320 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 2, 18S4. 
unknown except in a few localities. Pork, which at wholesale rates 
is not worth more than 4fZ. to ^d. per lb., is worth quite half as much 
more as bacon. 
We are fully aware that in some districts the land is considered 
only suitable for corn-growing. Well will it be if dire necessily 
leads even there to the substitution of green and root crops for much 
of the corn, so that dairy farming and meat-making—aye, even of 
mutton and beef, may be done profitably, as it undoubtedly can be. 
No doubt the price of sheep has been seriously lowered by the drought, 
but with an abundance of autumn keep prices are rising, and it should 
not be forgotten that within the past forty-one years there have been 
four instances wherein the drought has been more severe than during 
the late summer : this was in 1844, 1847, 1870, and 1874. 
It is certain that corn-growing will not die out. Well will it be, 
therefore, to aim both at improved culture and greater economy. 
Professor Jamieson’s prescription for corn manure is a step in that 
direction ; a smaller outlay for labour must be another. We have 
now a light yet powerful horse hoe, which will contract to 1 or 
expand to 3 feet, doing work which the unwieldy old tool of wood 
and iron could not touch, also many other improved forms of imple¬ 
ments. Self-binding reaping machines must also come into general 
use. It may be well to quote some examples of reports of work done 
by them this season. “ A Sutfolk farmer cut and tied 200 acres of 
Wheat and Barley in fifteen days ; and a Spalding farmer, who has 
dealt with 175 acres, considers that the machine would soon pay for 
itself in a saving of shattered grain, which would be wasted but for 
its use, as with one of these implements on the farm crops need not 
be allowed to get overripe, as in many cases they do at pi’esent. But 
the chief economy is, of course, in the saving of labour, in which 
respect one practical man, after a season’s trial, states decidedly that 
on a large farm a machine would pay for its purchase by two years’ 
employment. The way in which such a saving may be effected is 
illustrated very forcibly by the testimony of a farmer near Grantham, 
who in six days secured no less than ninety-two acres of corn, the 
whole of which was thatched over in ricks at the end of that period. 
In commencing he set both the self-binding machine and a .self¬ 
delivery reaper to work in adjoining fields, most of the hands on the 
farm being required to follow the latter to tie up the sheaves ; but as 
soon as the first cut grain was fit to carry the self-delivery reaper was 
stopped, and all the labourers but one set to work at carting and 
stacking. The single man not so employed was reserved to manage 
the self-binding reaper and keep it going, drawn by three horses, by 
which agency alone from nine to twelve acres per day were cut and 
tied all the time carting and stacking were in active progress.” 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Live Stock .—October is frequently stormy and wet; the fall of rain 
exceeds that of any other month ; the decrease of temperature is consider¬ 
able. This note of warning is given as a reminder that arrangements for 
the winter quarters of live stock should now be finished, so that the yards 
may be available at once if the weather becomes broken and cold. The 
abundant growth of grass upon brook and marsh lands is a strong tempta¬ 
tion to keep stock out upon it through the present month, and while the 
weather holds mild and dry it may be done with advantage, and no longer. 
Many a valuable beast is lost from exposure to cold and wet in autumn. 
Due care must be taken not to crowd animals in the yards, and to 
separate those of difierent ages sufficiently. We have seven yards with 
lodges to each of them, and yet are obliged occasionally to put up divi¬ 
sions to prevent young or weak animals from being driven from the lodges 
and food racks by the stronger ones. Cows and young stock of the 
Channel Island breeds are always i5ut in separate close lodges at night 
from the present time onwards till spring. As an example of how 
quarrelsome and tyrannical cows are, we may mention having once turned 
out in the mmuie of the night while it was snowing heavily to look after 
some lambs, and in passing the cow yard we found a valuable young 
Alderney cow that had been driven out of the deep snug open lodge, and 
it was evidently afraid to return, for it was standing against the side of a 
barn for shelter, with snow falling fast upon it. It caught a cold that 
night from which it never recovered, and its loss added one more valuable 
item to our dear-bought experience. Although Jerseys and Alderneys 
give very rich milk, yet the extra care and high feeding necessary to keep 
them in condition is not to be ignored, and we consider the larger and 
more vigorous Guernseys to be infintely preferable. For general pur¬ 
poses a cross-bred cow between the Guernsey and Shorthorn is un¬ 
doubtedly best, but much care is required in the selection of suitable 
animals for the crossing. A huge Shorthorn cow only giving ten or 
twelve quarts of milk daily is certainly not profitable. 
Horse and Hand Labour .—Ploughing for Wheat sowing is now being 
pressed forward, winter tares and Oats will now also be sown. The 
roller has been passed over the Rye and Trifolium, both which crops are 
in excellent condition. Root crops have made a remarkable growth 
during the past few weeks, and althou 2 h roots generally will be light, yet 
the crop, especially of Mangolds, will be a fair one. The steam saw has 
been in use for several days upon timber required for posts, gates, fencing, 
and scantling for the carpenter’s shop. A stock of fire logs has also been 
sawn in readiness for winter. Pressing necessity induced us to do this. 
or otherwise we prefer keeping such work in abeyance for wet weather, 
several men being required for it when there is much lifting of heavy logs. 
KEPORT OF THE SEED HARVEST OF 1884. 
Red Clover. — The English crop has Just been harvested, good 
average in extent and fine quality promised. 
Estimates of the foreign red crop point generally to an unsatisfactory 
result. The German harvest is as yet incomplete, and late rains are 
doing considerable damage. Reports from Denmark, Italy, and Hungary 
speak of very poor crops ; whilst that of France seems likely to be almost 
a failure in consequence of the abnormally hot summer, and remarkable 
absence of rain during the months of June, July, and August. From 
America we learn that only unimportant quantities were carried over, 
and at present the estimates of the crop are uncertain, and not at all 
propitious. There is every reason to expect last year’s average values to 
be maintained, and probably higher prices reached for red Clover. 
Cow Grass. —Although always a limited crop in extent of cultivation, 
it is anticipated that larger averages than usual are under growth of this 
seed in England this year, and with a continuance of fine weather 
samples may be expected to average the values of last year, but with a 
certainty of sounder vitality. This is an important crop, inasmuch that 
foreign Cow Grass is always of more or less doubtful quality, comparing 
most unfavourably with English-grown seed. Values will probably open 
at last season’s closing prices. 
White Clover. —There is a fair average acreage of English white 
Clover seed, and it has been harvested generally in very fine condition. 
From Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, France, and other continental 
sources, reports are very satisfactory, the crop said to be large, and the 
quality expected to be quite up to the average of previous seasons. Values 
now exhibit favourable comparison with those of 1883-4, but it is not 
improbable that higher prices may be reached when the actual produce 
of the year is correctly estimated. 
Alsike Clover. —English samples are coming forward in excellent 
condition, and the crop is reported to be an abundant one in Europe 
generally. English seed, both of Alsike and white, from the fact of their 
greater purity, show great advantages in value. 
Trefoil is a satisfactory stock both at home and abroad, and very 
moderate quotations are made at present for bright, clean, and bold seed. 
Lucerne. —This is probably the least satisfactory forage crop of the 
year, the extreme heat at a critical period of the season burning up the 
plant. Values a little in advance of last season are readily obtainable. 
Timothy.—A plentiful crop, with samples of very fine quality, is 
reported in Europe, and favourable estimates reach us from the States; 
but the superior character of the “ Home ” article, combined with a large 
crop, will doubtless give sellers of the latter qualities the preference. 
Rye Grass. —English crops of Italian Rye Grass have been secured 
in fine condition, whilst reports from some quarters of the continent 
speak of considerable damage by rain. We anticipate, however, a fair 
average general output at about last year’s quotations. Perennial Rye 
Grass is an abundant crop and of excellent quality, and is offered at 
prices comparing favourably with those opening up the 1883-4 season. 
Rape. —Is not an extensive acreage, and a brisk home demand for 
autumn sowing to make up the deficient crop of spring feed has tended 
to keep values very firm to this date. 
Swede and Turnip. —Crops somewhat thin, but harvested in 
splendid condition—present values favourable to buyers. 
Natural Grasses. —Generally satisfactory as to quantity, but after 
critical examination of many samples of Meadow Fescue, Tall Fescue, 
Sweet Vernal, Meadow Foxtail, Fiorin, Cocksfoot, and Dogstail, there are 
but a very small per-centage exhibiting satisfactory standards of purity, 
so that the most reliable qualities of the above must command high 
values. There will be an abundance of lower quality seed upon the 
market at all ranges of prices. The crop of Hard Fescue, Sheep’s Fescue, 
Poa pratensis, &c., is excellent, and finest samples show very satisfactory 
analysis.— James Carter & Co., 237 and 238, High Holborn, London, 
and Mark Lane. 
meteorological observations. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat.51o 32'40'' N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAT. 
P 
"S 
1884. 
September. 
• Of 
d CO 02 ^ 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
P . 
S P 
B 
5o 
S O'W 
0)00 
8s 
deg. 
61.0 
61.2 
59.7 
58.8 
58.1 
57.7 
57.7 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Mia. 
In 
snn. 
On 
grass. 
Sunday . 21 
Monday.22 
Tuesday.23 
Wednesday .. 24 
Thursday .... 25 
Friday.26 
Saturday .... 27 
Inches. 
29.785 
29.792 
30.207 
80.2 :1 
30.2 16 
29.999 
29.962 
deg. 
60.8 
55.4 
54.8 
58.3 
55.1 
59.9 
57.8 
deg. 
59.8 
52.1 
49.9 
51.2 
52.6 
54.6 
52.9 
E. 
W. 
E. 
E. 
N. 
S.E. 
S. 
deg. 
71.4 
65.2 
63.5 
63.8 
66.6 
66.1 
60.6 
deg. 
51.2 
62.4 
46.5 
45.9 
46.9 
60.2 
47.4 
deg. 
106.3 
112.2 
105.8 
95.1 
108 8 
93.2 
70.1 
deg. 
43.4 
61.3 
41.1 
40.9 
40.8 
43.1 
40.4 
Tn. 
0.052 
0.018 
0.028 
0.031 
0.042 
30.025 
57.4 
53.3 
59.2 
65.3 
49.1 
9S.8 
43.0 
0.171 
REMARKS. 
21st.—Fine, but frequently cloudy. 
22 nd.—Fine, and as a whole bright,but cooler; heavy shower at 5.30 P.M.; fine night. 
23rd.—Dull early ; fine bright cool day. 
24th.—Fair, but cloudy. 
25th.—Fine bright cool morning; cloudy afternoon. 
26th.—Dull, but warmer; spots of rain during the day. 
A r.ather cloudy week, with occasional showers but no heavy or steady rain. Tem¬ 
perature about 8° below that of the previous week, and very nearly that due to the 
season.—G. J. Symons. 
