January 17, 1869 ] 
.TOTTEN'AL OF EORTTCULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
57 
PLANTS IN TOTS. 
s. 
a. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
fi. 
d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 
6 
0 to 12 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 
6 
0 to 24 
0 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 
12 
0 
18 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
Ficus elastics, each 
4 
0 
18 
0 
Arbor vitio(goldcn> dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
1 
6 
7 
0 
Asters, 12 pots. 
Azalea, per dezen .. .. • 
0 
0 
0 
0 
Foliage piu ts, var., each 
2 
0 
10 
0 
24 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths, per dozen 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Begonias. various, per doz 
Chrysanthemum, doz. .. 
. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), d( z. 
Lily of the V»llev, 
9 
0 
12 
0 
4 
0 
9 
0 
., large,doz. .. 
15 
0 
24 
0 
doz. pot* . 
18 
0 
42 
0 
Cyolnmen , dtzsn pots .. 
9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
11 
0 
Pracama terrainalis, doz. 
SO 
0 
60 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
0 
Pracerns viridis, doz. .. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, in var., each 
2 
0 
21 
0 
Erica hyemalis, doz. 
12 
0 
24 
0 
Pelargonium*, scarlet, 12 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ gracilis, doz. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Poiaeettia, per dezen .. 
10 
0 
16 
0 
„ various, doz. 
Euonymiw, var., dozen 
8 
0 
18 
0 
Primula per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
6 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums. doz .. . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
A- 
MbM 
1 V 
E FMffM 
AUXILIARY FOODS. 
As an incentive to exertions by British farmers in their efforts 
to take and hold a leading position in competition for the sale of 
-farm produce with imported goods, it is well occasionally to ascer¬ 
tain at whit rate such produce comes into this country, and fo know 
•something of its commercial value. We now, therefore, purpose 
•showing our readers something of what has been going on during 
the ten years of agricultural depression, from 187-8 to 1887, in¬ 
clusive of both those years, and we may here acknowledge our 
indebtedness to that useful publication Whitaker's Almanack for 
our information. 
During all these years the chief outcry has been about the low 
price of Wheat and the •hardship to the farmer of foreign com¬ 
petition. Yet in this matter, as in others, it is solely an affair of 
supply and demand. If it appeared that from 1878 to 1887 the 
quantity of imported Wheat had gone on steadily increasing, and 
-that British Wheat was being driven out of the market, the position 
would now indeed be serious, but it is not so. For example, in 1879 
we imported 59,591,795 cwts., yet in 1887 the total quantity was only 
55,802,518 cwts. This falling off in quantity was probably owing 
to prices having fallen so low in this country as to seriously affect 
the foreign grower, and to induce him to turn his attention to 
other crops, the difference in the average price per cavt. being 
Jls. 4d. in favour of 1878. The total received in the ten years was 
562,331,000 cwts., valued at £270,001,000. This amount, enormous 
■as it is, only represents whole corn, and to it must be added 
£91,275,000 for wheaten flour. 
As next in importance in the estimation of farmers we may 
place the trade in cattle, sheep, and meat. The number of cattle 
received during the ten years was 3,113,000, the value being 
£61,578,000, the prices of oxen ranging from £22 12s. in the 
earlier years of the decade, downwards to £17 7s. in 1887. The 
prices of calves fatting in the same way from £1 15s. to £3 17s. Id. 
Of sheep and lambs the total number imported was 9,660,000 j 
the value being £21,381,000. In 1878 the value per head was 
48s. 8d. ; in 1887 it had fallen to 33s. lOd. 
Then wo have of beef 9,519,000 cwts., valued at £23,058,000. 
Pork, 3,807,000 cwts., valued at £6,770,000. Other meat fresh and 
salted, 9,002,000 cwts., the value £25,016,000. This does not 
include bacon and hams, of which the aggregate quantity imported 
was 11,390,000 cwts . valued at £91,637,000, and of lard 8,426,000 
cwts., the value £17,662,000. 
We said that farmers would regard the trade in cattle and 
sheep as next in importance to Wheat and flour, but iii reality it is 
not so. After Wheat, butter and margarine rank above a’l other 
articles, the total imports being 22,817,000 cwts., and the value 
£113,566,000. Of cheese the total imports were 18,2 >1/00 cwts., 
valued at £16,203,000. 
Of eggs, we learn that they “ come to us in very large and 
greatly increasing quantities. In 1887 we received upwards of 
1000 millions from foreign importers.” The total quantity 
imported during the ten years was 8930-1 millions, valued at 
£26,294,000. 
We may well inquire if, during the last ten years the British 
farmer has suffered such heavy losses of capital invested in his 
business, how it is that he allows such enormous sums of money to 
fall into the hands of the foreign producer ? It is surely worth 
while trying for a share in the gigantic dairy and poultry business, 
of which we have here such tangible proof. The writer of the 
article in Whitaker’s Almanac, “ Ten Years’ Food Supplies from 
Abroad,” justly observes that “ while complaints are made of the 
unremunerative character of ordinary British farming, a suggestion 
is frequently proffered that arable lands might be advantageously 
changed to pasture. The demand for dairy produce at home, 
beyond what native factors furnish, is enormous.” In 1887 the 
butter and cheese imports were valued at £16,405,000. 
We never have advised our readers to leave off growing corn 
for dairy farming ; but we are satisfied that neither the dairy nor 
poultry have yet taken the place upon farms generally that they 
should do. Both are legitimate branches of farming, both are 
profitable and well repay the care bestowed upon them. But 
dairy produce must be of the best to meet with a ready sale ; it is 
the preponderance of inferior home-made cheese and butter that 
spoils the market. This is not a matter to be left to take its 
chance in the hands of servants ; personal supervision must be 
given to every detail. 
The home-curing of hams and bacon is another matter worthy 
of attention, but a trade for it would have to be built up, and we 
have no doubt this might be done advantageously. Yet it is 
doubtful if farmers may be induced to attempt it, for pork, or 
rather pigs generally, are so easily sold at a’profit that the ordinary 
farmer rests satisfied with it. 
WORK OX THE HOME FARM. 
On farms where a special point is made of tup breeding the lambing 
began tivo or three weeks ago. Our lambing season does not begin till 
the end of the present month. One of our ewe flocks has a nice large 
yard enclosed by a wall with open sheds around it and a large barn 
opening into it. It is our custom to fill this barn with Barley at harvest 
time, and after threshing it to leave the barn empty in readiness for the 
sheep at lambing time, when barn and yard are given over to the 
shepherd. The advantage of such an. arrangement is obvious, for there 
is no special lambing fold to prepare on that farm, and the ewes are now 
driven into the yard every night, where they have dry food in troughs, 
enjoy perfect shelter, and are safe from all risk of disturbance by dogs. 
The shepherd’s house is close by, and we invariably have a successful 
lambing season there. At the home farm we have no such convenience, 
and have to contrive a fold in as sheltered a position as possible. This 
season special care will be taken to have the straw walls of the fold thick 
and compact enough to screen the flock from cold wind, as a belt of 
underwood hitherto available for shelter has been Cut down. Shelter 
and plenty of dry nourishing food are important factors to a successful 
lambing season. Pregnant ewes ought never to run any risk of suffer¬ 
ing from exposure, for we are quite 9ure that they do suffer, and the loss 
of many a ewe and. lamb is owing to some such cause. 
Now is the time when dairy cows require extra care, with food, 
shelter, and cleanliness. Never suffer a delicate Channel Island cow to 
be exposed in an open yard at night during winter. Do all that is 
possible to maintain a full flow of milk by the use of bran, carrot 0 , 
crushed oats, and the best meadow hay. Such a dietary is wholesome, 
sweet, nourishing, and not at all speculative. Turnips and Cabbages in 
large quantities clo impart an unpleasant flavour to milk and butter, but 
a little Cabbage given with judgment does good and not. harm. See that 
the cows have pure water out of clean troughs or cisterns. A little 
exercise in a sunny open yard is good for them, and when well fed they 
often lie down if the yard is clean and well littered. 
PROFITABLE FARMING. 
f A Paper read by Mr. Edward Lnnkiiur.t before the Jxworth.Earfners* Club, 
December, 17th, 1898,] 
(Continued from page 22T) 
PERMANENT PASTURE 
May be mentioned in'connection with dairy farming for more than one 
■important reason. There can be no doubt that under the agricultural 
depression the heavy outlay for men and horses in which those engaged. 
