EXPERIMENT ON BARLEY AFTER TURNIPS.

1864.

The field on which this experiment was made, had produced a fair crop of Swedes the year previous, which had been carted off to the cattle. Of course, as in the other experiment of this year, the excessive drought was in favour of the Sewage, and against the Nitrate of Soda. The plots were half an acre each.

In 1864, I marked out four half-acre plots in a turnip field. of nine acres, for two different quantities of Sewage, and two different manures, leaving a fifth half acre unmanured, for comparison. Unfortunately, the excessive drought or heat of the season, brought us a visitation of the Grub to such an extent, that after having arrived at a good size, the whole field was completely destroyed. In 1859, however, I tried the effect of Sewage on green crop, but not with measured quantity. The crop was Mangold Wurtzel, and had arrived at the size of an orange, when it began to give way, apparently from heat and drought. I turned a stream of Sewage down the drills, and allowed it to run freely for several days. The result was to invigorate the plant, and secure me a crop of 261⁄2 tons to the acre.

As some guide to the value, positive and comparative, of Sewaged grass, I will now give a statement of the quantity of grass consumed in 24 weeks by 20 of my milk cows, ten of which were fed on natural meadow grass, which had been well watered with Town Sewage, five on the same description of grass, but without Sewage, and five more on Italian rye-grass also unsewaged. I also give the quantity of milk produced from each lot.

B

GRASS CONSUMED AND MILK YIELDED BY 20 COWS IN 24

I might very largely extend such tabulated statistics of the consumption of Sewaged grass by my cows, and the quantity and quality of the milk yielded by them, but it would be perhaps travelling a little beyond the scope of this report, and indeed it is the less necessary for public information that the third Report of the Royal Sewage Commissioners just issued, contains a series of most elaborate and accurate tables on the subject, taken from my own farm. I would, in conclusion, draw attention to the great difference in the results of Sewage application which arises from atmospheric conditions. In such seasons as 1863 and 1864, when the rainfall was much below the average, the Sewage was deficient in quantity, but above the average quality, whereas in 1860 and 1862, the very reverse was the case. Now this has a most important bearing upon the question of the application of Sewage to the arable crops of the farm, so strongly advocated by such a high authority as Baron Liebeg. It so happens that the only accurate experiments made by me on such crops, the details of which I have already given, were made in unusually dry years, so that of course a higher value appears to be due to the Sewage from increased crops, than it would be justly entitled to on an average of years. Further experiments are very desirable in this direction, but enough has been done to prove that the application of small quantities in dry seasons may be very beneficial, indeed the small applications seem to have proved better than the larger ones. It should also be noted that with large application of Sewage, the grain decreases in weight per bushel, whereas the light or offal grain is largely increased, and also the quantity of

straw. This coroborates the general opinion as to the effect of Sewage upon grain crops.

In the case of No. 3 Field, as will be seen from the annexed tabular statement, if the value of Sewage applied to Italian RyeGrass the first year be estimated by the increase of the crop, it is only a halfpenny per ton for each of the two plots, the quantity of Sewage being large, but nearly double as much on one as on the other.

In the second year, however, with a much smaller quantity of Sewage it was 71d. and 51d. per ton, and the larger value for the smaller quantity. I am aware that my calculations of value may be open to objection on several grounds, but this will not detract from their utility as comparative statements. The quantities are correctly given, and any one can make his own calculations according to the prices in his own locality.

Representing about one halfpenny per ton of Sewage for each plot Italian Grass at 10s. per ton.

Bush. Pk. Lbs. Cwt. L.b. Bush. Pk Lbs. Cwt. E s. D. 38 0 63 32 13

Representing per ton of Sewage-Plot 2, a little above 74d; Plot: 3, a little above 51d.

Barley dressed 4s. per bushel, with light 1d. per lb.; straw, 40s. per-ton.

STATEMENT OF INCREASE ON HALF AN ACRE OF BARLEY.

Value of Sewage-No. 2 Plot, 1d. per ton.

No. 3 Plot, 3d. per ton, or nearly so.

I have now given such of the results of my experience in the application of Town Sewage to the farm as I think likely to be of use. That experience has extended over eleven years, and although I fully appreciate the value of Sewage for certain descriptions of crop, and under certain conditions, I do not think I should be justified in recommending it for general adaptation to the usual routine of the farm. It seems pretty evident to me that the expense and trouble of applying it by means of pipes to arable ground, would not be compensated by the increase of the crop. Nor could it be applied with regularity on account of the variable nature of our climate. To the dairy farmer for the purpose of obtaining heavy crops of green forage, it will be always useful, and by its application to grass lands, it may be made of essential benefit to the community. There is no reason why the Sewage of all our towns should not be utilised in this way, producing a larger supply of nutritious milk. and protecting the water of our rivers and streams from pollution.

REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURE OF AYRSHIRE,

BY ARCHIBALD STURROCK, STRUTHERS COTTAGE, KILMARNOCK.

Premium: Thirty Sovereigns.

THE most southerly of the western shires, Ayrshire, conjoine with Renfrewshire, is generally spoken of as being par eminence "the west-country :" East-Lothian and Berwickshire in common parlance being similarly distinguished as "the east-country.' Ayrshire is outlined somewhat like a half-moon, with the concavity embracing the sea. From the northernmost point on Kellyburn in Largs parish, to the Galloway marchburn on the north shore of Lochryan, the length on a bee-line is fully 60 miles; keeping by the contour of sea-coast, it extends to 70 miles; and going from horn to horn through the heart of the county as the crow flies, the real length will be about 80 miles. The breadth varies from 3 to 4 miles at the extreme points to about 28 in the middle, the widest part being across Kyle, from Troon harbour to the source of the Ayr water at Glenbuck, and the average breadth may be set down as about 15 miles.

Historically and popularly, the county is composed of three large districts or divisions,-Carrick, Kyle, and Cunningham,and which partitioning is still recognised and of good service for several local purposes, though long since obsolete politically. Carrick includes that portion lying south of the River Doon; and is bounded on the east by Kirkcudbrightshire, and southwards by Wigtonshire and Lochryan. This division contains an area of about 280,000 statute acres, of which about 34 per cent. it is estimated-viz., 95,000, are under cultivation. Kyle occupies the centre of the county, lying between the Doon and the Irvine waters, and is bounded on its eastern side by the .shires of Kirkcudbright, Dumfries, and Lanark. The total land-surface of Kyle is about 270,000 statute acres, of which fully 40 per cent. it is estimated-say 115,000 acres, are under cultivation. The northern division of Cunningham, though the least in extent, is by much the most populous, and a much greater proportion of its surface is culturable, than in either of the other two. Cunningham comprehends all north of the River Irvine, and marches along the whole of its north and north-eastern border with Renfrewshire, excepting a few miles due east at Drumclog Moor; where the parish of Avondale in Lanarkshire comes in. It has a total area of about 185,000 statute acres, of which about 57 per cent. it is estimated-viz., 105,000 acres, are under cultivation.

The total area of the county is 1149 square miles, or 735,262 statute acres. Less than one-half, or 315,000 acres, may be put