Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

solved. What has been done hitherto has been performed in various ways, and a still greater variety of modes have been spoken of. The good old system of drawing as many as possible with the hand, and heading and tailing the bulbs into rows, is probably the best yet adopted. But great care should be taken not to bleed the bulb, for turnips bled at either end, especially the top, will not keep long. The tails should be simply pruned, and not cut off close by the 'neep," nor should the tops be cut off close to the other end. It is not desirable to leave much of the tops (probably not more than threequarters of an inch from the bulb), and no stray blades or tops should be stored among the When any part of the blade is deposited with the turnips, it soon rots, and is apt to contaminate the bulbs around it. The bleeding, however, is more objectionable.

roots.

What cannot be uprooted in the way indicated should be furrowed over by a plough. It is very desirable to have this done before the turnips are exposed to much frost. If an average furrow were turned on the roots in the ground, frost of an ordinary degree of intensity would not injure them; but even with a furrow of considerable depth, they would not be completely defended from frost such as we had in the last two winters. Its ravages, however, would be immaterial. Though the drill plough cannot be said to afford absolute security in severe weather, a small portion of the turnip crop, especially swedes, should be left in the root, and furrowed up for spring use; but the greater portion should be drawn as early as possible.

properly with small pits, and not less than 8 inches of soil put on the turnips, they will be good for feeding purposes several months afterwards. Not a little of the depreciation in quality, often complained of in turnips that have been long in pits, is attributable to some mismanagement in storing. It sometimes happens that farmers, chiefly to avoid breaks in the work, keep their employes topping and tailing until several acres are ready for gathering, and then, perhaps, devote a day to gathering and covering. This might be a commendable system were it in summer, when the weather can be more safely relied on; but as it is at a very different season, it is to be deprecated. One night of severe frost would spoil the turnips somewhat, if not for immediate use, at least for keeping, and heavy rain for several days would have a similar effect.

But there is no way in which they can be better stored than under a roof. Brought from the field in good, dry condition, a large quantity can be well stored under a wonderfully limited roof, provided always the house is properly ventilated, as the majority of houses devoted to this purpose are. More accommodation of this kind should be provided at almost every farm, and the present generation is likely to see great additions to the turnip shed department at many farm-steadings.

When there are no immediate prospects of farmers being enabled to "head" and "tail" a large breadth in a seasonable state, either from bad weather or want of a sufficient number of labourers, we would recommend, as an alternative, covering three or five drills' growth in together with the plough. This can be, and sometimes is, performed, by turning a furrow with a single-boarded plough, away from each side of one drill. The turnips of one drill on each side, and sometimes two on each side, are then hauled by the hand and thrown into the newly-excavated furrows, "heads," "tails," and all, and afterwards covered by a few furrows. This has been found by some to be a more satisfactory process than running the drillplough through the drills without uprooting any of the turnips, but, of course, it involves more labour. It is a more speedy system than topping and tailing, and it has another advantage

As to the storing of the turnips after they are topped and tailed, it is impossible to recommend any mode which would be alike suitable to all farms. If the soil on which they grew was dry, a considerable quantity could be "pitted" on it, and driven to the farm-steading in frosty weather. With small quantities in each heap, the difficulty of securing a sufficient quantity of air is almost overcome. Large accumulations, however seasonably covered, must be provided with ventilators. The covering of turnips in a wet state should be avoided, unless they are to be used very early; otherwise they would not remain wholesome in the pit. It is not desirable to have them pulled wet, but it is worse to cover them in such a condition. When the—namely, that it can be accomplished without weather is ordinarily dry, pitting should follow any serious consequences when the turnips are closely the "topping," and if this is done too wet for storing otherwise.

The Country Gentleman's Magazine

241

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF POTATO DISEASE?

D.," a correspondent of the Daily

“A. News, writing from Bedfont, com

ments thus upon the cause of the potato disease, and how to cope with it:-Were not this a subject of general and important interest, your remarks upon the appearance of the potato disease in Ireland at the present time would be a sufficient excuse for my having a few words to say about it. Unfortunately for us here, the disease is not confined to Ireland, but exists among our own potato growths in greater or less degree, just in operation as predisposing causes operate in favour of its propagation or otherwise. The real character of the disease still remains in obscurity. We have too visible evidence of its working, but know little or nothing of its why and wherefore. Natural physiologists seem to have been entirely beaten in their endeavours to discover its source and cause, and especially to tell us why, of all vegetable products, the potato should be the only variety upon which the disease operates with anything like deadly influences. We know that an atmosphere highly charged with moisture is the primary agent that distributes the disease, but even then the disease is not existent in all rains, but in only certain forms of it. A real heavy downpour does little mischief apparently, except as in so far it assists to induce a coarse succulent growth in the haulm—a most unfortunate result. The rain to which we attribute the mischief is of the white misty order, which generally accompanies an atmosphere either highly charged with electricity, or else with certain infectious zoospores that carry disease and death to the lungs of the potato, namely, the foliage, as surely as does the exhalations of the small-pox patient to others of the human family. The operation of the disease, as shewn in the haulm of the potato, does not favour the theory that it arises from electricity. I believe that I am right in stat

VOL VII.

ing that when electricity affects vegetable life, it produces an almost instantaneous death of the part affected. Close observations shew that the disease invariably appears first in the form of a brown blotch upon the leaf, the underside of the blotch shewing a whitish mildew. Whether this mildew is the disease itself in operation, or whether it is the result of decomposed vegetable matter, is by no means clear; but I incline to the latter belief, and hold that the mischief actually commences in the blotch on the upper side of the leaf. How did that spot come there? Did an infectious zoospore, conveyed by the rain, fall upon it, and thus become absorbed into the membrane of this vegetable lung, and at once commence its deadly mission? Or was it the result of an electric shock ? Who can answer? Following the operations of the disease in the leaf, however, we find that should an aqueous atmosphere continue, the blotch with its mildew will continue rapidly to spread, producing rapid decomposition akin to rottenness, and which emits a noxious effluvium. If, on the other hand, a dry atmosphere, accompanied with warm sunshine succeed, the foliage infected becomes rapidly charred and blackened, and the virus has spread into the stems of the haulm. The entire blackening or charring of the foliage and stalks speedily result. In large breadths of potatoes the first evidences of the disease are frequently overlooked, but the charring of the foliage soon makes it apparent, and this, the wholesale charring, is often taken for the disease itself, whereas it is but the natural sequence. It is from this latter belief that the commonly prevalent conception arises that large extents of potatoes have been suddenly struck with electricity. Who can shew that the potato possesses the least affinity to electricity?

We are unable to cope with the disease at its source, but we can do something to

Q

alleviate its evil results. An assured courting of destruction of the crop is to put in with the seed any quantity of raw manure. Even decomposed vegetable refuse assists in its propagation. The safest manures for immediate application are the dry patent manures, of which we have an abundance. But the application of manures of a raw character to a previous crop, is the best mode of culture. Ally to this deep tillage, the soil well-sweetened by the previous winter's frost, giving plenty of space be

tween the rows when planting, and, above all, avoiding the cultivation of gross-growing kinds, the rank haulm of which is sure to promote disease. Farmers generally, and the Irish ones especially, have need of a radical reform in this latter essential; and when they will submit to learn concerning this requisite, and other important points, from those who have made the culture of the potato a life-long study, then may we hope to experience some alleviation of the evils resulting from the potato disease.

A

SEWAGE IRRIGATION IN NORFOLK.

T length Norfolk has added its name to the list of towns whose corporate bodies have recognized the importance of preserving sewage for the purpose of cultivation. Although long in abeyance, it will be seen from the following, which we extract from the Norfolk Chronicle, that the scheme has now taken a practical form, and a successful start has been effected :

:

In the spring of this year, we noticed an experimental trial of irrigating the land, at Kirby Bedon, with the sewage of the city. The result of that experiment, so far as it went, was satisfactory. But it disclosed the fact that to put sewage upon the land in anything like its full strength, complete caulking of the sewers was imperative, so as to prevent leakage. The process of caulking was at that time in progress; and now at length hope, so long deferred, has been fully realized with regard to the entire works. Despite all that has been said in contrary anticipation, they are now completed, and since Monday week the sewage has been continuously delivered on to the land in the most satisfactory manner. The soil at Kirby Bedon is eminently adapted for cultivation by irrigation, and there appears no reason why the crops, when grown, should not meet with a ready sale in the market. Indeed, from the

20

acres of land irrigated by the "weak" sewage, supplied at the commencement of the year, a crop of ryegrass has been obtained; whilst that unirrigated has produced nothing. What may not be expected, then, when all the factories and houses of the city are drained into the sewers, and to effect which the engineer and clerk to the Board of Health have been empowered by the Sewerage Committee to take all necessary steps?

Before proceeding to give any details with regard to the delivery of the sewage at the farm, or as to the intended cultivation of the land, we may as well state here that the whole cost of the works will not exceed £110,000. This is an expenditure greater than was at first thought to be necessary, the original estimate being between £70,000 and £80,000. But against this must be set the fact that unlooked-for obstacles, requiring the application of no ordinary engineering skill and pumping power, have throughout had to be encountered. The magnitude of the works, and the fact that nearly the whole of the sewers have been constructed in and at a great depth below the level of the water, are of themselves sufficient to account for the inadequacy of the first estimate; but when to these is added the trying difficulty which

Sewage Irrigation in Norfolk

243

beset the engineer at Trowse, in the discovery 50 acres of park land, and about 8 acres of a bed of running sand, when a continuation tentatively planted with beet, carrots, cabof the chalk stratum was reasonably expected, bage, and kohl rabi. The land is of a very the need of apology on this score is entirely undulating description. On the upper lands, removed. supply ducts are cut in connexion with the main carrier, and from these ducts, which are supplied or not as may be desired by the insertion or removal of iron sluice-gates, there are smaller subsidiary channels along which the sewage passes to the slopes, over which it falls, saturating the soil in its descent. Should there be any surplus sewage, it is trapped by channels farther down the slopes from it, when, in turn, it passes over still lower land. It will thus be seen that an equal distribution is obtained, and that the regulation of the supply is entirely in the hands of the farmer. About 3 acres of land sown with Italian ryegrass, will absorb the whole of the day's sewage from the city, and this will shew how porous and admirably adapted the land is for the reception of sewage. Even in its present form, Mr Westwood is of opinion that the sewage is strong enough in quality for growing ryegrass, although it would require to be of greater quality for fallow crops, and this improved quality, it is believed, will be obtained when the whole of the city is connected with the main sewers. As we have stated that some of the land has been experimentally set apart for roots and cabbages, we may as well add here that no very great results can be expected this year, owing to the lateness at which the sewage has been applied.

Preliminary to an account of the irrigation of the farm, it may here be stated that all the old sewers have been connected with the main drains, and that nearly 3,000,000 gallons of sewage is sent each day to the penstock chamber at the pumping station at Trowse. Out of the penstock chamber the liquid passes into a well, and from thence is pumped through the 2 miles of pipes laid from the station to the farm at Kirby. The outlet at the farm is first indicated by a stone stile on the left hand side of the road from Norwich. A few yards in the field is an embarkment several feet in height. This embankment, which is ascended by some white brick steps, is flanked on either side by a deep ditch, and extends in almost a straight line to Whitlingham. Along it is laid a sloping duct lined with concrete, and about 4 feet in width, so that the sewage is rapidly carried to its destination; the speed having, of course, much to do with the mild form in which the effluvium from such liquid makes its appearance. Out of the 1300 acres hired by the Board of Health, and which have been sublet to various tenants, about 200 acres have been prepared for irrigation, and over these 200 acres the sewage is now being delivered. The "farming" is in the hands of Mr Westwood, who has had some experience in irrigating land with sewage, having been engaged in the application of it at Anerly, Surrey, and at Plaistow, Essex. The satisfactory results of the first-named application were stated by Mr Westwood to the Committee appointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the pollution of rivers by town sewage; and in the case of the delivery at Plaistow the results were no less satisfactory. The 200 acres we have mentioned are thus parcelled out-90 acres of rye grass, 50 acres of layer,

From these facts we think it may be deduced that, great as the expense has been, the object of the sewerage scheme in the diversion of the sewage from the river has been obtained. And not only this, but that by judicious management and enterprise in the sale of the "irrigated crops," there is reason to hope for some reduction of the fiscal burden upon the city, if not absolute proof that the sanguine expectation of profit will be realized.

FOR

IRRIGATION AT STOKE PARK.

OR many years we have recommended Mr Brown's system of irrigation; it is much more worthy of our commendation now that he has placed his pipes below the ground, where covetous hands cannot steal nor horse-hoofs hurt the pastoral life-diffusing lead. We have received a report, the truth of which is attested by the owner of the farm Mr Coleman, which we subjoin. After personal inspection, we hope to give a fuller

account in our next number.

This system of irrigation was laid down in the end of August 1870, upon 20 acres of pasture land, with a soil chiefly composed of a silicious clay, slightly calcareous, but from a want of loam mould is liable to become crust-bound in dry weather; it is, however, rich in the mineral constituents of a productive soil, and may be classed with that of the well-known brick earth of Slough. On the 5th of September, with temporary engine power, watering was commenced, the land was top-dressed with the British Rivers Irrigation Manures, and irrigation was continued at night until the end of the month. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, the soil dried up, and vegetation having disappeared from the surface since the previous June, yet on the twenty-third day after watering, a very thick set growth of about 9 inches of superior feeding grass was produced, and by the middle of October it became a large crop, which was cut and given to stall feeding cattle, and the land after was successfully grazed with sheep until the end of the year, while the adjoining pasture-unirrigated, and in every other particular the same as that over which the irrigation had been conducted-remained unproductive, although rain to some extent had fallen during the autumn.

The value of the cut grass and the grazing upon the irrigated land may be estimated as equal to that of an average crop of turnips, as such grass, weight for weight, is equally rich in beef and mutton constituents, or its money value may be fairly put at £5 per acre for this autumn crop.

In the spring of this year, 1871, from delay in erecting the engine and pump now upon the

irrigated land, operations were not commenced until the last week in March, and from five to six weeks of the best spring weather for watering and utilizing manure were lost in consequence, yet a very large crop of hay, chiefly second week of May. It was estimated by perennial ryegrass was fit for cutting by the practical judges to yield 2%1⁄2 tons per acre, and from its having been secured in fine condition without getting any rain, it became the best description of good horse hay, and at the July market price its value in London is not less than £7 per ton, as hay not equal to it has been sold during the summer months from £8 to £9. On cutting this crop, a portion of it on the same day was removed and made into hay with that upon the unirrigated land, which gave facilities for at once watering the ground from which it had been taken. This had the effect of producing a second crop of perennial ryegrass of a large growth

which was fit for the scythe in the second week in July-such a result is, as a rule, unknown to agriculturists. A portion of the ground was measured, and the grass weighed gave a yield of 1234 tons per acre, or about equal to 21⁄2 tons of hay; while the unirrigated land, which had its first crop cut on the same day as the irrigated, only gave one-fourth of this weight as a second crop, although much rain had fallen during its growth, in the absence of which a mere fraction of this would have been the result; proving that even in a season such as 1871, the coldest and wettest (from April to August) there has been since 1862, that this system of irrigation has a three-fold advantage over any ordinary means pursued by agriculturists in the cultivation of grass or hay. This arises from the facilities given by the system for tempering the soil, and utilizing manure by the necessary moisture for promoting a perfectly developed and large growth; and from the operation of watering being conducted during the night, at such a trifling cost, a continuous process is secured by its application from March to November. The quality of such grass being suitable for the production of beef and mutton, without help from "feeding stuffs," is guaranteed; from the fact of its having been made at Stoke Park into the best description of hay: and this to the

« AnteriorContinua »