216 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ S ptember 4,1800. 
yield of 28|- bushels per acre proves correct the total yield will 
only be 68,010,576 bushels, which points to a probability of some 
advance in the price of home-grown Wheat. But there are so many 
outside influences upon the Wheat trade that prices must always 
remain speculative. Importers are keen to take advantage of an 
increasing demand for Wheat in this the best market of the world, 
and we may rest assured of a full supply to meet any demand 
which may arise. We only hope that any such momentary advance 
may not induce farmers to sow more Wheat this autumn. Only 
those who have really good mixed soil should grow Wheat exten¬ 
sively. By high culture on such land a yield far exceeding the 
average may be had, and a profit made sufficiently high to render it 
worth while going on. The heavy land men who have the land 
down to pasture will do far better for themselves and the country 
if they keep it down, and strive to improve it to the utmost of 
their power. 
Certainly live stock is increasing in no uncertain manner. The 
returns show a cattle total of 6,508,632, which is the highest number 
ever reached in this country, being 369,077 more than 1889, in 
which year there was only a slight increase upon the numbers of 
1888. Flocks are improving, the total of sheep and lambs being 
27,272,459, or 1,640,439 more than last year, but they have, as yet, 
by no means reached the numbers returned in 1874. Pigs, too, are 
increasing, the total number being 2,773,609, or an advance upon 
1889 of 262,806, all which tends to show a healthy reaction and 
decided improvement in farming practice. Well said Bell's Weelcly 
Messenger last week, that as breeding and feeding of cattle is the 
most remunerative side of the farming balance sheet, it is gratifying 
to find agriculturists producing something that is more likely than 
corn to yield a profit. It attributes the increase primarily to 
favourable calving, yeaning, and littering periods, and secondarily 
to plenteousness of keep and comparative absence of disease. 
We can hardly agree with either conclusion, and rather take 
the practical view that the steadily increasing profits upon live 
stock act as an inducement to rear more, and to bestow more care 
upon both the breeding and general management of all farm 
animals. It is a matter beyond question, that in the past, heavy 
losses have been caused by mismanagement and carelessness in the 
treatment of live stock. Sweet, if severe, are the lessons of adversity, 
it brings out the sterling worth and latent power of the British 
character as nothing else can do. Often are we for the moment 
left behind in the race, but the way lost is invariably recovered, 
and then we can hold our own with the best. 
Taken as a whole the returns afford matter for congratulation, 
and we certainly take them as a sign of improvement. Hopefully 
may we look forward to less of cattle buying, and more, much 
more, of cattle breeding throughout the country. There can be no 
reason why cattle cannot be bred just as well as sheep in what are 
known as the great corn-growing districts. More and more do 
we hope to see every farm become self-contained, growing much 
of its own food, and breeding all its own live stock. A full 
head of stock is better than a comfortable balance at the bank, for 
upon it now, at any rate, we can realise principal and interest that 
is much higher than we ever had from our bankers. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Corn stacks are being built whenever we have enough fine weather 
to dry the sheaves, but there has been ne regularity about harvest work 
this year. Hardly a day has closed with those signs of a bright morrow 
which we have in really fine settled weather, and extra care has been 
necessary in every detail of the work. Often has the reaper had to wait 
for wind and sun to dry the corn ; the shocks have been made with the 
heads pressed closely together, the tie or knot of the bands placed inside 
to prevent the accumulation of damp in it, the sheaves set sufficiently 
aslant to throw off rain quickly and to allow free passage for a current 
of air between them. Small shocks are a necessity this year, and they 
are opened awhile before the carting to get the bottoms of the sheaves 
quite dry. A steep slope is given to the stack roofs, as the corn is then 
safe for a few days should any hindrance arise in the thatching, but the 
thatch should be got on as quickly as possible, and the work must be 
done well enough to withstand high wind. The sides of every stack 
should be trimmed closely, and the trimmings either given to the pigs or 
placed with the Takings. This is really an important matter, for an 
untrimmed stack attracts sparrows so loDg as a loose ear of corn can be 
got at, and Barley ears so exposed become so discoloured as to spoil the 
sample. So trim, say we, however soon you may intend threshing. 
Sparrows will come to the rick yards as the corn fields are cleared, 
and if a special effort is to be made to destroy them it can easily be 
managed during the next two or three weeks by the judicious use of a 
little poisoned grain, so placed that poultry cannot get at it. Both rats 
and sparrows only exist on sufferance, and it is simple nonsense to say 
there is any difficulty in the destruction of these pests. 
Foul stubbles are common enough this autumn, and the best way of 
treating them is to plough or skim the surface slightly. Clear off the 
weeds with light harrows, and then leave the land long enough for 
germination of weed seeds, which will only require a few days in the 
warm moist soil. This will tend materially to clean the land and keep 
down expense in corn hoeing next spring. The season has been most 
favourable to the growth of green crops, and much White Mustard has 
been ploughed in. 
FARMING OUTLOOK in NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE. 
This harvest month of August, 1890, brought not brilliant sun¬ 
shine, but cold boisterous winds, heavy rains, sharp hailstorms, with 
occasional gleams of brightness, which serve to remind us that there 
is a sun somewhere if not here. Harvest began generally on the 
15th ult., and the Wheat crop is here more than an average as regards 
straw. The ears are well set with grain, and only needed a little 
more sun to develop a plump bold grain. As it is, the threshing 
machine will bring to light a good proportion of poor thin, “ hen 
corn.” “ Square Head” is well filled to the very top of the ear. 
Hybrid King begins to taper off about the middle. 
Of the Barleys a good report can be given. Quantity and 
quality both good, and a fine upstanding crop. A new variety, 
introduced by Carter, and called “ G-oldthorpe,” seems to be the 
“ what’s wanted ” of this brewers’ cereal. Colour will be deter¬ 
mined by the weather of the next week or ten days. Where 
Barley was forward the high winds of August 15th did great 
damage, severing the bold heads as ruthlessly as ever French guillo¬ 
tine during the Reign of Terror. 
If Dr. Johnson of dictionary fame could see a field of Oats 
not a stone’s throw from where we write, he would surely change 
his opinion, and allow that they were good enough for men as 
well as for horses. Taking the district through they are a capital 
crop. If there are Oats in abundance for the horse, sheep, too, will 
have a good time among Turnips, and Webb’s Mangolds are 
almost as large as the seductive catalogue picture. A few cases of 
“ finger and toe ” are to be found in some Turnip fields, and it is 
most difficult to define a cause, as this disease crops up under varied 
management and on varied soils. 
Then as to the Potato crop. Up to August 1st the prospect 
was wonderfully good. About that date began a week of close 
muggy weather, which produced the fatal black spot on the leaf ; 
the haulm was rapidly giving way, and was only checked by the 
gale of the 15th, which was so disastrous to the Barley. The 
weather of the last few days will, it is to be feared, cause any 
latent disease to develope rapidly. Regents, Hebrons, and Ele¬ 
phants are the most affected ; Imperators and Magnums but 
slightly. However, it is hardly possible to give as yet a full and 
correct estimate of the Potato crop of 1890. When the bulk of 
the corn is garnered no doubt there will be a move in the Potato 
market, as dealers have already been seen lurking about the 
villages.— Parts of Lindsey. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 AM. 
IN THE DAT. 
Rain 
1890. 
August. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32“ 
and Sea 
Level. 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
son at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
la 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Inches. 
deg 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday. 
24 
29.720 
50.2 
50.7 
W. 
59.7 
65.7 
43.9 
113.1 
41.9 
0.025 
Monday . 
25 
29.681 
55.2 
51.3 
8 . 
68.2 
66.0 
42.8 
110.3 
41.0 
0.090 
Tuesday ... 
28 
29.533 
56.2 
51.9 
s.w. 
68.2 
62.9 
48.1 
101.8 
46.2 
0.131 
Wednesday .. 
27 
29.436 
55.2 
52.2 
S.W. 
57.8 
66.6 
49.1 
109.4 
47.1 
0.085 
Thursday.... 
28 
29.753 
57.9 
52.7 
w. 
57.0 
67.6 
47.9 
112.1 
45.9 
• - 
Friday . 
29 
29.9 <9 
54.6 
51.2 
N.E. 
57.8 
65.0 
5\8 
113.7 
51.7 
— 
Saturday ... 
30 
30.054 
53.4 
48.8 
N.W. 
57.3 
02.4 
41.1 
107.2 
39.9 
— 
29.735 
55 7 
51.3 
58.0 
65.2 
46.2 
109.7 
44.8 
0.382 
REMARKS. 
24>h.—Bright and ninny till 1 P.M.: thunder in afternoon, and shower at 5 30 P.M. 
25tu.—Bright and ninny till 4.45 P.M., then spots of rain, with a fresh breeze ; uuu night, 
with shmvers. 
21th.—Dull throughout; sharp shower at noon, and heivv ra’n at 2.45 P II. 
27th.— Dali early ; bright t 1 3 p M., then heavy rain and dull evening and night. 
I8 r ti.—Bright, sunny day; line night. 
: 0 h.—Dull early ; bright day and night. 
SOrh.—Bright ad day and night. 
Quite an autumnal week, the temperature having falltn to about that of the latter 
part of September.— a. J. STMONS. 
