36 
FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 
Jorrign Agricultural IKzm. 
We are in receipt of our foreign journals to the 16th 
of November. 
Markets. — Ashes, dull. Cotton has rallied, and is 
\d. per pound, higher. Flour, firm. Beef and Doric, 
inactive. Lard, an advance of Is. per cwt. Wool, 
firm, -with a light stock on hand. 
Soiling. —At the East Berwickshire Farmer’s Club, 
it was unanimously resolved, after a full discusion, that 
soiling is preferable to grazing in the fields. 
Trimming Box Borders. —This is now done with a 
sharp scythe. First, cut the top quite level, with the 
scythe or shears; then draw a line through the centre to 
serve as a guide—the trimmer stands upright, and by 
short quick jerks, cuts off all the lateral branches at a 
given number of inches from the line. A smart hand 
will trim a mile a-day. 
Sale of Shorthorns. —At Mr. Colvin’s sale of short¬ 
horns, at Monkham’s Hall, near Waltham Abbey, Essex, 
on Thursday last, sixty-seven head, comprising bulls, 
cows, and calves, fetched the large sum of £2,038 17s. 
averaging £30 7s. ($150) each. Mr. Henry Stafford, 
the editor of the Herd Book, was the auctioneer. 
Removal of Subdivision Fences. —This subject is now 
warmly discussed in the English Agricultural periodi¬ 
cals. One writer says: Where the smallness of the 
fields, in some parts of England, and the enormous 
mounds, with all their accompaniments of large tim¬ 
ber, brushwood, and weeds, is considered, it is easy to 
see that a wholesale removal is necessary to profitable 
culture. 
Coal and Wood Ashes. —A writer in the North-Brit- 
ili Agriculturist, contends that coal ashes rank very 
ow as a chemical meliorator of earth and soils. Wood 
ashes, according to Liebig, are of far more value. We 
agree with the author and the chemist in their estimate 
of the value of coal and wood ashes, and so will our 
friends beyond the Atlantic, where there is more wood 
to spare for making ashes than on this side of the 
water. Soot is more favorably reported of; an analy¬ 
sis of it is given, and a report of the results as a 
manure in raising potatoes appears favorable. Soot 
is one of those manures which acts rapidly on vegeta¬ 
bles ; but it seems of too volatile a nature to last long 
as a manure in the soil. From our own experience, 
we would say that, at the rate of 25 to 30 bushels of 
soot an acre, as good a return of potatoes might be ob¬ 
tained, where the soil was not in an exhausted state, 
as with from 15 to 20 tons of farmyard manure. 
Green broom tops, as we have formerly stated, we 
have found to be much superior to either, in raising 
potatoes. 
Adulteration of Guano. —In the same paper, the edi¬ 
tor says: In the article of guano there is much adulter¬ 
ation to be met with ; it were well if some simple, 
but efficient method of detecting such adulteration were 
found out and published, so as to put it in the power of 
every farmeT to ascertain the comparative value of the 
article. This, we think, might be accomplished by the 
society’s chemist, and made public through the agricul¬ 
tural press of the country. This might put an end to 
the nefarious trade of adulterating, and of making the 
farmer pay nearly double price for an article which he 
now feels to be necessary for carrying on his operations. 
Could not this be profitably made a question for dis¬ 
cussion at some of the coming monthly meetings ? Few 
questions can be of more importance at this time to the 
honest farmer. We shall most gladly receive and in 
sert any hints that may be useful on this subject -from 
our chemical readers or correspondents, and thus join in 
a warfare against the too prevalent modern custom of 
adulterating goods. 
Agricultural Discussions. —At one of the monthly 
meetings of the Highland Society, Mr. Hope, said: If 
we expect to be made wiser by hearing the experience 
of others, we should also be willing to communicate our 
own opinions. I have great hopes that in the continu¬ 
ance of the same frank, easy, mutual exchange of opin¬ 
ions and practices, with comparisons of different modes 
of agricultural management, will not only be of great 
advantage to those who participate in these discussions, 
but also to the country at large. As a farmer, I shall 
positively be ashamed of my order, if we do not profit 
by the advantages we now possess in our numerous or¬ 
ganisations and journals, to gather information as if, 
were, into a focus, from all parts of the country. 
We perfectly agree with the remarks of this very 
sensible Scocth farmer, which are equally applicable to 
this country as to that. By discussion and study, and 
enlightening the mind, our original ideas may be con¬ 
firmed, or entirely swept away, and valuable improve¬ 
ments adopted. The Scotch farmers do not sit down, 
like thousands in this country, content that they know all 
about farming now, but they open their minds to inquiry 
and an earnest desire, if there is any better system than 
the one they are following, to find it out, adopt, and 
enjoy its benefits. 
Quantity of Seed Wheat per Acre in Scotland. —One 
of the speakers at the same meeting said his practice 
was to sow two bushels at first; increasing to two and 
a half late in the season; altogether by drill machines, 
which he considered preferable to broadcast, because it 
allowed of spring hoeing the crop, a very great ad 
vantage. 
Sale of Devon Cattle. —The sale of the celebrated 
Devon stock of Mr. Matthew Paul, of Compton Paunce- 
foot, attraced an immense concourse of gentlemen, 
farmers, and others, from all parts of the country, on 
Tuesday last. We understand that a portion of the 
stock was purchased for the Great Exhibition in 1851. 
The following were the prices obtained :—Four-year- 
old bull, £.40; bull calf, £.20 ,10s.; do £12 10s.; do. 
£12 ; and four do., £10 each. Dairy cows, in calf, £47’ 
£40, £35, £24, £23, £20, and down to £11 10s.; the 
whole forty-four averaging about £17 10s each* 
Three-year-old heifers, in calf, £19, £15 £12, £11 each } 
and downwards. Three year-old heifers, barren, £80 
per pair; and £18 10s., £18, and £16, each. Year¬ 
ling heifers, in calf, £24 per pair. 
