1858 . 
TIIE CULTIVATOR. 
93 
stones are thrust, as represented in the cut, and the 
drain then filled as before mentioned. The advantage 
of this mode is in obviating the necessity of selecting 
the stone, as almost any width will answer. 
The two last modes, if well made, will last as long 
as tile-drains; as the earth cannot fall into them from 
the sides, nor rise from the bottom, even if of a quick¬ 
sand nature ; and in the last described, the stones be¬ 
ing mostly vertical, admit the free descent of the wa¬ 
ter from above. 
Proportional Average of Crops in Scotland. 
It may gratify a reasonable curiosity in some of our 
readers, to be informed in regard to the proportion 
which the various field crops raised in Scotland bear to 
one another, or, in other words, what proportion of every 
100 acres in tillage is occupied by each of the crops 
commonly cultivated. This information may not, in¬ 
deed, be of any direct utility , but cannot fail, we think, 
to be highly interesting , especially to those who have 
the means of comparing the facts with similar statistics 
in their own county or State. The information of this 
description which follows, is derived from the tables of 
Scottish Agricultural Statistics, which have been re¬ 
cently published. The proportion varies in different 
counties, but taking the whole country together, the 
proportion of the different crops in every 100 acres is 
as follows:— 
1857. 
1856. 
1855. 
1854. 
Wheat,. 
6.274 
7.428 
5.419 
4.765 
Barley,... 
5.578 
4.675 
5.271 
5.879 
Oats. 
26.391 
25.912 
26.449 
26.430 
Rye and Bere,. 
.776 
.564 
.594 
.621 
.043 
.077 
.098 
.189 
Vetches, Turnip Seed, 
.607 
.586 
.517 
.421 
Beans and Peas,. 
1.206 
1.277 
1.212 
1.243 
Turnips,. 
13.403 
12 979 
12.731 
12.292 
Potatoes,. 
3.931 
4.213 
4.163 
4ft52 
Mangold,.. 
.079 
.100 
.064 
.055 
Carrots, Cabbage and Rape,-- 
.144 
.125 
.068 
.074 
Summer Fallow,. 
Grass and Hay under rotation, 
.523 
.436 
.637 
.740 
41.045 
41.628 
42.777 
42.239 
100. '100. 
too. 
100. 
It will be seen at a glance at the above table, that 
oats are cultivated to a much greater extent than any 
other grain; and that the large proportion of the soil 
devoted to grass and turnips, besides the permanent 
pastures which are not included in the above, indicates 
very manifestly that the feeding of stock for dairy and 
other purposes, must be one of the principal branches 
of agricultural industry in that country. 
The following additional items in regard to the crops 
of Scotland during the past year, may be interesting 
to several readers. 
Of wheat, the whole amount raised was 6,154,986 
bushels ; and the average produce about 28 bushels per 
acre. 
Of barley, the whole amount raised was 6,494,534 
bushels ; and the average produce about 32 bushels per 
acre. 
Of oats, the whole amount raised was 32,750,763 
bushels; and the average produce about 33 bushels per 
acre. 
Of beans and peas, the whole amount raised was 
1,037,760 bushels ; and the average produce about 22 
bushels per acre. 
Of turnips, the whole amount raised was 6,690,109 | 
tons; and the average produce was about 14 tons per I 
acre. I 
Of potatoes, the whole amount raised was 430,468 
tons ; and the average produce about 2J tons,—ranging, 
however, in different counties, from 1 ton 8 cwt. to 5 
tons ll£ cwt. per acre. 
These averages, it will be observed, are considerably 
higher than any averages which have as yet been 
reached, according to Census reports, in this country. 
The larger crops of wheat, &c., of which Scotland may 
boast over this country, are unquestionably owing prin¬ 
cipally to a higher and more Careful cultivation. An 
advance in our mode of cultivation, would give us also 
an advance or increase in cur crops. Probably neither 
country has yet come very near to the end of all per¬ 
fection. 
- >-o o c-- 
Seed Potatoes. 
"VYe have invariably ignored the practice of cutting 
potatoes to plant, supposing that nature put them in 
her favorite form for reproduction, and to nourish the 
young plant; and that by cutting them we opened the 
vessels for the evaporation of nutritive qualities, and 
lessened the means of nourishment which young plants 
draw from the seed. 
The experience of the last season has brought us re¬ 
sults in this matter, which, if continued success attends 
it, will prove of some importance. 
Early in May last we turned over a piece of sod, and 
towards the close of the month planted it with whole 
potatoes. When this was planted, having a few bushels 
left, we plowed another piece adjoining the one already 
planted ; this was done in June. The seed potatoes for 
this piece were cut in such small pieces that less than 
one-half the quantity was used than in the former case. 
The same variety of potatoes were planted on each 
piece, and the same tillage given. No manure was 
used except a table-spoonful of plaster in each hill. 
When the potatoes were dug, late in October, full 
one-third of those on the ground where the seed was 
planted whole, were made worthless by the rot. Where 
they were cut for planting, the potatoes were of good 
size with scarcely any appearance of rot. 
Such are the ways of management and the results; 
and there we leave the matter, for if we would we can¬ 
not tell whether the same course will lead to the same 
end in a second trial. Atmospheric and other causes 
which we cannot control, might change the whole re¬ 
sult. One thing, however, if cut potatoes are as good 
for seed, vast quantities that would otherwise be plant¬ 
ed, may be saved for other purposes each year. A 
careful following out of the experiment is the only true 
way to reach facts available in practice. W. Bacon. 
Richmond , Mass. 
-«>o-o-- 
Wash to Prevent Rabbits Girdling Fruit Trees. 
I have used the following with complete success in a 
situation where rabbits are numerous, as a wash that 
they do not appear to relish, and by which the trees are 
not at all injured : Make a solution of, say half a pound 
of tobacco to three gallons of water. Mix with clay, 
a little lime, a little fresh cow dung, and an ounce or 
two of glue or paste. Thicken to the consistency of 
thick white-wash, and put on with a brush. I had 
about twenty trees much injured; but they have re¬ 
covered, and never been touched by rabbits since this 
mixture has been annually applied in the fall and again 
in the winter. J. w. c. 
