528 
Jbtinl^AL  OP  tiOPTiOtlLPtiPP  Ap’b  COPfAOP  OaPPPJPPP, 
tfoVefaiBa  ii,  1898. 
are  likely  to  require  the  whole  Turnip  crop  on  many  farms,  so  the 
prospect  for  the  owner  who  has  in  addition  a  large  herd  of  cattle 
to  provide  for,  and  little  or  no  sound  straw,  is  anything  but  an 
enviable  one. 
A  mild  winter  of  course  would  be  a  great  help,  and  is  to  be 
earnestly  desired,  for  then  a  good  portion  of  the  stock  might  be 
kept  out  all  the  winter.  We  are  keeping  some  breeding  cows  and 
heifers  out  now,  and  with  the  help  of  one  good  meal  of  cut  straw 
and  a  little  finely  ground  cotton  cake,  the  pasture  is  keeping  them 
in  good  condition.  Of  course  there  is  a  good  shed  for  shelter. 
We  are  about  to  try  dried  grains  in  lien  of  cake  as  being  cheaper 
and  also  better  for  mixing  with  the  chop. 
Calves  under  a  year  old  require  careful  treatment  and  more 
warmth  and  shelter  than  most  open  fields  now  provide,  bat  all 
older  cattle  will,  if  healthy,  go  successfully  through  a  good  deal  of 
hardship  if  they  are  never  brought  up  at  all,  but  are  allowed  to 
keep  tbe  winter  coat  that  Nature  provides. 
In  purely  arable  districts  where  the  cattle  must  be  taken  into 
the  yards,  the  question  to  be  answered  is.  How  to  use  the  damaged 
straw  to  the  best  advantage  ?  It  is  of  little  value,  except  as  a 
foundation  to  build  upon  in  mixing.  As  roots  are  not  largely 
available  other  foods  must  be  resorted  to.  Some  people  advise  tbe 
use  of  treacle  or  sugar,  but  having  tried  them  we  cannot  speak  very 
favourably  of  them.  Cakes  are  rising  in  value,  besides  which  they 
would  be  more  useful  in  conjunction  with  roots.  Malt  culms  or 
dried  grains  at  a  reasonable  price  we  think  very  well  of,  the  use  of 
either  has  an  excellent  effect  in  inducing  animals  to  clean  their 
cribs.  Malt  is  good  in  small  quantities,  and  may  be  especially  so 
in  present  circumstances,  as  it  may  aid  in  the  digestion  of  food, 
which  without  it  might  prove  dangeroas.  It  is  probable  that  every 
farmer  whose  straw  has  been  damaged  by  weather  has  a  sufficient 
supply  of  rough  malt  very  handy,  we  refer  to  the  portion  of  tbe 
grain  which  has  sprouted  by  the  rain,  and  has  since  harvest  been 
slowly  dried  in  the  stack.  If  thrashed  after  a  sufficient  time  for 
drying,  so  as  to  be  in  grinding  condition,  much  of  the  damaged 
grain  up  and  down  the  country,  rapidly  becoming  unsaleable  as 
deliveries  of  it  increase,  should  be  the  best  thing  that  farmers  can 
use,  at  the  same  time  being  the  cheapest,  to  aid  the  consumption  of 
the  damaged  straw.  Cut  the  straw  and  grind  the  Barley,  use  the 
latter  only  in  reasonable  quantities  (not  more  than  6  lbs.  per  head 
per  day)  with  a  little  scalded  linseed. 
Potatoes  may  be  used  for  cattle  beneficially  where  Turnips  are 
not  available,  but  they  are  more  suitable  to  aged  than  to  young 
beasts.  They  are  excellent  for  milk  prodaction,  and  will  feed  off 
cows  very  rapidly.  They  should  be  used  sparingly  at  first  until  the 
animal  grows  accustomed  to  them,  when  as  much  as  80  lbs.  per  day 
may  be  given.  Cotton  cake  should  always  be  used,  as  Potatoes  are 
laxative. 
WORK  ON  THE  HOME  FARM. 
If  it  is  the  intention  of  the  farmer  to  store  his  Swedes,  the  work 
should  he  done  at  once,  as  they  cannot  be  left  in  the  ground  with  safety 
after  December  7th.  Hardy  varieties  like  Hartley’s  Short  Top  or 
Golden  Melon,  will  stand  a  good  deal  of  frost  if  the  soil  be  pretty  heavy, 
and  especially  if  they  have  been  drilled  on  tbe  level,  but  some  of  the 
heaviest  and  most  productive  S  wedes.  such  as  Elephant  and  Monarch, 
grow  well  out  of  the  ground  and  should  be  taken  up. 
We  generally  take  up  the  portion  intended  for  cattle  and  pie  them 
in  long  heaps,  as  we  do  Mangold  ;  those  remaining  in  the  field  we 
throw  into  heaps  (tops  and  all)  about  forty  heaps  to  the  acre,  and  cover 
them  well  with  soil.  We  have  never  regretted  taking  Swedes  up  ;  it  is 
the  right  thing,  be  the  winter  mild  or  severe. 
The  rows  ot  heaps  should  be  as  far  apart  as  the  roots  can  be  thrown ; 
the  land  between  the  rows  can  then  have  the  drag  run  through  it  so  as 
to  nproot  any  weeds  or  bits  of  twitch  that  may  have  sprung  up  after  the 
ast  cleaning. 
Turnip  land  mast  be  kept  ploughed  close  up  to  the  sheep  fold  ;  there 
s  considerable  loss  of  fertility  from  neglect  of  this. 
The  most  important  work  amongst  the  fences  should  be  attended  to 
now  ;  the  longer  it  is  left  over  the  greater  will  be  the  difficulty  of 
getting  all  completed  before  spring  ;  work  is  always  plentiful  when  the 
days  begin  to  lengthen. 
Early  sown  Wheat  is  only  just  above  ground  and  hardly  yet  out  of 
the  way  of  birds.  That  just  put  in  will  be  long  before  it  is  up.  Where 
hirings  date  from  Martinmas,  farmers  are  losing  their  horsemen  for  a 
week  ;  this  is  of  little  consequence  in  ordinary  seasons,  but  they  will  be 
missed  this  year.  We  have  often  thought,  after  thoroughly  weighing 
pros  and  cons,  that  this  loss  of  hands  for  six  days  turns  tbe  scale  against 
single  waggoners  and  in  favour  of  married  men  who  serve  the  whole  year, 
only  having  a  day  or  so  off  when  convenient.  But  as  our  hirings  are 
in  May  and  at  a  very  busy  time,  we  feel  the  inconvenience  to  its  fullest 
extent. 
ROOT  COMPETITION. 
Messrs.  Webb  &  Sons’  competition  covers  nearly  the  whole  of 
Great  Britain,  and  is  restricted  to  crops  grown  from  Webbs’  seeds,  and 
with  the  aid  of  the  firm’s  special  manures.  The  Judges  were  Messrs.  T.  J. 
Beech,  Pessall  Pits,  Edingale,  Tamworth  ;  John  Mellings,  Lady  Halton, 
Ludlow  ;  Jas.  Picken,  Torrs  Farm,  Kirkcudbright.  It  is  satisfactory  to 
find  such  good  results  in  a  season  which  has  been  so  unfavourable. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Salop,  Stafford, 
Montgomery,  Warwick,  and  Leicester). — First,  Mr.  J.  S.  Billington, 
Balterley  Hall,  Crewe.  49  tons  4  cwt.  per  acre  ;  second,  Mr.  F.  H. 
Sharrod.  Cberrington  Manor,  Newport,  Salop,  39  tons  1  cwt.  per  acre ; 
third,  Mr.  J.  H.  Batho,  Winston,  Ellesmere,  37  tons  4  cwt.  per  acre. 
Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold.  —  First,  Mr.  T.  Williams,  Slindon 
House,  Eccleshall,  74  tons  17  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Hereford,  Mon¬ 
mouth,  Brecon,  Glamorgan,  Radnor,  and  Pembroke) — First,  Mr.  W. 
Emerson,  Sweldon  Farm,  Caerau,  Cardiff,  39  tons  18  cwt.  per  acre; 
second.  Sir  J.  R.  Bailey,  Bart.,  Glanusk  Park,  Crickhowell,  39  tons  1  cwt. 
per  acre.  Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold. — First,  Mr.  J.  H.  Harding, 
Monachty  Farm,  Maindy,  Cardiff,  65  tons  15  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Oxon,  Bucks, 
Berks,  Wilts,  Hants,  Surrey,  Worcester,  and  Gloucester).— First,  Mr. 
J.  R.  Butler,  Churchill,  Kidderminster,  26 tons  15 cwt.  per  acre;  second, 
H.  Gosling,  Esq.,  Church  Farm,  Botley’s  Park,  Chertsey,  24  tons  18  cwt. 
per  acre.  Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold, — First,  Mr.  Gi  Corbishley, 
Bricklehampton  Court,  Pershore,  48  tons  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (opemto  the  county  of  York). — First, 
Mr.  G.  Beckett,  Deighton,  Escrick,  York,  31  tons  10  cwt  per  acre ; 
second,  Mr.  W.  H.  Lancaster,  Ketton  Hall,  Brotton,  R.S.O.,  31  tons 
6  cwt.  per  acre.  Three  acres  of  Webbs’  Mangold,— First,.  Sir  Andrew 
Fairbairn,  Askham  Grange,  York,  37  tons  11  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Bedford,  Cam¬ 
bridge,  Cornwall,  Cumberland,  Cheshire,  Devon,  Dorset,  Durham, 
Essex,  Hertford,  Huntingdon,  Kent,  Lancaster,  Lincoln,  Middlesex, 
Norfolk,  Nottingham.  Northampton,  Northumberland,  Rutland,  Somer¬ 
set.  Suffolk,  Sussex,  Westmoreland,  Carmarthen,  Carnarvon,  Cardigan, 
Denbigh,  Flint,  Merioneth)  — First,  Mr.  S.  S,  Raingill,  The  Grange, 
Ringway,  Altrincham,  46  tons  17  cwt.  per  acre  ;  second,  Mr.  Jas.  CaU- 
wood.  Road  Side  Farm,  Cbelford,  Crewe,  42  tons  1  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Roxburgh, 
Haddington,  and  Berwick). — First,  Mr,  Joseph  Forrest,  Swinton,  Green- 
rigga,  Dunse,  34  tons  2  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Fife,  Perth, 
and  Forfar). — First,  Mr.  J.  Martin,  East  Bank,  Longforgan,  Dundee, 
36  tons  13  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Aberdeen, 
Banff,  and  Elgin) — Prize  equal,  Mr,  W.  Grant,  Faich  Hill,  Gartly,  and 
Mr.  G.  A.  Ferguson,  Lessendrum,  Huntley,  27  tons  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Dumfries, 
Kirkcudbright,  and  Wigtown).  —  First,  Mr.  Jas.  Bickett,  Gerranton, 
Castle  Douglas,  36  tons  17  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  counties  of  Stirling,  Dum¬ 
barton,  and  Clackmannan). — First,  Mr.  Jas.  King,  Airthrey  Kerse, 
Bridge  of  Allan,  35  tons  12  cwt.  per  acre. 
Five  acres  of  Webbs’  Swede  (open  to  the  county  of  Ayr). — First, 
eqnal,  Mr.  John  Russell,  Craigie  House,  Ayr,  and  Mr.  Jas.  Bone, 
Robstone,  Girvan,  38  tons  3  cwt.  per  acre. 
METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS. 
OA.UDJBN  SqUABB,  LONDON. 
Lat.Sl^ia'aO"  N,;  Lon<r.0°8'0''  W.:  Altitude  111  feet 
DATS. 
9  A.M. 
In  thb  DAT. 
i 
.c3 
1896. 
November. 
1  Barometer 
at  32°, and 
1  Sea  Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion  of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of  soil 
at 
1  foot. 
Shade  Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Son. 
On 
Grass. 
Inohs. 
leg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inoha. 
Sunday  .«  IS 
29-369 
41-2 
39-7 
N.W. 
42-0 
47-7 
38-6 
72-9 
33-0 
0-149 
Monday  . .  16 
29-806 
38-9 
37-8 
N, 
41-9 
60-2 
38-0 
76-1 
32-2 
— 
Tuesday  ..  17 
30-030 
43-4 
41-2 
N. 
41-9 
45-1 
38-6 
47-7 
33-6 
— 
Wednewiay  I8 
29-929 
4-i-4 
4)-l 
N.W, 
42-2 
46-9 
41-3 
51-1 
38-6 
0-021 
Thursday..  19 
30-130 
34-1 
33-9 
N.W. 
42-0 
48-2 
31-8 
53-9 
26-2 
0-031 
Friday  . .  20 
30-064 
46-9 
44-9 
W. 
4l-l 
50-2 
33  8 
73-2 
28  6 
— 
Saturday  ..21 
30-487 
37-4 
36-4 
W. 
41-0 
48-4 
32-3 
66-2 
26-4 
29-871 
40-6 
39-1 
41*7 
48-0 
36-3 
61-6 
30-8 
0-201 
REMARKS. 
16th, — Almost  cloudless  morning,  gradually  clouding  in  afternoon,  and  rain  from 
6  P  .M.  to  8  P.M. 
16th. — Bright  and  sunny  almost  throughout.  17th. — Overcast  but  fair. 
18th.— Overcast  day,  with  raiu  from  3  P.M.  to  3.30  P.M ;  clear  night. 
19th.  Slight  fog  early,  sunny  from  9  A  M.,  and  clear  evening 
20th.— Rain  between  2  and  8  A.M.,  cloudy  and  damp  early  ;  bright  sun  from  10  A.1I. 
31st.— Fine  with  frequent  faint  sunshine. 
-  A  dry  dull  week,  not  as  cold  as  tbe  previous  oneL— G.  J.-Symons, 
