490 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ November 23, 1882, 
only upon sowing 6 Its. per acre of the yellow Suckling (Trifolium 
minus), and it became a regular plant all over, but the annual 
Rye Grass died the second year, and very much weakened 
the appearance of the plant. By a mere accident in cutting 
the grass for feeding our horses the men had allowed a portion 
to get over-ripe, and the seed from the Suckling and other sorts 
of grass fell out and struck root so thickly that this portion of 
the pasture proved more productive than any other part for 
many years afterwards, and made good all deficiency caused by 
the dying-out of the annual grasses. 
We wish also to mention the result of successful renovation of 
pasture and park lands upon an estate of 300 acres. We found 
on first looking over the land that it consisted of about 150 acres 
of arable land, and a similar extent of pasture, in the most 
neglected state we had ever seen a property, and our experience 
induced us to adopt what was generally considered at that time a 
most unusual proceeding—namely, to cultivate the whole of the 
arable land without the use of any other manures except artificial 
or hand manures, including, however, the consumption of cake and 
corn by sheep on the root lain. On the other band we decided 
upon the renovation of the pastures, which were almost entirely 
denuded of grass by the constant feeding of horses and sheep, 
which bite so much closer than horned cattle, that there only 
remained a few herbs and Daisy roots to be seen. On these 
pastures the experience we have detailed relating to the effect of 
couch and earth upon grass land induced us to adopt the plan of 
using a compost of earth and chalk mixed with farmyard manure, 
and indeed all other manures not required in the large garden of 
the establishment. After lying about six or eight months, and 
being mixed by turning the heap, this compost laid out in the 
autumn of the year was the only means we used for manuring, 
but the land being so naked and bare we thought it right to sow 
and work-in with the chain harrows 10 lbs. per acre of yellow 
Buckling. Now, this mode of proceeding, together with the 
assistance which we expected and did actually obtain from the 
action of earthworms, proved so beneficial that after three years 
of this management we estimated the letting value of the land 
to have been doubled both as to the arable and pasture upon the 
estate. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—This work is greatly in arrear, and this seed time 
for Wheat reminds us of some past seasons such as we cannot easily 
forget. In 1841 we could on the strong loams and flat clay soils sow 
very little Wheat even during the month of September. Where, 
however, it was sown it did not succeed, and the deficiency of plant 
was fatal to the crop in most instances, for there was no seed time 
with regard to weather from the 1st of September to the 14th of 
December. The years 1852 and 1872 were bad seasons, yet the late- 
sown Wheat maintained the best plant. Therefore if the home farmer 
has sown but little or no Wheat yet, he should not be over-anxious 
about the matter, but wait with patience and be prepared when the 
weather becomes suitable to make the most of every dry day. The 
home farmer should specially consider one point, that when the 
season arrives as to the condition of the land, not to be deterred from 
sowing by reason of the date of either month from November until 
the middle of February. An idea prevails that Wheat should never 
under any circumstances be sown in January ; but from experience 
we say, Sow on the first fair weather which occurs after the 1st of 
October, and in extremely adverse periods it may not occur until 
December, January, or early part of February. After the latter date 
on the average of seasons we should do well to wait and sow Lent 
corn. 
Hand Labour .—Much of this will depend upon the weather, but 
may be taken as fairly represented in our last week’s “ Work on the 
Home Farm.” 
Live Stock .—We fear that many sheep and some cattle may be 
again lost by the coathe or fluke rot this next winter ; but let it be 
remembered that salt is the great, and we may say the only, preven¬ 
tive or remedy; for if the sheep or cattle are only slightly affected, 
salt given, and lumps of rock salt being always within reach of the 
fatting animals, with nourishing food, with a larger proportion of 
hay and less of roots, they may if not seriously affected become fit 
for the butcher. They should be accommodated with dry lairs either 
of boxes for cattle or sheds for sheep, for it is perfectly unreasonable 
to expect diseased animals to recover or get partly fat if they are 
obliged to live in the open fields in the winter months. All cattle 
in the boxes should now be receiving a full allowance of cake, and 
as the cake or corn is increased let the roots be decreased in daily 
allowance down to 5G lbs. per day, and to increase the cake or corn 
in preference to giving them any hay at all, but to give good sweet 
straw ad libitum, with rock salt accessible to every animal at all 
times. The team horses—these ought always to have a lump of salt 
within reach, especially those which receive, as they all should, an 
allowance daily of roots about 12 or 15 lbs. of Mangolds .Swedes, or 
white Carrots, the latter being the best root they can have .and may 
without injury after they become accustomed to it receive a double 
allowance per day, with hay and straw chaff mixed, not forgetting 
two bushels of good oats per week per horse. 
At this time many of the early Dorset and Somerset lambs will 
be strong and able to go upon root-feeding if the land is dry, such 
as sand, limestone, or gravel and dry loams. They will require the 
best possible system of feeding, not only for their sake, but for that 
of the ewes also, when it is intended as usual to fatten both together, 
so that they may be sold at the same time, or nearly so. To make 
or rear and feed first-class quality of early lambs for sale at the 
period from Christmas to Easter is a matter requiring not only 
great personal attention to details of feeding, but also a course of 
management to secure the health of the animals. When the ewes 
and lambs are kept entirely in the open fields they are subject to 
certain disorders, some of which may be avoided. At about three 
weeks or a month old the lambs will be strong enough to be put 
on root and trough feeding in advance of the ewes, but before this 
they ought to be docked of their tails to about 4 inches in length, 
and the ram lambs castrated. On recovery from this operation they 
may then be fed in fold in advance of the ewes, the use of which 
they will have previously shown and taught on their grass lairs. It 
is very important when lambs and ewes are feeding on roots that the 
ewes should have their roots cut with Gardener’s cutter, and have 
the cake or corn given in the meal state mixed with the roots, 
instead of giving cake with hay chaff, which is best given by itself. 
The fold for feeding the lambs in advance should be entirely cleared 
of all roots and greens, the object being not to allow the lambs to 
run out into the Turnip or Swede greens, which is often detrimental 
in the event of frost or snow. As the fold will confine the lambs 
within reasonable bounds, it will be more likely to induce than to 
resort to the troughs, especially if they are covered, as they ought to 
be ; for young lambs will go to the covered troughs for shelter often¬ 
times, and will be then enticed into feeding at the earliest period. 
This is a matter of the greatest importance, because the more choice 
food they can be induced to eat at the trough the less milk they will 
require from the ewes. To induce the lambs to eat at the earliest 
period it is important that the food should have an agreeable aroma 
like white Carrots, the next best food for them would be white hearts 
of Cabbages. At any rate the rooc food must be cut into small pieces, 
which is done with a hook into the cutter and then passing the root 
pieces twice through the cutter, which, if carefully done, the small dice¬ 
like fragments will be readily eaten by the youngest lambs, especially 
when mixed with the best Russian or American oilcake meal and 
bean meal in the proportion of two-thirds cake and one-third bean 
meal. This is a desirable mixture, because the lambs cannot then 
eat their roots without eating a quantity of the superior kind of food, 
which it is difficult to get them to eat at the early period, either by 
itself or in admixture with hay chaff. We cannot name any quantity 
of food for lambs, because they ought never to see an empty trough, 
but be fed twice a day, and what they do not eat readily should be 
removed and given to the ewes. As the lambs ought never to feed 
from the same troughs as the ewes, the lambs should be fed in ad¬ 
vance of the ewes, and the lamb gate stopped until the ewes have 
eaten their bait, and which, to prevent waste, they always ought 
to do before leaving the trough. 
Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show.— The entries for the 
show of 1881 were the largest ever received for the Exhibition, and 
the total this year, 3320, is slightly in excess of last year. There 
is little material change in the numbers in the agricultural depart¬ 
ment, those for sheep and pigs showing a slight increase, whilst the 
cattle are over an average. Roots, corn, and Potatoes are equal to, 
poultry are in advance of, and Pigeons slightly under, last year. We 
understand that Shorthorns and Herefords will be both well repre¬ 
sented. Some of the Devon classes will be much stronger than usual; 
Scots and Crosses muster well, with good reputations from over the 
border, and the Sussex and Norfolk men will for the first time try 
their Red Polled beasts, with a view to induce the Council to give 
them classes in the future. Birmingham is the only place to see 
Shropshire wethers to advantage, and nearly a hundred of these 
favourite sheep will be penned. There is a full show of pigs, Tarn- 
worths being in great force. The railway companies are now fully 
alive to the importance of the Exhibition, and excursions are pro¬ 
mised from all parts of the London and North-Western, Midland, and 
Great Western systems. The judging is on Saturday the 25th, open 
to life members free, the general public paying 10s. for the privilege 
of seeing the awards made. 
M 
POULTRY NOTES. 
We understand that since judging Pigeons at the Crystal Palace, 
Mr. T. C. Burnell has left England for some months for the south of 
Europe, and has cancelled all his judging engagements. His place at 
Birmingham will be taken on Saturday by Mr. O. E. Cresswell. 
There seemed little competition at the Crystal Palace auction sale 
