5 52 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 13, 1388. 
•on roots. For the third year in succession Wheat has been tried, 
-and each time has shown good results.” 
The practical outcome of these experiments is, that while 
•giving the preference to Oats, Wheat or Barley may be used with 
safety always, and with advantage when prices fall so low for either 
sort of corn as to prove unremunerative. They go also to support 
our oft repeated advice always to use home-grown corn in pre¬ 
ference to purchased linseed or other cake, which may be pure, but 
is probably adulterated. We used regularly to give sheep hay and 
hay chaff, but finding them to eat with equal relish chaffed Oat, 
Barley, or Pea straw, we have for some time refrained from using 
hay for sheep, and no farmer will go far wrong who uses about a 
pound of crushed corn with a moderate quantity of roots, and as 
much chaff or whole straw as the sheep can consume. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Never had we such heavy arrears of ploughing as at the present time, 
and the delivery of corn sold still retards that work. We should, of 
•course, much prefer to push on ploughing and leave the corn till the 
new year, when we shall probably have frost and snow to put a stop to 
work on land. Unfortunately we cannot do so, but what time can be 
given to ploughing is turned to best account. Of corn threshed the yield 
is on the whole satisfactory, Barley being about 50 bushels an acre and 
Wheat about 40. Some of the heavy land Wheat does not approach 
this average, and the grain is both small and light, owing to the very 
dull, wet, cold weather when the Wheat was in flower and subsequently. 
This inferior Wheat is not worth more than 30s. per quarter, yet we are 
g'ad to say our white Wheat is worth from 6s. to Ss. more per quarter. 
But it is the Barley trade about which there is such a sad outcry now, 
for most of it was so much discoloured by rain before harvest that really 
good malting samples are few and far between. Size and weight of 
grain tell more than usual in the sale of Barley. One of our tenant 
farmers has only realised 22s. 6d, per quarter. We have had to sell at a 
variety of prices ranging from 32s. downwards to 24s. per quarter, and 
are fortunate in having a heavy crop generally. Truly the farmers’ 
work is handicapped by weather ; we may arrange our plans with the 
greatest care, and leave nothing undone in our power to ensure success, 
but adverse weather, while it may not bring actual defeat, may prevent 
us from obtaining a full measure of success ; and there can be no doubt 
that this is very generally the case this year. We are using a large 
quantity of discoloured Barley for pigs now, and they certainly thrive 
upon it ; we thus turn the inferior corn to best account, and provide a 
certain quantity of manure for root crops next season. So far the 
whole of the pigs are healthy, and the sales of the more forward have 
been very satisfactory. 
SEEDSMEN AT THE SMITHFIELD SHOW. 
The Cattle Carnival at the Agricultural Hall is an event of far- 
reaching importance in the world of agriculture, and the farming 
element finds its way in strong force to “ Merrie Islington ” during the 
course of the great Show. Long prize lists in the daily papers, and 
descriptive notes, have exhausted all that there is of interest in the live 
stock exhibits ; but a feature of interest both to farmers and gardeners 
—namely, the stands of the great seed firms—have not received the 
notice that they undoubtedly deserve. An important factor in profitable 
farming is the selection of the finest and most productive varieties both 
in corn and roots, and a distinct service to agriculture has been ren¬ 
dered by several firms of repute in devoting persistent attention and the 
best skill that experience can provide to the production of improved 
varieties in all staple farm crops. If improved varieties will enable five 
quarters of corn to be harvested whore but four were secured before, a step 
in advance has been made, and a corresponding improvement in seed 
camples will lead to increased prices for an increased bulk of produce. 
Farmers would do well to give this matter their best attention. The 
able farmer and writer vdio endeavours week by week in the columns of 
■the Journal of Horticulture to show farmers that only by a cautious 
yet courageous deviation from the “ beaten track ” can the fallen for¬ 
tunes of British Agriculture be retrieved, has not hesitated to pay wdiat 
many would consider “ long ” prices in order to convince himself that ! 
he had the best (hence most profitable) varieties that could possibly be 
•procured. Had he not proceeded on these lines he would probably not 
have been able to point, as he has done in the present writer’s presence, 
to a field, and say, “ That gave me 7 quarters this year ; three years ago, 
my first season, it yielded 3.” 
From the farmer’s point of view the past season has not been so 
unfavourable as many that preceded it. Corn crops are generally good, 
though the harvesting proved a troublesome matter in some instances. 
Root crops have been heavy, and both in bulk of produce and quality of 
individual examples instances have been cited which equal what in 
sporting parlance would be termed a 11 best on record.” P'or example, 
the enormous specimen of their new Elephant Swede, which graced the 
centre of Messrs. Carter k Co.’s fine stand, is claimed as the heaviest 
Swede produced. The weight recorded on the exhibitors’ card was, 
without top, 30 lbs., and the girth 34 inches, or a diameter of nearly 
1 foot. It was certainly a splendid root and the largest we have seen. 
The variety was also well represented by other examples, and is claimed 
as “ The Swede of the future.” Messrs. Carter’s other useful Swedes, 
Green Top Hybrid and Prizewinner, and their fine Mangolds Golden 
Tankard (good examples grown on the estate of H.R.H. the Prince of 
Wales) Golden Intermediate, Warden Prize and Mammoth Long Red 
were exhibited in quantity. A portion of the stand was devoted to 
pasture Grasses in growth, another to Potatoes, while a series of arched 
recesses was devoted to samples of garden and farm seeds clearly 
labelled. Altogether it was a stand full of practical interest. 
Dicksons, Limited, of Chester, and Harrison & Son of Leicester wmre 
represented, the former by grasses, fruit, fruit trees, &c., the latter by a 
good display of roots and garden seeds. Messrs. Oakshott & Millard of 
Reading had a very creditable display of roots “grown by their customers 
under ordinary field cultivation.” These included examples of the 
Defiance Mangold grown on the estate of the Earl of Warwick, and stated 
to have produced 60 tons per acre ; the Premier Purple-top Swede, 
Mammoth Long Red Mangold, and various Turnips. Seed corns and 
Potatoes were also shown, amongst the latter the round variety Satis¬ 
faction (by the way, are there not two “ Satisfactions ” in the field ?). 
which last year, the exhibitors state, “ produced upwards of 13 tons per 
acre,” presumably under “ ordinary field cultivation.” “Satisfaction” 
in this case is well named. 
A large, varied, complete, and highly interesting stand was that 
arranged by Messrs. Sutton k Sons, whose name is a household word 
both in the farm and garden. The front was furnished with glass cases, 
containing specimens of useful grasses and useless, or worse than useless, 
weeds, each fully named and described. The inclusion of the latter is a 
wise proceeding, for the bad should be known as well as the good. 
Natural grasses in substantial bundles-like miniature sheaves—and 
samples of grass seeds were a great feature. Amongst the roots large 
piles of Sutton’s Stubble and Champion Swedes, Golden Tankard, Berk¬ 
shire Prize, Mammoth, Intermediate, Oxheart, and other Mangolds were 
conspicuous. Green Globe, Mammoth, Greystone, and other useful field 
Turnips were also noteworthy. Baskets of Potatoes, comprising the 
majority of Messrs. Sutton’s excellent introductions, and their New 
Intermediate Carrot, which has won innumerable prizes and is becoming 
popular in the markets, were other features of this interesting and in¬ 
structive stand. 
Roots were the main feature of Messrs. Webb’s stand, and the display 
was typical of the advance that is being made by the Worcestershire firm. 
The Champion Yellow Globe Mangold, of which a weight of 58 tons, 
18 cwt., 2 qrs., and 5 lbs., has been recorded per acre ; Imperial Swede, 
of which a weight per acre of 37 tons, 2 qrs., and 24 lbs. has been re¬ 
corded ; Invincible Turnip, Yellow-fleshed Tankard Mangold, and new Giant 
King Swede were shown in large piles. Well worthy of attention, too, 
were the seed corns, Golden Grain Barley, Challenge Wheat, Kinver 
Giant Wheat, and Black Tartarian Oats —worthiest of all the firm’s fine 
Barley Kinver “Chevalier ”—sans peur et sans reproche. Stourbridge 
Glory, Wordsley Pride, and other good Potatoes were noteworthy. 
We believe visitors are not allowed to take their canine friends into 
the Show—a fortunate thing for Spratts Limited, or the array of dog 
comestibles set forth on their stand would lead to its speedy demolition 
by a tempted legion of hungry animals. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Rape Cake v. Wireworm (F. G .~).—Do not place reliance on the 
statement that wireworms will kill themselves by eating rape cake to 
repletion. A gentleman anxious to satisfy himself on the point collected 
some wireworms, and put them in a barrel with a generous allowance of 
cake. They appeared to be exactly suited by the incarceration, and in¬ 
creased rapidly in strength and numbers. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
CAMDEN SQUAUB, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 82' 40" N. ; Long. 0° 8'0" W. ; Altitude, lit feet. 
DATE. I 9 A.M. | IN THE DAY. 
1888. 
December. 
I Barome¬ 
ter at 32° 
and Sea 
Level. 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Dilection 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
soil at 
| 1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
a 
< 
« 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
snn. 
On 
grass 
Inches. 
deg 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
dei?. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 
2 
30 M.'9 
43 1 
46.G 
s.w. 
43 7 
53.1 
37 5 
69.9 
34.1 
0.620 
Monday. 
3 
30.1*20 
5U.2 
479 
S W. 
44 9 
£3.4 
479 
62.3 
42.1 
0.010 
Tuesday .. . 
4 
30.< 52 
53 3 
52 2 
S.W. 
48.1 
50.3 
50.0 
65 7 
48 5 
Wednesday.. 
5 
30 182 
53.0 
52 4 
47 0 
58.9 
49 9 
Gtv9 
4J8 
_ 
Thursday .... 
0 
3D 248 
52.3 
5 £ 
s. 
47 9 
56 2 
51.4 
61.1 
4V5 
. _ 
Fridity . 
7 
42 1 
40 9 
8.E. 
47.1 
50.9 
38.8 
6 A.9 
18 9 
_ 
Saturday .... 
8 
30.104 
41 8 
41 7 
S.K. 
44 8 
49 0 
34 9 
52 l 
27.9 
0.141 
30 :ui 
48 8 
tr.i 
U.9 
54.0 
41.3 
63.7 
38.5 
0.172 
- REMARKS. 
2nd.-Generally fine with some sunshine, hut one or two sligh. showers. 
3rd.—Fine with some sunshine ; strong wind. 
4ih.—Dull and damp early, fine bright d iy.damp evening. 
5tli.— Fine, but generally cloudy, very mild. 
6th.—Fair day with some sunsh ne ; high fog at times in afternoon. 
7ih.—Fine aud bright, with seasonable temperature. 
8th.—Fog^v ti l ii A.M., then overeat, and steady rain from 3 P.M. to9 p.BI. 
An exceptionally mild and generally fine wee*. Me.*n temperature about 7 J above 
the average.—G. J. SYMONS. 
