liAND AND WATER 
August 29, 1914 
DAY BY DAY. 
FniD.W, AUGUST 21st. 
Tltc German forces entered Brussels and were met by the 
IJurgomastcr, who informed them tliat Brussels was an 
open and undefended city. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd. 
The Servian Press Bureau announced tl\.it the Servian 
Army had won a great victory on the Drina. The 
Austrian losses were very heavy. 
The French War Office frankly admitted that the 
French reverse in Lorraine was more .seiions tlian was 
thought at first, but officially denied the ridiruloiis and 
exaggerated accounts sent abroad by the "Wolif Bureau. 
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd. 
Since no reply was received to her ultimatum of August 
15th, Japan declared war on Germany. In ofliciul 
Japanese circles it is considered that it will take tlircc 
months to reduce the garrison at Tsingtao. They are 
fully provisioned for eight months. The Russian 
General Staff announced that the Russian Army had 
gained an important victory near Gumbennen against 
a force of 160,000 Germans. 
Tlie Germans are reported to have suffered enormous 
losses. 
MONDAY. AUGUST 24th. 
It was annoimccd that Namur had fallen. 
The British forces were engaged all day on Sunday 
and after dark with the enemy in the neighbourhood of 
Mons, and held their ground. 
The British troops were opposed by two German Army 
Corps and two Cavalry Divisions. The Biitish 
casualties were not heav\-, but the enemy suffered very 
heavily. 
Lime%'ille was occupied by the Germans. 
The British Commander-in-Chief, China, reported that 
on Saturday afternoon the destroyer Kennet, v.-hilst 
chasing a German destroyer, S80, approached too close 
to the battery at Tsing-tau and sustained the following 
casualties — Three killed and seven wounded. 
The Kennel was not materially damaged. 
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25tli. 
Mr. Asqidth annoimced in the House of Commons that 
the Government had heard from Sir John French that 
the withdrawal alreadv announced of his troops to their 
new position had been successfully effected. They 
were pressed hard by the enemy, who were, howevei-, 
shaken off. 
The Field-Marshal provisionally estimated the casualties 
at something over 2,000. 
Lord Kitchener, speaking in the House of Lords, said : — 
" The Expeditionary Force has taken the field on tl:o 
French north-west frontier, and has advanced to the 
neighbourhood of Mons, in Belgium. Our troops liave 
already been for thirty-si.'i hours in contact v.-ith a 
superior force of German invaders. 
" Duiing that time they have maintained the traditions 
of British soldiers, and have behaved with the utmost 
gallantry." 
Lord Kitchener telegraphed to Sir John Frcnch'as follows : 
" Congratulate troops on their splendid work. ^\'e arc 
all proud of them." 
A telegram received by the Foreign OIEcc reported that a 
Zeppelin airship passed over Antwerp on Monday 
night. Six shrapnel bombs were dropped. Much 
damage was done to property, and t?,-elve lives were 
lost. 
Sucli a bombardment constitutes a violation of Article 
26 of the fourth Hague Convention. 
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26th. 
Situation unchanged. 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27th. 
Mr. Churchill announced in the House that the German 
armed merchantman Kaiser WilheLn der Grosse had 
been sunk by H.M.S. U'Kjhflijer ou the AVest African 
coast. 
This was the ship which had been trying to arrest traffic 
between tliis country and the Cape." It was one of 
the verj- few German armed ships which had been able 
to get to sea. 
The survivors were landed before the vessel was sunk. 
The losses on H.M.S. Highflyer were one man killed and 
five slightly injured. 
A strong force of British marines has been sent to Ostend 
and has occupied the town without opposition. 
PRODUCTION OF FOOD. 
Tire Board of Agriculture .nnd Fisheries have received from their 
Consultative Committee the following recommendatio.'is, wliich must 
in all casi'3 bo dependent upon (1) local conditions, and (2) the circum- 
stances of the individual liolding. The Agricultural Consultativa 
Committee are of opinion that, jn the existing circumstancos agricul- 
turists should do all in their power to secure that the gupplv of horae- 
produced foodstuffs may bo iu excess of the normal. In this respect 
the requirements of tlie future with regard both to cropping and to th<> 
maintenance of the fullest complement of live stock that holdings can 
usefully carry, must be carefully borne iu mind. 
1. The acreage under wheat should be largely increased wherever 
practicable. In this direction it should not be forgotten that on clean 
land, and by the aid of suitable artificial manure, good crops of wheat 
can be obtained in successive years. Attention is drawn to sect. 26 
of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1C03, which permits any system of 
cropping subject to the holding being protected from deterioration. 
2. Where wheat cannot be grown, the sowing of winter oats, winter 
barley, and rye might be substituted. These croiJs ripen early, and 
allow the labour on harvest to be distributed evenly. 
3. The cabbage crop is also one to be considered where land cnn 
bo spared. It provides a considerable weight of food suitable fur 
eilliL-r human or animal consumption. 
4. Thci-e is much land of a certain class now under grass which 
would probably pay for breaking up. If this land is scheduled as 
arable in the farm agreement, the tenant has the option of ploisghiii';; 
it up. If it is scheduled as grass the Agricultural Consultative Com- 
mittee suggest co-operation between owner and occupier as to tlie 
advisability of breiiking up certain fields in view of the national ques- 
tion of increasing home-grown foodstuffs. 
5.. Where a surplus of grass or clover exists ensilage might ba 
made. Particulars of the best methods can be obtained from the 
Board of Agriculture Leaflet No. 9. 
6. The slaughter of jinmature or breeding stock of every descrip- 
tion should be avoided. Where circumstances permit tha total head 
of live stock should be increased, particularly animals such as pigs, 
which niidtiply quickly. 
Ewe lambs might with advantage be put to the r.ani towards the end 
of the year. 
7. While there should be no diminution in the numljer."! of live 
stock kept, the strictest economy (subject to proper conditioning) and 
foresight with regard to feeding is advocated. 
The cheapest efficient forms of food should be used, and no waste, 
spaces capable of producing food for animals should be allowed. No 
recommendation is attempted as to the e.xact description of the food- 
stuffs to be grown, as this must depend upon the special circumstances 
tural Organiser. But the following crops among others are worthv 
of consideration : Tiifolium, vetches, ryo for spring feeding, and 
Italian rye grajss. By adopting such measures the more valuable foods 
would, so far as possible, bo freed for human consumption. 
The composition of the Consultative Committee is as follows. Tlie 
Eight Hon. Sir Ailwyn Fellowes, K.C.B. (Chairman), Mr. Charlca 
Bathurst, M.P., Mr. Charles Bidwell, Mr. H. Trustam Eve, Mr. S. W. 
Farmer, Mr. C. B. Fisher, Jlr. E. N. Nunnelcv, Mr. Francis II. 
Padwick, Mr. G. Scobv, Mr. G. C. Smyth-Eichards, Mr. Eichard 
SVntton, the Hon. Edward Strutt, Mr. Christoplier Tumor, Messrs. 
A. Ooddard and C. B. Marshall, joint secretr,ries. 
THE YEAR'S CROPS. 
TnE Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have expedited the tabula- 
tion of the agriculture returns collected in June last, and are now abl« 
to estimate, subject to final revision, the acreage of certain crops, and 
til? number 'of live stock in England and Wales this year. On th» 
basis of the reports received from their Crop Reporters, tlso Board ara 
able to make an estimate of the total production of the following 
crops ; 
1914. 
QnartCK. 
1913. 
Quarters. 
Increase -^ or Dccre.ise — 
Quartera. 
Per Cent. 
AVTieat 
7,320,000 
G.liO.OOO 
9,100,000 
1,080,000 
435,000 
Tons. 
2,880,000 
G,(>-t2,000 
0,323,000 
9,379,000 
915,000 
422,000 
Tons. 
2,895,000 
+ 678,000 
-183,000 
-279,000 
+ 165,000 
+ 13,000 
Tons. 
- 15,000 
-HO 
"Rftt-lpV 
- 3 
Oatg 
— 3 
-flS 
Pea's 
-H 3 
Potatoes 
- J 
The v.heat crop is not only 10 per cent, larger than in 1913, but 
is well above the average of the last ten years. The crop of beans is 
the largest since 1907, while that of potatoes is only slightly below 
that of last j-ear, which was the largest on record. 
UxDEn its statutory constitution the Eoad Board las availabla 
a considerable sum, at present over £1,000,000, to provide work upon 
the loads at such times as these. The Eoads Improvement Associa- 
tion, in view of the disorganisation of industry consequent on the war, 
is compiling as rapidly as possible, for submission to the local authori- 
ties and the Government Departments, a series of suggestions for road 
improvements in various areas upon which this imemployed labour 
could be most usefully utilised. The various provincial branches of 
the Roads Improvement Association have been asked to tend in lists 
for their respective districts. Readers not in touch witli any of tho 
iR.I.A. branches who would like to submit proposals should address 
communications to the General Secretary of the As.sociatjon, ISIr. 
Wallace E. Riche, 15, Dartmouth-street, Westminster, London, S.W'- 
Details' sliould be forwarded of trunk and important roads that necil 
widening, strengthening, and rs-surfacing where the minimum amount 
of land is required, or where it can b« acquired without much diflicuity. 
12* 
