JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 14, 1881. ] 
47 
of special reports on the present state of the crops, and the 
prospects of the coming harvest throughout the Continent. The 
results have been published by the Vienna Minister of Agricul¬ 
ture, and may be summarised as follows :—■ 
Throughout Southern Europe cereal crops are, with few ex¬ 
ceptions, in a very satisfactory condition. In a majority of dis¬ 
tricts there will probably be considerably more than an average 
harvest. It is only in Portugal that the yield promises to be 
below the average. In Spain and most parts of Italy the pro¬ 
mise is satisfactory ; in Lombardy, Greece, and most parts of the 
Balkan countries, highly satisfactory. In the lower parts of 
Bulgaria, Servia, and Roumania, however, the spring floods have 
done great damage. The excessive rains and floods in Moldavia 
have so injured the crops that only half the average yield is 
expected. 
In Central Europe generally there is promise of a satisfactory 
average harvest. In Switzerland the result is expected to be 
considerably in excess of the average. In Germany the only 
provinces where the yield will fall sensibly short of a fair harvest 
are East and West Prussia, the falling-off being attributed to a 
wet autumn, a severe winter, and a cold damp spring. From 
Russian Poland, too, owing to the same causes, the harvest will 
probably be considerably below the average. In Saxony, Thu¬ 
ringia, and some other parts of Germany, the so-called English 
variety of Wheat (Triticum turgidum) has done badly, but the 
native variety (Triticum vulgare) has thriven well. 
In Western Europe, including France, Belgium, and the Nether¬ 
lands, the cereal crops are generally in a very satisfactory state. 
It is only in some parts of Southern France that the yield pro¬ 
mises to be below the average. In Holland, on the other hand, 
the prospect is highly satisfactory, considerably more than the 
ordinary yield being anticipated. 
As regards Eastern Europe, the harvest in Russia will be very 
unequal in different parts, but the general result will be an 
average harvest. In several Governments the severe winter has 
killed the seed, and the spring-sown crops have progressed but 
slowly ; but from most districts the reports are satisfactory. 
Taking Europe as a whole, the harvest of the present year 
promises to yield more than the average. The result will, how¬ 
ever, be in part due to the fact that the area sown with cereals is 
larger than the average for some years past. 
VARIETIES. 
The Royal Agricultural Show at Derby. —Although there 
is a slight falling-off in the entries in the classes of live stock of 
the Show now being held in Osmaston Park, still the Exhibition is 
one of great magnitude, and worthy of the Society under whose 
auspices it is held. Of implements there is a remarkable display, 
consisting of 377 stands and nearly six thousand articles. The 
museums of the great seed farms, we are informed, attract much 
attention, as may be expected when, amongst others, such firms as 
Messrs. Sutton, Carter, and Webb put forth their strength, as we 
learn they are doing at Derby. Their splendid collections of seeds, 
roots, grasses, &c., strikingly represent the great importance of this 
section of British agriculture, and the skill and enterprise with which 
the seed industry is conducted in this country. 
- The Crops in the Midlands.—J udging from the passing 
glance that is obtainable from a Midland express from London north¬ 
wards, a journey that will be traversed by thousands this week, the 
corn crops generally are looking decidedly better than they were at 
the corresponding period last year. True there are far too many 
Charlocks and Poppies in places, and many fields of Wheat and spring 
corn that are far from satisfactory, yet, notwithstanding, there is a 
decided improvement in the aspect of the county. The hay crops, 
if crops they can be called, are strikingly deficient; but Beans and 
Peas are looking well; Potatoes excellent; and Turnips and Mangolds 
appear to have got a fair start, and, weather and weeds permitting, 
good crops may be expected. The fruit crops are far superior to 
those of the past few years, and altogether signs are not wanting 
that we are nearing brighter and better times, so far at least as 
regards the productiveness of the soil. 
-Leghorn Eggs. — The American Poultry Yard , in recom- 
\ mending Leghorns for laying qualities, says—“It is a mistake to 
suppose, as many do, that the egg of a Leghorn is necessarily a small 
egg. Of course it will not equal in bulk the egg produced by a 
fowl three or four times as large, but in proportion to the bulk of 
its body the Leghorn, under proper treatment, will yield eggs that 
are thoroughly respectable in size ; and the only wonder is that when 
the comparatively small bodies of the fowls are taken into account 
they can by any process of nature produce the weight of eggs yielded 
up every season during their period of usefulness.” We must confess 
that our experience has led us to arrive at the conclusion that Leg¬ 
horn eggs are decidedly small. We shall be glad to hear from such 
of our readers as keep Leghorns what their experience has been. 
-Agricultural Prospects. —Our reports this week are not on 
the whole in favour of a remunerative harvest. The Wheats vary in 
different localities, but as a rule they appear to be a rather thin crop. 
With the exception of early-sown Barleys on kind land, the spring 
corn is also stated to be thin, and even the best crops are short in the 
straw. The great deficiency of the hay crop is no longer a matter of 
uncertainty. The thunder rains have benefited the root crops and 
helped the growth of aftermath Clovers and grasses. Stock of all 
kinds are doing well, but prices continue to be disappointing. Alto¬ 
gether the outlook is not very cheering.—( Mark Lane Express .) 
-Remedy for Fluke Disease in Sheep.— Mr. J. R. Millington, 
writing to the Irish Farmer’s Gazette upon the fluke disease, observes 
—“ The eminent London cattle auctioneer, Mr. Thornton, gave a friend 
of mine the following recipe as a remedy for fluke disease in sheep ; 
and as I am sure he would not give it unless he believed it likely to 
be efficacious, I submit it to your readers. The remedy is so simple, 
and the matter is of such pressing importance, that a trial ought to 
be made and the results published. The remedy is 1 oz. of podo- 
phyllin root in half a gallon of water, boiled well or simmered before 
the fire. The dose two tablespoonfuls on two successive mornings, 
to be given cold, and the doses repeated at the end of a week. This 
medicine will not injure sheep in lamb or that have lambed. Podo- 
phyllin is a medicine of comparatively recent introduction, and is the 
root of the May Apple or wild Lemon, and is a common herb through¬ 
out the American States. It has superseded to a great extent the 
various preparations of calomel, <fcc. ; indeed, it is known by some as 
the vegetable mercury, and as a cathartic it has been found invaluable. 
If it be as effective a remedy for the fluke in sheep as it is in some 
diseases of the human subject, its use will be a boon to farmers.” 
n 
Mi 
POULTRY NOTES. 
It is now full time that the old birds, which are likely to be 
wanted for exhibition at the leading shows, should be getting rid of 
their old plumage. If they are not beginning to moult of their 
own accord some artificial means of starting a moult may be tried. 
Shutting the birds up in very warm houses or pens and giving 
them a little hempseed mixed with their other grain food is the 
best plan for the cocks and non-sitting hens. Hens of the sitting 
sorts should be allowed to lie a few weeks if possible before being 
treated as above suggested. 
It should be remembered that as a general rule hens will not 
moult so long as they are laying, and also that a very full state of 
the system is bad for the commencement of a moult. It is best, 
therefore, to allow the birds before they commence moulting to 
get rather below their usual condition, and then as they progress 
in the moult to gradually increase the feeding, and thus get them 
into their best form just at the time when they are most wanted 
for exhibition. Show birds are to a certain extent like athletes, 
and can more easily be got into condition for one or two events 
than kept a long time in high condition. Let the system of feed¬ 
ing now adopted be such, therefore, as to rather bring down the 
weight of those of the birds which are unduly heavy, and stop the 
laying of the hens. Scanty meals of non-stimulating food will do 
this. Birds that are in low condition or are«of weakly constitution 
must not be included in this regimen, or their systems may be too 
much reduced to stand the strain of moult. 
The white breeds, and such of the other kinds as turn yellow 
through exposure to the sun, must be moulted in some place where 
there is no strong sunlight. Many fanciers moult them in houses 
