372 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ October 22, 1885. 
bullocks -with the bailiff, and tried to convince him of the 
mischief arising from such exposure ; but he evidently could 
not or would not see it, pointing to the eager way in which 
they were eating the grass as evidence that they did not 
suffer from the weather. Well, it is not an easy matter to 
overcome prejudice and fondness for old customs, and the 
only method in such a case is to give explicit orders that the 
cattle shall be kept in warm yards on such days. 
The really practical point of view of this important matter 
is not how much exposure to inclement weather animals can 
bear, but rather what benefit is to be derived from shelter. 
To begin with, we must remember that a certain degree of 
delicacy is inseparable from the condition of domestic 
animals, and the necessity for shelter ought to be a foregone 
conclusion. We are bound now to strive for small profits 
and quick returns. To bring bullocks into growth and con¬ 
dition for the butcher at an age of eighteen or twenty months 
instead of three years, and sheep in seven or eight months 
instead of two years, there must be no cessation of growth 
or falling off in condition. As a means to this end we must 
add materially to our provision of all kinds of shelter. In 
every meadow there must be one or several large spacious 
lodges with yards or enclosures in front, with boarded sides 
to break the force of high winds. Let the lodges be boarded 
at the sides, the only opening being a doorway 6 or 8 feet 
wide. Always avoid narrow doorways to cattle lodges. 
Many an animal has sustained serious injury in the rush 
through them which occurs when the herd is startled, and 
the mere sight of a stranger will do this. Such lodges and 
enclosures afford shelter both in winter and summer. Once 
let cattle have access to them and they will invariably turn 
into them for shelter from heat and flies in summer, and 
from cold and wet at all seasons of the year. Especial care 
must be taken to raise the yard bottoms and lodge floors 
with some hard substance above the surrounding surface, so 
as to have them firm and well drained. We ought never to 
suffer cattle to lie down upon a bed sodden with moisture, 
or to stand for hours in winter in several inches of water. 
The same remarks apply with equal force to large cattle 
yards and lodges. Commodious buildings, snug enclosures, 
well-drained yards, plenty of soft dry litter are to be regarded 
as indispensable. In the yard for dairy cows there must be 
plenty of both open and closed lodges, no delicate cows being 
left out in the yard at night from the present time till the 
cows go out on the pastures again next spring. Let this be 
a fixed rule, and do not leave it to the judgment or fancy of 
the cowman. How can a farmer sleep soundly who has left 
such matters to chance or the discretion of an ignorant, 
thoughtless servant ? 
Turning now to the flock, we may well inquire into what 
has been done for it in the way of shelter. Folding on 
Turnips, Cole, and Mustard is now being done. We 
have heavy rainfalls almost daily. Can anything be more 
wretched than the plight of a flock kept standing for hours, 
or rather day after day, in several inches of mud ? If fold¬ 
ing upon arable land is unavoidable let it be done by day, 
removing the sheep at night to a sound dry pasture with 
lodges and enclosures with hard raised floors. “ Bosh! ” do 
you say, my good friend ? Assuredly not. Have you never 
heard the distressing cough of many a sheep at this season 
of the year ? Certainly you have, and if you claim to be a 
practical farmer you ought to have thought out the cause, 
found a remedy, and applied it. We ought not to suppose 
that a certain per-centage of loss is inevitable in a flock, but 
rather to make close inquiry into the cause of every loss, 
and to do all we can to prevent a recurrence of it. Ho not 
keep weakly or over-age sheep, but always weed out all such 
from the breeding flock every year, retaining only young 
healthy strong animals which, with ordinary care, are likely 
to pass through ordinary exposure unharmed. 
Of pigs it is often said with truth that one may force 
them in growth and condition more speedily than any other 
animal. Piggy is undoubtedly a kindly creature, with an 
enormous appetite and wonderful digestive powers,^ but he 
suffers from cold perhaps more than any other'animal. 
We may claim for him, in the interest of his owner, a sound 
roof and plenty of warm dry litter ; and not without reason, 
for we have seen pigs in wretched plight clustering together 
for warmth upon a miserable wet, muddy bed under an 
apology for shelter in the guise of a few faggots, which cer¬ 
tainly were the reverse of a dry roof. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Frosty nights gave the signal for the clearance of Mangolds from the 
fields. The work is begun, but it is much hindered by wet days. No 
opportunity must he lost of pressing on with it both to get the roots 
heaped or housed before severe frosts set in, and to clear the land for 
Wheat-sowing as early as possible. Rye has come up nicely, and Winter 
Oats are also fast coming through the surface. Ploughing for Wheat and 
carting com to market still goes on as fast as possible, but wet weather 
proves a sad hindrance to corn-threshing as well as field work. But little 
way has been made in cleaning foul stubbles this autumn, except where 
prompt action was taken immediately after the corn was carried to the 
rick yard. But it was just then that horses were so much in demand 
that our full strength could not be put into the stubbles. There is also 
an objection to ploughing or horse-hoeing before pigs and sheep have 
been run over the stubbles; but by taking field after field in succession it 
can usually be managed. We have had to leave one very foul field alone 
till we get more settled weather. It is good mixed soil, and we hope to 
get it clean next spring in time for roots, or Maize, or Mustard—anything 
rather than a long fallow. We have several farm roads in had order, and 
have given orders that on every favourable occasion stone or gravel shall 
he accumulated for repairs during winter. Ditch-scouring and hedge¬ 
trimming is now being done, and due care taken to make clear the mouth 
of every field drain whose water is discharged into any ditch. This at 
least should be done annually, for without a system it is precisely one 
of the little matters—trifles, so-called, that are liable to he overlooked. 
Some miles of ornamental clumps and belts are in course of being thinned. 
We devoted several days to marking the trees before the pressure of 
Michaelmas work was upon us, and now the men are set to cut down 
trees and make faggots by piecework. There is nothing like piecework 
both for master and man. It puts an end to all eye-service, and if a man 
is worth his salt he will exert himself to earn a few extra shillings in this 
way. To set a body of men at work by the day in woods and plantations 
away from close supervision is wroDg, and it never answers. Let a 
labourer feel that he has an interest in every stroke, and he will stiike 
home. Only take care that he does his work aright. The shirkers are 
keen to recognise ability in a master, and either soon cease to he trouble¬ 
some, or they have to be got rid of. Of other piecework land draining is 
also begun ; but in one instance the subsoil was so hard that we had to 
withdraw the men for awhile. Two-inch tile drains will be made as far 
as is possible in wet land this winter. 
Kinver Giant White Wheat.— Referring to the article on “Wheat 
Sowing,” page 351 of your Journal, will you kindly permit me to point out 
that your able correspondent has omitted to mention the name of the 
variety of Wheat which was referred to by Mr. Evan Baillie of Filleigh as 
producing the large yield of 47 bushels per acre. The variety in question 
was Webb’s New Kinver Giant White Wheat, and if you would kindly note 
the same in your next issue it would no doubt be much appreciated by 
your readers, who, I am sure, are always anxious to hear of new varieties 
of sterling merit.—W. B. 
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. 
1885. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32* 
and Sea 
Level 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
a . 
o 
Temp, of 
Soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
a 
08 
October. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
Max. 
Min 
In 
snn. 
On 
grass. 
Sunday . 
Inches. 
29.535 
deg. 
45.9 
deg. 
42.0 
N.W. 
deg. 
48.9 
deg. 
50.3 
dwg. 
43.9 
deg. 
76.7 
deg. 
42.4 
In. 
Monday. 
12 
29.666 
4 ’.4 
38.5 
N.W. 
4 .4 
49.9 
33.4 
67.6 
25.8 
— 
Tuesday. 
29.8-56 
41.6 
37.8 
N. 
46.7 
48.6 
38.0 
65.3 
32.7 
39.6 
0.089 
Wednesday . 
14 
29.791 
42.4 
41.3 
N.W. 
46.3 
48.7 
40.2 
62.2 
0.179 
Thursday ... 
15 
30.151 
47.1 
4.5.9 
E. 
46.7 
54.7 
42.0 
85.4 
36.1 
0.247 
Friday. 
10 
30.040 
53.7 
62.2 
S.E. 
47.4 
59.1 
47.2 
87.3 
40.8 
— 
Saturday ... 
17 
30.206 
44.6 
44.2 
N.E. 
47.6 
55.8 
38.6 
62.6 
32.1 
— 
29.892 
45.1 
43.1 
47.3 
52.4 
40.5 
72.4 
35.6 
a.515 
REMARKS. 
11th.—Fine, hut not very bright. 
Huh.—Fine and bright, but spots of rain about 11 A.M. 
13th.—Dull and showery. 
14th.—Dull and damp morning ; wet afternoon. 
15th.—Fine, bright day ; damp drizzle in evening. 
16 th.—Fog early, then fine and bright. 
17th.—Foggy morning; fair afternoon. 
A damp cool week, the temperature still falling. With the exception of the week end¬ 
ing September 19th the mean maximum temperature has decreased without interruption 
and by very nearly equal amounts since August 15th. Of course a decrease of tempera¬ 
ture in the autumn months is the usual rule; hut It is very rare for it to be so regular as 
(deducting 2-1? from the week ending September 19th), the following—viz., 1-3,1*7,1'2, l'o 
1-3, 1-4, 3'7,3-3, and 3 4.—G. J. SYMONS. 
