will produce 
annually a succession of valuable cuttings of the most nutritious 
cattle food adapted for all kinds of stock. The great benefit 
derived from the use of this fodder in the green state is the fact 
of its not only affording a very early produce, but its continuous 
growth until winter sets in. During the period of gro wth each 
cutting comes to maturity for fodder very rapidly, but still in 
proportion to the warmth of the soil and the climate, but at the 
same time the most produce or weight per acre will vary 
according to the natural fertility of the land or manures applied 
to it, and although heavy crops may be obtained by liberal 
manuring, yet it delights chiefly in a deep soil. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour in some districts will still be required in connection 
with harvest operations. Wherever the harvest has been completed the 
seeding of Trifolium should now be done, the sooner the better ; the 
preparation of the land for the seeding of Rye, Vetches, and winter 
Beans will now be going on. Where steam power is available it should 
now be in constant work, cultivating both in preparation for the green 
catch crops as well as the land to lie as autumn and winter fallow for 
various purposes in the spring ; not only for seeding with Lent com, but 
in forwarding the preparation for early seeding of root crops, such as 
Mangolds, Carrots, Cabbage, and Turnips. After the land has been 
cultivated lengthways and crossways and has been worked down the 
couch and weeds may be carted off to heap, there to remain, and when 
decayed may well be formed into compost for the application to grass 
land and meadows. Upon various mixed soils, however, which is given 
to couch and weeds in the month of November before the winter 
ploughing takes place, women should go over it fork in hand and lift 
those bunches of couch grass, black bent, and Onion grass and place it 
in heaps, to be removed by the odd horse as fast as ready. This is 
especially necessary in all cases where the land is intended for planting 
with Potatoes at the earliest period in the spring ; in fact before ploughing 
and planting in the spring the women should look over the land agaiD, 
forking out any lumps of couch which may have grown into notice. 
As a lule, and in all cases except where there is a rug of couch, women 
should during the late autumn and early spring months go over all the 
fallow surfaces on the farm and remove the lumps of couch. Now this 
is possible in every season, and may be done except during frost or snow. 
Whatever the expense may be it is sure to be the cheapest as well as the 
most effective method of ridding the land of these weeds, which are the 
greatest enemies the cultivator has to contend with. At the same time 
it must be remembered that forking out couch is possible in all open 
weather, and the growth of it may be kept under ; but by horse labour 
only employed in extirpating couch, an open dry time is the only 
chance for horse labour to be effectually employed in the work of 
cleaning the land ; but in case of a wet spring, such as in our fickle 
climate often occurs, it is not only impossible, but must still remain a 
dead weight on the culture of the farm for the future. And further, it 
will not remain in statu quo, but like all ill weeds will grow apace. 
Laying out farmyard manure upon the Clover leas to be ploughed in for 
Wheat is going on in every direction on all well-managed farms, and 
very properly so, especially upon strong and flat-lying loamy land ; for 
by early manuring and ploughing-in the land will be getting mellow and 
stale, and promising a good tilth at seed time. In some cases where 
there is fallow land to come in for seeding with Wheat it is often a safer 
plan to have the ridge-ploughing done as fast as the dung is laid out and 
spread, leaving the dunging and ploughing the lea ground for a later 
period, as Clover leas can be ploughed any dry day and sown daily, or 
the seed may be drilled with a drill attached to the presser, so that the 
process may be completed as fast as land is ploughed and pressed ; and 
for a late seed time this is the safest plan. The pressers may now have 
a drill attached to them at little expense by the implement makers, the 
cost being only £4 10,?. for a two-ringed presser, and £7 Is. for a three- 
ringed implement ; and the Wheat when drilled in this way—the seed! 
being buried at the bottom of the groove formed by the ring of the 
presser—is not likely to be lifted by frost in the winter or spring, and 
besides this the land can also be horse-hoed should it be required, as the 
rows of corn will be about 10 inches apart. We well recollect that 
during the severe frost in January, 1879, that on various farms the Wheat 
drilled after the presser proved a full plant, while great deficiencies were 
the result of ordinary shallow drilling of the seed. 
Hand Labour .— Spreading yard manure on the fields as fast as laid 
out both on the lea or fallow will be going on. Hedge-trimming and 
border-cutting will now be continued until finished ; the border grass 
and weeds if preserved will prove useful in the covering of roots when 
stored in heap. The home farmer, too, must look to the plantations and 
woodlands where the grass and weeds often grow and seed with impunity. 
It is, therefore, desirable to cut and utilise the proceeds in the same way 
as covering for root heaps. The odd horse or mule, when a strong lad is 
appointed to go with him, is capable of doing much good work, whidh 
becomes valuable in keeping up the decency and appearance not only of 
the farm homestead and rick yards, but also the constant cartage of 
couch and other material, each contributing value to the earth or manure- 
heaps as may be required. The odd horse and his attendant may also be 
employed in carting grass for horses without hindering the teamsmen, 
in a busy time, and the carting of roots, hay for fodder, straw as 
litter for dairy cows and fatting cattle, should always be done by the odd 
horse and cart ; iu fact, on a farm where the labour of men and horses 
are well and thoughtfully appointed, the odd horse may be said to save 
the breaking of pairs of horses iu their labour, and be reckoned as valu¬ 
able as the work of any horse on the farm. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Canary Moulting ( Saxoring ).—Your bird is moulting now, which is one 
cause of its losing its feathers. G-ive it two spots of castor oil into its beak, 
and feed only on canary seed and a plentiful supply of green food quite fresh 
every day, lettuce or watercress is the best. Put a bath in its cage, and if 
it bathes every day it will help the new feathers to come and lessen the- 
irritation. This is the proper time for moulting. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32'40’ N.; Long. 0° 8' O ' W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAT. 
1883. 
i> 23_, 
Hygrome- 
d . 
O 
Shade Tem- 
Radiation 
d 
September. 
£ L-Ji > 
ter. 
Xs 0 
e*n= g 
perature. 
Temperature. 
d 
tt- 
In 
On 
4- *-> =i 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Q o 
PH 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 9 
30.178 
56.4 
52.7 
calm. 
55.1 
68.7 
42.4 
1013 
37.4 
— 
Monday.10 
29 978 
59.7 
55.4 
S.E. 
55 9 
65.9 
52.0 
79.6 
44.4 
0 590 
Tuesday. 11 
30.001 
56.7 
56.6 
N. 
56.8 
62.4 
5.5.7 
79.7 
55.7 
0.080- 
Wednesday .. 12 
30.174 
59.9 
58.7 
N.E. 
57.2 
72.3 
54.0 
109.7 
53.4 
_ 
Thursday .... 13 
30.279 
55.7 
55.2 
N.E. 1 
58.0 
69.7 
53.3 
109.7 
44.2 
_ 
Friday. 14 
30.142 
57.9 
56.3 
N.E. 
58.1 
73.0 
52.6 
107.6 
47.3 
_ 
Saturday .... 15 
29.961 
59.2 
55.8 
N.W. 
58.3 
68.8 
53.3 
107.5 
45.7 
— 
30.103 
57.9 
55.8 
57.1 
68 7 
51.9 
993 
47.2 
0.670 
REMARKS. 
9tb.—Fine bright day, but generally a little hazy. 
10th.—A dull day, with almo t continuous slight rain. 
11th.—Wet and misty all day. 
12th.—Dull morning, fine afterwards. 
13th.—Dull early, fine afterwards. 
14th.—Fine, bright, and warm. 
15th.—Fine and warm, hazy towards evening. 
Temperature higher than lest week, and rather alove th 3 average. The r. omihgst 
have been very damp and misty.—G. J. Symons. 
