as shall be sufficient both for its purposes and those of the farmer. With this view he sowed thick rows of turnips alternately with thin rows, the latter being intended for preservation, and the former to invite the attacks of the Haltica. The preference they never failed to shew for the thick rows is owing to the well known fact, that all plants in their infant state grow more rapidly and less fibrous when thickly sown than when they are thin; consequently these were earliest, and afforded the most plentiful and juicy repast. When the ridge system is adopted (which is now so generally the case) the ridges may be drilled alternately thick and thin; or the rows which are to be preserved for a crop may be sown on the top of the ridge, and the thick rows (to be afterwards destroyed) in the hollow between the two ridges. To drill thick for a crop is likewise considered a remedy, but the objection to this is, that it draws up the plants in a weakly state, and if wet weather comes on, they are not only much injured, but the difficulty and expense of hoeing them is increased. By adopting Mr Poppy's plan this objection is obviated, for the plants sown for a crop will wait any time without injury, while the thick sown rows will do no harm; and when the purpose for which they are sown is completed, they may be cleared away by horsehoes, and the flies in them destroyed. By adhering to the above plan, Mr Poppy states that he never failed to rear a crop in any soil and in any season.

If this scheme has been found to answer when pursued in the manner described, there can be no doubt that it would be rendered perfectly effectual, by the simple addition of strewing lime on the rows intended to be preserved; for if the insects are not partial to the thin rows when their attractions are not greatly inferior to those of the others, they will surely avoid them altogether when they thus become positively distasteful. But the great objection to this plan is the trouble attending it, and the expense it entails both in labour and seed. It does not frequently happen, even when the insect is abundant, that it causes a total failure of the crop; and it should not be forgotten that in this, as in every other case, even a valuable result may be purchased at too great a price.

When it is found impossible entirely to prevent the unwelcome visits of these insects, it will occur to every one that the best means of ensuring a sufficient crop is so to promote the

growth and vigour of the plants that they may be able to sustain the attacks to which they are exposed from this quarter without suffering material injury. With this view of the subject, the Doncaster Agricultural Association, formerly alluded to, have published recommendations, which it will be of advantage to subjoin, as they embody the experience of a large number of practical agriculturists.

"Most effectually to insure the speedy growth of the plant, the land should be kept in the best possible state of cultivation.

"Scuffling or ploughing the land before winter, and clearing the hedge bottoms, and every other place that can harbour the insect, should be systematically attended to.

"The fallow should be completed as early as possible, so as to give an opportunity for choosing a favourable season for sowing.

"The system of ridging the land with manure under the rows, and drilling on the ridge, should be adopted in every possible case.

"The most favourable opportunity for ridging should be chosen, and it ought to be particularly observed that the land be not ridged in too dry a

state.

"As soon as the land is opened for the manure, it should be laid in, the ridges formed, and the seed drilled immediately. The quicker these operations follow each other, the better chance there is of a good crop.

"The manure chosen should be adapted to the soil, and such as is likely to insure the speediest growth of the young plant, and a full quantity ought to be allowed.

"The seed should not be deposited in the manure, but the manure thinly covered with soil, and the seed drilled in this soil.

"A very liberal allowance of seed ought to be given, as much as 3 lb. or 4 lb. per acre for drill, and 6 lb. or 7 lb. for broad-cast, and the seed should be of one year's growth.

"As soon as the plant appears above ground, it should be dusted with quicklime, and this repeated as often as rain or wind beats it off and the fly reappears.

"In places which suit, and in seasons particularly dry, watering by a watering machine should be resorted to.'

ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT ANNUAL SHOW OF THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND AT DUMFRIES.

THIS great Show was held for the second time at Dumfries on Wednesday 4th October. The place selected for the exhibition was Mr Howatt's field in English Street, immediately contiguous to the town. Pallisades encircled the field as a fence, against which pens were erected for the stock, after the manner of the show-yard at Ayr, and other places. The pens for the sheep occupied the centre of the ground. The ladies' gallery was so situated as to command a view of the whole ground. The ground being irregularly shaped and undulating gave a picturesque effect to the whole exhibition. The weather had been very wet for some time before the show, and particularly on the preceding day. The show-day, however, proved dry and beautiful, sustaining the remark which has been frequently made, that the Heavens have always smiled auspiciously on the great meetings of the Society; and certainly, if the promoting of a nation's welfare may expect the blessing of Heaven, there is no Society, humanly speaking, deserves so large a share. The preliminaries were all admirably arranged by the local Committee and the deputation of Directors, under the auspices of the LordLieutenants, Vice-Lieutenants, and Conveners of the counties of Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigton. For the accommodation of the great dinner, to which 1260 sat down, a wooden pavilion was erected adjoining the Assembly Rooms. Its roof was supported by two rows of columns; its interior decorated with pink and white cotton cloth; and illuminated with ornamental gas lustres and sconces. The general effect at the time of dinner was very striking; and it deserves remark, that its proportions were so just that every person within it heard and saw with perfect ease every thing that was said or done.

With regard to the nature of the stock exhibited, to decide on the condition of which was the principal object of the Society's meeting, there were many fine animals, although, we think, that the general quality of the stock shown last year at Perth was superior. This fact would lead to the conclusion, that the stock in the midland counties around Perth, within the influence of the Society's district, are generally

rally better than those in the south-west portion of the country. It was pleasing, however, to remark, that a decided improvement in that respect has taken place since the time of the Society's last show at Dumfries in 1830. Then only one shorthorn ox was shown; now were shown a number of breeding stock of that valuable race of cattle, which, although not of first rate excellence, with the exception of a few brought from a distance, yet their increase indicates the existence of a desire to cultivate the best breeds of stock. There is no other way of accounting for the decided inferiority of the Galloway bulls shown, which ought to have been exhibited in perfection at Dumfries. That the magnitude of the Society's show deterred many possessors of fine bulls from exhibiting them was not the sole cause, at least, of the paucity of number and inferiority in quality of the Galloway bulls, is evinced by the fact, that at the local show, held at Thornhill a short time before the meeting at Dumfries, the judges withheld the premiums destined for Galloway bulls, on the ground that none exhibited were deserving of a premium. The Galloway cows were generally good, and certainly better than the bulls, but there were few very superior cows among them. And yet all the young Galloway stirks and queys exhibited were excellent animals, and would have conferred credit on any part of the country. We own our inability to explain this anomaly in the result of breeding. Of the Ayrshire breed those exhibited were fully better than those shown at Ayr, which may be accounted for on the supposition, that the best stock bred in Ayrshire are carried off to other districts. There were no Angus or Aberdeenshire cattle brought forward.

The Leicesters exhibited proved that the finest quality of that valuable breed has not yet reached Galloway and Dumfries, although we have no doubt they will ere long occupy all their low lands, particularly after the land has been drained. The Cheviot sheep were very fine, and we question that better could be shown any where. We are glad to observe the cross between this breed and the Leicesters cultivated in this part of the country, and have no doubt that the superiority of the cross over the pure Cheviot will be the means of introducing the pure Leicesters themselves extensively. The Black-faced sheep were also good. Indeed, taking all the varieties of sheep together, we

may venture to express our opinion that the whole exhibition of sheep was superior in quality, as well as in number, to any other show of the Society.

In horses the exhibition was deficient and inferior, particularly in the fillies. There was a black stallion of fine figure, strength, and action, belonging to Mr Steedman of Boghall, near Edinburgh, which would have carried the prize had he not been thought too large for farm-work. According to the generally received opinion, that the male imprints his characters more indelibly than the females on the progeny, there may be a risk of breeding from too large a horse for the usual purposes of the farm; but, on the other hand, it is frequently seen that small stallions and bulls produce large stock. Of all the properties of a breeding stock, size, we conceive, to be more mutable than any other. Provided the blood be pure and fine, we would not hesitate to breed from any stallion or bull be his size what it may.

Among the implements there were some deserving of notice. The turnip seed-box for regulating the discharge of the seed by a simple contrivance, is a great improvement on the common clumsy box for sowing turnip-seed. This implement, attached to a very simple framing, was exhibited by that ingenious mechanic Mr Geddes, Cargen Bridge, Dumfriesshire. The equirotal carriage, exhibited by Mr Buchanan of Glasgow, appears to be a decided improvement. It permits the whole carriage to turn upon a pivot placed between the two bodies of the carriage, so that the fore wheels are as fixed and large as the hind. This construction must facilitate the draught to the horses, and it necessarily dispenses with the perch.

The exhibitions of butter and cheese were large, and of good quality; and the roots and seeds deservedly attracted universal attention.

The entire exhibition was larger than at any other of the Society's shows, 784 head of animals having been entered, being 278 more than was exhibited at the last show of the Society at Dumfries. The money collected at the gates amounted to L.380, a sum indicating the presence of 7600 persons, and when we mention that there must be an attendant on each lot of every description exhibited, considerably more than 8000 persons were present.