508 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND 0077AGE GARDENER, 
[ Deoember 3, 1885. 
the value of their constituents holds good. You may purchase starch and 
the carbo-hydrates at a much lower rate than the nitrogenous substances in 
food. Turnips, Bread Fruit, and Bananas, consisting chiefly of carbo¬ 
hydrates, are sold by their respective growers at a very different and much 
lower price than milk or Peas, which are rich in albuminous elements. In 
every form nitrogen is always comparatively costly. The albumen in eggs, 
the fibrine in cereals, the casein in milk, and the legumin in Peas and Beans, 
all owe their importance and cost to this particular element, which is the 
source of force and vigour, of the labour of the hardest-worked cattle and 
men, of lean meat and muscle. 
Considering the limited supply of nitrogen and the cost of obtaining it, 
it is not surprising that it should often bi present in cultivated soils in 
quantities insufficient for a full crop, and that the land, when dressed with . 
salts of nitrogen, should answer to their touch as a horse does to the spur. 
In the Rothamsted experiments the unmanured field yielded for years about 
14 bushels, or half a crop, till a dressing of nitrogen was given to it, when 
immediately the crop was doubled, nitrogen having been, as it often is in 
clay soil, the one thing needful to a full crop. Sir John Lawes has been 
sometimes asked by American farmers how to lestore the exhausted fertility 
of their fields, so that the land, yielding 14 bushels per acre, which is about 
the average of corn-exporting countries, might be induced to return twice 
as much. It is fortunate for English farmers that Sir John can only send 
advice into the far West; he cannot send nitrogen. 
Some years ago the agricultural community was flattered by the imme¬ 
diate prospect of a never-failing supply of nitrogen. The marvels of 
chemistry and analysis had recently been unfolded by the writings of Sir 
H. Davy and Baron Liebig, and the efficacy of guano had accustomed 
farmers to the new method of supplying nitrogen to the land in concentrated 
forms and from sources outside the farmyard. Then came the promise of 
obtaining nitrogen from the atmosphere. The agricultural classes are 
rarely much moved by anything bu tbad weather and falling prices, and the 
chemists had explained to them that the nitrogen of the atmosphere, exist¬ 
ing as it does in a free state mixed with oxygen, was not available for agri¬ 
cultural purposes. If it could be induced, they were told, to enter into 
combination with hydrogen the result would be ammonia, an invaluable 
manure. This was understood by farmers, and a great sensation was occa¬ 
sioned among them when Mr. Nasmyth, the inventor of the steam hammer, 
proposed to control the supply of the most costly of plant constituents by 
knocking it out of the atmosphere. It is easy to see that if Mr. Nasmyth 
had succeeded in knocking nitrogen and hydrogen into combination at a 
moderate cost, a revolution in the price of manures and of food must have 
speedily occurred. 
But as the plan failed and as plants still “live and move and have their 
being ” in the midst of an element which they cannot feed on, it was 
certainly surprising to learn lately that nitrogenous manures had ceased to 
produce their accustomed effect. The phenomenon occurred at the Duke 
of Bedford’s experimental farm at Woburn, where, according to official 
statements, the yield of Wheat manured by the dung of animals fed on 
Maize proved as abundant as the crop which followed from manure produced 
by the feeding of cotton cake, which enriches the excreta with far more 
nitrogen than that produced by feeding Maize. 
The Woburn expet iments were instituted by the Royal Agricultural 
Society, and were placed under the management of its chemist, the late 
Dr. Yoelcker, for the purpose of testing the value of manure obtained by 
the consumption of different kinds of food and to compare the effects of 
such manures with those of artificial manures. It is evident that in such a 
comparison the land to which the various fertilisers were applied should have 
been of similar quality. But there are other disturbing causes which may 
vitiate experiments of this kind, and these were not at firs t generally recognised. 
The mistake occurred in some rotation experiments, in which the manure 
derived from cotton cake containing about 40 per cent, of nitrogenous con¬ 
stituents was compared in its results with that obtained from Maize, a cereal 
containing only 10 per cent, of albuminoids. The results of these experi¬ 
ments were known to the agricultural community before the report of 
Dr. John Yoelcker, who has succeeded his late father as chemist to the 
Royal Agricultural Society, had been made, and much surprise was expressed 
that at the close of the second rotation the cotton cake had not shown any 
decided superiority over the Maize. It has been recently explained in an 
official report on the “Objects, Plan, and Results of the Woburn Experi¬ 
ments,” that this was “ probably due to the large amount of unexhausted 
manure in the land.” Before commencing experiments, therefore, on the 
comparative value of manures the land should be exhausted by repeated 
scourging crops, as at Rothamsted, where in some cases the deep-rooting 
Bokara Clover has been grown for the special purpose of reducing the 
fertility of the soil to nil. 
It has long since been established that nitrogen is neither absorbed by 
plants from the atmosphere nor conveyed into the soil to any appreciable 
extent in any way except by the direct application of manure : still there 
are some crops which collect nitrogen and leave the surface soil richer than 
before. Red Clover is usually grown as a preparation for Wheat, and 
although Clover hay must necessarily withdraw-a great deal of plant-food 
from the soil, it does not prove exhaustive in practice, because the deep and 
fleshy roots of the plant collect nitrogen from the subsoil and, in their 
decay, supply it to the growing Wheat crop. Under such circumstances a 
strong nitrogenous manure may not be required, and may perhaps prove 
less desirable than a weak manure containing less nitrogen. Enough has 
been said to show that the field experiments which are now becoming 
popular, and which are being instituted at many “ stations ” throughout the 
country, will require great care and the supervision of managers who 
possess a competent knowledge both of “practice and science.”—H. E. (in 
Nature). 
Messes. Webb & Sons’ Stand at the Birmingham Cattle 
Show. — A magnificent trophy of farm and garden produce, grown from 
Webbs’ seeds, occupies the centre bay of the gallery, and a finer display 
could scarcely be imagined. It formed a leading feature of the Show, and 
the Prince of Wales, who made a careful inspection of it, was pleased to 
accept a handsomely bound catalogue of Webb’s seeds. A choice collec¬ 
tion of roots grown on the Royal farms at Sandringham was a great attrac¬ 
tion on this stand. Equally good are all the other exhibits, but spice 
will only allow a reference to the most important. The Imperial or 
“Great” Swede is to the fore, and the specimens are, as usual, of that 
marvellous quality which has enabled it to carry off in strong competi¬ 
tions the champion honours in the open class at this Show for fourteen 
successive years. The Mangolds are also good, including Webbs 
Champion Globe, Mammoth Long Red, Yellow-Fleshed Tankard, Inter¬ 
mediate, &c. Varieties of common Turnips are also choice, and, as well 
as the other roots, fully maintain their high-class character, showing the 
advantages derived from careful selection at the Kinver Seed harms, 
said to be the largest in the kingdom. All the popular Potatoes are also 
shown, as well as several choice new seedlings. Wheats, Barleys, ana 
Oats next claim attention, and their remarkably fine quality is very 
apparent. Webbs’ Challenge White Wheat, Kinver Chevalier Barley, 
Black Oat, White Oat, Kinver Giant Wheat, and Golden Grain Barley 
have become exceedingly popular. Grass seeds for all soils, of which 
both purity and growth are guaranteed, are represented by a splendid co - 
lection of natural and other grasses grown at the experimental farm. 
Fine specimens of vegetables were exhibited. 
Messrs. Harrison and Sons’ Root Show. —The annual exhibition of 
roots, &c., grown from seed supplied to customers by Messrs. Harrison ana 
Sons, seed growers and merchants, Market Place, Leicester, took place in 
the recently added portion to the old premises of the firm, at the latter enl 
of last week. The exhibits consisted of some exceedingly well-grown 
specimens of Mangold, Cabbage, Potatoes, Seeds, Grasses, and other farm 
produce. The greater portion of the Show was occupied with the leading 
varieties of Norman ton Globe Mangolds, Defiance Swede Turnips, Champion 
Ox Cabbage, Giant Red Mangolds, Giant Kohl Ribi, Devonshire Greystone 
Turnips, Improved Green Barrel Turnips, Potatoes, &c. Amongst the 
prominent exhibitors were H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, with Mangolds and 
S wedes grown on the Royal Fa-m at Sandringham ; the County and BOTOUgh 
Asylums ; the Corporations of Birmingham and Northampton ; I. 1. r a S e h 
Esq., M.P.; the Earl of Gainsborough, Exton Park Farm ; the Hon. lyrwhitt 
Wilson, Keythorpe ; Rev. F. Morgan Payler; Mr. J. H. Cooper, Glenheid , 
Mr. S. Singlehurst, Kington ; Mr. T. Mayn, Burton Overy ; Mr. J. German, 
Ashby-de-la-Zouch ; Mr. Jos. Wilson, Aylestone ; Mr. A. C. Barclay, Scrap- 
toft Hall; Mr. E. L. Driver, Elmsthorpe; Mr. H. R. Parker, The temple, 
Rothley ; Mr. J. Glover, Kilby Grange ; Messrs. Rayns, Bar well; Mr. J. 
Swinfen, Dunton Bassett; Mr. W. Blastock,Rowley Fields ; Mr. W. Everard, 
Narborough Wood ; and other local growers ; while specimens were a so 
sent from the counties of Rutland, Lincoln, Warwick, Norfolk, York, Derby, 
Stafford, and Suffolk. The few Carrots and Parsnips were staged by Mr. 
Barclay, of Scraptoft; monster Ox Cabbages by Mr. Everard; and high y 
coloured Red Cabbages by Dr. Higgins. Capital Savoys were contributed, 
by the Prince of Wales and Dr. Finch; some good Intermediate Carrots by 
Mr. Cooper, of the Albert Inn, Humberstone Road ; Onions, Celery, and 
Potatoes by Mr. T. T. Paget; and a very large Vegetable Marrow by Mr. 
Swinfen. The new vegetable, named Chou de Burghley—a cross between 
a Cabbage and a Cauliflower—was exhibited. A number of varieties ot 
Potatoes, including the Magnum Bonum, was forwarded by Mr. button ot 
Birstall, and Mr. Barclay. Messrs. Harrison also exhibited many sorts of 
tubers grown on their farm, amongst which were specimens of the new 
English Potato, “The Imperator,” described as “an enormous cropper, large, 
white flesh, late keeper, and disease-resisting.” The Show was very nume¬ 
rously attendtd .—(Leicester Journal.) 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Foot Rot in Sheep ( W . If.).—Sheep affected with footrot should first, 
have tlie feet carefully washed, all broken parts cut clean off with a sharp 
knife, and the part affected with rot dressed with Gell’s footrot ointment 
to he had from any chemist. Repeat this twice weekly > remove the 
sheep to some fresh land or pasture, and you will soon cure them. A 
ewe is twenty-one weeks in gestation—that is to say, from the time oi 
conception to the birth of the lamb. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden Square, London. 
Lat. 51° 32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
» A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
1885. 
CD c-i a! —. 
dco v a) 
b-mco > 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
a . 
o-d 
0 
rv _ O 
BoS 
<D OQ< 
H 
Shad e Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature. 
a 
08 
« 
November. 
WSal 
Dry. 
Wet. 
5 o 
Max. 
Min 
In 
enn. 
On 
grass. 
Sunday . 
Monday. 
Tuesday. 
Wednesday .. 
Thursday .... 
Friday. 
Saturday .... 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
Inches. 
29.501 
29.515 
29.493 
29.374 
29.451 
29.452 
29.270 
deg. 
41.6 
40.3 
39.8 
43.9 
45.7 
49.8 
51.4 
deg. 
41.3 
38.9 
39.2 
43.9 
45.6 
46.6 
51.2 
N.E. 
N.E. 
S.E. 
E. 
S.E. 
W. 
s.w. 
deg. 
40.8 
41.4 
41.2 
417 
43.2 
41.6 
45.2 
deg. 
47.9 
43.2 
42.1 
49 2 
53.7 
52.6 
58 0 
d«g. 
36.4 
39.3 
36.8 
38.8 
43.6 
45.7 
49.0 
deg. 
55.2 
50.6 
44.3 
51.6 
64.4 
70.6 
616 
de«. 
32.0 
38.1 
26.7 
38.5 
43.4 
44.7 
41.8 
In. 
0.013 
0.091 
0.614 
0.358 
0.684 
0.237 
0.157 
29.437 
44.6 
43.8 
42.6 
49.5 
41.4 
55 5 
37.9 
2154 
-— 
REMARKS. 
22 nd.—Cloudy, with occasional slight showers. 
23rd.—Fine, but scarcely any sunshine. 
£4th.—Very wet all day. 
2>th.—Fog in morning; showers in afternoon. 
26rh.—Dull early ; gale and heavy rain from noon. 
27th.—Sharp showers about 8 A.M, afterwards fine and warm. Shooting stars very 
numerous in the evening; about 8 P.M. they were falling at the rate of more tnan 
three thousand an hour. This shower was expected, its arrival having been calcu¬ 
lated from the data for Biela’s comet. 
28th.—Gale and heavy rain early; fine day. ^ iT> 
Excepting perhaps the middle week of September this is the first week since July in; 
which the temperature has reached its average. It has been a warm, damp, ana very 
rainy week.—G. J. SYMONS. 
