The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-04 00:00:00

liampobitv.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR HAMPSHIRE.
In making our report up to the end of the year we are
compelled to notice the great rainfall, and the extraor-
dinary prevalence of disease amongst cattle during the
past summer and autumn. The excessive quantity of
rain had the usual effect of reducing Use grain crops to
under an average, awl its continuance through the autumn
has made the sewl time for wheat very difficult upon all
heavy and mixed soils, so much so that • considerable
breadth of land intended for wheat is still unsown on the
sale farna. Nevertheless, on the hill farms and light
soils, the wheat has been sown in fair condition, and Is now
showing a good plant. We find still • good deal of differ-
ence of opinion amongst the farmers as to the advantage
of sowing wheat during the month of January, but we
find the most experienced men say that after Christmas
sow as soon as the land is in • lit state, whether it
happens in January or February. It may be further
added that • good preparation of the land intended for
wheat is favourable for Lent corn, if held over, and no
doubt barley, being relatively higher in price than wheat,
will induce many to Now the former In preference to the
latter, where the season has been delayed. Prima for
wheat have been unsatisfactory, and must be so when
the harvest is deficient, seeing thst we sell in the world's
market instead of our own. In consequence of this
farmers are told to look to stock for their profits awl un-
fortunately this resource fails them to a great extent,
owing to the diseases to which their flocks and herds are
subject One thing, however is certain—universal dis-
satisfaction prevails, consequent upon the injudicious and
unpractical meaner in which the subject is handled by
the Privy Council, and amidst the war of opinions it is
difficult to see from what quarter we are to obtain better
management of these matters in the interest of agricul-
ture aad the public generally.
Many farmers, however, seeing the difficulties of the
situation are turning their attention to the rearing and
breeding of all the stock they require, seeing that foot and
mouth disease and pleura-pneumonia is generally intro-
duced on the farm by purchased stork. Ordinary farming
I, ill many cases ignored by the most intelligent and ener-
getic men, and they are terming their attention to speci-
alities, such as steam cultivation, improved machinery
and implements, raising sew varieties of grain and seeds,
and rearing for sale cattle, sheep, and swine, of improved
and pure breeds. The breeding of horses, too, is attract-
tag more attention than heretofore, and certainly if the
breeding and rearing of draft horses is made a speciality
there is a great promise of reward for judicious manage-
ment in this department of agriculture, particularly as it
is now recognised as a fact that the profitable breeding of
farm horses can be carried out on arable farms as well as
oa_pasture lands.
The exhibitions of roots and cattle peculiar to the
months of November and December have been well sus-
tained, sad have attracted as much or more public attest.
ties than is former 118•1101111. It is now ascertained that
the root crop is • good average, and the specimens of
different sorts exhibited at the local shows have been of
superior quality, with less of tops and fibres than usual.
Large roots have been the subject of . satire by Dr.
Veelcker, who says they are only calculated to astonish
women and children, and although we know moderate
steed roots are the most nutritious we also. know that.
large roots are desirable in the case of • deficient plant.
The exhibitions of cattle, sheep, dr., have been quite as
good as usual, but in consequence of the wet summer but
few animals have turned out so well for the butcher as
*repeated. We often hear it said that the repetition of
cattle shows do no good, but it should be remembered
that both old and young, both the experienced and the
novice, have all much to learn, and that exhibitions
teach • lesson by comparison, which is not learnt else-
where, more particularly by those who engage in the
competition. Our green fodder crops, such as rye,
vetches, and trifolium, are nearly all looking well, but
the young clovers are unusually thick and promising.
The weather during the autumn has been very much
against sheep stock whilst feeding on either grass or
roots, and the usual quantity of mutton has not been
made, and owing to the heayy rains the land has not
obtained the benefits which are desired where roots have
been fed off by sheep. About the usual number of in-
lamb ewes are in stock this year on the ifraxing farms.
The horned Dorset and early lambing boruerset ewes
drrbird their lambs rather earlier than usual this year,
u eitlithe exception of a few eases in the eastern part
of county, where serious loss both of ewes and lambs
bare caaarred, the fall of lambs is about an average, and
both are rather more free from lameness; than at the
corresponding period of last year. The early west country
downs have lust began lambing : it is too early to say
MOTO than that the ewes arc generally in good condition.
The locks on the-hill farms will not begin lambing until
about the end of next month, but the ewes, we are glad
to find, are generally. in good health and condition, and
have not suffered from lameness so mach as they did in
some previous and this fact does not lead to the
conclusion that the dliiaae in cattle and sheep is identical,
but the reverse.
„T
Southampton, own Surinam, Land Agent,
December 28.

A Are broke out on Friday in the Town 11•11. Bordeaux.
end before it could be mastered destroyed the Municipal
Council
ed Chamber.o
f The amount of damage dons is
estimat at 400,00ranca
The High Sheriff of Leicestershire on !Saturday m -
tag received a respite for George Fordham, sentenced by
Justios Denman to death, at the winter senses for the
murder of John Smith. an ardstant at Leicester Borough
Asylum. Humberstone, by stabbahim in the abdomen
with • carving-knife, on August
Mx. Ewers,agent of the Egyptian Government in Eng-
land, writes eon tine the report that difficulties had
Minn between the Khedive and Mr. Cave. He adds
that Mr. Cave and his staff were cordially received and
Prug"thfavourably with the object of their
isjgdon,trieviery &ditty being rendered by the figyptian
authorities.
Glaususe.—The magietrates of Ely have heard a charge
await mre, Reeve, of the Bell Commercial Hotel, in that
temtfor permitting gambling in her house end obstruct-
poßcn eAt about four a.m. on the 10th inst., a
entered the house and found the defendant in kraner. The mutable want to the commercial room,
whim he discovered five gentlemen, four of them being
emumeralai travellers, and one • guest belonging to Ely.
Cards. silver money, and spirits were on the table. For
the defence it was contended that the party were playing
whisk and that th. money discovered wag used only as
fined Mrs. Reeve £lO and costa
count"' Th. ntitzatglid ordered her Howe to be
for alio
4maereed.wintrgueet was lined AS sad costa