and at one time it seemed as if Mr. Hall t ded to have him again. We marked that gentleman's 55guinea nod, and we believe he took the odd biddings up to 59 gs., when 60 guineas from Mr. Wippell from Devonshire was not advanced upon. The third prize shearling of Leeds and the highly commended of Battersea was rather deficient in his rumps, but thought by many to be almost the best on the ground. Mr. Hall hired him last year, and would take no denial this. Mr. Torr, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Briscoe were all "in" by turns, but it was no use, and to Scorboro' he went at 68 gs. The sight of the gold-medaleist caused a regular"fight for the standard" at first, and the waggon was the scene of action. Mr. Turner, father or son, we did not note which, began him at 50 gs., Mr. Borton stopped at 100, Mr. Turner at 110, and Mr. Cresswell was the man in possession at 135; then there was a long pause, and anon came a mysterious "five" so indistinct and so late from beneath the waggon, that Mr. Strafford did not hear it at all, and Mr. Cresswell at first pencilled himself down against the lot in his catalogue. However, that gentleman made no demur, and Colonel Inge's bailiff, who must really learn to fight quicker, was returned as the winner for a very beautiful sheep, who has told his own tale by a rare crop of lambs at Holmpierrepont. Mr. Tremayne of Cornwall had then a 28-guinea taste of the Buckley sort, and then Mr. Stamper made. his first venture with the second prize Leeds shearling and Irish gold-medaleist, a largesized sheep, with rather a light skin, and let to Mr. Thunder for 71gs. last year. His twin brother went for 27 gs. to Mr. Kendal, and George's interpellation that lot 37 and the gold-medal sheep are from two sisters" did not help lot 37 beyond 14 gs., and with the exception of a 35-guinea sheep of good stamp, which was purchased by Mr. Hall, the rest of the two-shears went low. However, five out of the 22 saved the average, which was £30 148. 9d. 53. Mr. H. Hawkes LOT. 66. Mr. Dixon ..... 68. Mr. Marsh LOT. 56 69. Mr. W. Torr.... 14 ........ FIVE-SHEARS. T. 71. Mr. Potter The following is the summary : £ 8. d. GS. 16 ..... 16 GS. 11 £8. d. 30 14 9 30 Shearlings...... 749 14 0 Average.... 24 19 9 .... .... 5 Four shears 72 0 0 Ditto...... 26 3 3 Ditto.... 24 3 0 Ditto...... 15 1 0 The three shears began well with the thrice second sheep at the Royal; but even that and his 111-guinea 67. Mr. G. S. Foljambe.. 13 70. Mr. Dabbs letting did not get him beyond 30 gs., and he only goes to the next village. No. 54 was a commended one at Battersea; and a very good one he looked as he turned his beautiful breast towards the waggon. "Mr. Wedge had him two years," was George's reply to a shower of questions; and Mr. Turner has him now, with 41 gs. on his head. Mr. Torr took a great fancy to No. 55, and so did Mr. Cresswell, who got him at 70 gs., just half the price of the gold medallist he had lost; but his opponent had much easier work in securing his 50-guinea protegé of last year for 34 gs. His wondrous fore-quarters are still there, but service at home and Aylesby has sadly crippled him since he was the first-prize shearling among the "Canterbury Pilgrims." Mr. Key's style of bidding, on behalf of Mr. Dixon, of Brandsburton, for the next and last three-shear lot, was of the most short, sharp, and decisive nature. His energy had not expended itself by winning it at 32 gs., as he set-to on the first four-shear: a winner of a first at the Yorkshire, and a first, a second, and third at the Royal, in quite a Victory or Westminster-Abbey style. There was a little history about this grand old hero, which, with lettings and prizes, had earned nearly £300. As a three-shear, Mr. Dixon just missed him; but as Aylesby had already two crops of lambs by him, opposition in that quarter now ceased, and Mr. Key closed his bargain at 56 gs. with such a snap, that there was quite a roar round the ring. None of the few lots after that made more than 20 gs.; and a very fair sale, damaged not a little by the breaking down in training of five of the best LX shearlings, demands no further comment than the conventional return. We may state, by way of comparison, that in 1860 Mr. Sanday let forty-two rams at £25 17s. and 7d., and fifty-nine last year at £25 4s. And thus ended act the first of the Holme Pierrepont flock sale. THE HOBBS' TESTIMONIAL.-A private meeting of the friends of Mr. W. Fisher Hobbs has been held at the offices of Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, in Half Moon-street, The honourable Colonel Hood presided, and arraugements were made for proceeding with the subscription for a testimonial to Mr. Hobbe, in acknowledgment of his distinguished services in the cause of agricultural progress." Mr. Hall Dare, of the Royal Agricultural Society; Mr. Brandreth Gibbs, of the Smithfield Club; and Mr. Henry Corbet, of the Farmers' Club, have consented to act as Honorary Secretaries; and a committee is in the course of formation. THE ADULTERATION OF ARTIFICIAL MANURES AND FEEDING STUFFS. At the Wenlock Farmers' Club this subject was introduced buying in small quantities, just when they wanted the by Mr. MEIRE, as follows: He said that when he intimated manure. The consequence was that the manufacturers his desire that the question before the club should be were compelled to employ a large number of intelligent men investigated, and when he was pressed into the service as agents, to push their trade. That was a mistake, for all himself, he was under the conviction that he could not do these men must, of course, be paid by the men who buy the justice to the question, so far as a chemical investigation article. He would, therefore, suggest (the Wenlock Farwas concerned; but he had been practically engaged in mers' Club being a practical body of inen) that it should be agriculture, and he had used a great deal of the manure and suggested from the club to the principal producers of manure food, and it was because of his practical knowledge that he in the midland counties, and ask them to meet them at was willing to enter upon the question. He had no doubt there Wenlock, or some central place, and try to agree to some were gentlemen present who were better acquainted with arrangement which might be mutually beneficial to all paragricultural chemistry than he himself was, and therefore ties. He was quite sure if some hundreds of men were to he would look at the question more from a commercial point meet in some great agricultural hall at certain seasons, and of view. When the subject of artificial manures and feeding have the dealers in manure to meet them, both parties stuffs was first introduced, men of capital, ability, and high would derive great benefit in the large saving of cost to the respectability commenced large works for the production of purchaser and expense to the seller. Mr. Meire next re these things-for dissolving bones for fertilizing the land. ferred to artificial foods, which he believed were even more In this they were successful; and the success of these adulterated than manures. He would defy anyone to test extensive and highly respectable firms induced men of little the extent to which this adulteration was carried. The sale knowledge, little capital, and less honesty, to try and make of these was also through agents; and if the consumer was money by it, and the consequence was that agriculture had not careful as to the parties from whom he purchased he suffered. Every farmer in the room, he might say, had was almost sure to become a victim. Farmers did not go suffered from it. Now, what he was anxious to do was to to the right market at the right time, and thereby laid them. suggest a means to the trade consistent with the production selves open to the smart dealings of the agents. He believed of a manure which would be lower in price than the farmers genuine oilcake was the best feed the farmers could have ; are now paying, and be equally profitable to the producers. but they seldom got the right article, and they bought in There was a system going on in the selling of these manures small quantities just when they wanted it, instead of getting which every man must condemn, and that was, the employ large quantities at times when they could get it best. Now, ment of agents in those transactions between the farmer and in this, as in the case of manure, they should test it for producer. In every market town in England, on a market themselves, and their cattle would be the best laboratory. day, nearly every third man was connected, in some way, He had himself, for the last twelve months, used oats with with the manure or food trade, and the result was that these oilcake for his sheep, and he never had lambs so healthy men, with their smartness and ability, pushed a trade before. He must, however, observe that the grain should amongst farmers who were ignorant of the world, and of be old, or it would be hurtful rather than otherwise. He unsophisticated habits, and were frequently taken in. It had thought farmers ought to be free from excise in malting been announced, by a gentleman to whom the agricultural their own barley, as they could then produce excellent cattle world was much indebted for the chemical analysis of these food at a cheap rate, and so become competitors with the manures, that he would not publish any more tests as to the makers of cattle food. He had used in feeding upwards of comparative value of artificial manure, because he found a thousand bushels of oats, and he never gave oilcake withthem so unsatisfactory. When, therefore, scientific men out oats. He would not give his stock new barley, for it came to that conclusion, farmers must find out some other would destroy them; and of this he had had practical extest to test the quality of those manures. If he was asked, perience. He could not agree with the four-course system, as a practical farmer, what their test should be, he would and thought that the five-course system of crops was much say that he would take a certain quantity of pure Peruvian better for the land and the farmer. He had adopted the guano and the same money value of artificial manure, and, latter because he had a lease, and he found it to be the best, with his field as his laboratory, he would test the quality by He thought that the landlords ought not to object to the the crop produced. He had no doubt that, by close ob- farmers growing and selling anything they liked on their servation, it could be seen whether the artificial manures farms if they had good security for their rents. Farmers made by the different companies in England were genuine; ought to be allowed to sell any produce off the land, except and this could be at once told if they would bear the test. their wives and children. Mr. Meire then referred to If the superphosphates which are sold in the market would political matter which very materially affected the interests come up to this test, in a commercial point of view, it would of the farmers; but he said he should do so very briefly, be clear that the firm which produced it were selling the because politics were strictly and properly excluded from bond-fide thing to their customers. With regard to the sys- the club. It was the question of the malt tax, a revision or tem of employing agents, he did not object to the agents remission of which had long been promised. Now that themselves, who, in most cases, were highly respectable men, political parties were so nearly divided in the House of and who pushed their business with great zeal and energy; Commons that they were made more than usually amiable, but he objected to the system, and there was not a doubt he thought it a good time for the farmers to impress upon that it was becoming irksome to the practical farmers of their members the necessity of attention to the subject; and, England to have to attend to the calls of those gentlemen. as this club might become a medium through which these He thought he might suggest-which he would do with great opinions might be communicated to others, he thought it respect that the business between the manufacturer and the advisable thus briefly to refer to the subject. farmer could be carried on in a much more satisfactory manner to both parties, if it were transacted on the principle of the old wool sales. The committee of management connected with those sales took care to fix a day to suit both buyer and seller; and it was a fact that the sales were wonderfully well attended, and a large amount of business was always done, and a vast amount of good was done by that intelligent mode of doing business. The fact was, the farmers had not of late done justice to their intelligence, for they had not taken care to give their orders to the firms with which they dealt, in proper time and in a business-like manner, but kept Mr, EVAN DAVIES, of Patten, said he had long and earnestly urged upon the club that it would be much better for the farmers not to purchase small quantities of manure as individuals; but they should go to some respectable manufacturer and give an order for 100 tons at a time, by which he had no doubt they would get it cheaper, for the manufacturer would not be obliged to pay a commission upon the sale of it, and it would secure a first-rate article, for their custom would be such that no firm would think of deceiving them at the risk of losing. He had always confined himself to the use of Peruvian guano until it became too dear; but since he had purchased bones, and dissolved them himself, and, if it were not for the inconvenience of this plan, it would be found by far the cheaper. He had found that in the greater portion of the manures sold there was a very large quantity of ashes, and other things which were of no use to the land. It was, of course, necessary to mix some ashes to dry the manure sufficiently to make it work; but in most of the stuff offered for sale there was a large proportion of matter that was useless. There was no doubt that first-rate superphosphate manure could be made for five pounds per ton. If they were to unite together and give their orders to one house in which they had confidence, or, as different people no doubt had their friends and par tialities, let them say to three houses, they would get much better served. That there was adulteration could not be doubted: he had seen some delivered to some of his neighbours that they could not separate, and which was not worth the trouble of wheeling off the road, for it stuck in lumps like glue. As to artificial foods, he did not wish to say much it was a subject which he had mentioned several times to their club. He had used for a long time peas, barley, wheat, and oilcake, together for feeding, which a friend of his said was such excellent food that, if it were patented, he would make his fortune by it; but he did not wish to make his fortune off the farmers, He was willing to work for them with his tongue and with his pen to support the interests of the farmers a class who work industriously for their living, and deserved to do well. Mr. Davies produced a sample of cloverseed, which appeared to be as nice a sample as any man need look at; but, on being subjected to examination under a powerful magnifying glass, a great part of it was easily discovered to be small flint stones, which, he said, would help to weigh, but certainly would not grow. He advised every farmer to get one of the glasses which he had for examining seeds, as they would find it very useful. He might, he thought, say a word about oilcake, and mention that a friend of his had an opportunity of visiting a very large manufactory of oileake, and he could not help observing that the bran was shovelled into the mill as fast as the seed, and sometimes faster. Now, he thought it hard to pay ten or twelve pounds per ton for bran. Mr. SMITH, of Sutton Maddock, being called upon, said the subject under consideration was one of great importance to farmers. With regard to the present system of farming, they were obliged to use some artificial aids, in order to raise the quantity of stock they required to meet the increased consumption of a continually increasing population, and it behoved them to consider well what were the best for their purpose, and how they were manufactured. He be lieved oilcake to be the best they could have; but what had recently been stated in a circular should open their eyes, and put them upon their guard as to the purchase of it. It was stated that there were 15,000 tons more oilcake annually used in this country than there was of linseed imported to make it of, and very little indeed was grown in this country, and to the extent of the difference the farmers were robbed. Dr. Voeleker had given up analyzing, and Dr. Letheby, he thought, was not much to be depended on, after the evidence he had given in one or two recent cases. He thought, as a manure, there was nothing like a soluble phosphate. Perhaps some of the other manures, sold at small prices, might do something for the land at a period to be looked for in the future; but they wanted something for themselves as well as for their children. He was sure that manures were most fearfully adulterated. He gave some instances of several lots he had bought, which had been sold to him as something superior, but he had derived no benefit from them: they contained neither ammonia nor soluble phosphate. They must remember that they could turn their capital but once a year, and then it became a question whether manures or food were of the most importance. The reduction which was continually taking place in the price of condiments was very suspicious. He then spoke of the fourcourse system as perhaps well enough for twenty years ago, bat not at all suited to the present mode of farming and if farmers were continued to be tied down to it, it would be come one of the greatest curses of the land. Speaking of the malt tax, he said farmers had for a long time been grossly neglected by the legislature. If the malt tax were repealed, it would be removing from the farmer a tax under which he suffered more heavily than any other trade. Mr. GRIFFIN, of Wolverhampton, said, with reference to Mr. Meire's remarks on the cost of agencies, the manufac turers would be very glad to get rid of it, and would be pleased to give a proportionate benefit to the farmers. As to adulteration, he could assure them that their works were always open to inspection, and anybody was welcome to go and see for themselves. Cattle foods they had been able to reduce, and he thought they should be able to do so still more. The success which had attended the sale of these articles had stimulated others to go into the trade; and there was one kind sold at £18 10s., which he was quite sure should not cost more than 468., and leave the manufacturer a fair profit. Of course he should not mention names. He sincerely hoped the subject would be ventilated by practical men, and by clubs such as that now assembled; and if it were taken up generally he should be very glad. Mr. MEIRE made a few observations regarding what Mr. Smith had said, with whom he entirely agreed, as to the necessity of having as early a return as possible for the money expended on the land. Mr. DAVIES moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Meire for his for discussion in so able and lucid a manner. trouble in attending the club, and introducing the subject The motion, on being seconded, was carried with acclamation. The CHAIRMAN then moved a resolution to the following effect: "That it is the opinion of this meeting that a much greater degree of attention should be paid to the subjects of artificial manures and feeding stuffs than has been given hitherto by the farmers in general." The motion was unanimously agreed to, and the proceed. ings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. DEATH OF TOM SEBRIGHT.-He then insisted, as it was Sunday, on having two glasses of wine as usual to drink his time-honoured toasts, "A good health to you all,” and "The master of the hounds." "That's not enough," he said, "to drink Mr. Fitzwilliam's health in, Winifred," when she only poured out half a glass, but he could do little more than taste it when it was given him. The toast he had drunk Sunday after Sunday, for those forty seasons, made him wander back to the bounds; "Don't you see them ?" he said to his daughter, "they're all round my bed; there's old Bluecap, and Shiner, and Bonny Lass wagging her steru." "No, father," she replied, "you're mistaken." "Ah! they're gone now; strange, isn't it, I should see them so plain? Oh, dear! my eyes deceive me; they're only flies." The window was open, and the sound of the church bell floated into the room. In his days of health it had never struck on his ear in vain, late. and he spoke to his little grandchild and told her not to be "Are you dressed for church, Harry ?" he said to his son, who sat and watched him at the bedside, but he was hardly conscious of the answer, and almost before the bell was down, bis own last summons had been given and obeyed. They laid him at Thorpe, by the side of his Dorothy and his son. Her loss two years before, had almost bowed him down. "She helped me through many a hard trouble; nothing but her tender care made me the man I have been, but God's will be done. It was thus he told the grief, which in his quiet nature sank so deep; and those who knew him best, knew too how truly he had spoken through the lines, which he selected for her head-stone: " "Restrained from passionate excess, Thou bidat me mourn in calm distress, And there the old man sleeps; and as we passed away from the spot, and lingered for a moment by the grave of Will Dean" aged 79," and read how "all fall alike, the fearfull and the brave," we might well think how long and brilliant had been their career, and what stirring pages might have been added to the annals of the Chase, if" The Master of the Donnington," Will Goodall, and Sir Harry had not died in their prime.-Scott and Sebright, by "The Druid." HAYMAKING. EAST LOTHIAN AGRICULTURAL CLUB. At the last monthly meeting, Mr. S. SHIRRIFF said he had suggested the subject because he considered it of great practical importance, and because he felt that he was himself comparatively ignorant of it, but he never expected to be called upon to introduce it. He did not think that in East Lothian they were sufficiently up in the best mode of making hay (Hear). Last year, he had a young Englishman staying with him, and on seeing some of his hay, which had been cut about eight days before, still in the field, he asked him in astonishment why he had not stacked it, and said that ought to have been done six weeks ago (laughter.) He (Mr. Shirriff) believed that they were generally too long in cutting their hay, and that they allowed it to lie too long in the swathe, or on the field after it was cut (Hear). He had lately been reading Mr. Wilson's (of Eddington Mains) excellent work on British Agriculture," and he thought his chapter on haymaking contained very valuable information and suggestions on the subject. He was sorry that he had not brought the book with him, or he would have read some extracts from that chapter which might have been useful at the outset of the discussion. Mr. Toon, Castlemains, said that, in consequence of the increasing use of improved mowing machinery, they were enabled to cut down the hay much earlier than formerly, as it got sooner ready for the mower than the scythe. The difference was so great that it was almost like a new branch which they had to learn, and he thought the discussion had better be put off till next season, and that in the meantime they should make experiments to ascertain the difference between the plans to be followed when the bay was cut by the scythe and laid in swathes, and when it was cut with the mowing machine and strewed over the field. Mr. DURIE, Standingstane, said he thought, as the haymaking season was coming on, this was the very time for them to learn, and to seek all the information they could get on the subject (Hear). He had not intended to make any remarks on the subject, as he expected that something more specific would have been brought forward by the gentleman at the head of the table. He thought the suggestions contained in Mr. Wilson's book were very good; but, without quoting Mr. Wilson, or any one else, he would merely say a few words as to what was his own practice. He had not been a great haymaker himself, and he had always been in the habit of considering that the farmers of Scotland were not particularly good haymakers. He thought they were too late in several things, and especially in the time of cutting it. In East-Lothian, their hay consisted principally of ryegrass and clover; and if they allowed it to ripen too much, they not only decreased its weight (for the seed shed in the handling), but they rendered the strap or straw coarse and fibrous, and materially deteriorated its nutritive qualities. His idea was that ryegrass hay should be cut whenever the tops began to fill; and when it was cut, the sooner it was made into hay the better (Hear.) He had never been in the habit of allowing his hay to lie on the field above from twelve to twenty-four hours after being cut. After putting it into windrows, he put it into threaves with the hand, and if they were right put up they would stand a good deal of rain. After standing a short time, they should be put into larger ricks; and even if Mr. Shirriff's fast friend from England, who discovered that his hay had been six weeks too long in the rick after being only eight days cut, came across them, he would discover that, with good tops and bottom, they could stand outside much longer without injury (Hear). He always put straw at the bottom and top; but the gra general principle to be observed in making hay was to make it as quickly as possible. Mr. S. SHIRRIFF said what he meant to say was that they were int he habit of letting it stand in the field far too long. If it was put into coils as Mr. Durie recommended, it was very good, but still it should be put into the ricks as fast as possible. Mr. DURIE said they could not follow the English plan in all things. In this country, as he had said, most of their hay was ryegrass and clover; but in England nine-tenths of the hay made was natural or meadow hay. The great object in England was to get the hay quickly made, by which means both the fine colour and the fresh sweet smell of the hay were preserved, and the sheep and cattle ate it much more readily. In the process of making natural hay, the chief thing was the " tedding" or shaking up, but this was not so essential in ryegrass hay. Mr. DOUGLAS, Athelstaneford Mains, said the subject of haymaking was very important, though not so much so in East-Lothian as in counties where they had more old grass, and grew fewer roots. In that county they grew a good deal of hay from seeds, and this year the crop was very abundant. The weather, however, was not very auspicious for haymaking, and if they were to succeed they would require to give their whole attention to the making of it (Hear). Every person who had experience of the matter would agree that hay to be well made must be made quickly. But after being cut it was often allowed to lie in the swathe for two or three days under the influence of a strong sun. The consequence was that one side of the swathe at least was rendered dry, short, and brittle, and the greater part of the seed, which contained a great deal of the nutriment in the bay, was shed. He thought they managed the thing better in England, for as soon as the hay was cut, or before it was half dry, they brought the tedding machine to it, which separated every blade of the grass, and was the means of manufacturing it into hay in a very short space of time. Other workers followed the tedding machine, and made it into small coils, and from these it was carried in armfuls and made into little cocks on the field. The next day or so it was carried off the field and built into a rick. Of course this was a different species of hay from what they grew in East-Lothian from seed, and they could not follow precisely the same plan with clover hay. But he thought they allowed it to lie far too long in the field, and by that means they lost about threefourths of the seed containing a large proportion of the nutritive principle. In Ireland, the slovenliness was even worse, and he had seen the cut hay there lying in the field when the next crop was about two feet up. That was a great mistake and a great waste. The ground ought always, he thought, to be clear in five or six days after the hay was cut, and then they would get the whole surface of the field for the next crop. On the whole, he thought the farmers in East-Lothian should take a lesson from the English hay. makers; and he believed if they paid attention to shaking it quickly out and getting it soon off the field, they would make as good hay as was made in England. The English allowed their hay to get a certain amount of heat in the rick, by which means it was considerably improved. He did not profess to be a great haymaker, but he had seen a good deal of haymaking in England, and he had been quite cognisant of the fact that the sweetness of the English hay was something quite different from what we had in Scotland. It was so sweet and fine in its flavour that he thought any old woman could make excellent tea with it (laughter). The cattle were exceedingly fond of it; they literally rolled it as a sweet morsel under their tongues, whereas here the horses sometimes preferred clean straw to their hay. He thought that, in weather of this kind especially, a tedding-machine would pay in East Lothian. It would shake out the hay quickly, and that was the great object. Mr. DURIE said ryegrass hay would not stand a teddingmachine. It had been tried several times, and wherever it had been tried it had failed. Mr. HARPER, Snowdon, said he had had some experience in the management of meadow hay, and it had caused him more anxiety than the other. In the event of a severe winter, the loss of the meadow would be felt to be a very serious loss indeed in his district. He concurred very much in Mr. Durie's remarks as to the management of meadowing to make of it. If they were going to feed cattle, or horses hay-by gathering it into small coils, then into small ricks, which had very slow and easy work, with it, green cut hay and again into larger ricks, with straw tops and bottoms, it would answer very well; but if it was wanted for huntingwould stand any sort of weather, He believed, however, that horses, or those engaged in hard work, every farmer knew that the superiority of the English hay arose not so much from green cut hay was of no use, and they could not sell it (Hear, their superior management as from their superior climate. hear). Scotch farmers who had followed the English system had spoiled their hay crop thoroughly; and English farmers who came down and settled in Scotland always came very soon into the Scotch system (laughter, and Hear, hear). He did not think any man deserved any great credit for "making hay when the sun shines," and the English haymakers had often three weeks of fine sunshine without a drop of rain (laughter, and "No, no "). Mr. SMITH, Whittingham, concurred in Mr. Harper's remark that Englishmen who came to Scotland soon fell into the Scotch system, both in regard to haymaking and ploughing. He agreed that any superiority which they showed was more on account of their fine climate than their superior knowledge or management. Mr. DOUGLAS admitted that in some parts of England they had more sunshice than in East Lothian, but it did not follow that they had a better climate. On the contrary, in most parts of England the rainfall was greater, on the average, than in Scotland; and in Lancashire, where they made most excellent bay, they had an eternal weeping sky, worse than any part of Ireland (Hear). Mr. ANDERSON, corn-agent, said the question of how long they should let the hay grow, and how quickly they should make it up, depended very much upon the use they were go Mr. DURIE said he thought they were all pretty well agreed as to the general course which they would require to follow in order to improve their hay crop, and give it some of the good qualities-so far as their different circumstances would allow -which were so much admired in English hay. He begged to submit the following resolution :-"It is the opinion of this Club that, in making ryegrass hay, over-ripeness before cutting should be avoided, and the making and securing should be conducted as quickly as can be done without over-heating." Mr. S. SHIRRIFF said he would prefer the following resolution:-"This Club is of opinion that the present system of haymaking in East Lothian, and in Scotland generally, may be much improved by adopting the English plan, where we have sufficient labourers and good enough weather for it." Mr. HARPER said, before adopting that motion, they would require to know more specifically what the English plan really was. After some conversation, Mr. SHIRRIFF modified his motion as follows:-"It is the opinion of this Club that haymaking in this county, and in Scotland generally, can be improved by greater attention and despatch in cutting, tedding, ricking, and securing it." The motion as modified was seconded by Mr. DOUGLAS, Athelstaneford Mains, and unanimously adopted. REARING CALVES ON MILK AND LINSEED MEAL. No doubt but the beat and most proper food for the calf is its own dam's milk; for it is a true food, in which the components of nutrition are so nicely balanced by the all-wise and beneficent Creator as to set at nought all human compositions; but it is of so much value for human consumption that it be comes necessary to economise it, and make imitations of it, though at a very humble distance; and thus it is that science comes to our aid. Professor Johnston says, in his Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry," that "while the calf is young, during the first two or three weeks, its bones and muscles chiefly grow. It requires the materials of these therefore, more than fat, and hence half the milk it gets at first may be akimmed, and a little bean meal may be mixed with it to add more of the casein or curd, out of which the muscles are formed. The costive effects of the bean meal are to be guarded against by occasional medicine if required. In the next stage more fat is necessary; and in the third week, at latest, full milk should be given, and more milk than the mother supplies if the calf requires it; or, instead of the cream, a less costly kind of fat may be used. Oilcake finely crushed, or linseedmeal, or even linseed oil, may supply at a cheap rate the fat which in the form of cream, sells for much money; and instead of additional milk, bean-meal in large quantities may be tried, and if cautiously and skilfully used, the best effects on the size of the calf and the firmness of the veal may be anticipated." The scientific note from Professor Johnston has engaged the attention of many stockmasters in Ireland, and among the rest, Mr. C. Beamish, of Cork, who adopted it and brought it to a regular system on an extensive scale. His formula for compounding the mucilage is as follows: 30 quarts of boiling water are poured on three quarts of linseed meal and four quarts of beanmeal. It is then covered up close; and in twenty-four hours added to 31 quarts of boiling water, then put on the fire, pouring it in slowly, and stirring it constantly to prevent lumps, with a perforated wooden paddle, so as to produce perfect incorporation. After boiling thirty minutes, the prepared mucilage or gruel is put by for use, and should be given blood or lukewarm to the calves, mixing it in small quantities at first with milk, say one-fourth mucilage with three-fourths milk, progressively increasing it, so that by the end of a fortnight it will be in equal parts; by the end of the third week, one and a-half mucilage to one part milk; by the end of the fourth week the mucilage may be given in double he quantity of milk, and skim milk substituted for new milk; and by the end of the sixth week, the mucilage will be gradually increased in the proportion of two and a-half to one of milk; and from that on till the tenth week the milk may be gradually reduced, so that by that time they may be fed wholly on mucilage till they are fifteen or sixteen weeks old, when they may be weaned. During all this time, if too early in the season to put out the calves, they should be comfortably housed, well ventilated, and kept perfectly sweet and clean; a little sweet hay tied in bundles and suspended, so that they may play with it and learn to nibble and eat it; and a little pounded chalk, mixed with salt, given in troughs to lick at pleasure, which prevents acidity in the stomach, and the undue formation of cud. Small lumps of linseed cake should also be given in other troughs, which they will soon learn to suck, if a little pains are taken to put a bit in their mouths after they have taken their meals of milk and mucilage. When housed it will be advisable to have a separate pen for each calf of sufficient size to walk about, so that they do not get into the habit of sucking each other and swallowing the air, which, uniting with the curd by the regurgitating process going on in the stomach, forms round balls which are indigestible, and is the fertile cause of the death of many promising animals. The following scale of quantity of milk or milk and mucilage combined for each calf may be useful, but should be altered according to circumstances: For the first week the calf may get from three to four quarts daily; for the second week, four to five quarts; the third and fourth weeks, five to seven quarts, fifth and sixth weeks, eight to ten quarts; six to eight weeks; ten to twelve quarts per day; and so on, increasing the quantity about one quart per week per calf till weaning time. Some parties do not give so much liquid food per day, but make it up by giving them finely-cut roots, dry oatmeal, &c.; but the animals are much too young for such food, though they may get the minced roots so as to train them into their use. Hay tea is an admirable thing also to mix with the mucilage and milk, as it contains a large amount of nutriment in a soluble form. In the summer time the calves may be left out on the grass, both day and night, in a fortnight after they are calved (and fed as already described they should be in the house); but a warm sheltered paddock should be provided for them, and in wet weather they should have access to a covered shed.—Irish Farmers' Gazette. |