The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-06 00:00:00

agriculturr.

Titivottr The reports of seedamen will, we believe,
indicate a more rapid Mmes. in the growth of trifolium
incarnatum than in that of almost any other recent
addition to toe plants of English farmers. Cultivated
' with hardly any labour and almost without risk, and
yielding a very bulky and early growth of green food of
first-rate quality both fur the stable and the feeding
stall, it deserves the character it has so generally
acquired; and there is now hardly any arable district
of any extent in the southern and midland counties
where during the next few weeks a portion of this tri-
foliure will not be sown for use next May and June.
Twenty pounds of seeds per acre sown broadcast now
over a clean corn stubble and harrowed in after rain has
fallen will, without further trouble, thus produce •
valuable crop. If the land is foul with surface weeds,
it must of course be pared and cleaned; but this should
be as much a merely surface operation as possible. if
the land is well (allowed and loose, the seed sown does
not vegetate so regularly as if sown upon a hard surface
with hardly any tilth, provided it be moist enough to let
the barrow cover the seed. The fault of the crop is that
it is good only during a very abort period of its growth.
Just before fully in bloom it may be cut; but compara-
tively soon afterwards it becomes rough and course and
hard, and if still carried in all food the half of it will be
wasted. A comparatively small extent thus suffices on
the largest farms. it makes coarse hay, and is, indeed,
useful only as a forage crop. The shortness of the time
during which it is available for this purpose is therefore
a serious drawback from its value; and one which is
hardly capable of being met by any attempt by various
seed times through the autumn at obtaining a succession
of crops. For it is right that you should sow so early
as to obtain a thoroughly established plant before the
winter, and if that be done the probability is that the
latest sown may come as early to scythe as that which
before winter frosts set in was more advanced. The
only remedy must be to obtain varieties of the plant
distinguished by a varying habit of growth in this re-
spect. And we are glad to find that Messrs. Vilmorin-
A 'Arians & Co., of Paris, announce two varieties of this
Tri.ffe incarnat characterised by a later growth. Their
Tntle inearnat lambif is characterised by dowering a
fortnight later than the ordinary variety, thus offering
a second crop of forage at a time when during hot
summers it is sometimes difficult to provide it. Their
other variety is also a Trifle tardif, but distinguished
by its white dower —being specified in Vihnorin's seed
list as TrOe incarant tunlif it firer blanche / M.
Lejune, to whom this variety is due, speaks of it as
yielding an enormous quantity of forage of a finer
quality, and capable of being cut at least eight days later
than the ordinary Trifolium incarnatuin. In both of
these accounts it well deserves the attention of the
English farmers.—Aurictifferal Okzette.

MILDEW AMONG SWEDEB.—There are few difficulties
with which the farmer has to contend more tantalising
to his feelings than the appearance of mildew amongst
his swedes. The crops which have been the most
promising throughout the early part of the season are
those which generally suffer most severely. Various
opinions are entertained in different localities as to the
cause of this diseased condition of the crop. Whatever
may be the cause, still this undeniable result is frequently
forced upon out notice, and thus the bright hopes of the
cultivator-are doomed to be disappointed. The mildew
is caused by the growth of fungi upon the leaves of
the crop, and it has been frequently observed that those
crops which have grown molt rapidly under the stimu-
lating influence of artificial manures suffer more from it
than any other. On the other hand, those crops which
are grown under the slower agency of fartu-yard manure
are generally much more exempt from it. At first view
it would almost appear as if • high system of farming
proved to be undesireable for the growth of swedes.
We are not, however, justified in accepting this view of
the case, for other facts give evidence somewhat con-
flicting in its character. If, for example, the artificial
manure were used for swedes and these were sown late,
whilst the farmyard manure had been applied to • crop
sown very early, it is more than probable that the latter
would suffer and the former crop might be entirely free.
If a crop is examined which is attacked by mildew it
will in all probability be found that it has in a great
measure ceased to grow--not sat, consequence of the
attack but as a predisposing condition to it. We are
well aware of the extended distribution of the genus of
fungi, and when we have either animal or vegetable
matter in a condition favourable for their developement
they rapidly establish themselves upon any infirm and
decrepid frame. When from any cause we have the
growth of the agreed cmp checked and its further develop-
ment interrupted—whatever may be the agency—the
vital micro, of the plant fails to guard it against the
establishmsnt of these fungi, and consequently the crop
becomes • passive sufferer from the mildew. Such
being the character of the disease it is evident that if we
can avoid these checks in the growth of the mop there
will be less opportuntity for the fungi establishing
themselves. There are various circumstances which
have a tendency to cheek the growth. The maturity of
the crop is one of these. This will be materially in-
fluenced by the time of sowing, for those which are
sown early must necessarily have greater opportunities
for coming to maturity before the cold weather of winter
commences than another crop sown at • later period.
This is observable in the practice of different districts,
and no doubt the peculiarity of the soil or climate of
the neighbourhood, combined with the general system of
management there practiced, renders a departure from
the accepted time a source of disappointment. We
must however combine these local influences with the
general practice of the neighbourhood, for it is thus
only that the circumstances are truly represented.
Whether a system of deep cultivation for the root
crop is practiced, there an earlier sowing may be safely
ventured upon, even in districts where under the
generally imperfect method of preparing the land an
early sowing is sure to be followed by mildew.
We do not presume by this entirely to ignore the in-
fluence of climate upon the time of sowing; we are,
however, firmly convinced that the more imperfect the
tillage of the soil may be the later the crop must
be sown to avoid the mildew. Another im-
portant circumstance, namely, the weight of the crop,
is also influenced by the course of produce. Thus we
see the system which is adopted upon land that has
been insufficiently worked to avoid the mildew culla, an
inferior crop of roots, and it brings one to the conclusion
that to • considerable extent the freedom from mildew,
as well as the weight of the crop, depends upon the land
receiving a thoroughly deep and sufficient tillage—not
being content with 4 inches of worked soil but rather
securing double the depth. It will be evident on a
moment's consideration that when the roots of the crop
cannot penetrate beneath the 4 inches of soil which may
have been worked out for them, the supplies of food
mint limit the weight of the crop, and the influence of
hot weather being so much mere operative under there
circumstances than upon a deeper soil, we have the
naturally languid growth soon checked and the mildew
forthwith appears. When the soil has been thoroughly
worked there is • good opportunity for the roots to
spread through the land. The heat on the eurface,
which is so unfavourable in the case of • shallow soil,
here causes the roots to strike more deeply into dui
ground ; a more rapid growth is the result, and so long
as this can be maintained there need be no fear of
mildew injuring the crop. Other circumstances influence
this disease, and to these we must refer on some futuro
occasion.—Ayricisinirat G'azette.
FARMERS' MEMORANDA FOR HEPTIEMBER. Swine,
lambs, sheep, 4.c., must be attended to. Cattle will
require stall feeding, and the beat and most economio
food for fattening and improving stock is that invented
and produced by JOSEPH THORLEY, 77, Newgate-street,
London. Prepare seeds for sowing, which now com-
mences. Plough winter fellows, and dress heavy soil
with lime. The poultry will want attention ; keep their
houses clean.—Thortry's Farmers' Alinanack.