332 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 19, 1883. 
CONTRA—O. 
£ s. d. 
Twenty sheep kept fifteen weeks, at 4d. a week each.5 0 0 
Value of excreta left .2 10 0 
Gross return. £7 10 0 
Cost of cultivation.630 
Leaving to meet rent and taxes a balance of £17 0 
This account by Mr. Love will of course differ under certain 
circumstances, which are ever changing. We introduce it, and 
ask the home farmer to make his own calculations ; and he will 
notice that only rent and taxes are spoken of, but it is necessary 
for a fair calculation to include tithes, also interest on capital, 
value of sheep, risk of losses, cost of attendance, implements con¬ 
nected with folding, and other items. Again, in making a fair 
comparison of the cultivation when green crops are fed by sheep, 
the process of folding is a slow operation, and impedes—in fact 
prevents—the regular ploughing and seeding as compared with 
ploughing in the crop ; for in that case the work of ploughing and 
resowing is so continuous and done simultaneously that the 
weather, should it be wet or dry, offers little or no impediment: 
but this is not the case when folding with sheep, for in dry 
weather the land would be too hard and work roughly, and in 
wet weather it would be trodden into a cold state and work un¬ 
kindly. Even if the weather did not interfere, the daily folding 
of sheep would make patchwork of the land, and really prevent 
any simultaneous re-seeding of the crops. Mr. Love, in his state¬ 
ment of the case as between ploughing-in green crops and feeding 
them by sheep, has made no allowance for the difference of after 
crops ; for in case we were to allow that the next crop would be 
equal in both cases (which we are not justified in doing), still the 
second and third crops of corn, &c., after feeding would not com¬ 
pare with the magnificent crop of white Oats before alluded to, 
for the sheepfold does not yield a lasting manure like green crops 
ploughed in. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—This is now the busiest period of the year for the 
horses, and especially as the weather has lately been so favourable 
not only for the seed-time, but also for making fallows and cleaning 
the land from couch, &c., which has accumulated upon many farms, 
and especially those on which there has recently occurred a change 
of tenancy, which has been in a great measure caused by a succession 
of unfavourable seasons for fallowing. We must also call the atten¬ 
tion of the home farmer to the policy of preparing for a dry season, 
inasmuch that in the course of nature the wet seasons having now 
prevailed for a period of eight years, we must expect that as nature 
is got into our debt we shall ere long be repaid by a dry season, and 
probably more than one. It it therefore recommended that as fast as 
the land is ploughed it should be worked fine—the sooner the better, 
if not simultaneously—whether it is ploughed for seeding with Lent 
Corn or Mangolds, Potatoes, or even early Turnips, Carrots, Kohl 
Rabi, and Cabbage. Where it is usual to retain a portion of the 
Swede Turnip crop for feeding during the present and following 
month, it is important that they may be kept in good condition as 
food for sheep or cattle. For we recollect having made a serious 
mistake many years ago by pulling the roots to prevent their throw¬ 
ing up seed stems and flowers, and thus depreciate the feeding value 
of the bulbs ; but at that time the dry weather continued so long 
through April and also far into the greater part of the May month 
that the roots became so dry, shrivelled, and tough that the sheep 
disliked them, and that they could not be cut with the Turnip cutter 
or slicer, being so hard, which caused us great inconvenience before 
they could be consumed. This circumstance taught us the lesson of 
not trusting the weather either in a dry or a wet time, and ever after 
when we required to hold Swedish Turnips for feeding on the land we 
crowned them down by cutting off the stems and greens close to the 
bulb, and in this way by remaining in the land they could not then 
sprout or throw up any greens, and thus they maintained their feeding 
value until a late date, for we frequently fed them off by sheep by 
cutting with Gardner’s cutter, and feeding in troughs as late as the 
end of June and first week in July. With respect to the preparation 
of land for Carrots, we know many farmers who say, Sow early in 
March. We say, Sow the first or second week in May, as this saves at 
least one hoeing if not sown upon a stale fallow, for we prefer to drill 
the seed after one ploughing, as the best and heaviest crop we ever 
grew was after Trifolium cut up, and the land ploughed, worked, and 
seeded the same day. This we have done with great success up to 
the 20th of May, or it can be done after a crop of Rye cleared off 
early, and this plan has the advantage of the seed getting a fair start 
with the weeds, which are not nearly so troublesome as when seeded 
early on a stale surface. The seeding of Clover if it has not been 
done at the time of sowing the Lent corn should now be effected, and 
we prefer before all other plans to seed the Wheat land, which was 
grown after Potatoes or roots fed off, and we have found the Clover 
take well in this way by seeding with Bennett’s seed barrow on the 
surface, and then work the surface fine with the new pointed chain 
harrow, and after the frosts we have late experienced the surface will 
work very fine and effectually bury the seed, but leaving the land 
rolled to finish the work. 
Hand Labour .—This still consists of work connected with timber¬ 
cutting if there is a fall of timber on the estate this year, setting up 
bark, tying and preparing the lop and tops of the trees for removal 
as faggots and cord wood. Some men will be employed in connection 
with seeding the Clover, sowing artificial corn manure on the surface 
of Wheat land, which could not be dunged in the autumn owing to 
the wet state of the land. Women will be employed in planting Pota¬ 
toes, and weeding ; for the latter we do not approve of the use of the 
ordinary spud, which only cuts off the tops or crowns of deep-rooted 
weeds like docks or thistles, and these spring up. We therefore 
furnish a small pickaxe, with a point at one end and a cutting edge 
2 inches wide at the other. In this way the deep-rooted weeds are 
lifted out, and the annuals cut off at the surface of the land. 
Live Stock .—As this is the time when a large number of calves are 
dropped and the weaning of them either for fattening or as heifers to 
come into the dairy, it is of importance not only as to their food and 
the rearing and accommodation for them, but as we have frequently 
stated our method of young calves it is not our intention to say more 
upon it now. There is, however, an idea started, which has lately 
attracted some attention, and most deservedly so, that of non¬ 
castration of bull calves when intended for sale as beef at two years 
old or younger. We have frequently noticed that two bull calves of 
the same age and quality, particularly of Shorthorns or Herefords, 
the one steered and the other not castrated, and we have found that 
the bull, although fed in the same way as the steer and kept under 
cover tethered in stall, would make at two years old or under much 
the heavier bullock—in fact it would yield from 15 to 20 per cent, 
more beef than the steer. This plan of castration has been carried out 
in consequence of the beef being of the best, and that bull beef is 
far inferior ; and that is the case if the animal is allowed to arrive at 
maturity and be used for stock or stud purposes. It is, however, 
quite another matter when young animals are fed for the shambles 
only, and sold for beef at two years old or under and fed upon the 
same plan ; and it is said with truth that the beef, if really well 
fattened, has proved equally valuable to the butcher and consumer 
whether the animals were castrated or otherwise. Now this is a very 
important consideration in several respects, for castration, especially 
if not performed at the right time and in a proper manner, has a 
serious effect upon the growth and well-doing of the steer, whereas 
the young bull may continue to thrive well without loss. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Preserving Mushrooms (A'. A.).—Wipe them quite clean, take out the 
brown, pare off the skin of the large ones, lay them on paper, and put them 
in a cool oven to dry. Keep them in paper bags in a very dry place. When 
wanted for use simmer them in gravy, and they will swell to nearly their former 
size; or you may simmer them in their own liquor till it dries up in them, 
shaking the pan ; then dry them on tin plates, with spice or not as you think 
proper. Tie down with a bladder or keep them in a dry place or in paper. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
1883. 
£> rt—« 
aeo O) OJ 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wifla. 
I Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
3 
5 
« 
April. 
P5 Z a 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass. 
Sun. 8 
Inches. 
30.567 
deg. 
45.5 
deer. 
41.0 
N.E. 
deg. 
45.1 
deg 
57.7 
deg. 
35.8 
deg 
95.2 
deg. 
34.5 
In. 
Mon. 9 
80.448 
4.5.0 
40.7 
N. 
45.2 
60.5 
29.3 
86.5 
2.5.8 
— 
Tues. 10 
30.423 
43.3 
39.2 
N. 
44.8 
55.4 
39.0 
101.7 
3.5.6 
— 
Wed. 11 
30.390 
41.7 
38.8 
N.W. 
44.7 
59.4 
32.9 
90.3 
32.4 
— 
Thurs. 12 
30.223 
46.2 
44.4 
N. 
449 
60.3 
38.7 
109.8 
3.5.3 
— 
Friday IS 
29.936 
43.5 
40.3 
S.W. 
45.2 
49.4 
40.2 
58.7 
39.0 
* - 
Batur. 14 
29.879 
44.6 
43.) 
N.W. 
45.6 
52.7 
40.3 
63.4 
37.0 
— 
3 .267 
44.3 
41.1 
45.1 
50.5 
36.6 
86.5 
34.2 
— 
REMARKS. 
8th.—Fine and bright, with cold wind. 
9th.—Fine, bright, and cold ; hazy in evening. 
10th.—Fine and cold. 
11th.—Bright in morning; afternoon dull, but warm. 
12th.—Fine, with much bright sunshine. 
13th.—Cooler, and very dull. 
14th.—Gloomy, with slight fog. 
April continues absolutely rainless, with high barometric pressure and large 
range of daily temperature. The dullness of some days has prevented the 
maxima being as high in this as in the previous week, but they continue above 
the average and the minima continue below their average, the daily range 
being still very nearly 20°.—G. J. Symons. 
