106 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
January  3l,  1901. 
Two  Good  Investments. 
We  refer  to  two  almanacs,  both  published  by  the  same  firm, 
Messrs.  Yinton,  the  current  numbers  of  which  we  have  read  with 
much  pleasure,  and.  we  hope,  profit.  They  are  the  “  Live  Stock 
Journal  Almanac”  and  “Vinton’s  Agricultural  Almanac,”  and  we 
are  certain  that  every  farmer  in  the  country  ought  to  possess  copies 
of  them  both — Is.  6d.  is  not  a  large  outlay,  and  he  will  indeed  be 
a  dull  dog  who  cannot  derive  from  their  pages  information  of  infinitely 
greater  value  than  that.  We  think  the  “  Live  Stock  Journal 
Almanac”  makes  sure  improvement  with  each  recurring  season,  and 
it  would  seem  hardly  possible  to  improve  on  the  present  number. 
The  agricultural  statistics  and  tables  are  most  complete,  whilst  special 
articles  are  written  over  names  which  carry  with  them  the  fullest 
testimonials  to  their  special  knowledge  of  the  subjects  on  which  they 
write. 
Every  breed  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  pigs,  is  specially  referred 
to,  and  accounts  given  of  their  progress  and  well  being,  whilst  special 
articles  are  devoted  to  “  Sheep  in  1000  ”  dealing  with  sheep  as  a 
whole ;  and  with  regard  to  cattle  there  are  short  papers  on  “  Some 
Features  of  Summer  Grazing,”  by  Professor  Sheldon ;  “  Our  Beef 
Breeds  of  Cattle,”  by  Mr.  Robert  Bruce ;  and  “  Management  ol  a 
Milking  Herd,”  by  Mr.  Primrose  McConnell.  “Shorthorns  in  1900,” 
dealt  with  by  Mr.  John  Thornton,  heads  the  articles  on  cattle  breeds; 
as  does  “  Southdowns,”  by  Mr.  Jonas  M.  Webb  those  of  the  breeds  of 
sheep. 
Whilst  noting  that  according  to  the  statistics  given  there  is  a 
decrease  in  the  number  of  cattle  over  two  years  of  age,  but  a  more 
than  corresponding  increase  in  those  under  that  age,  also  that  the 
proportion  of  lambs  to  ewes  for  the  first  lime  for  six  years  has  fallen 
below  100  per  cent.,  we  cull  from  the  article  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Brown 
on  Leicester  sheep,  the  interesting  fact  that  “  one  breeder,  Mr.  George 
Harrison  of  Gainford  Hall,  Darlington,  had  a  wonderful  crop  of 
healthy  lambs — 90  per  cent,  twins;  a  few  were  lost,  but  not  a  single 
ewe.”  He  used  Mangolds  freely.  Here  is  a  wonderful  testimony  to 
the  use  of  the  root  as  a  food  for  breeding  ewes,  but  we  should  imagine 
that  Mr.  Harrison  has  a  good  range  of  grass  as  a  run  for  the  sheep 
whilst  consuming  the  roots. 
Amongst  the  most  interesting  articles  is  one  by  Sir  Walter  Gilbey 
on  “Army  Horses  Abroad.”  Sir  Walter  deals  with  the  subject  in  a 
most  exhaustive  way,  and  after  showing  how  horse  breeding  is 
fostered  by  the  governments  of  all  the  great  nations  of  the  Continent, 
he  closes  the  tieatise  by  a  strong  condemnation  in  advance  of  any 
proposal  to  adopt  the  Continental  rhethods  here,  as  being  likely  to  sap 
the  individual  enterprise  which  has  produced  the  best  breeds  of 
animals  in  the  world.  “  The  Pony  ;  Its  Breeding  for  Army  Purposes,” 
is  a  paper  by  Sir  Richard  Green  Price,  strongly  recommending  breeders  to 
turn  their  attention  to  animals  of  the  14'2  hands  polo  pony  stamp,  as 
being  tho^e  for  which  there  is  likely  to  be  a  large  demand  in  tke 
future.  The  value  ot  local  and  country  shows  is  excellently  proved 
by  Lord  Midd  eton,  while  much  ridicule  is  thrown  by  Mr.  Tegetmeier 
on  “  The  Supposed  Influence  of  a  First  Sire,”  which  is  still  c  ung  to 
as  an  article  of  faith  by  so  many  people.  Mr.  Albert  Munty,  Prolessor 
Ewart,  and  Mr.  C.  Stein  contribute  valuable  papers,  and  the-e  are 
followed  by  articles  on  the  different  breeds  of  horses  in  1900,  particular 
regard  being  paid  to  the  results  in  the  various  show  rings. 
Pigs,  sporting  dogs,  poultry,  and  turkeys  are  not  neglected,  and 
the  whole  is  illustrated  capitally,  principally  from  photographs,  and 
printed  and  got  up  in  a  style  which  does  the  greatest  credit  to  the 
enterprising  publishers. 
Vinton’s  Almanac,  costing  but  6d.,  is  also  very  good  value  for  the 
money.  Although  not  entirely  devoted  to  the  subject  of  live  stock,  as 
the  one  just  dealt  with,  it  by  no  means  neglects  that  very  important 
side  of  farming,  a  very  good  paper  by  Mr.  Gilbert  Murray  being 
devoted  to  demonstrate  the  economical  effect  of  a  mixed  ration  on  the 
health  and  development  of  the  stock  of  the  farm. 
Professor  Wrightson  deals  very  practically  with  the  cost  of 
ploughing,  and  we  entirely  agree  with  his  methods  of  calculation. 
Mr.  Bear,  who  is  so  well  qualified  to  give  an  opinion  on  the  subject, 
gives  us  his  views  on  the  new  Agricultural  Holdings  A' t,  while  the 
increasing  importance  of  machinery  in  the  performance  of  farm  work 
gives  extra  importance  to  a  most  excellent  article  on  “  Implements,” 
by  Mr.  Primrose  McConnell.  Mr.  A.  J.  Matthews  attempts  to  solve 
a  great  problem  when  he  offers  us  a  way  to  stop  the  “  rural  exodus.” 
The  suggestion  varies  very  little  from  the  old  one  of  3  acres  and  a 
cow,  and  it  might  be  successful  where  the  surrounding  conditions  are 
favourable. 
“  The  Production  of  Cider,”  by  Mr.  E.  G.  F.  Walker  ;  the  “  Work¬ 
men’s  Compensation  Act,”  and  “Gains  and  Losses  in  the  Market 
Gar  Jen”  provide  material  for  excellent  articles  well  worth  reading, 
and  which  will  provide  the  thoughtful  with  ample  food  for  reflection. 
The  last  mentioned,  written  by  Mr.  Glenny,  is  most  practical  in 
pointing  out  where  lie  many  causes  of  loss,  which  may  be  turned  into 
profit  by  greater  ingenuity  and  intelligence. 
The  tables  in  this  Almanac  are  both  varied  and  valuable,  including* 
as  they  do,  Sir  J.  B.  Lawes’  revised  tab’es  on  “The  Composition  and 
Manure  Value  of  Foods,”  “  Tne  Nourishing  Constituents  of  Food,” 
“  Feeding  Standards,”  &c.  We  commend  the  above  to  the  notice  of 
our  readers. 
Seed  Barley. 
Now  that  there  are  so  many  new  varieties  of  Barley  grown,  and 
the  Old  Chevalier  is  so  much  neglected,  it  is  satisfactory  to  receive 
Major  Hallett’s  seed  catalogue,  and  to  see  that  he  is  not  only  not 
knocked  out,  but  that  the  pedigree  Chevalier  is  still  being  improved 
by  selection.  We  have  great  doubt  whether  any  of  the  new  kinds 
are  worthy  to  supersede  Chevalier  if  the  average  value  of  straw  and 
grain  over  a  number  of  seasons  he  taken  int  >  account.  The  success  of 
new  sorts  is  often  attributable  mainly  to  the  change  of  seed,  and  if 
sufficient  attention  were  paid  tc  getting  a  suitable  change  of  Cnevalier, 
we  think  it  would  still  be  found  the  most  profitable  variety. 
Work  on  He  Home  Farm. 
We  have  had  a  fairly  fine  week,  though  we  had  two  very  foggy  days, 
and  the  land  has  dried  a  good  deal.  It  is  in  nice  ploughing  condition, 
and  does  not  tread  much,  but  would  be  better  for  further  fine  weather. 
Already  we  see  ploughs  cross-cutting  fallows,  and  a  few  more  sunny 
days  would  no  doubt  set  the  cultivator  to  work.  To-day  the  conditions 
have  been  more  like  April  than  January,  and  we  hope  for  a  continuance 
of  them. 
On  light  sandy  land  the  spring  cultivator  has  made  cross-cutting 
almost  superfluous,  and  if  the  land  be  foul  with  twitch  we  should 
certainly  dispense  with  the  ploughing  where  the  cultivator  can  be  got 
to  work  the  land  well  without  previous  movement.  But,  as  we  have 
pointed  out  before,  the  ploughing  must  not  be  left  out  altogether,  but 
be  done  after  the  land  has  been  well  worked  and  cleaned  as  much  as 
possible.  We  have  often  heard  remarks  made  as  to  the  good  roots  and 
even  other  crops  generally  grown  by  men  whose  farms  were  full  of 
rubbish  and  whose  horses  were  always  up  to  their  necks  in  work, 
and  deductions  drawn  as  to  the  uselessness  of  having  clean  land.  But 
the  reason  for  the  good  crops  was  the  absolute  necessity  for  thorough 
cultivation  caused  by  the  foul  state  of  the  land. 
Because  a  farm  is  clean  the  usual  ploughings  and  dressings  must 
not  be  reckoned  as  superfluous.  The  reason  for  the  large  crops  so 
frequently  grown  by  small  cultivators  is  generally  to  be  found  in  the 
thorough  way  in  which  the  cultivation  is  performed.  For  one  thing, 
many  farmers  are  afraid  to  plough  half  an  inch  deeper  than  usual,  for 
fear  they  may  bring  up  a  legacy  of  dormant  weeds.  Across  a  field  we 
know  well  is  a  5-foot  strip  of  land  on  which  the  crop  is  always  50  per 
cent,  better  than  on  the  remainder  of  the  field.  The  whole  has  been 
exceedingly  well  cultivated  for  forty  years,  since  the  drain  was  put 
down  beneath  the  fertile  strip.  Drainage  does  not  account  for  the 
difference,  but  the  deep  trenching  necessary  to  laying  the  drain  does. 
Men  who  work  on  the  farm  say  there  is  almost  as  marked  a  difference 
now  as  there  was  at  first,  and  it  would  really  seem  that  the  improvement 
effected  by  the  subsoiling  is  a  permanent  one. 
The  beef  trade  is  decidedly  slower,  but  mutton  is  very  firm.  How 
the  Turnips  are  to  be  consumed  is  a  puzzle  to  many  minds.  Common 
Turnips  (and  they  are  common  enough  yet)  are  beginning  to  show  signs 
of  running,  so  their  value  will  rapidly  decrease  unless  frosts  again 
intervene.  Swedes  look  very  green,  and  will  no  doubt  soon  follow 
their  example,  for  even  those  in  the  pies  are  sprouting  vigorously. 
Clovers  are  freshening  considerably,  having  wintered  remarkably  well, 
and  they  promise  the  best  sheep  pastures  for  a  generation.  Altogether 
the  supply  of  sheep  food  is  such  as  to  make  sheep  very  much  sought 
after  for  some  months. 
