502 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 30, 1892. 
of year is decidedly the best for this work, because a clear idea can 
be had of the quality and condition of the land, as well as of the 
character of the tenant, and the degree of skill possessed by him, if 
only he is present during the survey. These are the essentials, 
the points of most importance amidst numerous minor details, 
which influence our judgment and enable a sound and reliable 
opinion to be formed of the whole generally as property, and of 
the land particularly, as to whether it is likely to prove a profit¬ 
able investment. 
At midsummer the land is like an open book, easily read, for 
the crops show plainly its condition and requirements. The 
recent survey of several dairy farms in the Stilton cheese 
district proved, therefore, exceptionally interesting. It showed 
us that the prosperity of Stilton cheese makers throughout the 
depression was owing to the production of an article for which 
they have practically a monopoly, and not to superior ability in 
farming. On the contrary, very much of the pasture is becoming 
impoverished by the suicidal practice of incessant grazing without 
anything like a periodical or systematic application of manure. 
“ Manure ! ” say they, “ where are we to get it ? ” Any mention 
of chemical manure is received with the stolid indifference of 
absolute ignorance. Depend upon it, if technical education is to 
make way in agriculture there must be district trial stations, 
and not mere single central county stations. It must be shown 
how invaluable chemical manures are for all soils, how in them 
economy and efficiency are in most admirable combination, how 
upon their use rests the future of farming, how entirely possible 
it is in that future for prosperity to return to agriculture on the 
wings of science. We must have a better systern of cultivation 
if we would have better crops. We were repeatedly told in our 
survey that the scant herbage on so much of the pasture was 
owing to drought and a backward spring. From much experience 
in reclaiming such pasture we knew such statements were altogether 
wrong and misleading. On one farm, the meadows stocked with 
sheep and cows were entirely satisfactory, there being excellent 
pasture everywhere, even where closely cropped, and no robbers 
of the soil, such as Thistles, Nettles, or Rushes were to be seen 
The other meadows laid in for hay had an abundant crop, 
attributable, as we found, to the withdrawal of the stock early 
in March, and to the judicious use of sheep upon it. Still 
further evidence of good management was afforded by a stack of 
last year’s hay in a locality where most other farmers had been 
buying hay in spring, and we were indeed fortunate in the pur¬ 
chase of that farm at a price upon which the rent would pay 5 per 
cent, interest, and in securing the excellent farmer of it as our 
tenant. 
It is indeed remarkable how custom tells even in the use of 
sheep. In Leicestershire sheep-folding on grass is not customary, 
yet the benefit to be derived from it should be obvious enoucfh 
in a county with so much poor pasture. Many of the graziers 
do give the ewes some cake in winter and spring ; if this were 
only done in small folds at night, pasture and sheep would be 
nourished at the same time, yet we know many a farm without 
a single hurdle upon it. Why indeed should there be, when they 
would not be turned to account ? No better land could be had 
for wintering sheep than the uplands of High Leicestershire ; 
sound and dry, it is admirably adapted to winter folding. If only 
the advantages of the practice were realised there, the flock would 
assume a degree of importance not hitherto accorded it. Instead 
of being regarded as an incubus, as the low price of sheep has 
caused it to be recently, it would be estimated at its true value, 
and the production of mutton would be quite a secondary 
consideration. Fertility of soil would be regarded as the basis 
of all successful farming, and the flock would be turned to 
account for promoting it. 
We have repeatedly called attention to the especial value of 
20 or 30 acres of arable land on a dairy farm, for supplying corn, 
straw, green crops, and roots for home use. Our survey showed 
us how such an apparent boon was regarded by the dairy farmers- 
as a positive nuisance ; “ for,” they said, “ it swallows up all the 
best of our manure, and robs the pasture.” With pasture in the 
proportion of about seven to one of arable the fallacy of this, 
statement was obvious. Here, again, the aid of chemical manure 
was calculated to help to set things right, and only to help. Even 
those few acres of arable land were foul with weeds, cold and wet 
from deficient drainage, corn crops stunted and yellow. So 
mismanaged arable land is a very questionable blessing, and while 
the British farmer bungles at his work in this fashion he will 
continue to be a much-advised man. He must be while it is patent 
to outsiders that his work is slovenly, aimless, and practically 
abortive. Our survey only serves to confirm former impressions,, 
to make assurance doubly sure of the fact that there is a general 
lack of thoroughness in soil cultivation both on arable land and 
in permanent pasture. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Hoose last au'umn, a winter on washed-out hay, a late spring, and 
a turn-out on pasture in a low enfeebled condition, has caused serious- 
losses among the store cattle of graziers, and much trouble also among 
the survivors. Hundreds of beasts will require a summer’s grazing to- 
become at all fleshy ; if that is done in view of selling them it may 
answer, but if they are again to pass through another winter in a- 
state of semi-starvation, and subjected to exposure to all changes of 
weather, they had better be got rid of in the autumn. It cannot 
answer to keep stock under such conditions; profit is an impossibility. 
It is mere waste of time to suffer cattle to become very low in condition 
in winter and to try now by means of tonics and grazing to keep them 
going. Markets of the last week or two have been crowded with cattle 
and sheep by farmers having to meet the rent day, which in many 
localities falls on or about the longest day. This has again brought 
down prices below any possibility of profit, and is much to be deplored. 
There are complaints of a very low yield of milk in some herds this 
summer, cake having to be used. Judging from what we have seen 
there can be no doubt that even at midsummer some herds are on short 
commons. The truth is so many farms are overstocked that the late 
haysel is a serious matter for the cows, the pasture being eaten off se 
closely that they cannot find enough food upon it. 
Aftermath is likely again to become merged in the earlier growth so 
long is it left before mowing, and the cows suffer accordingly. It is far 
better to keep fewer cows, to do them well, and to mow earlier. In 
order to do this the grass must be laid in early in March, and not be 
kept stocked till the end of April, as is so frequently the case. 
As the lambs are weaned the over-age ewes are withdrawn from the 
flock, and at once put in folds to fatten. It is a good rule to clear off all 
doubtful animals from the farm once or twice a year. It is better to do 
this even at a loss than to risk a greater one by keeping them through 
the winter, and then be obliged to part with them because supplies of 
store food run low. The lambs have been held over for autumn folding, 
as prices at the lamb sales have been ruinously low. We may do better 
with them as early hoggets, but shall buy no cake, keeping rather to 
mixed home-grown corn. Times are too hard to afford the use of cake. 
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. 
.9 
0& 
Ph 
1892. 
June. 
1 Barometer 
1 at 32°, and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 19 
29-885 
57-9 
49-7 
S. 
55-5 
66-1 
46-1 
110-9 
41-2 
0-063. 
Monday .. 20 
29-854 
57-3 
50-6 
s.w. 
55-2 
67-1 
44’7 
117-7 
39-2 
0-040 
Tuesday .. 21 
29-920 
61-9 
640 
w. 
55-2 
69-9 
44-9 
118-9 
38-3 
0-03a 
Wednesday 22 
29-916 
62-4 
57-0 
s.w. 
56-2 
74-1 
55-9 
119-9 
54-0 
0-296 
Thursday.. 23 
29-0! 3 
53*0 
53-1 
S.B. 
58-0 
66-4 
53-0 
97-8 
52 2 
0-604 
Friday .. 24 
29-998 
62-9 
54-9 
S.W. 
56-5 
72-9 
46-7 
119-9 
40-0 
— 
Saturday .. 25 
29-995 
62-3 
56-9 
S.W. 
57-0 
69-8 
51-1 
107-6 
47-1 
— 
29-869 
59-8 
53-7 
56-2 
69-5 
48-9 
113-2 
44-6 
1-042 
REMARKS. 
19th.—Brilliant morning; frequent showers in afternoon and evening, and one heavy 
one at 3 P.M. 
20th.—Brilliant early ; overcast oaorning ; heavy showers in afternoon. 
21st.—Brilliant early; fine, with occasional snnshine during the day; a little rain in 
evening. 
22nd.—Rain early; occasional sun in morning; bright, warm afternoon; cloudy 
evening. 
23rd.—Continuous heavy rain from 3 A.M. to 2 P.M. ; a little sun after 4 P.M. 
24th.—Generally sunny and bright, but cloudy occasionally. 
25th.—Fine and pleasant, but not much bright sunshine; a little drizzle in evening. 
A rather rainy week with one very wet day, but a good deal of bright sunshine. 
Temperature very near the average.—G. J. Svmons. 
