34 
JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jaly 8, 188ff. 
our readers if they find no occasion to regret failures in the 
crop. A full even crop of Grass is by no means such a 
common thing as might be supposed. Many a meadow, 
which to the casual observer seems to be in a flourishing con¬ 
dition, will not bear the test of critical inspection. It is 
precisely when the Grass is in bloom and is ready for the 
mower that an inspection can be made most usefully, for 
then faults and failures are before us, and we able to decide 
upon such subsequent improvements as may appear necessary. 
Experience has shown that a full crop of hay is not a mere 
thing of seasons upon a well-managed pasture, but that it 
may be reckoned upon with a greater degree of certainty than 
most farm crops, and that it is only the time of full develop¬ 
ment which depends upon the weather. This is a matter 
concerning which we would have no mistake, for it is one of 
considerable importance ; may we not add that it is one not 
generally well understood ? 
At the time of writing this article we have got about half 
way through our own haymaking, and upon the home farm 
we have ample reason to feel dissatisfied with the crop—not 
with the hay, that is excellent both in colour and quantity, 
but it is sadly deficient in quantity. The cause of this 
unsatisfactory state of things is generally poverty of soil, and 
only in one instance is it owing to a want of drainage. This 
Grass land came into our hands about a year ago. So far we 
have only been able to effect a slight improvement in it by 
means of sheep-folding, but an effort will be made next 
February to begin a regular course of manure-dressing. No 
farmyard manure will be used, but the work of improvement 
will depend entirely upon sheep -folding and chemical manures. 
How well such treatment will answer was shown this season. 
A meadow upon which sheep were folded last autumn joins 
a piece of arable land under Oats without any dividing 
hedge. When the spring dressing of artificial manure was 
applied to the corn, enough of it was blown upon a strip of 
Grass to render it fully twice as vigorous as the remainder. 
In the application of manure to Grass land we have in 
view its permanent improvement, and the benefit derived is 
not solely confined to the crop of hay, but is also visible in a 
strong and abundant aftermath. The improvement is gradual 
and progressive rather than a bound from poverty to plenty in 
a single season. We have found that an annual outlay of from 
20s. to 25s. an acre in the best chemical manures is sufficient 
to reclaim the poorest pasture, provided the manure is applied 
in February, and the land is relieved of superfluous water by 
drainage. Without drainage the manure has very little 
effect, and we know nothing more tantalising than the sight 
of undrained Grass land in spring and early summer. Hardly 
any effect is produced upon it by genial weather ; there it lies, 
sullen and inert, in spite of rain and sunshine, just as though 
the land was under a spell. Nothing can be more simple 
than the remedy, for we have only to put in enough drains 
to draw off and prevent any other accumulation of superfluous 
water, and a change is soon visible in the herbage. It is hardly 
possible that anybody having read the quotations upon 
drainage given last week, can fail to understand its wholesome 
effect upon such Grass land. It by no means follows that 
because land is water-logged that it is soft and boggy. It may 
be, and often is, as firm to the tread as other land, but it is 
also as cold and unproductive as any bog. 
Pleasant indeed is it to turn from such neglected pastures 
to others in high condition, arising solely from judicious 
treatment. It has fallen to our lot to undertake the reclama¬ 
tion of neglected Grass land in two counties wide apart, and 
we have proved most conclusively that the poorest pasture 
well repays for careful culture. Some faith and steady 
perseverance must be brought to bear upon the work, and 
then success is bound to follow, our efforts in the end being 
crowned with success so full and abundant as renders the 
work very profitable. This, after all, is the only safe test. A 
fresh green sward is, no doubt, an agreeable sight, but we 
like it to precede and follow big hayricks. Let it be always 
remembered that a heavy crop of hay is somewhat exhaustive, 
and that good Grass land soon deteriorates. We cannot avoid 
using manure for a single season with impunity; depend 
upon it a moderate annual dressing is the best course to 
follow in our treatment of pastures good and bad. The 
mistake made by many a farmer is in trusting solely to the 
excrement of animals turned out to graze upon pastures 
for manure. One of our tenants recently showed us a 
meadow in which he had a lot of bullocks cake-fed last 
season, yet the growth this spring was entirely unsatisfactory. 
Yet, could he reasonably expect a strong even growth from 
bullock-grazing ? Gladly would we have told him something 
of our own experience of sheep-folding and chemical manures, 
but that is not easily done to a man whose evident egotism 
tells one plainly that he at any rate has nothing to learn.. 
We may, perhaps, be pardoned for thinking it a little hard 
when such a man demanded a reduction of 25 per cent, upon 
his rent. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Haymaking continues to be the chief business now. We never had 
more favourable weather for it. Not cnly has the work been done well 
and quickly, but the hay is excellent, alike good in colour and flavour. In 
such exceptionally fine weather there is some risk of overmaking the hay 
—of having it so much dried by the sun—as then there is insufficient 
fermentation in the rick to promote a full development of flavour. The 
second growth of Red Clover is growing freely, of which we are glad, as 
we intend folding sheep upon it later on. Excellent hay has been made 
from the first growth, as well as from that upon mixed layers. For¬ 
tunate indeed were we in getting the Mangolds thinned and well hoed 
before haymaking began. Swede-hoeiug was begun, but it will probably 
remain unfini'hed till aftor the baymaking unless we notice too great an 
overgrowth of weeds. The plants are remarkably healthy and are grow¬ 
ing fast now, all risk of fly attacks being over. Winter Oats have 
improved wonderfully during the past week, and the crop now bids fair 
to be a fine one. With such fine weather now we think this crop will be 
ready for harvest about the third week of July. When it is cleared we in¬ 
tend sowing some Trifolium incarnatum upon the land in view, securing a 
strong plant before cold autumnal rains set in. We have followed Winter 
Oats with a crop of White Turnips for sheep-folding upon the land , 
Trifolium we may add is much prized in spring to follow Rye ; it also 
makes capital stover for horses, lloth White and Red Wheat and Barley 
are coming well into ear ; much straw will probably be short in length, 
but the ears give promise of a full crop of grain. Late-sown spring Oats 
upon light land are suffering from drought ; a few hours’ rain would do 
much good to them and the root crop». Evidence of a short supply of 
food is now seen in a crowded sheep market every week. Prices rule low 
so low that small or cull lambs are very cheap indeed. Old sheep, too, 
can be had at prices which are very tempting, and we have been buying a 
considerable number for folding. Sheep-dipping must now be done to 
destroy ticks and prevent attacks of fly. The shepherd should also have 
a bottle of Cufl’s ointment in readiness for any attacks of fly which may 
occur, for it should not he forgotten that there is always more or less risk 
of this in very hot weather. Lot cows and bullocks have free access to 
sheds from the extreme heat of the sun, and to avoid gad flies as much 
as possible. A supply of Tares should also be kept in the racks, especially 
if there is a tendency to bareness in the pastures. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATION?. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 81° 32-40" N.; Long. 0° 8- 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
tf A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
Rain 
1886. 
June-July 
£ c3_, 
c« a) oj 
> 
2 % 
$ & 
£3 Zj <a 
Hyffrome- 
ter. 
a . 
O^J 
3 O 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
Max 
MiD. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deer. 
deg. 
deer. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 
£7 
30.153 
65.2 
55.8 
N.E. 
6".0 
76.6 
54.4 
125.4 
49.0 
_ 
Monday . 
28 
80.206 
07 9 
56.6 
E. 
60 4 
79 3 
55.0 
127.7 
48.6 
_ 
Tuesday. 
21) 
30.229 
68 9 
60.3 
N.E. 
61.2 
80.2 
51.1 
121.3 
44.8 
_ 
Wednesday .. 
30 
30.259 
67 6 
59.2 
N. 
61.2 
76.7 
54.2 
126.8 
46.8 
_ 
Thursday .. . . 
1 
30.288 
63.8 
55.7 
N.E. 
01.4 
75.8 
48.6 
120.6 
44.2 
_ 
Friday . 
2 
30.324 
60.2 
50.3 
E. 
61.7 
81.8 
52 8 
120.2 
47.4 
_ 
Saturday .... 
3 
30.317 
72.0 
G2.6 
N.E. 
62.5 
86.3 
53.6 
121.2 
49.4 
— 
30.254 
66.5 
58.1 
61.2 
79.5 
52.8 
123.3 
4 7.2 
- 
REMARKS. 
27th.—Brilliant, and nearly cloudlets till 5 p.m. 
28th.—Fine and hot. 
19th. —Blight hot morning, threatening in afternoon with spots of rain, fine evening. 
80th.— Fine and bright throughout. 
1st.—Almost cloudless, a pleasant breeze. 
2nd. —Bright, hot, and calm. 
3rd. —Fine and hot, occasional clouds. 
A hot dry week, hotter than any week in 1882 or 1883, and only exceeded once on 
twice in 1884 or 1885.—G. J. Symons. 
