264 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 11, 1884. 
matter ? Now is the time, as the summer crops are cleared from the 
fields, to attend to the drainage of arable land ; and it is of such 
importance that its consideration might well have been taken for our 
first brief chapter on land tillage after harvest. Manure the soil to 
fatness, stir surface and subsoil as deeply and repeatedly as you 
please, but without drainage vain will be your efforts to obtain full 
crops. Why ? It is all very well for authorities to tell us that 
drainage is the foundation of agricultural progress, but ought we to 
put implicit faith in such assertions without absolute proof of its 
correctness derived from our own practice and observations ? 
Certainly not, nor have we any difficulty in obtaining such proof. 
It abounds on all sides of us, and is patent to very ordinary intelli¬ 
gence ; yet a short time ago we actually heard the owner of an estate 
containing several farms declare how greatly he should feel obliged 
to anyone who would show him how wet land abounding with coarse 
herbage and rushes could be made sound and productive of fine 
nutritious grass ? 
How frequently one hears the term “ cold wet land." Why 
cold ? Because the water which should be withdrawn from the soil 
bj^ drainage can only escape from it by evaporation, and this constant 
evaporation of moisture many degrees below the temperature of the 
atmosphere keeps the soil cold, just as the subsoil is kept cold by the 
body of water remaining in it. Gisborne long ago taught us that a 
hundred pounds of soil saturated with water which can only escape 
from it by evaporation, after a pint of water has so escaped from it 
is 10° colder than it would have been had the water passed quickly 
from it by filtration. Often have we witnessed the baneful effect 
of such coldness of the soil upon the plants existing in it, and the 
puzzled looks of the farmer whose deep ploughing and heavy dressing 
of manure, clean land, and good seed bed tell so little upon the crop. 
He tries to account for it by vague remarks about the coldness of the 
land, and but too often fails utterly to understand the reason why 
his efforts are thus rendered futile or so very moderately successful 
that it is difficult to see what margin of profit he can realise upon 
his gross expenditure. Yet he has only to put in drains and the 
effect is magical. It prevents constant evaporation ; it removes 
water comparatively cold from the soil, and makes room for warm 
air, so that the temperature of the soil wherein the roots are spreading 
and of the surface among the young plants is so much elevated that 
an early, brisk, strong growth is the result. The well-drained soil 
also becomes firm as well as warm ; early and late frost ceases to be 
so prevalent as it was when the land was cold, soft, and wet, and 
the tender crops are proportionately less liable to injury. The mind 
has only to grasp this fact clearly and fully, and the conviction 
must follow that drainage is the foundation of agricultural progress. 
Ten yards apart and 4 feet deep has with good reason been given 
as the proper distance and depth for land drainage generally. 
Exception has been taken to both the depth and distance for drains 
in strong clay ; but this should not be done lightly, for the matter 
was well considered at the outset; and the adoption of more shallow 
drains, while it leads to a more prompt and rapid withdrawal of 
surface water from the soil, also involves the risk of water rising to 
the surface by capillarj'’ attraction to the exclusion of the air, render¬ 
ing the soil so cold as to practically defeat the end and aim of 
drainage. Let us see how this unsatisfactory state of things is 
possible. The bottom of the drains is the level of the water-table, 
and when it is remembered that the mean temperature at about 2 feet 
below the water-table is 48°, it will easily be seen how if water can 
rise by attraction from the water-table into the surface soil during 
the season of growth it must reduce the temperature so much as to 
seriously affect growth. It was undoubtedly a knowledge of this 
important fact which led to the adoption of 4 feet as the best general 
depth, because it would keep the water-table so far from the surface 
as to prevent the spread of moisture by attraction from it sufficiently 
to render the plants safe, capillary attraction only taking place 
within certain ascertained limits. Fill a small flower pot with soil, 
stand it in a pan of water, the water at once rises in the soil by 
gravity to the level of the water in the pan—that is the water-table, 
whence it rises and spreads in the soil by attraction. By keeping the 
pan filled with water and using a pot of sufficient depth we can readily 
ascertain the limit of capillary attraction in any soil. We have 
explained this matter fully, because whereas we have heard objection 
taken to deep drains no mention has been made of it, and yet its 
importance is unquestionable. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse and Hand Labour .—September is a month of golden oppor' 
tunity for the cultivation and cleaning of the land. We have been 
favoured with exceptionally hot dry weather for saving the corn, and in 
the southern half of England harvest was over before the end of August. 
Tr folium was promptly sown and harrowed in on clean stubbles, as 
showers soon followed in many districts, and by Partridge day land- 
cleaning was in full swing. Upon the land reserved for Wheat-sowing 
two wet places were observed and marked on the drain map last spring, 
for they were unmistakable indications of faults in drains, to be set right 
now. To sow Wheat upon badly drained or undrained land points to 
sluggish growth, and half a crop both of grain and straw, which means 
in these hard times failure and bankruptcy. But with thorough drainage, 
clean land well stirred, timely and correct application of manure, and 
good seed, Wheat-growing still answers. Rye should now be sown at the 
rate of three to four bushels per acre. We have frequently found this 
crop invaluable for affording an early supply of green fodder at that 
critical period of the year—late spring, when the diminished bulk of 
stored fodder shows the effects of a long winter’s feeding, and pastures 
are backward. Harvest followed haying so quickly this year that much 
work usually done between has been left. Hoeing and thinning of late 
Turnips, hedge-clipping, cutting a grubbing of brambles in pastures, the 
mowing of litter wherever it is to be had, we get many waggonloads 
from the rides and tracks in the woods now as they are being cleared 
in readiness for pheasant-shooting. Thistle and Dock spudding should 
now be done thoroughly; we have found pulling Thistles now to be 
possible as the ground softens by rain, and the plan certainly answers, 
very few Thistles coming again. Manure heaps are being turned, and 
the manure well shaken to pieces in readiness for carting upon grass 
land, which will be done as the cattle are taken into the yards next 
month. 
Lire Stock .—Recent showers have brought a serious drought to an 
end. Pastures are freshening so much that a slight immediate reaction in 
prices is probable. The depression in the sheep trade has been remark¬ 
able ; throughout July and August prices had a downward tendency, so 
that the best lambs reserved for late fairs were sold at a reduction of 
105. to 125. upon last year’s prices. At Hungerford sheep fair a lot of 
two-tooth ewes bought last year as lambs for 455. were actually sold for 
475., and the trade generally ruled 205. a head less than last year. Twice 
recently the thermometer has fallen to 40° at night, warning us of the 
approach of colder nights. Horses have been taken into lodges and 
stables at night, cold and wet being bad for all of them, especially for old 
horses liable to suffer from rheumatism. Channel Island cattle are 
always somewhat delicate, and should never be much exposed to inclenaent 
weather ; calves and yearlings of all breeds have had lodges to run into 
all the summer, and now cattle in preparation for the butcher have a 
couple of lodges bedded with litter for them at night. 
Poultry .—Fowls are moulting so early that the supply of eggs has 
fallen considerably. Our early pullets hatched in April are already laying. 
The May pullets will begin by the end of the month, and all of the white 
and coloured Dorking pullets will afford a nice supply of eggs throughout 
winter. Six months is considered the usual age for pullets to begin 
laying. We attribute our clear gain of a month to careful regular feeding, 
the first meal being given soon after 5 A.M. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Barberry Jam (J. S .).—The following is a good recipe for making the 
jam :—Pick the Barberries clean, bake them in an earthen pan, and when 
done pass them through a sieve with a wooden spoon ; add to them their 
equal weight of pounded sugar. Mix the whole and put it into pots covered 
with sifted sugar, the papers dipped in brandy. It is very wholesome, and so 
also is jam made from the fruit of Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolia, the jam of 
this species being considered good for sore throats. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
C.4MDBX Square, London. 
Lat.51° 32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
a A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
*5 
a 
1884. 
August 
and 
September. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32« 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
1 Temp, of 
1 Soil at 
1 1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
Ill 
SUQ. 
Oa 
ffrass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 
31 
29.821 
6.1.4 
62.6 
S.E. 
61.1 
68.6 
58.3 
86.7 
.58.4 
0.180 
Monday. 
1 
20.r>,')(? 
59.6 
58-4 
S.W. 
61.7 
67.0 
57.9 
100.2 
57.7 
02114 
Tuesday. 
2 
29.768 
60.4 
55.») 
S.E. 
60.9 
68 2 
53 8 
107.6 
49.2 
0.1.58 
Wednesday .. 
3 
29.73G 
59.2 
5-..2 
E. 
60.0 
68.2 
47.2 
99.2 
42.4 
0.573 
Thursday .... 
4 
29.420 
53.8 
53.3 
IST. 
59.5 
62.8 
51.6 
79.8 
62.6 
0.268 
Friday. 
5 
29.G0fi 
57.8 
52.6 
N.W. 
57.8 
65.6 
44 8 
109 8 
41.2 
— 
Saturday .... 
G 
29,705 
57.6 
52.4 
E. 
57.2 
62.7 
43.1 
77.7 
3SA 
0.190 
29.674 
69.1 
55.7 
59.8 
66.2 
51.0 
94.4 
43A 
1.633 
REMARKS. 
31st.—Dull drizzly day. 
1st.—Heavy rain early, and wet till about 2 P.M. ; fair afternoon. 
2nd.—Fine pleasant morning; beavy shower at 0.30 p.m. ; cloudy afternoon. 
Srd.—As a whole dull and showery, but a good deal of sunshine in morning. 
4th.—Very wet early and all the morning ; a little sunshine in late afternoon; clear 
moonlight night. 
5th.—Fine, clear, bright day, and clear moonlight night. 
6th.—Fine sunrise ; dull early ; miserably wet morning ; dull afternoon; wet evening. 
A thoroughly wet week, but with a good deal of pleasant weather interspersed. Tba 
total rainfall during the week was nearly twice that of the whole month of August. 
Temperature 2“^ below that of the preceding week, and just below the average.—Q. J. 
Symons. 
