“258 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September'!!!, 1889 
’by inches ; single rafters, 5 inches by 1§ inch ; collars, inch by 
*9 inches ; ridge, 9 inches by 1 i inch ; purlines, 5 inches by 21 inches ; 
-oak posts, 7 inches by 6 inches, and 8 feet long. These particulars 
are given because the sheds prove very commodious and comfort¬ 
able, and also because we have seen so many badly designed sheds. 
■Given a wall 10 feet high, a span roof with a width of 18 feet on 
front, oak posts set in iron bases, and we have a building which can 
hardly be surpassed either for open shedding or for conversion 
into stables, loose boxes, or cowhouses, which is easily done with 
partitions and front of studding and weather boarding upon 2 feet 
of 9-inch brickwork. No woodwork must be in contact with the 
ground, but must rest upon hard imperishable materials. 
The most serious matter in the restoration of the homestead 
was the rebuilding of a granary, piggery, fowl house, swill and 
^storehouses. These were all under one roof—a thatched roof with 
walls of stud and plaster—the entire building being in such a state 
of decay that any attempt at repairs would have been an absolute 
waste of money. In this old building the pigsties were a series of 
'Small pens on each side of a narrow passage under the granary with 
no open courts. There was hardly sufficient space for a full grown 
sow to turn round in any of them, and many a suckling must have 
been smothered by the sow lying upon it. Now, we have 
frequently built granaries over piggeries, but care has been taken 
fo have each pen about 8 feet square with an open court in front. 
Had it been possible to repair the old building the pigstys would 
ihave been enlarged and open courts added. It is undoubtedly 
owing to the confinement of swine in such unsuitable places, and 
fhe filthy condition in which they are kept, that swine fever is so 
prevalent. 
Our best arrangement for pigs is enough pens with open courts 
for sows and sucklings, each pen having an inner door opening into 
-a passage with a door at one end. When the pigs leave the sows 
they are all turned into a large open shed with a yard in front for 
feeding ; plenty of fresh litter is used regularly in shed and yard, 
and the pigs are always healthy there. 
The dilapidations of the homestead to which reference has 
been made afford proof of the absolute necessity for prompt 
■attention to repairs ; a moderate annual outlay is always preferable 
to heavy expenditure at longer intervals. To have farms falling 
an hand now is bad enough, but the burden becomes doubly heavy 
when to reclaiming farmed out land is added the extensive repairs 
of buildings. Nor can such outlay be avoided, for if a farm is to 
be re-let the buildings must be sound, and the land in sound con- 
•dition too. The only course to adopt is to see that the repairs are 
in keeping with the style of the buildings, to make such improve¬ 
ments as the substitution of weather boarding for plaster, of 
bricks for clay, and of tiles, slates, or corrugated iron fur thatch. 
A specification of what is required should be drawn up, copies sent 
to two or three tradesmen, who may be invited to tender for the 
work, and subsequently it rests with landlord or his agent to see 
that the work and materials are satisfactory. We have recently 
been able to effect a saving of some £70 to the estate by so acting, 
end though the lowest tenders were accepted the workmanship is 
highly satisfactory. One word more. Avoid thatch in all new 
buildings ; it may look picturesque, but it wears out quickly, and 
sno tenant upon a small farm likes to have to find the straw. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Corn harvest is ended, and most of the com has been stacked in 
much better condition than was possible last year. Some of the best 
•samples of Barley have realised as much as 39s. per quarter, but Wheat 
has not risen above 33s., and we know of one inferior sample being sold 
for 24s. The higher price affords no inducement to thresh Wheat now, 
and apart from w’hat is required for seed it will probably be left in 
■stack till after the Barley threshing, unless from any cause there should 
be a slight advance in price. With such fine weather much Wheat will 
be sown during the present month, care will be taken to select the best 
•seed of the best sorts, and if necessary it will be screened two or three 
times upon the principle that like produces like, and if we sow fine seed 
we may hope to have fine corn next harvest. Let it not be forgotten, 
too, that our practice must be well balanced, and if we would have as 
full a me isure of success as possible nothing must be wanting in the 
soil—drainage, porosity, fertility, cleanliness—all these are indispen¬ 
sable factors to success. If we grow Wheat at all now it must be well 
done, or it will lead to failure. We happen to have seen both the 
samples we have mentioned, and the difference in them of 9s. per 
quarter was only fair, and was a true indication of the way in which the 
two farms where the Wheat was grown are managed. The superior 
sample was a legitimate result of sound practice into which sheep 
folding enters largely ; the other was an outcome of general low culti¬ 
vation, and the crop will not pay expenses. The grower has twice 
failed in business, yet fails to apply the lessons of adversity, nor is he 
one to whom advice can be offered ; certainly in the inevitable ruin 
which he appears to court he will have no real claim to pity. 
The weather is most favourable for cleaning the land. Broadshares, 
light and heavy harrows are kept briskly at work, and horserakes have 
been found very useful to get the weeds together for burning. The 
surface is sufficiently soft to admit of a free use of broadshares with 
which about an inch deep of the entire surface is pared, the rubbish 
then being worked out with harrows. After a drought this cannot be 
done, ploughs ani cultivators having to be used, and then the weeds 
cannot be got out so easily or so thoroughly. Such an autumn as the 
present is certainly a golden opportunity, which if turned to full 
account may lead to a great saving of labour next spring and summer. 
If there is couch grass in the land the cultivators may be useful now, 
but if there are only patches of it in different parts of a field it should 
be got out with steel forks before the broadshare passes, even if it is 
necessary to keep on an extra man or two for the work. 
Seed Wheat. —Messrs. Webb& Sons have sent us some Wheat ears 
which are remarkable examples of skilful cultivation, and which afford 
tangible proof of the importance of careful selection. Among them 
Kinver Giant well maintains its position as a veritable giant among 
Wheats, but it has no mean rival in Rough Chaff White, the ears of 
which are almost as large, though quite distinct in appearance from it. 
Webb’s Challenge and their selected Golden Drop have also fine long 
bold ears. Challenge has handsome plump very white grains ; its yield 
is said to be enormous, and it is also specially recommended as suitable 
for all soils, and as being equally adapted for either spring or winter 
planting. It is by no means a new kind, having been introduced by the 
firm in 1874. Golden Drop is too well known to need one word of 
commendation from us. We know, however, that very inferior samples 
are frequently on offer at market under that name, and we certainly 
advise those who care for this old miller’s favourite to procure a supply 
of so fine a selection, and to try if they cannot produce a crop up to 
Messrs. Webb’s standard. We must admit that among these remarkable 
specimens the ears of Square Head commend themselves most of all to 
our approval. The short, thick, and very compact ears as usual form an 
admirable crown to the exceptionally stout straw which hardly ever 
becomes lodged. The grain is large and plump, and we know from long 
experience that high quality in combination with an abundant yield is 
always present in samples of this general favourite. No doubt the 
admirable manner in which the ears are kept erect by the sturdy straw 
tends to promote high quality in the grain. The point is important, 
and we may mention a sample of pure Square Head of the harvest of 
1888 which weighed 63 lbs. per bushel, and which realised 7s. per 
quarter more than ordinary samples. The ears of Mountain White, 
though less attractive than others, are not to be passed by lightly. We 
have seen this new Wheat in cultivation, and believe it has a great 
future, for it has wonderfully large grain twice the size of most Wheat. 
The straw is so stout as to be almost reed-like in proportion, yet it is so 
slender at the top that the heavy ears droop as they ripen, but the straw 
though very long passes with impunity through every storm, and is 
never beaten down. We congratulate Messrs. Webb upon the success of 
their selections. It is a work of national importance rising far beyond 
the level of a mere trade speculation, for if British farmers are to hold 
their own in competition with the markets of the world they must 
strive for the best possible combination of quantity and quality in their 
farm produce. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 85' 40" N.; Long. U° 8'0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE DAY. 
Hygrome- 
a . 
O *± .? 
Shade Tern- 
Radiation 
a 
1689. 
g 60 v 
ter. 
V a 
g=J 
perature. 
Temperature 
cj 
« 
September. 
£ CD 
ES 
§85 
In 
On 
Dry. 
Wet. 
So 
H 
Max. 
Min. 
8UU. 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Ir. 
Sunday . 
8 
30.113 
55.1 
53.3 
N.E. 
60.0 
67-9 
47.4 
938 
43.4 
Monday. 
9 
30.167 
60 7 
57.4 
S.E. 
59.0 
72.7 
49.7 
108.8 
45 9 
_ 
Tuesday .... 
10 
30.247 
63.3 
591 
E. 
60.1 
76.6 
58.2 
108.6 
52.8 
_ 
Wednesday .. 
11 
30 191 
67.9 
61.3 
S.E. 
60.6 
80 3 
531 
123 8 
48.2 
_ 
Thursday .... 
12 
3H.203 
67.8 
63.2 
N.w. 
61-8 
78 9 
59.5 
125 6 
54.8 
_ 
Friday . 
13 
30 236 
66.1 
62.4 
s.w. 
62.6 
79 4 
6“.4 
123.5 
55.4 
_ 
Saturday .... 
14 
30.363 
59.3 
54.1 
N.E. 
62.7 
63.6 
55 6 
111.2 
51.2 
— 
30.217 
62.9 
58 7 
61.0 
74.6 
54.8 
113.6 
50.2 
- 
REMARKS. 
8th.—Fine and occasionally bright. 
9th.—Cloudy till 10 . 80 , then fine and frequently bright. 
10th.—Bright and warm, but hazy at times. 
11th.—Warm and generally bright, but cloudy at times in afternoon, 
12th.—Bright and warm. 
13th.—Bright and pleasant. 
14th.—Coo 1 er, but flue and pleasant. 
A very tine warm week, in facr, with only three exrptloir. the war nest week his 
year, and al o a rainless, one— G. J. 2>TMONS. 
