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The past season has been a trying and an eventful one to most farmers. We were comforting ourselves with ideas of permanent prosperity, and cosingly imagining ourselves snugly reposing in the warm nest which the past two or three years of "good times " had enabled us to build, when suddenly a storm arose-a tornado in the commercial world, and crash after crash gave ominous sounds and unmistakable warnings. Soon the flourishing tree upon which our hopes depended was shaken to its very roots, its leaves shed all driven and gone, and its branches were broken and scattered by the storm. Such was the sudden and unexpected turn of affairs in the agricultural world consequent upon the shock to commercial credit. It was incredible; at first, few would be induced to believe it. Failure succeeded failure in rapid succession, and at length the general body of farmers were convinced that, for the present at least, their prosperity had waned. A reaction was the result, and needless alarm at once took the place of incredulity hence the farmers began to pour supplies upon the markets, and an unusual and unwarranted depression in prices has been the consequence. Now my object in this short paper is to try and stem this downward course, and bid my brother farmers take courage. The worst is over; be patient: signs of renewed activity in the commercial and manufacturing departments of our country's industry appear, and serve to show that speedily you will feel the benefit of an increased demand for your indispensable products. The trial has been a severe one; but I trust it has passed or is fast passing away, without leaving distressing evidence of its effects; and, in reliance upon the energy, the enterprise, and the vast resources of our astonishing country, I would urge a renewal of every effort, as farmers, and the adoption and practice of those safe and salutary improvements which modern agriculture has developed and confirmed. Our mainstay and safety is in the improved practice of agriculture, so that, "come what may," we can face the world's markets, and no longer entertain such dread of foreign competition. But to my text: " Spring Prospects"-the crops.

THE WHEAT CROP.-There probably never was a winter better adapted to uphold the security of the wheat plant than the past. Throughout the whole season scarcely any damage has been sustained, and the fullest and most healthy plant ever known has been the result upon the average of the country; indeed, but few districts have a thin plant. In fact, the plant is too full-too much crowded, if anything, to be more than usually prosperous; a fault, if it be one, not to be greatly deplored we have often to complain of thinness of plant, and but seldom the contrary. The wheat crop, then, has an abundant plant; and we have every evidence of its favourable progression. The season for rolling or compression has been most favourable, and a good firm seed-bed has been obtained, which is universally known to be so conducive to the safe growth and prosperity of the seed-crop. There has also been a sufficiency of cold and frosty weather to keep the plant in check, so that scarcely any crops have become winter-proud. Should the season continue favourable, we anticipate an early harvest and a good crop.

THE SPRING CROPS.-Beans, Peas, Barley, and Oats. These have all been put in under the most favourable circumstances. The soil is in the finest state imaginable to receive the seed; they have been early sown, and every good grain may and must grow; indeed,

in the majority of cases, the plant has made its appear. ance, and looks remarkably well. The bean and peas seed lay a somewhat prolonged time in the ground, but came up safe and healthy-looking. We cannot, under such favourable auspices, avoid coming to the conclusion that the prospects of our spring cropping are also remarkably good. The land being in fine condition, we antici. pate a rapid and full growth, the oats most probably requiring, on the best land, topping to retard their progress.

POTATOES.-The season for making preparation for this crop has been all that could be desired. The soil is in a finely pulverized state, and the crop is for the most part planted under every condition advantageous to its growth. A large breadth, too, has been got in, and being thus early, we augur a greater freedom from disease, and a corresponding yield of marketable tubers, the earlier settings generally producing the greater quantity of large potatoes. We should greatly rejoice to find that this unusually mild winter has tended to put an end to the mysterious scourge we call "potato disease;" it would indeed be a blessing most worthy of a nation's gratitude.

THE ROOT CROPS.-We never knew farm work in such a forward state: great progress has been made in fallowing and preparing the land for the root crops; a fine tilth has in innumerable cases been already obtained: the fear is that continuous rains may set in, and prevent the completion of the fallow: so far everything has been favourable. Much land is in preparation for the mangold wurzel crop. This crop continues to obtain greater favour with the agricultural public, and its culture is widely extending. We are heartily glad it is so. It is an invaluable crop, and ought to be grown by every The culture, managefarmer who has stock to keep. ment, storing, and mode of consuming it is now so patent, that every one may adopt it as a farm crop with advantage.

THE GRAZING DEPARTMENT.-The grass-lands as a whole do not correspond with the favourable state of the arable-lands. The absence of snow," the poor man's manure," during the winter, is and will be felt. About a month since they looked sadly, being brown and very bare of grass. In the past week or two they have recovered their greenness, but are slowly progressing, and will not be ready for the early stocking we were looking forward to. This will be severely felt, as the winter keeping (mangolds excepted) has for the most part long been finished, and much difficulty is experienced by flock-masters in providing for their flocks; this has led to many forced sales, causing, a few weeks since, a great depression in store stock. This, however, has been recovered, and this kind of stock is now selling at & remunerative price to the breeder, but at a rate not likely to leave a fair margin of profit to the grazier, Fears are also entertained relative to the healthy state of the flocks, owing to the very inferior quality of the winter food they have been compelled to subsist upon. This, I trust, is in a great measure unfounded, as the general resort to corn, cake, and other artificial condiments would keep them in condition, and prevent the in jurious consequences arising from unwholesome food. The number of sheep to be brought forward will undoubtedly be considerable, as, owing to the fineness of the winter, the casualties have not been very great. The only danger is from the unwholesome character of the turnip

and coleseed crops upon which they were fed, and consequently the absence of condition requisite to being put to good grass; nearly all of these crops suffered from mildew. From this cause also we anticipate a falling off in the condition of the cattle brought forward. It is true, abundance of cake may, in a great measure, compensate for the absence of quality in the turnip; but this abundance will not in all cases be given. Many yards of cattle will come out in their usual splendid state, the pride of their exhibitors, fit either for the butcher or for further grazing; but this class of animals will form the exception, not the rule, this year. Nothing, upon the general average, will compensate for a defective turnip crop it must be felt in the summer's

grazing. I therefore anticipate a short supply of wellfed animals, both in cattle and sheep, for the grazing department, and consequently a scanty supply of marketable meat for the first summer months; this generally leads to many animals being sent to market before they are properly fatted, which tends strongly to depreciate prices. One word relative to pork. The supply of good store pigs has greatly increased; and as these are fatted as porkers, the tendency will be to produce a greater reduction in the price of meat; even at present, pork does not retain its relative value in the markets.-I am well aware these remarks are not of much worth; but I am desirous to provoke inquiry, therefore they are meant to be more suggestive than dogmatic.

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The ordinary monthly meeting for discussion took place on Monday evening, April 5, at the Club-house, Blackfriars. Mr. Owen, of Clapton, as Chairman for the Year, presided. In consequence of the meeting falling on Easter Monday, the attendance was not large, but it included Messrs. R. Baker, H. Trethewy, John Thomas, T. W. Granger, C. T. James, L. A. Coussmaker, W. Gray, T. F. Wilson, J. Wood, J. C. Nesbit, T. Hatfield, T. B. Chapman, James Thomas, E. Purser, J. Howard, J. G. King, J. Cressingham, J. Wood (Croydon), T. Congreve, S. Skelton, H. Owen, G. S. Harrison, R. Marsh, W. W. Good, Owen, jun, &c, &c.

The subject for discussion assigned for introduction to Mr. W. Sainsbury, of Manor House, West Lavington, Wiltshire, was thus stated on the card: "The Advantage of Guano for Root Crops, and the Best System of Applying it without Injury to the Germination of Seed."

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, observed, that the best method of growing roots must always be an interesting subject to the farmer; and, knowing how great Mr. Sainsbury's experience was in reference to it, he was quite sure that gentleman would treat the topic in an interesting manner. He was sorry that at the present moment the article of guano bore such a very high price in the market; but he had no doubt that Mr. Sainsbury would show that even with that price the use of guano was attended with great advantage; while, on the other hand, as it was a most valuable manure, he trusted the day would soon arrive when it would be obtainable at a far lower rate. MR SAINSBURY said: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, the subject for discussion this evening is one, I think, of the greatest importance to the farmers of this country. The value of guano has been tested by many practical men, by a comparison of it with a variety of artificial manures. I have myself taken much care to give the thing a fair trial. I well know how cautious I ought to be, in stating the result of my experience, and I have no doubt there are many practical men present who are much more capable than I am of explaining in detail experiments in relation to this subject. I do not presume to teach, or dictate in any way; I only wish to give an exact statement of what has taken place on the farm in my occupation, with different manures in competition with guano; and I regret that the subject

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has not fallen, for its treatment, into the hands of some member of this club who is more competent to expatiate on it than myself. I consider that by increasing the weight of roots per acre, we secure the means of keeping more stock, thereby laying a foundation for good farming. (Hear, hear) It is my intention to state, on this occasion, the re sult of three years' experience respecting the different kinds of artificial manures which I have used in competition with Peruvian guano at the same expense per acre. In 1855 I was induced to use as an experiment four different kinds of manures for Swede turnips, three of which I purchased from three eminent manufacturers of turnip manures. shall classify them as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3. They were all drilled at the same time, with Swede seed, and at the same expense per acre, in competition with guano. The swedes drilled with the three first-named came up, and made equal progress up to the time of the first hoeing; the guano swedes, when they made their first appearance, looked stunted in their growth, and anything but promising, and were much more injured comparatively by the turnipfly, than those drilled with the three other manures. They were not ready for hoeing for at least one week after the three first-named, which I attribute to the seed not having come in contact with the guano, as a preventive from inThe result was that jury to the germination of the seed. in the month of August, the progress made by the swedes with all four manures, was about equal in appearance; in the latter part of November, No. 1 and No. 2 swedes were about equal in weight; No. 3 were not so good; but the guano swedes were about three tons per acre more in weight. In 1856, in order to test the relative merits of Peruvian guano as compared with bones, a friend of mine drilled sixteen bushels of bones per acre and I two cwt. of guano, the land being about the same in quality. In the latter part of November the guano swedes were full three tons per acre more than those drilled with bones. In 1857 I wished again to try the relative merits of the same (Nos. 1, 2, and 3, and guano) All these manures were then at an equal expense per acre. used on pieces of land of the same value, and drilled in ro tation at the same time with rapeseed. The result was that Nos. 1, 2, and 3 took the lead at first, and the guano rape was not so flourishing; but after the first hoeing of the three first-mentioned, the guano rape gradually overtook that

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remedy for it. Guano was of a very light and volatile nature, and if, when sown broadcast, there happened to be much wind stirring, it was blown to a part of the land where the farmer did not want it to be deposited; or, if the locality was near one of the extremities of the farm, it fell, perhaps, on a neighbour's land instead of his own. He had mixed it with ashes, and occasionally with salt, in order to insure a more certain and equable distribution; but that had not always secured the object. He had thus been led to water it, and he wished to know whether his doing so deteriorated the quality of the guano. He had, in fact, never been able to distribute guano as he wished to do.

Mr. J. HOWARD (Bedford) observed that it was very evident that Mr. Coussmaker had not a, broadcast machine, as that would have enabled him to drop the guano immediately on the surface.

Mr. R. BAKER (Writtle) said he had not many remarks to offer on this subject, feeling, as he did, that Mr. Sainsbury knew much more than he himself did with regard to the application of guano. Still there were some points connected with the use of guano which he would proceed to mention, especially as it might easily be subjected to the test of experiment. He had before observed in that club that in his opinion guano should never be applied, either for turnip or for mangel wurzel, immediately before the depositing of the seed. For applying it for turnips he had ploughed it in immediately, and let it remain for ten days or three weeks, or whatever time was required in the first instance he ploughed it in with a surface ploughing and afterwards with a deeper ploughing, and by that means it became thoroughly incorporated with the soil, and acted in the most beneficial and regular manner, none of its constitueut properties being lost. During the turnipsowing season he had frequently had indicated to him a piece | of land where guano was used by the smell a quarter of a mile before he reached the spot. Of course where that was the case a very large proportion of the guano was taken up by the air, and entirely lost to the crop; whereas, if the guano had been ploughed in immediately after it was deposited, and had thus become fixed in the soil, none would have been lost. When guano had once become incorporated with moist soil, no subsequent exposure to the action of the atmosphere would cause it to evaporate. That was a very important point to bear in mind. As regarded the beneficial influence of guano, experiments were often very fallacious. The result of an application of guano depended very much on the state of the weather at the time when it was applied. If there were not sufficient moisture to fix it in the soil at once, it was far less beneficial than it would otherwise be. In reference to its application by sowing or drilling, he must observe that he had not got a broadcast machine; but he sometimes sowed it with a manuredrill, and ploughed it in immediately, which prevented the wind from blowing it about. When sown it should be incorporated with some other substance. He sometimes used decomposed sawdust with it; if salt was desirable for the land, he used it with that; and he generally combined it with wood ashes, or some other substances, in order to prevent it from being taken off into the air. It was well known that guano was much more beneficial to land which comprised a large quantity of loam or clay than to gravelly soils; the reason being that when it was incorporated with loam, it was immediately fixed, whereas if used in gravelly soils, it was very apt to be carried off. Having used guano for a great many years, he must pronounce it to be, in his opinion, the cheapest manure that could be employed-especially for root-crops. Whatever might be the case with regard to corn-crops, for

turnips and mangel-wurzel it was undoubtedly the cheapest manure they could use, notwithstanding the high price of it. He had beeu led to the belief that a large portion of the beneficial qualities of manufactured manures consisted of guano in another form (Hear, hear). About a week ago, a person asked him to purchase some manure, and in so doing said "We have two kinds of manure, turnip-manure and corn-manure; but the latter contains twice as much guano as the former." The price of the one being £1 more than that of the other, then what was the advantage of buying the cheaper article, when you must apply two tons instead of one? (Hear, hear.) He wanted to get, if possible, a cheap manure; but so far as his experience enabled him to judge, there was, in fact, no cheaper manure for root crops than guano. (Hear, hear.) His opinion was, that for ordinary use there was nothing so cheap, and nothing so beneficial in the production of root-crops, as guano; but its beneficial application must, he maintained, depend very much upon the state of the weather and the soil, and upon the mode of application.

Mr. KING (of Beedon) wished to know what amount of guano he considered a sufficient dressing when he did not use any farm-yard manure?

Mr. BAKER did not hesitate to say that guano might be applied liberally for root crops, but when applied to corn crops any quantity beyond 2 cwt. per acre produced comparatively with the increased cost but little benefit. He thought 2 cwt. per acre was the maximum that should ever be applied for corn crops, and that for root crops that quantity would yield a better return in proportion to the cost than any additional quantity. Some years ago Mr. Vernon made some experiments, the results of which were published in the Gardeners' Chronicle. It was there shown that 2 cwt. was all that could be usefully applied for corn crops; that although a larger application might yield an apparent advantage in the foliage and so on, still when the produce was put in the bushel, or weighed, the increased outlay was not justified by the result

Mr. J. THOMAS (Bletsoe) said, he had been in the habit of applying guano for several years past. He had invariably applied it with farm-yard dung. He generally cultivated his turnips on the Northumberland or ridge system, putting a fair quantity of farm-yard dung, then sowing the guano broadcast, and reversing the ridges. He usually mixed about 2 cwt. of coal ashes-having a steam-engine of his own he found this mixture economical-with about the same quantity of guano, and also about 15 or 16 tons of farm-yard manure. He had on two occasions tested guano by a comparison of it with blood manure, and on his turnips, produced with the aid of the two, being weighed separately, he found very little difference in money value between blood manure and guano. He did not concur, however, in the observations which had been made to the effect that whatever might be the price at which guano was sold, they must have recourse to it, and it alone; for he thought that would depend on the price at which they could obtain other artificial manures (Hear, hear). He perfectly agreed with Mr. Baker, that guano answered better on clay land than on gravelly land. Having a portion of each on his own farm, he had invariably found the greatest effect from guano on the clay. Some allusion had been made to bones. Now on grass lands he had used as a manure a mixture of bones, guano, and salt, at a cost of 50s. per acre. He had also used guano by itself, and bones by themselves, but the mixture had answered best. In some counties it was quite proverbial that bones were preferable to everything else; but in Bedfordshire he had found the best application to be a mixture of bones, guano, and salt. In growing mangel-wurzel, particularly on land recently broken up, or broken up within