JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  lo,  1899. 
Although  we  have  not  farmed  rabbits  ourselves  we  have  seen  it 
■done,  and  have  seen  400  to  500  couples  of  goo  1  rabbits  taken  from  a 
40-acre  field,  the  said  field  being  also  slocked  with  cattle  and  sheep, 
as  occasion  rciiuircd.  It  was  not  good  land.  A  few  acres  mi^ht 
have  been  classed  as  inediura,  but  the  remainder  was  poor  sand,  and 
■the  surrounding  fields  were  worse  if  anything.  One  has  since  been  let 
at  5s.  per  acre  and  another  has  gone  out  of  cultivation  and  was  subse- 
<iuently  planted  with  forest  trees. 
Now,  we  have  long  since  come  to  the  conclusion,  but  it  was  only 
forced  upon  us  Ij'  bitter  experience,  that  all  calculations  based  upon 
'expected  jirolits  from  land  must  be  subjected  to  very  heavy  discounts, 
and  therefore  we  must  not  be  too  sanguine  in  recl^oning  pront  on 
rabbits,  but  400  couples  at  28.  3d.  come  to  £45,  or  22-.  Gd.  per  acre, 
■which  is  not  to  be  despised  as  (nly  a  part  of  the  return  from  land 
rented  at  about  10s.  per  acre. 
Where  a  field  is  near  the  farm  premises  no  doubt  it  is  useful  as 
•accommodation  from  the  strictly  farming  point  of  view,  even  if  it  be 
heavily  stocked  with  rabbits,  but  if  farther  away  the  rabbits  and  a 
■very  scanty  flock  of  sheep  must  be  looked  upon  as  the  only  rent 
earners.  But  why  should  so  much  land  go  back  to  a  more  or  less 
iprimitive  condition  ?  The  wages  question  is  the  annvor. 
We  can  -remember  the  time  when  hands  could  be  found  at 
■moderate  wages  in  every  village  to  go  to  w'ork  among.^t  Potatoes, 
■Carrots,  or  fruit  ;  to  go  eveu  further,  the  farmers  wdio  opened  up  new 
industries  in  these  directions  were  looked  upon  as  public  benefactors, 
and  so  they  were.  But  foreign  competition  in  the  jiroduce  markets, 
added  to  home  competition  in  the  labour  market,  has  made  it  impos- 
•sible  in  remote  country  places  to  continue  to  grow  such  crops  at  a 
tprofit.  In  many  instances  tho  necessary  hand  labour  cannot  be 
•obtained  at  all. 
The  irony  of  the  thing  is  fully  realised  when  we  are  told  that  it 
>is  no  use  lo  grow  Strawberries  except  near  large  towns — not  on 
account  of  the  nearness  of  the  markets,  but  the  abundance  of  hand 
labour.  So  we  must  suppose  that  the  low-rented  farm  labourer  is 
■better  off  on  a  low  wage  than  the  high-rented  town  dweller  on  a 
'higher  wage,  or  his  family  would  be  more  ready  to  earn  casual  wages. 
Look  at  it  from  whatever  point  wo  will,  it  seems  evident  that 
with  a  continuance  of  present  prices  much  land  will  be  transferred 
from  the  dominion  of  the  plough  to  that  of  the  rabbit,  which  will  not 
be  again  disturbed  until  the  whole  country  is  one  mass  of  terraces  and 
villas. 
'J’he  price  of  grain  being  so  unremunerative,  could  not  such  land 
be  cheaply  cultivated  wdthout  corn  crops  ?  A  good  stock  of  rabbits 
could  be  kept  without  doing  very  serious  damage,  but  the  first 
difficulty  would  be  almost  insurmountable.  .  Horses  must  be  kept, 
and  straw  of  some  kind,  as  well  as  hay,  must  be  provided.  They 
might  be  purchased,  but  in  most  cises  there  would  bo  sufficient 
better  land  which  would  profitably  grow  corn  and  provide  the  neces¬ 
sary  fodder,  for  not  many  horses  would  be  required  if  the  land  were 
■cultivated  as  we  should  suggest. 
The  basis  of  our  ideas  is  a  three  or  four  years  temporary  pasture  to 
be  grazed  as  long  as  the  returns  from  sheep  an  1  rabbits  are  sufficiently 
large  to  warrant  letting  the  land  lie  still.  The  seed  mixture  to  pro¬ 
duce  sum'll  a  pasture  on  bad  soil  should  contain  Ilibgrass  and  Kidney 
Vetch,  in  addition  to  White  Clover,  Perenn’al  Ilyegrass,  and  a  little 
Alsyfee. 
As  soon  as  the  pasture  becomes  moisy  and  bare,  being  thus  of  very 
small  value  for  sheep,  it  had  better  be  broken  up  in  autumn  and 
•worked  about,  then  ploughed  down  about  8  or  9  inches  before 
December  1st. 
The  idea  is  a  crop  of  Potatoes,  but  the  sod  must  be  well  decayed 
before  spring  if  it  is  to  be  of  the  utmost  possible  benefit  to  the  crop. 
Xo  farm}Uird  manure  being  available,  +he  Potatoes  must  be  grown 
without  it,  but  with  4  evts.  of  superphosphate  and  2  cwts.  of 
sulphate  of  ammonia  per  acre  put  on  when  the  Potatoes  are  planted, 
should  go  a  long  way  as  a  substitute  for  the  muck.  If  nightsoil  could 
•he  obtained  at  reasonable  cost,  and  the  carting  were  not  tco  heavy,  a 
anoderate  dressing,  say  4  lo  5  tons  per  acre,  might  pay  in  the  crop  and 
leave  a  valuable  residue  for  the  future,  but  it  must  be  applied  in 
autumn  before  ploimhing. 
If  the  land  bo  in  a  warm  district  and  not  very  subject  to  spring 
frosts,  with  an  aspect  to  the  south  or  east,  second  eudy  Potatoes  such  , 
as  Myattks  or  Snowdrops,  might  paj’’  the  best,  but  under  other  con¬ 
ditions  strong  growing  late  sorts,  like  l^p-to-l)ate  or  Iniperator, 
would  be  more  suitable,  (let  the  crop  up  as  soon  ns  ready  and  si  11  it 
for  early  delivery;  even  the  lam  sorts  should  have  gone  befire 
December.  After  the  Potatoes  take  a  Turnip  crop,  which  will  not 
need  much  preparation  after  the  Potatoes  have  partially  cleaned  the 
land.  A  moderate  dressing  of  super  and  bonemeal  will  be  necessary  to 
grow  a  good  crop  of  roots. 
The  next  course  must  be  Rape  sown  the  end  of  April  broadcast, 
and  with  it  the  seed  mixture  for  ie|  e.iting  the  temporary  pasture.  The 
Rape  should  b-'  sown  at  the  rate  of  7  lbs.  per  acre,  and  anotlicr  dressing 
of  super,  say  3  cwts.  per  acre,  will  pay  either  in  this  or  the  young 
s  eds  to  follovr.  Of  course,  if  the  rabbits  are  not  too  numerous, 
or  it  is  thought  w'orth  while  to  use  wire,  acorn  crop  may  be  grown  as 
a  cover  to  the  young  seeds  and  the  Rape  course  lef'c  out.  It  is  all  a 
matter  of  Calculation  as  to  the  probabiaties  of  the  grain  crop  paying 
for  the  extra  c.xpense.  The  straw  must  be  estimated  at  a  lair  con¬ 
suming  value  m  deciding  this  question. 
VORK  ON  TflE  ITO.ME  FARM. 
The  .weather  now  is  simply  splendid,  and  Tiiridps  tiave  been  sown  in 
fine  order.  The  land,  wanned  by  the  bright  sunshine,  has  made  an  ideal 
seed  bed,  and  there  should  be  no  qiiesti->n  about  the  crops.  We  hear  of 
a  farmer  or  two  grumbling,  and  warning  rain.  W'o  fi-ar  that  spring  corn 
has  ntit  done  too  well,  has  g>.ne  away,  and  lost  plant  from  the  ravages  of 
wirewonn.  No  doubt  a  few  genial  showers  would  assist  sueh  erops  to 
recuperate,  but  warmth  is  the  great  thing  needed — warmth  without  night 
frosts. 
Rain  could  not  be  needed  for  the  Turnips  yet,  for  if  the  land  has  been 
sown  quickly  after  ploughing  the  mo  sture  must  liave  been  ample,  and  the 
tilth  an  ideal  one. 
Wheats  are  growing  well  and  looking  grand,  as  might  be  expected 
with  ample  sunshine.  One  or  two  fields  wtiich  looked  iliiii  a  mOmh  ago 
now  appear  to  be  as  full  as  they  can  hold  of  green  blades. 
We  are  glad  to  hear  and  read  of  the  widespread  and  systematic 
experiments  which  are  taking  place  in  the  spraying  of  sulphate  of  copper, 
with  the  object  of  destroying  Charlock  or  Ketlock.  ^V’o  have  scon  the 
immense  damage  done  by  this  noxious  weed,  and  a  remedy  for  it  will  be 
a  great  blessing  to  farmers.  Can  a  benefactor  find  an  antidote  to  the 
common  field  Poppy  for  we  believe  this  to  be  a  greater  and  more 
destructive  enemy  than  .he  other. 
It  is  certainly  quite  as  inimical  to  crops  amongst  which  it  grows,  and 
is  more  difficult  of  eradication,  whilst  the  seeds  being  smaller  and  more 
numerous  it  spreads  infinitely  faster. 
Clover  anti  hay  are  growing  rapidly  under  the  influence  of  the  hot 
weather.  A  few  showers  would  do  them  good  and  help  them  to  become 
longer,  and  therefore  heavier  in  bulk,  whilst  putting  oil  the  baymaking 
season  a  little.  A  postponement  we  can  well  do  with,  for  work  is  very 
plentiful,  l^otatoes  are  growing  fast,  and  require  both  horse  anti  hand 
hoeing,  and  will  soon  be  ready  to  earth-up.  The  sulphate  of  ammonia 
top-dressing,  2  cwts.  per  acre,  goes  on  this  week. 
The  Hay  Haevest. — During  the  brilliant  weather  it  is  reported 
that  rapid  progress  has  been  made  with  haymaking  in  Rerkshire  and 
Hampshire.  In  several  places  the  crop  was  secured  and  ricks  got  tip  in 
capital  condition.  The  growth  is  rather  thin  in  some  places,  but  on  the 
whole  the  reports  in  these  counties  are  satisfactory'. 
METEOROLOGICAL  OBSERVATIONS. 
Camden  Square,  London. 
Lat.  .51°  32'  40"  N.;  Long.  0°  8’  0"  W.:  Altitude  111  Wt.. 
Date. 
9  A.M. 
In  the  Day. 
1899. 
:ometer 
2°,  and 
i  Level 
Hygrometer 
Direc¬ 
tion  of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of  soil 
at 
Shade  Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Tempera¬ 
ture, 
Rain. 
•T  line. 
Dry. 
Wet. 
1  foot 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun 
On 
Grass 
Sunday  .... 
4 
inchs 
30-224 
deg. 
68-8 
deg. 
59-7 
N.E. 
deg. 
60-0 
deg. 
81-4 
deg. 
61-8 
deg. 
111-7 
deg. 
46-2 
incha. 
Monday  .... 
.5 
30  "204 
72-9 
59-8 
s.  w. 
60-2 
87-1 
62-6 
130-9 
48-1 
— 
Tuesday  .... 
() 
30-286 
72-8 
63-7 
N.F. 
62-4 
83-9 
56-1 
115-8 
50-9 
— 
W  ednesday 
7 
30-312 
69-7 
60-1 
K. 
62-3 
78-7 
53-8 
116-9 
49-6 
— 
Thursday  . . 
8 
30-437 
55-7 
49-1 
N.E. 
62  8 
69-2 
49-3 
’17  6 
47-1 
— 
Friday . 
\) 
3'0-412 
5,7-4 
48-1 
N.E. 
62-0 
69-6 
48-9 
121-3 
47-1 
— 
Saturday.... 
10 
30-33S 
58-2 
50-0 
N.E. 
61-9 
72-7 
50-2 
120-2 
47-3 
— 
-30-325 
64-5 
5d  *8 
^61-7 
77-5 
51-8 
119-2 
48-0 
— 
4th. — Generally  sunny,  but  clo.se  and  hazy,  amt  thin  cloud  at  times. 
.'ith. — Hot  and  sunny,  but  hazy  in  morning. 
(ith.— Bright  and  sunny  througliout. 
7th.— Fine  and  sunny,  but  fresher  ;  some  cloud  at  time.s. 
Sth. — Cool  breeze,  cloudy  at  times,  but  much  bright  sun. 
9tb.— Cool  breeze  and  innch  cloud,  but  frequent  bright  sun.  • 
10th. — Cloudy  early  ;  generally  sunny  after  9.30  A. At.  .  ; 
A  fine  .summer  week,  rbe  niean  maximum  higher  than  the  average  for  any 
week  in  the  year.  A  second  fainless  week. — u.  J.  M'Aions. 
