426 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t November 4 , isso. 
Having been carefully managed and moderately fed up to that 
age the heifers may, in the interest of their futurevalue, suckle 
their own calves, and several others in succession for making veal, 
and nearly up to the time when they are due to calve again. 
With the greatest care in hand-milking it is certainly not like the 
calf sucking, nor will the animals continue to yield milk either so 
much or for so long a time in any way as by suckling calves. 
When we consider the effect of this in the future profit of a cow, 
especially as to the length of the milking period, it is of more 
importance than many dairymen admit, simply because it is not 
fashionable amongst their craft to continue milking the cows 
until they begin to spring for the next calving time. This leads 
to one of the most important points in the whole range and detail 
of dairy farming, for after being allowed to become dry for 
several months before the cows bring the second calf they will 
often do so again in the future, in spite of the most careful 
management. There is, however, a strong feeling of prejudice 
in the minds of many otherwise practical and experienced men 
that it is advisable that the cows should go dry for two months at 
least before producing another calf. We are, however, justified 
by our own experience in opposing this practice, because whilst 
the well-bred Shorthorned cow is out of milk she is sure to make 
fat internally, and this is the cause of the most serious malady to 
which they are subject (“ puerperal fever ”) at the time of 
calving. It is held, however, by the advocates of the vacant 
period that the cow gives more milk after calving in consequence. 
But we do not admit this ; and even if we could reasonably do so 
there would still be the fact in favour of the extended milking 
period, to say nothing as to the danger of losing some of the most 
valuable cows in the herd, as it is what we call the best doers 
which are most likely to suffer. 
We must now refer to the daily life of the cows in the pastures. 
First of all kind treatment, which will always keep the animals 
in a docile and quiet state, is of much importance, as well as good 
and fresh pasturage, and this should be constantly changed. The 
herds for daily management should be not more than from twenty 
to thirty in number, in order that they may have the advantage 
of more change, for although each portion of the herd may succeed 
the other daily on the same pasture it is preferable to a large 
number feeding together without the change. It is also a matter 
of great consequence that only a moderate number be herded 
together, for we have known serious injury occur to the cows 
when large numbers are hurried through a common gateway. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—Wheat land preparation, manuring, and seeding 
will continue to employ the horses for some time yet, as in consequence 
of the changeable weather which has lately prevailed some delay on 
almost all soils has occurred. Still, where there is Clover lea to be 
ploughed, this work can be continued when the fallows or ploughed 
surfaces cannot be worked with advantage. Upon light dry hill 
land the ploughing after roots fed off by sheep should be very 
shallow—just deep enough that all the surface soil may be turned 
over; a depth of 3 inches will suffice in that case, and the presser 
following the ploughs, the land will then be left in a fitting state to 
be sown broadcast immediately behind the ploughs. Under the cir¬ 
cumstances is better than drilling, for the seed will fall inco grooves 
formed by the presser, and will be effectually buried by about 
two tines with the iron harrow. It will also find a firm bottom for 
the young plants to root in, so essential to their healthy growth, 
which they do not always obtain when the land has been worked 
down before drilling. The home farmer will understand that by 
sowing after the presser the plants will stand in lines not quite so 
regular as when drilled, but quite regular enough for horse-hoeing in 
the spring. The lines will stand about 10 or 12 inches apart, 
and in horse-hoeing a few plants would be destroyed, yet leaving 
quite enough to maintain a good plant at harvest. We wish, how¬ 
ever, to call attention to another plan of sowing Wheat, especially in 
November or December, for the weather which usually prevails in 
these months in our climate is an alternation of rain and night frosts, 
which often impede the sowing upon land that has been ploughed 
some time previously. Upon light free-working land after roots have 
been fed off it is a good plan to sow the Wheat broadcast and plough 
it in with a fleet furrow, which after being harrowed down the vYheat 
seed will not only be thoroughly buried but will find a firm holding 
for the plants at the bottom of the furrow. The distance we have 
named for lines of Wheat may by some farmers be thought too wide 
for light land, but it must be remembered that such soils are gene¬ 
rally subject to weeds like the Poppy, Charlock, &c., which injure the 
Wheat most seriously unless destroyed by horse or hand hoeing. 
Upon the best-managed hill light land farms we have seen all the 
cereal crops have been drilled at 12 inches apart. As the season 
advances we prefer to sow red Wheats, such as the Golden Drop and 
the nursery varieties, as they are more hardy and maintain plant 
better under adverse and winterly weather than the white sorts. 
Hand Labour .—As the Wheat sowing approaches conclusion other 
work for the men will spring up, such as assisting at the threshing of 
Barley, fine weather being chosen for the purpose ; and if the ricks 
have been made a moderate size, and such as each may be all threshed 
during a short winter’s day, the straw being also stacked and thatched 
the following day, and the corn dressed and sacked up in the same way 
that it is done by one of Clayton & Shuttleworth’s best and latest 
improved machines, it will be then fit for sale off the machine if it is 
thin Barley fit for the miller only. In case, however, it is almost 
a malting sample with some thin grains in it the bulk will still pay 
for careful screening, in order to separate the thin grain for grinding 
from the best or malting Barley. This will pay well for separating if 
done with the best and most improved screen. The newly patented 
Nalder’s “ Duplex ” malt-screening machine is much esteemed by 
farmers, and is also used by the malsters for cleaning the Barley and 
taking out the thin grain before malting it which may be found in 
the sample. It is very useful to the home farmer for separating the 
grinding from the malting grain, and nothing in the detail of the 
farmer’s business will answer better ; because not only will the malt¬ 
ing Barley secure the best price if the grain is of good colour and has 
been well harvested, but he will have the thin grain always required 
for the feeding of stock for use on the home farm; whereas, if the 
thin and best Barley had been sold in bulk without separation the 
whole would have been seriously depreciated in value. It is a good 
time now to buy young cattle for wintering, and we notice that the 
Irish importations are of an improved kind lately, being more like 
the true shorthorned stock, with good long soft hair ; and the 
animals, whether heifers or steers, show a better outline, and as a 
consequence make more proof in the feeding. The sheep stock, both 
lambs or tegs and ewes, are coming to market in good condition. The 
former will pay well for the feeding during winter, and the ewes to 
lamb from January to March. Farm horses are cheaper, there being 
so many farm stock sales going on, besides which the statistics 
show that the stock in the country has increased in numbers lately. 
A large crop of roots, especially of Swedes and Turnips, is general 
throughout the country, and in some cases on heavy land they are 
being passed through Gardner’s cutter and spread and ploughed in, 
but more especially where farmers are short of cash and cannot buy 
stock to feed the roots on the land or in the cattle boxes. The home 
farmer, however, should have cash at command for all the require¬ 
ments of the farm, both in stock and otherwise. 
ADVANTAGES OF A HOME FARM.—No. 5. 
SHEEP, GRASS, AND HAY. 
When the rickyard contains a good stack of Clover hay, two 
or three substantial ricks of prime new meadow hay, with enough 
old hay remaining to carry us into the new year, then we are not 
afraid of a long hard winter, nor are we obliged to sell lean stock 
at a loss. This year the red Clover was a heavy crop, but the 
small size of the other ricks bears evidence of the falling-off in 
the supply of meadow hay. The long duration of dry weather in 
spring and early summer told upon the grass land with especial 
severity ; the growth was so much below par that many farmers 
waited fully a month later than usual for the hay harvest, and 
consequently much hay of inferior quality was made owing to the 
earlier growth having shed its seed and become sere and white 
long before it was cut. I am accustomed to reserve 40 acres of 
grass for hay, and pay particular attention to certain cultural 
rules which experience has shown may not be infringed with 
impunity. No sheep are allowed to feed upon it after February, 
for late feeding in March undoubtedly does much injury to the 
hay crop. Romney Marsh sheep do not thrive upon the low- 
lying, cold, wet land of their native marshes in Kent during 
winter ; they are therefore driven to the uplands at Michaelmas, 
and then large flocks of them come into hilly Sussex to be dis¬ 
tributed in pre-arranged numbers among many of the farmers, 
with whom they remain till Lady-day. Now as this falls on 
March 25th they are apt to prove a source of loss during the last 
two or three weeks of their stay, “ eating the heart out of the 
grass” to its serious detriment for hay, and it would be a nice 
calculation to decide how much actual profit is derived' from the 
10 ,?. or 125. per head that is received for the six-months “keep.” 
The soil is so thin and poor that unless the grass land reserved 
for hay has an annual dressing of manure it deteriorates so much 
that about half a crop is the result even with the most favourable 
weather. The application of manure to the whole of it in March 
is therefore never omitted ; no dung mixen is used for this pur¬ 
pose till it is thoroughly decayed. Spread as it is carted on the 
land, it is at once worked well in with a bush harrow; any 
stray stones are picked off, and as soon as it is dry enough it is 
rolled. We generally contrive to spare enough farmyard manure 
for 30 acres, and the remaining ten have artificial manure, 
which is also applied early in March. It is a moot point which 
kind of manure is soonest exhausted or rather absorbed into the 
plant’s system. The fact of the prepared artificial manure powder 
being most soluble has probably given rise to the popular opinion 
that the benefit derived from it, though undoubtedly great, is in 
