302 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. \ September 29, 1881, 
cattle at this period, but we have never hesitated in doing so in the 
month of September, the safeguard being pulling a week or ten days 
before using and feeding with a diminished quantity, together with 
barley or bean meal, instead of cake, or mixed with it. Many half¬ 
fat bullocks not good enough for the butcher will now be offered in 
the markets for sale, and these are the best to buy and put into the 
boxes for winter fattening, for they will make more profit than poor 
animals, however cheaply they may be purchased. The dairy cows 
have lately done well owing to the flush of grass produced by the 
heavy rains in August. The rainfall of that month, we understand, 
amounted to 7 inches. All these may do fairly for some time yet 
without supplementary food, but they should be carefully watched 
as to the milk they yield, for if it diminishes much the cows should 
have Cabbage, cotton cake, or meal, in order to lengthen the milking 
period. As soon, however, as they go dry they should be moderately 
fed without allowing them to gain flesh; it is from this cause that 
so many fine well-doing animals come to grief at calving time; for 
when they lay on fat internally during pregnancy they are more 
likely to suffer seriously either before or just after dropping their 
calves. All the young cattle, both yearlings and two years off, have 
done well lately. The only fear is that they may be attacked with 
quarter-ill, for although there is no remedy for this complaint it may 
often be prevented by allowing the animals a dry pasture as a night 
lair. The down ewes of every sort, which are now seasoned in lamb, 
should be kept with great regularity and moderately, for it is in the 
early stages of pregnancy that irregular or over-feeding is likely to 
produce abortion. This, however, is not so likely to occur with the 
long-wooiled ewes which are fed chiefly on grass at this time of year. 
The homed Dorset and Somerset ewes are now near their lambing 
time—at least, those kept entirely for the production of the earliest 
lambs ; still they should be only moderately fed until after yeaning 
time. 
VARIETIES. 
We are desired to state that the next Tredegar Show will be 
held on Tuesday and Wednesday the 22nd and 23rd November next, 
the entries closing on Monday, October 31st, 1881. 
- The poultry and Pigeon fancy seems to be extending to the 
Cape Colony. Possibly the presence there of General Hassard may 
have had something to dc with this. Not long ago we heard of a 
show being held, and we now learn that ten White Pantails from the 
lofts of Mr. O. E. Cresswell have lately started for the Cape. 
- We have the schedule of the Oxford Show, to be held on 
October 26th and 27th, differing little from that of last year. Ducks 
are well treated with six classes ; Dragoons have sixteen classes, 
Antwerps nine, Homers four, Turbits nine, ifec. 
- American Wheat. —It may now be accepted as certain that 
the quantity of Wheat available for export from the United States 
during the present season will fall far short of the exports for last year. 
The crop of 1880 amounted to 480,000,000 bushels ; the crop of the 
present year is put at 355,000,000 bushels. Assuming that the re¬ 
serve of seven million quarters left from former crops is drawn upon 
to some extent, and making allowance for the greater economy 
begotten of high prices, it is possible that, as in previous years, a 
third of the total yield may be available for export, but even then 
there would be a falling-off of very nearly 120,000,000 bushels. The 
crop, too, has not been secured in good condition. It is expected in 
America that the value of Wheat during the next six months will 
be 20 per cent, higher than during the corresponding period of last 
year. 
-Agricultural Statistics of Ireland for 1881.—The 
Registrar-General has just issued his annual general abstracts of the 
agricultural statistics of Ireland for the current year. “ These ab¬ 
stracts,” says the Irish Farmers' Gazette, “ reveal a more satisfactory 
state of matters than many would expect to find in Ireland at the 
present moment. They show that in spite of all the so-called distress 
and the terrible agitation which we have heard so much about, the 
actual condition of the country in a purely agricultural sense has 
within the past twelve months made some actual progress. Com¬ 
pared with last year the area under Wheat shows an increase of 
5301 acres ; Oats an increase of 10,437 acres ; Bere and Rye an in¬ 
crease of 789 acres; Beans and Peas an increase'of 1737 acres; and 
Barley a decrease of 7864 acres. There is thus in cereal crops a nett 
increase of 10,400 acres. Green crops show a still larger increase— 
namely, 21,755 acres ; but this is wholly due to a very large increase 
in the area under Potatoes, which is stated to be 33,643 acres more 
than in 1880. The larger breadth under Potatoes this year is perhaps 
mainly due to the plentiful supply of first-rate seed which the excel¬ 
lent crop of last year left in the country, and the renewed confidence 
which the great success of imported seed had imparted. The area 
under Mangold Wurtzel and Beet shows an increase of 3347 acres, 
and Vetches and Rape an increase of 839 acres ; while in Turnips 
there is a decrease of no less than 7460 acres. In Cabbage there is a 
decrease of 7868 acres, and in other green crops a decrease of 756 
acres. The decline shown in the Flax crop will to many be the most 
surprising feature of the abstracts. The area under Flax this last 
year is given at 147,085 acres, or no fewer than 10,455 acres less than 
in 1880. Total increase in the total extent of land under crops in 1881, 
110,277 acres. It is exceedingly satisfactory to find in the stock of 
cattle an increase amounting to 32,962. In pigs there is an increase of 
237,772; but in sheep there is a decrease of no fewer than 303,880— 
a circumstance that must be attributed almost entirely to the terrible 
prevalence of rot and other diseases.” 
- Irish Butter at the Dairy Show. —The following letter 
appeared in the Times of September 17th from Messrs. James Hudson 
and James Carter, the Judges of Irish butters at the Agricultural 
Hall last week :—“ That there should be, in addition to the four 
prizes, fifteen exhibits very highly commended, thirty-one highly 
commended, and ten commended (and each one worthy of a prize) 
out of 141.'entries, is a significant proof that Irish dairymen have not 
been slow to avail themselves of the opportunities afforded them by 
the instructions practically placed at their disposal by their agri¬ 
cultural society and by the teaching of such men as Canon Bagot 
and Mr. Robertson. In our experience we have never before seen 
such a fine display of Irish butter as the class referred to, nor one 
more likely to stimulate the consumption in this metropolis and its 
surroundings. There are a few specimens without any salt at all; but, 
with one exception, they are not good, which only confirms the ex¬ 
perience of years that Irish butter of fine quality needs from one per 
cent, (or 1 oz. to 7 lbs.) of salt (not more) to preserve it, as Irish 
grass is weak owing to so much moisture. Our Irish friends are 
doubtless now convinced that, by indiscriminate use of salt, want of 
care in churning, indifference to scrupulous cleanliness, and not 
adopting packages to meet the requirements of the day, they have 
encouraged a prejudice which they now have the opportunity of 
altogether eradicating ; and it is our firm opinion that if the result of 
this Show is only an earnest of what is likely to follow, there will be 
such an extended field for dairy operations in the sister country as 
will open up for it a most glorious future.” 
- American Meat in London. —“ It would be interesting,” says 
the Daily News, “ to be informed what has become of the American 
meat sold out of the Central Market since the trade began in 1876. 
How much of it has been retailed as English meat at English prices ? 
Our readers may be surprised to hear that up to the end of last 
month there has passed through the Central Market a grand total 
of 108,025 tons of American meat, as certified by Superintendent 
Stephens. Every year the American imports have increased with a 
steady strong stride. In 1876 there were received 5513 tons ; in 
1877, 14,641 tons ; in 1878, 19,370 tons ; in 1879, 20,751 tons ; in 1880, 
25,836 tons. During the present year the increase has been still going 
on, so that, though there has been a temporary relaxation of imports 
during the past few weeks, there have, from January to August 
inclusive, been received 21,914 tons, being 3163 tons more than during 
the corresponding period of last year. These figures, it should be 
remembered, refer only to dead meat, and ihere remains to be added 
the live stock slaughtered at Deptford. The increase in this direction 
is as remarkable as the other. In 1879, for example, there were 
killed at Deptford 28,615 American beasts and 10,457 sheep; last 
year the numbers were 63,704 beeves nd 21,703 muttons. It would 
be a boon to the general public if the Markets Committee, who will 
be asked to inquire into the question of wilful obstruction, would, 
while they are about it, try and discover to what extent the ordinary 
consumer has benefited by this enormous importation of cheap beef 
and mutton during the past five years, if indeed he has benefited 
at all.” 
