FARM NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11366, 8 May 1900, Page 3

FARM NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

[BY OUB ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL CORBESIW DENT.]

London, March 10. LATE SPRING SOWING.

Since March set in tho weather has been less rainy than it was in February, but otherwise as dreary and unpleasant, the eun having been hardly ever visible, while tho wind has been cold and tho atmosphere generally misty. The land, as a rule, has not yet become dry enough for working, and only a little spring corn has been sown on light soils. If tho weather remains dry, a start will bo general next week; but the land in most cases will work badly, as it has been run together by the great rainfall and the melted snow, Therefore, however satisfactory 'tho weather may bo hereafter, the completion of spring sowing will bo late unless frost comes to bring tho land into improved condition. The wheats aro said to have lost colour a little on heavy soils; but, if we do not get much more rain in March, they will soon recover. The lambing season is still progressing favourably. THE SHIRE HORSE SHOW. Last week tho twenty-first annual show of the Shire Horse Society was held in London. The entries were over tho average of tho last five shows, but not equal to the extra large total of last year. As will bo seen by the following table, tho falling-oil' was ill tho mare classes, and especially among the older, or brood mares. This is partly to bo accounted for by tiio holding of tho show a week later than usual, thus making it nearer to foaling timo. Tho entries in tho several classes aro compared for six shows as follows: —

Description. 1895. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. No. No. No. No. No. No.

Stallions— ~ „ .. Ono year old ... 32 49 65 44 53 54 Two years old ... SI 63 66 55 63 65 Three years old 41 41 74 68 76 73 Four years 01d... 33 34 44 45 37 42 Four to 10 years. _ „ under 16.2 h'n.la 39 29 31 32 20 29 Four to 10 years, 16.2 hands and Ar over 37 39 41 40 39 45 Ten years and ~,„„„ over 8 8 8 16 17 20 Fillies and MaresOno year old ... 54 53 66 47 58 47 Two years old ... 53 65 60 51 69 52 Three years old 46 39 37 40 35 43 Four years 01d... 21 22 17 22 24 17 Over four years, under 16 hands 21 18 23 20 31 12 Ovor four years, 16 hands and over 31 26 24 30 41 19 Geldings— Three and four „ years old ... 8 7 6 10 16 18 Fivo years old . and over ... 14 10 12 __ _J _j> Totals ... 489 503 553 526 586 545 As many as nine prizes wero given in some of the largo classes, and the entire prizo list would occupy too much space. Most of tho classes were well filled, and some admirably. The chief honours began with the cup for tho best of the three younger classes of stallions, which fell to a very promising yearling celt, Buscot Squire, by Markeaton Royal Harold, bred and exhibited by Mr. Alexander Henderson. M.P., of Buscot Park, Berks. Tho chief competitor was a remarkably fino three-year-old, Rocks Chief, by Bury 'Victor Chief, exhibited by Mr. Joseph Wainwright, of Buxton, which, many onlookers thought, deserved the cup. There was not much question as to the awarding of tho cup for tho best of the older stallions. This was not to bo denied to Mr. Henderson's wonderfully-successful horse Buscot Harold, by Markeaton Royal Harold, champion, at tho two preceding shows. Then this horse, now four years old, was pitted against his young half-brother for iho Champion and Ohallongo Cups, and, of course, he won for tho third time in succession. Tho Champion Cup is won outright each year, and each Challenge Cup has to bo won twico by the samo exhibitor before it becomes his absolute property. Now, Mr. Henderson won it in 1897 with Markoaton Royal Harold, and in 1898 with that horse's son", Buscot Harold, thus taking it for good. In 1899 a now Challenge Cup was provided, and Mr. Henderson won it to hold for a year with Buscot Harold. Now ho has won it a second time, and koops it. Tho winning of tho championship four times running is a feat not achieved by any other exhibitor. In tho corresponding contest among tho mares and fillies, tho cup for the best of tho three younger classes was won by Mr. I. A Muntz, M.P., with Dunsmoro Combine, a fine three-year-old chestnut, by Dunsmore Wellington Boy. For the cup for the best of tho older mares there was a struggle between Sir Blundell Maple's Dunsmore ' Gloaming, by Harold, last year's champion ; mare, now ton years old, and Southgato Charm, also by Harold, bred and exhibited by Mr. Fred. Crisp, of New Southgate, Middlesex, four years old. Some good judges thought tho younger mare tho hotter one, but the cup foil to the old one. Then tho courro was clear for tho female championship as Dunsmoro Gloaming was undoubtedly superior to the best of the younger females, Dunsmoro Combine Therefore, Sir Blundell Maple carried off the Champion and Challenge Cups, and as ho won tho latter last year, ho keeps it permanently. His winning mare was bred by the Prince of Wales. The cup for the best of tho geldings was won by Mr, Eadio, of Barrow Hall, Derby, with Barrow Parmer, siro Luck. Tho Prince of Wales, tho retiring president

of the Shire _ Horse Society, presented the champion prizes to the winners. Lord Middleton is the new president. The society has been wonderfully successful, having greatly increased its membership and its resources. In 1887, when the Prince was president before, the members numbered only 1224, whereas now there are over 2900, including 200 elected last week; while the reservo fund has grown from £1997 to £7152 since 1887, and the Stud Book entries from 1705 to 4894. THE HACKNEY SHOW. This week tho sixteenth show of tho Hackney Horse Socioty has been hold in London. The entries for the shows compare as follows for eight years:— 1893 189418951896 1897 1893 1899 1900 Stallions ... 235 225 222 229 284 242 227 189 Mares ... 149 161 185 180 141 187 173 146 Geldings ... - 21 24 33 - 51 53 69 Riding and driving... - - - - 60 - 42 60

Totals ... 334 407 431 442 485 480 495 464 The show was a very good one. Many of the prizes fell to tho progeny of Mr. Buttle'? Rosador, champion in 1897 and 1899, and others to tho descendants of Sir Walter Gilbey's Royal Danegelt, by Danegelt, champion in 1898, and now six years old. Royal Danegelt was this year first in his class for the fifth time in succession, and he has been Rosador's chief competitor at tho last three shows, being beaten by that horse twice, and beating him once. This year Rosador was not present, and the struggle for the championship was between Royal Danegelt and McKinlcy, a four-year-old horse by Carton Duke of Connaught, exhibited by Mr. H. Livesey, of Rotherfield, Sussex.

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE APPARENTLY SUPPRESSED. As no fresh outbreak of this diseaso lias been reported this week there is reason to hope that tho Board of Agriculture has been successful.in confining it within the limits of the scheduled areas. Altogether thero have boon seven herds attacked, and all havo been isolated, while all but tho first wero slaughtered, and that was not known to bo attacked until the animals had almost entirely recovered, so that it was not deemed neoessai'y to kill them. But there is no security at present, and possibly we> may yet hear of further outbreaks. THE BUDGET AND AGRICULTURE.

Although the now Budget is of no speoial interest to farmers, it was made tho occasion of a lively discussion at tho meeting of tho Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture on Tuesday. Tho income tax is to bo increased from 8d to Is in tho £, and tho duties on beer and spirits aro to bo raised slightly, the former by Is per 36 gallons, and the latter by 6d a gallon. Some speakers made an effort to show that these imposts would press heavily upon farmers; but it was only for the purposo of raising a full-dress debate on tho subject of protection. Few farmers pay any income tax at all, becauso one-third of the rent of all but a comparative few is not over £160, and they are assessed at only one third, while all incomes not over £160 are exempt. Moreover, nearly all who do pav income tax get the varying abatement allowed on all incomes up to £700. Therefore, it is absurd to say that farmers are particularly aggrieved by tho advance in the tax. In reality, they will '}p less affected than any other middlo class in tho country. It is equally ridiculous to pretend that Is on 36 gallons of beer or 6d on a gallon of whisky will affect tho price of barley. But Mr. James Lowther and other good speakers who supported him wore glad of the opportunity of urging that it was unfair to increase farmers' taxes while not, levying any charge upon their foreign competitors. Thoy contended that tho war taxes should be to a great extent put upon foreign corn, flour, hops, and possibly other produce, and Mr. Lowther put his protest in tho form of a resolution, which, however, was lost by a large majority. Whatever may bo said on tho gonoral question, it would be dangerous to tax foreign produco (they did not propose to tax colonial produce) at tho present crisis, as it would give great offence to tho United States and other foreign countries, and wo cannot afford to offend them at a time when certain European countries would be glad to have a fling at us. Apart from that, no Government would dare to tax our food imports, as the masses of tho population would rebel against such a policy. TAXING OPTIONS.

A tax of ono shilling is to be put on produce contracts, as there is already on contracts for stocks and shares. There is good reason to believe that tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer is aiming specially at wheat options, and it is a pity that ho did not make tho tax a pound instead of a, shilling on theso gambling transactions, so as to bring in a good sum to the Revenue.

TITO FOOD SUPPLY IN TIME OF WAR.

This subject also was discussed at tho moating of tho Chamber of Agriculture, and again tho protectionists made it a pretext for raising their flag. Mr. Yuburgh, M.P., moved a resolution asking for a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole- question, without specifying how tho food supply should bo provide*'. But the protectionists, with some reason, urged that if money is to bo spent to securo a largo stock of wheat against an emergency, it should be spent in encouraging "British and Irish farmers to grow moro wheat. Now this might possibly bo mado accoptablo to the nation, as there is no question that if wo wero at war with a maritime power we should be placed at a great disadvantage in reference to our food supply. For my own part, I do not fear that wo should fail to get supplies of food; but there, is no doubt that food would go up almost to famine prices. If we wero at war with two first-class naval powers, they would probably declare wheat and all other food contraband of war, and then wo should have to roly partly upon our navy to convoy provision ships, and partly on tempting prices to induce foreigners to run cargoes into our ports. I object to spending some millions annually upon great corn stores and their contents in timo of peace, and think it would bo better to spend the largo sum necessary if wo should bo at war with a great naval power. But there would bo much less objection to the outlay if it wero paid as a bonus to farmers who grow wheat, and a further bonus to thoso who storo it for use in the latter part of tho coreal year. This would be a groat security to tho nation, while it would go far to resuscitate our depressed agriculture, and to stop tho unhealthy drain from the rural districts to tho towns. To effect this stoppage is vastly important to tho physique of the nation, and of the Army particularly. , But the niotoctionists in tho Chamber argued that the best way of giving a bonus to tho wheatgrowers of tho United Kingdom would bo by putting high duties on foreign wheat and flour, and trusting to tho Home farmers and the people of our colonies to keep up tho supply. Thesa arguments, however, did not touch tho resolution, as they wero quite outside it, and it was carried unanimously.

EXPERIMENTS IN YORKSHIRE. The Yorkshire College , and tho joint Agricultural Council of tho East and West Ridings have issued a report of field experiments carried out last season. These havo been extended in consequenco of tho requisition of an educational farm at Gonforth, held in connection with tho Agricultural Department of tho College of Leeds. Tho experiments, conducted by Professor Campboll, comprised the manuring of and clover and the testing of different varieties of wheat and oats. Somo of the objects of the experiments on grass will require some years to fulfil. Tho principal objects are to ascertain the effects of a cheap mixture of artificial manures as a substitute for farmyard manure, the most profitable proportions for the mixture, and the residual values of a number of fertilisers in common use. Other trials are designed to compare the effects of complete and incomplete mixtures, and of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia as sources of nitrogen. The average crop of hay on six farms (one cutting only) last year, on plots dressed with 10 tons of farmyard manure, was 12cwt per aero moro than tho produco of tho unmatured plots; but the highest average was 41cwt, obtained on plots treated with ljowt of nitrato of soda, 2cwt of superphosphate, and scwt of kainit per acre. The withholding of the potash manure (kainit) caused a deoriKiPo of 3Jewt of hay, and tho omission of superphosphate, as well as that of kainit, reduced the crop by fiicwt per acre. As the season was a dry one. nitrate of soda did slightly better than sulphate of ammonia, both being used with the other artificials. The mixture described above, as far as tho results of ono season show, indicates tho boat one tried, and tho best proportions of the three manures. But timo is needed to show tho offcot of tho manure upon tho character of the herbage. Probably this will to deteriorated in timo by the use of nitrato of soda, and it may bo found moro advantageous to use only the superphosphate and some potash manure. It is a pity that pulphato of potash was not tried against _ tho kainit. In the experiments on clover, neither nitrate of soda nor sulphate of ammonia gave remunerative results, while basic slag alone appeared to diminish the yield. This is curious, as slag usually promotes tho growth of the clovers in pastures. Moreover, when 4cwt of slag was used with 1401b of sulphate of potash, a considerable increase in the crop took place, and a greater one than whore the potash was used alono.