394 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 30, 1890. 
proportionately useful. Ventilation receives due attention, the 
different kinds of roofs are well illustrated by woodcuts, quantities 
and prices are appended, all structural points are explained, and 
the advantages of such structures are set forth as tending to the 
economy of food in conjunction with the health and well-doing of 
stock, the superiority of manure and economy in its application, 
and in the saving of litter, by all which the ingenious author 
quotes figures to show how, in his opinion, a saving and gain of 
£3 11s. lOd. per head of cattle is effected. He usefully gives 
point to his article by his closing paragraph, in which he says, “At 
the present time perhaps few ways are open to a landowner in 
which he can so readily and greatly assist his tenants, whilst 
indirectly benefiting himself, as by the equipment of his estate 
with covered yards. On many estates this has been done, and my 
parting word to the owners of those where it has not is, Lose no 
time in effecting a work that ranks so high in the list of farm 
economy, which judiciously carried out will prove a lasting benefit 
to the tenants, tend to an enhanced value of property, and thus 
become a sound investment of capital.” 
Though Professor Green’s paper on “ The Seed and its Germi¬ 
nation ” is unlikely to excite much attention on the part of 
practical farmers, it is nevertheless an important contribution to 
agricultural literature, as showing the reason why of a process of 
such vital importance, and it is surely something gained when men 
•of science can say positively, as in this case, “ We know.” 
Farming in Devon and Cornwall by Mr. F. Punchard marks 
time, and tells an interesting tale of the progress of these two 
remarkable counties. The account of fruit and vegetable farming 
in Cornwall is especially interesting just now, when general atten¬ 
tion is being drawn to the subject ; and an account of 300 tons of 
Strawberries, 4500 tons of new Potatoes, and 8000 tons of Broccoli 
sent by the Great Western Railway alone last year from the two 
counties to London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and other large 
centres, gives some idea of the extent of this trade, which now 
embraces Tomatoes, Raspberries, Gooseberries, and other bush and 
tree fruits. Rather full details of the cultivation of new Potatoes 
are given, but the writer is somewhat loose in his statements about 
the quantity of manure used, and the amount realised per acre. 
Devon live stock deservedly has an interesting chapter, and the 
fact is noteworthy that this county can boast of two native breeds 
of cattle (North Devon and South Hammers), four of sheep (Devon 
Longwool, South Hams, Dartmoor, and Exmoor), and two of 
ponies (Dartmoor and Exmoor). South Hammer cattle, we are 
told, have been much improved during the last fifteen years, and 
the cows are remarkable for their deep milking properties, 24 quarts 
a day being no unusual quantity for one of them to give. 
The Devonshire water meadows and Devonshire cream each 
have a chapter, and an account is also given of the Prison Farm in 
the wilds of Dartmoor, where the tillage of 2000 acres is done 
•entirely by the convicts, and the barren land reclaimed to such 
good purpose that one field in particular is mentioned as at one 
time being mostly rushes and now grazing a bullock per acre. 
The flock of Improved Dartmoor sheep at this farm must be 
remarkable animals, for the fleece of a ram is mentioned as 
weighing 27 lbs., and hoggets as averaging 14 lbs. to 15 lbs. per 
fleece, the price expected for the wool being 7|d. to 8d. per lb., or 
18s. for the fleece of the ram ! 
A full report is given of the Plymouth meeting, and there are 
•special reports of certain important features of the Show. No 
doubt the trials of light portable motors show improvements in 
construction and in economy of fuel, but this particular trial 
appears to us to take a flight quite out of the reach of ordinary 
farm requirements. Economy of fuel is all very well, but what is 
wanted for an ordinary farm is a cheap one-horse power motor 
within the means of an ordinary tenant farmer, say at about the 
price of a full-sized waggon, and the Society would certainly do 
well to encourage the production of such a motor, suitable for 
cutting chaff, crushing corn, and similar work. 
With this copy of the Royal Journal nomination papers were 
sent out with an invitation for members to select judges for the 
next meeting. This was wisely done, so wisely that we are 
induced to hope members may eventually be asked in a similar 
manner to call attention to any want or possible improvement in 
agriculture which appears to them to fall within the far-reaching 
scope of the Society’s work, and so add to its usefulness. 
WORK ON THE HOME EARM. 
Now is the time when a regular and full supply of eggs affords the 
best proof of skilful poultry management. The early pullets reserved 
specially for this purpose are laying tolerably well, and they must 
receive every advantage of draught and damp proof poultry houses, 
mixed food, a snug shelter by day open to the south, with plenty of dust 
and raised places, not perches, but low heaps of dry litter, or a platform 
raised a few inches from the floor ; anything, in point of fact, which may 
help them to keep warm and dry. They should be shut in the roosting 
places at night, and not allowed to go out early at this time of year. 
They show plainly enough by their habits the sort of treatment they 
require. On a warm sunny day they are spread far and wide over the 
meadows ; on a dull, cold, or wet day they keep as much under shelter 
as they can, many of them going up on the perches. Meal, crushed 
potatoes, kitchen scraps, and a little whole maize mixed with warm 
water is generally given now, no food being allowed to lie about, only 
as much as can be cleared up quickly being used each time. We prefer 
feeding ducks by themselves, for they are so greedy that they gobble up 
much more than their share if feed with other poultry. Now that 
turkey poults are required for table regularly, it is well to select the 
stock birds for next season, and mark them, or the best birds will be 
selected, till in the end there will only be inferior ones left for 
breeding. 
We have begun curing bacon hogs for drying, as the store of bacon is 
running low, and there are complaints of its saltness. We can manage 
some mild cured bacon during the winter and spring months, but for 
keeping in a sweet and wholesome condition throughout summer, it 
must be well salted and dried. An occasional porker of 60 or 70 lbs. 
weight is required for table, which can always be had, as we take care 
to have litters of young pigs in succession, upon the principle of breeding 
as often and as many as possible. Stubble pigs are now being finished 
and sold in batches of a dozen or two, and we find this plan better than 
keeping them for large jointers. Care is taken to keep stvs and yards 
clean and well littered, both for the comfort of the pigs and to prevent 
disease. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Tlie Price of Mangolds QG. C .~).—The average price per ton for 
Mangolds may be placed at 15s. It is affected by locality very much. 
We have known them to be sold at 10s., and at various prices up to £1 
per ton. The price in your neighbourhood is more likely to approach 
the higher than the lower rate, and if you require any considerable 
quantity it would be as well to ascertain prices on rail in some quiet 
district twenty or thirty miles farther from London for comparison 
with your local price. 
Windsor Beans for Pig-s (<7. A .').—The Windsor Beans are an 
excellent addition to the food of pigs or any other animals of the farm. 
About a quart daily of whole Beans may be given to a full grown pig 
that is being fattened, and beanmeal may be mixed with advantage 
with middlings or pollard for porkers. For store pigs the Beans are 
not used, simply because other and cheaper food answers perfectly well 
for them. We hope shortly to deal fully with the entire question of 
pig feeding. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 AM. I IN THE DAY. 
d 
*3 
1890. 
October. 
g a> 
<3 J* ri^ 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
d . 
O 
+2 d 
fio 
&a§ 
iss 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Sunday.19 
Monday.20 
Tuesday .... 21 
Wednesday.. 22 
Thursday.... 23 
Friday .24 
Saturday .... 25 
Inches. 
30.191 
30.277 
30.300 
3U.539 
30.490 
30.252 
29.753 
deg. 
46.3 
47.6 
45.6 
41.3 
49.1 
51.7 
55.1 
deg. 
42.2 
43.5 
45.1 
39.4 
48.2 
49.6 
63.7 
w. 
N. 
E. 
E. 
W. 
s.w. 
w. 
deg. 
48.2 
48.2 
48.8 
48.5 
47.2 
48.2 
49.7 
deg. 
61.2 
52.9 
65.1 
51.2 
54.9 
67.6 
66.5 
deg. 
44.5 
44.4 
44.1 
37.4 
37.3 
48.6 
51.0 
deg. 
65.3 
66.3 
77.2 
64.9 
61.6 
70.4 
61.1 
deg. 
88.8 
42.9 
43.3 
29.3 
31.9 
47.0 
46.1 
In. 
0.092 
0.053 
0.280 
30.257 
48.1 
46.0 
48.4 
54.2 
43.9 
66.7 
39.9 
0.428 
REMARKS. 
19th.—Fine and dry, with cloudy sky. 
20th.—Overcast throughout; occasional drizzle in evening. 
2lst.—Dull and rainy till 10 A M.; overcast morning; generally bright in afternoon. 
22nd.—Misty early ; bright day. 
£3rd.—Fair and pleasant, though sunless. 
24th.—Mild and generally dull, but occasional sunshine. 
25th.—Mild, dull, and damp till 11 A.M., then cooler and wet till 3.30 P.M. j bright moon¬ 
light evening and night. 
An average autumnal week, generally fine.—Q. J. SYMONS. 
