4eo 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 20, 1890, 
(hitherto. The one difficulty of such factories is the disposal of 
•separated milk ; that difficulty is at once overcome if only they 
breed plenty of porkers and dispose of them to the best advantage. 
To do this our advice to send a really first- class article to market 
must be acted upon. Commission salesmen are much abused, and 
•not altogether undeservedly, but there can be no question that 
much inferior produce is sent to them for sale which they have to 
.get rid of in some way or other. 
A little watchfulness is the best guide as to the quantity of 
food used. In this matter breed tells wonderfully, a really well- 
bred pig requiring much less food than an inferior animal. We 
have now some well-bred black Suffolk sows with young litters of 
pigs, which while pregnant were repeatedly said to be too fat. In 
point of fact they were not fat at all, but their compact square 
frames always gave them a lusty appearance ; while some Essex 
sows having the same amount of food were thin enough in all 
■conscience, with their long tapering snouts and long thin bodies. 
Curious indeed is it with what dogged persistence breeders will 
continue breeding such unprofitable animals. Certainly they have 
no excuse for doing so when there are so many ways open to 
them to obtain really well-bred pigs. Most remarkable upon the 
progeny is the effect of only one parent being well bred, and to 
breeders in a small way who cannot afford to keep a boar we say, 
Take all care to obtain good sows and you are quite certain to 
breed useful pigs, but if possible always have select parents of 
both sexes. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
With such frequent changes of weather, of rains, storms, frosts, and 
dense fogs, we cannot be too careful to afford shelter to all animals. 
Even sheep are the better for it, and, as we have urged so frequently, 
a dry hard floor and a fairly snug open shed are most desirable for 
sheep during winter. Ewes that were run with the tups towards the 
end of August must now have especial care. They must have very few 
Turnips, and be kept altogether out of muddy folds. With an abun¬ 
dance of feed upon pastures they will require nothing else while the 
weather continues open, but due provision should be made against hard 
fre-st and snow. A stack of Pea or Oat straw—the former preferably— 
plenty of sweet wholesome chaff, crushed Oats, and some bran should 
all be stored in readiness, so that there may be no want of food at any 
time. We decidedly object to having pregnant ewes burrowing for 
food upon a snow-covered pasture. The food so obtained does them 
very little good, and they are liable to become much exhausted when 
driven to do this by hunger. Let not the evil effects of a Turnip 
dietary upon ewes at this season of the year be forgotten. They may 
not suffer if the weather continues mild ; on the other hand they may, 
and there may be a serious loss of many valuable animals. 
Some hoggets folded upon white and yellow hybrid Turnips are so 
forward in condition that we shall soon begin drafting the best for sale. 
Younger and more backward hoggets are also in similar folds at night, 
with a run upon grass by day. The high price of sheep has the usual 
effect of leading folks to pay extravagant prices for inferior animals. 
We saw some hoggets sold recently at 45s. that were terribly low in 
condition, and several of them were suffering from foot rot. Certainly 
the buyer was a rash speculator, whose bargain was a very questionable 
one. 
All roots intended for storing in heaps should at once be carted off 
the land. Nothing is gained by leaving them out so late in November, 
yet we have seen much of this work only just begun since writing our 
last note. The late Wheat sowing is being done in better style than 
usual, the mellow soil not being too wet admits of a thorough finish 
being given to the work. Never was autumn weather more favourable 
to good practice on all arable land ; it is true the long spell of dry weather 
made some heavy land so hard that winter corn sowing has been delayed, 
but that little trouble is now ended. 
THE ENGLISH SEED HARVEST. 
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense, perenne).—This proves to be a 
■very irregular crop, the Continental harvests are reported to be unsatis¬ 
factory generally, excepting in more southern districts, and a consider¬ 
able proportion of the new seed is weather-stained. On the other hand, 
the American crop has been to a large extent reduced in quantity by 
extreme drought, and the grain from this district is again small, more or 
less sickly, and wanting in colour. There is also reason to believe a 
smaller area has been grown in Europe during the past year in conse¬ 
quence of the low prices that then prevailed. The small quantity of 
English seed produced is expected to compare favourably with the 
imported samples, the fine weather throughout September in England 
having been favourable to its development. 
White Clover (Trifolium repens).—We cannot in any w'ay modify the 
unsatisfactory reports that we have already published of this crop. In 
some districts the crop is a failure, both as to quality and quantity. In 
all parts of Europe the samples are greatly damaged in colour by rain, 
and the average germination will be found to be lower than that for 
several years past. American seed is small and deficient in colour. 
Alsyke (Trifolium hybridum).—Earlier European reports of this crop 
were generally satisfactory, but the late rains on the Continent appear 
to have greatly damaged what previously promised to be a good harvest. 
At this moment exceptionally high prices are asked, both in Canada, 
United States, and Europe, whilst it is impossible to match the bright 
samples we have been accustomed to see during the past few seasons. 
Trefoil (Medicago lupulina).—Is very short in quantity and inferior 
in average quality, as a consequence prices have, during the past two 
or three months, jumped from 21s. to 36s. 
Lucerne ( Medicago sativa).—This is only a moderate crop, and values 
may be expected to have an upward tendency. 
Timothy (Phleum pratense).—The quality of the new deliveries of 
this seed is satisfactory, but the American reports point to a shorter crop 
than last year. This is accounted for by the decrease in the acreage 
under cultivation, At the present moment prices of Timothy are favour- 
ab’e to buyers ; it is not expected it will touch a lower figure. 
Rape.—Reliable samples of Rape have been scarce for some time ; 
the crop generally is certainly limited in extent, and for the present 
somewhat high average prices may be expected to continue. 
White Mustard.—Is a fair average crop, the quantity under cultiva¬ 
tion appeal's to have been smaller than usual, and good samples are 
offered at the time this report is written. 
Swedes and White Turnips.—These crops were harvested in excellent 
conditio i, but no important variations in values may be expected for 
some time to come. Purple-top Scotch Yellows are very scarce, 
and the acreage under cultivation being again limited, high prices are 
expected to rule. 
Rye Grasses (Lolium perenne and italicum).—The crops of these are 
reported to be generally inferior, whilst in consequence of the abnormal 
prices that have ruled for the last two or three seasons, a much smaller 
acreage than usual has been under cultivation. At the present time 
values of fine samples of Perennial Rye Grass have advanced 50 per cent, 
on last year’s price, but it is not expected that this extreme advance 
will be fully maintained. 
Natural Grasses. — Agrostis stolonifera (Fiorin). — The home crop 
will be comparatively good, and an average quantity harvested. 
American reports speak of a very limited crop only. 
Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail). — Average harvest and 
quality is satisfactory, through rather light. Prices favourable to 
buyers. 
Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail).—Fair average crop, but the 
colour of the seed is poorer than anticipated. 
Festuca Duriuscula (Hard Fescue).—Crop harvested splendidly, but 
seed on the average rather discoloured, bright samples will command 
higher prices. 
Festuca pratensis (Meadow Fescue). — The crop is reported much 
shorter than last year, and higher prices are being asked. 
Poa pratensis (Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass).—Crop very short 
indeed, even smaller than last season’s. American reports state that 
the crop is almost a failure, and therefore high prices are expected to 
rule. 
Poa nemoralis (Wood Meadow Grass). — Crop rather short, dark 
coloured, and prices rule high. 
Poa trivialis (Rough Stalked Meadow Grass).—Crop favourable; prices 
will not rule above those of former seasons.— James Carter & Co., 
High Holborn , London, and Mark Lane. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 AM. 
In the day. 
Hygrome- 
0 . 
Shade Tern- 
Radiation 
0 
1890. 
P ^ £> 
ter. 
perature. 
Temperature. 
c3 
November. 
.<5 ti a m 
S o'*- 1 
S * rH 
In 
On 
M2 C3 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
H 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
dea. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday. 
9 
29.43.5 
40.0 
38.6 
w.s.w. 
4.5.1 
49.1 
38.4 
74.1 
35.2 
— 
Monday. 
10 
29.680 
37.3 
36.2 
E. 
43.9 
44.6 
32.6 
47.7 
24.6 
0.010 
Tuesday .... 
11 
29.440 
41.2 
41.9 
S.E. 
42.9 
50.8 
36.0 
75.9 
30.9 
— 
Wednesday.. 
12 
29.864 
38.8 
37.9 
s.w. 
42.9 
51.2 
33.4 
68.1 
25.3 
0.216 
Thursday.... 
13 
29.884 
48.3 
47:9 
w. 
43.1 
51.1 
37.9 
68.2 
31.8 
— 
Friday . 
14 
30.054 
39.9 
39.9 
S.E. 
43.9 
56.9 
33.9 
65.5 
28.2 
0.089 
Saturday .... 
15 
30.161 
47.7 
46.8 
N.E. 
45.0 
61.9 
89.4 
76.1 
86.9 
— 
29.788 
42.2 
41.3 
43.8 
50.8 
35.9 
66.5 
80.4 
0.315 
REMARKS. 
9th.—Rain in small hours ; bright day; a little mist in the evening. 
10th.—More or le99 fog till 2 P.M., lights necessary at times; a little mist in afternoon. 
11th.—Dull and drizzly till 10 A.M., gradually improving, and bright sunshine from noon 
to 3 P.M.; fair evening and night. 
12th.—Sun shining through slight fog in morning ; brilliant afternoon; rain in evening 
and night. 
13th —Overcast and mild ; practically free from fog. 
14th.—Fog till noon ; bright sun from 0.15 to about 2.30 P.M., then cloudy. 
15th.—Wet from 2 A.M. to 7 A.M.; bright and fine from 10 A.M. 
A very ordinary November week, temperature slightly below average.—G. J. SYMONS. 
