496 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 1, 1892. 
AN AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE. 
On December 7th a National Agricultural Conference is to 
be held in London to discuss the “ Agricultural Crisis,” and 
suggest ways and means of alfording relief to Depressed Agri¬ 
culturists.” Preliminary meetings are being held all over the 
country, protection and fair trade are again to the fore, State aid 
is demanded in the guise of taxation of imports, help fi’om 
without is demanded, but at none of the meetings does it appear 
that any mention has been made of the possibility of help from 
within, of changes in management, of contraction of the area of 
unprofitable crops, of the extension and improvement of every 
branch of agriculture wherein profit is still possible. That 
general sympathy is accorded to farmers in the’r struggle with 
adversity there can be no doubt, but it partakes very much of 
the character of that pity which is akin to contempt. Why is 
it that we hear so much of the stubbornness of farmers ? Why 
is it that advice is showered upon them ? It must be because 
there is a general feeling that while complaining loudly about 
the low price of cereals, farmers generally have done so little to 
adapt the'r practice to the changed condition of markets. A 
mighty revolution in the food supply of the globe is nearing its 
consummation, which must more and more reduce the arable 
soil of these islands. Butter, cheese, beef, mutton, pork, Apples, 
jam, eggs, poultry, Potatoes, and the like we ought still to be 
able to produce better than the foreigner; and even Wheat 
where the farmer picks his seed and cultivates scientifically, 
but on the clay the bread crops must go. This is the general 
opinion ably expressed recently by the Daily Telegraph , which 
well points out the folly of trying to comfort the farmer with 
the mirage of impossible enactments. The chemist who should 
teach them how to fix and utilise in manure the nitrogen gas 
which runs to waste from a single factory would do more for 
our home agriculture than mere pandering to prejudice ever 
can do. 
The sort of conference we should like to see would be for the 
discussion of farm management in every possible aspect of it. The 
faults of home agriculture are so palpable, the possibility of reform 
so clear, that we would have the whole matter taken in hand, 
discussed point by point, and reasonable— i.e., possible, standards 
of excellence decided upon both in crop and stock. This would 
of course open up a very wide field, but not necessarily beyond 
control. Take sheep for example, their true place and value in 
farming economy should be fully explained. There are hundreds 
of farms where a sheep-fold is never seen. Some of our best 
dairy farmers say they object to sheep among their cows, 
because the sheep consume all the choicer herbage, and the 
quality of cheese or butter suffers. But this is c’early a mere 
matter of detail; it is in autumn and winter that sheep-folding 
on the pasture of all upland farms does so much good. The 
points are to fold so closely as to manure thoroughly, and to 
have the sheep off the cow pasture before free growth begins in 
spring, so that at turn-out time there may be a full strong 
growth of rich herbage. Under such nnnagement sheep are a 
help and not a hindrance in dairy farming. Storing the land with 
fertility in the most economical manner just when the cows are 
in the yards, there would then be an improvement both in the 
quantity and quality of the milk, and a proportionate improve¬ 
ment in both cheese and butter. 
Take also dairy cows ; see what inferior animals are kept, how 
low the milk average is, how inferior the quality of the milk. 
The mismanagement of cows in purely dairy farming districts 
is notorious. Improper and insufficient food in winter as well 
as a want of shelter tell with such severity upon the cows that 
the farmer sustains a serious annual loss from the consequent 
lowness of condition. So, too, with store cattle, with pasture 
itself, with crops of all kinds ; everywhere and in everything in 
ordinary farming have we evidence of mediocrity, of a want of 
thoroughness, arising from a combination of ignorance, careless¬ 
ness, and prejudice. 
If farmers had done their utmost with the land and with the 
animals of the farm, an 1 yet found it impossible to achieve a 
reasonable measure of success, then they would be justified in 
making an appeal to the nation and to the legislature for Sta*e 
aid. The question of relief should not rest upon the possibility 
of growing Wheat. A man who cannot obtain at least five 
quarters per acre ought not to grow Wheat at all. But 
then if he turns to Oats would he so plough, apply manure, and 
sow as to get at least ten quarters, or eighty bushels an acre ? 
We verily believe that many farmers are ignorant of the 
possibility of obtaining such a crop, and they are precisely the 
men who clamour loudest for help. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
A fine open November has been favourable to the clearance of root 
crops, that fortunately have not suffered from frost, which, though 
prevalent for a few nights early in autumn, did no harm, and winter is 
setting in so mild and misty, without heavy rain, that ail winter corn 
should have been got in well. The rapid extension of fruit farming leads 
us to remind planters of the importance of planting belts for shelter 
when the fruit trees are planted. Austrian Pine, with Larch as nurses, 
is a common and very useful belt for thorough shelter. We have no 
better evergreen tree for shelter than this Pine ; it is hardy, transplants 
well, is of singularly free robust growth, and is admirably adapted fur 
planting in the most exposed situations. While advising the planting 
of half-standard fruit trees generally we strongly recommend dwarf 
bushes of Apples, Pears, and Plums for all bleak situations, because 
they can be so easily protected from high winds—from cold nor’-easters 
in spring, which destroy the blossom ; and high sou’-westers in autumn, 
which batter and shake off the fruit. 
Especial attention must now be given to the ewe flock ; let the feet 
be examined frequently for the clearance of dirt from the hoof division, 
the careful paring away of overgrown hoofs, and the dressing of any 
cases of foot-rot. Let this be done gently, with all possible care, using 
a small sharp knife, and avoiding such deep cuts as to cause bleeding. 
Very Btrongly do we advise the home farmer to look to this matter 
himself, and so make sure of kindly treatment, and of sound feet for 
the lambing, which will begin among forward ewes in the course of a 
few weeks. Feed well, taking the condition and size of the ewes as 
your guide in quantity of food given in troughs. Avoid an excessive 
use of roots now ; a little sliced and mixed with trough food does good, 
but much is dangerous, and is to be avoided. See to this; trust no 
shepherd to use roots at his own discretion, and never suffer him to cut 
roots himself ; there is by far too much risk of harm to the ewes to 
leave anything to chance. The master must know exactly what is given 
and how it is used. Keep the forward ewes altogether off folds on 
arable land. They should now be on pasture in a quiet sheltered spot, 
preferably near the home close, so as to be under close supervision. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In the Day. 
a 
eS 
PS 
1892. 
November. 
So; 
V a > 
on h 
* 
,5 -43 <V 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Iuchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday .. 20 
3 '■007 
43-5 
42-5 
W. 
45-1 
44-4 
40-9 
55-2 
38-2 
_ 
Monday .. 21 
30-343 
34-9 
34-9 
N.E. 
44-1 
44-9 
34-0 
46-6 
29-2 
_ 
Tuesday .. 22 
30-380 
43-9 
4z-9 
S.E. 
43-7 
44-7 
341 
47-4 
33-0 
_ 
Wednesday 23 
30-331 
43-9 
42-2 
E. 
43-9 
45-0 
40-1 
48-6 
34-7 
0-010 
Thursday.. 24 
50-226 
397 
39-0 
N. 
43-7 
44-8 
37-9 
44-9 
36-9 
0-010 
Friday .. 25 
30-229 
38-1 
37-0 
N.E. 
43-4 
45-8 
34 6 
47-6 
28 3 
Saturday .. 26 
30-206 
42-8 
41-4 
E. 
43-3 
50-6 
37-4 
50-7 
36-9 
0-350 
3Q-246 
41-0 
40-0 
43-9 
45-7 
37-0 
48-7 
33-9 
0-376 
REMARKS. 
20th— Rain in the small hours ; fine day, sunny from noon to about 3 P.M. ; a little fog 
in evening. 
21st.—Misty early ; sunny from 9 A.M. to noon; cloudy after. 
22nd.—Overcast throughout. 
23rd.—Fine, but sunless. 
24th.—Overcast, with occasional drizzle and generally misty or foggy. 
25th.—Fair morning; foggy and damp in afternoon and evening. 
26th.—Overcast and dull morning ; heavy rain from 2.30 P.M. to 5.30 P.M.; fine evening 
and night. 
A generally mild week with no frost, except slight on grass on two nights.— 
G. J, SVMONS. 
