484 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 1, 1687. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Much time has been taken up in carting com sold at recent markets. 
~\Ve have had to push on corn threshing at one or two farms which have 
been in hand and were let at Michaelmas. Under our covenants the 
incoming tenant has to thresh, clean, and deliver corn left on the farm, 
anil he has the straw for so doing ; but we find that a new tenant has 
so much upon his hands at the outset that it hardly answers to hold him 
•strictly to such a bargain. It is his interest to see to the ploughing and 
sowing of winter corn : it is ours to see that no corn stacks sutler by ex¬ 
posure to depredations of any kind, and experience has shown that there 
is some risk of this. We had one large Wheat stack so left, from the 
bottom of which the straw was pulled so badly by a flock of geese that 
there was a considerable degree of risk that it would topple over. The 
mischief was done in some three or four days, and we should not have 
thought it possible that geese could have pulled out long AN heat straw 
in such a manner. The moral oE this is never to leave a corn stack 
without a fence of hurdles well set around it. It is a good rule so to 
enclose every stack, if there is not a close, strong fence around the rick- 
yard, for it is a common sight to see hay and Clover stacks with the 
sides much pulled about by stray cattle. Corn markets fluctuate at 
times in a curious manner for which it is difficult to account. Last 
market we had several samples of Barley on offer, and were able to 
dispose of all of th n m at fair rates, except one which we regarded as 
exceptionally good, for it was a full, heavy sample, thin-skinned, bright, 
and quite unstained by any exposure to weather. “ No,” said one mer¬ 
chant after another, “ we don’t want white Barley,” and we could not 
sell. Yet this is the very class of Barley which last season woul d com - 
mand an exceptionally high price. “ — 
Winter corn is a full, strong plant ; Wheat, Rye, Beaus, and Oats 
all having a flourishing, healthy appearance. Since our serious losses 
among the Bean plant last winter we have come to regard this crop as 
somewhat speculative. The losses were owing to the exceptional severity 
of the weather, which caused the stem to perish just upon the surface of 
the soil. In this matter we are very much at the mercy of the weather. 
We have, however, had the Beans sown by plough drills, so as to leave 
the surface rough and uneven, in order to afford the i lant some slight 
protection from cold, cutting wind. 
THE WHEAT CROP OF 1887. 
The very low prices during the last few years have, it is supposed 
induced farmers to use a not inconsiderable quantity of their Wheat as food 
for stock. The amount so withdrawn from human consumption if quite 
unknown. It has been estimated by some to be considerably less than one 
million, and by otli-rs to be even as much as two million quarters within the 
harvest year. Whatever the amount may be, it is evident that a n9w 
element of uncertainty is thus introduced into our estimates of the quantity 
of imported Wheat required to supply the deficiency of the home-grown 
crop. 
The “Agricultural Produce Statistics” published at the beginning of 
the year give, as the result of inquiries in 14.000 parishes in Great Britain, 
and many in Ireland, an ave-age yield of 26'89 bushels per acre for the 
Wheat crop of the United Kingdom in 1886. If we deduct from this 
amount 2^ bushels per acre for seed, as we did in the case of our own esti¬ 
mate, it leaves only 71 million quarters available for consumption by the 
population and for stock feeding. The imports less exports for the harvest 
year ending August 31st, 1887, amounted to 17^ million quarters, making 
altogether a total of little over 24j million quarters. But assuming the con¬ 
sumption per head of the population to be 5'65 bushe’s, which is the figure 
we have adopted for the last ten years, the amount so required would, inde¬ 
pendently of the quantity consumed by stock, be 2GJ million qua'ters, or 
two million quarters more than the estimated avail ible home prjduce and 
imports taken together. By the kindness of Messrs. Beerbohm I have been 
furnished with a statement of the amount of Wheat, and of flour reckoned 
as Wheat, in warehouse on July 1st, 1886, and July 1st, 1887, from which it 
appears that the stocks were slightly the higher in 1887, whilst it is esti¬ 
mated that subsequently to that date they somewhat increased. 
Our own cstima'e of the yield of the Wheat crop of 1886 was 29J 
bushels. This is considerably higher than that of the Government above 
quoted ; and it is also higher than the estimates of others. According to 
our figure, the available supply of home produce was nearly 8 million 
quarters. Even with our higher estimate of the home crop there 
is still a deficiency in the imports for the estimated requirements for 
human consumption, to say nothing of the amount consumed by stock. 
The evidence so far would thu3 seem to suggest the question whethtr th-re 
has not been some decline in the consumption per head of the population. 
At the same time it should be stated that if we take our own estimates of 
the available home produce and the recorded imports for the whole period 
of the eleven harvest years 1876-77 to 1886-87 inclusive, for which we have 
adopted a consumption of 5'65 bushels per head, the result shows precisely 
that amount availab'e, if no allowance be made for consumption by stock. 
It is obviously desirable, however, that those who are engaged in forming 
the est : mates of tli9 yield of the Wheat crop should also endeavour to 
ascertain the facts as to the quantity of Wheat consumed by stock. 
The Rothamsted result of 28f bushels, which more probably under than 
overrates the crop of the country, if calculated upon the slightly incr as d 
area this year—namely, 2,383,684 acres—gives an aggregate produce for the 
United Kingdom of 8,454,275 quarters. Hitherto we have always deducted 
21 bushels per acre for seed, but this is supposed to be too high an average 
at the present time, and if we deduct only 2 bushels, there remain 7,858 379, 
or rather less than 8 million quarters available for consumption. Still, 
estimating the consumption per head of the population at 5’65 bushels, the 
requirement for the harvest year would be 26,419,910, or nearly 26J million 
quarters, of which about 18£ million quarters would have to be supplied by 
tocks and imports. 
For some reason the imports of Wheat have been below the estimated 
requirements for the last two years. Whether or to what extent this is due 
to previous accumulations, to the home crops having been underrated, or to 
a reduction in the consumption of bread and flour, there is not sufficient 
evidence to decide conclusively. If there has been a reduced consumption, 
the question arises whether there has bee^i an increased consumption ol 
other foods. During the last few years there has been some increase in 
the number of both cows and other cattle kept, but there has upon the 
whole been a reduction in the number of both sheep and pigs. In fact, the 
records, neither of the home production nor of the imports of animal foods, 
afford evidence of any material increase in the consumption per head of such 
foods. . , ,, 
Further, a careful examination of the amounts of the imports of other 
articles used as human food shows in the aggregate a reduction rather than 
an increase in proportion to the population. In such articles as Rice and 
Potatoes, for example, which would to some extent substitute Wheat, the 
decline in the imports is very marked. Thus, while during the fiveyear3 
1877-81 the average annual imports of Potatoes amounted to 395,2< 7 tons, 
during the five years 1882-86 they amounted to only 156,017 tons, or to con¬ 
siderably less than one-half. Nor is it probable that the amount of Maize 
flour used has at all mateiiilly affected the consumption of Wheat. Ihe 
indication w r ould thus seem to be, therefore, that if the consumption of 
Wheat has really declined, either the total consumption of food p°r head of 
the population has also declined, or that the deficiency in the Wheat im¬ 
ports has been compensated by increased supplies of home-grown foods, bo 
far as Potatoes are concerned, however, the “ Agricultural Produce Statis¬ 
tics ” show a decline in area, in produce per acre, and in aggregate produce, 
both in 1885 and in 1886 compared with 1884. On the other hand, there 
has, notwithstanding an increase in the imports of other vegetables, been a 
considerable increase in the area of allotment gardens. It would obviously 
be a ground of satisfaction should further information and consideration 
show that, notwithstanding the very low prices of grain, there ha9 been a 
larger consumption of some other home-produced food3. 
Whilst it is obviously of importance to the grower that his Wheat crop 
should yield well, it has ceased to be a question of any interest to the con¬ 
sumer whether the yield of the home crop is a few bushels per acre more or 
le j s. Nor does such a difference on our much reduced area at all materially 
affect the supply from foreign sources. During the eight harvest years 
1852-53 to 1859-60, which were the first of our estimates of the home Wheat 
crop, nearly three-fourths of the aggregate amount consumed was of home 
growth, and little more than one-fourth was derived from foreign sources, 
but during the eight years 1878-79 to 1885-86 little more than one-third has 
been provided by the home crop, and nearly two-thirds .by imports ; and 
were it not for the value of the straw for bedding purposes it is probable 
that the reduction in the area under the crop would have been even greater 
than has actually been the caBe. . , , .. 
Although greater facilities for acquiring land have been afforded by the 
Actb of Parliament recently passed, there is not much probability that the 
result will be an increase iujthe area under Wheat or other grain orop3 ’ 
in fact, that tillage on a small scale will successfully compete with arable 
farming as at present practised. Nor is it likely that there will be any per¬ 
manent extensim of peasant holdings of pasture land, excepting in ioca i- 
ties where the soil and climate are specially favourable for permanent 
grass. But g irden allotments, as distinguished from peasant holdings or 
Irom farm allotments, are of very great advantage to the masses of the 
population, and will no doubt continue to extend as they have done largely 
during the last quarter of a century.—Sift J. B. Lawes (in Aature). 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Distinguishing the Sex of Guinea Fowls (IF. S .).—The sex is some¬ 
what difficult to distinguish. One mirk is the cry, the hen alone n ( ttenog 
tlie peculiar noti which nearly everybody c impares to the words , 
back,” utlered in a shrill tone. Cocks may also be distinguished by the 
arching of their backs, and running along on tiptoe with a mincing a . 
They are also more spiteful than the hens to other poultry. Anotnei 
mark is that the wattles of the ma’e are la-ger than those of the lemue, 
and rather differently placed. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUA11E, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40" N.; Long. 0° S' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
fl 
*3 
« 
1887. 
November. 
i?i 3-5 
g «-/) £ 
S 
c3 ** 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
fl . 
a a 
So 
*o . 
p^o 
So° 
<V ® rH 
H 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
,Dry. Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Sunday.20 
Monday.21 
Tuesday .... 22 
Wednesday.. 23 
Thursday.... 24 
Friday .25 
Saturday .... 26 
Inches. 
29.5G7 
29.593 
29.701 
29.930 
29.917 
29.736 
29.797 
deg. 
35.8 
33.4 
38.2 
39.3 
33.3 
38.2 
48.2 
deg. 
35.0 
33.4 
88.2 
38.0 
35.1 
37.1 
44.7 
N.E. 
Calm 
K.E. 
N. 
N. 
S.W. 
w. 
deg. 
38.8 
38 4 
38.5 
39-2 
39 3 
39.2 
39 3 
deg. 
38.8 
38.7 
43.3 
43.1 
39.8 
48.6 
52.1 
deg. 
31.1 
31.6 
30.9 
37.9 
32.5 
33.1 
37.9 
deg. 
61.2 
40.2 
47.6 
67.8 
40.8 
58.1 
58.6 
deg. 
24.G 
32.4 
31.6 
37.1 
27.4 
29.1 
30.7 
In. 
0.079 
0.152 
0.018 
29 756 
38.5 
87.4 — 
39.0 
43.5 
33.6 
52.0 
30.4 
0.249 
EE MARKS. 
20th.—Rain in small hours; cold damp fog all day. 
22 nd^hi d rfm°ali a !!ou a rs- ; dull, damp morning,but warmer; line afternoon; heavy 
shower 5 to 6r.M.; dull evening. 
23rd.—Fine, with a good deal of sunshine ; bright night. 
2(th.—Dull early, spots of rain about 10 A.M., then fair, overcast afternoon. 
Sltli.—Fine and bright, but slightly foggy at times. 
26tb.—Fine and warm, but not bright. ..... fnsr 
A variable week, with two or three pleasant days a little marred by slig ■ °g- 
perature variable, and though 5 g above that of the preceding week a o 
the average.—U. J. Stmonj. 
Tern- 
below 
