"Now I tries MINESELF. Henry Snyder! Henry Snyder! what has you been doing in dis lower world?" "Ah! Lort, I does not know." "Well, Henry Snyder, hasn't you got a mill?" "Yes, Lort, I hash." "Well, Henry Snyder, didn't you never take too much toll?" "Yes, Lort, I hash; when der water was low, and mine stones was dull, I has taken a leetle too much toll." "But, Henry Snyder, what did you do wid der toll?" "Ah! Lort, I gives it to the poor." (Pausing.) "Well, Henry Snyder, you must go to the right, mid der sheep; but it is a tam hard squeeze!' LITERATURE. THE FARMER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA, AND DICTIONARY OF RURAL AFFAIRS. By Cuthbert Johnson, Esq. Part IX. London: Longman and Co. THE Encyclopædist is a literary traveller, who, having wandered over a world of books, so arranges the results of his researches, that they are at once available to all that desire to possess them. In this capacity, few, if any, of his predecessors have succeeded better than Mr. Cuthbert Johnson. He has compiled, certainly, one of the most useful works of its class; and one that combines much pleasant reading with a vast mass of practical matter. His labours, as they draw towards a close, evince no sign that he grows weary of his work. This is the last number but one of "The Farmer's Encyclopædia," and it is one of the best. From a variety of extremely interesting subjects we select the following notice of SPADE HUSBANDRY. "There are many situations in which, from the small size of the enclosures, or the want of sufficient power for the easy working of the common or subsoil plough, the cultivator may prefer the employment of manual labour with the spade; and it is fortunately found, by experience, that the difference in the expense of deep digging, or spade husbandry, is not materially different from that of the subsoil plough. A great mass of information on this head was collected by the late Dr. Yelloly; not, however, so much with the view of showing the increased fertility of the soil, by deep stirring, as with the intention of demonstrating the immense field which is thus opened for the profitable labour of a teeming and increasing population; and it was with this object that, when addressing the statistical section of the British Association at Liverpool, in 1837, he observed: "The trials which have been hitherto made of spade husbandry, in various parts of the kingdom, have been insufficient, in point of extent, to afford any adequate criterion of the general applicability of that practice. Such trials, indeed, have been usually regarded either as matters of speculation and experiment, or as charitable efforts, adopted by the benevolent, to give employment to the poor, without reference to pecuniary expediency. I have, therefore, thought it might be acceptable to the Association to be informed of the results of a much more ample employment of that mode of cultivation than has hitherto, as far as I know, been made in this country. "The farm where the system is pursued, which forms the subject of this communication, is situated at Wattelfield, in the parish of Wymondham. It is the property and residence, and in the occupation of John Mitchell, Esq. The farm consists of 317 acres, of which 207 acres are arable, and 110 in pasture and plantations. It is a mixed soil, but is rather disposed to be heavy. The country is flat, and the land requires draining, which is effected by bushes and straw. "As soon as it was known that Mr. Mitchell meant to adopt the spade culture extensively and permanently, and not merely as an experiment, or a temporary means of increasing employment, the early prejudices against it subsided; and, as the labourers found that the remuneration was fully equal to that of piece-work, and much more than the usual daily wages, and that every man, whether married or single, was paid according to the work done, it soon became very popular, and he was speedily able to command the services of the møst steady and expert men in his neighbourhood. Though the process was begun with the spade, a strong three-pronged fork, of fourteen inches deep, and seven inches and a half wide, which was found to be more manageable, and less expensive than the spade, was soon allowed to be substituted for it, on the application of the workmen. It cost 4s. 6d., instead of 6s. 6d.; weighed eight pounds; and, when worked down, could be relaid at a trifling expense. "The digging is effected by taking in about four inches of earth at a time, pressing perpendicularly, and getting to a proper depth at two thrusts. The earth is not, however, turned out of the trench to a greater depth than ten inches, though the fork may get down as far as thirteen or fourteen; but that which remains at the bottom, in the state of what is called 'crumbs,' answers the purpose, equally with the earth which is thrown out, of forming a permeable medium for the roots of the plant which is to grow in it. The men prefer working together, in order that their labour may be, as nearly as possible, on the same description of soil; but each takes in about nine feet in width, so that his work can be easily measured. The plan is to have a breathing about every half hour; and the men never work more than the regular amount of ten hours per day. Digging is, however, more laborious than the usual operations of agriculture, though it is much less so under the use of the fork than the spade. They work the land in ridges of about nine feet in width; and the furrows dividing them are sometimes made by the plough, previously to the digging, and sometimes by the management of the labourers, during the work, assisted by the eye only. "The men receive, for the ordinary digging after a white crop, from 2d. to 24. per rod of thirty square yards; the price varying according to the tenacity of the soil, and whether manure is to be dug in. Where the land is to have a fallow crop, that is, turnips, mangel wurzel, or cabbages (for no part of the farm, or the land in the immediate neighbourhood, has ever a naked fallow), there is first a ploughing, which is done at a season when the horses can be best spared, and afterwards a digging at from 1d. to 2d per rod. In preparing for a fallow crop, there is also an expense incurred in harrowing, and in raising a ridge with the plough, which last is worth about 7s. per acre. "The men are paid the usual wages of the neighbourhood at harvest; but as the whole number ordinarily employed are not required at that period, those for whom there is no occasion disperse themselves among the neighbouring farmers, with the understanding that they may resume their employment when harvest is over, which they are always happy in doing. Though digging is the principal occupation of the men, yet they are employed in all the other common operations of husbandry, at the common rates of payment; and all the work on the farm is paid for, as much as possible, by the piece, except hay-making, which is paid for by the day. The ordinary earnings in digging are from 11s. to 12s. per week, according as the rate of wages may be high or low. Mr. Mitchell is of opinion, that a course of seven years, instead of the usual one of four years, is best adapted to spade husbandry; and his object has been to act upon this system as much as possible. Being satisfied with the first trial, he soon augmented his farm to its present magnitude; and, under the seven years' course, the following would have been the descriptions and proportions of the various crops, had he been long enough a cultivator to carry his ideas into complete effect, namely: "It is to be observed, however, that he has always ploughed clover layer for the succeeding crop, not dug it; and that the horses, when not wanted for other purposes, are employed in assisting the diggers in preparing the land for the seed. Spade husbandry, indeed, can hardly be expected, even in its completest form, altogether to exclude the plough, when carried on to a considerable extent; for, as a certain number of horses are necessary for various operations on a farm, these will naturally be employed in ploughing, when they are not required for other duty, rather than that they should stand idle. Twenty labourers, besides a bailiff, are kept upon the farm, instead of thirteen, who would be necessary under the ordinary system; and five or six horses, instead of twelve. With so small a number of horses, it is clear that they would not be equal to all the demands of the hay and corn harvest; and hence a good deal of the hay and corn is always stacked in the fields where they are grown. "The late Mr. Blakie objected, in trenching strong clays, to the customary process of turning over the top spit, or the cultivated soil, and throwing the barren inert subsoil over it; but he recommends to turn the top spit on one side, and to shovel the crumbs of earth upon it. The subsoil, in the bottom of the trench should then be dug, without being raised, the top spit of the next trench placed upon it, the crumbs shovelled over it, and the ground carefully levelled as the work proceeds. In most parts of Biscay, and the north of Spain, the fields are commonly cultivated by the spade: great crops of potatoes and turnips are raised by these means.' A CATALOGUE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. London: Longman and Co., 1842. THIS is literally a cosmorama of the world of letters. Here every reader may not only learn how to supply his wants, but, as he glances over the store of learned lore, find increase of appetite grow by what it feeds on. A catalogue, classed and indexed, so that, at the cost of a moment, a vast mass of works bearing upon particular subjects is made known, and the place of their whereabouts declared, is a manual of great value; not alone to those who need books for reference, but such as desire only to gather the honey of Parnassus. This little volume is a necessary appendage to every library. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. By Professor Low. Part XIV. London: Longman and Co. Ir is with unqualified pleasure we announce the completion of this great national work, one of the most splendid contributions to the rural literature of this country that has yet seen the light. The labour and expense bestowed upon it must have been enormous, and most heartily do we hope they may meet the reward they so surely merit. We have already amply detailed the design of the author, and given substantial proofs of the success with which he has carried it out. In taking our leave of his magnificent "Illustrations," we have only to add that this, the concluding number, is, in every way, a suitable companion for its predecessors, and that, in the truest sense of the term, "Finis coronat opus." TURF REGISTER. It is not thought convenient to give the details of the running at the Minor Meetings. NEWMARKET FIRST SPRING MEETING. MONDAY, April 25th.-A Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, h. ft., if declared by ten o'clock the night before; for three-year-olds and upwards; T.Y.C. (eight subscribers, one of whom declared). Col. Peel's Hawk's-eye, by Langar, four years old, 7 st. 9 lb. (Chapple) Captain Colquitt's Astronomer, by Bay Middleton, three years old, 6 st. 7 lb. 1 2 3 0 paid 10 sovs. Lord Kelburne's c. by Retainer, dam by St. Patrick, three years old, 6 st. Betting: 10 to 6 agst. Hawk's-eye, and 5 to 1 each agst. Rover and Menalippe. All the first of the running was made by Rover, who led till just on the post, where Hawk's-eye made a rush, and ended first by a head. There was a long string at the end. Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three-year-old fillies, 8 st.17 lb. each; T.Y.C. (six subscribers). Fulwar Craven's b. f. Don't-say-no, by Bay Middleton (Treen) Betting: 6 to 4 agst. Eusebia, 7 to 4 agst. Don't-say-no, and 5 to 2 agst. The Ladye. Don't-sayno ran in front as far and as fast as she could, and then ran out; the first and second finishing the contest, of which Eusebia had the worst by half a length. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each, for three-year-olds; colts, 8 st. 7 lb. ; and fillies, 8 st. 4 lb.; the winner to be sold for 200 sovs. if demanded, &c.; T.Y.C. (eight subscribers). Mr. B. Greene's c. That's-the-time-of-day (Rogers) Mr. Barne's br. c. by Emilius, out of Benefit's dam (Stephenson) Betting: 3 to 1 agst. the winner, 3 to 1 agst. the Buzzard filly, 7 to 2 agst. Patchwork, and 4 to 1 agst. Robin. This was run "in and out," the winner now leading, and now lying by. He came when called on to finish, and just popped his head first past the chair. Another long tail. Duke of Bedford's Oakley, by Taurus, four years old, 7 st. 10 lb. (E. Edwards) Mr. Byng's Garry Owen, by St. Patrick, five years old, 8 st. 6 lb. (Chapple) Betting: 2 to 1 on Oakley. A fast and close race for half a mile, Oakley going in two lengths in advance. Match, 200, h. ft.; 8 st. 7 lb. each; R.M. Duke of Portland's f. by Dr. Syntax, out of Ruth, three years old (J. Day) Lord Chesterfield's f. by Muley Moloch-Young Petuaria, three years old (J. Scott) Betting: 3 to 1 on Ruth, who won, with difficulty, by half a length. Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each; for three-year-olds, 7 st.; four, 8 st. 9 lb.; five, 9 st. 2 lb.; six and aged, 9 st. 4 lb.; D. M. (three subscribers). Duke of Rutland's Flambeau, by Taurus, six years old (Robinson) A Sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, for three-year-olds, out of mares that never bred a winner; colts, 8 st. 7 lb.; and fillies, 8 st. 4 lb.; those by stallions that never got a winner allowed 3 lb.; A.F. (five subscribers). Betting: 7 to 4 on Eleus, 2 to 1 agst. Rosalind, and 6 to 1 agst. Balance filly. In this race Eleus was flogged in front till within a few lengths of the chair, where the mare challenged, and defeated him by a head. Match, 200, h. ft.; A.F. Lord Albemarle's Ralph, by Dr. Syntax, four years old, 8 st. 10 lb. (Robinson) Betting: 5 to 4 on Ralph, who won cleverly by half a length. 1 Fifty Pounds; for four-year-olds, 7 st. 10lb.; five, 8 st. 9 lb.; six and aged, 9 st.; last three miles of B.C. Duke of Rutland's Flambeau, by Taurus, six years old (Robinson) Duke of Grafton's Florence, by Langar, four years old (Chapple) ... 1 2 3 dr. Betting: 6 to 5 agst. Flambeau, and 3 to 1 each agst. Florence and E. O. The winner waited till they had passed the Duke's Stand, where he ran by his horses, and won, with all ease, by two lengths. TUESDAY.-The Queen's Plate of 100 gs., for mares; four-year-olds, 8 st. 9 lb.; five, 9 st. 8 lb. ; six and aged, 10 st.; R.C. Mr. Sadler's Bellissima, half-bred, by Bizzare, aged (J. Day, jun.) Betting: 10 to 6 agst. Barbara, 3 to 1 agst. Florence (tk.), and 3 to 1 agst. Bellissima. Florence was in front to the bottom of the New T.Y.C. hill, where Barbara went to the front, followed by Bellissima; the former winning in a canter by a dozen lengths. Jewess was beaten off a mile or so. Match, 50, h. ft.; T.Y.C. Mr. Thornhill's f. Ends and Odds, by Emilius, three years old, 8 st. 7 lb. (Robinson) 1 Betting: 3 to 1 on Ends and Odds (tk.). A good race, won by a neck. Match, 50; Ab. M. 2 Lord Albemarle's Buffalo, by Taurus, four years old, 8 st. 7 lb. (Robinson) Col. Peel's Hawk's-eye, by Langar, four years old, 8 st. 2 lb. (Chapple) Betting: 6 to 5 on Hawk's-eye, who made play to the bushes, tired, and was beaten cleverly by half a length. The Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, a subscription of 100 sovs. each, h. ft., for three-year-olds; colts, 8 st. 7 lb.; and fillies, 8 st. 4 lb.; R.M. (twenty-four subscribers). Mr. Goodman's ch. c. Rover, by Muley Moloch (Crouch) Lord Exeter's Saros, by Sultan, or Beiram (Darling) Lord Orford's br. c. by Jerry, out of Petulance (Robinson) Mr. W. Ridsdale's ch. c. Lucullus, by Bran (Butler) Betting: 6 to 4 agst. Meteor (tk.), 3 to 1 agst. Misdeal (tk.), 5 to 1 agst. Petulance, 7 to 1 agst. Wiseacre, 10 to 1 agst. Archy, and 12 to 1 agst. Lucullus. The favourite all through made his own running, and won, with all ease, by half a length. It was a sad straggling affair, Lucullus being last, at least a distance. A Sweepstakes of 300 sovs. each, 100 ft., for four-year-olds; colts, 8 st. 7 lb.; and fillies, 8 st. B.C. (eight subscribers). The Duke of Bedford withdrew Oakley's Stake, and divided the forfeits with Mr. Thornhill. WEDNESDAY.-Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each; A.F. (four subscribers). Mr. Sadler's Bellissima (half-bred), by Bizarre, aged, 8 st. 10 lb. (J. Day) |