these pages. The scope of a paper by Mr. J. C. Morton, ‘On the Cost of Horse-Power,' will, in the absence of details, be best described in the following extract : "The cost of hors orse-power is a subject of particular interest just now when steam-power, in its various agricultural uses, is being declared the cheaper of the two; and it is worth while in the first place to consider their relative positions. Steam cultivation will, no doubt, ultimately be adopted altogether, irrespectively of narrow differences of cost per acre: it will lead to deeper and more thorough tillage, to great economy of time, to greater promptitude, activity, and skill in labourers; and these are sufficient security for its adoption and extension, whether it cost a shilling more or a shilling less per acre, than the present ordinary system of farm management. But it is plain that a decision of the narrow question of immediate cheapness cannot be made by comparison of actual cost on one side with mere 'estimate' upon the other. Professor John Wilson, one of the judges to whom the Chester award is due, has indeed since declared as much in a lecture on this subject to students of agriculture in the Edinburgh University. He has stated, what is obviously true, that no decisive comparison is possible until we have ascertained the actual cost of each per cwt. of draught at a given rate of movement. "The object of the present paper is to give the materials of such a calculation, as they are furnished by the experience of some of the best farmers in the country. Certainly, at present, the statement of the agriculturist on the one side of the subject is most indefinite and vague, when compared compared with that of the engineer upon the other. The latter gives the result of his observations and his calculations to the third place of decimals; the former is too often content with an unsupported declaration of opinion. The farmer, no doubt, has to deal with more inconstant and indefinite particulars than the mechanic; but his experience can be recorded with equal accuracy, and, when for long enough, will furnish data for as detailed a calculation." 23. Report of Experiments on Killerton Farm. (Continued). 1. As to wheat on special soils, I have no report to make. 2. The following table records an experiment with barley (after swedes, as recorded in vol. vi. p. 350) : The cross dressings from N to S on the lines B, D, F, H, K, were sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, and guano, as before : the columns 1, 3, 5 were to have received phosphate; columns 2 and 4 were to have no phosphate; but my gardener tells me he did not apply any phosphate at all last year. At any rate, column 4 has never had any phosphate, the plots marked O no nitrogen, and the plots marked OO have had no manure of any kind for the last five years. A glance will show how little difference the want of phosphate in column 4 has made, and how decided has been the effect of the nitrogenous manure. The Size of the Spots B, D, F, H, K, 8 perches, or Report of Experiments on Killerton Farm. EXPERIMENTAL FIELD. 5th of Acre; the See Journal Vol. IV. p. 227, Vol. V., p. 351, Vol. VI., p. 351. others 4 perches. (Crop, Swedes, 1857, Barley, 1858.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. lbs. lbs. lbs. A 52 Straw. 45 Corn. O B C D E F lbs. 190 Straw. 20 Chaff. lbs. 56 Straw. 51 Corn. 7 Chaff. lbs. lbs. 59 Straw. GS H I 58 Corn. O 7 Chaff. lbs. 153 Straw. lbs. 37 Straw. 33 Corn. O 4 Chaff. Cross-Dressing. 56 lb. Sulph. Am. Corn 594 Ibs. No Dressing. Cross-Dressing. 56 lb. Nit. Soda. Corn 664 lbs. No Dressing. lbs. 110 Straw. Cross-Dressing. 56 lbs. Guano. Corn 622 lbs. 94 Corn. 12 Chaff. lbs. 40 Straw. 38 Corn. O 6 Chaff. lbs. 134 Straw. 118 Corn. lbs. 43 Straw. 35 Corn. O 5 Chaff. No Dressing. Cross-Dressing. 56 lb. Sulph. Am. Corn 632 lbs. No Dressing. 51 Straw. 37 Corn. O 6 Chaff. Bones and Sulphuric Acid, No Phosphate Superphosphate, Cross-Dressing. 56 lb. Nit. Soda. Corn 653 lbs. No Dressing. Corn 215 lbs. { Produce of 40 perches in Ibs. with Nitrogen. Produce of 24 perches in lbs. without Nitro gen. Total of each Column. WHITLEY on the Meteorology of the South-West of England. 295 The spots OO (absolutely unmanured) being 4 perches, average 44lbs. of corn, or about 36 bushels to the acre, allowing 48lbs. to the bushel. The spots with nitrogenous manure being double the size (or 8 perches) average about 127lbs. of corn, or, on same calculation, about 52 bushels per acre. The difference in the previous treatment as to phosphates makes no difference from which any conclusion can be drawn. The effect of the guano is about the average of increase that of the sulphate of ammonia is below, and that of the nitrate of soda above the average of increase. The field is now sown with mangold. The nitrogenous crossdressings as before; two of the long columns with phosphate, one with phosphate and salt, and two with no mineral manure. 24. On the Meteorology of the South-West of England, 1857-8. By NICHOLAS WHITLEY. THE warm month of September 1857, was followed by a great fall of temperature in October. The south-west wind brought a very heavy downfall of rain, which pervaded the whole of the south coast of England, and extended to Greenwich, where nearly double the usual quantity fell, affording a good illustration of the manner in which a sudden fall of temperature, combined with westerly winds, deluges the land with rain, and greatly interferes with the Autumn tillage. An easterly wind prevailed in November, driving back the humid air of the Atlantic and bringing fine dry open weather. December was a fine, dry, warm month-the mean temperature of which, from the prevalence of gentle westerly winds, was equal to the mean of the whole year. A gentle westerly wind will equalise the temperature in a remarkable manner, the thermometer marking 53° by day, and 50° by night; but after a heavy gale from the south-west, which brings the warmer air from the middle of the Atlantic over the land, the thermometer stands as high as 57° by day, and 55° by night. How far this high temperature penetrates eastward, is an interesting problem yet unsolved. The new year opened with continuously fine and mild weather, with a high barometer, and much open sunshine, and February and March were somewhat below their normal temperature; and both April and May were likewise deficient in heat; at the latter end of May there was a rapid rise in the temperature, and June was a very hot and dry month throughout; the wheat plant enjoyed a warm and calm season for blossoming, and came rapidly TABLE I. Showing the Mean Temperature of each Month for the Places mentioned, 1857-8 Oct. Nov. Dec. Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June, July. Aug. Sept. feet. 159 55 50.4 43.6 39.4 49.4 36.5 38.8 42.0 46.8 53.7 59.7 62.5 61.9 57.3 51*147*1 43.8 511 428 427 44.6 48.6 54.1 58.8 60.1 611 57.7 55.0 49.0 49.3 52.5 57.2 52.0 514 54.9 55.8 50.9 48.6 43.8 42 0 43.7 49.2 51.7 60.0 59.2 60.0 46.5 .. Exeter • . 140 54.4 481 48.6 .. 45.2 47.0 52.9 54.8 64.1 627 63.8 62.8 42.7 410 43.0 48.4 50.0 58.4 57.8 60.1 60.1 41.6 39.5 43 1 48.7 52.8 62.0 60.8 62.0 60.9 51-8 45*4 422 49.4 38.2 36.2 403 472 42.0 40.2 43.9 49 1 52.7 61.3 59.2 61.6 61.3 50.9 60.8 58.3 58.5 58.8 57.4 50.8 49.2 .. 42.9 40.6 44 1 49.8 52.7 63.5 60.9 62.9 60.9 228 52.4 44.9 46.7 .. 38.5 36.0 41.2 46.9 51.3 61.5 58.6 60.8 58.9 210 51.8 45.2 45.0 " 37.6 34.7 40.9 46.6 51.0 63.0 .. .. . . . 159 52.9 45.8 45° I .. 37.5 34.6 41.4 46.2 51.7 64.9 60.6 62.0 60.3 45°4 51.4 64.4 60.4 61.7 59.8 : : 45.0 49.3 60.7 56.8 58.6 55.4 43.6 49.3 56.0 59.1 58.0 56.5 WHITLEY on the Meteorology of the South-West of England. 295 TABLE II. Showing the Depth of Rain in Inches for each Month at the Places mentioned, 1857-8. Names of Places. Height above the Oct. Nov. Dec. Year. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Sea. 2.67 2.53 2.02 24.78 1.68 1.58 1.61 1.73 1.96 1.83 2.37 2.40 2.40 55 4.08 6.11 4.90 44.08 4.66 3.79 3.44 2.54 2.41 2.79 2.64 3.04 3.68 |