The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-12 00:00:00

1853 the crops of wheat averaged 40 bushels to the acre;
in 1854 only 25 bushels. As indicating the natural capa-
bilities of the land, we were shown a field on whi2ll a
heavy crop of Indian corn had grown in 1852 ; it was sown
next spring with barley, which produced 50 bushels to the
acre, then sown with wheat in autumn, and this year it
had yielded 40 bushels per acre. On this farm a field of
clover was in course of being plo'ighed up and sown with
wheat ; it had been in wheat this year, but the farmer was
complaining that the plant of clover was had, while in our
opinion it was a most excellent one. Mr. Harris remarked
that this was surely a mere excuse for getting a little more
sown with wheat, while the prices were good; 100 sheep
are kept on this farm, besides 10 or 15 cattle, which are
reared and sold when two years old.
On another farm of 208 acres there were 40 in woods,
12 permanent pasture, 7 Indian corn, 12 oats, 10 peas, (15
wheat, the rest in clover. About 1,000 bushels of wheat
were thrashed this year, 500 last, and 2,0(10 the year
before. The seasons appear to influence the yield of wheat
far more than they do in Britain. The flock of sheep
yielded 41)0 dollars last year. Leicester sheep do not
seem to thrive well where so much of the land is cleared,
for frequently the whole flock are seen during the heat of
the day standing crowded together with their heads all
down.
It is almost the universal practice to sow clover among
the wheat in the spring, and at the same time to give the
field a dressing of 100 lbs. of gypsum, which has a wonder-
ful effect on some crops. The clover is benefited more
than any other plant, though peas, potatoes, and Indian
corn have often new life imparted to them by a light
dressing of this substance, which is almost the only
artificial manure used in the Western States. The
manure of the farm is applied to Indian corn, which is,
perhaps, more gratetul than any other crop for liberal
treatment.
•• • • •

The meadows yield particularly fine pasture—a hundred
acres will graze seventyfive head of four•year•old cattle
from the 15th of May to the Ist of December. In one of
Mr. Wadsworth's fields I saw a large herd of Durham
cattle, the greater number of which were bred in Kentucky.
Some of them had travelled 800 miles by railway, at a cost
of twenty-nine shillings (seven dollars each). They can
be driven that distance at half the expense and in as good
order, but .the railway has the advantage of savir.g time.
Mr. Wadsworth's manager brought some salt with him
in his gig, and we were soon surrounded by the whole herd,
which licked it up with great avidity when it was thrown
down upon the grass. Throughout the Western States
and Canada cattle and sheep are very fond of salt, and
though they often run almost will in the woods they
return at intervals for a supply. The week previous to the
time of my visit 120 cattle had been sold out of these pas-
tures at 171. a head. Among the natural grasses in the
pasture cocksfoot and timothy were conspicuous, and seem
to be the most valuable grasses that have been imported
from Europe. The best meadows yield three tons of hay
per acre. For this land seven dollars per acre are charged
when the crop is to be cut, and five when pastured. The
value of these meadows is 120 dols. per acre, so the
rental which they yield is but a small return for interest, in
a country where six per cent. for money can be got on a
good security. Cattle are not housed here during winter,
except those that are fattening. They run about the
meadows and find shelter among the woods. Store cattle
have hay, straw, and the stalks of Indian corn supplied to
them; while those that are fattening have Indian•corn
meal in addition. Six pounds of meal a day are et first
allowed to each beast, and the quantity is gradually
increased until eighteen pounds are given. Such high
feeding, though not often practised, does not, it is said.
pay. tattle are considered to remunerate the grazier if he
has two guineas (ten dollars) a head for pasturing them in
the upland during the summer.
These extracts are, of course, only intended
as a specimen of Mr. Russell's method of de-
scription. Even to epitomise his information
would be impossible within our limits ; but, if
we are not mistaken, we may glean this one
general conclusion from his observations on
the northern districts, i.e., that farming there
is not so profitable a business as it is at home,
but that its advantage lies in its requiring so
much less capital. Before quitting this portion
of his work, some other particulars may, per-
haps, be acceptable to our readers:—
I met a farmer, anative of Devonshire, on the railway,
who resided in the township of Georgina. He spoke
highly of the country and its capabilities, and said that
some of the hest pasture land south of Lake Simcoe rents
at eight shillings an acre. A great rise in the value of
cattle and sheep had taken place in a few years, in conse-
quence of the opening up of the market by the railways. A
sheep weighing 00 lbs. the four quarters was worth li. 2s.
sterling, and an ox of NIX) lbs. 111. 15s. These high prices
have already given a great stimulus to the improvement of
the breed of stock. His farm was 200 acres in extent, of
which 00 were in wheat (one-half autumn and oue•half
spring sown), 5 turnips, 1 potatoes, i Indian corn, 10 peas,
and 25 oats.
Georgina is in Upper Canada, in the district
of Toronto :

The farms are small in Pennsylvania, and the soil is b•,
no means so productive as that of Ohio. It contains
upwards of twenty nine millions of acres, hut little more
than eight and a half millions have been reclaimed. This
State. however, produces as much wheat as any other in
the Union. The surface is much broken in the central
parts by the Alleghany range. Where the soil rests upon
the limestone rocks it is productive both for grass and
grain. It has upwards of eleven hundred miles of canals
for transporting coal and agricultural produce. It costa