The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1869-07-20 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR HAMPSHIRE

Our last report being written on the eve of the Bath
and Wert of England Society's meeting at Southampton,
it is gratifying to know that the exhibition has been a
greet success, not only to those engaged in its mule-
meat, but the public, who had an excellent opportunity
of 'jeering specimene of the best stock of many kinds,
and also of implements and machinery in great variety
for agriculturel arid other porpoises—these, together
with the exhibition of poultry, horticulture, and the
fine art,, made• highly iuterestine display ; the weather
bring fine, and the show yard, with it. pleasant site and
I beautiful surroundinp, left nothing to be desired either
to the practical business people or the pleasure seekers.
I It is worthy of remark that these shows of stock ors
I now • trial of who shall exhibit the beat animals, and
this spirit Is encouraged by the award of prises, and is,
I no doubt, neoeseary to keep the production of stock op
I to the mark of excellence; no improvement, however,
in any of the clause, except Channel Islands cattle, was
obwreablepiseompared with former meetings ;indeed,it
may be said to be scarcely possible, excepting horses,
and that greet attention and intelligence will be required
in the future to prevent degeneracy in most of our beet
flocks and herda in this country. The progress open to
no is therefore chiefly that of improving the general
stock of the country, and this may be done to an
immense extent, as the ordinary stock of this county is
very deficient when compared with the beet flocks and
herds. The trial of reapers and mowers, and cultivating
by steam Power, proved to be apeandly interesting and
instructive, and it Is now reduced to • certainty that a
large portion of the heavy and laborious work on a farm
will for the future be done by machinery, end chiefly by
steam power, and those who object to steam power will
sooner or later be obliged to adopt it, or give place to
thou who ean and will employ It.
In estimating the wheat crop this year it is very diffi-
cult, owing to the diversity of appearance, even on land
cultivated;veil the wet March and wet cold May
seemed to have completely paralysed the pleat in many
instances. The ears are, therefore, very smell, and this
remark applies to all cold soils. There is, however, a
large portion of the crop on good and dry soils, both In
the northern and southern diviaions of the county, where
the pleat is good and the ears are well filled. promising
full crop. The wheat crop most therefore he reported
as likely to be, especially if the percent favourable
weather continue*, a full average. Barley Is various in
appuranee ; a considerable portion of the crop hsa
suffered from the cold May month, and shows "red
rust,' but the major portion of the crops on good and
well farmed lead show • full bulk of straw and promise
well. This crop must also be reported as full average.
Oats are above an average as regards mum, appear-
ances, the cold and moist weather In May being coin'
paratively favourable, ands. this crop usually does well
In cold and moist climates, like the 'West and North of
Ragland, a fall crop of this grein may be therefore
expected. The clover seeds in the Lent core seem to be
well set nod taken on ell soil., being quite • contrast to
the great and general failure of them:Hone year.Wlnter
and spring beans are both 'hewing an mountl growth
of haulm ; in some cases, however, the podding is
deficient, in others very fine, and, on the whole may be
expected to produce over an average crop. Pee, are
very well everywhere, and will, we think, (moved an
average considerably.
All kin& of green fodder, each u trifolium, vetches,
ko., have been most abundant, which, together with
the abundance of grass on the pastures produces •
prospect completely the reverse of lest year, the hey.
crop is universally abundant, and of fine quelity : the
rains in the middle of June were rather Inopportune,
hut the injury to the hay, where ordinary care was
taken, bee been but trifling.
. . .

The root crop also promises to be very good, for a
more general plant has never been seen than the present
although much of the land was too wet during the
month of May, which delayed the seed time ; the plant
is now making up for lost time, by as rapid growth as
we have recorded. Manpl is greatly extended in culti•
cation this year, this root being more and more appre-
ciated, not only for It. value for feeding purposes, but
as an alternate mop from turnips. Cabbages and kohl
rabi, too, are more cultivated than formerly, as they
are Nand to succeed well ploughed in after green crops
especially if planted with the spade, or else ploughed
under furrow, for they may be ploughed in. it being
more expeditions and best for plants of all sines. The
advantage of planting over seeding mops is obvious, the
land requiring leas tillage, with a gain of a month in
time, and with leas risk as regards lose of plant.
All kinds of cattle have grazed well this season.
Stock sheep also came to hand in good oouditlien, as
proved by their appearance at our first sheep fair, on
the likh inst., at Stockbridge, for which there WILI •
good steady demand, at pnees satialactory to both
buyer and seller. Large numbers of sheep are on band
ready for coming fairs, owing to a large breed of lambs
having been reared for three sucierosive seasons.
JOSEPH BLUNDHLL, Southampton.
July 12, 1869.