820 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 6, 1892, 
perseverance—aye, and business acumen—will do. So impressed 
is the Board of Agriculture of this country by all this, that 
it has recently published full and lengthy particulars of it, 
obviously for the benefit of British dairy farmer?, making the 
matter sufficiently clear for the comprehension of ordinary 
minds. 
Surely this is a step in the right direction, to be regarded 
as holding out a helping nand to farmers in difficulties. It 
is a word to the wise, which comes to us at a time when the 
difficulties of da’ry farmers have exceptional prominence 
accorded them, from the rction of Lancashire men in their 
cry for help to landowners and the Legis’ature. “ Help your¬ 
selves 1 ” is the answer to their appeal, “ and let the spirit of 
co-operation shown by the Preston manifesto lead you to 
combine in similar efforts to overcome difficulties which the 
farmers of Sweden and Denmark have shown and are showing 
you are not insuperable. On behalf of our own farmers we 
ask, Is their appeal to the Legislature altogether uncalled for ? 
May we not hope that State aid will at least oe accorded 
them upon somewhat similar lines to those in force in Denmark, 
where Government rules for the management of dairy and 
cowhouse are enforced by competent inspectors P Any annoy¬ 
ance resulting from such interference must be counterbalanced 
by the advantage of the advice and guidance of skilful scientific 
practitioneis. ]\Iany times we have known worthy farmers at 
a loss when cows hwe fallen off prematurely in the milk 
yield, or in the treatment of the ailments of one kind or other 
which occur in all herds. What a boon to them would be the 
right, as it would be their duty by law to have Government 
assistance in their difficulties ! 
Though the provision of a proper and seasonable dietary 
would be enforced, the establishment of suitable cowhouses and 
other means of shelter, according to the requirements of each 
homestead, would also have similar authoritative attention. 
With this would come, too, means of prevention of the enfeebled 
condition which so frequently leads to disease. Such means are 
wanting on many farms now, and where they are available 
are but too often not turned to account from ignorance of their 
true value and use. Another much wanted improvement would 
be found in the better class of cows, not mere show animals, but 
in which a greater milk yield would be developed. That'this 
point, so advantageous to the farmer, would be constantly 
impressed upon him is certain, and it is reasonable to suppose it 
would then have the attention it deserves. Self interest should 
prove a sufficient incentive in this, yet it evidently is not so, 
and it remains for a spirit of emulation, which would probably 
spring from closer contact withothe. s, to incite more attention 
to careful breeding. 
Given such a reform as we have thus briefly indicated, it 
only brings us to the better production of milk. There is stil 
before us the vital question, What is to be done with it P We 
repeat, that if it could be arranged for farmers near large 
towns to sell milk, and those outside a given radius to turn 
their milk to account for making cheese and butter, it would 
be to the mutual advantage of farmers generally. Now we hear 
frequent complaints of the low price of milk. We shall continue 
to do so while it is sent to London from farms upwards of a 
hundred mi'es off. In the Melton Mowbray Times of September 
23rd there was an advertisement by a large London diiry com¬ 
pany for ‘first-class dairies of milk, cheques weekly, and all 
churns found.” While such advertisements have attention, can 
we wonder at the low price of milk ? The remedy is to be found 
in the systemat’c establishment of co-operative dairy factories 
by milk producers, who would thus obtain a ready sale for their 
milk at a fair price, and also participate in the profits of the 
concern. Who will be the first to move? In MuDster, after 
much discussion and hesitation, a public spirited former led the 
way. He had sufficient influence to induce others to combine 
with him to start the first factory, and the success which they 
had with their bold venture was a veritable beacon light to other 
farmers, who soon followed the excellent example set them, 
and who have found their cows become 30 per cent, more 
valuable under a scheme which is proving such a blessing and 
relief to the south of Ireland. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
First let us correct an error in our work note of September 22nd, in 
which by an inadvertence it was stated that land in course of prepara¬ 
tion for fruit farming should be ready for planting early in September. 
We of course intended to say November, and would urge all who intend 
planting fruit trees or bushes this season to be ready with land and trees 
by the first week of that month. You may plant from then till spring 
in favourable weather, but the work can never be done to such advantage 
as early in November. The roots then become sufficiently established in 
the soil to render robust vigorous growth a certainty next year. If plant¬ 
ing is put off indefinitely till late in the season the trees will live if 
properly cared for, but they will put forth no useful growth, so that a 
year is practically wasted. In the formation of new fruit plantations 
attend to the due provision of shelter by planting mixed belts of 
Lombardy Poplar and Austrian Pine, which then gain size with the fruit 
trees, affording really useful shelter by the time the latter are well in 
bearing. 
Keep calves shut in except on warm dry days ; those left out on 
pasture in all weather have now much dry husky cough among them, and 
there will be losses from what is practically a preventible disease. Clear 
out all surplus or weakly live stock at any price ; it is much better 
to make a considerable sacrifice now than run the risk of being short of 
food next Lady day. Consider ways and means carefully, allowing a 
considerable margin in the winter store of food for a hard winter and 
late spring. It is a good rule to make a point of having a stack of hay 
in reserve at turn-out time in spring. The thing is quite easy of 
management if only the head of stock is kept within due bounds. Clear 
off fat beasts from pasture to the butcher as quickly as possible, avoiding 
any stall-fed beasts as a rule, for they cannot answer at the present low 
prices. Besides cows and heifers the only store cattle profitable to 
winter now are the calves of last spring, and steers calved in the spring 
of 1891, which if brought into the yards now in good condition, kept so 
till next spring, and grazed well till the autumn, should answer well and 
prove fairly profitable. But there must be no cake bills ; the farm must 
be self-supporting. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Parsnips for Dairy Cows ( W, R. R .~).—Parsnips in moderate 
quantities may be used advantageously for dairy cows. They are not 
generally favoured by farmers as a root crop because they require a 
deep rich soil to give thick clean roots. Sown in shallow soil they put 
forth so many forked roots that the main root is comparatively worth¬ 
less ; the crop is both difficult to lift and to clean. In deep rich loam we 
have found Parsnips answer admirably, growing freely and well, and afford¬ 
ing a very valuable supply of food for cows in winter. Give heed to 
our hint about moderation in the use of this root, so as not to run any 
risk of imparting unpleasant flavour to the butter. Sow early in March, 
using about 3 lbs. of new seed per acre. Lift the roots in October ; they 
bear frost well, but it is beBt to bave them off the land before it becomes 
saturated with the heavy rains of autumn. 
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. 
1892. 
September and 
October. 
M rr-i • 
-Sag 
<L> C3 ^ 
O 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Rain. 
c8 
& a> 
c3 CG 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Wind. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Sunday .. 25 
Inchs. 
29-976 
deg. 
58-5 
deg. 
54-3 
S.W. 
deg. 
56-7 
deg. 
66-0 
deg. 
44-7 
deg. 
102-4 
deg. 
42*0 
Inchs. 
Monday .. 26 
30-053 
55-4 
53-8 
S.W. 
56-2 
66-8 
51-9 
99-4 
45*5 
Tuesday .. 27 
29-755 
61-3 
57-6 
S.W. 
56-9 
67-5 
52-6 
89-1 
47*1 
0.19ft 
Wednesday 28 
29-794 
50.1 
48-3 
W. 
56-9 
62-2 
47-2 
107*1 
47*0 
Thursday.. 29 
29-839 
52-7 
48-0 
w. 
55-2 
60-6 
41-7 
98-9 
37-5 
0.93a 
Friday .. 30 
29-484 
51-3 
49-1 
s. 
54-2 
59-2 
47-8 
88-9 
47*0 
0.106 
Saturday .. 1 
29-393 
48-3 
47-9 
s. 
53-9 
55-7 
42-5 
83-0 
37-1 
0-351 
29-756 
53-9 
51-3 
55-7 
62-6 
46-9 
95-5 
43-3 
1-594 
REMARKS. 
25th.—Generally sunny in morning, fair afternoon, clear evening 
26th.—Cloudy early, generally sunny after 10.30 a.m. 
27th.—Fair, with one or two gleams of sun ; rain at night 
28th.—Fine and generally sunny. 
29th.—Brilliant till 11.30 A.M., slight shower at noon, cloudy afternoon, with high wind 
“ d ° c T l0nal s P ots 1 Steady heavy rain from 6 p.m. to 6.30 A.M. on 30th. 
30th. Steady heavy ram till 6.30 a.m., a little sun about 11.30 A.M., heavy shower of 
?Cnd “r about 11,30 p m! ’ ^ afternoon ’ rain at ni ^ ht i a ^ P<*1 of 
1st.—Heavy rain from 8.30 a.m. to 0.30 p.m., sunshine from 1 P.M., fair evening. 
OcLZt “ n8idcrable rainfa11 ’ bUt the laSt week 0f 
