we should not expect too much from them. The old story of carrying out in the waistcoat pocket as much manure as would serve for an acre of land, was an ainateur chemist's dream, and has been often laughed at; but if they can only direct and teach us to make a better use of the means in our power, their exertions on our behalf will not be made in vain, Although planting potatoes, sowing carrots, parsnips, mangold and Swedish turnips need not be executed till the month of April, yet it is well, if the weather permits, to be making preparations for all these. Every favourable day should now be improved, in order that business should not crowd us at a more advanced season. If the ground intended for any or all of the above crops, be dry enough, it may now have a stirring, to get it in readiness for ulterior proceedings. The mixings intended for the same crops should now be turned; and the dung in the yards required in the months of April and May, should be thrown up in heaps to ferment. Some writers assert that throwing up dung to ferment in the yard, is an unnecessary proceeding. They maintain that it allows the ammoniacal (?) gas to escape, and the carbonic acid to be dissipated in the drainage from the heap. This, no doubt, is perfectly true; and the remedies are, to cover the heaps with dry earth, and to collect the drainage in a cesspool, to be afterwards thrown over the heaps, or carried out and sprinkled upon the orchard or meadow ground, by a water-cart. But the main purpose of fermenting the dung in the yard, is to kill, or cause to vegetate, the numerous seeds of corn, grass, and weeds, which are accumulated in the yard from foddering the cattle in the cribs, racks, and mangers of the homestead; which, if carried out on the arable land, in a raw and green unfermented state, would cover the field with a parasite crop, hateful to the farmer. The management of farm-yard and other dung is, perhaps, the most defective part of a modern farmer's business, and that by which he sustains a serious annual loss. The richest manure we ever saw made, was under a lofty granary, which stood in the middle of a feeding-yard, of which the annexed plan will show the arrangement. In the feeding-houses there were twenty-six stalls for fattening oxen; from these houses, and from an eleven stall stable, all the drainage was conducted by underground drains to a large cesspool at one side of the area under the granary. In the cesspool, a pump was placed, by which the drainage was daily pumped over the accumulating body of manure, and litter wheeled from the stable and feeding-houses, until the whole mass was of a coal-like consistence and colour; whilst its being defended from sun, wind, and rain, added materially to its value; more especially as the cattle were liberally supplied with oil-cakes, turnips, and hay. The value of the dressing thus carefully made, was strikingly manifest on the land where it was, on one occasion, used. A portion (about six acres) of a turnip field, was dressed with it, at the rate of about eight three-horse cart-loads to the acre; the turnips were a fine crop, as well as the following crops of barley and clover: and, moreover, the succeeding crops for nine years afterwards, shewed to an inch where the feeding house dung had been deposited! This is a proof, if proof were wanting, that the richness of manure is always proportionate to the nutritious quality of the food with which the animals are fed. And it is a further proof that farmers cannot bestow too much care in preserving it from the deterioration consequent upon the drying action of the sun and wind, and allowing the moisture to be drained away without return. THE CHACE. FROST, that indomitable Chartist, has been at his tricks again. He has come down "from the hills" with greater bitterness than ever. February, at best but a rickling of a month, has been still further shorn of its fair proportions. Skating has superseded Hunting. Stirrup-irons have given place to skate-irons: bullfinches have fairly knocked under to spread-eagles. St. Valentine, however, came just in the nick of time, and made all right again. Jack Frost decamped: weathercocks veered round to the south: ponds recovered their fluidity: fields looked green again: kennel doors flew open: hounds rushed into cover pug took to the open: wheiugh tahlio! was heard for a mile as the crow flies: and away to work again go man, horse, and hound as if the very safety of the Household Gods depended on their efforts. The ground, of necessity, has been very deep, and weak stables have cut but a poor figure in a teasing day. From all parts of the country we receive intelligence of excellent sport since the frost. We could fill a whole Magazine with the details, but must of necessity "draw it mild." HER MAJESTY'S HOUNDS. In consequence of the long continuance of the frost, H. M. hounds have afforded but little sport during the season. The hunting entirely ceased from the 11th December until the 23rd January, when the hounds had a short run of about forty minutes. The following week: they met three times, but the frost again setting in they were compelled to lay by again from the 29th January till the 12th February, when the sport was again resumed. The meet on this day (the 12th) was Fern Cottage, close to the Great Park; the stag being uncarted near the Wood's-pond Gate. A large field was out, and a good run ensued, right across the park to Snow Hill, and thence to the wood at Old Windsor. The stag then doubled back to the Great Park, where it was taken near Hudson's Gate, after a tolerable run of fifty minutes. On the 15th the meet was Farnham Common, from which they had a good hunting run of two hours. Next day, drew the forest, and finished at Farnham Common-no great shakes. Thursday, 18th, turned out at Winkfield, and finished at Littleworth Common, after an hour and a half. A LINE FROM THE FLYING COUNTRIES. Friday and Saturday the 29th and 30th of last month (January) were both good scenting days. The Pychley and the Duke of Grafton's packs proved it, by a few couples breaking away from each with a fox, and running him long distances over the country. On the Friday the Quorn had a good run from Widmerpool, and killed their fox; but we are sorry to add, that Day, the huntsman, broke his collarbone in a fall. Up to the setting in of the last frost no great sport had occurred with either of the three "crack" packs over the grass. It may be said to have been pretty equally divided, though if there was a turn in favour of one, it might be given to the Quorn, which are in repute, and well handled by their new huntsman, whose mishap is very much lamented, as he strives to please. MR. MEYNELL'S AND THE ATHERSTONE HOUNDS. DEAR N. S. M. WHAT a season this has been for the sport! Ten weeks frost, and, as Murphy says, "accompanied with extreme cold winds and snow." No "southerly's" nor "cloudy's" now-a-days, but reg'lar Siberian blasts; and, if we do venture a pedestrian excursion, it reminds one of traversing the "Col de Balme" or "Tête Noire." But in the midst of all these bewailings, it will afford you some pleasure to know that during the interregnums (excuse the Latinity) of the frost, we have had several most capital days' sport. The run from Sutton-gorse with Mr. Meynell's hounds, chronicled in your last number, was a most brilliant thing-in fact, one of the very best he has had for the last seven years. The Atherstone too had a regular teaser on the 28th. The meet was Wharton Village. We drew Orton Gorse, where we soon got on We are glad to see our old friend in the stirrups again, and hope often to hear from him of the doings in his part of the world. We take this opportunity of repeating, that fine writing is not what we want; but hearty, straight-forward sketches, like those of our worthy MIDLANDER. NO. III.-VOL. I.-NEW SERIES. 2 K |