340 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October 7 , isso. 
is often long withheld, and we know their complaint to be true. 
Not long ago a lady fancier with superb birds was regretting that 
she could not sell them for half their value, as she had no name 
in the exhibiting world. We advised her to show them at one of 
the greatest shows with a moderate price upon them, where the 
public could easily see their merits for themselves, and would 
assuredly become purchasers. “Ah,” was the reply, “ I once did 
so ; all shown were sold, but it was three months before I got the 
money, minus 10 per cent., which had been paid at the moment. 
I had rather take less and receive it at once without so much 
trouble.” In the interest of such fanciers we call attention to 
the subject before the great shows come on, and, we are sure, 
none the less in the interest of the shows.—C. 
VARIETIES. 
The Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show. —The prize 
lists for the forthcoming Show of cattle, sheep, pigs, roots, corn, and 
poultry, to be opened at Bingley Hall on Saturday, November 27th, 
under the auspices of the Birmingham Agricultural Exhibition Society, 
have been issued, and may be obtained, together with certificates of 
entry for the various departments, from Mr. J. B. Lythall, the Secre¬ 
tary. The Council have proceeded still further with their good work 
of encouraging early maturity by again reducing the limit to the age 
up to which the cattle can compete in most of the classes. They have 
also thought that the time has arrived when some of the larger prizes 
might be reduced, now that the animals can be shown both at Bir¬ 
mingham and Smithfield. 
- The Irish Harvest.—T he Dublin correspondent of the 
Daily Chronicle sends the following review of the Irish harvest, 
made on excellent authority :—“ The cereals are much superior both 
in quantity and quality to those of last year, while Potatoes, Turnips, 
and Mangolds are fourfold more productive and abundant. Hay is 
better saved, 'and more profitable and plentiful. Fruit also has 
generally proved a good crop, with the exception of Apples, which 
are almost a general failure, the early frosts having destroyed the 
blossoms. Peas, Beans, Cabbages, and all other vegetables have also 
yielded large and remunerative crops, although in some districts they 
were injured. It is a strange peculiarity of the year that Mushrooms 
are almost unknown. The yield of Wheat is so great that though 
the area under it is small the farmers’ profits will be greater than 
when double the area was devoted to it. Its average yield is eight 
“ barrels ” to the acre against five last year. Of Oats the yield is 
from eleven to eighteen “ barrels ” per acre; last year it was only 
eight to ten. The yield of Barley is much greater than last year, 
and the grain is of sounder quality ; but there is more than the 
average of small grain or screenings in each sheaf. The Potatoes are 
the best crop known since 1842, and the Champions are universally 
acknowledged as a boon to Irish agriculturists, having in almost 
every locality proved free from disease. There is as yet but a small 
proportion of them in the markets, the people endeavouring to keep 
them for seed. Flax was more sown this year in the south than 
hitherto, and the fibre has proved of such excellent quality that it 
will probably induce the farmers to invest more extensively in it; yet 
in the north it has not proved so satisfactory. The price this year is 
from 5s. Gd. to 8s. G d. per stone, which is considerably less than that 
received last year. The most remarkable feature in this year’s crop 
is the extraordinary yield of grass seed, which is not only an abun¬ 
dant one, but the seed is of such a good quality as to secure the high 
figure of from 15s. to 17s. per cwt. for perennial, and 11s. to lGs. for 
Italian.” 
- The American Grain Trade.—S ome idea of the grain 
trade with America may be gathered from the fact that in the month 
of August more than thirteen million bushels were shipped from New 
York alone, and that no fewer than 325 vessels were either wholly or 
partially engaged in the trade. The shipments for September were 
expected to exceed fifteen million bushels, and as the profits are about 
equally divided between the shipowner and the shipper the import¬ 
ance of the trade is apparent. 
- Wheat Sowing. —On all soils rich in manurial condition 
early sowing invariably produces the best results ; it is also desir¬ 
able on economical grounds, as effecting a saving of seed; and in the 
case of Clover leys sufficient time should elapse between ploughing 
and sowing to allow the crude chemical constituents of the decaying 
vegetable matter to assume new and more useful forms, which may 
readily be assimilated without danger to the infant plant. In our 
extended wanderings during the autumn we were particularly im¬ 
pressed by the very differing appearance of the crops on land simi¬ 
larly situated as to soil and locality, and, as far as we can judge, 
equal in manurial condition. In the one case the straw was weak 
and puny, the ears short, clumsily set, and narrow-chested, three 
corns being the greatest breadth; and in some cases one of these 
was only partially developed, while in the other the straw was strong 
and reedy, ears long and broad, many having five corns in line. 
From information obtained on the different farms we visited we 
attribute the marked contrast in a great measure to a judicious 
selection and change of seed. We are fully persuaded that sufficient 
has not been directed hitherto to this important point. A few shil¬ 
lings spent at seed time may result in a gain of pounds at harvest. 
In making the selection it is essential that the stock should be ob¬ 
tained from an earlier soil and climate than that on which it is to be 
grown.—G. M. (in the Agricultural Gazette ). 
- Pitting Potatoes.—A correspondent of the same paper 
observes :—Potatoes should be pitted never more than 3 feet wide 
at the bottom, and brought up to a sharp apex ; Wheat straw at least 
G inches thick up the sides, and then another length of 3 inches in 
thickness spread crossways on the top. The sides of the pits should 
be earthed-up to within 4 inches of the top, so as to thoroughly bind 
down the straw laid crossways. It is advisable to allow the pits to 
remain thus for three weeks, and then complete the earthing-up. 
The Potato stems should be laid in heaps alongside the pits, to be 
ready for use during severe frost; by placing them outside the earth 
covering almost no frost can touch them. During long-continued 
frost we have seen it necessary to use rank stable manure. 
- Agricultural Prospects. —The fine weather of the past 
week has enabled the greater part of the outstanding grain to be 
secured, but here and there a field of Barley is to be found in stook. 
Progress has been made with the Bean croii, but a considerable pro¬ 
portion of it will require field room for another fortnight at least. 
The late Barleys are found to have been damaged and discoloured by 
the recent rains ; and the entire crop of Barley, which is undoubtedly 
a good one, has been more or less injured by the storms which have 
occurred at intervals during the latter part of the summer. With 
the exception of a few favoured districts, and more generally in 
Scotland, the reports of the Wheat yield show that the effects of a 
wide-spread prevalence of mildew had not been taken sufficiently 
into account by those who expected better things; consequently 
there is much disappointment amongst outsiders and some farmers, 
that appearances should have proved deceptive. Farm work is now 
progressing very favourably, and should fine weather continue 
Wheat sowing will be commenced in good season on clays and stiff 
loams. The Pea and Bean stubbles, however, are not very clean. 
Stock now require assistance in the shape of artificial food. Northern 
markets have improved, but in the midland and southern counties 
the trade is slow for stores of all kinds .—(Mark Lane Express.) 
- Geese in Ireland. — Geese, says a daily contemporary, 
appear to thrive well everywhere in Ireland, and the trade in them 
between England and the sister island is rapidly increasing. A kind 
of poultry census was taken two or three years ago, when it was 
shown that in Munster alone there were over 800,000 head of Geese. 
Ulster had over half a million, Connaught had 483,000, and Leinster 
440,000. Altogether there were in Ireland no fewer than about 
2J millions of these birds, which, reckoned to be worth not more than 
3s. each in the market, represented some £337,500, much of this pro¬ 
perty being in the hands of those who are content to share their cabin 
accommodation with the anserine proteges. 
- Farming. — There fare some people, says the “American 
Cultivator,” who seem to believe that farming is an accomplishment 
likely to come as an inspiration, that anybody who has failed in 
mercantile or professional pursuits has only to buy himself a few 
acres of land, a moderate stock of farming implements, go through 
the easy routine of planting, and then wait in the shade of his own 
