Among the various sources of fertility by which we seek to increase the productiveness of the land, few, if any, offer greater inducements, on the score of economy, than that which presents itself in the purchase or use of food for stock. The primary inducement to make such purchase may be the production of meat; but it is a fact, well recognized by all practical men, that the increase in the value of the manure is a very important advantage, if it can be obtained on economical terms. It is perfectly clear that the economy of the practice must be determined by the judgment shown in the selection and use of such food, as any excess in the cost of such food over and above the market value of the meat produced represents the cost at which the improvement in the quality of the manure has been secured. We had recently an opportunity of referring to the economical results arising from mixing various kinds of artificial food, and it was then shown that it had a very important influence upon the weight of meat produced. In like manner it is of very great importance that the preparation of such food and the general management of the stock should be such as to contribute to the production of the largest quantity of meat.

In considering the product of meat to be derived from the use of food of this description-and which for convenience has been termed supplemental food-it should be remembered that, unlike other food, it has no demand upon it for keeping up the life of the animal consuming it, but all can be applied direct to the production of flesh. It is of course very well known that there is a demand made upon the food of every animal for the production of heat in the body and for repairing the waste tissues. In the ordinary course of things an animal receives certain supplies of food-it may be hay, roots, or any other food -and the first duty of such food is clearly the support of the body, and if the supplies are sufficiently abundant, growth takes place. This is the ordinary position of farm stock in relation to their supplies of food, and it is in this way that the food is taxed to maintain the life of the animal. If to an animal so fed it be determined to give some supplemental food-such as corn or cake-to assist in increasing the flesh and fat of the animal, it is clear that the food so given goes direct to the production of the result desired without being in any way taxed. This is one of the great advantages gained by high feeders. One farmer will keep a bullock for months together upon such a moderate supply of food, that at the end of the time it is neither better nor worse; but the food consumed during this interval is lost, being simply a tax paid for keeping life in the body. Another feeder will, on the other hand, supplement such supplies of food by judicious additions; and the consequence is, such supplemental food has no demand upon it, but can be fully applied for the formation of flesh. This fully agrees with the wellestablished practice of keeping the stock of the farm improving in condition. Meat is thus more economically produced than under any other system.

The supply of food being consumed by the animal, it passes through the body, yielding up such portions as can be appropriated in the increase of the body, whilst the residue passes away, and is added to the farmyard manure. It is, therefore, perfectly clear that such food is either used by the animal, adding to its weight, or else it is to be found in the manure. We may illustrate this distribution, by tracing one class of food, on which experiments have probably been more numerous than any other. A ton of linseed cake has been shown to produce from 370 to 450 pounds of mutton, according to the quality

of the cake used and the manner in which it may have been given, thereby giving a return which leaves little due upon the cost of the cake. In the manure, however, we have a residue, in which the nitrogenised compounds cannot be worth less than thirty shillings, and alkaline matter, which is worth at least another ten shillings. Need it be a matter of surprise that the manure arising from the use of such food should give proof of its quality wherever it is used on the land?

Other descriptions of food might be tested in a similar manner; but all lead us to this conclusion, that one of the cheapest means of increasing the value and quality of farmyard manure, is to supplement the food grown upon the land by the use of additional food, which shall at little or no cost add to the dung these valuable materials. The cost of the production depends upon the meat which such food can be made to yield; but with good management the cost can readily be covered by the value of the meat produced. This result should at least be attained, as it cannot otherwise be considered a success. There is an abundant opportunity for so conducting this branch of the business, that with judgment and careful management it shall in itself yield a profit. In any case, however, the arrangements cannot be considered satisfactory, unless the full cost of the supplemental food is repaid in the produce of meat.

The success of this system will be determined very materially by the selection of such supplies of food as for the time being may range low upon the market. The purchase of inferior quality food of any description is rarely economical, and this is especially the case when purchases are made of manufactured produce such as the oilcakes. Care should be taken to form an accurate judgment upon the relative feeding capabilities of different descriptions of food, not only when used alone, but as we recently pointed out-in proper combination. The more perfectly the use of food is understood and carried out in practice the more satisfactory will the result be, for all will tend to secure the necessary supplies of fertilizing matter at little or no cost.

Thus we have facilities for making additions to the manure of the farm which cannot fail materially to increase its value. We must not, however, overlook the character of these additions, and be led to suppose that we thus of necessity make such manure fully competent for its duties. An investigation will show that whilst we can thus immensely increase the supply of the alkalies and ammoniacal salts, we cannot thus make our manure rich in phosphates. The necessity for keeping up this supply will still remain and can never be overcome by any consumption of food. We have here a valuable source of manurial agents which are exceedingly expensive to purchase, and they can thus be obtained more economically than in any other way. To calculate upon thus keeping up the supply of bone is an error which should be fully recognized; we can readily get an addition of ammoniacal and alkaline salts, but we cannot in this way restore to the land the phosphates which are so largely removed in the skeletons of the cattle and sheep we sell, or in the corn conveyed to the market.

In the consumption of food the farmer has a valuable source of manure, which may be very advantageously cultivated and improved. It will be productive of much pecuniary advantage, and will very much promote the fertility of the land. To carry it out perfectly will need much watchful care and discretion, but the result will yield abundant compensation,

The colony of Victoria, first called Port Phillip, is one of the youngest of our Australian settlements, and in point of soil, climate, and other natural advantages, one of the most valuable. It occupies the southern part of the Continent, and is separated from the province of New South Wales throughout a large extent of country by the River Marray-a noble stream, that is navigable for sinall ships to a considerable distance up its course. It empties itself into the Lake Victoria, the town of Wellington being situated at a short distance from the embouchure. The capital, Melbourne, is situated at the head of Port Phillip harbour, an inland sea, and at the mouth of a confluence of streams of considerable importance to the commerce of the country, of which the Yarra Yarra is the largest. On its first colonisation in 1834, Victoria was considered a dependency of New South Wales; but, like the other colonies, it has now a Governor and legislature of its own, under the Crown of Great Britain, but in other respects it is perfectly independent of the other Australian provinces, so far as its internal policy is concerned. The numerous streams by which the province is intersected and watered render it peculiarly adapted to agricultural and grazing pursuits, to which the colonists have devoted themselves with great spirit; and, notwithstanding a ruinous collapse in the years 1841, '42, and '43, owing to over-trading, the colony has become rapidly increased in population, as well as in wealth, partly by emigration from the mother-country, and partly from other Australian colonies. In the year 1859 a Board of Agriculture was instituted under the patronage of the Government, by whom a grant-in-aid was awarded for the purpose of encouraging the formation of local associations, of which there are twenty-eight conBected with the Board. This grant, however, which amounted to £4,500, has been suspended, in consequence of some defects in the constitution of the Board, but these it is now proposed to rectify.

In the ninth annual report for the year 1867-8, presented to the Board by the Council, the subject of the abolition or the re-modelling of the Board occupied a considerable part of the proceedings of the meeting; and it appears that in reply to a circular letter sent to each of the local societies, eleven out of the twenty-eight had in reply expressed their opinion in favour of the entire suppression of the Board, and that the distribution of the grant-in-aid to the local agricultural societies should be made either through a Minister of Agriculture, or some other ministerial department. After a discussion by the Council, a resolution was adopted to the effect, "That the Act Vict. No. 83 for the Establishment of a Board of Agriculture be repealed."

In looking over the list of premiums offered by the Board, we find thirteen, varying from £5 to £20, for horses; nine, from £5 to £15, for horned cattle; thirteen for sheep, from £5 to £15; five for swine, of £5 each; three for butter, of £5 to £10; one of cheese, of £10; two of £10 each, for hams and bacon; thirteen, from £5 to £20 for machinery; two, of £5, for ale and porter brewed in the colony; two, of £5, for flax; and six, from £5 to £12 10s. for wine.

The prize-list of premiums offered at the national show of grain includes every kind of vegetable produce, ranging in amount from £5 to £12 10s. In this list are included prizes of £10 each for mutton and beef, preserved in ties in quantities of not less than 112lbs. each. As this is a subject possessing some interest in the United King

dom, and being made the subject also of a special report by the Colonial Board of Agriculture, we give the following account of it, but this must be clearly understood not to be our own experience: The meat exhibited was reduced to four specimens of beef and one of mutton-No. 1 consisting of beef preserved in the raw state; No. 2, of spiced beef cooked; No. 3, fresh beef cooked; No. 4, corned beef cooked. The one specimen of mutton was of fresh meat cooked. Of the beef (No. 1), put in tins in the raw state, two were sound, the third being decomposed in consequence of a defect in the tin case which admitted the air; but it was found that the meat would not keep after being opened, and, though sweet at first, became unfit for use within twenty hours. The three tins of spiced beef cooked (No. 2) were all sound, and of good quality and flavour; as were also three tins of fresh beef cooked (No. 3), being all sound, sweet, and good. The corned beef cooked (No. 4), on the contrary, was all tainted and quite unfit for use except one tin, which was high but eatable. The three tins of fresh mutton cooked were by far the best samples examined, retaining the flavour and sweetness better than any of the others. The conclusion, in regard to the preservation of meat, at which the Judges arrived, was to recommend the "exhibitor to stick to the fresh meat ;" the only specimen (No. 1) raw turned out badly.

The local agricultural societies were not behindhand in the awarding of prizes for specimens of all kinds of agricultural produce and machinery. The amount for the twenty-eight societies of prizes awarded was £5,503 14s., the entire number of exhibits being 10,439, or an average of 372.1 each, which, when the scantiness and scattered character of the agricultural population is considered, shows the deep interest felt by them in the institutions.

Another subject of special report by the Board was the qualities of the wine manufactured from the produce of the colonial vineyards. There were in all 55 samples, namely, 27 of white and 28 of red. Each of these was divided into three classes, the white being all three good and some excellent, the greater portion of the red inferior and in some cases deteriorated. The result, however, proves that the country is favourable to the cultiva tion of the grape, and that the colonists will not need to import wine from a country twelve or fourteen thousand miles from their shores.

A third article of produce was specially reported upon linseed. Upon applying it to a chemical analysis, it was found to yield 28 per cent. of cold-drawn oil; but the operator considered that in practice and by machinery not more than from 20 to 24 per cent. would be obtained, the remaining 4 or 8 per cent. being left in the oilcake, which must be of a very nutritious quality. The usual quantity extracted in commerce is estimated at 18 or 20 per cent. cold-drawn, and from 22 to 27 per cent. by the application of heat. Linseed, therefore, offers a profitable cultivation to the agriculturists of Victoria. Whether the flax for textile manufacturing purposes can be prepared there is still to be determined; but we see no reason why it should not.

With regard to the meat question, however, the experiments that have been made of shipping the meat thus preserved to the European market, have not been of so satisfactory a character as to ensure a sale upon its arrival. The specimens set before the public, on a late occasion, were far from being equal to the fresh slaughtered meat obtained at home; and we much question whether any

class of English meat-eaters would purchase it without a great improvement in the mode of preservation.

With a soil and climate unrivalled, the British settler will here find himself at home in matters of religion, social manners, and habits. The chief objection is the dis

tance from his native shores; but since emigration usually implies a life-long absence it can matter little whether the distance is 3,000 or four times that number of miles distance, when it is once crossed; and the use of steam navigation has materially shortened this.

THE ALBERT MODEL

The only recognized establishment in Ireland for the diffusion of agricultural knowledge is that known as the Albert Institution, situated within a convenient distance of the city of Dublin on the south side. This establishment was originally founded with a view of disseminating a fair amount of agricultural intelligence amongst the sons of the peasant farmers in Ireland. Owing to the disastrous effects produced by the_visitation of the potato blight, and that, too, during the existence of the famine years commencing in 1846, the general agricultural feature of the country underwent a complete stage of prostration. Farms became neglected, small occupiers were reduced to a state of penury and want, landlords suffered for non-payment of rent, labour almost disappeared from the market, emigration increased to a wonderful extent, and the poor-law system was introduced with a view to affording relief to the masses then suffering from destitution. The necessity of correcting or mitigating an evil which, at the time, threatened to decimate the face of portions of the country, especially the south and west, became so self-evident that the gentry of the country and the legislature of the time set about devising a series of schemes more or less applicable to meet the contingencies and ameliorate the condition of the country. The agricultural element, constituting then, as now, the chief leverage whereby the prosperity of Ireland could be best effected, led to the desirableness of studying more closely and carrying out more systematically those features of farm management so inseparably connected with the occupation of land. Neither manufacturing skill nor the establishment of any of those vast commercial undertakings so prevalent in other countries could scarcely be hoped to prove a success in Ireland, and, with the limited amount of capital available and the paucity of coal and other indispensable agents at command, all attention had to be turned to the soil, with a view of realizing from it under a more improved method of cultivation the wherewithal to meet all the requirements of the people. At this period, too, the system of farming pursued was far from being perfect or reduced to system. The drawbacks in the way of progress were considerable, many of them insurmountable. The want of rudimentary knowledge in the cultivation of the soil or in the breeding of stock operated most forcibly, indeed so much so as to justify the force of Sir Robert Kare's terse observation in his invaluable work designated the "Industrial Resources of Ireland," wherein he states that the "Irish were ignorant because education was denied them." The combination of circumstances and events called forth at the time numerous and varied suggestions, which were subsequently experimented upon. Large sums of money were granted by the Legislature with a view of being applied to the carrying out of the most feasible remedial measures for the country.

Roadmaking, under the supervision of the Board of Works, was largely resorted to with a view of giving employment to the people. Practical instructors, under Lord Clarendon's administration, were appointed to teach the farmers of the country the peculiarities of green crop cultivation the propriety of pursuing a rotation of

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cropping, the more economical manufacture and applica tion of manures, the necessity of draining, and such other conditions as intelligent men thought necessary to be employed in the advancement of the science of farming. The Irish gentry found it their interest to co-operate in urging upon the Government the extreme desirableness of establishing an agricultural institution where the rising generation of Irish farmers could be provided with the best means which modern skill and capital could render available. This thoughtful step, some thirty years ago, led the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland to rent, in the vicinity of Dublin, a moderately-sized farm, on which to carry out the most modern species of husbandry. Accommodation was made available for a limited number of agricultural boarders, who took advan tage of the liberal conception of the Government; whilst, at the same time, special facilities were placed at the command of extern pupils and the national teachers desirous of participating in the teachings of the institution. So very satisfactory were the results arising from the experiment that the propriety of enlarging the concern and in procuring additional land soon forced itself upon the consideration of the Commissioners, and accordingly an area of nearly 200 acres of choice arable land, and the erection of a suitable residence for the superintendent teachers, managers, and pupils, together with commodious farm offices and other appurtenances soon followed. The increased expenditure attendant upon the accomplishment of this object produced corresponding happy results. The increased accommodation made available for the pupils selected from the minor schools throughout the country, and the facilities placed at their command to familiarise themselves with the theory and practice of systematic farming, the breeding and rearing of improved descriptions of stock, as well as acquiring a liberal share of elementary education, were soon appre ciated, and eagerly sought for by the rising generation of farmers throughout Ireland. The advantage of obtaining a gratuitous yet comprehensive course of education, for a period of two years, as well as maintenance, and being supplied in contingent outlays, were objects too tempting not to be duly taken advantage of. So numerous and pressing were the claims of the candidates from all quarters, that steps were soon taken to establish minor institutions throughout the provinces, with the ostensible object of exemplifying in the several localities the combined effects of theoretic and practical farming, In this way the agricultural element soon became ramified throughout the several counties, until at last a sufficient number of first, second, third, and fourth-class schools were brought into existence. All those minor institutions acted as so many tributaries for supplying the vacancies which from time to time existed in the parentinstitution at Glasnevin, where a higher and a more comprehensive field for the acquiring of information on the various subjects connected with the system was provided. Professors in chemistry, veterinary science, geology, botany, physical science, animal and vegetable physiology, horticulture, engineering, practical agriculture, on general literature, were employed for in-door instruc

as well as

tion; whilst the out-of-door departments, in the farm, the byres, gardens, and conservatories, were sufficiently extensive to reduce those abstract sciences in practice. At subsequent stages in the working of the establishment the area of the farm was divided into three distinct departments, such being managed separately and independently of the others.

The small farm, which is worked on the four-course shift, is exclusively intended for the instruction of the teachers from the ordinary national schools, who may be desirous of managing the plots of ground attached to the country schools, on systematic principles. The aspect and results of management of this little farm are most creditable. It is purely worked by spade-labour, skilfully treated, and the realization of the maximum amount of produce, the result. There are four or five cuttings of green-soiling obtained from the Italian rye grass, which, together with stolen crops and the heavy return of roots, enables the manager to keep three times the number of eows usually fed on similar extent of land. The cattle being almost exclusively house-fed leads to the accumulation of more genuine home-made manure than suffices to supply the necessary quota for maintaining the richness of the land. This department has been found to work creditably, and no doubt it is admirably adapted for the purposes intended.

The second or "intermediate" is worked on the Northumberland five-course rotation, viz., 1st year, roots; 2nd, grain with grass; 3rd, grass; 4th, hay; 5th, lead oats. The area of this farm would be something bordering on the size of the average class of holdings amongst the small occupiers of the country. It is so managed that any ordinary farmer can adopt the process. There is nothing connected with it in either stock, implements, or method of cultivation singular to those at the command or within the reach of any ordinary farm. No doubt its cropping and general tillage are carried out with care and system; but this is what may be expected, regard being had to its objects, and the heavy rent to which it is subject. Similar to the small farm, the manager of this, too, takes due advantage in raising stoven crops and in manufacturing ample supplies of farmyard muck. Both these establishments are under the management of a thoroughly practical agriculturist, on whom are also imposed the duties of lecturing on practical agriculture to both the pupils in the Albert Institution and the teachers in training at the Normal Establishment in Dublin.

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The large farm, which by far is the most interesting and important branch of the Board's teaching, was established pwards of twenty years ago; and, no sooner had it come into the possession of the Board, than its thorough draining, subsoiling, levelling inequalities on its surface, constructing roads, removing fences, eradicating weeds, erecting new farm offices, forming gardens, conservatories, &c., were speedily put into requisition. The entire 180 acres, which it now embraces, represent one open field, perfectly free from waste on surface or obstruction in working. It is managed on what may be termed a dification" of high farming. At one time" high farming" was carried out to a very considerable extent. Underland pipes were laid for the conveyance of the liquid from the manure tanks, from which it was forced by steam-power to the hydrants in the several fields, where hoses were applied for its distribution over the surface. This scheme was found rather too expensive, not by any reason of its atility and application, but simply because of the sufficient quantity of the liquid to warrant a contiation of the experiment on so extensive a scale. Mr. Baldwin, the superintendent of the Albert Institution and the system of agricultural education generally in Ireland, deemed it more advisable and practical to con

centrate both the liquid and solid manures and apply them jointly. He is not however opposed, but on the contrary an advocate for the utilization of sewage, especially that of large towns and cities, where the supply of the liquid would be ample and where its application could be made general.

Great facilities for making vast supplies of genuine farmyard manure exist at Glasnevin. The farm offices are so planned and constructed that not a particle of either the liquid or solid droppings can go to loss. The underground pipes and sewerage from the several offices leading to the tank conveys all the liquid; and this being situated in the dungyard, at the rear of the premises, it can be at once and at will applied in saturating the dungheap prior to its application to the land. The ordinary Norfolk four-course rotation, with some sub-rotations for experimental purposes, is the system generally adopted. The fields are of a uniform size, and of parallelogram shapes. The aspect of the farm is much to its advantage; and there being no fences or trees, it enjoys the solar heat the entire time. To facilitate its cultivation, an excellent and straight macadamized road runs through the farm from end to end. The fields jut off at right angles, and are separated from one another by a narrow edging of an ornamental grassy sod. Its cultivation is most beautifully effected, and the best criterion whereby to judge of the success of its management is the enormous profit recorded in its favour. This feature becomes the more noticeable in view of the fact that, within a few years past, the entire system was threatened with annihilation. Its financial failures formed the base-work, on which rested the superstructure for its downfall. Corrective measures were necessary to be applied. A change of supervision in the head of the department ensued, and with this change in management, sudden change in results followed; and with this hopeful and growing results, public confidence became restored, converts enlisted, and opposition disappeared.

In the cultivation of the farm the most modern appliances have been used. No sooner is a new patented or improved implement noticed in the market, than the farm is provided with one. This is of vast importance to the pupils, as they have the earliest opportunity of testing the specialities of the implement. For the effective and economical working of the farmyard machinery, a large and powerful steam-engine is erected, which is permanently worked in thrashing grain, bruising oats, beans, and peas, chaffing hay and straw, dressing flax, churning, and in such other processes as the endless number of belts attached to the main shaft are adapted for.

Successive Viceroys in Ireland have watched the working of the concern with more or less interest. It has been visited by members of the Royal family-perhaps through attachment caused by its being called after their Royal parent; whilst foreigners and distinguished members of the legislature have been numerous in their visits to the establishment. Earl Spencer, the present nobleman representing her Majesty in Ireland, is not only constant in his inspection of it, but has been a very large patron to its resources by sending thither several valuable animals of his Excellency's celebrated Shorthorn stock. This is rather a gracious feature on the part of that nobleman, as it manifests no small amount of confidence in the management of the concern, and the more particularly so as those animals are intended to be exhibited at the coming Royal Irish Show to be held in August next.

As regards the class of cattle kept on the farm itself, we were particularly struck with their suitability for dairy and slaughtering purposes. At one time the horned stock kept on this farm was composed of costly Ayrshires, Herefords, Alderneys, Shorthorn, and Kerries. Although the locality and mode of treatment may suit the horned