THE NEW FARM.

stocked up. It is very satisfactory to read so plainly deciphered the result of one's careful calculations. Most fascinating of all pursuits after all is the improvement and farming of an estate, however limited in extent. An event, which I had often longed for, has just come off. We had no house martins building under our caves. I used often to remember with what delight one used as a boy at home to watch the elegant motions of these beautiful birds as they swept up and down in their twittering flight. Last autumn I was consequently glad to see a pair commence constructing their habitation against our present residence. It was, however, so late in the season that I concluded they must have made a mistake in their reckoning. After a while, as if disgusted, they went off, and were soon involved in the annual migration. I gave the pair, I must say, little credit for judgment. I thought it might be probably an ill-considered run-away match, or perhaps that a widow had, after much manoeuvring, managed to entrap a wary old bachelor. Anyhow, they had not given due consideration to their housekeeping cares, it was clear; when, lo and behold! this spring, what should I see one fine morning, but my fair friend and her partner essaying the security of a tiny mud lodge, which was all they had managed to erect last autumn; she twittering what were evidently very sweet injunctions to him as he swept up on radiant wing, taking rapid flight at once, and returning soon with what appeared a mud pellet, for which he got the dearest of prettily mouthed acknowledgments. It made one's teeth water, I confess, to note the eager and yet so refined billing and cooing of that industrious pair. The habitation arose rapidly tier by tier (not without attracting the wistful eyes of our youngsters, who have " martins' eggs in their collections," and which they won't have as regards this particular pair), and the bride is now clearly engaged in important considerations. See, then, how we misjudge them! Their imperfect performance of last autumn was a proof of foresight. The exterior of our house is so smooth as, I think, to afford no temptation to a martin of average enterprise and industry. This Romeo, however, was possessed of an engineering turn, and so he took the precaution of making a safe foundation beforehand for his future dwelling. It gave one a lesson not to be too ready to pronounce ill-natured judgment on the proceedings of a neighbour. I notice now another pair beginning to survey the locality: they are clearly birds of taste, for there is a lovely view therefrom, and I shall not now be surprised or sorry if the whole lodge be divided into building lots.

no

other intruders. The hint I took from your magazine at the time of planting answers well. A trench one foot deep was cut, and six inches of good straw manure trodden in. Upon this, six inches of mould were thrown, in which the thorn was planted. It has certainly reached this precious store, for it grows with astonishing vigour, and looks eminently healthy. A neighbour tried the same plan, and has excellent promise. Another neighbour has a quickset hedge all choked with grass and weeds. It looks exceedingly feeble with this old man of the sea" stuff clinging around its neck; but he will not clean it, because he says that there are certain tiny fibres which start from the roots to the surface in search of food, which he would so exterminate to the damage of the plant itself. Half-choked as it is, one cannot wonder at the straggling foragers being sent up from below in search of air and aliment, which, it is my idea, it need not and would not do if kept rid of its destructive incubus. I know that upon a farm which I hired I had a quickset hedge, one part of which had been planted much later than the rest, and was not one-third its height, being choked at the base with weeds. I had it cleared, and in a year the difference of height between the two parts of the fence was not apparent, and yet my neighbour who will not clean his fence is an experienced and able horticulturist.

The thoroughbred mare has, like all ticket-of-leave animals, begun to forget her promises, and to plunge and play tricks as of yore. She has not yet, however, precipitated young Vulcan; for I insist upon his having a roll of cloth before him on the saddle. I think that, after all, I shall convert her into a brood mare, being by that rare stout sire Daniel O'Rourke.

We are much interested in a railway tunnel which is being driven through the hill which I have often mentioned as being of a composite order, and, by its outer coating of pudding stone and inward limestone, suggesting the idea of having been once at the bottom of the sea. As yet, however, there have been no wonders developed only strata of plain sandstone have been cut through. The coverts where the pheasants build being interdicted ground to the youngsters it is astonishing what a number of small birds have elected to build within the shelter of these bushes. I don't know what the boys wouldn't give to maraud there! There is a pair of kingfishers close at hand, too, the whereabout of whose nest is a waking care to them. I could not imagine how my hurdles got stuck about the orchards in every direction. One day I found a little boy hauling one upon his back along which I observed him set against a tree. He then climbed it, maI have had occasion latterly to observe in several in-naging thereby to reach the first branch, and was scen exstances that short animals lengthen out at different periods ploring the topmost. of their growth. I remember being struck by that rare judge Mr. Eastwood giving a stiff figure for a short compact red calf. I wondered at the time whether it would always be stumpy as it then was. Late experience has shown me that both in cows and pigs and sheep short animals occasionally grow long as their youth progresses.

I have just had a young quickset hedge well cleaned about the roots of encroaching grasses, bindweed, and

I thought I saw an otter the other day with his nose just above water, and his soft lithe figure occasionally undulating with the stream. I approached on tiptoe. It was the brown leaf of a water-lily which we planted last year bobbing in the current, and the stem we saw waving below. We hope to naturalize them in the Wye if stupid tourists would only let the blossom alone at first. VIGIL.

HAY MAKING.

The first question to be solved in haymaking is to deeide for what purpose or market is it intended or to be prepared. If for the London or large consuming market it must be made in a very different way than for home consumption. It is one of the most difficult and trying

operations in farming to suitably make and secure hay for the London market. The best London hay is fine in its quality, light green in colour, and entirely free from heat. To mow early may ensure the quality as opposed to any coarseness of herbage, but the care and attention requi

as much as possible. In this way much useful and serviceable hay may be preserved in bad hay seasons; but if a day or two fine interval succeeds, and stacking is undesirable, it is good practice to make the hay up into very large haycocks, to be drawn together by two horses, one on either side the win-row, dragging a strong rope and drawing up the hay into cocks of about half a waggon load in each, having bottoms as small as safety points out. In this way hay may be fairly preserved for weeks if required.

site to get it withered and dried, without its becoming bleached by sun, air, or rain, is a marvellous achievement in average weather, and next to impossible in a showery season. The task is a trying one, and very expensive. In hot, dry weather, it is a simple process, requiring only care and common attention. The hay-farmer, therefore, takes advantage of any fine weather, and immediately starts all his power in machines and hands to ent down the grass, and spread it about as thinly as possible, so that it is most advantageously exposed to the withering power of the sun, and drying winds. The introduction In stacking hay out of good condition some attention and free adoption of the grass-mowing machine has been a should be observed to improve it in stack. The stacks great acquisition to hay-farmers; by them the grass is should not be large, but proportionate in size, so that too considerably spread about as it comes or falls from the much heat is not generated, and an air-shaft be made by machine, and when further taken up and tossed about by drawing up a skep or sack, well filled, perpendicularly from the hay-tedder facilitates its making into hay with ex- the bottom to the top; care must be taken to keep this traordinary rapidity. To make hay thus quickly is undoubt-air-shaft straight up, or the stack upon settling will close edly the right way, as the speedy process causes the retention of all the better qualities of the feeding-grass in the hay, but it is not imperatively necessary that every ordinary farmer should be so particular if it is not required for sale. It is necessary that he use every diligence to make it properly, as, the longer it is in hand and exposed to atmospheric influences, the more does it lose in sustenance value. It may not be very important to retain its colour, but it is important to retain its chief virtues, and this may be done without the extra cost of making "footcocks" (small cocks) at night to be strewn abroad in the morning, as is so necessary when making for sale. In mountainous districts this is truly requisite; the heavy dews and frequent rains in those districts soon cause it to decay, and turn a light or well-washed colour. these districts the process of making hay is always a difficult one. The patience exercised is great. The speedy shaking after the mower, the absence of sun from overshadowing hills, &c., the thousands of foot-cocks the size of mole-hills daily made, the spreading of these in the morning, and the constant watchfulness exhibited by these mountaineers is most commendable; and yet, after all, the hay is none of the best, and has frequently to lie for weeks in cocks of good size before a favourable leadingtime appears.

In

Much depends upon the weather in every district, and in continuous showery weather it is best to let the grass alone, and wait a more favourable season, if peradventure it may arrive: but if already mown, the difficulties are great in preserving it from serious injury. The better practice is to let the grass lie untouched in the swathe, as long as it does not show signs of decay on the ground, or that the grass is growing through the swathe, and so spoil it. It is of no avail in wet weather to stir or shake it about. The more it is exposed to rains and moisture, by repeated turnings or shakings, the more it is injured. It is a choice of evils. My own practice in such precarious weather is to exercise great and constant watchfulness; to have at hand a large staff of haymakers who may be otherwise engaged in hoeing and weeding potatoes, turnips, &c., or other farm operations. As soon as tokens of respite in the weather appear, all are summoned to the hay-field, and we proceed to shake out a portion, and endeavour to get it as dry as possible, and throw it into "win-rows," so that two men can with difficulty roll it up into large or good-sized haycocks, to be carefully trimmed and secured down so as to shoot off rains. At every interval of fine or windy weather these cocks are turned over, the wet portions laid out to dry, and again put together as our judgment dictates. If only very short intervals of fine weather intervene, it may be desirable merely to turn over the cocks and to re-turn them down again. In this way it admits air, opens them to the wind, and prevents moulding or taint. In these processes care must be taken that all is well done, and the rains kept out of the cocks

the shaft. It is desirable to add upon stacking some few ounces occasionally of aromatic seed, to be strewn over the stack either a little corriander or carraway seed; it gives a pleasant odour to the hay. Salt is often used, but to ill-conditioned hay it only adds more moisture; salt is a good addition to hay almost burnt by the hot, sunny weather while making, or when exceedingly dry upon carting, but it must be used with great moderation. The foregoing observations relate chiefly to making hay in unfavourable seasons; in suitable weather the process is easy, and truly pleasing. The best course is to shake the grass out as thinly as possible immediately after the mower; as evening approaches it should be thrown into "win-rows" or a row along the field made by throwing several swathes together and rounding them up into a ridge) or "foot-cocks," or larger cocks. These should be all shaken out as soon as the morning dew is off the ground, to be again taken up by the tedder or forks, and shaken out as lightly as possible all over the surface during the day; and, if not sufficiently withered, the same process of cocking or winnowing must again be followed up at night; to be again distributed in the following morning, till ready for the final cocking or leading. The leading should not be too hastily done it is better to spoil in the field than in the stack. The danger of early stacking is from over-heating. This danger is not so great with hay grown upon old meadowlands, but it is imminent with hay grown upon rich pasture-lands. It is difficult to tell when such hay may be safely stacked. It is customary in many districts still to fork and rake, the man throwing in the hay, the woman with her rake following; but many of the modern hay-rakes do this process equally well and much cheaper. The implement for drawing the hay into rows is a very useful one, but many of the large-tined hay-rakes do this department of work very acceptably. When all is fully ready for leading, all farm-operations should give way to it, and let it be done as expeditiously as possible. The stack should be left a reasonable time open, to allow heat or moisture to escape and then be safely thatched down. In making clover-hay, too much care cannot be taken in the stirring; shaking is out of the question after the first turning out. The green clover should be thrown lightly over the surface after the mower, and if the season is hot and withering, not to be again touched till ready for cocking. The great benefit in making clover-hay is to preserve the leaf; but if it is repeatedly stirred, the stem only is left, the leaf falls off. In light crops it is frequently best to merely lighten up the swathe, and when dry and withered, to cock it out of the swathe.

THE SMALL-POX IN SHEEP.

MR. SEWELL READ'S AMENDMENTS.

A meeting of flockmasters and others interested in the breeding of sheep was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, to consider what steps it might be necessary to take to prevent the amendment proposed by the Central Chamber of Agriculture, and introduced to the House of Commons by Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., "that flocks in which there is a case of smallpox should be indiscriminately slaughtered," from becoming

law.

Mr. C. S. READ, M.P., was voted into the chair.

Leamon, jun., had one case cach: the former killed and buried; the latter attended to and cured. Mr. Aylmer had one case out of 1,000 sheep, and that recovered. Mr. Flatt, of Eastmoor, who said it would be monstrous to slaughter, had 35 out of about 520 ewes and 500 hoggets and only lost about a score. Mr. Hugh Aylmer, whose rams were spread throughout the whole of the county at the time, after the rams were returned had several cases and not a single sheep died. He thought he had said sufficient to show that sheep-pox was not to compared Mr. T. BROWN said there were many of those present who with cattle-plague; and that it was not nearly so destructive had received a circular signed by Mr. Hugh Aylmer and him- as pleuro pneumonia. He therefore thought the bill of the self, requesting them to meet there on that day to consider if Government was amply sufficient to meet the case any steps, and, if so, what steps were necessary to be taken with regard to sheep-pox. True, there would have with regard to certain amendments of which notice had been been "compensation" (laughter). How such a word given that they would be moved in the House of Commons by could have been intended to describe such a thing was beyond Mr. Read with regard to sheep-pox. A private meeting had his comprehension. He had heard of "composition;" but been held that morning, and it was there deemed advisable compensation" could have nothing to do with the question. that a public meeting should be called for that afternoon. Suppose the disease broke out in a flock of 1,000 ewes while He would now proceed to relate why and wherefore a move it was in lamb-suppose the whole of that flock to be slaughhad been made on this question. It might and probably tered as they would be liable to be, how was their value to be would be thought a great act of presumption on the part of estimated; how would it be possible to replace them? He Mr. Aylmer and himself to call a meeting of any kind, but the purposely avoided saying anything about the consequences to results would prove whether or not they were justified in so the ram breeder. His impression was that such a case as that Loing. To such of them as knew him, and who knew the to which he had alluded would be quite vexatious enough high respect and esteem he bore towards Mr. Clare Sewell without the consequences to the ram breeder. The results Read-who had gained not only the respect and esteem of would not only be disastrous to the breeder, but would be a them, the tenant farmers of this county, but of England-it loss to the consumer and to the public in general, and would would be unnecessary to say how excessively unpleasant it be greatly detrimental to the interests of the public at large. was for him to take a part in opposition to that gentleman. He had reason to believe that Mr. Read would meet what he They were aware that the Contagious Diseases Animals' No. had deduced by saying the amendments were not his, but those 2 Bill was appointed to come before the House of Commons of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, and that he, as presion Monday. That alone was a strong reason to justify them dent of that body, felt it to be his paramount duty to carry out in proceeding so hastily as they had done in summoning a the wishes of that Chamber. But he trusted they would say eting. They expected the bill would come on on Monday, he had also another duty to perform, and that was a duty to and they therefore thought there was no time to spare. Since his brother farmers and this country. Mr. Read would prohe came to Norwich, however, he had heard that it was post-bably say, as he had already done, that he did not see how poned until next Thursday week; and therefore there was sheep-pox was ever to gain a hold upon any English flock, unample time for their opinion to be expressed and circulated less mixed up with foreign sheep. He did not understand throughout the country. He had always tried to avoid that even Mr. Read proposed to prohibit any person from differences amongst themselves. He had spoken to Mr. purchasing foreign sheep, after they had been submitted to due Pead; he had written to Mr. Read; and he had expressed him- quarantine; and would that gentleman, of all persons, conself as strongly as he knew how, to induce him to withdraw the tend that inspection would be an infallible prevention to the Amendments with respect to sheep-pox, which stood in his name reintroduction of disease? Ile would not trespass further on in the House of Commons. He had failed to do so, and hence their time, but he thought he might fairly claim to say that this meeting. By the Government bill any farm on which the there were proofs that with ordinary care and attention sheepsheep-pox broke out would be declared an infected place; and pox was but slightly contagious; that with much care and atthat it must be clear of the disease for twenty-eight days before tention it would not occasion any serious loss, although some it could be declared uninfected. Mr. Read intended to amend trouble, and that it quickly died out, and was very easily eradithis clause by putting the sheep-pox in the same category as cated. Sheep-pox was so very easy of detection, as it invacattle-plagne; that is to say, that if any sheep brought it out, riably broke out under the arms or thighs of the sheep, consethe whole flock was likely to be slaughtered. There were se- quently making them lame, or so that an owner or shepherd veral of them who doubtless recollected the outbreak of sheep- with half an eye could detect every case brought forward, even pox in 1848, and would well remember that it raged in the before the symptoms were fully developed. He did not prolatter part of May or the beginning of June in that year. At pose any resolutions at the present time, but to see whether Marham, out of 739 hoggets in one field he had 21 cases. As something could not be done, whereby they, the sheep breedsoon as attacked the sheep were removed from the field, and ers and flock masters of this country, could not come to some placed in the bullock yard where they received proper food and arrangement with the Chairman of the Central Chamber of attention, and the result was that 14 died and seven recovered. Agriculture, so that the proposed amendment with regard to He had also one ewe attacked out of 267, but it recovered and sheep-pox might never come before the House of Commons. returned to the field. Out of 400 shearlings not one was afferted. If Mr. Read's proposals had been carried out, 1,006 sheep would have been killed, perhaps 1,406 instead of 14. The late Mr. Edward Winearis had 18 cases out of a flock of 50; and on another farm in the same neighbourhood three were attacked out of 659-one died and two recovered. Mr. Thompson had no case, neither had the late Mr. R. G. Winears; but he inoculated 50 and the greater part of them Led. Taking the first three instances only, it Mr. Read's proposed amendment had been carried out, there would probably have been 1,600 sheep-possibly 2,500-killed in the place of 24. In the adjoining parish of Shouldham, Mr. Bird and Mr.

The CHAIRMAN said the usual way in conducting meetings of this kind, was to have some resolution; and he supposed, as Mr. Brown had not proposed any, he had been out of order.

Mr. BROWN said as it appeared this was to be a public meeting, and conducted strictly as one, he would propose, "That this meeting is of opinion that the clauses of the Government Contagious Animals' (No. 2) bill, relating to sheeppox, are amply sufficient for the protection of the British flockmaster."

Mr. S. K. GAYFORD seconded the motion.

Mr. FLATT asked Mr. Brown if they were to understand they wished for the Government bill as it stood P