46t 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULrURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  26,  1904 
Railway  Rates  Once  More. 
We  have  several  times  mentioned  the  grievances  which 
British  farmers  have  against  our  national  railway  companies ; 
but,  finding  that  agitation  seemed  only  to  aggravate  the  evils 
complained  of,  we  abstained  from  further  comments  for  a  time. 
As,  however,  the  attitude  of  the  railway  companies  has  been 
described  by  a  series  of  articles  in  the  “  Times  ”  newispaper  as 
being  in  every  way  friendly  to  agriculture,  we  think  it  is  oppor¬ 
tune  to  once  more  allude  to  the  evils  complained  of. 
Now,  we  are  being  told  every  day  that  foreign  countries 
under  protection  have  to  pay  higher  prices  for  everything. 
How  is  it,  then,  that  French  railway  companies  can  afford  to 
convey  Potatoes  to  Boulogne  at  about  half  the  rate  per  ton 
which  the  British  railway  companies  charge  for  conveyance  to 
London  ?  Either  the  advantage  of  Free  Trade  is  a  myth,  or  the 
patriotism  of  the  French  railways  is  superb.  We  want  some  of 
t)iis  patriotism  on  our  side.  The  absence  of  it  is  every  day 
bringing  nearer  the  nationalisation  of  our  railway  system. 
The  weakness  of  our  pj^esent  railway  .system  lies  in  the  fact 
that  the  companies  generally  are  so  lacking  in  initiative  that 
they  seldom  introduce  a  reform  until  they  are  driven  to  it.  We 
have  seen  considerable  improvement  of  late  in  the  rates  lor 
carriage  of  parcels,  and  if  we  had  seen  a  corresponding  imiirove- 
ment  in  the  acceleration  of  delivery,  we  should  certainly  have 
had  much  ground  for  satisfaction.  As,  however,  the  lead  in 
this  matter  was  taken  by  the  General  Post  Office,  it  is  to  that 
excellent  imstitution  we  should  give  the  credit.  As  the  G.P.O. 
has  once  raised  the  limit  of  weight  of  parcels  and  made  the  rate 
a  little  easier,  we  see  no  reason  why  it  should  not  extend  its 
operations  to  heavy  weights  by  rail  only,  and  not  to  include  local 
delivery,  which  might  come  later.  When  we  can  find  a  Post¬ 
master-General  who  will  propose  such  a  reform  as  that,  we 
shall  be  within  measurable  distance  of  the  nationalisation  of 
railways,  and  an  immense  benefit  to  rural  industry  must  inevit¬ 
ably  follow. 
We  are  quite  aware  that  in  writing  thus  we  are  treading  on 
the  corns  of  thousands  of  railway  shareholders,  who  will 
naturally  think  that  we  are  crying  down  the  value  of  their 
stock.  We  are  doing  nothing  of  the  kind ;  we  only  wish  to 
impress  upon  the  minds  of  railway  shareholders  the  fact  that 
there  are  other  sources  of  traffic  than  imports ;  that  there  is 
an  immensely  improved  internal  carrying  trade  to  be  had  for 
the  encouraging ;  and  it  will  pay  them  better  to  develop  their 
present  local  systems  than  to  spend  further  capital  in  the 
building  of  new  trunk  lines  in  the  interest  of  the  foreigner. 
We  notice  that  the  rate  from  Strazeele  to  Boulogne  (forty- 
.seven  and  a-half  miles)  is  2s.  8d.  per  ton  for  truck  loads  of 
Potatoes.  We  also  know  that  the  rate  from  our  station  to  one 
of  the  large  niarkets  is  6s.  9d.  per  ton  for  a  journey  of  forty-six 
miles — practically  the  same  di.stance — at  little  more  than  one- 
third  the  rate.  This  4s.  Id.  per  ton  difference  on  an  average 
crop  will,  in  many  cases,  pay  the  farmer’s  rent.  To  say  the 
least,  it  gives  the  Fi’ench  producer  a  great  help  towards  com¬ 
peting  with  us  in  our  own  markets. 
The  “  Times  ”  correspondent  writes  of  farmers’  “  blind  per¬ 
sistence  in  unreasonable  complaints  and  more  or  less  unfounded 
allegations”;  also  that  ‘‘the  farmer  should  do  more  than  con¬ 
tent  himself  with  cherishing  grievances  against  the  railways, 
because  they  do  not  quote  wholesale  rates  for  the  transport  of 
retail  lots.”  The  difference  between  French  and  Englisli  rates, 
which  we  have  quoted  above,  is  on  4  ton  lots,  which  can  hardly 
be  called  retail  consignments.  The  “  Times  ”  correspondent 
also  says:  “The  British  railway  companies,  instead  of  being  in 
any  way  hostile  to  British  agriculture,  are  profoundly  interested 
in  its  v'elfare  for  many  reasons,  apart  from  the  amount  of  agri¬ 
cultural  products  given  them  to  carry.”  We  are  very  glad 
to  hear  that  there  are  other  reasons,  for  they  have  hitherto 
shown  very  little  inclination  to  encourage  agricultural  traffic. 
They  have  appeared  to  treat  it  as  unworthy  of  serious  considera¬ 
tion.  and  as  if  they  would  rather  not  he  bothered  with  it. 
The  question  of  rates  is  not  the  only  grievance.  The  lack  of 
proper  wharfage  or  siding  room  at  rural  stations  has  often  been 
the  cause  of  much  toss  of  time  to  farmers’  teams.  Waggons 
delivering  farm  produce  to  a  station  two  or  tliree  miles  away 
should  have  no  difficulty  in  making  two  journeys  per  day  ;  but 
it  they  are  kept  v'aiting  for  a  couple  of  hours  during  shunting 
operations  in  the  morning,  there  is  no  chance  of  a  second 
journey,  and  half  a  day  is  wasted.  Then  there  is  the  difficulty 
of  obtaining  empty  waggons.  Duripg  the  winter,  but  especially 
in  autumn,  farmers  often  have  to  wait  a  week,  or  even  two 
Aveeks,  after  ordering  a  truck  before  they  find  themselves  sup¬ 
plied.  Delay  often  leads  to  loss  of  market,  and  the  consignor 
having  to  accept  a  loAver  price.  This  applies  to  the  carriage  of 
dead  produce.  The  companies  are  more  particular  as  regards 
the  supply  of  cattle  Avaggons ;  perhaps  it  is  because  the  cattle 
rates  are  so  high,  and  therefore  pay  them  better ;  perhaps  it  is 
because  cattle  and  sheep  consignments  are  usually  made  by 
dealers  or  salesmen,  Avho  are  members  of  an  association,  and 
have  a  na.sty  habit  of  demanding  and  obtaining  compensation. 
Here  is  a  hint  for  farmers,  llaihvays  combine,  cattle  dealers 
combine.  Are  farmers  ahvays  to  be  the  exception  to  the  rule  ?  If 
in  each  administrative  county  there  were  a  farmers’  railway  rates 
association,  Avhich  could  meet  once  a  quarter,  and,  after  hearing 
complaints  from  members,  Avould  approach  the  companies  in 
connection  thereAvith,  much  more  notice  Avould  ])e  taken  than  of 
the  complaints  of  individuals,  Avhich  are  curtly  acknowledged 
and  then  probably  reach  the  waste  paper  basket. 
Work  on  the  Home  Farm. 
We  have  had  a  fine  week,  Avith  more  strong  Avinds,  and  the 
soil  has  dried  very  rapidly,  Avith  a  tendency  to  bake  Avhen  left 
rough.  The  Cambridge  roll  is  indispensable  noAv.  We  are 
ploughing  our  SAvede  and  turnip  land,  and  the  heavy  roll  is  made 
to  folloAv  the  ploughs,  the  tAvo  operations  being  completed  in  one 
day.  Plenty  of  moisture  tvirns  up  from  beloAv,  and  the  surface 
requires  an  hour  to  dry  before  the  roll  comes  upon  it.  The 
latter  leaves  a  smooth  surface  ;  no  moisture  Avill  be  lost ;  and 
we  shall  have  a  lovely  green  mould  Avhen  Ave  commence  ridging 
for  SAvedes  in  a  Aveek’s  time.  Many  farmers  will  have  com¬ 
menced  already,  but  June  1  is  early  enough  on  light  to  medium 
soils.  Very  feAv  fields  Avere  planted  Avith  potatoes  early,  but 
in  some  of  these  the  young  haulm  is  shoAving.  Complaint  is 
made  that  the  plants  are  coming  up  anything  but  regularly. 
Perhaps  the  seed  Avas  pai'tially  flooded  last  autumn,  or  it  may 
have  come  from  a  crop  Avhich  Avas  lifted  someAvhat  green.  We 
believe  in  thoroughly  ripened  seed. 
Eldorado  potatoes  may  not,  after  all,  be  pure  gold.  One 
purchaser  of  plants  has  lost  every  one,  and  another  purchaser 
Avho  got  three  has  difficulty  in  getting  them  on.  These  sprouts 
must  have  been  very  Aveak,  or  the  potato  is  a  poor  grower. 
We  have  previously  mentioned  the  quantities  of  turnip  seed 
which  Ave  think  advisable  to  soav.  We  have  never  soAAm  less 
than  31b  of  swede  seed  per  acre,  and  Ave  have  put  on  Sjlb. 
One  pound  would  be  ample  if  there  Avere  no  casualties,  but  Ave 
must  provide  a  supply  for  the  fly  to  eat  if  he  appears,  AA’liich  he 
is  ever  liable  to  do.  Of  common  turnip  seed,  21b  per  acre  is 
ample. 
We  got  our  eAves  Avashed,  and  the  winds  have  dried  the 
fleeces.  It  is  rather  cold  noAV,  and  the  wind  is  keen,  so  we  shall 
Avait  a  feAV  days  longer  before  clipping.  The  avooI  trade  is  much 
more  promising.  We  hear  of  half-and-half  making  22s.  per  tod. 
Good  beef  is  dearer,  and  sheep  are  selling  better  than  they 
have  done  for  j’ears,  so  stock-breeders  are  having  a  good  time. 
The  case  as  regards  horses  is  not  so  good.  There  is  still  a  great 
deal  of  influenza  about.  Fcav  deaths  from  the  complaint,  but 
very  great  inconvenience  and  hindrance  to  farm  Avork. 
Foaling  of  heavy  mares  has  been  very  unfortunate.  Foals 
have  dropped  off  by  scores.  In  one  typical  breeding  parhsh  there 
is  only  one  foal  living,  and  it  is  a  light-legged  one  from  a 
common  mare ;  but  that  sort  never  die. 
Webb  and  Sons  at  Svansea. 
Messrs.  Webb  and  Sous,  the  King’s  seedsmen,  Wordsley, 
Stourbridge,  had  an  exhibit  at  the  Bath  and  West  of  England 
Agricultural  ShoAv  Avliich  Avas  in  every  Avay  Avorthy  of  their 
position.  All  descriptions  of  seeds,  roots,  gra.sses,  cereals,  &c., 
Avere  represented,  as  Avell  as  chemical  fertilisers — the  latter 
being  an  important  branch  of  this  firm’s  business — their  special 
turnip  manure  being  in  great  demand  at  the  present  time. 
Webbs’  new  IMont  Blanc  Wheat,  White  Queen  Wheat,  neAV 
standard  Red  Wheat,  neAv  hardy  Avinter  Black  Oat,  and  new 
Burton  Malting  Barley,  and  the  celebrated  Webbs’  Kinver 
Chevalier  Barley  Avere  on  vieAV.  Webbs’  grasses,  clovers,  and 
other  forage  plants  for  permanent  pasture,  alternate  husbandry, 
Ac.,  AA'ere  illustrated  by  dried  specimens,  together  Avith  their 
seeds  shoAving  the  proportions  of  each  for  the  respective  pur¬ 
poses  and  soils.  An  interesting  portion  of  the  stand  was  the 
floAvers,  Avhich  included  Excelsior  Gloxinias,  and  in  the  vegetable 
section  the  neAv  Leader  Pea  attracted  considerable  attention. 
Their  seed  Potatoes,  of  Avhich  large  quantities  have  been  ex¬ 
ported  to  South  African  Colonies  during  the  past  season,  are 
highly  spoken  of  for  their  fine  quality  and  heavy  cropping 
properties. 
