December 2, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 513 
farmer we must call his attention to a few leading points, not 
only in the cultivation but the uses and value of the produce. 
The first point is the soil, for it is upon sharp sand or gravel soils 
only that we can obtain a crop of ripe corn even in our best and 
driest summers ; and in such seasons where either pulse or Lent 
corn would fail on account of drought, yet Maize will produce 
about 50 bushels per acre on the average if we can obtain an 
early variety. We have seen this year samples of the ordinary 
round and yellow variety grown and planted on the 18th of May 
upon thin gravel soil in South Bants, and about half of the cobs 
were well filled and the corn quite ripe, but the remainder only 
partially ripe ; the stalks were between 6 and 7 feet high, with 
gross succulent stems and luxuriant foliage. Now this is not 
quite satisfactory, for if we cannot ripen the whole crop we had 
far better turn our attention to the use of the stalks, leaves, and 
cobs in the green state, to be given to dairy cows, horses, &c., in 
fact any stock are exceedingly fond of it; and when it is cut into 
chaff the thick stalks, cobs, &c., are available for all animals of 
the farm, but especially dairy cows, as it will produce butter 
almost equal to the best grass feeding. There are two points to 
be considered if we grow it in alternate lines with root crops. 
The crop should ripen early, but with planting for a fodder crop 
only ; it should be used commencing at about fifty days’ growth, 
for we cannot hope to obtain the forty-day Maize, the meaning of 
this denomination being that it comes into feather or flower at the 
end of forty days. This is a very quick growth, for as a fodder plant 
we know nothing to yield a heavy crop of similar value in so short a 
time and upon so poor a soil as the round yellow variety, obtainable 
at any of the seedsmen. It is also a good fallow crop. The seed is 
usually dibbled or drilled on the flat at 18 inches apart and then 
horse and hand-hoed once. If planted in the middle of May it 
would come off as a fodder crop during July in time for sowing 
Turnips after it, the land being also clean and mellow for any 
crop which may succeed the Maize. Peruvian guano, or nitrate 
of soda and superphosphate mixed with ashes and applied by the 
drill, would be the best manure, at a cost of about 21s. per acre. 
Two bushels of seed per acre is sufficient. If we could be certain 
of obtaining the true forty-day Maize we may be sure of a valu¬ 
able produce in alternate husbandry, because if the lines of Man¬ 
golds, Potatoes, or Cabbage were planted 4 feet apart and the 
Maize at the same distance in alternate lines, the Maize may be 
left for seed or pulled for green fodder in a cold unfavourable 
season like 1879, Mr. Keene’s professed object in introducing 
the forty-day Maize was to supply the deficiency caused by the 
loss of the Potato crop in 1877 and 1878, stating that the green 
cobs when properly cooked would furnish a vegetable well calcu¬ 
lated to take the place of the Potatoes ; therefore, by growing 
both crops in alternate rows we may expect a full and valuable 
crop, as more room in growth is given for the late sorts of Pota¬ 
toes, besides the probable protection against blight in the Potatoes 
furnished by the Maize stalks and foliage. The earliest variety of 
Maize may probably be obtained of Yilmorin & Co., seedsmen, of 
Paris. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—Great impediments have again occurred to the 
sowing of Wheat, for although most has been done on the dry soils, 
yet upon the flat-lying cold land there is a considerable portion not 
sown. On dry soils the land was in a good state from the 1st to the 
13th of last month, and the sowing went on without hindrance. The 
heavy land, however, was not in condition until the 8th ult., giving 
therefore but five working days in which the sowing could be done. 
On the 14th ult. and since, up to the time we are writing, frost or 
heavy storms have prevailed. As the period is now fast approaching 
when it will be too late to sow Wheat upon heavy land we fear that 
in some districts large breadths will remain unsown until after Christ¬ 
mas, and will then probably be held over for cropping with Lent corn, 
so that now we have the prospect of another adverse season for what 
is termed Wheat soils. It is now of great consequence to decide what 
is best to be done upon very large tracts of land on which autumn 
fallowing had been commenced, but could not be completed owing to 
the flooding rains which have prevailed. We notice on many farms 
that the grass and weeds have been brought to the surface by steam 
culture and otherwise. We cannot advise the home farmer to plough 
this in by deep fallow ploughing, and unless a great change of 
weather should occur to enable the lumps of grass to be forked 
together and carted away the best way will be to plough the land 
very shallow with a double rafter or back stitch furrow, or otherwise 
a single rafter furrow, so that the grass may still be retained on the 
top, to be dealt with on the occurrence of the first dry weather in the 
spring. The land can then be made cleaner, whether intended for 
Barley or early roots, than in any other way ; for in case the land is 
worked only with the scarifier or lifting drag it will be all the better, 
whether the spring should prove dry or rainy. 
Hand Labour .—Upon all strong or hilly land subject to the wash 
of heavy rains since the Wheat has been sown men should occasion¬ 
ally look to the water furrows, and clear them of any sand and earthy 
sediments, so that the flood water may be kept in its proper channel. 
Irrigated meadows must now be attended to by the drowner, as the 
man is called in charge of water meadow’s, so that all the flood 
trenches and drawing drains may work freely, for at this time of 
year the rains bring down from the hills alluvial deposits of great 
value to the w'ater meadows. Some of these meadow’s which are not 
irrigated often receive advantage from flooding after the waters sub¬ 
side ; but in order to receive the full benefit of flood water, trenches 
should always be kept open, so that the water may pass off quickly. 
In meadows where the grass is coarse and Rushes prevail, these 
should at this time be cut over w r ith the scythe and removed, in order 
that the grass in the spring may make an early growth. If it is pre¬ 
ferred to make the cattle, such as young stock or dairy cows, eat 
down the rough grass they will do better, and eat it with more relish 
to themselves, after an application of a full dressing of manure salt, 
fishery salt or kainit. Another dressing of the same kind in the 
month of March and again after the hay crop is removed will be 
likely to destroy the egg or entozoa of the fluke, for we know that 
grass growing on the salt marshes is the great antidote for the rot in 
cattle and sheep. We also caution the home farmer against allow’ing 
sheep to feed in the brookside meadows after the subsidence of the 
flood water, because W'e have seen cases of sand rot which have 
killed the sheep, and on a post-mortem examination the livers have 
been found of a light brown colour and very hard. For nearly all 
kinds of stock the crop of Champion Drumhead Cabbages will be 
valuable up to Christmas, and being very abundant this year cattle 
may receive them on the pastures where the soil is dry. Sheep, also, 
especially the in-lamb ewes, may have them on the pastures. This is 
better than folding off the crop on the land, because the quantity 
can be better regulated and the grass also be eaten at the same time 
—a matter of great importance to breeding ewes, and is far preferable 
to giving them Turnips or Rape in the folds. There is this year a 
very short number of the horned Dorset and Somerset ewes bought 
for early lambing in all the home counties and southern districts, in 
consequence of so many of these flocks having been destroyed by the 
fluke rot. Most of the flocks which are healthy are now lambing 
down, and generally the lambs are reported healthy. Some of the 
earliest of these which fell in October are now strong, and together 
with the ewes are in full feeding upon early Turnips cut with 
Gardener’s cutter, and fed in troughs with cake and bean meal mixed. 
The lambs running in advance of the ewes should be fed in troughs 
with white Carrots or Cabbage passed twice through the cutter, and 
have cake meal strewed over the roots. Twice cutting gives small 
pieces likes dice, which the young lambs can take up and eat without 
waste ; at the same time they should receive the finest Dutch Clover 
hay made from the second year's growth, and if it has a pleasant aroma 
the lambs will begin eating it much earlier than any coarse hay like 
broad Clover. Saintfoin, too, is good if cut young, otherwise it is too 
coarse. The fatting cattle in the boxes or stalls will now be kept on 
winter feeding at full allowances for roots, as well as cake and sweet 
straw ; but we caution the home farmer against feeding them with 
hay, for if the animals have 4 or 5 lbs. of cake and 2 lbs. of bean meal 
daily strewed over the cut roots hay is quite unnecessary, and likely 
to disturb their health. Hay-feeding will show no profit, whereas 
straw will furnish a clean bill of health and profit likewise, especially 
if the roots given are ripe and such as Cabbage, early hybrid Turnips, 
or Carrots, the quantity varying from 40 tbs. to 00 tbs. daily according 
to age and size of the bullocks. Where straw is plentiful it is best 
given loose in the rack, and any -waste will furnish litter for the 
boxes or pens; if it is scarce it may be cut into chaff and given in 
admixture with cut roots, cake, meal, &c. 
TO OUR READERS. 
We give D-day a full report of the Birmingham Show, and we 
take the opportunity of announcing, in compliance with the 
wishes of many subscribers, that with the new year we intend to 
devote more attention to our Poultry Chronicle without prejudice 
to our other departments ; and we have engaged Mr. A. Comyns, 
n.A., ll.b., well known in the poultry world, to aid us in this de¬ 
partment. The principles upon which we have endeavoured always 
to conduct the Journal are well known to our readers. While we 
invite the discussion of matters of interest, and shall give the 
utmost liberty to writers, we shall rigidly exclude anything of 
a personal character. We appeal to such of our readers as are 
interested in the subject to give us their aid in making these 
columns valuable and entertaining. No effort on our part shall be 
wanting to make the reports of the really leading shows as ample, 
accurate, and readable as possible. Of the smaller shows we 
shall give notes as occasion requires, but we cannot afford space 
for the full prize lists of every show that is held throughout the 
year. Many of these are of merely local interest, and we feel 
that we shall better consult the wishes of our readers and our 
own advantage by devoting our space to original matter of a 
general kind. Our valued correspondent “ C.,” we need hardly 
say, will continue to contribute to our columns. With his help 
and that of other old friends, and the hosts of new ones who, we 
trust, will assist us, we have every confidence that the Poultry 
and Pigeon Chronicle will become the leading authority on ail 
