150 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  18,  1897. 
farmers  who  have  unlimited  faith  in  its  efficacy,  and  not  without 
good  reason,  for  good  yard  manure  is  beneficial  to  all  crops,  and  has 
a  bit  of  wear  and  tear  about  it  that  is  lacking  in  these  hand-to- 
mouth  fertilisers.  Still,  muck  has  its  drawbacks,  the  chief  being  the 
amount  of  labour  entailed  in  the  filling  and  carting  of  it  to  the 
land,  especially  if  the  field  be  some  distance  from  the  premises. 
It  is  inevitable  that  manure  will  continue  to  be  made  and  used) 
for  cattle  rearing  and  feeding  is  too  important  a  part  of  British 
agriculture  to  be  discontinued.  It  is  very  necessary,  however,  to  get 
all  possible  benefit  from  the  dung  when  it  is  made.  Much  has  been 
done  in  this  direction  of  late  by  the  very  general  adoption  of 
covered  yards,  but  greater  intelligence  is  yet  required  to  fully 
utilise  the  liquids  which  in  too  many  cases  are  allowed  to  escape 
into  the  watercourses  before  being  deprived  of  the  valuable 
manurial  constituents  which  they  contain. 
•  We  have  heard  it  suggested  that  we  should  sell  all  the  Wheat 
straw  now  used  as  bedding,  and  use  peat  moss  in  its  place.  The 
manurial  value  of  the  straw  is  about  8s.  per  ton,  the  selling  value 
about  40s.  As  peat  moss  is  a  much  more  valuable  absorbent  than 
straw  there  is  much  force  in  the  arguments  in  its  favour,  especially 
if  the  comfort  of  the  animals  is  left  out  of  consideration. 
The  low  value  of  straw  as  an  absorbent  will  be  seen  by  a  study 
of  the  appended  table.  It  is  noticeable  that  powdered  peat  is  even 
more  valuable  than  the  moss,  and  that  even  peaty  soil  has  a  con¬ 
siderable  value  as  a  foundation  for  the  manure  heap. 
1000  lbs.  of  Wheat  straw  will  absorb  1#  lbs.  of  ammonia. 
1000  lbs.  of  sawdust 
it 
iib. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  peat  moss 
tt 
8f  lbs. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  sandy  earth 
it 
fib. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  powdered  peat 
a 
11*  lbs. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  limy  earth 
a 
If  lb. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  fresh  soil 
a 
2*  lbs. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  garden  soil 
a 
5*  lbs. 
do. 
1000  lbs.  of  peaty  soil 
fi 
6f  lbs. 
do. 
It  would  appear  that  whether  we  use  peat  moss  fitter  as  litter 
or  not,  we  should  put  a  layer  of  it  or  of  powdered  peat  at  the 
lowest  part  of  our  yards,  also  beneath  and  immediately  around  all 
he^ps  of  moist  manure.  For  cattle  in  stalls  and  boxes  very  little 
straw  need  be  used,  as  they  can  be  made  quite  comfortable  with 
peat  moss,  which  would  absorb  all  liquids,  and  nothing  would  be 
lost.  How  important  the  preservation  of  this  liquid  manure  is 
will  be  understood  by  a  perusal  of  the  following  table,  giving 
approximately  the  constituents  of  the  manure  and  urine  of  the 
principal  farm  animals.  The  manure  of  the  following  four  animals 
contains — 
Per  1000  lbs. 
Sheep. 
Pig. 
Horse. 
Cow. 
Nitrogen 
7*  ... 
5 
3 
Phosphoric  acid 
6 
5 
...  3*  ... 
2* 
Potash  . 
3 
25 
3 
1 
The  urine  contains — 
Nitrogen 
14 
3 
...  12 
8 
Phosphoric  acid 
o*  ... 
1* 
0 
0* 
Potash  . 
20 
2 
...  5  ... 
14 
We  see  here  that  as  regards  two  of  the  principal  farm  animals 
— the  cow  and  the  horse — the  liquids  are  two  and  a  half  times  as 
rich  as  the  solids  in  nitrogen,  that  most  costly  of  manures,  whilst 
the  value  of  the  potash  in  the  urine  of  cattle  is  very  great  indeed. 
Of  course  if  this  liquid  can  be  run  into  a  tank  and  afterwards 
distributed  on  the  land  by  the  aid  of  a  liquid  manure  cart  more 
powerful  absorbents  are  not  necessary,  otherwise  it  seems  certain 
that  the  use  of  peat  moss  as  litter,  either  wholly  or  in  part,  must 
result  in  great  saving  of  much  valuable  fertilising  material.  If 
straw  can  be  sold  at  40s.  and  peat  moss  bought  at  253.  there  is  a 
margin  of  15s.  per  ton  in  favour  of  the  use  of  the  latter,  apart 
from  the  advantage  gained  in  the  greater  absorption  of  liquids. 
There  are  few  large  estates  where  real  freedom  of  sale  is 
allowed,  but  if  agriculture  in  this  country  is  to  hold  its  own 
more  freedom  will  have  to  be  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception. 
The  best  safeguard  that  a  landlord  can  have  against  undue 
impoverishment  of  the  soil  is  the  possession  of  a  good  head  of  five 
stock  by  his  tenant.  As  long  as  his  stock  is  kept  up  to  the  mark 
let  him  sell  what  he  likes.  If  he  can  sell  for  40s.  something  that 
he  can  replace  for  153.  by  all  means  let  him  do  so  ;  restriction  in 
selling  means  restriction  of  power  of  rent  paying,  and  is  contrary 
to  all  mercantile  principles. 
We  hold  a  very  strong  opinion  that  the  amount  of  nitrogen  that 
reaches  the  soil  through  the  medium  of  farmyard  manure  under 
present  systems  is  very  small,  and  that  the  said  manure  owes  more  of 
its  popularity  to  its  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  than  to  its  ammonia. 
It  used  to  be  a  general  custom  to  turn  the  manure  heap  soon  after 
leading  it  from  the  yards,  this  prevented  violent  heating  and  loss 
of  ammonia  ;  but  now  we  never  see  a  man  turning  manure. 
Unless  we  can  take  means  to  preserve  the  fertility  of  our  muck, 
we  had  better  get  it  spread  on  the  soil  as  soon  as  made,  for  in 
winter  there  can  be  no  loss  from  evaporation,  and  if  spread  on  the 
ground  thinly,  none  from  heating.  Much  of  the  valuable  con¬ 
stituents  may  be  washed  by  rain  into  the  soil,  and  that  is  where  we 
want  them  to  be. 
WORK  ON  THE  HOME  FARM. 
Frost,  snow,  rain,  and  flood  succeeded  each  other  in  rapid  succession, 
and  farm  work  was  much  as  it  was  last  week.  So  far,  little  time  has 
been  lost ;  but  unless  we  have  finer  weather  for  the  remainder  of  the 
month  work  will  begin  to  get  into  arrears,  and  they  are  always  difficult 
to  make  up.  The  land  is  just  getting  free  from  frost,  but  though  a  plough 
would  work  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  begin  again  until  the  land  is  a 
little  drier. 
Many  farmers  are  anxious  to  be  drilling  Oats,  and  naturally  so  after 
our  experience  of  last  harvest ;  the  early  bird  then  had  the  worm  witn  a 
vengeance,  all  late  crops  being  completely  ruined.  We  had  much  better 
wait  for  a  decent  seed  bed,  however,  as  grain  put  in  badly  seldom — in 
fact,  we  might  say  never — Hoes  well.  There  is  certainly  nothing  to  be 
gained  by  sowing  before  March  under  present  circumstances. 
Turnip  land  should  be  ploughed  up  close  to  the  sheep  fold  as  Boon  as 
it  is  dry  enough,  and  fallows  may  be  crossed,  but  we  would  rather  leave 
them  alone  for  the  present,  unless  it  were  on  very  light  land  in  a  foul 
condition,  when  time  might  be  a  matter  of  great  importance.  We  would 
prefer  to  still  give  the  horses  a  bit  more  rest,  and  keep  all  hands  to 
repairing  fences  and  drains,  ditches  and  hedge  bottoms  rather  than  do 
harm  by  getting  them  on  the  land  before  it  is  fit  ;  this  only  applies  to 
medium  and  heavy  soils.  Very  light,  dry,  and  sandy  land  may  be 
ploughed  or  worked  any  time. 
We  have  had  the  lambing  flock  on  Swedes  for  three  weeks.  They 
bad  previously  got  a  little  low  in  condition,  and  they  required  an  extra 
forcing  diet.  They  are  now  within  ten  days  of  lambing,  and  are  coming 
off  Swedes  to  Mangolds  on  grass.  A  few  Oats  and  a  little  cotton  cake 
given  now  until  lambing  make  a  great  difference  in  the  milking 
capabilities  of  the  ewe,  and  are  of  much  more  use  than  given  after 
lambing. 
The  use  of  drains  has  been  amply  illustrated  to  us  during  the  recent 
flood.  We  had  a  field  in  process  of  being  drained,  and  the  quantity  of 
water  absolutely  pouring  down  the  pipes  just  put  down  was  a  revelation. 
OUR  LETTER  BOX. 
Wheat  ( E .  M.~). — If  the  Wheat  is  a  good  sample  and  the  rick 
perfectly  free  from  vermin — i.e.,  rats  and  mice — we  should  advise 
holding.  The  world’s  Wheat  crop  is  deficient,  harvest  is  far  off,  and 
we  look  and  hope  for  a  rise  in  price.  If  mice  abound  thresh  at  once. 
METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS. 
OAMDKN  SQUARB,  LONDON. 
Lat.  61°  13' 40"  N. :  Long.  0°  8/  0"  W.:  Altitude  111  feet. 
Date. 
9  A.M. 
In  thk  Day. 
a 
*5 
P3 
1897. 
February. 
Barometer 
at  32°,  and 
|  Sea  Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion  of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of  soil 
at 
1  foot. 
Shade  Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inohs. 
leg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchs. 
Sunday  .. 
7 
29'883 
36-9 
35-2 
N.W. 
38-0 
421 
35-8 
72-1 
31-3 
— 
Monday  .. 
8 
30-311 
362 
33-8 
S. 
36-9 
48-4 
27-9 
49-2 
22-6 
0-095 
Tuesday  . . 
9 
29-998 
43-1 
47-2 
W. 
38-2 
52-1 
36-0 
66-4 
32-0 
0-010 
Wednesday 
10 
3DT8U 
45-4 
42-0 
N. 
40-8 
50-3 
43  7 
60-0 
4)-4 
0-168 
Thursday . . 
11 
30-076 
42-1 
41-8 
E. 
41-2 
43-1 
41-6 
45-1 
41-2 
0-038 
Friday 
12 
30-216 
33-2 
36-9 
E. 
40-8 
42-1 
37-4 
47-2 
36-7 
— 
Saturday  . . 
18 
80-059 
40-7 
39  4 
S. 
40-0 
48-6 
38-2 
53-0 
361 
0-032 
30-104 
41-1 
39  5 
39-4 
46-7 
37-2 
54-7 
34-3 
0-343 
REMARKS. 
7th.— Bright  aun  in  morning  and  frequently  in  afternoon  ;  fine  evening. 
8th.— Slightly  foggy  generally,  but  faint  aunahine  about  11  A.M, ;  rain  from  8  P.M.  to 
11  P.M. 
9th.— Occasional  drizzle  early  ;  mild  fair  day. 
10th. — Fine  and  mild,  with  a  gleam  of  sun  at  1.30  P.M. ;  rain  from  9  P.M. 
11th.— Rain  till  8  A.M.,  then  dull,  with  drizzle  or  alight  rain  almost  all  day. 
12th.— Overcast,  but  fair. 
13th.— Fair  early  ;  frequent  drizzle  and  rain  after  11  A.M, 
Much  milder  and  rather  damp.— G.  J.  SXMON3. 
