The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-06-15 00:00:00

Sgriculturt.

BALE OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM'S BETNISHAM
ESTATT.S.::-The Wake' at Keynithato, Somerset, lament
. . . .

as the Chandos property, and which, for several ofin-
turies, have been in the possession of the family of the
Duke of Buckingham, were sold by auction on Tuesday
by Mr. Alexander, of Bristol, at the Limb and Lark
Keynallatn. The property, which was divided into
58 lots, included 467 a. 3r. 14p. of pasture, meadow, and
arable lend, some of which, known as the " Keynsham
hams," is unsurpassed for richness or fertility. One lot
comprised • small compact estate of rather mere than 42
acres, together with the house used by former Dukes of
Chandos as a hunting lodge, the gardens of whinh over-
hang the river Avon, and command very picturesque
views. This lot was bought in. Lot 1.4, containing
41a. Or. Op., part of the celebrated " Keynsham hams,"
bounded on one side by the river Avon, realised £4,500;
lot 24, another close containing lla. lr. 31p. of the same
land, £1,500; lot 25, 15s. Or. 38p, of the same, £1,540;
lot 27, an equally rich close of Feature land, £1,610;
and nearly all the other lota at the same rate, averaging
upwards of ENO per acre.
HORTICULTURAL 80CIITY OF LONDON.—Preliminary
to the grand summer meeting in the Chiswick-gardens,
the trial of several lawn-mowing machines, which at-
tracted many poisons from a long distance to witness
the experiment, took plaoe on Tuesday. There were
only four put in competition, and iota were drawn by
the owners for the portion of ground on which the trial
was to be made. The judges appointed to decide on the
relative merits of each machine were Colonel C. B.
Challoner and Mr. Edward Easton (of the firm of
Easton and Amos, of the Grove, Southwark, engineers
to the Royal Agricultural Society). The plan which
they adopted in their mode of decision was, assigning •
number of point" to the price of the machine, the
amount of work done by each, and the lightness of con•
etruction, these being the qualifications which they
deemed most essential for the test. The time allotted
was six minutes and 35 seconds, the quantity of square
feet per minute and the mode in which that quantity of
grass was cut being certified by so many points, 60 being
the maximum at which the judges considered perfection
could be reached by such a character of machine for the
purposes of lawn mowing. The competitor' were
Messrs. Farrabee and Co., of Stroud, Glocestershire
No 1) ; Masers. Shanks and Son, of Arbroath, Scotland
No. 2) ; Mr. Samuelson, by Memni„ Deane, Dray, and
Co., of London (No. 3) ; and Mr. Green, of Leath (No.
4). The length of the knives was in the first three
oases 22 inches, and on the last 24 Inches. After the
experiment hail been tried on the different portions of
lawn arigned, and for the time above specified for each
machine, the judges retired, and made their award,
which they subsequently delivered in the gardens, as
follows :-1, Green; 2, Shanks; 3, Ferrabee, 4 ; Deane.

day.
delivery

CONSUMPTION OF ROOTS BY Collll.—At the late
meeting of the Cork Agricultural Society Mr. Cunning-
ham, of the Munster Model Farm, stated that he had insti-
tuted an experiment for the purpose of determining the
quantity of roots (maple and swedes) that the dairy
°owe consumed during the very cold weather of February
last, the quantity of milk yielded, and its richness
in butter. Six cows consumed in mix days 72 cwt of
mangels, and 11 cwt. and Blbs, of swede turnips, and
some wheat straw. They yielded in the same time 108
gallons of milk. This milk gave 80 quarts of cream, and
when churned 52 lbs. of butter. Therefore 1 and 1-Bth
quarts produced 1 lb. of butter, and each cow consumed
964 lbs. of roots. This experiment warn instituted for
the purpose of dispensing with a quantity of the above
roots, and giving instead oil-cake, beans, oats, and
hay. Five cows consumed 10 cwt. of mongols and
swedes each day, bowies soma wheat straw, and they
gave in three days 38 gallons, 3 quarts, and 1 pint of
milk. The same cows were again treated after an
interval of stew days with 100 lbs. of roots (mel and
swedes), 5 lbs. of linseed cake, 5 lb., of bruisedbeans,
5 the. of bruised oaca, and 10 lk of hay for each cow
per day. They gave in three days 39 gallons of milk.
AUTUMN AND SPRING ENTRY.—The advantages of
the autumn entry are these :—The new tenant begins
at the commencement of the farmers' year to work the
soil in preparation for his first crop. He needs only to
provide food for his men and horses, during the winter ;
and in spring, he is enabled to put a large breadth of
his land under such grain, root, and forage-crops as he
inay think advisable. The disadvantages are :—That he
must, by this arrangement, be dependent upon the out-
going tenant for working and manuring, in the previous
summer, the fallow and green-cropped land, which is to
be put under wheat at its entry. Besides having to pay
for the labour, manure, and seed-wheat used on the
fallow break, the chances are that the working and seed-
ing operations have been improperly attended to, and
he may be a loser in following years by the inferior
crops resulting from unskilful or careless treatment. By
the spring entry, the following advantages are obtained:
—The tenant le allowed to work his green crop and
fallow break; to graze his cattle on the pasture land,
and occupy all the farm, indeed, except that which in
under the last or away-going grain and hay crops of the
old tenant. But the disadvantages mast not be over-
looked :—He has to buy all the manures for his green
crops, unless that made during the previous winter by
the stock of the outgoing tenant belongs to the farm—
that is what is termed "steel-bow." Then the only way
by which he can be provided with fodder for his cattle
in the following winter is by taking the crop from his
predecessor at a valuation. If he does that,. lie will pro-
bably have to lay out more money than he Intended: if
he does not take it, he must be contented to have the
old tenant occupying his barn and his threshing machinery
till the May of the following year, while, in the interval,
he requires to purchase straw for his live stook. Taking
everything into moonlit, the advantages on the side of
an autumn entry are very obvious. This is opposed to
the opinion of no less an authority than Mr. John Grey,
of Dilston, who, writing in Morton's eyelet-media of
Agriculture, decides that the spring entry is to be pre-
ferred. I cannot see the grounds, however, on which
Mr. Grey ensues to this conclusion; for, judging from
his own statements in regard to both systems, the
evidence is clearly in favour of an autumn entry. The
strongest of all arguments on the aide of the latter is,—
That as October is really the commencement of the
agricultural year, so itlonght to be the term at which
anew tenant should obtain posseation of the land he has
taken in lease. —Lockart Morton', Resources of Estates.

CABBAGE CULTURE.—The season for setting out
cabbage plants usually extends from March to June;
but upon middling soils at least, according to my constant
observation, no dependance can be placed on the growth
of the cabbage beyond the last week in September; and
as four months at least are requisite to bring the cabbage
to maturity and its full weight, a middling crop at best
can be expected from late planting; add to this the risk
of drought, on account of which the plants may not stir
for several weeks, I have tried experimentally the
various methods of sowing and planting. To sow in
February, May, and August ensures a succession, and
completes the cabbage culture. The earliest sowing is
the reeler and usual one, and if the plant.' be out in
good time, will produce • perfect crop, as heavy and
frequently as forward as that sown in autumn. The
object of an autumnal sowing is to obtain the plants
forwarder and the cabbages of • larger use, which end
Is sometimes answered. I have tried two methods at
this season, setting out the plants at wheat seed.time,
to stand all winter in the field, and leaving them until
March in • warm seed bed : the latter is preferable in
severe winters, but in the open and mild the plants will
be forwarder set out in the field. The May or June
sowing is with theCtiouble view of • very forward crop
of large cabbages the succeeding year, or of • crop of
ooleworte for the following spring; with this latter
view, they may be planted thicker than common. They
will not all loaf or cabbage, and the plants which run to
seed may be drawn for use: or, the ripe cabbages hay.
log been oonaumed before Christmas, the ooleworte of
the May sowing, or those plan* which have not loaved
will properly succeed; those which have increased in
bulk in the spring will be in • state of soundness and
perfection in April and May, • period when old and full.
grown cabbages are either run away to seed, or rotten
and useless. By this method the grand objection to the
cabbage culture is done away, which is the *engin loss
of weight in the mop between November and March,
and lie frequent total ruin by the severity of the frost.
With ine the cabbage has endured the frost better than
the kill or berme's, the latter, besides being stelky,
producing much less food. The other great objection to
cabbages, the risk of dry weather at the time of plant.
lug, is • powerful reason for setting them out as early as
passible, and giving them the full advantage of the spring
showers in the field; on this amount, the sooner after the
frost the autumnal plants are fixed in their permanent
place, the better; and the quicker the spring plants
follow them, the better also. These last should be all
set out by the middle of April it farthest, huts, people
generally advise much better than they practise, from one
Mndranee or other, mine have been seldom out so soon,
my last mop particularly not until late in May. One
ought not to be sparing of seed in this culture, as no
underling plant should.be used, and a reserve is necessary
to fill up accidental vacancies. Pill up vacancies as
early as possible, Cabbages have several very dangerous
enemies; first, the slug, in their early state, and after•
wards when they have bayed blights, which render them
unsound and stint their growth, and the grub.worm
which destroys their roots. These letter enemies'', which
equally affect potatoes and carrot., will sometimes
reduce a crop one.half In quantity, and very consider.
ably in quality. The best and only remedy is moving
the soil by assiduous tillsga. Cabby's are planted
Indifferently on fiat or ridge.work, the latter most
prevalent, the plants being set on the crown or top of
the ridges. My last were upon the flat in 3-feet spaces
or squares. They may be hores.hoed two or three times
each way; the first and second without the mould-
board, the rest with it. They require to be hand-hoed
thrift, but the first operation should be that of the
horse.hos about three wk' or • month after planting.
In planting, weeks
the sete should be dropped at due diAillollll
by children, and these followed by the dibblers, who,
provided with a stick to mark the exult distant*, in this
manner make quick despatch. A common hand, man
or woman, will plant a quarter of an acre in • day, •
good gardener nearly double. In the early culture of
this atop it was the custom to have 4-feet intervals and
• sues of 9-feet between the plants I but it has become
the febhion sinew to abate much of this distance; nor do
I hear of such large cabbages grown in any country at
present as were frequently seen thirty yews ago; pro-
bably it is judged that number is more than equivalent
to large bulk; but on this head the judgment of the
cultivator must be determined by the nature and quality
of his land. From 5,000 to 10,000 pleats are grownups
an acre of land.—M. S.
NiTTLEE. —Mort gardeners look upon the nettle al
their enemy, and hence it has been driven forth into bye
plkooll, or waste land, or the shadow of hedgerows.
Nevertheless, its fibre makes good linen as the Dutch
have found • the leaves when young are • delicate °sou.
bent; horseilealens use the seeds to give their cattle
spirit and a fine skin; and finally the roota when boiled
with the addition of alum and • little salt form • good
yellow dye. Thus it appears that every part of • nettle
may be usefully employed in rural economy or in art.
Horned cattle find it • sets and sound food, for it is early
and easy to grow; the worst soils suit it; it requires no
oars, will bear any kind of weather, and propagates it.
self. It may be out five or aix times • year ; and in the
spring, when cattle want food, it supplies them with it
abundantly. It may be out young, and even green; or
it may be loft to stand longer for hay; but in the latter
ease it must not stand too long, or cattle will not eat it.
course haulm.—Freed. Paper.

The number of wreaks reported during the month of
May, was 128 ; in the month of Jan_uarj, the number
was lag ; in reknary, lea ; in Mar&, 179 ; and in
ciple—malting • total during the peat lite months

INSTALLATION OF THE DEAN OF Tong—Mr.
Don-
combe, the new Dean of York, was installed on Battu-
" The act of admission was acoompanied with the
slivery of a bible and bread. Subsequently • distribu-
tion of wine and cakes took place in the Chapter House.
Handfuls of cakes were thrown among the spectators by
the canons and the vergers, much to the amusement, if
little to the profit of the parties concerned.
COMMISSION OF LUNACY.—A commission of lunacy
was held on Tuesday at the Thatched House Tavern,
St James's-street, by order of the Lords Justices, to in-
quire into the state of mind of Sir Henry Maus, M.P.
Mr. Francis Barlow, Master in Lunacy, conducted the in-
quiry. Mr. Montagu Chambers, Mr. Bovill, and Mr.
Bodkin appeared in support of the petition; Mr. Mon-
tagu Smith and Mr. Quinn were council on behalf of
Lady Smith, the sister of Sir Henry bleu:; and the
Attorney-General, Mr. Edwin James, Mr. Wilde, and
Kr. Hawkins were counsel for Lady Hens. A jury of
14 gentlemen was sworn. The ease yet goes on.
JACK SHEPPARD IN PRZSTON.—A young man named
Brown, was apprehended the other day for robbing a
till in Preston, and lodged in the bridewell. An officer
Leach) went into his cell in the evening ; Brown
ocked him down with • large nail which he had
loosened from the wall, ran into the coal-hole, removed
the grating, and was about to escape, when he was inter-
minted. Re was removed to a stronger cell, and on be-
ing visited a short time afterwards, it was found that he
had removed two panes of glass, and was beginning to
remove a third. Fle was then handcuffed and chained
to an iron bar. On Friday morning be was again
visited; he diverted the officer's attention, dexterously
slipped out of the cell, and pulled to the door, which
has a spring look. Before he had made his way quickly
out of the station, he was again, however, secured. The
same day, the desperado was sentenced to three months'
hard labour and imprisonment.
APPALLING Soswx.—A most appalling scene was wit-
nessed in South Shields market-place, on Tuesday night
about 8 o'clock, by a large crowd, and by those who sew
It it probably never will be forgotten. A sailor, named
Thomas Cook • steady industrious man, had come into
port from a hamburg voyage in the Castle Eden that
morning, and there is some reason to believe that his
brain had been affected by the extreme heat that has
prevailed on the Continent. After tea he had dreamed
himself and gone out of his house for a walk. It ap-
pears that he had been almost immediately afterwards
attacked with a sudden fit of mania, for he was seen to
rush up the spouting of St. Hilda's Church like • cat,
and work himself along the roofing on to the east side
of the large square tower. He stood with his feet upon
lodge not above an inch in breadth, but, digging his
nails into the crevices between the stones on the side of
the tower, he had wrought himself in some marvellous
manner to the west end. Finding he could not work
round the angles, he had dropped with his hands on to
the ledge, and so " parbuokled" himself along the other
three square', the spectators expecting every moment
that he would drop and be dashed to pieces. Hering
regained the ohnrch roof, he took his watch and dashed
It against a stone, and then threw it among the crowd.
He then pulled off his necktie, ooat, and linen shirt, and
having torn them into fragments, he pitched them
among the awe-stricken crowd below, they anticipating
that he would next leap down among them and be
killed at their feet. Be probably would have done so
had not the pollee and a number of young men burst
into the belfry of the oluiroh, and thence made their
way to the roof. As soon as he saw them he ran to-
wards them and attempted to dreg one young man over
the leech, but he was seemed, and to the greet relief of
the large and exalted crowd which had gathered to-
gether in the market-place, he was prevented doing
any further michief. Be was removed to the polio.-
station, and will probably have to be taken to a lunatic
asylum.