256 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 15, 1881. 
that Mr. Knowles’ plan is preferable as a farm practice. Our 
opinion, however, refers principally to the saving of hay, for we 
should prefer Mr. Gibbs’ plan of drying before stacking for corn, 
simply because we cannot allow a corn stack to ferment and heat 
without deteriorating the grain more or less, whether of Wheat, 
Barley, Rye, or Oats for all useful purposes in consumption, as 
well as that of seeding the land for a future crop. 
It is important to consider how often we have suffered seriously 
from the effects of wet seasons at haytime and harvest. In refer¬ 
ring to the past we find it recorded that from the end of Septem¬ 
ber, 1878, to the same date in 1879, which is the real agricultural 
year, we had no less than 41 inches of rain—about one-third over 
the average, and the excess was unfortunately received during the 
months of June, July, and August, in which we had an excess of 
rain in each month of more than double the average, 1 inch of rain 
meaning as nearly as possible 100 tons of water per acre. Thus it 
is we have to go back more than sixty years before we can find a 
parallel, or a year equally wet and disastrous. For although by 
the excess of wet injury was produced both in haying and harvest, 
yet by a very low temperature and deficient sunshine probably a 
still greater injury was inflicted upon the various agricultural 
products and operations. A wet harvest means a wet August, 
which we have experienced this year, and probably more injury 
or quite as much has been done by sprouting and staining the 
corn in the southern and midland counties than in 1879. We 
have no occupation at present so much concerned in the weather 
as agricultural pursuits. Formerly the working of mills depended 
very much upon water power and its supply in the summer 
months, before steam was introduced, particularly in the north of 
England. There were formerly a vast number of silk, cotton, and 
woollen manufactories carried on by water power, which depended 
on the rainfall, therefore any excess of rain at the haying and 
harvest periods now seriously affects agriculture more than any 
other pursuit. There are several important facts connected with 
the rainfall which it is important to point out. One reason why 
greater precautions are not taken to secure a better harvest both 
for hay and corn, especially in the southern and south-eastern 
counties, is the amount of uncertainty which prevails in regard to 
the weather ; for if we could tell on the beginning of August what 
sort of weather would prevail during that month we could then 
tell what was the best system to pursue. 
We have found that in the course of thirty-eight years, includ¬ 
ing 1879, we have had ten wet harvests—not all very wet, or suffi¬ 
cient to sprout the corn, but wet compared with harvests generally. 
This is one in about every four years, whereas we only find the 
corn sprouted or seriously deteriorated about once in eight years. 
These facts induce many farmers to become careless in regard to 
other years, relying on this calculation, although the excess of 
rainfall by no means occurs at any particular period, for they may 
appear as they have done lately within a few years, or be deferred 
to a period of ten years or more. Hence the peculiar and uncer¬ 
tain position of the home farmer, demanding of him not only 
great industry, but constant apprehension of coming events, to 
meet which no time should ever be lost to make bay while the sun 
shines, or stack the corn when in condition at the earliest oppor¬ 
tunity. Delays in his calling are always dangerous ; at the same 
time, to say when the hay or the corn is fit for stacking should not 
be a matter of guess, but be decided upon anamouut of experience 
which young beginners cannot have, hence the necessity of atten¬ 
tion to the writings and doings of those who have gone before them. 
As regards hay, we would rather have it under-made than over-dry ; 
the same in cutting grass for hay, we would rather have it young 
and growing than approaching a seed stem. Again, with regard 
to corn, we would rather cut any kind of grain early so that the 
hardening process of the grain may be effected in the sheaf, or, 
what is better, in the stack, if we are satisfied that it will not heat 
in consequence of weeds, &c., contained in the bulk, for we have 
always obtained the best samples of grain when the ripening pro¬ 
cess was completed in the stack. 
The next point deserving attention is how to proceed when com 
has taken rain after being cut, and we can name two special 
instances, for in the years 1848 and 1852 we know that we bad 
Wheat standing in stook which received a month of rainy weather, 
quite sufficient to prevent stacking, yet where farmers bad patience 
a spell of fine weather came in both seasons, enabling them to rick 
the corn with the grain unsprouted and in sound heavy condition. 
We certainly advocate the erection on home farms of hay and corn 
barns, the roof and pillars of iron ; not all exactly at the home¬ 
stead, for we object to large quantities of produce of hay and corn 
standing contiguously in a rickyard ; but they may be placed on 
convenient sites to be found upon every farm. We consider this 
more advisable than ever, for we cannot afford to wait the con¬ 
venience of a professional thatcher without great risk, nor can we 
now educate the labourers into thatchers as we have done for a 
great many years, for after having taught them their work they 
will leave work without notice, at great inconvenience to the 
farmer. Building ricks, both of hay and corn, is nothing like so 
neatly and economically done as formerly; still, as it must in many 
instances be done, it is a matter in which the roofing of them is 
of the greatest consequence, such as making the roof with the 
sheaf butts sloping like thatch. Lastly, we recommend, under 
difficulties which may occur sometimes, the plan of putting a por¬ 
tion of the crops into small temporary stacks in the field, both of 
hay and corn, as in Scotland, Wales, and the northern counties. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—When not engaged in harvest work horses should 
now be employed in seeding and working the land for Trifolium and 
Yetches. Many fields of young Clover will be found thin of plants in 
consequence of the dry summer; these may be resown with Trifolium 
and only harrowed in with two or three of the iron harrow tines and 
rolled down, because the few remaining plants of Clover and grass 
will be saved and grow together as a mixed crop for either hay or 
feeding. The autumn cultivation of stubbles should now be con¬ 
tinued daily with steam power, and by using the cultivator about 
8 inches in depth, or as deep as the previous ploughing was done, 
both longways and crossways, it will bring on the surface where 
couch grass is found a large portion of it in lumps and clods of 
various si7.es, and thus enable the horses to follow up the work by 
using Howard’s self-lifting drag and the two-horse roller by turns— 
about two draggings between each rolling. This work may be con¬ 
tinued until all the couch is combed out and disposed of either by 
burning in the field or carting away to a heap to become decayed and 
mellow. We prefer the latter plan, for it can be done during all 
kinds of weather except excessive rains, and also save a portion of 
the work necessary to reduce the couch into a condition for burning. 
At intervals some horses may be employed in drawing dung from the 
homestead on to the Clover leas ready to be ploughed in for Wheat ; 
and if it is properly spread the land may be ploughed and pressed by 
steam power, as the rains of August have reduced the land to a moist 
and favourable condition for ploughing. This may be deferred until 
the autumn tillage is nearly completed, for it may be done in rainy 
weather, whereas autumn tillage can only be done and should be 
continued as long as the weather is dry and the land free to work. 
The home farmer will now require to look for seed Wheat, and 
decide upon the sorts best suited to his soil as dictated by his own 
experience. If he has but little experience to rely upon he will have 
noticed, or should have done so, those varieties which have succeeded 
best in the vicinity of the home farm, for there is always something 
to be learnt by an inquiring mind from looking over the hedge and 
observing what is being done by his neighbours. Upon light hill 
lands we find that those sorts of Wheat answer well which throw a 
good bulk of straw, such as the Champion White from Berkshire, 
Morton’s Red Straw White from Gloucestershire, and the Golden 
Drop Red Wheat grown in many districts. Upon good loamy or 
mixed soils in high condition and likely to grow a bulky crop of 
straw in a favourable season, we recommend the Club-headed Rough 
Chaff from Essex, as it not only grows very short in the straw but 
also very thick on the ground, and is seldom laid by storms to injure 
the yield. At the same time the grain is of the finest quality for the 
miller. On cold strong lands we find Nursery, a red Wheat with white 
straw and chaff as grown in Sussex and Hampshire, a hardy sort, 
which will retain plant better under difficulties than any variety with 
which we are acquainted. It is also well adapted for hill lands where 
much exposed, and it also produces the finest quality of all the varie¬ 
ties of Red Wheat. We have called attention to the selection of 
sorts of Wheat, anticipating the seed time. It is, however, now full 
time to be sowing winter Oats, winter Barley, and Rye, and we prefer 
the Giant or St. John’s Day Rye to the ordinary sort, especially in 
loamy and good soil; but on hill lands under exposure to bleak winds 
the ordinary kind is more reliable, it being hardier than the first- 
named sort. 
Hand Labour .—There is still some Turnip-hoeing to be done, and 
the sooner it is completed the better. If, however, the plants are not 
likely to thrive well they may only be dragged, so that numbers may 
tell instead of large roots, especially when required to remain during 
the winter for spring feeding to be followed by a crop of Mangold, or 
when required to be plough d in for manure. We find when passed 
through an old cutter, and ploughed in and spread evenly, and the 
land pressed, it is a good preparation for Lent corn, especially upon 
mixed soils which will not bear the sheep in a wet season. Hedge¬ 
trimming should now be finished. Thatching buildings may now be 
done with advantage while the straw is new and tough. 
Live Stock .—Sheep may now be purchased, especially the lambs to 
be wintered and sold as mutton in the spring. The down ewes either 
from Wilts, Hants, Dorset, or Sussex intended for producing the 
early lambs at Easter may now have the rams removed from the 
flock, so that no lambs may fall later than the middle of February. 
We prefer to place all those ewes not in lamb upon root-feeding, cake, 
&c., to come out as early mutton instead of bringing a late lamb, that 
being against the successful feeding of ewes and lambs and selling 
them fat together. The long-woolled flocks will have the rams run¬ 
ning with them for a month or six weeks longer yet, for in the grass 
