8G 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
May 5. 
round and round in the direction of the twist (i.e., from 
right to left), until she becomes giddy, staggers about, and 
at length falls over on her hack, her head becoming rigidly 
fixed in the position I have described; and that as the bird 
lies upon its back with its feet in the air, the point of its 
bill is on the ground. Her eyes at this crisis are fixed, and 
she appears to suffer if not pain, certainly terror. After a 
time the fit leaves, and she walks about unconcerned, except 
for the inconvenience. Amateur. 
[The symptoms described are those of an affection of 
the brain and nervous system. Most probably, one side of 
the brain only is affected, causing paralysis of the muscles 
of the opposite side of the neck, when the contraction of 
those muscles that remain unaffected produces the twisting 
of the part. 
These cases of diseases of the brain, which produce 
apoplexy, paralysis, and fits, are, in severe attacks, but little 
under our control; they are not unfrequent in laying hens 
which are highly fed. 
Strong aperient medicines, which lessen the amount of 
tire circulating fluids, and the plainest food, and quietude, 
are all that can be done. 
Rubbing with oil is useless, as the disease is in the head, 
not in the part apparently affected. 
If one of my own fowls were so attacked, I should bleed 
her immediately; but in unpracticed hands this remedy 
might be as fatal as the disease. — W. B. Tegetmexer, 
Tottenham.-] 
FIELD CARROT CULTURE. 
The preparation of land for Carrots is a portion of farm 
management requiring the greatest care and nicety in its 
execution. This crop has recently come into prominent 
notice, not only in consequence of its great value for feeding 
purposes, but also on account of its successful cultivation 
on many soils which, from the too frequent repetition of 
Turnips, has failed to produce a crop. 
The best soil for Carrots is a deep, rich sand, yet good 
crops are often raised on very poor sands, and they may be 
also successfully cultivated on all dry soils usually appro¬ 
priated to the growth of Turnips, except thin chalk, and 
shallow, gravelly land. Clay soils are not generally con¬ 
sidered well adapted for the growth of this root, chiefly 
because it is difficult to get them into tilth; yet I have 
obtained, upon some of the clay portions of my land, very 
good Carrots ; for although the roots grew more out of 
ground, and were ill-shaped, they proved a heavy and 
valuable produce. 
"* Like all other root crops, the place in the rotation,to which 
it is assigned is a question of great importance. I have 
obtained excellent crops, grown after Turnips fed oil’ by 
sheep, too late for sowing Barley; and when a few acres are 
required to be drawn from the land, this is a good course for 
the crop; but the kindest and best course, is, first, Turnips 
fed off, sown to Barley; after which autumn tillage for Carrots; 
however, the only rotation by which Carrots can ever be 
extensively cultivated, without deranging the usual four- 
course system, is to substitute the Carrot for the Turnip 
crop, viz., Wheat, Carrots, Barley or Oats, Clover. 
I would further observe, that this crop may, if required, be 
grown successively on the same land with greater advantage 
than any other root crop. 
The most advantageous state of the land for this root is 
to obtain the finest possible tilth, extended to the greatest 
depth practicable, and entirely free from the roots of grass 
and weeds. The actual amount of tillage, &c. r required, 
will, of course, depend, upon the state of the land, and the 
preceding crop; for instance, when the Carrot crop is intended 
to follow that of the Turnip fed off, the amount of tillage 
required will be comparatively trifling; the land having been 
previously well tilled for Turnips, one ploughing and sub¬ 
soiling will generally prove sufficient, with immediate 
harrowing, rolling, &c., which will give a fine surface, and 
retain sufficient moisture to cause the seed to vegetate. 
But in both the other courses of crops alluded to, namely, 
Carrots after Barley or Wheat, autumn tillage is all-important; 
and the land being generally clean where the Barley crop 
| has succeeded the Turnips, I recommend, that as soon as 
possible after harvest the land should be ploughed as deep 
as the furrow can be turned, the subsoil plough following, 
stirring the land to a good depth ; then harrowed and rolled 
until quite fine, and, if the season permit, ploughed and 
subsoiled as before, crossways. In that state the land should 
remain during the winter, until the month of March, when 
it should be harrowed fine, and ploughed into ridges of such 
size as the nature of the soil may require, but the more level 
the land lies the better. As soon as the weeds make their 
appearance they should be destroyed by the use of the 
scarifier and harrows; the land should not be ploughed 
again on any account, but the scarifier and harrows may be 
employed instead, a day or two before the time appointed 
for sowing. 
When the crop follows that of Wheat, it often happens 
that the land is partially infested with couch grass and root 
weeds, which should be destroyed by the scarifier, and burnt, 
previously to the commencement of the course of tillage 
before named. 
In all soils congenial to the growth of Carrots, where a 
liberal course of cultivation has been pursued for some years 
previously, it may be said, that the Carrot does not require 
any manure, a large and heavy produce being almost certain; 
yet I have found it answer well to drill with the seed about 
2cwt. of superphosphate per acre, with a few ashes, for the 
purpose of forwarding the young plant earlier to the hoe, 
and in advance of the weeds. I cannot advise the use of 
farm-yard manure for this crop; however, in case of land 
being out of cultivation, or not well suited for its culture, 1 
would apply some artificial manure; I think the best for 
this purpose is Peruvian Guano, applied broadcast, previous 
to the last ploughing; as I have found when harrowed in on 
the surface it encourages the growth of weeds, and causes 
the Carrot plant to throw out an unusual number of small 
surface-roots, which is opposed to its most profitable growth. 
The seed should be quite new, and the quantity required 
will be about seven pounds per acre, which should be hand- 
rubbed, and entirely free from burr; it may then be drilled 
with an ordinary Turnip drill, with the greatest regularity. 
The best time for sowing I have found to be the last week 
in April, or the first in May, at which time, in ordinary 
seasons, the seed will vegetate immediately, which is essen¬ 
tial in advancing the plant out of the way of the weeds; 
whereas, in sowing earlier, as formerly, about the 2oth of 
March, the weeds grow and gain the ascendancy over the 
young plant to such an extent as to endanger the crop in 
wet seasons, and at all times to greatly increase the cost of 
hoeing; a further advantage of late sowing will be found in 
the opportunity afforded for completing the tillage, and the 
destruction of weeds. 
Upon shallow soils, the land should be stitched into 
ridges two feet apart (drilling a single row on each ridge), 
for the purpose of giving a greater depth of soil for the 
plants to root in; and, in extreme cases, where land is 
unusually subject to weeds, it will allow of the free use of 
the horse-hoe. But upon all Carrot soils W'ell tilled, the 
best mode I have found, is to drill upon the flat, at fourteen 
or sixteen inches apart; for, although the horse-hoe cannot 
be used so readily at this distance (inasmuch, as weeds 
should be hoed out early, and before the plant is large 
enough to bear the liorse-lioe), yet the hand-hoe will be 
more effectual at the narrow distance, because the plants 
meet across the drills quickly, and permanently check the 
weeds during the remainder of the season ; whereas, in the 
wide distance, although the horse-hoe may be continually 
employed, yet there will be sure to spring up a constant 
succession of w^eeds, in consequence of the Carrot greens 
not being able to meet across the space until a late period 
in the season. Joseph Blxtndei.e. 
IIOWDEN POULTRY SHOW. 
Who has not heard and read of Howden Fair, which 
supplies London with many of the best of carriage horses, 
and the whole country with horses of all descriptions? To 
the fair succeeds an Agricultural Show r , and a show of 
Poultry has now been added. These exhibitions, for the 
j present year, were held on the 18th of April, and one more 
