232  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  Match  14,  1901. 
The  season  of  1899  has  left  a  lasting  mark  in  several  ways.  The 
generally  poor  el  eep  |  aetures  of  laet  season  will  probably  be  reflected 
in  correspondingly  pocr  crops  of  grain,  which  follow  them  in  the 
course,  unless  the  farmer  has  been,  or  will  be,  wise  enough  to  assist 
the  impoverished  land  with  applications  of  muck  or  artificials.  By 
impoverished  land  we  are  but  speaking  relatively,  and  in  comparison 
with  such  as  may  have  home  a  good  yield  of  Clever  and  carried  a 
good  stock  of  sherp.  But  the  bad  yield  of  seeds  which  resulted  in 
1900  from  the  unfavourable  seed-t’me  of  1899  is  reflected  again  in  the 
price  of  Clovers  and  Graces  during  the  present  season.  These  verv 
necessary  seeds  have,  after  a  period  of  cheapnrss,  been  gradually 
growing  dearer  again,  and  are  now  approaching  the  top  of  the  record. 
Good  Evgl  sh  stocks  are  very  scarce  and  very  dear,  and  how  things 
would  be  were  it  not  for  a  fairly  good  supply  from  abroad  we  hardly 
dare  contemplate.  Prices  for  Rtd  and  White  Clovers  are  very  variable, 
ranging  from  6d.  to  Is.  and  upwards  per  lb.,  the  price  of  re  lly 
reliable  seed  being  not  less  than  9d.  or  101.  Anyone  buying  below 
these  prices  is  running  great  risk  of  losing  his  Clover  stock.  If  we 
had  a  choice  of  evils  we  would  rather  give  Is.  p>  r  lb.  for  a  tirst-cLss 
English  sample  than  run  the  risk  of  disappointment  for  the  sake  of 
three  or  four  shillings  per  acre.  For,  remember,  it  is  not  only  the 
Clover  crop  that  is  at  stake,  but  upon  it  so  largely  depends  the  success 
of  the  rotation. 
There  are  manv  rumours  in  circulation  detrimental  to  the  character 
of  the  Grasses  offered  this  season,  and  it  is  very  desirable  that 
in  purchasing  Rye  Grass  the  weight  per  bushel  should  be  sufficiently 
taken  into  consideration,  and  a  fairly  hitih  standard  of  guarantee  be 
insisted  on.  Perennial  R\e  Grass  should  weigh  24  lbs.  per  bushel; 
Italian,  21  lbs.;  and  Pacey’s  Perennial,  26  lbs.  Remember  that  good 
seed  not  only  gives  a  better  plant  at  first  but  on^  more  capable  of 
standing  the  test  of  a  severe  winter,  and  one  which  will  grow  more 
vigorously  and  give  a  more  abundant  crop.  Formers  will  buy 
selected  seed  Corn,  but  few  can  see  the  advan  age  of  select  d  Clover. 
We  have,  and  we  know  that  a  good  stock  of  Giant  White  will  carry 
50  per  cent,  more  ewes  and  lambs  than  an  ordinary  stock  of  White. 
The  difference  in  price  is  Is.  6d.  per  stone. 
The  relative  cheapness  of  foreign  “reds”  is  having  an  effect  on 
the  price  of  English  Clover,  which  is  dropping,  and  we  strongly 
advise  our  friends  to  buy  English  at  present  prices,  but  if  it  must  be 
foreign,  then  we  pre  er  Canadian.  Lowland  Dutch  does  well  on  hot 
sandy  soils,  as  the  change  of  soil  and  climate  is  suitable.  Alsyke  is 
dear,  and  exci  pt  on  light  soils,  where  White  Clover  does  not  stand 
well,  we  should  not  care  to  use  much  of  it.  It  has  been  very  useful 
the  last  two  or  thr<e  yeais,  as  it  has  never  been  big  enough  to  be  a 
nuisance  amongst  the  Coin  ;  but  if  we  were  to  have  a  moist  growing 
summer,  those  who  have  sown  much  Als\ ke  might  be  regretting  it 
at  harvest  time.  Green  stuff  half-way  up  the  sheaf  is  a  stroDg 
diawback  to  the  use  tf  the  self-binder. 
Cow  Grass  is  also  very  dear,  more  so  than  the  best  red  ;  and  here 
again  there  can  be,  no  advantage  in  giving  the  higher  price,  for  if  on 
some  soils  Cow  Gra-s  stands  a  little  better  and  brings  a  heavier  crop, 
it  is  certaii  ly  of  less  intrinsic  value,  and  is  also  more  difficult  to 
secure  in  the  best  condition.  The  advance  since  last  year  in  the 
vali  es  of  Turnip  seeds,  especially  Swedes,  is  very  r*maikable.  A 
reference  to  the  price  lies  of  a  few  of  the  leading  seed  fi  ms  discloses 
the  fact  that  they  are  asking  practically  douife  the  usual  price  for 
Swede  seeds,  and  25  i  er  ce  t.  more  for  common  Turnip  and  Mangold 
than  they  did  in  1900.  Faimers  will  have  to  pay  from  Is.  up  to 
Is.  9d.  per  pound  lor  reliable  stocks  ot  Swede,  10  I.  per  pout  d  for 
Turnips,  and  Is.  to  Is.  3d.  for  Mangold.  Some  standard  varieties  of 
Swede  are  so  scarce  as  to  be  practically  unobtainable  for  anything  but 
seed-grr  wing  purposes,  and  in  many  cases  farmers  will  have  penoice 
to  tr \  new  varieties,  because  they  cannot  meet  with  a  supply  of  tbe 
old  favourites.  Puiple  ops  ot  the  Elephant  and  Monarch  type  have 
suffered  severely,  and  they  are  figured  at  the  higher  rates.  Broi  ze 
toj  s  on  the  other  hand,  ns  also  green  tops,  ate  comparativ*  ly  cheaper 
and  more  ]  lentitul  ;  and  the  fact  of  their  having  better  survived  such 
a  disastrous  season  as  that  of  1899  is  certainly  some  recommendation 
to  growers  who  like  hardy  kinds. 
The  GoldeD  Mekn  is  a  great  favourite  with  many  farmers,  and 
tightly  so;  there  aie  bronze-top  Swedes,  however,  sent  out  under 
other  names  which  are  equally  good  and  are  practically  selections 
from  tie  same  Swede.  It  is  rather  a  puzzle  why  so  many  people 
grow  such  waterv  poor  quality  Turnips  as  the  Greystone  ai  d 
Man  moth,  <  specially  for  early  consumption.  They  certainly  grow 
quickly  and  therefore  may  be  ot  use  for  late  sc  wit  g  too  late 
tor  oiher  kinds,  but  we  fancy  if  Fosterton  Hybrid  Yellow  W'  re 
once  used  lor  the  first  sowing  it  would  take  a  great  deal  of  knocking 
out  again. 
Green  Globe  as  tbe  common  Turnip  par  excellence ,  may  be  sown 
early  and  late,  and  is  never  out  of  place,  but  we  like  the  Fosterton  for 
the  first  eating.  It  has  a  stronger  top,  and  stands  hot  weather  better 
than  the  Globe,  and  is  quite  equal  to  it  in  quality  f  fl  *sh  if  not 
superior.  We  should  not  recommend  it  to  stand  frost  so  well.  As 
long  as  these  two  Turnips  keep  their  good  qualities  there  is  no 
need  for  any  others.  Tbe  prices  of  the  nvnor  seeds  su’h  as 
Cabbage  Rape,  &c.,  are  more  normal,  and  do  not  call  for  special 
comment. 
We  doubt  not  that  attempts  will  he  made  to  ralm  off  inferior 
stocks  of  old  Swede  seed  at  moderate  prices  as  being  direct  from  the 
grower  to  the  consumer,  and  therefore  cheaper  Care  must  be  taken 
to  test  the  truth  of  such  statements  before  purchasing,  for  the  supply 
of  good  seed  has  been  so  small,  and  has  been  so  cl  >sely  bought  up 
by  the  lendirg  seedsm»n,  that  it  will  not  be  necessary  for  the  growers 
to  seek  any  other  market;  and  in  conclusion,  we  must,  b- g  of  our 
readers  not  to  be  penny  wise  and  pound  foolish,  but,  under  the  special 
circumstances  of  the  case,  go  to  a  giod  firm  and  be  sure  of  vetting  a 
good  art’c'e,  even  if  it  is  at  a  high  price.  Remember  that  when  the 
seed  is  good  a  les*  quantity  will  do,  and  do  not  risk  a  bad  crop  of  roots 
for  the  sake  of  a  £5  note. 
Work  on  tlie  Home  Farm. 
Jupiter  Plnvius  is  still  the  reigning  monarch,  and  little  nr  no  progress 
has  been  made  during  the  past  week.  Farmer*  mav  al-eadv  bo  beard 
recalling  experiences  of  the  spring  of  1896,  when  weafher  similar  to  the 
prepent  was  followed  by  a  sudden  drought,  heavy  land  became  somewhat 
like  a  brickfield,  and  the  sowing  of  spring  Corn  was  almost,  impossible 
until  the  necessary  rain  came  in  May.  It  is  to  be  fervently  hope  1  that 
this  year  the  change  of  weather  may  be  more  gradual. 
Sheep  on  Turnips  are  in  a  parlous  state,  worse  than  ever,  if  that  be 
possible,  though  we  have  not  heard  of  carts  being  used  to  remove  them 
from  one  fold  to  another,  as  has  been  done.  Lamhing  proceeds  rapidly, 
as  is  generally  the  case  in  rough  and  wet  weather.  Pairs  are  much 
more  plentiful  than  last  year,  and  although  there  is  mow  loss  amongst 
the  ewes,  there  is  not  more  than  an  average  one.  Lambs  are  coming 
strong,  and  ewes  are  milking  well,  so  we  may  call  the  prospect  a  good 
one. 
Horses  cannot  get  upon  the  land  at  all,  for  it  would  he  madness  to 
attempt  anything  wifh  the  soil  in  its  present  state.  Delivering  grain 
and  carting  compost  on  to  grass  is  the  only  occupation  for  them. 
Farmers  who  have  purchased  their  artificials  are  get’ing  them  in. 
A  supply  of  superphosphate  having  been  procured,  the  fowl  and 
pigeon  houses  mav  be  once  more  cleansed,  and  the  manure  mixed  with 
super,  4  cwt.  of  the  latter  to  a  cartload  of  the  dung.  Manv  mixtures 
are  recommended  for  Mangold,  but  nothing  beats  this  one  as  a 
foundation  to  apply  before  the  seed  is  drilled  at  the  rate  of  a  cartload 
per  acre. 
Straw  is  a  rapidly  diminishing  quantity,  and  it  will  be  necessary 
to  have  the  cattle  out  to  grass  very  early  this  year.  Store  blasts  may 
be  seen  out  during  the  day  in  many  places  even  in  this  (R  J1)  a-able 
district;  straw  is  being  saved,  and  the  animals  are  hardened  for  the 
time  when  they  must  lie  out  altogether. 
The  weather  suits  the  autumn  planted  Cabbage,  and  they  are 
growing  well.  Five  hundredweight  of  soot  per  acre  is  a  good  thing  for 
Cabbage,  and  helps  to  keep  <  ff  ground  game  where  it  is  troublesome. 
It  will  soon  he  time  to  sow  a  few  spring  Vetches,  in  fact  as  soon 
as  the  weather  will  allow,  hut  if  autumn  Tares  are  available  we  should 
prefer  to  sow  them  instead  if  they  can  be  got  in  at  once  ;  they  do  not 
grow  quite  so  rapidly,  but  they  make  much  better  fodder. 
- <♦•»* - 
Wheat  Growing. — The  question  is  sometimes  asked,  Why  are 
British  farmers  unable  to  grow  Wheat  sufficient,  to  feed  our  people  ? 
The  answer  is  simple  and  not  far  to  seek- — because  it  will  not  pay  the 
English  farmer  to  do  so.  Prices  have  sunk  to  a  non-paying  point 
owing  to  a  variety  of  causes,  hut  chiefly  to  the  increased  area  of  land 
brought  under  Wheat  c  lrivation  in  other  countries;  land  which  is 
prac'ically  rent  free  and  unlimited  in  extent,  to  the  great  improvement 
in  farm  implements  and  machinery,  to  the  enormous  grain  stores  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  to  the  gigantic  ocean  steamers  wirh  improved 
methods  of  propulsion  and  increased  carrying  capacity  ;  in  short,  to 
the  cheapness  of  production  and  the  reduction  of  freights.  How  then 
can  the  English  farmer  compete  at  all  with  foreigners  in  the  growth  of 
corn  ?  This  question  brings  its  own  answer — viz.,  by  increasing  the 
v i»- Id  and  decreasing  the  cos  .  How  the  yield  was  to  he  increased  was 
poin'ed  out  by  Mr.  T.  R.  Garton  of  the  Agricultural  Experimental 
Grounds,  Newton-le. Willowp,  in  a  lecture  before  the  members  of  the 
North  Lancashire  Farmers’  Association, a  short  while  ago.  Mr.  Garton 
strongly  advocated  high  cross-breeding  between  the  beet  varieties  of 
Wheats.  The  yield  in  tbe  cases  of  improved  varieties  has  been  as 
much  as  40  per  cent,  grea'er  than  what  had  previously  been  recorded. 
If  the  cross-breeding  and  other  experiments  are  carried  on  the 
discoveries  should  go  far  towards  rendering  corn  and  Wheat  growing 
once  more  profitable  in  this  country. 
