288 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t Sep'ember JS, 1888. 
do our utmost to break up all the corn land having no layers, 
to stir it well with horse hoes, cultivators and harrows after 
the ploughing, to burn couch grass and other noxious weeds, 
and then to throw the soil into ridges with ploughs for the 
winter. If only this could be done before heavy rain falls we 
should have the land in the best order for the winter, 
and we should also be able to make splendid seed 
beds next spring, for the ridges are so fully exposed to the 
action of frost, rain, and wind, that in spring the soil crumbles 
before the cultivator like ashes. Do not mind what is said 
about the loss of nitrates from bare soil by the drains in 
winter. We want, and must have, clean soil always; we 
cannot afford to have weeds among our crops, for that 
involves a loss that is really serious. If wo would have 
crops asfull and abundant as possible there must be no weeds 
to steal fertility from the soil; strenuous efforts to destroy 
them now will be repaid by better results among our crops 
next autumn. 
The mention of results reminds us that we are able t° 
record a decided improvement in the quantity of our field 
crops this year, but we are not satisfied—far from it. 
Knowing as we do that it is possible to grow 80 bushels of 
Oats on an acre of land, we cannot and shall not rest satisfied 
with anything short of that. Our Winter Oats gave us a 
yield of 60 bushels an acre, weighing 2640 lbs., or 240 lbs. 
above the general average, and we have reason to hope that 
our Black Tartarian Oats will reach or closely approach our 
standard yield of 80 bushels. Ten quarters of corn per acre 
at £1 per quarter, with the straw to boot, is a paying crop ; 
so too is a crop of Wheat, if only we can touch the possible 
yield of 6 quarters an acre, which at the lowest current rate 
means £9 an acre for grain only, and the straw is worth at 
least £2 more. If we concede the possibility of obtaining 
such crops, as we assuredly do, what is to be said about the 
low general average of the Wheat crop in this country ? 
Loud is the outcry, bitter the complaints about foreign com¬ 
petition, yet if only such competition compels us to effect 
such improvements in practice as shall lead to results similar 
to those we point to, it will be a blessing rather than a curse 
to us. There can be no doubt that the low average of the 
corn crops in this country is owing to careless slovenly 
practice, combined with ignorance, inferior seed frequently 
foul with Charlock and other weed seed, soil foul, wet, and 
poor, late sowing, and similar practice all round, all tend to 
seriously affect both the quality and quantity of the corn 
yield. When the depression came, what was the remedy 
which farmers were invited to adopt ? In some few instances 
improvements in cultivation were recommended, but generally 
fruit farming, dairy farming, poultry rearing, and the culti¬ 
vation of sugar Beet, were the substitutes for corn-growing, 
which we were invited to adopt, and now we have an attempt 
at the cultivation of Flax and Tobacco. We know of one 
attempt at the manufacture of Beet sugar in East Anglia 
which resulted in a loss which we have heard estimated at 
£100,000. The factory buildings still exist, but they are silent 
and empty, and we have no doubt that the late sugar com¬ 
pany would gladly hand them over to the Flax and Tobacco 
men. 
We have repeatedly shown that fruit farming was a rash 
speculation, especially for tenant farmers. This year it has 
failed to answer even among our famous Kent fruit growers. 
Recent accounts state that they continue to suffer from a 
plethora of production. At Ashford a farmer says he could 
only get 2s. a bushel for his Plums, although they were large 
and fine. The price would not cover the cost of gathering 
and sending to market, and they were left upon the trees. 
Another man at Mersham sold a crop of 60 or more bushels 
of Plums on the trees, but the purchaser did not go either 
to take them or pay for them. Other statements "tell how 
large quantities of Gooseberries have been wasted because 
the price which the dealers offered were not sufficient to pay 
for picking, how there was an actual loss of £1 over the sale 
of 20 tons of bush fruit, and how two growers sent 48 bushels 
of Plums to London, which were actually sent to be sold at 
Manchester, with the final result of a remittance of 4d. from 
the factor to the growers. 
Again we say avoid speculative farming, and rather strive 
hard for improvement in the culture of what may be termed 
legitimate farm crops. Each field should be treated accord¬ 
ing to its particular requirements. Above all things do not 
forget the drains. We have several faulty ones marked for 
repairs, and certain fields or portions of fields are to have 
new drains. To make sure about this matter it is best to 
have a pocket plan of each farm done on tracing cloth, to 
mark any weak points in drains as they come under notice. 
Whatever outlay is involved now in drainage will prove an 
investment of capital upon which next season’s crops will 
pay good interest. We regard drainage as the chief factor 
in profitable farming, for without it, no matter how deeply 
we stir the soil or how highly we manure it, our efforts will 
prove comparatively futile, our labour vain. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Ploughs were set at work without the loss of a day after harvest, and 
the Rye sowing will he finished before this note is printed. If the sowing 
of this crop is not yet done upon the farms of any of our readers no time 
should be lost in getting it done at once. In southern count : es Spring 
Oats should come next in order of sowing, our object being to have this 
crop forward in growth so that it may be ready if we should require it 
for the sheep in early spring. In the north midland counties Winter 
Tares should be sown in the last week of September, but in the south we 
have found this crop answer best if sown a fortnight later. We may add 
that we have proved this upon a farm some thirty miles due sou h of 
London, where, if sown in September, the Tares were liable to become so 
forward in a mild winter as to be spoilt by spring frcsts. We intend 
sowing one field of Winter Tare9 after the Mangold crop is cleared and 
clamped, the tops being taken off on the land, the leaves being ploughed 
in and not eaten by sheep. We mention this as an important matter, for 
the leaf growth of Mangolds is so strong this season that the leaves will 
when ploughed in impait much fertility to the soil, and contribute 
mateiially to invigorate the Tare crop. The second crop of Clover is so 
abundant that the sheep could not eat it while it was palatable food for 
them, and we have had to have a considerable breadth of it mowed for 
stover. We considered this course preferable to seed-saving. We may 
mention that we have devoted a ceitain proportion of Clover for seed, but 
so many farmers are saving Clover seed this autumn that the price is 
likely to be low, and we prefer to make an extra quantity of stover as 
the more saleable article of the two. The new Clover layers sown with 
Barley have grown so strongly that we have had some trouble in getting 
the Barley straw, crowded a9 it was with Clover tops, ready for stacking. 
That has been done at last, and the Barley saved in sound dry condition, 
but plump, bright coloured Barley will be so scarce that it will probably 
command a high price, to the benefit of those farmers who are so fortunate 
as to possess it. Fattening sheep are thriving upon Clover, Coleseed, 
Mustard Grass, and Turnips, one or more of these articles of diet being 
available for them upon one or other of our farms. The growth of 
Mustard has been so vigorous that the tops are high above the heads of 
the sheep, but they are so foud of it that there is nothing left but the 
stalk-,’ bottoms when they pass on to a fresh fold. 
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. 
iS- 
Hygrorne- 
P • 
Oti ; 
Shade Tem- 
Radiation 
P 
1886. 
oti 32 > 
ter. 
3 a 
©w* 
§•=§ 
perature. 
Temperature 
A 
September. 
5 S 
In 
On 
Dry. 
Wet. 
3o 
H 
Max. 
Min. 
San. 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
dee. 
deg 
deg. 
deg 
In. 
Sunday . 
12 
30.035 
64.8 
60.5 
s.w. 
59.4 
68.7 
54.3 
100.2 
48.4 
_ 
Monday. 
13 
3 >.108 
67.4 
61.8 
S.E. 
6>.2 
77.0 
61.9 
115.2 
58.7 
_ 
Tuesday. 
14 
30.084 
65.2 
62. L 
N.E. 
60 8 
79.2 
53.4 
1152 
43 2 
_ 
Wednesday .. 
15 
30.377 
598 
53.2 
N.E. 
61.2 
678 
55.8 
107.7 
52.4 
_ 
Thursday .... 
13 
30.476 
5'5.4 
49.9 
E. 
59.8 
63 7 
45.0 
96.2 
37.1 
_ 
Friday. 
17 
3 .294 
57.8 
52.2 
N.E. 
58.6 
67.7 
42.2 
1058 
33.8 
_ 
Saturday .... 
18 
30.149 
58.8 
54 6 
N.E. 
67.5 
69.4 
44.9 
106.4 
38.5 
— 
30.218 
61.5 
56.3 
59.6 
70.5 
5L.1 
103.7 
45.3 
— 
REMARKS. 
12th.—Bright in the morning, and fair throughout. 
13th.—A fine morning and brilliant day. 
14th.—Another glorious day. 
15th.—Fine with short interval, overcast in a bright afternoon; fresh N.E. breeze 
throughout. 
16th.—Dull and overcast, with bright intervals in afternoon, and fine evening. 
17th.—A fine, bright, almost cloudless day. 
18lh.—Another brilliant day. 
A tine rainless week, with high barometer; easterly very warm days, and 
some cold nights.—G. J. SYMONS. 
