r July 10, 1838. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
G A 
Close inspection of growing crops as they approach full de¬ 
velopment enables one to ascertain something about the relative 
value of different sorts. Such knowledge is not, however, to be 
regarded as conclusive, rather should it be joined subsequently to 
that sure and final test of weight and measure when the corn is 
threshed after harvest. Some of our most showy corn in the field 
does not pass the weight and measure test well. For example, 
Giant White Wheat is one of the most attractive sorts we have ever 
Rad, and there are few finer sights on a farm than a field of it under 
good cultivation in the present month. But after a thorough trial 
of it upon four of our farms we have discarded it altogether, for 
the bold showy crop is misleading, being deficient both in weight 
per bushel and quantity per acre—both serious faults for which 
quality alone will not atone. 
Champion White Wheat from pure seed saved at our home 
farm bids f lir to take the lead this year ; we have it at all of our 
farms, and it is alike giod on mixed soil and heavy land. What we 
really wish for is a White Wheat that is at least equal if not 
superior to any other Wheat in growth of straw ; in quantity, 
weight, and quality of grain, and which is hardy, robust, and not 
liable to disease. It is always worth a little more per quarter than 
Red Wheat, and if that little only amounts to 10s. per acre it is 
quite worth trying for. Of Red Wheat, Defiance, Scholley’s Square 
Head, and White Chaff Red are the sorts we have in cultivation 
this year. The first two are from very pure samples, and the results 
of the trial will enable us to decide whether it is worth while 
growing all of them again. On one farm we have an interesting 
study in a 30-acre piece of Wheat consisting of 10 acres each of 
-Champion, Defiance and Square Head. On another farm we have 
(upwards of 100 acres of the same soits of Wheat, but the fields do 
not lie so well together for comparision. 
Of Barley we used seed from excellent samples for this season, 
of which perhaps the best is a pure sample of G-olden Melon from 
light land. We have also a good selection of Chevalier, and are 
trying to do still better by sowing a .small field of Webb’s Ivinver 
Chevalier at the home farm for a supply of seed next season for 
ithe other farms. In all we have several hundred acres under 
Barley, and the importance of having the best only is obvious 
when we recall the fact of prices ranging last season from 20s. to 
40s. per quarter. 
The same principle equally affects all other crops, and its im¬ 
portance has a golden significance to the great seed firms. Not 
only do they find it answer to introduce new and improved sorts, 
but also pure selections of old ones. In nothing perhaps has 
greater improvement been effected in this manner than in forage 
crop3. Permanent pasture is now gradually becoming as select 
and highly cultivated a crop as any other, but the cultivation of 
pasture is still only an idea, and not an accomplished fact with 
many farmers. Take a really well-cultivated pasture consisting of 
Foxtail, Cocksfoot, Timothy, Rye Grass, the Fescues, with a fair 
proportion of Clover and Yarrow, and the crop will be alike 
•superior in nutriment and bulk to an old pasture of indigenous 
Grasses. For bulk of crop, Rye Grass and Cocksfoot, under a 
system of alternate husbandry, are perhaps superior to most other 
forage plants—certainly to all other Grasses—and their nutritive 
properties are shown by analysis to bear favourable comparison 
with other Grasses. 
What we really want for the land is thoroughness in every 
detail of culture. We may procure pure seeds at a high price, but 
the money will be wasted if any other link in the chain of culti¬ 
vation is missing. Drainage, mechanical division, deep cultivation, 
cleanliness, are alike indispensable to success, and not one of them 
must be wanting to insure it so far as it is in our power ; for, alas ! 
we cannot control the weather, which must be seasonably genial to 
put the crown and finish on our work. 
WORK ON THE HONE FARM. 
As we write farm work is almost at a standstil 1 . We have thirty 
acres of meadow hay in cocks, and much Clover hay still out. Day 
after day has rain fallen, with the exception of the 8th and 10th and 
part of the 9th. Sunday, the 8th. was a bright hot day. The 9th opened 
tine, and we were able to clear several acres of meadow hay, and pre¬ 
pare many more for putting in cocks, but just as we had got the horse 
rakes in full swing and a few cocks made, down came the rain. On the 
10th, by a free use of hand rakes, tedders, and horse rakes, we were 
successful in getting all the forward hay into cocks, and fortunate in¬ 
deed were we to be able to do so, for much heavy rain has fallen since 
then, and it really appears that we are likely to have a repetition of the 
wet summer of 1879. Well, we made some good hay that year, and do 
not despair of doing so now. But haymaking in such unsettled weather 
is costly work, and happy men are they who are able to convert the 
crop into silage. We require large quantities of hay for sale, and so 
must do our best to obtain it. 
No doubt the rain has done much good to light land crops, but all 
corn crops now require bright weather. The \\ heat is in full bloom, 
and Barley is fast coming into bloom also ; if now we can only have a 
favourable change to develope and ripen the grain, we still hope for a 
yield of a high average. Root crops are of course flourishing in such 
exceptionally favourable weather for them, and young layers of mixed 
seeds, Clovers, Sainfoin, and Lucerne are all thriving. Cattle Cabbage, 
and Kale too, should be exceptionally good, but the weather has been too 
cold for Maize to make really free growth. 
With more settled weather every effort will be made to save the 
remainder of the hay, and other work is so forward that every man and 
horse can be used for this important work. Care must be taken to have 
all haycocks well shaken out and the hay thoroughly turned and dried 
before being carted to the rick, for however dry it may feel, some mois¬ 
ture always ascends to it from contact with the soil in such heaps, and 
without subsequent exposure to sun and air there is much risk of mouldy 
hay in the rick. 
We are requested to state that the only prize medal for appliances 
given at the Kennel Club Show, recently held at Barnes Elms, was 
awarded to Spratt’s Patent, Limited. 
Seed Stands at Nottingham. —The splendid and admirably 
furnished stands of Messrs. James Carter &; Co., Messrs. Sutton k. Sons, 
Messrs. E. Webb, Oakshott & Millard, and others we are informed 
constituted an important feature at the Royal Agricultural Society’s 
Show recently held in Wollaton Park, Notts, but we have not space for 
detailing the exhibits in the midst of the Rose-showing season. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Scouring Calf (t?. R. .S'.),—A calf so much reduced by scouring 
as to be almost a skeleton and unable to rise should be destroyed and 
an end put to its misery and suffering, for such a case is hopeless. From 
the extraordinary remedy suggested by your cow leech, we should 
hardly consider him qualified to attend to the diseases of animals. 
Generally speaking, scouring is caused by foul water ; course, indi¬ 
gestible, "unwholesome food; by long fasting and subsequent gorging, 
and by exposure to damp and cold. Our highest veterinary treatment 
consists in judicious feeding, nutritive food, restricted water supply, 
laudanum and ether or chlorodyne to abate spasm and pain ; iron, acids, 
and bitters to promote the healthy tone of the weakened membrane, 
and comfortable protection from wind and weather. Such general 
advice falls clearly within our province. Specific remedies can hardly 
be stated without actual examination of an affected animal, and there¬ 
fore we say, Do your best for other animals with food and shelter, and 
in every case of illness where simple remedies fail, at once call in a 
duly qualified veterinary surgeon. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lit. 51° 32-40'N.; Lmg. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, Ill feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
1888. 
5— 
0 * » ® 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
a . 
CT3 
ZZ a 
or 
°'^o* 
£-g 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperatuie 
Rain. 
July. 
xSr 1 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
c c- 
4) 
H 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
gras? 
Sunday . 
8 
Inches. 
80.088 
deg 
7)7.5 
deg. 
49 8 
E. 
deg. 
50 8 
deg. 
G8 3 
deg. 
50 4 
deg. 
102 7 
deg 
50.4 
In. 
Monday. 
9 
.•onto 
01.9 
5.5 0 
8 W. 
.5-5.0 
G7.2 
49(5 
117.8 
4'8 
0.O20 
Tuesday ... 
10 
29.041 
MX 
52.2 
W. 
5(T7 
04 8 
47.2 
107.5 
4.5.0 
0.304 
Wednesday. 
11 
19.091 
4.5.4 
43 5 
n.w. 
5(1 3 
5.5.7 
42 8 
l l.l 
43 0 
0.O38 
Thursday... 
12 
80.027 
49 a 
48 8 
N.W. 
5 .2 
f8 1 
45 4 
1-0.8 
44 1 
0.021 
Friday .... 
13 
3 .137 
.58.1 
54 0 
N.W. 
54 .5 
71.7 
4.5 2 
118.7 
41.7 
Saturday ... 
14 
30.038 
0.5.1 
G0.3 
.N.W. 
56 4 
708 
5.5 6 
112.4 
52.7 
0 018 
29 990 
58.5 
62.0 
50.1 
65.2 
44.0 
1 9.7 
40.0 
0.401 
REMARKS. 
8 h.—Fine.but without hright sunshine. 
SHh.— Bright and fine till noon, cloudy afternoon ; slight shower in evening and night. 
10th.—Fine, with occasional sunshine. 
llth.—Strong wind and heavy rain in small hours; day generally overcast, with remark¬ 
ably low temperature. 
12th.—Damp showery morning,cloudy afternoon and evening; very cold. 
13 h,—Bright and fine; much warmer. 
llth.—Oppressive, a id frequently threatening : shower in evening. 
A dull, damp cold week, the llth and 12th being especially noteworthy for their very 
low temperature, that of the llth 1 believe to be without precedent; uot that the minima 
were excep ionally low, but i he 9 A.M. and noon temper dure* and the maxima, all the 
latter being frequently exceeded in January.—G. J. S MjN8. 
