The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-25 00:00:00

lIINTS'TO FARMERS.

It is evident that hnsbanderten, in many parts of the kingdom,
are likely to suffer 'merely from the uncommon hest and dryness
of the season. The scarcity of grass—the diminished Tian^ icy of
hay—the failure in the crop of turnip—and the certain deficiency
of straw, must, in various ways, be highly injurious to the farmer,
in proportion as he experiences these calamities. The number of
his ante and horses must he reduced, and even then they will be
ill fed while, from a want of litter, the quantity of manure for
the ram and green stops of the succeeding year must be greatly
diminished.
It is a duty incumbent upon those who have directed their atten-
tion to agriculture, to furnish such hints as may tend to alleviate
the mischiefs which are to be apprehended from the joint operation

of oo many unfortunate
I. REAPING THE CROP.—In many fields of oats and barley, the
straw is so short that it will be impossible to reap the crop with a
hook or sickle. In such cases short scythes may be used with ad-
vantage. But in whatever way the harvesting is coined on, the
greatest are ought to be taken, either to cut the crop close to the
ground, or to collect the stubble for litter.
2. Ow STRAW-HAY.—The second crop of clover this year, if
the season be favourable, may still be productive ; but when there
is mach wet the second growth is often lost. The only mode of
preservation is, by mixing it with layers of straw, more especially
with oat-straw, if it can be procured. The clover, when mixed
with the straw, may be full of sap ; but it ought to be free from
rain moisture, otherwise it may become mouldy. The clover is
thus secured, and the straw so much improved in value, that 15s.
worth of straw may be thus convened into an article worth Ms. or
even more.
3. SALTING STRAW-HAY.—If the straw.hry I. salted, at the
time of stacking, cattle will not only at the mixture more eagerly
than good unmixed hay not salted, but will thrive nearly as well
upon it. The quantity recommended is, either one hundred weight
of salt to seven or eight tons of hay, or a peck of ground rock salt,
if pure, to a ton of hay. But as rock set is often mixed with sand
or earth, manufactured salt is pref. rabic.
4. LITTER—A great diminution of dung, from the want of
straw for litter, will be severely felt by the succeeding crops ; this
deficiency ought to be supplied by every possible meano, as by col-
lecting weeds—the leaves of trees—fern and heath—or employing
peat mould—fine earth—and sea, river, or other sand, for that
purpose.
5. FEEDING STOCE.—The deficiency of food for stock must be
supplied by every expedient that can be devised.
One resource would be to adopt the Flemish practice of sowing
winter turnips, and which is likewise practised, in some parts of
England: As soon as the crop is reaped, the land should be slightly
ploughed, or well harrowed, and the turnips sown broad-cast. They
never grow large, but in Flanders they ate greedily consumed by
cattle; and it is there remarked, that when given to mach cows
they are not apt to give any taste to the milk or butter. They are
sometimes suffered to Shoat : and the cattle devour them even in
that state, till the middle of April. Some would prefer folding
sheep on the trop ; and when given to cattle, they ought to be cut,
to prevent any risk of choking the stock fed upon them, which
sometimes happens when turnips are small sized.
If the crop of turnips has failed, the farmer is earnestly requested,
after harrowing the surface, and clearing it of weeds, to sow the
field with rape. If this is done in the end of July, or the first week
of August, the produce will be very great. The crop answers well
for sheep folded, and may be mown, and given to cattle and even
ho-see. The quantity of seed required, when sown broad-cast,
is about 81b. per English, or 101 b. per Scotch acre, at fit. per
lb. The earlierit is sown, the better and fuller produce may be
expected.
Where rune or whine abound, they may furnish a great and va-
luable supply, which might perhaps be improved by haring salt
mixed with them. Large farmers should erect mills for bruising
them, but small ones must employ the flail or mallet.
HEATH HAT, or the shoots of young heath growing more or
less intermixed with ordinary herbage, may be mown and easily
dried for winter use. This is done in Strathdon, in Aberdeen.
shire, and the more hilly parts of Wigtonshire, and is found
to be of more value than many are aware of, who have not
tried it.
Linseed and oil cake may be procured, either from the Conti.
nest, or from North America ; and if low priced, may be a great
recourse to the fanner.
So great is the probable scarcity of hay, that a spirited farmer in
Scotland proposes to import that article from Holland. iVhat an
argument this is in favour of irrigation, which would ensure a pro-
duce of hay in almost any season !
Notwithstanding all these aids, there is likely to be a deficiency
of manure for the crops of next year. Most fortunately, the appli-
cation of oil, as a means of enriching the soil, has been recently
pointed out ; and so far as that article can be procured, there is
MOOG to hope that the deficiency may be supplied. Proofs of the
Offidency of this manure shall, as soon as possible, be submitted
to the attention of the farmer.
Another species of manure, which is but little attended to in this
country, Is kelp, or the ashes of sea weeds. This dressing is pecu-
liarly calculated for stiff soils. It its found in the isle of Jersey,
that half a bushel of pounded kelp, if sown on a stiff soil in the
winter season, or beginning of spring, will manure a perch or pole
of land ; consequently, twenty bushels an acre. It is said that it
gives a full ear to she corn, and prevents its being laid.*
The resource of fish as a manure has not been sufficiently at-
tended to. In the rivers which run through the fens of Lincoln.
shire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, the small fish called tickle.
backs swarm in such abundance, as to be purchased at from Ild.
to Is. per bushel, and are successfully employed in forming com-
posts. The refuse of the pilchard fishery, in Cornwall, insures
great- crops. There is an immense herring fishery on the coast of
Caithness, which produces much refuse or garbage, in the proper.
Lion of one barrel of refuse to fourteen lintels of herrings. But it
requires the garbage of 84 barrels of herrings to manure a Scotch, or
about 67 barrels an English, aere.t The effects of this manure,
however, on waste lands, when first brought into cultivation, are
hardly to be credited. It is cakulated that a ton of fish, mode.
rately salted, in a compost with soil, would manure five English
acres. It would be desirable to ascertain what would be the ex-
pense, and in what manner this manure could be most peal's-
bly applied.
I earnestly hope that other friends to agriculture will lend their
aid to improve these hasty suggestions, and by our united efforts,
that we shall still be enabled to surmount the difficulties which we
are likely to encounter.
JOHN SINCLAIR.
133, Geoege-street, Edinbnrgh, July 15, 1826.
• Communications to the Board of Agriculture, voL i. p. 219.
3d edit. p. 226
t See Code of Agriculture.

Sir Thomas Neave, Bart. is the gentleman recommended
by the Court of Directors of the Bank of England, to fill
up the vacancy in the Direction, occasioned by the resig-
nation of Henry Smith, Esq.
PROPOSED BRANCH or THV Bang or ENGLAND 1N
MANCHESTER.—If we may attach credit to an apparently
deed-official statement, which appeared in the Courier of
Monday, the Batik of England bag at length determined
on establishing a branch in this town. The utility, as
well as the success of this measure, will of course greatly
depend on the principles on which the business of the
establishment is conducted ; but it cannot, we think,
be doubted that, managed with ordinary care, it must
be found advantageous to the Bank ; and that, evinc-
ing such a degree of liberality as is quite compatible with
prudence, it will afford important additional facilities to
commercial transactions.—Manchesler Guardian.
ANOTIIER DEATH FROM STARVATION.--011 Wednes-
day a Coroner's Inquest was held on the body of Stephen
Doyle, a mendicant, who was found dead, that morning,
in the hall of the house, No. 104, Francis-street, Dublin.'
The Jury returned a verdict, that the deceased died from
want of support. It is apprehended that a statement so
general in its nature might possibly excite some pre-
judice against that most useful Institution, the Mendicity
Society, to prevent which, we are requested to state that
no man of that name ever applied to the Mendicity Asso-
ciation, or he would instantly have received relief.—Free-
man's Journal of Saturday.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

Situtwetwar, Jut.). 23.
This is Renday, but common observers and hypotrites
think it bears but partial appearances of the Sabbath, in the good
town of Shrewsbury. We mean tint, for an instant, to insinuate say
thing against the irhaliitants of any town t r any place, because we
know foil well that the characteristics of all counttes in thin blamed
nation mingle joy and happiness with the worship of their God, in
a true Christian spirit; that jtot rectitude of religious pilnapia
is manifested here this day by the conduct of " our friends round
the Wrekin"—a phrase which we use to express the hospi ality of a
county lung celebrated Tor its importance in history.
At half-past ten o'clock the Corporation of the town, headed by
the Mayor and Aldermen, and preceded by a numerous awl lICielU
tific band playing a holy and hallowed piece of music tirrlll Handel,
went to the 1 earned Judges' loslAings, for the purpose of escorting
them to St. Chad's church ; and having acconipsnied them thither
to attend divine worship, the saute procession preceded their Lord.
shins and the Corporation in tilde return.
The town, yet alive, though so many causes have been put eff.
presents an animated scene, and in addition to the numbers who
crowd it, connected with the causes yet about to be tried, Rocks of
Irish labourers, in search of harvest work, are wandering in congre-
gated groups through the streets.
Above we have mentioned the " Wrekin," and perentnoe it may
be interesting to give our teatleN a description of that celebrated
tnountsin and its environs. The Wrekin is said to be the hOlow
hill in Europe for the circumference of its base. It rises 1,329 het
above the level of theses. The views from its summit are diversi-
fied, beautiful, and extensive. The Severn winds its devious cause
beneath the spectator's feet. A richly cultivated country spited*
in every direction before the eye, studded with gentlemen's seats red
The towering spires of the churches boldly break upon
the eye. It is said that in fine weather the prospects from this die-
tinguishesl eminence extend into Carmarthenshire. Denbighshire, .
• Gloucestershire. and Northantr.tonshire, and that the eye ato sur-
vey an extent of country 400 mint in circumference.
The Wrekin is exceeded in height by the follow'n.; Shropshire
hills : :-
•
The Long Tynd (above theleal of the sea) - 1674
The Stipa Stones - INS
The Sit tentorie Clee - 101111
The Brown Clee IffNi
None of these hills, however, present the rii It end magnificent
scenery that is to be seen from the Wrekin. The name of
this interesting hill is dear to the natives if the friendly and
hospitable county in which it rears its brow. " The Wrekin,"
and "All friends round the Wsekin," are sentences which ever,
vibrate with rapturous sthaations hn the ear of a genuine'Sbrop--
ihne man, whatever country may be his borne.
Wbat is called the Qnarry in Salop is perhaps one of the most
iMereating and pleasing walks we era saw. It is a. space of ground
PI about twenty acres in client, intersected by wafts, whith are
Literally shaded with high and ancient trees. ft is a general sad
favourite resort, as well of visitors as bit the inhabitants.
We wish we had time or space to expead upon this most intense-
ins subject, but we are obliged to curtail an observation,-