208 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 7,1880. 
PLANTS IN TOTS. 
B. 
a. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
Aralia Sieboldi, dozen .. 6 
0to 12 
0 
Ferns, in variety, dozen 
4 
0 to 18 
0 
Arum Lilies, per dozen .. 12 
0 
18 
0 
Ficus elastica, each 
1 
6 
r 
0 
Arbor vitae (golden'* dozen 12 
0 
24 
0 
Foliage pliLts, var., each 
a 
0 
10 
0 
Asters, 12 pots.0 
0 
0 
0 
Genista, per dozen .. 
8 
0 
18 
0 
Azalea, per dozen .. .. 24 
0 
42 
0 
Hyacinths, per dozen .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
Begonias, various, per doz. 0 
0 
0 
0 
Hyacinths (Roman), doz. 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Christmas Rose .. .. 9 
0 
0 
0 
Lily of the Valiev, 
Cineraria, per dozen .. 9 
0 
12 
0 
doz. pots . 
12 
0 
38 
0 
Cyclamen., dozen pots .. 9 
0 
18 
0 
Marguerite Daisy, dozen 
6 
0 
19 
0 
Dracaenaterminalis, doz. 30 
0 
60 
0 
Myrtles, dozen. 
6 
0 
12 
e 
Dracenae viridis, doz. .. 12 
0 
24 
0 
Palms, iu var., each 
2 
0 
21 
0 
Srioa hyemalis, doz. .. 12 
0 
24 
0 
Pelargoniums, scarlet, 12 
6 
0 
9 
0 
„ various, doz.8 
0 
18 
0 
Primula, per doz. 
4 
0 
6 
0 
Enonymus, var.. dozen 6 
0 
18 
0 
Solanums. doz .. . 
9 
0 
12 
0 
Evergreens, in var., dozen 6 
0 
24 
0 
Tulips, doz. pots .. .. 
6 
0 
9 
0 
FODDER CROPS. 
Wherever Sainfoin answers by all means sow some. Strange 
to say there is still much doubt as to the soil in which this excel¬ 
lent forage crop should be sown. Two years ago we decided to try 
some on a heavy clay farm on the borders of Essex. We did so, 
and had such a full strong plant that more was sown last year, and 
about a dozen acres more will be sown on the same farm this year. 
We gave 24s. per sack of four bushels for some superior seed last 
year because it was grown by a neighbour, and as it requires that 
quantity per acre of unmilled seed the layer was rather an expen¬ 
sive one. This year we have an ample supply of seed saved at the 
home farm from a second crop which we threshed as it was carted 
from the field, and afterwards cut the half-green stems into chaff 
with some Barley straw. As this chaff was put into a huge heap in 
a barn head a moderate quantity of salt was sprinkled among it, 
and it was trampled into a compact mass, which subsequently 
heated sufficiently to impart flavour to it, and it was so palatable 
that sheep and horses consumed it greedily. As green food, hay, or 
chaff, it is alike valuable for stock, and we have heard excellent 
judges declare that well made Sainfoin stover is superior to all 
other dry forage for horses. We always turn the first growth to 
account for folding ewes and lambs, as they thrive well upon it, 
and it imparts a polish to fat lambs for market, and is perhaps 
superior to Tares for such a purpose. 
Many farmers are accustomed to sow a few pounds of Trefoil 
with it, but we prefer to sow it without such mixture, preferably 
with spring corn, but not necessarily so. We have now an excel¬ 
lent layer of it, which was sown on a field of winter Wheat last 
spring. On mixed soil it retains a full plant for six or seven years, 
but on heavy land at all wet it fails sooner. The clay farm on 
which we have sown it extensively has been well drained and 
dressed with burnt clay well worked in by ploughs and cultivators, so 
that superfluous water will pass away soon enough to do no harm to 
the Sainfoin roots, and the labour on the land under this crop will 
be very cheap, for we shall be satisfied with a growth for the sheep, 
and another for seed and hay. Good seed is very profitable and 
obtains a prompt sale. 
Now as to folding sheep on Sainfoin, we are aware that sheep 
are so fond of it that they are apt to feed it off so closely as to do 
harm to the young plant the first year after sowing. Mischief of 
this kind is avoided by passing the sheep over it in folds, the size of 
which are regulated by the number of sheep. A hurdle to each 
sheep and a fresh fold every day is a safe rule, combined with due 
care and watchfulness ; but if the sheep are turned out to wander 
at will over a large layer of it, it is quite probable that some harm 
will be done by many of the plants being eaten too closely. It will 
be understood that after the first year there will be no risk of 
harm, but even then folds are preferable, because the layer is kept 
regularly enriched with manure. 
Fodder crops and sheep farming are certainly to be regarded as 
affording a means of relief under the present low prices for corn, 
and for all calcareous soil Sainfoin may be recommended, provided 
cultivation has due attention. The fact that we are laying down 
land for five or six years ought to impress us with the importance 
of having it clean for the seed bed, and of sowing pure seed. The 
latter point may be secured if we use unmilled seed, as that cannot 
be adulterated easily, or rather any attempt at ad alteration is 
readily detected. Do what we will, however, such layers will 
become more and more foul with age, and at the end the best plan 
is undoubtedly to pare and burn the top inch or so of soil with the 
crown of the plants. When this can be done we prefer a crop of 
Oats to folio w the layer, and it is usually a good one. If the season 
be so wet that paring and burning is impracticable the layer is 
ploughcd-in early in autumn, and then the soil crumbles well for 
sowing in spring, which is done by passing light harrows over it 
before the drill, so as not to draw up the old plant to the surface. 
The time for which the layer is kept down should depend very 
much upon its condition. We have seen layers retained so long 
that very little Sainfoin has been left, and the land has been almost 
taken possession of by indigenous grasses. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Very cold wind from the north and north-east, with frequent snow 
showers and sharp frosts every night, is a tolerably accurate description 
of the weather since our last note was written. No attempt has been 
made to sow spring corn beyond ploughing in Bsans and Peas by means 
of the plough drill. No Barley will be sown till the soil is sufficiently 
dry for the purpose. A deep, fine, and tolerably dry seed bed must be 
had for this crop, and there is no doubt that many a failure has arisen 
from premature sowing. The advice to sow early if you would have 
heavy Barley is all very well if the soil is ready for the seed ; if not, 
wait till it is. The practical failure of this crop through sowing in very 
wet soil is the penalty paid by many a farmer at the outset of his 
career for knowledge which enables him to avoid such a disaster 
subsequently. 
The Wheat plant generally is full and strong, but late sown Wheat 
has suffered from the depredation of rooks in a state of semi-starvation, 
the plant being rooted up so much in some instances that spring corn 
must be drilled among it, or it must be ploughed up altogether, and the 
land sown either with Oats or Barley. We mention this as an extreme 
case requiring special treatment. We are glad to say we have only a 
ten-acre field in this plight out of several hundred acres under Wheat, 
but we hold that it is always useful to recognise the cause and remedy 
of a blemish or failure. 
Our lambing will now soon be at an end, and we are glad to record a 
successful season. So far we have not lost a ewe in either of our flocks, 
and the number of lambs is very satisfactory. At the outset single 
lambs were as usual the rule, but afterwards came twins in large 
numbers. We have three ewes with triplets ; all of them are alive, 
the shepherds having contrived to induce another ewe in each instance 
to take the third lamb. Carbolic oil has again done good service in cases 
of straining and faulty parturition, and we attribute our immunity 
from losses among the ewes to the prompt use of this specific when 
considered necessary. We have only had to use a stimulant in one case, 
and it was successful; the ewe gradually recovered the lost appetite, 
and became able to partake heartily of ordinary food. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
CAMDEN SQUARE, LONDON. 
Lat. 51° 82' 40" N.; Long. 0° 8'0" W.; Altitude, 111 feet. 
DATE. | 9 A.M. | IN THE DAY. 
1889. 
February 
and 
March. 
Barome¬ 
ter at 32° 
and Sea 
Level. 
Hygrome¬ 
ter. 
Direction 
of Wind. 
Temp, of 
soil at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
3 
tf 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
sun. 
On 
grass 
Inches. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
In. 
Sunday . 
24 
30.212 
33.4 
31.9 
N. 
37.1 
39.5 
30.8 
64.3 
26.1 
0.020 
Monday. 
25 
30.029 
339 
33.2 
N.W. 
86 9 
39.2 
31.8 
56.7 
29 7 
— 
Tuesday .... 
26 
29.838 
30.7 
30.1 
N.W. 
36.8 
36 9 
27.5 
63.2 
24.9 
_ 
Wednesday.. 
27 
29.014 
33.2 
31.8 
N.E. 
36.1 
38.9 
311 
49.9 
29 2 
0.043 
Thursday.... 
28 
29.708 
31.1 
30.3 
N.E. 
361 
36.5 
30.0 
64 2 
29.9 
0.041 
Friday . 
1 
29.887 
322 
31.3 
N.E. 
35.9 
38.6 
30.0 
77.9 
29.8 
_ 
Saturday .... 
2 
29.975 
31.1 
30.2 
N.E. 
35.9 
36.8 
28.7 
51.7 
28.1 
— 
29.895 
32.2 
31.3 
| 36.4 
33.1 
30.0 
59.7 
23.2 
0.104 
REMARKS. 
24th—Frequent slight showers of snow and sleet throughout. 
25ih.—Slight snow early; cloudy morning, a gleam of sun at midday, but dull again, 
with slight sleety showers in afternoon and night. 
20th.—Bright till about 11 A.M., then cloudy, with frequent flakes of snow. 
27th.—Cloudy and cold, with snow showers in evening and night. 
28th.—Continuous light snow till about 11 A.M.; then generally fine, with some sun¬ 
shine in afternoon ; snow again in evening and night. 
1st—Fine and generally bright. 
2nd —Overcast early, fair day. 
A cold week; the maxima in shade being especially low. North winds ani 
frequent very slight snow.—G. J. SYMONS. 
