118 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 13, 1891. 
STEPHEN’S BOOK OF THE FARM. 
(Fourth edition, revised by James Macdonald. Division VI.) 
The completion of this great work is matter for congratulation 
by all classes interested in farming, or rather in the more compre¬ 
hensive term of agriculture, for it is equally a landlord’s and 
tenant’s book and its publication in three large volumes as well as 
in the six neatly hound parts ensures its admission into many a 
landlord’s library as a handy work of reference upon all details of 
practical farming. The value of its clear, concise teaching is 
greatly enhanced by the paragraphic headings, and reference to any 
section or detail of practice is a very easy matter. 
Now that the entire work is before us we are more than ever 
impressed with its utility. Its tone throughout is essentially 
practical, and whatever of theory there is in it consists of quota¬ 
tions of the sayings or writings of leading agriculturists, whose 
views are undoubtedly an expression of practical experience; 
tempered by just that amount of individuality which may be 
termed theoretical ; but then it is very safe theory, for is it not 
tempered by experience ? There is indeed very little of what is 
speculative about it, certainly nothing calculated to mislead, but 
rather everything to assist the beginner or pupil, as well as many a 
useful hint at possible improvement in the work to old practitioners. 
Glad are we to find a full and exhaustive index in the last 
part. A glance through it shows how comprehensive the work 
really is. Take, for example, ensilage as a matter of much 
importance, concerning which farmers have still much to learn, 
and we find there are paragraphs on its advantages, the analysis 
of sweet and sour silage, chaffing for, choice of methods, Clover 
silage, crops for silage, its future, grain crops for silage, its history, 
its facility for storage, its introduction into Great Britain, meadow 
grass silage, methods of pressure, Oat silage and roots, its pro¬ 
gress, rearing stock on it, silos, special silage crops, stacks v. silos, 
sweet and sour silage, making sweet silage, and the comparative 
value of silage and hay. The treatment of other subjects is equally 
exhaustive, and the paragraphs are all pithy and to the point. 
Brief but very useful are the chapters on improving waste 
land, trench and subsoil ploughing, liming land, and irrigation. 
Especially noteworthy is the account of the reclaiming some poor 
land near the Pentland Hills by Mr. William Hamilton. When he 
began the once-cultivated land was producing coarse herbage of 
poor feeding quality, while the other portions were in their natural 
state, growing bent, other coarse grasses, rushes, Heather, &c. The 
improvements consisted of tile-draining and liming, the nature and 
condition of the land being the guide as to distance apart and 
depth of drains, which varied from 6 to 16 yards apart, and from 
3 to 5 feet de'-p, the naturally dry land not being drained at all, 
only limed. On all land that was dry enough lime was applied at 
the rate of 6 tons per acre ; but the liming of the wet land was 
delayed about a year after the draining, so as to allow the soil to 
get rid of its excess of water. The average cost per acre for the 
draining was £5 10s., and for liming £4 4s. Three hundred acres 
have been treated, and the investment has proved a good one. 
The character of the pasture has been entirely changed, and a 
growth of fine nutritious grasses has come up in place of the coarse 
and wiry herbage. We have had equally satisfactory results in 
our own practice in the treatment of poor and wet pasture, and 
call particular attention to Mr. Hamilton’s success, as calculated to 
inspire those of our correspondents with confidence who occa¬ 
sionally seek our assistance in the treatment of similar pasture. 
The plans and descriptive notes of farm buildings are especi¬ 
ally valuable, and will doubtless be turned to account in the 
construction of many a homestead. It by no means follows that 
any of the plans given are to be closely copied. Each farm 
has its special requirements, and such plans afford many a 
valuable hint which may readily be turned to account. 
Breeds of farm live stock are treated of in brief descriptive 
notes, followed by others on the ailments of live stock under the 
three headings of Symptom?, Cause, and Treatment, which is really a 
reprint of the treatise on this subject published by the proprietor 
of the “Farming World,” and though exception has been tiken 
to such a proceeding, we really do not see how Mr. Macdonald 
could have done better, as he says his aim was to enable the farmer 
to recognise the symptoms of such ailments, and to treat those of 
the more simple kind ; and as the treatise was compiled, edited, and 
revised by men of high ability, what could be more suitable for 
his purpose ? 
We can only mention in addition some excellent examples of 
and advice on farm book-keeping, and conclude our notice by 
cordially commending the work to the notice of every practical 
farmer who, in the words of the reviser, requires “ a work which 
he can with profit make the subject of general study, and which 
he can with confidence refer to at any moment when he is in want 
of advice.” 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
For a corn harvest of exceptionally general abundance a change to 
fine settled weather is much to be desired. The haymaking has been 
sadly prolonged, and surely now if ever the true value of ensilage must 
obtain general recognition. Even in the exceptionally dry climate of 
East Anglia it was not an easy matter to make good hay between the 
showers of rain which fell so frequently even there, and in the midlands 
there is still some grass unmown. Caution has been the order of the 
day with all the Stilton cheese men. They have only mown a few acres 
at a time, and got it into “ cob ” as quickly as possible. The usual 
cheery greeting of “good morning” has almost invariably b:en fo’lowed 
by sympathetic remarks about the “ catchy ” weather. It is a serious 
matter to them, dependant as they are upon the hay supply for the cows 
and store cattle in winter, with no straw, roots, or corn to fall back 
upon, which shows how great is the mistake to have all the land of any 
farm in grass. The excellence of much of the midland pasture is 
undoubted, but a fair proportion of arable land under really giod 
cultivation would prove a great boon. It by no means points to corn- 
growing other than would be useful for cattle or sheep food ; rather 
would it afford most useful crops of Oats, Sainfoin, Tares, Lucerne, Rye 
Grass, mixed seeds, Clover, Maize, Cattle Cabbage, and Thousand-headed 
Kale. Many a midland farmer has none of these crops, and has to trust 
entirely to permanent pasture—excellent in quality, but often sadly 
deficient in quantity, for there is little or no systematic application of 
manure. There are no cow or cattle yards, and any mention of chemical 
manures is received with an incredulous smile, the outcome of positive 
ignorance and its concomitant of prejudice. 
All the catch crops mentioned are exceedingly good this summer, for 
the dripping weather has given an abundant growth of aftermath, and 
of all forage crops. Roots, too, are an exceedingly good crop, notwith¬ 
standing alarming accounts of Turnip beetles. As usual, the early-sown 
Mangolds and Swedes are much the best, and the crop must now be a 
heavy one. Carrots, too, are very good. This crop is one requiring; 
more pains in its young state than most others, but it well repays alt 
care, and we regard it as quite indispensable for every home farm. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32' 40” N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" VV.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 AM. 
IN THE DAY. 
£g3-s 
Hygrome- 
fl . 
Shade Tem- 
Radiation 
Ittdl* 
ter. 
ig 
perature. 
Temperature. 
o5 
« 
August. 
* ft eH 
122 
In 
On 
ffl ® cS 
Dry. 
Wet. 
5o 
Max. 
Min. 
sun. 
Kras s 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday.2 
29.908 
61.4 
57.2 
s.w. 
59.0 
08.3 
54.0 
113 9 
48.8 
0 72* 
Monday. 3 
29 .. r »94 
53.6 
54.3 
S.w. 
59.0 
60.9 
53.1 
1 8.2 
49.6 
n.nis 
Tuesday .... 4 
29.610 
56.9 
52.0 
S.w. 
58.0 
68.6 
47.2 
120.4 
43.4 
0.29(> 
Wednesday.. 5 
29.790 
55.3 
53.2 
N.W. 
57.7 
70.1 
49.2 
111.9 
44.3 
0.016 
Thursday.... (i 
30.000 
53.4 
51.9 
N.K. 
58.6 
02.1 
51.7 
98.3 
4A3 
Friday . 7 
30.180 
59.4 
52.4 
W. 
57.6 
67.3 
47.0 
117.6 
44.4 
Saturday .... 8 
30.155 
01.9 
60.0 
S.W. 
58.0 
74.6 
52.4 
120.6 
49.8 
0.038s 
29.892 
58.5 
54.4 
58.4 
68.3 
50.7 
114.4 
46.9 
1.082 
REMARKS. 
2nd—Bright till 11 A.M ; heavy rain 11.20 to noon, then bright, to 1.30 P.M., overcut after 
with heavy showers; heavy rain with thunder and lightning 2.50 to 3.15 DM , and 
again at 7 30 P.M.; frequent thunder all afternoou. 
3rd.—Slight showers at 8.3 A.M. 11 AM, and 4 I’M., otherwise bright thioughont t 
thunder about 2.30 P.M.; much distant lightning at nighr. 
4th.-Bright morning; almost continuous heavy raiu with frequent thunder from noon 
to 3P.M.; then fine again, and shower at 9.15 P.M.; lightning at night. 
5th.—Fine, and generally bright. 
ot.h.- Ram early, dull and damp atl day: fair evenin?. 
7th.—Alternate speils of cloud and bright sunshine throughout. 
8th.—Fine and generally bright day; rain at nighr. 
An unsettled and rainy wrek, with a good deal of thunder and lightning. Tempera¬ 
ture neatly 5° below the average.—G. J. SYMO -?S. 
