The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-02-01 00:00:00

cagriculture.

Willa ON SEWERAGE.—This distinguished chemist
writes am firmly of opinion that if England wishes
to remain an agricultural country she must use as ma-
nure the nightsoil and s• •lar residues prialuced in large
cities. This necessity would be increased in the event
4$ war with America, when the supplies of guano
widild cease. The price of corn depends upon that of
gnaini, and it is most 'amiably...l that. in a country like
England, the production of corn and meat ehould be no
dependent on the supplies of foreign manure. The
i„.„44 of erri, the most a Might...tied agriculturalists have
been turned by theory propounded by 31r. Lewes—
viz., that nitrogen or aisitirmis are the most necessary
ingredienta in manure, end that consequently solid ex-
ereinents are valueles4, the urine shine being of use.
These views expose utter ignorance, and prove that
in England leading agriculturists do not pay sufficient
attention to the funilsmental principles of chemistry.

SHEEP FAHHINC.—There Li a saying in the South
Down that a good shepherd can never be on good tenon
with his master. The former CAW{ for the sheep, when
the latter is always trying to get off with some rubbish or
other. But, saye Mr. Grey, the secret of sheep-farming
is, never let the poor things stand still, much less fall
out of condition. They lime a mouth to begin with,
another month to recover, and a third month to get
really into condition Again. You linnet reckon on bend-
ing them to market before they are two years old—nay
at 14 or 1:i months ; they will bring you the price of
good mutton, and two ',hearings besides. As fast as
tli,/ leave the ground send in an army of ploughs, or
let the ploughs make drill rows ; let the dung cart
folh.w i 111 l sitsliately ; this the idouglss again ,• then the
harrows, and in a day or two you begin wed operations
that email farina are peddling about half the winter
and spring too. You must if powiihki, reap as well as
&tweet' with a machine and get all the etiaw. Stubble
for partridges is; • Zetiodary consideration. Let the
sportsmen look to that. If you cannot get the price
for wheat that people used to do sometimes, you will
make up for it by crops half as a large again, which will
pay you better than famine prices. Hut even if you don't
quite like parting with year good wheat at 40s. &quarter,
and only yield in the presence of overwhelming arrivals
from all parts of the world, you will make it by your
mutton, beef, and wool. Flocks and herds are not no
espelde of transport. 'rho cheap corn makes prosperity
and prosperity makes beef and mutton eaters.
FOOD rog ettruc.—The compound used here for
fattening beasts and keeping sheep in a growing and
healthy state during the winter months has been one
part beam or pew. (old if possible), one of linseed,
which I prefer to oilcake as it contains all the oil, one
barley, all.l one wheat, all mixed and ground up
together. This combination I believe to be equal to any
artificial preparation now sold at four times the value,
particularly it a small quantity of noise warm seed be
mixed with it to aid digestion. We have here gluten
for flesh, starch for fat, and iiure oil for burning in the
lungs to keep up the animal heat. Judging from the
effects, I think this compound Li. be more valuable than
,iilcake, and without the adulteratio 1. It is given dry
with cut turnips to the fattening beasts, to be moistened
by the Relive. This I consider tends to a more perfect
digestion than if mixed with warni water, and at the
same time it may be said that as the animal chews the
cud there can be no want of saliva. The quantity given
to sheep has been at the rate of half • bushel to 100
sheep, merely sprinkled over the turnips as a condiment
and corrective, as we use pepper for our turnips; little
enough certainly, still it has the desired effect. I feel
certainly that nothing is gained by stinting sheep in
winter; where we gain one by saving in food, we locos
doubly through the leanness &Ha want of vigour in
spring. I have no scouring.

LoNDOX CENTRAL FARMIRS' CLUIL—Tbe following
subjects have been selected for discussion during the
ensuing year :

_
February 4.—Arterial I)rainage—including the at
of our Rivers and Water coums—proposed by Mr.
J. A. Clarke, Long Sutton. Lincoln.
March 7.—The &location, Discipline, and Introduc-
tion of the young &inner to Life—Mr. It. Band, Kent.
weU, Long Meßod, Suffolk.
. . . . . _

C—The Progress of Agriculture—Mr. K.
1111 l ett's Grange South 1101 ton.

May 2.—Thew Advantages of Steam in Agriculture—
how far they have been availed of—Mr. J. J. Meehi,
Tiptree flail, Essex.
June t.—What System of Cultivation upon Mixed
Soils will, under preAent circumstances, be found moat
profitable?—Mr. k. Raker. Writtle, Essex.
- . .

November 7. —The Gros:ill of Seeds in alternate Hus-
bandry, without the adinixture of Trefoil or Kyegraes—
Mr. J. Marshall, Itideholine. Lincoln.
December 5. —Th.. Compuotion of Different Varieties
of Vegetables ami Plants, and their respective Values as
Fool—Mr. J. U.N it,jt. Kennington Lane.
The di.cussi ~,, will cumin, nce dt half-past 5 o'clock.
p.m. Mclntire, unable to .tteinl these meetings ars
invited to forward rectical information upon them.
Their letters will be handed to the intwiluenr of this
subject to which reference id made.