60 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 15, 1880. 
water in summer time, that enough cannot be obtained ; we there¬ 
fore recommend that the farm roads and parish roads are near 
the water tables and ditches should be kept scoured, and made to 
lead into the ordinary ponds ; a thundershower will then often fill 
a pond, whereas if the water is not led into the pond it will go 
in other directions and be lost. Where the pastures have been fed 
we find in various instances that bunches and tufts of rushes appear, 
but now is the time to cut them close with the Gorse scythe, or what 
is better, to cut them up with the turf-cutting implement and burn 
into ashes, because we have found even where the land has been 
drained these tufts of rushes will live on after the subsoil water has 
been removed. The spring Beans are nearly everywhere covered on 
the tops of the stem with the black aphides ; immediately this is seen 
they should be cut up and used as green fodder for cattle, especially 
pigs and young cattle, and the land ploughed and fallowed for wheat, 
except in those instances where Rape or Turnip seed were sown in the 
beans, in which case they may be dragged every few days whilst 
young, which will set them growing fast. 
THE CROPS IN THE MIDLANDS. 
A RUN northwards from London by the Midland railway enables 
the traveller to take a passing glance at the crops, and as it is 
fair to suppose that those by the line side are a type of others 
beyond them in the same district an idea can be formed of their 
general character. The condition of the various crops, meadow, 
grain, and roots at the present time is important for everybody, 
and fortunately all of them have a far better appearance than 
they had at the corresponding period last year. 
For the first few miles we pass through a beautiful undulated 
and well-wooded “ hay country,” nearly all the land being meadow. 
Much of the grass is cut, some being secured. Generally speaking 
the herbage is short, and it is easy to see by the fields that are 
“ down” that the crops are not heavy ; indeed some of them are 
very light, indicating that the land does not receive such generous 
treatment as is desirable. There is no doubt whatever that many 
meadows would be vastly improved by liberal dressings of those 
fertilisers that are known to have such a potent effect, together 
with the sowing at the proper time of such renovating mixtures of 
those grasses and fodder plants that are best adapted to the nature 
of the soil. 
For the next half hour or less the route is through a district 
where arable land prevails, and it must be said where Charlock 
reigns supreme. Many fields are like sheets of gold, and it is no 
exaggeration to say that two-thirds of the cost of such labour and 
manure as are applied to the land are really devoted to the culture 
of this exhausting weed. There is no wonder that farming is un¬ 
profitable under such circumstances ; it would not be lucrative if 
no rent had to be paid for the land. It is not suggested, however, 
that none should be paid, for many an example proves that low 
rents are not conducive to high farming, for more often just the 
contrary is the case. 
We rush on, and after passing through the yellow zone about 
Luton better land, or at any rate, far better farming, is seen. Most 
of the Wheat looks well, not a few of the fields excellent, and 
weather permitting a satisfactory yield may be anticipated. 
Barley and Oats are less promising, many fields being both short 
and thin, only a few having a full and healthy aspect. Beans 
and Peas are generally highly promising, the growth being ample 
and blossom plentiful. With favourable weather for setting the crops 
will be good, as there is a welcome absence of the black fly, which 
has often such a disastrous effect on the former crop. Potatoes, 
except those that were evidently planted late, look remarkably 
strong and healthy ; indeed in this respect they could not be sur¬ 
passed. Dry weather, however, is now wanted, for should the 
rains, which have been so frequent of late continue, and a high 
temperature at the same time prevail, the devastating murrain is 
certain to make its dreaded appearance. Other root crops, such as 
Mangolds and Swedes are regular and apparently healthy—a vast 
improvement on last year ; while the Turnips appear to be coming 
up freely, and the showers have prevented the attacks of the 
“ fly ” which is so ruinous in hot dry weather. 
From Kettering to Manton the scene changes. Not only by 
this route is the journey from London to the great towns of the 
north shortened by half an hour, but one of the most beautiful 
“bits” of pastoral country traversed that is to be seen in the 
kingdom. Far as the eye can reach is a rich panorama gently 
rising and receding until it merges in the misty horizon, which 
is broken by distant hills. In this tract of grazing land extend¬ 
ing almost to the Trent the herbage is fresh, and apparently suffi¬ 
cient for the large herds and flocks with which it is depastured. 
The animals in this district are numerous and have a healthy sleek 
appearance indicative of a thrifty condition. Beyond doubt there 
are more animals in the pastures now than there were last year at 
this time, and they are also in much better condition. As the 
Trent valley is reached meadows again prevail, the grass crops 
being good, but yet green. The ground, naturally moist, has been 
rendered too wet for haymaking by recent rains, and in places has 
been temporarily inundated. The rains in this district and north¬ 
wards have been much heavier than in the south, and the crops are 
much later. 
Altogether agricultural prospects are decidedly brighter now 
than they have been for a long time past, and it is ardently to be 
hoped that we are on the threshold of “ better times ” for thoBe 
engaged in the most important of all industries—the production 
of food for our dense population. 
POULTRY NOTES. 
The Poultry Club. —The Committee of this Club were lately 
severely blamed in some quarters for declining to give a decision 
upon the general management (or mismanagement according to a 
complainant) of the Hemel Hempstead Incubator Contest. The 
Committee having no power to summon witnesses or to put them 
on oath, found it impossible to sift satisfactorily a mass of con¬ 
tradictory assertion. In a sensible and straightforward manner, 
as it seems to us, the Committee candidly pointed out the reason 
of their inability to adjudicate generally upon the case, and con¬ 
fined themselves to exculpating the accused from all mala Jides. 
Curiously enough the Jockey Club is at the present moment in 
exactly the same difficulty upon the intricate and curious 
question of the identity of this year’s winner of the Derby. The 
documents, it seems, which should throw light on the subject, fail 
to do so, and the Club has no power to examine witnesses on oath. 
Poultry v . Railway Companies. —Certain railway companies 
have long been the enemies of exhibitors of poultry and Pigeons. 
They refuse to be common carriers of poultry, and attempt to 
force those who consign live birds to them to sign a declaration 
to the effect that they do so entirely at their own risk. We have 
always believed these byelaws, to which officials point as if they 
were Acts of Parliament, to be entirely ultra vires. From a 
common-sense point of view, having regard to the immense powers 
given to railway companies, and to their having thereby super¬ 
seded all other modes of conveyance, it would seem that they are 
bound to be common carriers of poultry. The Poultry Club took 
legal advice on the point, but failed to get a definite or satisfactory 
opinion. We think that fanciers who have been the victims of 
such byelaws should take heart on reading a decision of the 
Court of Queen’s Bench delivered last week, by which one of the 
most usually accepted byelaws—viz., that a passenger who gets 
into a train without a ticket must pay from the starting point of 
the train, is entirely ultra vires , and so invalid. If byelaws for 
which there seems in common sense some reason are invalid, 
surely such absurd ones as those quoted above are likely to be so. 
Poultry Houses. —Poultry-keepers should look to the roofs 
of their poultry houses. We always find poultry even more liable 
to contract chronic illness from any damp or drip in summer than 
in winter. Dry spring winds often cause felt to crack, and then 
violent showers, such as we have been having of late, make their 
way into the houses. A zinc capping is a good top to a felt roof. 
Summer Poultry Shows. —These seem as numerous this year 
as ever. When they are held in tents and last but one or two 
days they cause little harm or fatigue to the birds, and are inter¬ 
esting as showing who are the most skilful rearers of fine early 
chickens. It must not, however, be thought that these forward 
chickens will, as adults, necessarily be any finer than many which 
are not yet half grown. Among the best schedules before us are 
those of shows to be held at Cardiff on July 27th to 29th ; Ilmin- 
ster, August 5th ; Leicester, July 28th and 29th; Ormskirk, 
August 25th ; and Crewe, September 2nd to 6th. 
Poultry Show Dates Clashing. —We regret to find that it 
was impossible to alter the dates of either the Oxford Poultry 
Show or that in connection with the Dairy Show at the Agricul¬ 
tural Hall. Oxford has now for many years held the place of the 
first great chicken Show, and so we hope that the Dairy Show 
Committee may in some classes admit adult birds, and so to some 
extent diminish the loss which must necessarily accrue to both 
from this clashing of dates. 
Brighton Poultry Show. —The Committee of the Sussex 
County Poultry, Pigeon, Rabbit, and Cage Bird Society intimate 
that they have changed the dates of the Brighton Show to the 
16th, 18tb, and 19th of October in place of those previously 
announced, as Birmingham Show takes place on those dates. 
They also solicit the support of fanciers with regard to cup3 and 
subscriptions, as they have greatly increased the classes. Classes 
will be made for any special varieties if twelve entries are guaran¬ 
teed. Members joining the Society from July 1st have the privi¬ 
lege of sending pens at half entry fee, and also have two admis- 
