BY the steamship Caledonia, we are favored by the receipt of our
European journals up to the 4th November.
MARKETS.--_Ashes_, both pots and pearls, have advanced, and were
brisk of sale. _Cotton_ had declined 1/8d. per lb. The recent advices
from Bombay and Calcutta of the East India crop, were not quite
so favorable. The stock of Cotton on hand at Liverpool on the 1st
November, was 720,000 bales, against 520,000 at same period last
season. _Flour_ was flat, and little doing in it. _Naval Stores_,
declining. _Provisions_ were about the same as by our last advices,
with the exception of Cheese, the finer qualities of which were of
quick sale. _Tobacco_, steady and firm.
_Money_ still plenty, and the low rates of interest prevail.
_American Stocks_ continue nearly the same as at our last. Very few
recent transactions.
_Agricultural School._--We see by the Berwick Warder, that an
Agricultural School is established in Aberdeenshire, by the practical
farmers of that county, which promises to be a very useful institution.
It is superintended by Mr. R. O. Young, and we like its arrangements
better than anything of the kind we have yet seen. To explain these, we
make a few quotations from the prospectus.
The young gentlemen who may be intrusted to Mr. Young's charge for the
purpose of being instructed in the principles and practice of Scottish
agriculture, will have daily opportunities of witnessing the regular
routine of farming operations going on at the farm, and of taking an
active part in these operations.
They will be required to keep, in a farm-book, a daily record of what
has been done on the farm. Explanations will be given of the principles
upon which the different operations are conducted, and upon which they
will be examined at stated times. Regular minutes will be kept by the
pupils of all such explanations, as well as of any facts that may
come to their knowledge through their occasional intercourse with the
farmers of the country.
There will be stated times set apart for reading, as text-books, the
most approved agricultural works of the day; and on the subjects of
their reading Mr. Y. will minutely examine the young gentlemen, and
will also require them to write exercises upon given agricultural
topics--particularly those that bear on practice.
While it will be Mr. Y.'s care to direct the attention of the pupils to
chemistry and geology in their application to practical agriculture,
a branch of study until lately very little attended to, he will make
arrangements for procuring the services of the professor of agriculture
in the University of Aberdeen, for a few weeks every summer, to give
lectures and conduct experiments on the analysis of soils, manures,
&c.--thus securing to the pupils more than a mere theoretical knowledge
of this important branch of agricultural education.
As nothing is so much calculated to impress any subject upon the
youthful mind, as to invest it with a _personal interest_, Mr. Y.
proposes to devote to the exclusive use of his pupils, a small farm, of
about 50 acres in extent, adjoining to his other farm. This small farm
contains a variety of soils, upon which experiments of different kinds
may be conducted, on a small scale. It will be possessed and managed by
the pupils, under Mr. Y.'s direction, and upon certain equitable rules
as to each pupil's share of the concern. Each pupil will be required
to keep regular books, exhibiting all disbursements and receipts, and
the results of all experiments tried, with every particular connected
with such experiments. Each pupil will be required to take his share
of management, &c., and the profits of the concern, after paying a
certain moderate rent, will, at each term, be divided among the young
gentlemen, in proportion to their respective interests. It is conceived
that such a plan will have a strong tendency to promote exactness,
regularity, and business habits; but, without the consent of their
parents or guardians, pupils will not be asked to join in this scheme.
FARMERS' MAGAZINE.--_Meat-Salting Instrument._--The instrument
resembles a common syringe of more than ordinary dimensions, and,
although not quite so simple in its construction, it is intended to
be used in the same way as the syringe, provided the point or tube be
not exposed to the air. The advantages to be derived from the use of
the instrument are explained by the fact that a joint of meat may,
in the simplest manner, be properly salted in less than ten minutes.
The brine is made of the usual ingredients, and after the salt and
other substances are completely dissolved, the liquid is poured into
the machine, and the nipple or tube (the circumference of which is
perforated with three small holes) is inserted into the most solid part
of a joint of meat, and the contents are, by a very strong pressure,
forced through the fibres until the brine is seen to escape on the
surface. For this purpose a smaller quantity of pickle is used than is
employed in the ordinary method of curing meat, and the bone (if there
be any,) in the centre becomes thoroughly impregnated with the fluid.
By the present mode of salting meat, it is a matter of some difficulty
to inject the brine into the innermost part of a large joint, whereas
by the process which is adopted in the use of Mr. Carson's instrument,
the size or substance of the meat presents no additional trouble to the
operator.
_Prince Albert's Annual Sale of Live Stock._--Since Prince Albert has
turned farmer, he has an annual sale of his fat stock, and is said to
realize from 50 to 60 per cent. profit on it. The last took place in
October, at which time 417 sheep, 55 oxen, and 9 cows and heifers, were
disposed of, realising him £1,743, (about $8,000;) a clever sum for fat
sheep and cattle.
_Produce of Ewes._--Count de Gourcey states in that part of his
Agricultural Tour in Europe, just received, that Mr. Walker, manager
of the late Duke of Gordon's estates, in Scotland, informed him that
from 200 Leicester ewes, and as many Southdowns, they _bring up on an
average_, 450 lambs. We wish we had possessed this information when
writing our notes to Mr. Grove's letter in this paper, as it would have
been something of an argument in our favor, regarding the difference
of opinion existing between us about the number of lambs bred in the
United States.
NEW FARMERS' JOURNAL.--_Exportation of Cattle to Prussia._--One bull
and eight heifers have been recently purchased in England, for the
Royal Agricultural Society of Prussia.
NETTING FOR SHEEP-FOLDS.--The fibre of the cocoa-nut is said to make
the most durable netting for sheep-folds; it out-wearing several sets
of tarred-hemp netting, and is so light, that a herdsman can with ease
carry 200 yards of it.
_Soiling._--Feeding animals in the summer-season with green food,
cut daily, and given them in stalls or yards, is far preferable to
grazing--First, because the food is consumed with less waste; secondly,
because rest is an equivalent for food. The bodies of animals do not
remain stationary, but are constantly wasting in proportion to the
amount of exercise they undergo--hence, while they rove at large, they
must receive from time to time new supplies in the shape of food, to
make up for this waste, which are not needed when they are at rest,
and consequently, by the system of soiling, less food will be required
to fatten them. Thirdly, because by soiling there is an increase of
valuable manure, which, by the old method of grazing, was nearly
altogether lost.
_American Provisions._--Within the last few days, 204 boxes of American
cheese have been received in Liverpool. Every year the quality of the
American cheese improves. Another article, which is arriving in very
large quantities, is American lard, which is coming into use for many
purposes for which salt and even fresh butter has been employed. Very
excellent salted beef has come from the United States in considerable
quantities.
_Epidemic among Cattle._--This has broken out again in a most virulent
shape in the north of England.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE.--_Miller's Safety Reins._--These consist
of gut covered with leather, and are, therefore, proof against
fracture; and being round, and of neat light appearance, form a rather
ornamental and sporting-like appendage to harness or saddle. They are
mounted in this way:--They pass through a hook placed on the head of
the harness-bridle, and through a leather loop on the head of the
riding-bridle, and come down on each side of the neck. About middle-way
down the neck is a coupling with two swivels, which receive the reins
from the head, and they then pass through the dees of the harness, and
through the turrets of the harness-saddle, and along to the front of
the splashboard to a rein-holder, by which they are held always ready
for use. The head of the horse and the turrets of the saddle being both
higher than the throat, and the coupling being short, and having leave
to traverse the reins on each side of the neck, it settles on that part
of the throat at which the reins, on being pulled, exert the greatest
force, when, the windpipe being forcibly compressed, the horse becomes
affected in his respiration, and, therefore, stands still, or slackens
his pace for breath, which he immediately obtains on the reins being
slackened. Thus, feeling he is mastered, the horse shows no farther
inclination to run off again; but in case he should renew symptoms of
starting off, a few firm grips of the coupling on the throat will let
him feel the futility of his attempts.
In explanation of the origin of the invention, Mr. Miller stated
that he was a farmer's son, and that, in his youth, he used to be
employed at times to assist in catching horses at grass, by means of
surrounding them with a rope, borne by a person at each end of it. He
remarked that, in this service, although no restraint was laid upon the
horses when the rope rested on their chests, yet, whenever it could
be got upon their throats, they instantly stood still and allowed
themselves to be taken. The idea which this recollection suggested, of
the probable effect of pressure on the throat in stopping a runaway
horse, led Mr. Miller to the contrivance of his safety-reins. In his
first experiment, the band which connects the reins under the neck
was attached to the headstall by hooks and straps; but it has been
considered an improvement to allow it to move freely upon the reins, on
which it settles in contact with the throat, in a proper position for
use when required.
Our communications with Mr. Miller impressed us favorably in regard
to his contrivance; but, wishing to see it in practice we availed
ourselves of an offer by him to afford us an opportunity of judging
of it in operation. We, accordingly, on a day appointed, accompanied
him in a carriage drawn by one horse, for the purpose of trial; and we
witnessed as spectators, as well as made ourselves, repeated tests of
the reins, with the horse going at a smart canter, both on a level road
and on a descent, and we invariably observed that the tightening of the
reins caused the horse immediately to stop. No injurious effect seemed
to be produced on the horse by the interruption of his respiration. He
always appeared to breathe freely, and to be ready to resume his work,
as soon as the tension of the reins was relaxed.
Upon the whole, therefore, we consider Mr. Miller's invention to be a
neat and simple, as well as, to appearance, an effective contrivance
for the accomplishment of its important object, in the prevention of
the disastrous accidents which not unfrequently occur from horses
running away; and we think it reflects much credit on the ingenuity of
its inventor.
GARDENERS' CHRONICLE.--_Rhododendron._--There is a variety of the
Rhododendron ponticum growing here, which appears to be different from
any of the others. It comes into flower about the same time as the
others, but instead of unfolding its blossoms at the same rate as its
neighbors, it only opens a few at a time, and continues long in flower.
It did not cease flowering this season the whole month of August;
consequently was nearly a month longer in bloom than the others. It has
a southern exposure, and is sheltered from the north and east.
_Blight on Grain from the Barberry._--In the Chronicle of August 19,
under the head of "Vulgar Errors," we read as follows: "People still
maintain that the barberry blights their grain." This is, nevertheless,
a matter deserving attention; for in this, as in many other instances,
a popular prejudice has been founded on truth, although the real cause
has been often overlooked. Some writers have treated this subject with
respect, and among them is Dr. Thornton. The latter says that the
"leaves are very subject to the _rubigo_, which will infect the grain
in the neighborhood." Here the secret is at once explained, and the
aversion of farmers to the barberry-bush at once justified. The vulgar
notion is, that the barberry exercises some evil agency upon grain
within a certain distance, and accordingly farmers will never suffer it
to grow near their fields. They are right as to the effect, but they
attribute it to a wrong cause. I have seen some remarkable instances
of grain perishing in a semicircle, in front of a barberry-bush, and
extending a good way into a field. Any one who has but superficially
noticed the barberry, must have observed that the leaves and young
shoots of the shrub were covered with a peculiar kind of blight or
mildew. Now it is by no means extraordinary that this should be carried
by the wind into grain-fields, and infect the grain so as to cause its
destruction. This is the true explanation of the mischief caused by the
barberry to grain in its neighborhood. [This is the common explanation,
but if any one will take the trouble to examine the parasitical plant
which attacks the barberry, and that of grain, he will find that they
are totally different things. One is the Æcidium Berberidis, and the
other some species of Uredo or Puccinia, for it is sometimes one and
sometimes the other. We should as soon believe that a hen's egg would
be hatched into toads, as that the seed of an Æcidium would produce an
Uredo or Puccinia. We are aware of the facts mentioned by Mr. Wighton,
for we have seen them ourselves, and they form a curious problem yet to
solve.]