452 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 13, 1884. 
of those having charge of them. A good bailiff and stockman should 
know each animal in their charge intimately—temper, health, con¬ 
dition, strength should all be noticed critically, and the treatment 
and care be adapted to all special wants. Common wants ought to 
be, and in point of fact are, provided for generally, yet even for 
these there are sometimes many little things wanted, and it is pre¬ 
cisely little ills which lead to great ones. Let us recapitulate im¬ 
portant points in the winter quarters of cattle. We recently saw an 
article setting forth the superior hardiness of Devon cattle, and claim¬ 
ing for them a capability of bearing full exposure out on grass 
throughout winter ; but the writer had the good sense to acknowledge 
that such exposure was owing to a general want of suitable yards 
and buildings upon Devon farms for sheltering cattle in winter. 
For all cattle we claim in winter well-drained, well-littered yards, 
with enough open lodges and close snug sheds to take in all the 
cattle ; sheds whitewashed at least once a year, if possible twice ; 
drinking troughs of brickwork faced with Portland cement, with 
fresh water running through them constantly. Aspects should receive 
attention, and all yards incline to the south. Let there be plenty of 
feeding space both of open cribs out in the yards, and back and side 
cribs in the lodges. The lodges should be fresh littered daily, and 
droppings thrown out morning and night. Never suffer cattle to 
sleep upon sodden or filthy litter. Keep rock salt in all feeding 
cribs. As litter accumulates in the yards drains are liable to become 
choked, and must be occasionally examined. Let bad-tempered cows 
have brass knobs screwed upon the tips of the horns, and keep weak and 
delicate cows away from them. No delicate cow or other young beast 
that is delicate should remain out in the ope^ yard or lodges at night. 
Establish the practice of shutting them in close sheds at night 
regularly from autumn onwards, and it will then be done from force 
of habit ; but it will be done all the better if the mastei’s eye is 
expected to be looking round frequently. 
Working horses stabled for winter require careful grooming, and 
it is our practice often to visit the stables early in the morning to 
see if this has been done. The horses should be dressed and fed, and 
the stables cleaned out before the men go to breakfast. The coat 
of a farm horse often becomes so covered with dust and dirt in a single 
day that without proper grooming there will be considerable risk of 
sores from the friction of the harness. If possible let the horses 
have large loose boxes instead of stalls, often so narrow that they 
have not room to lay down in comfort ; and see that the bedding 
litter is dry and clean. We use dried bracken for this purpose ; it 
makes nice soft beds, and is an excellent substitute for straw. 
Returning to the cattle, we may mention the loss of two yearling 
calves last winter from inflammation of the lungs, caused, we believe, 
by being driven about by stronger animals, and subsequently standing 
while wmrried and heated in an open lodge into which a cold cutting 
wind swept fiercely from the north east. The symptoms are dullness, 
a drooping head, little or no rumination, heaving flanks, a cough, the 
mouth hot, the horns, ears, and feet very cold. It will be seen that 
such losses impel us to be urgent with advice to bestow great care 
upon every detail for the comfort and safety of live stock in winter. 
Cows should be so managed upon the home farm that one or two 
should calve during each month of winter to impart flavour and 
freshness to the butter. If this is not done it is hardly possible for 
the most skilful dairywoman to produce really good butter, good in 
colour as well as in flavour. It is so important to have an abundant 
supply of dairy produce that some fresh cows should be brought 
into the herd every year, and old or faulty ones passed on to the 
butcher. Enough should be brought in to admit of selection, and if 
this is done in winter the older cows may calve in spring or early 
summer, so as to derive full benefit from the grass. A cow newly 
calved is still one of the things a farmer may sell at a profi", so that 
any young ones which it may prove desirable to discard may be sold. 
Another matter worthy of our best attention is to have a good class 
of cows upon the farm, not necessarily costly pedigree animals, and 
either to keep a good bull or take all possible pains to obtain the 
service of one. It costs no more to keep a well-bred animal than it 
does to keep an inferior one, and the superior quality of calves, milk, 
and butter all teil favourably in the balance sheet. 
WOEK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse and, Hand Labour .—Although the culture of Hops is difficult 
and expensive, yet, as affording a crop which does pay when it can b® 
secured in good condition, it is probable that still greater attention wifl 
be given it in the somewhat limited area in which it is found to answer. 
The value of an average crop of 10 cwt. per acre may be stated at £60, a 
very tempting amount in comparison with other farm crops ; but it must 
not be forgotten that the outlay for poles, culture, picking, drying, and 
packing the Hops is also considerable, and that results depend in some 
measure upon weather. It is because November is the best time for Hop 
planting that we now make special mention of it. If strong roots, 
technically termed “ bedded sets,” are phvnted now the plants will become 
sufficiently established to make growth strong enough to run to the top 
of a 10-feet pole, and bear a fair crop next summer ; but if planting is 
not done till next spring the growth will be weak and the crop nil. The 
best sorts are Early Prolific, Grape, Jones, Fuggle’s Goldings, and White 
Bine Colegates. The stations or “hills” are 6 feet apart, with three 
plants to each “ hill,” arranged in the form of an equilateral triangle 
1 foot apart, and each plant requires a separate pole, which is thrust into 
the ground beside it in spring and removed when the Hops are picked. 
The land reserved for planting usually receives an autumn fallow, is 
ploughed deeply, made thoroughly clean, and about a bushel of rich 
farmyard manure mixed with soil at each station ready for the planting. 
Another crop of considerable importance is the Black Currant. To do 
full justice to it a deep rich soil is necessary, and then it developes vigour 
of growth and abundance of fruit that in quantity and value exceeds all 
other fruit. Plant strong stemless bushes now, with the branches 
springing direct from the ground, 6 feet apart. The favourite sorts of 
the Kent fruit-growers are Maples, Green Bud, Baldwin’s, and Lees 
Prolific. 
Mention is made of the Hop and Black Currant as being worthy of 
culture under suitable conditions. Novelty in cropping ought, however, 
to be adopted with caution. The question of profit and loss must not be 
forgotten even upon the home farm. Rigid economy is the order of the 
day now, and it has to be enforced both in horse and hand labour, there¬ 
fore anything of a speculative nature must be avoided. 
PRICKLY COMFREY. 
We have about a quarter of an acre of ground which for some years 
has been employed as a cottage garden, chiefly for the growth of Potatoes, 
and which my employer is now desirous of planting wi h Prickly 
Comfrey, and as I know but little of the plant I should be grateful if 
your agricultural correspondent would give me a little information on the 
following points respecting its culture :—1st, As to the best season for 
planting ; 2nd, The distance the plants should stand from each other ; 
3rd, How long will an established crop be serviceable without renewing 
with young plants. This, and any further information respecting the 
plant you can kindly obtain for me, will be thankfully received.—A. E. 
[Plant strong crowns 2 feet apart now in deep rich soil. The plant is 
perennial and lasts for many years, but it requires a heavy dressing of 
farmyard manure to be dug in between the plants every winter. We have 
a small patch of it containing a hundred strong plants which we planted 
a few years ago in a deep alluvial soil by way of trial, but we have 
not extended the bed to several acres of the same soil as was our original 
intention if it had answered our expectations, which it certainly has not. 
Tt is vigorous in growth, and may be cut for green food three or four 
times during summer, but the only animals that have taken at all kindly 
to it are pigs. Horses, sheep, and cattle refused to eat it, and we have 
practically discontinued its use. It is said that they may be made to eat 
it, but, so far as we have seen, they must first be brought to the verge of 
starvation, and we cannot advocate such a proceeding. If you decide to 
plant some procure strong crowns with roots, not root cuttings, and you 
will obtain a fair crop of it the next summer. We had no trouble in 
procuring strong plants, for the nurseryman who had somewhat rashly 
devoted some space to its propagation to meet a popular cry was appa¬ 
rently glad to get rid of it.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
storing Potatoes {J. S .).—The tubers keep veiy well packed in long and 
rather narrow heaps,[say about 3 feet wide at the base, provided they are 
sound and dry when stored, and are well covered with straw and earth to 
exclude frost. If the land is wet the heaps are best formed on the surface, 
as excavations often act as water traps, in which Potatoes cannot be expected 
to keep well. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Squabe, London. 
Lat.sio 32'40’' N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
» A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
B 
os 
1884. 
November. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32« 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
1 Temp, of 
1 Soil at 
1 I foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Ban. 
On 
grass. 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
III. 
Sunday . 
2 
29.941 
65.4 
53.2 
S.E. 
493 
600 
49.8 
70.8 
43.6 
0.233 
Monday . 
3 
SiMOS 
42.4 
40.2 
N.W 
49.4 
50.4 
884 
81.7 
32.7 
— 
Tuesday. 
4 
29.936 
48.7 
48.0 
E. 
47.3 
56.6 
34.6 
75.4 
25.6 
0.023 
Wednesday .. 
5 
29 928 
53.2 
49.8 
S.E. 
4a5 
59.9 
47.4 
84.6 
43.1 
0.489 
Thursday .... 
6 
30.054 
60.1 
49.4 
N.E. 
49.3 
58.1 
48.7 
58.8 
47.2 
0.106 
Friday. 
7 
29.836 
56.1 
53.3 
E. 
49.7 
60.2 
48 8 
80.1 
42.3 
0.12^> 
Saturday .... 
8 
30.381 
41.9 
41.3 
S.E. 
48.9 
63.5 
369 
76.6 
29.4 
— 
30.026 
49.5 
47.9 
48.9 
57 0 
43.5 
75 4 
37.7 
0.980 
REMARKS. 
2nd.—Generally line and mild till 7.30 P.M., then eold and rainy. 
3rd.-Fine bright day. 
4i.h.—Drizzle early, then fine. 
ath-—Fine and bright till 5 P M ; wet evening. 
fith.—Fog and rain all day. 
7th.—Fine and bright early ; forenoon fair; wet afterwards. 
8lh.—Fine bright morning. 
A calm week with welcome ram ; temperature slightly above the average.—Q. J. 
SXXiONS. 
