MANURING ON Surface manuring is no new idea; yet if our memory serves us, the practice is almost universally ignored by agricultural writers of the present day, as a method of manuring. It is acknowledged as a very good thing to preserve favourite plants or newly-set-out trees from the effect of drought; but very little beyond this. "Those who imagine," says the editor of the Working Farmer, "they find good results from spreading of manure on the surface, and leaving it for days, weeks, or months before it is ploughed under, mistake the action of the litter or longer portions of the manure as a mulch, for the action of the manure on the soil." We so far differ from this and kindred opinions on the subject, that we think manuring on the surface, for ninety-nine farmers in a hun. dred, the best general method of application. We except all cases where the drill application of compost is found desirable, and garden and lot culture. Nor do we maintain that there is not a more perfect method of preserving and preparing all the elements of the manure heap, by its careful husbandry under sheds, an occasional treatment with diluted sulphuric acid, or some other "fixer," a cistern to catch the drainings, and a pump to pump them back upon the heap, and patience and perseverance and constant watchfulness. A more perfect method still is that of Mr. Mechi, who applies his manure only in a liquid state, and for this purpose has his farm traversed with iron pipes, to convey the fluid to the different fields. He says it pays in England, and it may be so, though his neighbours doubt it very much. But on a Virginia farm, we think sensible men would account the Sheriff of London stark mad, We maintain that this mode of manuring (viz., on the surface) is in itself so little inferior to the most perfect methods, that taking into consideration the circumstances of our farming popluation, the extent of surface and high price of labour. the attention, and time and management that the mass of farmers can give to this branch of their operations, it is for them the most economical and the best. It will pay better. We ask now the reader's attention to the ammonia theory. That ammonia is the element of greatest value in stable manures, we do not question. That it is very volatile, flies off and escapes by exposure to the atmosphere, everybody knows. Upon these principles is based the recommendation to plough under, immediately, manures which yield ammonia, that the earth may absorb and preserve it. Now let it be distinctly borne in mind, that fresh manure of any sort does not contain this volatile ammonia, but only nitrogen, which is not volatile, out of which the ammonia is formed; and that ammonia is generated only as the nitrogen putrefies in the rotting manures. If the manure accumulates in the stable, the warmth and moisture of the daily additions soon bring on active fermentation, and the pungent ammonia THE SURFACE. which assails us is the result of the putrefaction thus caused. Until this process of rotting commences, ammonia is not formed, and the manure not liable to waste, and it ceases to be generated when the rotting is checked. Now, when we are ready to remove our manure-heaps in the spring, we find them usually rotting to some extent. Let us follow, and observe the whole process. It is taken up first, forkful by forkful, and pitched into the cart; the ammonia, of course, all the time seeking its freedom; it is hauled, reeking and smoking, a long distance perhaps, to the field; now it is dropped into small heaps, where it remains a week or so, until you are ready to plough the land. It you are ready, or when you are ready, these heaps are carefully spread out on the ground, the more perfectly the better, and then ploughed under-not immediately, even under the most careful management, but as soon as it can be done-with a delay, ordinarily, of an average of some hours. Now, with all this necessary opening and forking, and tossing and spreading, our impression is that the free ammonia is very much like the Frenchman's flea, which when he put his finger upon it wasn't there; the point of time when we are ready to lay hold of it, is just when we may as well save ourselves the trouble: it is not there. But let it be borne in mind that the ammonia we have been dealing with, is that only which was generated in the rotting heap before its removal. When the heap was opened to the air, the process of rotting ceased, and ammonia was no longer formed. Supposing, then, this free ammonia is pretty well gone, at any rate we have the remainder of the manure, with its unchanged nitrogen (not ammonia) to deal with. Plough this under to the depth of eight inches, and for want of the proper temperature to cause its putrefaction, it may remain unchanged and unavailable until another ploughing shall bring it up again to the influence of heat and mois ture, which will disengage the ammonia. It is a frequent experience, that we plough under deeply, for a spring crop, fresh stable manure, and receive no benefit from it whatever until it is brought up again to the surface, and the wheat crop following reaps the advantage. But suppose, instead of making a week or two weeks' heavy labour of hauling out manure in the spring, when the teams are at best not strong, and there is a press of hard work on hand, you get rid of this necessity of hauling cut and ploughing under simultaneously, and hauling at your convenience, you throw the manure upon the surface of the grass field, what is the result? At the worst, as we have shown above, there is equal loss of the free ammonia when the manure is ploughed under. In both cases, that is about all gone, before it can be with certainty taken possession of, by any process. The mass remaining on the surface, however, the work of putrefaction, which made the free aminonia, and which was stopped by the opening and exposure of the heaps, is now recommenced and very slowly carried on by the warmth and moisture at the surface. The ammonia thus formed is absorbed by the litter above it, and washed down by every shower into contact, and combines chemically with the humus at the surface, or with the soil itself. But bear in mind, that when these frequent removals are made, we never find the heaps in such a state of putrefaction as when we postpone to some one allotted time, and therefore never have so much free ammonia to deal with. A very large proportion of the manure never begins to rot before it is removed. By this plan, moreover, we take favourable opportunities for hauling, and may carry out much of the manure in damp or moderately rainy weather, when the showers will wash the readyformed ammonia immediately into the soil. We have thus undertaken to show that the practice of manuring on the surface is not inconsistent with admitted chemical principles, when properly applied; and we submit the explanation to the judgment of practical men, familiar with the processes of farm management.-American Farmer. CALENDAR OF AGRICULTURE. The sowing of all grain crops must now be finished as fast as possible, and also lucerne and flax-seed. Finish the preparation of grass meadow lands; sow vetches and grass seeds on wheat and barley tilths. The surface of wheat lands will be rough and stale; harrow it before sowing the grass seeds, and again after the seeds are sown, and roll with a heavy weight. Prepare as quickly as possible the green crop lands, and towards the end of the month sow beetroot in drills well dunged, and twenty-eight inches apart; steep the seeds in weak solutions, and dry with quicklime. Plant potatoes in drills thirty inches apart, and well dunged with farm-yard manure in a half-putrescent state; use strong sets of tubers newly cut, very moist manure, and in a large quantity; cover the drills quickly, and roll them down. Before the land is drilled, spread pulverized lime evenly on the surface, in two hundred bushels to an acre, and harrow it immediately, or strew the cinders evenly over the ground, and the subsequent workings of the land will mix the lime, which will be powdered by the dampness of the soil. This mode requires an earlier application than the old way; but it must be more beneficial by reason of the damp and moist exhalations that will be evolved during the dissolution of the hot cinders of lime. Early crops will now require both horse and hand-hoeing, as carrots, lucerne, wheat, beans, and peas. Paring and burning of lands will now proceed vigorously. Burn the turfs moderately in a black scorched mass, as in that state carbonaceous matter most largely abounds. It is the best method yet known for bringing into cultivation all lands that contain much fibrous, inert, and ligneous mat ters. Burn, for application by the drop drill, rough, earthy, and vegetable substances, found on roadsides and on ditch banks; also peat, and all combustible matters; the ashes will raise crops of turnips. Rye, and watered meadows, winter vetches and barley, will now be ready for soiling cattle in the yards, and for being consumed on the ground by ewes and lambs. The food is best used by being cut and placed in racks, which are regularly moved over the ground. Fold the sheep nightly on the cleared space, allowing in the fold two square yards to each animal, and two nights in one place. All bare grounds and inferior grass lands may be much improved by the folding of sheep upon them. The lambing season will now draw to a close. When beet-root and cabbages fail as food for the ewes, give oats, and bruised oilcake mixed, and with a portion of salt. Remove the strong lambs to the pasture fields. Attend to the milch cows and to the suckling of calves; give the former an ample allowance of juicy food, natural or prepared; to the latter as much milk as the animals can drink. When begun to be weaned, at the end of sixteen weeks, give them in racks in the calf-pens young vetches, bruised cake, bean and barley meals boiled, and linseed jellies. Place a lump of chalk and rock salt to be licked; the latter substance will quicken the action of the digestive organs, and the former will correct the crude acidities of the stomach. The last remaining fatting bullocks will be sold during this month; use oil-cake in finishing off the animals: the most backward in condition must go to grass. The season of curing bacon being over, all pigs on hand must go on for summer stores, and come in for early winter fattening. The earliest fat lambs will now come in for sale. During wet weather, carry all the dung from the cattle yard to the heaps in the fields, and litter the yards afresh for the summer soiling of cattle and horses. Prepare by ploughing, harrowing, and rolling, the fallows for green crops, keeping most forward the portion to be sown with Swedish turnips next month. Plough clay lands for wheat fallows, and dung across the winter furrows with narrow slices. SOAPSUDS.-In days that once were, the soapsuds went to the gutter as regularly as the washing-day was ended; and there are too many who allow the plan to be followed in the present day. All do not yet seem to have learned that a tubfull of strong soapsuds is worth as much, as a fertilizer, as a wheelbarrow of good manure. every bucket of soapsuds should be thrown where it will not be lost. The garden is a good and convenient place in which to dispose of it; but the roots of grape-vines, young trees, or anything of the sort, will do as well. BB Now THE AGRICULTURE OF INDIA. Removing my camp-stool to the opening of my little hill tent, I looked out into the fields, where I saw some men ploughing. For the first time, during my travels, I was struck with the appearance of the instrument which the natives use for tilling the soil; an instrument which, in fact, closely resembles that used by the Romans, according to the directions laid down in the Georgics: "Curvi formam adcipit ulmus aratri," &c., &c. —and, at first, I felt some surprise that an implement so appsrently ill-fitted for the purpose for which it is designed, should answer all the requirements of the cultivator. The substitution of the English plough for this native hùr, has been several times projected by gentlemen who were zealous in the cause of agriculture, but without any success, or reasonable hope thereof; for when we consider the cheapness, and the great amount of labour always available, the general lightness of the soil, the inaptitude of the natives of India for great or continued physical exertion, the inferiority of the cattle, all of which are the marked characteristics of India, it would net only be undesirable, but impossible to introduce the English plough, generally, as an implement of husbandryan implement requiring physical strength, manual dexterity, and a superior breed of cattle for draught. Rude and simple as the native hùr is, or as it may seem to the casual observer, cursorily viewing the operation of ploughing, it has still many good qualities which render it peculiarly suited to the genius of the Indian cultivator; and it is not in any immediate endeavour to improve it, or alter it, that any real benefit can be conferred on the cause of Indian agriculture. All the efforts, therefore, that have been made in that direction, have been time and trouble expended to no purpose. It has been said, that all improvement to be real, must be spontaneous, or take rise within itself; and it would seem to be more reasonable to improve such means and appliances as the natives use and understand, without running counter to the ideas, and shocking the prejudices, which they entertain, by endeavouring to compel their adoption of European modes of culture, which, however well suited to the land of their origin, have not the quality most necessary to their practicability, that of being coa prebensible to the people of India. The true end of agriculture: "With artful toil To meliorate and tame the stubborn soil, To give dissimilar yet fruitful lands The grain, or herb, or plant that each demands," is best to be attained by aiding and assisting the development of those resources of the soil, which have already been made visible by the people themselves. Here it is that the duty of the Government begins. The precariousness of the land tenure is one of the greatest impediments to the outlay of capital by the tenant in the improvement of the land; and as there is but little prospect of the removal of this objection, the Government should fulfil what would, were the case different, be the obvious plans of the landholder, in developing the resources of the soil. Irrigation and manure are the two great points most deserving of attention. On both points the resources of the country are incalculable; the advantages evident and immediate; both require system and an outlay of capital, which the zemindar (native landholder) is often unable, and oftener unwilling to adopt and incur from want of confidence in the administration of the law, and the law itself. With the ryot, or cultivator, the case is very different. The law, or the administration thereof, affects him in a very slight degree, compared with the zemindar. The land tenure matters very little to him; his rights have been secured; be profits by the outlay of capital on the land. Risk, he has none. His advantage is immediate. But he does not possess the means of improvement in any way. He may build a well, dig a tank, or plant a grove to the memory of departed ancestor, and, by so doing, enhance the value of the land to the zemindar; but he almost always ruins himself by the act, leaving his debts to be paid by his descendants, and the well, tank, or grove mortgaged to the banker, for the extra expenses incurred in its establishment! It behoves an enlightened government to do for the people and the country, what they are unable to do for themselves. An inquiry, properly set on foot, and undertaken by competent persous on the part of the Government, to investigate all particulars regarding the state of agriculture, would bring to light many facts, which, if made fitting use of, would not ouly greatly redound to the honour, but adduce greatly to the advantage and profit of the state. The information thus acquired, and not founded on the reports of native (government) collectors, police-officers, and peaons (messengers), but ascer tained by the personal inspection of European officials, and from the opinions of the zemindars and cultivators themselves, would enable the Government to know and devise remedies to obviate the evils arising out of the gradual decline of the agricultural classes in our earliest occupied territories. It would show the Government msuy places where the expenditure of four or five thousand rupees (four or five hundred pounds) in the repairs or erection of a dam, for the obstruction of some rain-filled nullah (a wide and deep ditch), would yield a return nearly of equal amount, besides affording employment, and the means of livelihood to hundreds of persons. It would show where the opening of a road, or the building of a bridge, involving but a small expenditure, would give a new life to a part of the country hitherto forgotten, and render the inha bitants flourishing and happy, by throwing open to them a market for their produce-a market at present out of their reach. It would prove incontestably that the means of irrigation-the true water-power of India-has been even more neglected than the water-power of that (in comparison with the United States) sluggish colony, Canada. The initial step once taken the march of improvement once fairly set on foot private enterprise, duly encouraged, will follow in the wake of the Government; and capital once invested, land in India will become intrinsically valuable, and thus obtain the attention it merits. Agricultural improvement would induce lasting and increasing prosperity of the cultivating classes (the bulk of the population) and of the country itself.-Household Words. Till men of spoil Disdained the toil By which the world was nourished, In which their laurels flourished. The guilt that stains her story, The diadem shall wane, His pomp away; NORTON FARMERS' CLUB. on the farms which competed for premiums in October last: "In examining the farms contesting for the premiums given by Messrs. Henry Rangeley, J. Dodson, and Wm. Staniforth, the judges had an agreeable and pleasing, yet difficult duty to perform. They had pleasure in witnessing the industrial efforts to cultivate and improve the soil of a district generally tenacious and frequently hilly; and in a sharp contest, they felt a difficulty in adjudicating according to the exact terms of the premiums offered. Having this difficulty before them-where the merits of each are so nearly balanced-it seems only reasonable and fair that the several competitors should have some mark of distinction to show a degree of merit, so that, if one competitor should win (to use a sporting phrase) by half a neck, the judges might have the privilege of placing the second and third in the race. For the reasons above stated, we recommended this arrangement to Mr. Rangeley, who generonsly consented to give us a discretionary power in awarding his premium of £5 to be equally divided between the several competitors-Mr. John Plant, of Birley; Mr. William West, of Windy House; and Mr. Thomas Parker, of Bowshow. "In class 36, where the premiums are given by Messrs. Dodson and Staniforth, for the best cultivated farms under 50 acres, we found three competitors-Mr. Hutton, of Ridgeway; Mr. Joseph Wragg, of Norton Lees; and Mr. George Rogers, of Lightwood. These farms, considering the limited time we had at our disposal, were carefully inspected, with a view to do justice to the gentlemen who had generously offered the pre Report of the Judges (Mr. L. Furniss and Mr. J. J. Rowley) | we say, as appointed judges, it is the monkshood of Norton husbandry. And we do most earnestly recommend the club to abandon the growth of these exhausting plants, and substitute instead some of the genus colewort, such as the branching rape, the Scotch kale, and last but not least, the cow cabbage. We admire the plants we have mentioned, but we saw few or none. Some attempts to grow them were visible, but like angels' visits,' they were 'few and far between.' From Windy House to the Lees, from Birley to Bowshaw, these useful esculents were rare, and might really be looked on as exotics, and supposed to require a glass-house to grow them. No such thing; we tell you that, like the daisy, they blossom anywhere and everywhere, We tell you, wherever the dock will grow, so will the mangold; and it is a great fact that the rape and the thistle will grow on the same soil, but not at the same time and place. If farmers wish to grow thistles, they ought to be in rotation; and part of the course of husbandry pursued on the farm, and not at the same time and place as other root crops or legumes. Thistles and docks might be grown in alternate rows with mangolds or colewort; but we do not recom mend it; and unless it could be proved that this course would suit the balance sheet when stock is taken, we advise the club "We commenced the inspection of these farms on Tuesday, be gathered from these remarks, that in the inspection of the not to patronise or follow it. Still, it is followed; and it may the 13th day of October, 1857. There had been a similar inspection in the previous year, and the system of cropping and and its members, we complain that these beef and mutton farms contesting for the prizes offered by the Norton Club general husbandry on these farms having been already de- producing plants receive but little or no attention in the disscribed and published, it does not appear necessary on the pre-trict. They are to the farmer the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin sent occasion again to notice it. But we have much pleasure of the school-boy.' But when understood and cultivated, they in recording our entire satisfaction in the cultivation of these are the classical as well as the practical and useful in husbanfarms, as adapted to a locale immediately surrounding Sheffield, dry. We have digressed, and must now leave the grumbling, and not having any analogy to the cultivation of farms situate to notice other things more agreeable in our report. in a district strictly rural. Hence the difficulty of prescribed rules of husbandry and the laying down of a code and system of cropping, which ought to vary and will vary according to circumstances and situations. Climate and soils will have their effect; the quantity of rain falling, the proximity to mountains and towns, all exert an influence on cultivation, and give a wide scope for judgment in determining the course of husbandry to be followed." We are witnesses to these important elements in the cultivation of land, and hope we may say without vanity that, having had some experience in these matters, we are privileged to make any remark of praise or censure. Indeed, it may be expected that we should, in our perigrinations through the district, cast a farmer's eye, with furtive glance, over hedges and across the stubbles, where grow the stately thistle, the hardy couch grass, and the umbrageous dock-giving unmistakable evidence that in the 19th century these upas trees are cultivated in the parish of Norton, and at an easy distance from the metropolis of Hallamshire. But the cultivation of these plants is not the rule, it is the exception; and if there be much to condemn, there is more to commend and applaud. Still they are cultivated; their seeds are sown by inattention and neglect, and by the ignorance of natural laws bearing on good husbandry. In truth, the growth of these plants on the farm may be aptly stated as a disease of the skin, which, as in men and animals, affects the whole body corporate; the best remedy for which is cleanliness, and the application of purgatives, as administered by Dr. Bentall and others celebrated at the present day for the cure and eradication of cutaneous poison plants. It is not, however, the plants which are grown, to which we desire to call attention; it is the plants which are not grown, but which ought to be grown. There is a similarity in leafy appearance between the dock and the mangold. In the language of the ancient writer, we 'cleave to one, and despise the other.' The couch grasses and Italian grasses are similar in genera, but their effects are dissimilar and wide as the poles asunder. Like homoeopathic treatment, as propounded by Dr. Hahnemann, a very small dose of couch grass will drive out Italian grass, and establish a cutaneous disease, that we imagine will run speedily over a hedge, across a turnpike road, or even a canal; such are its powers of contagion, or infection, or both. The thistles may be a stately plant-it is a Scottish emblem-but to our notion, miums. "On inspection of Mr. Hutton's farm of 28 acres, we found the land in a good state of cultivation; the farmery well arranged and in good order; the whole of a character creditable to the occupier. "Next in succession in this class of farms we visited Mr. J. Wragg's farm, of Norton Lees, consisting of 32 acres. Judging from the produce of this farm, the crops must have been very good; the root crops exceedingly clean and well arranged, having been highly manured, as evidenced by the weight of the crops. The whole of the land on this farm is in a high state of cultivation, the fences in a very creditable condition, and present a neat appearance; stock numerous and good; farming premises very orderly, and every department of the farm showing evident signs of presevering industry. "Mr. George Rogers' farm, at Lightwood, consisting of 30 acres (20 occupied since March, 1856). On inspection of this farm we were very much pleased with the substantial character of the improvements effected by the occupier in so short a time. A considerable sum must have been expended. 15 acres effectually drained with pipe, tile, and stone. Depth of drain, 30 to 33 inches, five yards apart. A considerable length of old, neglected hedges plashed, the sides grubbed close up to the fence. The root crops highly creditable, being very good and well arranged; additional buildings put up at the farmery; the house renovated and much improved; new gates introduced. The whole of the operations carried out in a most determined and skilful manner. Having seen this farm when first entered on by its present occupant, it being then in a most dilapidated condition, great praise is due to Mr. Rogers for the mauy and great improvements made in so short a time. "To conclude, we can only add one remark, and that will apply to all the farms in this class. We saw proofs of good husbandry, neatness, and cleanliness throughout. Capital and labour had been judiciously expended; and when the contest was sharp, and on nearly equal terms, we did not quite agree in our views and opinions. The matter in dispute was left to the arbitration of one of the competitors, who generously decided against himself, that Mr. Wragg should be No. 1, and Mr. Rogers No. 2. "In offering the above report and animadversions on what we saw and examined, we trust that they will be received in the same spirit in which the men of the Norton Club always receive good intentions." SUFFOLK LENT ASSIZES. BREACH OF CONTRACT. This was a Special Jury case. Serjeant Wells and Mr. O'Malley for the plaintiff, and The action was brought for breach of contract. Mr. Garrett deposed: I am the senior partner of the firm of Garrett and Sons, Leiston Works. At first I carried it on myself, and then took my sons in. The defendant was formerly in my father's service, and continued with me down to 1855. He occupied the post of foreman over a small portion of the manufactory and salesman up to April, 1854. He had a salary of £150 per year and a house. In November or December, 1853, the defendant reminded me that the agreement terminated, and that he wanted an advance of salary. I agreed to advance him £50 per year. He afterwards wished that the £50 should be paid for five years in advance, to which I agreed, and an agreement was drawn up. He suggested that it should be binding for ten years, so that at the end of five years I should pay him another £250. The £250 was paid on the 6th of April. On the 31st of July, 1855, the smith's foreman showed me some ironwork which Woolnough had sent back, and on the 1st of August, as I was standing at the counting-room door, the defendant came up to me, and in abusive language said he would not be humbugged any longer; he was going away. I turned round and said, "What's the matter?" He was in a passion, and I told him to go home and consider the matter. I said, "There is an agreement between us, you had better look to that." On the following day I sent for defendant, and he came to my counting-house, and I asked him if he had considered what he said the day before, and he said "Yes, he was going." The 31st of July was a critical period, being after the Royal Agricultural Society's Show, and we had many orders, particularly in defendant's department. After some conversation, I told him he must pay me back the proportion of the bonus; but he laughed, and patted his hand on his pocket, and said he should keep it. I suggested he should go and ask advice as to that of some man of business. The day after he came again, and said he had been for advice and found he must return the money; and he would pay it me if I would give a receipt in full of all demands and cancel the agreement. I refused to take the money on these terms. (The receipt which Mr. Garrett proposed reserved to himself any rights he might derive under the agreement.) He would not pay the money on this receipt, and went away. The defendant had a son-in-law named Sudbrook in the smiths' department. The defendant had been of great use to me in the sale department, and after he left me my sons were obliged to attend to the getting proper foremen into Woolnough's department instead of the general supervision. We tried to get persons to suit us as salesmen, but could not, and we lost very much commercially. I employ 600 or 700 hands, 60 or 70 of whom were under the defendant's supervision. I would rather not state the loss, but I would have gladly given another man a larger salary as a user and seller of implements. Cross-examined. I don't think we received any damage from his leaving us as foreman. We made better implements without him than we ever could have done with him, but we had to neglect the selling department, and lost more by that. It is very difficult to replace a foreman to sell implements and show them to the best advantage. He had been with me many years as my assistant, but when my health failed I sent him. Other men used to go with me to show particular implements. On the 2nd of August he did not ask me to allow him to remain. I did not say that when he left the room he would no longer be my servant. After we had made our arrangements I understood from my son that he was desirous of remaining. On the 4th of August I wrote a letter, in consequence of an application from him, stating that "W. Woolnough knew R. Garrett's views, and when he was prepared to fall in with their views R. G. would see him." Had not made any arrange ments for substituting him as a seller of implements, but as a foreman. On the 4th of August he wished to leave, but in consequence of his behaviour I could not allow it. I did try to make an arrangement to keep him as salesman, but failed. On the 10th of August defendant received a letter from my son. (The letter stated he could only be received back on R. Garrett's terms.) The terms were that he should show the implements and buy timber, and should have £50 a year for buying tim ber and 10s. a day when he attended market. I thought I should make his income as much as formerly. Mr. Neere came to me and asked me to take him back under the old cortract. We appointed three men the same day to take Woolnough's place as foreman. They were paid as common workmen before, but their wages were advanced £1 and 10s.a week. Re-examined: I received his letter on the 31st of July, but did not proceed to make arrangements to fill his place until the next day. I could not put the defendant as foreman over a number of men after he had abused me before the men without any cause whatever. Mr. E. Cottingham, brother-in-law of the plaintiff, corroborated the previous witness as to the conversations which took place between him and defendant on the 1st and 2nd of Angust. Cross-examined: Mr. Garrett never said, "When you leave this room you are my servant no longer." I advised Mr. Garrett to give defendant the agreement and settle, but he would not. I also advised the defendant to settle it. James Kirrage deposed: I was in plaintiff's service in July, and Woolnough said to me Ludbrook was the man to be put foreman over the smiths' department. On the evening of the 2nd of August the defendant came to my house and said, "I have left Mr. Garrett's service, that's certain, and will stand no more of their humbug." I asked him not to be too fast. Mr. Taylor deposed: I have been with Mr. Garrett thirty years. On the 31st of July Woolnough came to me to settle with him for his expenses to Carlisle. I refused; and he said he was off, he would have no more of it. Cross-examined: I refused to settle the expenses, as I heard there had been some unpleasantness between him and Mr. Garrett. As the firm had advanced money to him I did not know whether he had money to pay or receive. This being the plaintiff's case, Mr. Couch contended that no breach of covenant had been proved. His Lordship held that the defendant had not left the plaintiff's service; but was ready to perform the agreement, only he would not let him. Mr. O'Malley objected and his Lordship reserved the point. Mr. Couch was addressing the jury, when his Lordship sug gested that a juror should be withdrawn on the defendant paying the proportion of the bonus £184, Mr. Garrett promising if any balance was due to the defendant it should be deducted from £184. ley objecting, it was agreed that the money should be paid Mr. Couch applied for time for payment; but on Mr. O'Mal under a rule of court in a month. Mr. O'Malley stated that there were three other actions pending for infringement of patent, and his client was willing to refer the cases to any three respectable men. Mr. Couch declined to do so. SIMPLE TEST FOR GUANO.-A bushel of guano, if pure, weighs almost exactly 70 lbs.; if adulterated with light substances (which is rarely the case), it will, of course, weigh less. If clay, marl, sand, &c., have been used, the weight will be materially increased, and, so far as this test applies, gross adulterations will be easily detected.-Cameron's Chemistry of Agriculture. |