September 1,1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 213 
arbours, &c., making shoots 5 or 6 feet long in a season. Cuttings strike freely 
at any time of the year. 3, Rubus odoratus, Flowering Bramble or Barren 
Raspberry, a very suitable shrub for planting in backgrounds and woods, 
flowering freely in late summer, but seldom indeed producing fruit, hence one of 
the English names. (Anxious ).—Physalis Alkekengi. (Young Gardener ).— 
Bartsia odontites. (Reader ).—Limnanthes grandiflorus, a hardy annual, suitable 
for sowing at the present time for flowering in the spring. (G. P .).—Hedychium 
Gardnerianum. 
POULTRY AND PIGEON CHRONICLE. 
THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE. 
( Continued from page. 100.) 
As we have taken up this subject with the view of advising the 
home farmer by the evidence of eminent and practical men as 
given in the report of this Commission, as well as from other 
sources, we shall continue to refer to those practices and systems 
of cropping and stocking which are most likely to yield a good 
profit, and to notice also what changes can be made with advan¬ 
tage in many of the ordinary operations in agriculture. 
In the future, and under the effect of low prices for corn upon 
the hill farms in some cases, where railway stations are near, 
and towns contiguous, instead of merely depending upon breed¬ 
ing flocks of sheep and the growth of cereals, &.c., as formerly, it 
will be advisable to crop the land to some extent with vegetable 
produce, such as Cabbage of different sorts, so as to maintain a 
constant supply to be used as food for stock or be sold as food for 
the people. Potatoes also may be largely grown with advantage, 
because on the dry hill land they are not likely to suffer from 
disease, and especially when they are produced by artificial 
manures only, and using only tubers for seed of the latest pro¬ 
pagated sorts which are known to have hitherto avoided the 
disease, especially the seed which is obtained from Scotland or 
the northern counties of England ; they will then be almost cer¬ 
tain to turn out profitably, except in the recurrence of seasons 
like 1879. The land will then be well prepared for Barley, 
which crop, together with the Clover also in succession, will both 
succeed better than after roots fed off by sheep, and if the Clover 
succeeds well it is the very best preparation for the following 
Wheat crop. 
We must again ask the home farmer to consider that he is not 
in the position of a tenant farmer, who is frequently clogged with 
unreasonable restrictions of a lease ; therefore he has every oppor¬ 
tunity to avail himself of any specialities both in stocking and 
cropping, for on such farms in the future sheep will still bo kept, 
but probably in less numbers. They may then be all bred and 
fattened upon the farm, instead of being^kept as breeding animals 
in only stock condition. Stocks of the purest breeds, whether of 
Downs or Longwools, may be kept for the rearing of rams for 
sale, a matter when conducted with care and intelligence fre¬ 
quently proves highly a Ivantageous : when, however, the animals 
are bred only for sale at the fairs we suggest that cross-bred 
animals are sure to attract customers, it being known that all the 
Down breeds bring an increased number of lambs when crossed 
with either the horned or long-woolled stock. Some of these 
farms contain strong soils in the vales and also irrigated meadows, 
in which case Shorthorn or other well-bred cattle may be reared 
and kept with advantage, both for milking and fattening purposes. 
We will now call attention to what may be done on the vale 
farms in various counties as shown in evidence before the Com¬ 
mission, in order to meet the difficulties arising from agricultural 
depression. These farms usually consist of mixed soils, such as 
strong loams, also sandy and gravelly land. In the enclosed 
districts these farms are generally found to vary in size from 
100 to 300 acres, and when situated within a reasonable distance 
of towns or railway stations must in the future, if profitably con¬ 
ducted, be expected to undergo great changes in the mode of crop¬ 
ping. Although many of them have been proved capable of yield¬ 
ing valuable crops of grain, pulse, roots. See., yet changes to some 
extent will be necessary, for we find that other productions 
besides Mangold and Swedes will be grown as a substitute, espe¬ 
cially some of those usually cultivated by the market gardener, 
and which may often be sold as food for man instead cf cattle. 
These consist principally—subject, however, to any local demand 
—of Potatoes, Cabbages of sorts, Broccoli, Carrots, Parsnips, Tur¬ 
nips, and Onions. Nor do we find that it is necessary, as is often 
supposed by the market gardeners, to use large quantities of town 
or stable manure. If the land contains a sufficiency of chalk or 
lime the artificial fertilisers, such as guano, nitrate of soda, bone 
dust, superphosphate, &c., are sure to answer, for we know when 
genuine that these contain all the elements of first-class manure 
without the bulk and costly carriage of town or stable dung. We 
know of instances in which both Cabbages and Broccoli have 
been frequently sold into the towns at a considerable distance 
for delivery which paid over £20 per acre above all expenses, 
and grown entirely in ordinary field culture and by artificial 
manure only ; besides which the stumps of Broccoli have been 
passed through Gardner’s Turnip-cutter, and being mixed with 
meal have been given to fatting bullocks, which have improved 
upon them equally well as they had previously done upon root 
crops. The crops of vegetables best adapted for growth on the 
farm according to soil and climate are Potatoes, Cabbages, red 
Carrots, Parsnips, and Broccoli. All of these can be eaten by cattle 
if the price of either should be too low for selling off the farm. 
The great and important point seems to be to have some of these 
always ready when the necessities of the people require them. 
Early Broccoli sold very high up to Christmas last year ; late 
sorts were, however, much injured by the severe frost and snow, 
still this fact served to raise the value of late Savoy Cabbages. 
The cultivation of fruit may with great advantage be extended 
in certain districts, especially after the question of extraordinary 
tithe charges are arranged, more particularly Strawberries, Rasp¬ 
berries, Currants, and Gooseberries. There need be no limit to 
their growth, in consequence of the demand from jam factories 
in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and other large 
towns. Some of these factories make 15 tons daily, and it is 
calculated that at least 400 tons are made daily throughout the 
fruit season, including all parts of the kingdom. The Board of 
Trade returns show that the raw fruit imported into this country 
in 1876 amounted to 9,372,779 bushels, valued at £1,218,625. 
Why should we not grow, as far as our climate will allow us, a 
large portion of the fruits required in the future ? 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
1Torse Labour .—This will at all intervals of fine weather, when the 
straw of the corn is dry, be employed in the draught of the reaping 
or mowing machine. Whether the crop is tied at the time of cutting 
or not, carting may proceed simultaneously to the stack, barns, or 
threshing machine advantageously if the straw is dry and free from 
green Clover or weeds. When the horses cannot be employed in 
harvest work, yard or town dung may be drawn out for Wheat on to 
the Clover or Saintfoin leas to be spread immediately, in order that 
successive rains may settle the dung close to the land, and that the 
richness of the manure may be washed into the ground with regu¬ 
larity ; besides this, when the land comes to be ploughed and pressed 
the dung is buried under the furrow more easily and effectually. 
Land also after green crops or Peas intended for Wheat may now be 
ploughed and worked down in order to vegetate weed seeds, and thus 
destroy them when ridge-ploughing. If, however, the soil is foul 
with couch the land should either be rafter-ploughed or only clean- 
ploughed 3 inches deep, so that when the scarifier is set to work 
crossways it may move all the ground and comb out the couch grass 
and weeds. If the land is light and dry Howard’s self-lifting drag 
will do the work as well or better than Coleman’s scarifier, and 
certainly with much less horse power. Whenever the land is dry 
enough horse-hoeing the Turnips must be done, and if too thick in 
the lines the hoe may be run across the rows if the hand-hoers 
cannot be obtained or busy with other work. A great breadth of 
land seeded to Clover and grasses has unfortunately failed in plant 
owing to the extreme drought which prevailed in the spring and sum¬ 
mer months. It is well, therefore, to sow Trifolium and Italian Rye 
Grass seed wherever vacancies occur, and be harrowed in with several 
tines of the iron harrows, but finishing off by using the heavy roller. 
The early and late winter Vetches may now be both sown before the 
seeding of Wheat and the tillage preparation requisite is commenced. 
Stubble Turnips may still be sown, for although they will not give 
much bulb, yet when the plants are left thick on the land, and 
